Back to School Guide 2023

Catholic schools gear up for record enrollment 2-3

Catholic schools gear up for record enrollment

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

Demand for Catholic education continues to surge as schools across the Diocese of Charlotte – from pre-K to grad school – welcome unprecedented numbers back to campus beginning next week.

Fresh off winning the prestigious “Catholic Organization of the Year” title from the national Catholic Education Foundation, the diocese’s school system expects an all-time record enrollment this year and has become a “destination diocese,” says Superintendent Dr. Greg Monroe.

The system’s 20 elementary, middle and high schools are welcoming new teachers and leaders from California and Connecticut, and Maryland and Michigan, among other states. Enrollment is up 12 percent from a decade ago – and almost 18 percent since the pandemic began in 2020. While an official count isn’t taken until October, more than 8,100 students (and climbing) had enrolled as of July 31.

“We’re gratified by our continued growth, as students and families recognize the value of a Catholic education,” Monroe says, “and we’ve reached the point that we are exploring new school construction to accommodate demand.” Belmont Abbey College, just west of Charlotte, is also on pace for record total enrollment. The liberal arts college run by Benedictine monks has already registered a record class of 650 new students, entering as freshmen, transfer or first-year graduate students. This follows last year’s record incoming class – thanks in part to new academic programs in business, leadership, nursing and data analytics, school leaders say.

St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly is welcoming eight new seminarians on Sunday, bringing the current enrollment to 21 men who are discerning a call to the priesthood as they complete undergraduate studies in philosophy at Belmont Abbey College, in preparation for theological studies at the graduate level and a possible priestly vocation. Another 29 men are studying at the graduate level, and one is taking a pastoral year of service – bringing the total number of seminarians who are in formation for the diocese to a record 51.

To greet these burgeoning classes, students can expect to see a variety of improvements from new and renovated

facilities to fresh paint – as well as new leaders, new academic programs, and welcome-back activities to help transition them back to studies.

Across the diocese, which encompasses the western half of North Carolina, here’s a sampling of what to expect:

ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

In the eastern part of the diocese, “Popsicles in the Park” will welcome back the youngest students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro. Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students and their families will gather at a park near the school Aug. 13 to meet classmates and teachers while enjoying frozen treats.

“The goal is to ease the back-to-school transition for our youngest Panthers,” says Principal Catherine Rusch. “Children and parents both leave the park with new friends and a familiar face in their classroom teacher.”

Across town, St. Pius X School plans a special night Aug. 19 at a baseball game – the Greensboro Grasshoppers vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods. The school choir will sing the National Anthem, and one lucky student will throw the first pitch.

St. Pius X students will also enjoy classes outside in the recently completed Lemnios Family Learning Pavilion, for

PHOTOS BY AMY BURGER AND TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Students and volunteers at St. Mark School in Huntersville unpack new chairs and school supplies, preparing for the start of school in just a few days. In Catholic schools across the Diocese of Charlotte, enrollment is up

12 percent from a decade ago – and almost 18 percent since the pandemic began in 2020.

academic and other gatherings.

In Winston-Salem, Our Lady of Mercy School is adding a conference room, renovating and installing restrooms, and upgrading technology thanks to a generous grant from Shea Homes. The school is also completing a $150,000 kitchen remodel funded by an anonymous donor.

“New kitchen equipment will make it possible for Our Lady of Mercy to offer hot meals again and nutritional support for its diverse student population,” said Emmett Sapp, the diocese’s construction director. “We couldn’t do some of these projects without the generosity of benefactors who understand the need to improve our facilities to accommodate our rapid growth.”

In the western reaches of the diocese, Immaculata School in Hendersonville is planning a special welcome for its new pastor, Father Andrés Gutiérrez. Students also will find themselves in a new competition, divided into six “houses” or teams named for religious orders, with points awarded for students who demonstrate good character and virtue throughout the year – the winning team receiving the “House Cup.”

Immaculata will also take advantage of its first year using the school’s new state-of-the-art STEM lab, which includes a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space for inquiry-based learning.

Such STEM learning (in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) is growing across the diocese. Charlotte’s Our Lady of the Assumption School inaugurated its new SmartLab late last school year, where students work with robots and drones, computers and iPads, 3D printers and a laser engraver. The school is growing and has added an assistant principal for the first time: Laura Schmitt from Wyoming, Mich. St. Ann School in Charlotte also will see exciting changes, from a refurbished playground and new paint to a new principal Celene Little and assistant principal Anna Owens.

A new school year is a clean slate, says Father Timothy Reid, the diocese’s Vicar of Education for Catholic Schools. It’s “an opportunity to reflect on God’s blessings, and to set goals for the future.”

“My hope is that our school families will approach the new school year prayerfully and with the understanding that our Catholic schools exist not simply

to impart academic knowledge,” he said, “but to provide formation in our Catholic Faith – and thereby form the whole person.

“We want all of our students to excel academically, but also to grow in virtue and in the knowledge of our Lord and our faith.”

HIGH SCHOOLS

Charlotte Catholic High School kicks off the school year with its largest ever freshman class of 400 students, drawn by its academics, athletics, arts and Catholic culture. Planning ahead, school leaders last year expanded and renovated the south Charlotte high school, adding the $21 million MACS Fine Arts Center to accommodate its arts program and repurposed former art spaces in the existing building into additional classrooms.

Enrollment is also up at the three other high schools in the diocese: Christ the King in Huntersville, Bishop McGuinness in Greensboro, and Canongate in Arden. Canongate begins its first full year as an independent school recognized by Bishop Peter Jugis as an affiliate of the diocese.

Three of the high schools named new leaders this year: Christ the King and Canongate named new principals (see page 5), and Charlotte Catholic hired a new vice principal and an additional assistant principal.

And two high schools will have fulltime chaplains: Father Aaron Huber will serve at Christ the King in Huntersville and Father Jonathan Torres will serve at Charlotte Catholic. Newly ordained Father Christopher Brock will assist Bishop McGuinness High School’s chaplain Father Noah Carter.

High school athletic departments are also planning for growth with fundraising campaigns and events this fall. Bishop McGuinness’ “Spirit of Victory” campaign will help pay for new tennis courts, an additional practice field and outdoor restrooms. Christ the King is launching a capital campaign to upgrade to stadium-style bleachers around its football field, as well as add restrooms and parking.

Christ the King also begins its first full year of competition in its new gym, which opened in January. Charlotte Catholic repurposed space into a second

Catholic School Enrollment

Up approximately 18% over the past 5 years

(Far left) Volunteers at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte, including the St. Gabriel Parish Men’s Group, helped spruce up the school’s playground to get ready for the first day of school.

Pre-kindergarten students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro enjoy meeting their new teachers last year. A similar “Popsicles in the Park” event is planned for Aug. 13.

St. Mark School’s staff began prepping the school for the upcoming school year. Wet paint signs could be spotted along the hallways. Staffers put together new desk, and the school nurse was hard at work cleaning her office.

Enrollment is up 12% from a decade ago –and almost 18% since the pandemic began in 2020.

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL, AMY BURGER AND PROVIDED | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

weight room, installed a golf simulator through the generosity of donors, and converted a classroom into a state-of-theart multimedia room with seating for 60, for classes and small group meetings.

Bishop McGuinness painted its athletic wing, upfitted five classrooms with collaborative learning furniture – and made way for more would-be pilots.

“Everybody wants to fly planes,” Head of School Jared Rashford said.

The school now offers three sections (with some three dozen students) of its aviation class, which teaches the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association curriculum and enables students to log simulator hours toward a private pilot’s license.

“We are overjoyed to welcome the largest incoming class in the college’s history this fall and to announce our new dual enrollment program with Kolbe Academy,” Thierfelder says.

“We are also profoundly grateful for the addition of new graduate degree programs, residential halls, health science labs,

athletic facilities, and so much more.”

In February the college unveiled a $100 million development plan and “Made True” capital campaign for a variety of improvements – with $80 million of the goal already in hand. The campaign follows a number of capital improvements recently completed or already underway.

element required by the Church in its new Program for Priestly Formation. The Church instructs that a priest now be dedicated in particular to mentoring first-year seminarians, and Bishop Jugis has assigned Father Brian Becker, former pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa, to this role.

The first-year seminarians will be detached from the normal academic progression of seminary life, which creates valuable opportunities, says Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the college seminary.

“We have a lot of freedom in this first year to concentrate on the basics of character formation, the life of prayer, and service to the local Church,” he says. “It also allows time for our seminarians to visit the many parishes across the diocese with Father Becker. We have tried these parish visits over the years, but it hasn’t been easy with their academic load.

“We want the seminarians to know the people they will one day serve and vice-versa, which also will help raise awareness of the seminary’s mission and cultivate vocations in local parishes.”

BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE

One of only 15 colleges and universities in the country recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society for its strong Catholic identity, Belmont Abbey College has seen growth, too – in enrollment and facilities.

The college will welcome its largest incoming class with a more than 15 percent increase in students compared to last fall. Part of the appeal is new master’s degree programs in Business Administration (MBA), Nursing Leadership (MSN), Leadership and Data Analytics.

“These programs will not only provide students with valuable knowledge and skills in their respective fields,” says Belmont Abbey College’s president Dr. Bill Thierfelder, “but also will help each of them develop as a whole person in order to lead a good and fulfilling life.”

In June, the college announced a new dual enrollment program, which enables high school students to take courses at the college in-person and online, and includes partnerships with Seton Home Study School and Kolbe Academy, an acclaimed Catholic homeschooling institution. Students can take their first dual enrollment course for free, and if they enroll at Belmont Abbey for college, the school reimburses their dual enrollment costs.

Parents: Tips for surviving back-to-school season

n Catch up on back-to-school information from your school, especially any updates to the start of the school day, handbook changes, uniform updates, school supply lists.

n Put bedtime and wake-up time routines back into place at least a week before school starts.

n Students who are new to changing classes and having a locker often find creating a list helpful for remembering what to bring home at the end of each day.

ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE SEMINARY

In Mount Holly, St. Joseph College Seminary is preparing to welcome its “Hotel” class, named for the eighth letter in the alphabet to signify its eighth incoming class of seminarians since the program began in 2016.

The college seminary is also finalizing plans for a new chapel and other buildings to facilitate its mission. It currently uses a banquet/lecture hall as its chapel, which cannot accommodate visitors, but the new larger chapel will be open for use by the faithful throughout the diocese.

The Hotel seminarian class includes eight men beginning discernment of a possible call to the priesthood. They will begin the year with an opening Mass at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, set for Aug. 6 at 10:30 a.m., with the faithful invited.

The new men come from parishes throughout the diocese, including St. John the Baptist in Tryon, St. Paul the Apostle in Greensboro, St. Ann and St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte, Sacred Heart in Salisbury, St. Lucien in Spruce Pine, Holy Cross in Kernersville, and St. Michael in Gastonia.

This class will be the first to enter a special introductory program of instruction and discernment – a new

n Talk about how as a family you will partner with the school this year, using their time, talent and treasure.

n Talk about the return to school in a positive way. Remind students of the names of teachers, after-school caretakers, the principal and other special people in the school building.

n Conduct fittings for kids receiving uniforms passed down from older siblings. Order more as soon as possible or ask your school about its gently used uniform closet. Donate uniforms that no longer fit.

In addition to the college seminarians, two major seminarians from the Lumen Dei community in Peru will be joining the college seminary this year as part of efforts to strengthen the diocese’s Hispanic ministry. The college seminary also recently hired a new music director after the unexpected death of former music director Tom Savoy last October.

The first phase of the seminary was completed and paid for in 2020 and plans are nearly complete for the second, final phase which will add a major chapel, offices, a piazza and welcoming hall to support visits, talks and retreats from local parishes.

Fundraising for the $22 million project is well on its way, with 88 percent of that goal already committed by generous donors during a silent phase. Construction is expected to begin next spring.

The chapel will offer a place priests can take their parishioners for Mass, and then move to common areas for fellowship, attend talks and have lunch.

“The plans have come along beautifully,” Father Kauth says, “and I’m thrilled we’ll be able to welcome the faithful and the larger community into what we’re doing here – and the extraordinary blessings God has bestowed.”

n Make picking out a backpack or lunch box a special event. Take the opportunity to build independent habits as you encourage your child to organize their supplies and make packing lunch a team effort. Students can also participate in the care of their school uniforms, sports uniforms, and band and activity equipment.

n Reuse school supplies if possible.

n Enjoy every bit of summer left – think pools, parks, cookouts – especially between now and Labor Day.

— Catholic News Herald

This fall, Belmont Abbey College welcomes its largest incoming class in history – a 15% jump over last year’s enrollment.

Construction on an expansion of St. Joseph College Seminary is set to begin next spring.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

(Above) Belmont Abbey College students meet in a small group for a book study. The college will welcome its largest incoming class this year with a more than 15 percent increase in students compared to last fall.

(Below) Father Lucas Rossi greets students at the start of school last year at St. Michael School in Gastonia.

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School (OLA), is accepting applications for Pre-K through 8th grade. Financial Aid and Participating Catholic discounts are available for qualified families. Contact Kathy Spado kmspado@olaschool.net or call 704-531-0067 to schedule a tour. Apply

Believe. Think. Serve.

More than our motto, it’s the foundation of everything we do to help our students become confident, faith-filled individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive. Students who make their home at Christ The King will build, create, lead, experiment, perform, compete and become true Crusaders.

Our rigorous and challenging curriculum is taught by top-notch faculty who use an inquiry-based learning model to ensure students are prepared to meet a competitive future. Our students graduate with a strong work ethic, a desire to achieve excellence, and a faith-filled heart to serve.

Investing in a Catholic education

PAGES 6-8: Tips to help you in considering a Catholic education for your family

KATHERINE MCCARTHY INTERN

By the numbers

100 percent of graduates of Bishop McGuinness, Charlotte Catholic and Christ the King high schools continue on to higher education.

Scholarships awarded last year:

Bishop McGuinness: $11.5 million

Charlotte Catholic: Nearly $26.5 million Christ the King: $9.1 million

Did you know?

The Diocese of Charlotte Schools welcome students of all backgrounds, even as most students are Catholic and the school system strives to impart the beliefs and values of the Catholic Church.

Catholic: 85%

Non-Catholic: 15%

Each school’s demographic profile varies according to its local community.

Systemwide, the student population encompasses people of all races and ethnicities:

ETHNICITY

Hispanic: 14%

Non-Hispanic: 86%

RACE

Asian: 3.6%

Black: 3.0%

Caucasian: 83.8%

Hawaiian-Pacific Islander:

0.2%

Multi-race: 6.1%

Native American: 0.3%

Unknown: 3.0%

How do I apply?

Navigating the application process for the diocese’s parish-based schools and for the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system (MACS) is a straightforward online process. The admissions process begins with early admissions in January and general admissions begin in March, continuing as space is available. All schools work on a rolling admissions basis until all spots are full.

All students entering pre-kindergarten must be 4 years old on or before Aug. 31. All kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 31.

Details for MACS – including required documents and placement testing information – can be found online at www.www.discovermacs.org/apply. Details for each parish-based school can be found on their respective website.

Questions? Call the individual school or the MACS Office any time in the application process at 704-370-3273

• It is recommended to call the school directly to schedule a tour before applying.

Parents invest a great deal in providing their children with an education.

From driving back and forth, to packing lunches and helping with math homework that seems much more challenging than it should be, at times it may feel as if parents themselves are back in school.

Add in the cost of tuition and miscellaneous fees, and the goal of providing your child with a Catholic education suddenly appears difficult to achieve. However, there is so much more than simply math homework and book reports tied into the value of a Catholic education.

In fact, former St. Mark School parent Theresa Lister says the cost of a Catholic education is “well worth it” for the contribution it makes in grounding children in their Catholic faith. She adds that a Catholic education is “the best of all worlds – combining faith, community and education.”

When you send your child to any of the nine Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) or any of the 10 parish-based schools in western North Carolina, you provide your child with a well-rounded Catholic education that works to cultivate their faith, volunteerism and creativity.

What sets a Catholic education apart from anything else? Along with the other

18 principals in the diocesan school system, Tyler Kulp, principal of Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte, emphasizes that it is prayer and incorporating the Catholic faith into everything done as a school community.

“It is so important that we encompass it with everything. We pray every day – it’s the first thing we do every morning. As a school, we start the day with a daily reading and continue this prayer throughout the day. It is so important to include prayer in everything we do,” Kulp notes. Along with prayer, students work to serve their communities, living beyond themselves by giving to others and connecting with people who may have lives very different from their own.

As Kulp puts it, “It’s so important for our kids to go out and serve our community. They come back on fire from seeing that they were doing something good.”

When you provide your child with a Catholic education, you start them on the right path to being active members in their community.

In a world deprived of compassion, our Catholic schools cultivate talented, compassionate and successful members of society.

Kulp adds, “What we strive for is getting kids on the path of salvation.”

All three of the diocese’s high schools have a college counseling department and counselors who guide students through the college search, application and financial aid processes. Last year, graduates from the three high schools were awarded a combined $47 million in college scholarships and grants.

Students have committed to play a variety of collegiate sports, including football, swimming, tennis and soccer, at different universities across the country.

Michael Carano, a 2020 Charlotte Catholic High School graduate and rising senior at the University of Oklahoma, notes, “I enjoyed my time at Charlotte Catholic and am grateful for the friendships made. But mostly I can now appreciate the exceptional education I received, as I was extremely prepared for my college courses and workload. The study habits instilled and the foundation made to learn and grow were amazing.”

• Tours are typically done by the school's principal.

•It is a great way to ask specific questions about curriculum and what is offered to fit your child’s needs.

•The online system for applying allows you to start at either a specific school’s website or at discoverMACS.org

•Just click “Apply” in the green top navigation bar

•Applicants are encouraged to call the Admissions Office anytime throughout the application process.

•Pay by credit card, bank draft or check. Details are online.

•Along with the application, applicants must submit a birth certificate and proof of a physical exam and immunization records.

•Additionally, families who wish to qualify for participating Catholic tuition rates must submit a baptismal certificate and completed parish participation voucher.

•Some schools may ask for the student’s most recent years of grades and standardized test scores.

•MACS high schools require principal and teacher recommendations and transcripts.

‘What we strive for is getting kids on the path of salvation.’

Tyler Kulp Principal, Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte

What is the cost of a Catholic education?

TUITION FOR MECKLENBURG AREA CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Financial aid makes Catholic education more accessible

CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

CHRIST THE KING HIGH SCHOOL

HOLY TRINITY MIDDLE SCHOOL

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION SCHOOL

ST. ANN SCHOOL

ST. GABRIEL SCHOOL

NOTE: Tuition rates for the Options Program, as well as MAP, PACE and Matthew Morgan programs vary. Excludes application, registration and other fees, plus a MACS annual capital fee of $1,695 per family. A multiple-child tuition discount is available for participating Catholic families: 10% for the second child, 25% for the third child, 50% for the fourth child and free for the fifth child and beyond. Go to www.discovermacs.org/tuition for details.

TUITION FOR PARISH-BASED CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

What about miscellaneous costs?

UNIFORMS

The national average cost of uniforms at Catholic schools in the United States is $260.

Each school provides specific information about their uniforms on their websites. Most options can be purchased through Lands’ End, but some may provide used-uniform sales or swaps throughout the school year.

Additionally, check your local consignment shop for discounted uniform items such as pants and skirts.

TRANSPORTATION

MACS offers bus and shuttle transportation with routes in Charlotte, Huntersville and Mooresville. Details are on the MACS website under Programs. Note: Some bus routes are already full, so contact MACS Transportation at 704-370-3263 to be placed on a waitlist.

Transportation fees for parish-based schools vary, so please check with your specific school to confirm. Some schools do not provide a transportation system, but may provide parents with a car-pool list.

LUNCH PROGRAMS

Fees vary by school and by order. Information is provided on the school’s website and at each school office.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Most parish-based schools provide after school services ranging from $175 to $275 a month with other daily price options. Check with your specific school for availability and details. MACS schools offer an after school program for students in K-8, plus full-day TK and pre-K students. Fees are noted below:

Most families who attend Catholic schools receive some form of financial aid through tuition discounts or assistance. All of the diocese’s schools offer some sort of tuition discount or subsidy for registered participating Catholic families, up to 30 percent in some cases. Generally speaking, tuition amounts range from approximately $5,000 to $13,000 for registered Catholics, with non-participating Catholics and non-Catholics paying higher amounts. Multiple child discounts are also available.

Needs-based tuition assistance is also available to qualified families – making Catholic education more affordable than ever for more families.

The application period is January through March 31, for the upcoming school year.

A family does not have to be registered as a participating Catholic to receive aid. Aid is needbased and can only assist with the cost of tuition. As soon the application process is complete, families are eligible to receive an award.

For details about the MACS tuition assistance program, call 704-370-3273 or go online to www.discovermacs.org/financialaid

The diocese’s nine parish-based schools and Bishop McGuinness High School offer similar need-based tuition assistance to qualified students. Details can be found on each school’s website.

All financial aid requests are processed through a third-party processor, FACTS. Most diocesan parish-based schools provide financial aid through the FACTS processor as well. Receiving financial aid requires an ample amount of documentation, which is verified through the FACTS processor using the information provided by the family. Families are required to apply every year if they wish to continue receiving financial aid. However, applying for financial aid does not guarantee a family will receive aid.

State financial aid available

Other financial aid options include the North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship Program, Disabilities Grant Program, and Education Savings Accounts. These programs (listed below) cover tuition and required fees at a participating nonpublic school. In addition, the Disabilities Grant and Education Savings Account can cover certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability.

OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The Opportunity Scholarship Program expands school choice in North Carolina through scholarship grants for eligible children in kindergarten through 12th grade. This program provides funding of up to $6,492 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.

DISABILITIES GRANT PROGRAM

The Disabilities Grant Program is a program for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade to provide an option for parents to pay tuition, fees and some other expenses at a participating school. This program provides funding of up to $8,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school.

EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT

An Education Savings Account expands school choice for eligible students with disabilities in kindergarten through 12th grade. An Education Savings Account is for students attending a registered non-public school and can be applied to tuition and required fees and certain other expenses related to educating a child with a disability. Additionally, it allows parents quarterly access to funds on a debit card. This program currently provides funding of up to $9,000 per year for eligible children who choose to attend a participating non-public school. Each program has specific additional requirements for eligibility.

For details, go to the N.C. State Education Assistance Authority’s website at www.ncseaa.edu/ k12

Our Catholic Schools

The Diocese of Charlotte School System encompasses 20 schools operating in separate formats: Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS), parish-based schools, a diocesan-based high school and an affiliate.

Diocesan High School

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville serves the Triad area.

Parish-based Schools

This includes 9 schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade and, in some instances, preschool. While each school is part of the diocese’s Catholic Schools system, they are directly administered by a corresponding parish. For admissions details, contact the individual school.

Affiliate School

Canongate Catholic High School 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden, NC 28704 828-712-8924

www.canongatecatholic.org

Erick Allen, principal Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 27

Student-teacher ratio: 5:1

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 336-722-7204

www.ourladyofmercyschool.org

Sister Geri Rogers, SSJ, principal

Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 162

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 for PK, 15:1 for K-8

St. Leo Catholic School 333 Springdale Ave., Winston-Salem, NC 27104 336-748-8252 www.stleocatholic.com

Gary Callus, principal

Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 266

Student-teacher ratio: 14:1

Asheville Catholic School

12 Culvern St., Asheville, NC 28804

828-252-7896 www.ashevillecatholic.org

Michael Miller, principal Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 247

Student-teacher ratio: 19:1

Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School 4145 Johnson St., High Point, NC 27265; 336-887-2613 www.ihm-school.com

Dr. Maryanne Leonard, principal Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 282

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 for PK, 14:1 for K-5, 10:1 for 6-8

Sacred Heart Catholic School 385 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, NC 28147 704-633-2841 www.salisburycatholicschool.org

Erin Brinkley, principal Grades: K-8

Enrollment: 194

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

St. Michael Catholic School 704 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia, NC 28052 704-865-4382 www.stmcsg.org

Immaculata Catholic School 711 N. Buncombe St., Hendersonville, NC 28791 828-693-3277 www.immac.org

Margaret Beale, principal

Grades: PK (ages 3-4), K-8

Enrollment: 137

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

Jacob Nolan, headmaster Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 160

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 for K-5, 18:1 for 6-8

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS)

A centralized, regional system of schools in the Charlotte area that includes 9 schools (2 high schools, a middle school, 4 elementary schools, some with PK and TK, and 2 K-8 schools). Tuition for participating Catholics ranges from $5,045 for half-day PK to $13,194 for high school. For details, go online to www.discovermacs.org

Christ the King Catholic High School

2011 Crusader Way, Huntersville, NC 28078

704-799-4400

www.ctkchs.org

Mark Tolcher, principal

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 414

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

Charlotte Catholic High School 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226; 704-543-1127

www.charlottecatholic.org

Kurt Telford, principal

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 1,314

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1

Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School 3100 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28209

704-527-7822

www.htcms.org

Kevin Parks, principal

Grades: 6-8

Enrollment: 1,002

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School 4225 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215

704-531-0067

www.olacatholic.org

Tyler Kulp, principal Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 181

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

St. Ann Catholic School 600 Hillside Ave., Charlotte, NC 28209

704-525-4938

www.stanncatholic.org

Celene Little, principal

Grades: PK, TK and K-5

Enrollment: 349

Student-teacher ratio: 18:1

St. Gabriel Catholic School 3028 Providence Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

704-366-2409

www.stgabrielcatholicschool.org

Michele Snoke, principal

Grades: K-5

Enrollment: 654

St. Mark Catholic School 14750 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, NC 28078

704-766-5000

www.stmarkcatholicschool.net

Julie Thornley, principal

Grades: K-8

Enrollment: 683

Student-teacher ratio: 18:1

St. Matthew Catholic School 11525 Elm Lane, Charlotte, NC 28277

704-544-2070

www.stmattwildcats.com

Kevin O’Herron, principal

Grades: TK-5

Enrollment: 672

Student-teacher ratio: 11:1

St. Patrick Catholic School 1125 Buchanan St., Charlotte, NC 28203 704-333-3174

www.saintpatrickschool.org

Nicholas Calametti, principal

Grades: K-5

Enrollment: 231

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1

St. Pius X Catholic School 2200 North Elm St., Greensboro, NC 27408

336-273-9865

www.spxschool.com

Christopher Kloesz, principal

Grades: PK-8

Enrollment: 450

Student-teacher ratio: 15:1

Our Lady of Grace Catholic School 201 South Chapman St., Greensboro, NC 27403 336-275-1522 www.olgsch.org

Catherine Rusch, principal Grades: PK3-8

Enrollment: 235

Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 for PK, 11:1 for K-8

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School 1725 N.C. Hwy. 66 South, Kernersville, NC 27284 336-564-1010

www.bmhs.us

Dr. Jared Rashford, head of school

Grades: 9-12

Enrollment: 458

Student-teacher ratio: 8:1

CHRIST THE KING HIGH SCHOOL

A lifelong Catholic with a passion for strong academics and sharing the faith in the formation of young people, Mark Tolcher brings more than 18 years of Catholic school experience, most recently serving as director of enrollment at Blessed Trinity Catholic High School in Roswell, Ga., where he also served as associate assistant principal for a year and as a theology teacher from 2017 to 2021.

Current principal Dr. Carl Semmler will move to serve as president of Christ the King, as part of a new high school leadership model that will allow principals to handle academic oversight and daily operations, while presidents focus on shaping the school’s mission and vision, community relationships, financial management and fundraising. Tolcher holds master’s degrees in theology from Holy Spirit College and in educational leadership from the University of Dayton. He has a bachelor’s degree in public and urban affairs from Georgia State University. He also completed the Archdiocese of Atlanta’s principal formation program.

Five schools welcome new principals this fall

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY SCHOOL

Dr. Maryanne Leonard is officially stepping into the role as principal at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point after having served as interim principal for the past nine months.

Leonard is an experienced Catholic educator with a deep connection to the IHM community. Before becoming interim principal, she served as IHM’s lead middle school English Language Arts teacher. Previous experience includes serving as teacher, curriculum facilitator and reading specialist for Guilford County Schools as well as stints as an adjunct professor at both Walden University and UNC-Greensboro. She holds a doctoral degree in curriculum instruction and supervision from UNC-Greensboro, as well as multiple degrees from the College of New Rochelle in New York.

ST. ANN SCHOOL

Celene Little has served St. Ann School for the past decade, most recently as assistant principal. A native of Big Stone Gap, Va., Little holds a degree in elementary education from Belmont Abbey

College, a master’s degree in special education from UNC-Charlotte, and a Certification in School Administration from UNCGreensboro. She has had a diverse career in education, from teaching at St. Mark’s (currently LifeSpan) to directing early intervention programs in York, Chester and Lancaster counties in South Carolina. She is also the proud mother of four children who have been educated in the Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools system.

ST. PATRICK SCHOOL

Nick Calametti is joining St. Patrick School as principal, replacing interim principal Dr. Alicia Reid. A lifelong Catholic with a deep commitment to education, Calametti feels strongly that the purpose of Catholic schools is to educate and evangelize. Calametti’s previous experience includes two years as the elementary assistant principal

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL FROM SACRED HEART!

at St. Mary Catholic School in Mobile, Ala., as well as stints as director of student life/discipline/ technology, director of technology, technology teacher, and Spanish teacher during his time there. He holds a Master of Education in educational leadership and Catholic school leadership from Marymount University. He also earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Mobile.

CANONGATE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Erick Allen succeeds Sedrick Dellinger, who co-founded the school in 2013. Allen is an adult convert who entered the Church in 2016. He brings decades of educational and leadership experience to his new role, having served in both private and public schools, and most recently served as a faculty member with the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, an organization dedicated to assisting teachers and leaders in independent and diocesan schools. He has an undergraduate education degree and a master’s degree in English from Appalachian State University in Boone.

— Catholic News Herald

Success in School Starts Here

Children in our Diocese from refugee camps and war-torn countries deserve the same chance at a quality education that other children have

Catholic Charities is helping to provide the academic support, mentoring, and learning experiences these kids need to excel in school and reach their educational goals

Other principals

Margaret Beale Immaculata School

Gary Callus

St. Leo School

Christopher Kloesz

St. Pius X School

Michael Miller

Asheville Catholic School

Kevin O’Herron

St. Matthew School

Kevin Parks

Holy Trinity Middle School

Sister Geri Rogers, S.S.J.

Our Lady of Mercy School

Catherine Rusch

Our Lady of Grace School

Michele Snoke

St. Gabriel School

Kurt Telford

Charlotte Catholic High School

Julie Thornley

St. Mark School

Jacob Nolan

St. Michael School

Dr. Jared Rashford

Bishop McGuinness High School

Tyler Kulp

Our Lady of the Assumption School

Erin Brinkley

Sacred Heart School

To donate school supplies to help refugee youth and other children in need as a new school year begins, visit ccdoc org or call 800-227-7261 to schedule a drop-off at a local office

Tolcher

Leonard

Little

Calametti

Allen

Endowment funds benefit our schools and make Catholic education more accessible

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation manages 92 endowments with a total market value of approximately $16.1 million that generate income to directly aid the diocese’s schools and their students:

n Ad Meliora Endowment Fund: Financial support for facility improvements and beautification initiatives at Christ the King High School.

n American Schlafhorst Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Charlotte Catholic High School.

n Archibong Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for African American, Indigenous, or Students of Color for students attending Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n Asheville Catholic School Endowment Fund: Financial support to enable the school to retain quality teachers, offer scholarship assistance, provide continuing education for teachers, and enhance the school’s curriculum.

n Joseph and Margaret Baldi Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of parishioners at St. Leo the Great Parish to attend St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.

n Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Financial support for the education of students at this school in Kernersville.

n Joan W. Books Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for children of Immaculate Conception Parish to attend Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Don and Mary Gay Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.

n Elizabeth Allen Brown Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Catholic elementary and secondary schools and Catholic campus ministries in the Asheville area.

n Molly Cassidy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance at the elementary and secondary grade levels for parishioners of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Greensboro.

n Catholic Education Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Catholic elementary schools in the diocese.

n Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating seniors to attend a college of their choice.

n Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association Board Discretionary Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Charlotte Catholic High School at the Board’s discretion.

n Charlotte Catholic High School Endowment Fund: Benefits Charlotte Catholic High School.

n Sister M. Joanice Cohen & Sister M. Elizabeth Fowkes, IHM Endowment Fund: Financial support to promote long-term recruitment, training and development of teachers at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Cornelius Alexander Davis, II Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Leo the Great School in Winston-Salem.

n Digger Dawson Scholarship Endowment

Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from Immaculate Conception Parish attending Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Derhofer Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n Deussen Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for Catholic high school education in the greater Charlotte area.

n Stephen and Jessica Dey Options Endowment Fund: Benefits the “Options” programs at the diocese’s schools.

n Faucette Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational ministry of the diocese’s schools.

n FFHL Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Established through “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” Diocesan Campaign, this fund provides tuition assistance for Catholic schools

Endowments aid students, schools

$5,316,739 has been distributed from 92 endowments managed by the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation that directly benefited students and schools

in the Diocese of Charlotte.

n Gayden and Janell Gauthier Family Endowment Fund: Provides for technology and infrastructure updates and tuition assistance for students of Immaculate Conception Parish to attend Immaculata School, both in Hendersonville.

n Mary Gay and Don Brady Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for faculty members’ children in the Piedmont-Triad area Catholic schools to attend Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n George L. Repass Memorial Tuition Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n O’Brien and William Edward Gibbs Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.

n Gismondi Family Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mark Parish members to attend Christ the King High School in Huntersville.

n Bobbie Grant Memorial Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Bishop McGuinness High School.

n Megan Healy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at St. Patrick School in Charlotte.

n Edith and George Hilbert Endowment Fund: Financial support for the education of students at Asheville Catholic School.

n Holy Family Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Catholic school tuition assistance (K-12) for members of Holy Family Parish in Clemmons.

n Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School Endowment Fund: Supports the general needs of Holy Trinity Middle School.

n Immaculata Catholic School Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at this school in Hendersonville.

n Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at this school in High Point.

n Roger Kavanagh Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

n Leeolou Family Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools families.

n LeFeber Endowment: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n LoBianco Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Mooresville and St. Mark Parish in Huntersville to attend Christ the King High School.

n Manley Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students of families at St. Eugene Catholic Church to attend Asheville Catholic School.

n Beth Maren Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to Catholic students at UNC-Charlotte.

n Catherine McAuley Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships to Catholic students attending Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.

n Francis J. McGrail Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to students of Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point.

n Lee McGuiness Endowment Fund: Benefits the Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association.

n Sandy McMonagle Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of

Mercy School in Winston-Salem.

n Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) Education Endowment Fund: Assistance to the nine MACS schools in the Charlotte area.

n Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools (MACS) Special Needs Endowment Fund: For Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools’ students with special needs.

n Reverend Enrique A. Mendez, S.D.B. Endowment Fund: Provides for needy alumni from Colegio San Julian, in Guines, Province of Havana, Cuba, and/or their families or persons associated with Salesian Schools.

n Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment Fund: For the benefit of a student-athlete in sixth, seventh or eighth grade at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

n Eleanor C. Murphy Educational Trust Scholarship Endowment Fund: Provides scholarships for the benefit of students from Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury.

n Monsignor Lawrence C. Newman Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem.

n Victor M. Nussbaum Jr. Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

n Chris and Margaret Onulak Endowment Fund: Provides for the general needs of Asheville Catholic School.

n Our Lady of Grace School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n Poutré Family Endowment Fund: For the general needs of Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Quinn Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for Catholic high school students from Catholic parishes in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Cabarrus and Rowan counties.

n Clark G. Ross St. Therese Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Assistance for college-aged parishioners at St. Therese Parish in Mooresville.

n Sacred Heart School Catholic Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n Sheridan-Mangan Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.

n Sisters of Mercy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Michael School in Gastonia.

n Sisters of St. Joseph Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for Bishop McGuinness High School students.

n Victoria Sleeman Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Immaculate Conception Parish to attend Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Frank Spinks Endowment Fund: For professional development activities for the staff at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Mary Spinks Endowment Fund: For scholarship assistance to minority students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

n Michelle Stanley Scholarship Endowment Fund: Financial support for the general needs at St. Mark School in Huntersville.

n St. Ann Catholic School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n St. Gabriel School Catholic Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Memorial Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance to graduating high school seniors from this parish in Tryon for attendance at postsecondary schools.

n St. Joseph Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School.

n St. Lawrence Council (#1695) Student Scholarship Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational needs of council

members’ and deceased members’ children.

n St. Leo Catholic School Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for St. Leo School students.

n St. Mark Catholic School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n St. Mary’s Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition aid for the children of parishioners from St. Mary’s Parish who attend Our Lady of Grace School or St. Pius X School, both in Greensboro, or Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n St. Mary’s Catholic Church College

Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from St. Mary’s Parish in Greensboro who attend Belmont Abbey College.

n St. Matthew School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n St. Michael School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school.

n St. Pius X School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at the school.

n St. Therese Catholic Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Support for post-secondary education for the youth of the parish, who have demonstrated a commitment to service within this parish in Mooresville and/or their community.

n Michael Sullivan Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School.

n Theresa Lasecki Talbert Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n Remo and Carolyn Termini Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students attending Asheville Catholic School.

n John Michael Thompson Endowment Fund: For the benefit of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury.

n F. Joseph Treacy Endowment Fund: For scholarship assistance for students in all nine MACS schools.

n Triad Educational Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance to students attending a Catholic elementary or high school in the Triad area.

n Villalon Family Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

n Sabrina Watt Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students attending Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.

n Sister Paulette Williams Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduating seniors from Charlotte Catholic High School to attend a college of their choice.

n Woelfel Family Endowment Fund: Provides for students’ educational purposes at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.

n Wos-Dejoy Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

n Yates-Murphy Educational Trust Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Holy Name Parish in New Bedford, Mass.

n Sister Emma Yondura Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for a student at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.

Fund a named endowment

Interested in setting up a named endowment or adding to an existing endowment at your parish or Catholic school? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will; a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan; a gift of real estate; a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment; or a life income arrangement, such as a trust or annuity. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org.

FFHL funds provide $140K in tuition assistance at seven schools

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign is funding $140,000 in tuition assistance this fall that will help dozens of students receive a Catholic education.

The FFHL campaign funds capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese. Included in the $65 million campaign is a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 20 schools.

The $140,000 is going to seven diocesan schools that applied for the 2023-’24 school year: Asheville Catholic School, $54,000; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $40,000; Immaculata School in Hendersonville, $3,500; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, $11,000; Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $2,000; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $23,000; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,500. The funds are expected to help participating Catholic families who have the greatest financial need.

“We are grateful for the generosity of the ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ funding,” said Erin Brinkley, principal of Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, where 35 students are receiving tuition assistance from these funds. “Investing in our students enables us to facilitate their personal growth, development and education, which can lead to so much opportunity. Additionally, it will enable us to extend our mission of creating saints and positively impact the future of our Church.”

The FFHL tuition assistance endowment, with more than $4.3 million in assets, is administered by a committee consisting of the diocese’s schools superintendent, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income

from the endowment is distributed to qualifying diocesan schools that apply each year for student financial aid.

An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or person. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the longterm strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.

To date, a total of $870,230 in FFHL funding has been awarded to the diocese’s schools. In its first year in 2017, FFHL tuition assistance totaling $49,372 was given out to four diocesan schools. In 2022, $130,000 was awarded to eight schools.

“We are grateful to all the FFHL donors who help us continue striving to make Catholic education affordable and accessible to all,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. “Thanks to their support, more families can benefit from a quality Catholic education.”

“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant and meaningful impact,” added Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “The $870,000 in tuition assistance that has been distributed to date helps students receive an education that will literally change their lives.”

To qualify for the tuition assistance money, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds it already has for that school year. Schools that do not receive $500 per student in parish support may be considered if there are extenuating financial circumstances that preclude this level of support. Qualifying schools may request funds

from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need.

The tuition assistance endowment is one

of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.

— Catholic News Herald

TEACHERS NEEDED ST. ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

CHARLOTTE, NC

Teacher Assistants Full and Part-time

Part-time Computer Teacher

APPLICANTS MUST:

• Be positive, energetic, flexible, patient, and a team player

• Be prepared to live out and model Catholic/Christian virtues

• Display solid communication skill and faithful leadership

• Have a successful history of working with children, teachers and parents

Please send applications to: Celene Little, cflittle@stannschool.net

Tuition discount for staff children!

CHARLOTTE — Heading off to college means ticking off a long list of to-do items –from registering for classes to packing and buying last-minute dorm necessities. But don’t forget to add to that list: connecting with Catholic Campus Ministry!

Catholic Campus Ministry is where college students will find caring people who will welcome them immediately and make them feel at home.

It is the place to find friends and support, grounded in the Catholic faith, all year long. Students often comment that they feel lost when they first arrive on campus. Lisa Scarduzio, a 2022 graduate of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, has a message for new and returning students to college: “If you are looking for a place to belong, that will make you feel at home, that will love you no matter where you are on your faith journey, then Catholic Campus Ministry is the place for you.”

Besides being a supportive community, Catholic Campus Ministry provides weekly meals, Bible study groups, prayer opportunities, retreats, fun events, group discussions, and unique opportunities to meet and learn from classmates and older students.

Some campuses offer weekly Masses; others arrange transportation to nearby parishes. In the Diocese of Charlotte, campus ministers serve the campuses at Appalachian State University (with outreach to LeesMcRae College and Lenoir-Rhyne University),

College students: Campus Ministry is here for you

Davidson College, High Point University, Thea House for Bennett College and N.C. A&T, UNC Charlotte (with outreach to area colleges/universities), UNC-Greensboro (with outreach to Guilford College and Greensboro College), Wake Forest University (with outreach to N.C. School of the Arts and Salem College), and Western Carolina University.

You can learn more about these campus ministries by visiting www. catholiconcampus.com. Going to a college or university beyond the diocese? Search the school’s name and “Catholic Campus Ministry” in Google to find a Catholic community at that campus.

In addition, feel free to contact Darien Clark in the diocese’s Catholic Campus Ministry office: dnclark@rcdoc.org or 704-370-3212.

Have a blessed year!

DIOCESAN SUPPORT

APPEAL 2023

Your DSA contributions at work

Campus Ministry is funded by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. For more information or to donate, go online to www.charlottediocese/dsa.

— Ann Kilkelly

PHOTO PROVIDED

Catholic Campus Ministry helps young people stay connected to their faith and fellow Catholics when they head off to college. The diocese’s program serves college and university campuses across western North Carolina. For details, go to catholiconcampus.com.