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Seven seminarians admitted to candidacy for holy orders
from June 4, 2021
June 4, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Ordination liturgies slated for June 5, 19
SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER
CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte will hold two ordination Masses in June, and everyone is welcome to attend.
Last year’s ordinations were delayed and livestreamed due to limited in-person attendance during the coronavirus pandemic.
This year’s ordination liturgies will return to the traditional June schedule and will be open for in-person attendance at full capacity.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis will preside at both ordinations, which will take place at St. Mark Church, located at 14740 Stumptown Road in Huntersville.
TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE
The first ordination liturgy is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, when seminarians Darren Balkey and Aaron Huber will be ordained to the transitional diaconate.
The transitional diaconate is the final step before ordination to the priesthood. Once ordained deacons, Balkey and Huber can proclaim the Gospel at Mass, give homilies, baptize and officiate at weddings. They will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood, expected next June.
Balkey, 29, is the son of Steven and Sheryl Balkey. He was born and raised in State College, Pa., and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Belmont Abbey College. He is a Chaplain Candidate Program Officer and received his commission to the U.S. Navy last year.
He studied pre-theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and will complete his seminary studies in theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati.
A parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, he served summer assignments at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville, and Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Balkey says, “The deacon is ordained to proclaim the Gospel as he is continually configured to Christ the servant. This particular season in my vocation allows me to express my gratitude to Almighty God and the faithful for the many gifts bestowed upon me in a very tangible way. I am eager to serve.”
Huber, 24, is the son of Eric and Tamara Huber. He was born in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and grew up in Cruso, N.C. He is a graduate of St. Joseph College Seminary, and he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Belmont Abbey College. He will complete his seminary studies in theology at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.
A parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Church, Huber served summer assignments at St. Mark Church, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro and St. Elizabeth Church in Boone.
Huber says, “I am very excited to be entering the diaconate for the Diocese of Charlotte. Since I will be making promises to obedience, prayer and celibacy, my ordination day will be like one’s wedding day. On June 5, I will be committed to a life of service to God and His Church, and this knowledge fills me with immense joy.”
PRIESTHOOD
Deacon Juan Miguel Sanchez and Deacon Joseph Wasswa will be ordained to the priesthood during a 10 a.m. Mass Saturday, June 19.
Deacon Sanchez, 36, is the son of Ignacio Sanchez Yañez and Maria Garcia Perez. He was born in Ixtlahuacán del Río, Mexico, and grew up in Mexico.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in humanities and sciences from the Pontifical College Josephinum, and he is completing his seminary studies in theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
A parishioner of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, he served summer assignments at St. Eugene Church in Asheville, Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, St. Therese Church in Mooresville, and St. Thomas Aquinas Church.
Deacon Sanchez says, “It is an honor for me to be part of the Diocese of Charlotte and I am looking forward to serving the community.”
Deacon Wasswa, 32, is the son of Henry Gideon Kisekulo and Antonietta Namaganda. He was born in Kalisizo, Uganda, and grew up in Uganda.
He earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Katigondo-Masaka, Uganda, and is completing his seminary studies in theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum.
A parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, he served summer assignments there and at St. Ann and St. Thomas Aquinas churches in Charlotte, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva.
Deacon Wasswa says, “I am very grateful for the incredible support I have received from the people across the diocese, and I am really looking forward to serving them with all my heart, and leading them to heaven.”
Coming June 18
MORE ORDINATION COVERAGE will be featured in the June 18 edition of the Catholic News Herald and online at www. catholicnewsherald.com. Balkey Huber Sanchez Wasswa
SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER
CHARLOTTE — For the second year in a row, seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte stood before Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Patrick Cathedral during a livestreamed Mass and affirmed their desire to advance along the path toward the priesthood.
Seven men officially embarked on a more focused period of formation during the special Mass May 29 that featured the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders. The next steps in their formation are ministry of lector, ministry of acolyte, ordination to the transitional diaconate, and finally, ordination to the priesthood.
The seven men include: Christopher Angermeyer of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte; Anthony del Cid Lucero of St. Joseph Church, Newton; Nicholas Kramer of St. Barnabas Church, Arden; Luke Martin of St. Mark Church, Huntersville; Kolbe Murrey of St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon; James Tweed of Sacred Heart Church, Brevard; and Joseph Yellico of St. Mark Church, Huntersville.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis said, “My dear brothers, we are happy to accept your petitions for admission to candidacy and, today in this Mass, to accept you formally as candidates for holy orders and bestow upon you the official blessing designating you as candidates for holy orders. You join the ranks of your brother seminarian candidates who are ahead of you on their formation journeys.”
“Jesus in His love for you, has brought you along thus far in your path of discernment, and He will continue to lead you. Trust in Him. Give yourself to Him. Spend time with the Lord in prayer. He will give you the graces you need to grow in your vocation,” he told them.
Angermeyer, del Cid Lucero, Martin and Tweed will study this fall at The Athenaeum of Ohio (Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology) in Cincinnati.
Kramer, Murrey and Yellico will study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Of the opportunity to join fellow seminarians Christian Goduti and Matthew Harrison II studying in Rome, Yellico said, “It is certainly a humbling experience, I really never thought this would happen to me… but clearly the Lord had plans and the bishop wants me to go and train with that in mind. I will always be grateful for everything I will be able to experience there.”
SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD Bishop Peter Jugis presided over the Rite of Admission to Candidacy May 29 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte for seminarians (from left): Anthony del Cid Lucero; Kolbe Murrey; Nicholas Kramer; Christopher Angermeyer; James Tweed; Joseph Yellico; and Luke Martin.
Watch online and learn more
UPcoming events4 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
catholicnewsherald.com | June 4, 2021
Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events:
JUNE 5 – 10 A.M.
Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate
St. Mark Church, Huntersville JUNE 10 – 6 P.M.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, High Point JUNE 18 – 5 P.M.
Holy Hour for Priesthood Ordinands
St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
JUNE 8 – 6 P.M.
Sacrament of Confirmation
St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Maggie Valley JUNE 14 – 6 P.M.
Sacrament of Confirmation
St. Michael Church, Gastonia JUNE 19 – 10 A.M.
Liturgy of Ordination to the Priesthood
St. Mark Church, Huntersville
June 4, 2021
Volume 30 • NUMBER 18
1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org 704-370-3333
PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
STAFF
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Diocesan calendar of events
ESPAÑOL
UNA VIGILIA DE ADORACIÓN POR LA PAZ Y LA JUSTICIA EN NICARAGUA: Los jueves a las 6 p.m., nos reunimos en la Catedral San Patricio para, que en estos últimos meses está pasando por momentos turbulentos y ataques físicos contra la Iglesia Católica, sus templos, y sus Obispos. Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a la Adoración, rezar el Santo Rosario y la corona de adoración y reparación, y terminando con la oración de exorcismo de San Miguel Arcángel. La vigilia de oración es en español. Vigilias de junio: 10, 17 y 24. VIGILIA DE LOS DOS CORAZONES: Primer viernes y sábado del mes, en la Catedral San Patricio, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Únase cada primer viernes del mes a una vigilia nocturna para honrar los Corazones de Jesús y María, orar por nuestras familias, ofrecer penitencia por nuestros pecados y pedir por la conversión de nuestra nación. La devoción comienza el viernes 4 de Junio a las 8 p.m. con la celebración de la Santa Misa, seguido de Adoración nocturna y concluye con la Misa del sábado el 5 de Junio a las 8 a.m. Para inscribirse a una hora de Adoración, visite www. ProLifeCharlotte.org/dos-corazones.
PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS
VIGIL OF THE TWO HEARTS: First Fridays and First Saturdays, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Next vigil will be June 4-5, with Father Melchesideck Yumo as Friday’s celebrant. Join each First Friday through First Saturday of the month in an overnight vigil to honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and to offer penance and pray for the conversion of our nation. To sign up for Eucharistic Adoration times, go to www.ProLifeCharlotte.org/two-hearts. WESTERN N.C. RESPECT LIFE MEETING: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, June 26, St. John the Baptist Church, 180 Laurel Ave., Tryon. The Carolina Pro-Life Action Network of Western NC (C-PLAN) is hosting is next regional Respect Life meeting. All who are interested in becoming involved in pro-life activity are invited. For details, contact Joanne Gregory or Elizabeth Harris at ashevilleprolifecatholics@gmail.com. ‘DATE NIGHT WITH A SAINT’: 6 p.m. Thursdays, June 17-July 8, Catholic Conference Center, 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory. The evening begins with a light dinner, followed by a thought-provoking discussion on a particular saint: What are they? Where to they come from? How many angels are there? What do they do for us? What are their limitations? How do angels relate to demons? For those who choose, you could begin with an hour of Adoration and a blessing by Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The discussion will be led by Deacon Scott Gilfillan. For details and questions, contact him at sdgilfillan@ catholicconference.org or call 828-328-7441. 33-DAY CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH: Just as Jesus and Mary entrusted themselves entirely to the care and protection of St. Joseph as head of the Holy Family, so too can we follow their example. Consider making a consecration to St. Joseph using “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father” by Father Donald Calloway, MIC. Starting the 33-day series of prayers on Tuesday, July 20, would conclude on Saturday, Aug. 21, the feast of Our Lady of Knock. Learn more at www.yearofstjoseph.org. LATIN MASS AT THE CATHEDRAL: St. Patrick Cathedral will offer a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form (the Traditional Latin Mass) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 29 – the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. All are welcome.
“Religious Freedom Week 2021 – Solidarity in Freedom” will take place June 22-29, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced. The week-long celebration begins with the Feast of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, ends with the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, and includes the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Through prayer, education and public action, Religious Freedom Week promotes the importance of preserving the essential right of religious freedom, for now and the future, for Catholics and for those of all faiths. Daily prayer and reflection resources provided by the USCCB for each day of Religious Freedom Week are available in English and Spanish at www.usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek.
Semana de la Libertad Religiosa 2021: Solidaridad en libertad se llevará a cabo del 22 al 29 de junio. Recursos de oración y reflexión diarios para cada día de la Semana de la Libertad Religiosa estan disponsibles (en inglés y español) en www. usccb.org/ReligiousFreedomWeek.
— Joseph Purello
