Schools

SPECIAL COVERAGE: BACK TO SCHOOL Catholic schools to resume in-person instruction

SUEANN HOWELL AND PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — All 19 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte are preparing to open for in-person instruction in the coming weeks.

Aug. 31 will be the first day of school for students at Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury; St. Michael School in Gastonia; Our Lady of Grace and St. Pius X schools in Greensboro; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point; Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo schools in Winston-Salem; and Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

Sept. 8 will be the first day of school at Immaculata School in Hendersonville and Asheville Catholic School.

All schools will also accommodate remote learning options for students who opt to stay at home due to health concerns.

Teachers have already begun returning for training in new diocesan-wide safety, cleaning and sanitation protocols, as well as to set up their classrooms and prepare their lesson plans for both their in-person and remote students.

“Our efforts have been focused on offering the safest possible return to campus while also keeping our commitment to create as normal a learning experience for our students as possible,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Catholic Schools. “We look forward to seeing students very soon.”

All Catholic schools in the diocese will follow guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, American Academy of Pediatrics and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to ensure the safest possible learning environment – including health screenings, frequent cleaning and handwashing, face coverings, social distancing, protective barriers and other measures to keep students and staff healthy and safe.

A diocesan taskforce worked with public health officials to compile extensive guidelines that have been customized for each school’s specific needs.

Here are snapshots of what is being implemented at some of the diocese’s schools:

ASHEVILLE CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Principal Mike Miller said he is looking forward to welcoming back students Sept. 8 after what has been a six-month absence.

“We have been planning and working all summer to make sure that our return is as safe as possible for students and staff,” Miller said. “Additional workdays have been added in August to allow staff extra time needed to make sure that preparations for new protocols are complete, and additional training can be scheduled.”

Desks in every classroom will be spaced apart according to CDC guidelines, and each desk will have a Plexiglas shield for added safety. Hand sanitizer stations have been placed at every entrance and in every classroom.

“We also have set up a morning entrance process that allows students to get from their car to class without needing to touch any doors, lockers, etc.,” Miller added.

Technology is being installed in classrooms to enable teachers at every grade level to provide synchronous learning for students who have opted to learn from home.

“This will reduce the demand on teachers

who will be teaching students in person, while also having students learning remotely,” Miller explained. “We have also been busy hiring additional staff to help us meet the new demands that we face this fall. Additional custodial staff, IT support and teaching support staff have all been added for the ultimate benefit of our students.”

To help make for a smooth return to class on Sept. 8, the school is producing videos to send to families that convey information the school typically communicates in person at orientation meetings.

“This will help since we are not gathering in large groups as we would during typical orientation meetings,” he said.

CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte is excited to begin using Canvas, an online education platform, when it opens for classes Aug. 31.

“While the teachers did an outstanding job delivering curriculum (last academic year), we used multiple platforms, which was a challenge for many students,” said Principal Kurt Telford.

Charlotte Catholic will continue with the traditional seven-period school day, but the schedule will be modified so that only five classes meet per day. All lessons will be streamed live via Canvas.

The modified class schedule and livestreaming capabilities mean the school can be very nimble if they have to shift to a hybrid in-person/remote learning model or a fully remote learning model, Telford explained.

Like the diocese’s other schools, all Charlotte Catholic students will have temperature and symptom screenings upon arrival each day.

The school has also eliminated homeroom and breaks to reduce students’ movements inside the school. Hallways and stairwell traffic have markers to control the flow of traffic, and students will have more time to get to each class.

In the classrooms, every teacher’s desk will have Plexiglas shields. Plexiglas has also been installed in science labs and other classrooms where students sit at shared tables.

To help students remain socially distanced, a limited number of students will be able eat in the cafeteria, and some students will eat in their classrooms after getting their lunch.

Staff have had to work hard over the

summer to put all these plans into place, but it’s worth it, Telford noted. He and his teachers have missed seeing students.

“I look forward to seeing students enter the doors on Aug. 31,” he said. “Students bring an energy to school that cannot be quantified.”

HOLY TRINITY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Offering instruction for students in grades six to eight, Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte is relying on its mascot – a bulldog – to make social distancing a bit easier and fun for students when school opens Aug. 31. Blue pawprints have been painted all over campus.

These “Bulldog Spacing Paws” are visual reminders to socially distance, said Principal Kevin Parks. “They also indicate paths on campus from building to building. Each building on campus will also have one-way hallways and up/down stairways.”

Common areas – hallways, chapel, cafeteria, gymnasium and multipurpose rooms – will not be used by large, mixed classroom groups this year. And like the other schools in the diocese, all-school assemblies are also off the table for now.

In lieu of standard water fountains, touchless water bottle refilling stations have been installed for students to fill personal water bottles or containers.

“I am extremely excited to reopen Holy Trinity to our teachers and students. We look forward to an excellent year,” Parks said.

IMMACULATA SCHOOL

When classes begin at Immaculata School in Hendersonville Sept. 8, students, staff and families will notice a difference from the minute they drive up – thanks to a major renovation project completed at the school over the summer. The changes are visible starting with the front entrance and throughout the school. (Editor’s note: See related story on page 7.)

Part of the interior improvements to the K-8 school include safety features that incorporate state and federal guidelines.

“One of the blessings in disguise (during the pandemic) came in the way of renovations of the school, because we were able to use funds slated for the remodel to make sure the school is safer,” said Principal Margaret Beale.

Plexiglas panels are being installed on each student’s desk and every teacher’s desk. Automatic faucets in remodeled restrooms, touchless sanitizer stations St. Matthew School in Charlotte, like the other 18 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte, is preparing to welcome students back for in-person instruction in the coming weeks. Pictured is kindergarten teacher Jennifer Faries. Some of the safety measures being put in place at all schools include socially-distanced desks, face coverings, cleaning supplies and hand sanitizing stations, traffic control signage, and water bottle filling stations instead of water fountains.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD; PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOLY TRINITY MIDDLE SCHOOL

in every classroom and throughout the school and water bottle filling stations instead of water fountains have also been installed.

“We are so excited for our students and teachers to return to our Immaculata Catholic School campus,” Beale said. “The schools in our diocese really focus on educating the whole child, so returning to in-person instruction is necessary for us to continue that mission. When we gather together as a community, we are stronger and able to accomplish much more than when we are apart.”

Beale added that in this time of uncertainty, it is important to focus on the positives. “Education is changing and we are on the frontlines of a new frontier. With having to master the tools to make distance learning possible, we are equipping our schools to become stronger and more connected globally in this digital age,” she said.

“There will definitely be growing pains along the way, but I am excited for the future of education and how we can make our mark as a Catholic school,” she said.

ST. MATTHEW SCHOOL

Staff at St. Matthew School in Charlotte are also working hard to prepare for students’ return Aug. 31. Similar to the other schools in the diocese, St. Matthew is putting lots of protective measures in place.

“We will have floor signage (in the hallways to help with social distancing) and Plexiglas set up in some areas around the school,” noted Principal Kevin O’Herron.

“The culture of St. Matthew is one of community and family, wrapped around our faith. It seems a natural fit for us to return to campus together – understanding that spiritual, academic, social and emotional growth occur best face-to-face,” O’Herron said.

“We are so fortunate to have a faculty at St. Matthew who have chosen this vocation of Catholic educator. They are so dedicated to ensuring that safety of our students comes first as we return home to our school building,” he said.

Have questions?

For more information, parents should contact their school’s administration or visit the “COVID-19 School Updates” page on the diocesan schools’ website at www. charlottediocese.org/schools-office.

New principals start the year at two diocesan schools

KIMBERLY BENDER ONLINE REPORTER

Two new principals are joining the leadership at Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte this fall, one at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point and one at St. Michael School in Gastonia. A third principal position remains open as of press time at Bishop McGuinness High School, where Randy Quarles continues to serve as interim principal. Ryan Schnaith-Ivan Schnaith-Ivan is the new principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

He spent the past two years as an assistant principal at Ronald E. McNair Elementary in Browns Summit and prior to that he served in administration at Hampton Elementary in Greensboro. He began his education career as an elementary art teacher in Michigan after graduating from Eastern Michigan University. He earned a master’s degree in Vollman counseling from Oakland University and moved to High Point, where he worked as the counselor at Southern Guilford Middle School for more than 10 years.

He left counseling to obtain a school administration license through the High Point University Leadership Academy. There he earned a master’s degree in school leadership.

He and his wife Maria have two children: a daughter who will be starting eighth grade and loves to play the flute, and a son who will be going into first grade and also loves to read and draw. They are parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

His hobbies include soccer and making things. He has coached high school and middle school soccer for a total of 26 seasons before moving into administration, and now he coaches his son’s team.

At St. Michael School, Michelle Vollman has been getting settled in as principal since starting in the post early last month. Vollman came to Gastonia from Huntersville Elementary, where she taught for four years. She has taught in the classroom since 2012.

She was a founding teacher at Cabarrus Charter Academy, where she served as lead teacher, overseeing curriculum planning and advocating for the teachers and students under her leadership.

She has participated in more than 100 hours of professional development including educational strategies which focus on teaching to the whole child. She also recently achieved Google expert certification – particularly relevant as schools have had to rely on virtual learning and communication tools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vollman earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, and she is pursuing a master’s degree in educational administration at Queens University in Charlotte.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: BACK TO SCHOOL

Schools see renovations, improvements over the summer

Immaculata School in Hendersonville (above) and St. Ann School in Charlotte (left) have each received a facelift recently. Students, staff and families will notice the changes when they enter their respective schools this fall.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY EMMETT SAPP AND TIM BUCKMAN

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HENDERSONVILLE — Several schools across the Diocese of Charlotte have completed dramatic renovations over the summer months, and additional capital projects are well underway.

Immaculata School had an exterior facelift and major interior improvements related to critical technology and safety systems.

The $900,000 remodeling project is made possible thanks to a portion of the $2.3 million Immaculate Conception Parish capital campaign, including a $475,000 grant from the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign.

Updates to the 94-year-old school include a new double-door security vestibule, new reception area, security cameras and visitor check-in system using Lobby Guard to screen all visitors.

New key card access and intercom systems have been installed, all locks have been changed, and significant upgrades to the school’s technology infrastructure have been made. Teachers are also receiving new laptops.

New, energy-efficient windows have been installed in the front of the school, restrooms have been remodeled, ceilings and lighting have been replaced in some classrooms, and a canopy has been added over a new front sidewalk.

The school’s parking lot has also been freshened up with new striping.

Additional safety preparations for opening this fall have also been made. Students’ and teachers’ desks have Plexiglas panels, and the remodeled bathrooms have automatic faucets. Touchless sanitizer stations are located in every classroom and throughout the school, and water bottle filling stations have replaced water fountains.

Other notable schools projects over summer include: n Asheville Catholic School — Two main restroom renovations are ongoing and expected to be complete when students begin class on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

The school has also started on its year-long $3.9 million project to build a six-classroom addition. Funding for the addition is available from a $2 million school capital campaign for the school, $300,000 St. Eugene Church FFHL rebate and a $475,000 FFHL school grant. n Christ the King High School in Huntersville — Lighting and fencing have been installed around the athletic field, and a much-needed storage shed has been built. Interior improvements include a new confessional and sacristy located near the school’s chapel.

Funding for the $200,000 athletic field lighting project came from the school’s athletic association. Interior improvements were funded by savings from previous capital improvement projects. n St. Ann School in Charlotte — Extensive renovations to the school’s entrance and offices have been completed. The school’s main entrance has been relocated and updated with additional safety features, including a new double-door security vestibule and reception area secured with the Lobby Guard system.

The school also has a new intercom system, card reader access control system, security alarm and additional security cameras.

Administrative offices, a conference room, learning support room, teacher work room and nurse’s office have been added within the 3,500-square-feet renovation.

The $995,000 renovation project was funded by an $475,000 FFHL education grant, $490,000 in MACS security improvement funds and a $30,000 gift from the St. Ann School PTO. n MACS Fine Arts Center on the campus of Charlotte Catholic High School — Choate Construction began site utility work on this $20 million project in August. Designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting of Charlotte, this 45,692-square-feet facility will provide arts education and performance space for all elementary, middle and high school students in the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools system. The center also will be available for gatherings of the entire Catholic community and the broader Charlotte community.

Construction is expected to start this fall with anticipated completion for the start of the 2022-’23 school year.

High schools’ capital campaigns continue

Charlotte Catholic High School

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School is in the final design stages for its long-awaited new fine arts center. Pre-construction work has begun, and groundbreaking is scheduled for later this fall. The project is expected to be completed for the start of the 2022-’23 school year.

The $23 million project is being funded by a commitment of $15 million from MACS capital fees and donations raised through the “Expanding the Vision, Honoring the Tradition” capital campaign. The campaign continues to raise funds toward the project’s completion, and more than $6.1 has been committed to date.

“It’s hard to believe this is finally becoming a reality, but it is, thanks to the dedication of so many supporters of CCHS,” said CCHS Principal Kurt Telford.

“We are beyond excited that our fine arts center is going to become a reality very soon. There is no doubt that this building will become a vital part of our school and our community,” added Tish Macuga, a CCHS parent who, along with her husband Brian, is a general chair of the campaign.

For more information about the campaign, contact Telford at 704-543- 1127 or Advancement Director Sally McArdle at 704-716-2459. Learn more at www.playingyourpart.org. — Sally S. McArdle Christ the King High School

HUNTERSVILLE — Christ the King High School’s capital campaign for a new Athletic & Activity Complex has reached important new milestones.

In a springtime meeting with the Diocese of Charlotte’s Building Commission, the school was given permission to enter the construction design phase of the project. The school engaged a team of experts to form a construction committee, created a request for proposal, and received multiple proposals from contractors.

The construction committee is expected to evaluate and select contractors this month, and the selected general contractor will then work with Boudreaux Design Group to create final drawings. If all goes smoothly, school leaders anticipate putting a shovel in the ground at the end of the first quarter of 2021.

The building campaign currently boasts $4.4 million in pledges. The campaign committee continues to cultivate pledges as the school community works towards the final “level 3” goal of $5.5 million.

To contribute to the campaign or get more information, contact Dr. Carl Semmler at 704-799-4400 or email CTKCampaign@ctkchs.net. — Nicole L. Seeling

SPECIAL COVERAGE: BACK TO SCHOOL Endowment funds benefit schools, Catholic education

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation manages 63 endowments totaling nearly $12 million that directly aid the diocese’s 19 schools and their students:

n American Schlafhorst Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Charlotte Catholic High School. n Asheville Catholic School Foundation 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 St. Leo Parish families to attend St. Leo School in Winston-Salem. n Bishop McGuinness 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 Elizabeth Allen Brown Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School. n Molly Cassidy Scholarship Fund: Tuition assistance for students in Catholic Schools in the Triad area. 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: Financial assistance, at the board’s discretion, to Charlotte Catholic High School students. n James P. and Eunice S. Cherry Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students to attend St. Michael School in Gastonia. n Cornelius Alexander Davis Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem. n Digger Dawson Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students from Immaculate Conception Church attending Immaculata School in Hendersonville. n Derhofer Endowment Fund: For drama department productions, capital needs related to the drama department, and 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 Faucette Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the educational ministry of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte. n ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ campaign endowment: Tuition assistance n Gayden and Janell Gauthier Fund: Tuition scholarship assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville. n O’Brien and William Edwards Gibbs Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School. n Gismondi Family Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mark Church parishioners to attend Christ the King High School in Huntersville. n Megan Healy Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at St. Patrick School in Charlotte. n Edith and George Hilbert Endowment Fund for Asheville Catholic School: Financial support for the education of students at Asheville Catholic School. n Immaculata School Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville. n Immaculate Heart of Mary School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculate Heart of Mary 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 families of Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools. n LeFeber Endowment: This fund provides tuition assistance to students at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville. n LoBianco Family Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Mooresville and St. Mark Church in Huntersville to attend Christ the King High School. n Manley Endowment Fund: This fund provides tuition assistance for students of families at St. Eugene Church to attend Catholic elementary school. n Sister Terry Martin Scholarship Endowment Fund: This fund provides tuition assistance for students matriculating in higher education from Clay and Cherokee Counties. n Catherine McAuley 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

Did you know?

$3,546,063 has been distributed from 63 endowments managed by the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation that directly benefited students and schools

Mary School in High Point. n Sandy McMonagle Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem. n Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Education Development Council: 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 Monsignor Lawrence C. Newman Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem. n Vic Nussbaum Jr. Memorial Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro. n Onulak Endowment: This fund provides tuition assistance to students at Asheville Catholic School. n Our Lady of Grace School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of the school. n Poutre Family Endowment Fund: For the general needs of Immaculata School in Hendersonville. n Quinn Family Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville. n Clark G. Ross Scholarship Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for Catholic students from Catholic parishes in Mecklenburg and Iredell counties to attend Catholic high schools in these counties, Davidson College or Queens University. n Sacred Heart School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of this school in Salisbury. 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 Victoria Sleeman Endowment Fund: Scholarships for students of Immaculate Conception Church 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 Michael Sullivan Endowment Fund: Scholarships for graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School. n St. Ann School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of this school in Charlotte. n St. Gabriel School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of this school in Charlotte. n St. Mary Church Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for children of St. Mary’s parishioners attending Our Lady of Grace and St. Pius X schools in Greensboro and Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville. n St. Joseph Scholarship Endowment Fund: Scholarship assistance for students at Asheville Catholic School. n St. Leo the Great School Endowment Fund: Financial assistance for the general needs of this school in Winston-Salem. n St. Michael School Endowment Fund: For the general needs of this school in Gastonia. n St. Pius X School Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at this school in Greensboro. n Theresa Lasecki Talbert Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville. n F. Joseph Treacy Endowment Fund: For scholarship assistance for students in all nine Mecklenburg Area Catholic 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 Catholic High School in Kernersville. n Sabrinia Watt Fund: Tuition assistance for students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville. 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: Financial assistance at Our Lady of Grace School for student educational purposes; such as purchasing textbooks or technology needs. n Wos-Dejoy Endowment Fund: Tuition assistance for students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

2020 Pitman Scholarships awarded

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Sixteen college students who are Catholic parishioners in North Carolina have each been awarded a $1,000 George Pitman Scholarship from the George Pitman Endowment Fund.

The endowment was established by the late George Warren Pitman, a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who once lived in Charlotte. He made the scholarships available to applicants who reside in either Mecklenburg County or the town of Dunn, N.C.

Pitman, a renowned designer, built a successful business in the Carolinas and Virginia before passing away in 2007 at the age of 79. For more than 30 years, he ran his design firm, George Pitman Inc., from his beautiful home in Charlotte’s Myers Park neighborhood. He was a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., and Bright’s School of Design in Chicago, and he bequeathed $1.2 million of his fortune to establish an endowment that funds need-based scholarships to Catholic students who also wish to earn an undergraduate degree.

Through the George Warren Pitman Scholarship Fund, college-bound Catholics can apply for renewable awards of up to $1,000, depending on the type of college (two-year, four-year or vocational) they plan to attend.

A total of 12 sophomores, three juniors and one senior are receiving scholarships. They will attend universities including: Appalachian State University, Belmont Abbey College, Catholic University of America, Duke University, High Point University, Lenoir-Rhyne University, N.C. State University, Purdue University, Queens University, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Wilmington, University of Dayton and University of Texas at Austin.

The application period for the George Pitman Scholarship runs from Dec. 3 to March 1. (For more information, contact Jim Kelley, development director for the Diocese of Charlotte, at 704-608-0359 or email jkkelley@ charlottediocese.org.)

“Mr. Pitman’s transformative gift continues to benefit Catholic students to attend a college or university of their choice,” Kelley said.

He added, “More and more people across the diocese are remembering the Church in their estate plans – gifts from thousands of dollars to millions – and we are thankful for their generosity.”

Those like Pitman who make a planned gift that benefits the diocese or any of its parishes, schools, ministries or agencies become members of the Catholic Heritage Society. The Catholic Heritage Society is comprised of more than 1,300 people in the diocese, many of whom are leaving gifts to the diocesan foundation in their wills.

Since 1994, the foundation has distributed $11 million to the diocese and its parishes, schools and ministries.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: BACK TO SCHOOL Wide range of faith formation options being offered

KIMBERLY BENDER ONLINE REPORTER

CHARLOTTE— Resuming faith formation classes this fall, like everything else, will be a bit different.

Some parishes will continue with online or app-based programs that were used for instruction when the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered most in-person instruction last spring. Others are returning to inperson classes with guidance and safety protocols provided by the diocese’s Faith Formation Office. And some parishes are providing both in-person and virtual instruction, giving families the option to choose which program works best for their needs.

“I am so very impressed by how our parishes have risen to the challenges brought by this COVID-19 reality as they plan and prepare to resume safely in the coming months,” said Paul Kotlowski, diocesan director of youth ministry. “Their planning has included various contingencies and creative modalities to ensure going forward regardless of what curves the virus throws at our communities.

“Outdoor classrooms, virtual gatherings and other means of maintaining outreach and connection are being employed across the diocese. I’m particularly impressed with the sensitivity to the concerns and fears of the families being served in these challenging times.”

Over the summer, a Faith Formation Task Force compiled guidelines and protocols for assisting parishes in planning their religious education programs for this academic year. Their recommendations focused on three areas: safety protocols and guidelines for in-person faith formation classes, technology resources for remote/virtual learning and communication, and faith formation resources to assist parishes.

Each parish can consider and apply the task force’s guidance depending on their specific needs.

“We find ourselves in unique and unprecedented times, and we understand that the circumstances and the needs of the local community can vary from parish to parish,” Chris Beal, diocesan director of faith formation, noted in an email sharing the guidelines with pastors and parish catechetical program leaders. “Let us remember, ‘the primary and essential object of catechesis is, the mystery of Christ… to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ.’

“As we plan to adapt our methodology to our current and ever-changing circumstances, let us remember that the core of our mission has not changed. As we consider what our programs look like and the ‘how’ in which they will be accomplished, remember our goal remains the same.”

Faith Formation resources

At www.charlottediocese.org/ev/covid19-faith-formation-resources: Read the diocesan Faith Formation Task Force’s safety procedures, and see a wide-ranging list of apps, websites and other resources to aid in faith formation at home

Your DSA contributions at work

The diocese’s Faith Formation Office is funded by contributions to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how you can contribute at www. charlottediocese.org/dsa.

Lay Ministry Formation Program opens this fall

CHARLOTTE — Classes will begin in October for the Diocese of Charlotte’s Lay Ministry Formation Program, an in-depth formation program for adults who want to better understand their faith and more deeply participate in the Church’s mission.

The Lay Ministry program runs for two years, with classes held in multiple locations across the diocese. It is designed for adults at all levels – anyone who may be interested in serving the Church or who simply wants to further their understanding of Church teaching, scripture, theology and spirituality.

When classes begin formators will be using a hybrid online/in-person instruction model for the 2020-’22 program. Classes will start online in October. In 2021, depending on the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, the program may be able to resume face-toface classes. Participants take a total of 150 class hours during the two-year program of study, which follows the academic year. The program offers English and Spanish tracks.

Participants will: n appreciate and understand more fully that they are called to and gifted for the lay apostolate by virtue of their baptism and confirmation, n be affirmed and grow in competence and confidence in their present ministries to and with others: the Church, their families and the community, n explore their personal gifts and how those gifts may be used in response to their baptismal call, and n grow in their Catholic faith.

Classes are being planned for Charlotte, Greensboro, Lenoir and the Asheville area, based on the number of participants who register. In-person classes in the 2020-2022 English program will meet on designated Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an hour for lunch. Sessions average about one every three weeks within the academic year.

In-person classes for Spanish program may be held in Charlotte and Hendersonville, depending on registrations. Classes will meet weekly on Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30 p.m.) in Charlotte and on Friday evenings (7-9 p.m.) in Hendersonville.

Participants must be registered at a parish, provide a recommendation letter from their pastor, commit to actively practicing their Catholic faith, and agree to begin praying at least one segment of the Liturgy of the Hours daily as a part of their regular prayer life.

For more information, contact Dr. Frank Villaronga, diocesan director of evangelization and adult education, at 704-370-3274 or go online to www. charlottediocese.org/ev/adult-education. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Your DSA contributions at work

The Lay Ministry Formation Program is funded in part by contributions to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how you can contribute at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.

St. Michael Catholic School Everything we do begins with Faith and ends with excellence.

Regina Caeli Academy is starting in Charlotte THIS August!

RCA supports families to provide an accredited, comprehensive, classical education in the Catholic tradition. The University-Style Hybrid™ approach offers both a strong family life enjoyed by homeschoolers and a formative, Socratic classroom experience for students (PreK3 - 12th grade).

Classes will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church (6828 Old Reid Rd., Charlotte NC 28210.

Students will be returning for face-to-face instruction on August 31st, 2020. St. Michael is still currently accepting applications, giving tours and is able to provide financial assistance to families who have been impacted by COVID-19

• Pre K – 8th Grade • Fully Accredited • NEW state-of-the-art STEM Lab and Makers Space • NEW Expanded Science Lab • NEW Special Needs Student Classroom • NEW Safety Protocols and Procedures for COVID-19 • Fine Arts • Athletics, Clubs and Activities www.stmichaelcs.com 704-865-4382 @smcs_tigers