Diocese marks Bishop Peter Jugis’ 20th anniversary

SPECIAL EDITION

A man for the times Diocese marks Bishop Peter Jugis’ 20th anniversary

OCTOBER 13, 2023

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Index Bishop Jugis’ pastoral and episcopal priorities 4B

Devotion to the Eucharist 8B-10B

Latino community enriches diocese’s growth, faith 12B-13B

Timeline: 2003-2023 15B-18B

Bishop Jugis’ pilgrimages to the Vatican 25B

Looking back: Ordination Day 2003 28B-29B

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During the leadership of Bishop Peter Jugis, the Diocese of Charlotte has experienced significant growth in parishes, schools and ministries. The diocese now has an estimated 530,000 Catholics from Greensboro, to Charlotte, to Asheville and beyond – nearly half of whom are Hispanic. At the annual Eucharistic Congress, the diversity of the diocese’s population is on full display.

‘A steady, calm hand’ Amid booming growth, diocese marks Bishop Jugis’ 20th anniversary Growth in our diocese Since 2003: n The Catholic population has more than doubled

to 530,000. n 22 churches have been dedicated. n 6 parishes have been elevated from missions/centers. n Over 120,000 people have been received

into the Church. n The Diocesan Support Appeal – which funds

more than 50 ministries, charitable outreach, seminarian education, and evangelization efforts across the diocese – has grown from $3.6 million in 2003 to $6.6 million in 2022. n 50 priests and 65 permanent deacons have been

ordained. n The number of seminarians has risen from 17

to 51 this year – the most in the diocese’s history. n Enrollment at St. Joseph College Seminary has

risen from 8 men at its opening in 2016 to 21 men. n The number of Catholic Heritage Society members –

people who have created endowments or intend to leave a bequest to the diocese or their parish – has grown from about 500 to over 1,600. n Catholic schools enrollment has hit a record 8,100.

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis stepped up to lead the Diocese of Charlotte at a turbulent time.

It was 2003 – a year after revelations of abuse in the Church had broken nationally, and the local demands of unprecedented growth also weighed on the diocese.

The diocese, which covers 46 counties in the western half of North Carolina, was still considered “mission territory” then, with limited resources and a small Catholic population – but an influx of Hispanic and other Catholics had already begun.

Established in 1972, the diocese had been well-positioned by its three previous bishops, who set up an administrative structure, launched new ministries, and bought up land throughout the territory.

But growth in the 1990s intensified the need for new churches, more priests, and a steady hand to guide the diocese – someone who was calm in a storm, who could keep people focused on God and His promise of salvation.

Pope John Paul II chose a local priest, Father Peter Jugis, for the task.

The pope himself had ordained Peter Jugis to the priesthood 20 years earlier in Rome. He was aware of Father Jugis’ service at 10 parishes across the diocese and was

confident that, as a Charlotte native, he was the “man for the times and for the place,” as Archbishop John Donoghue said during Bishop Jugis’ episcopal ordination on Oct. 24, 2003.

“Your heart, your soul, your roots are here in the hills and plains of North Carolina,” the archbishop told him. Bishops, he said, “must be strong, for themselves and for the Church they live and die to foster.”

Today, as the diocese marks the 20th anniversary of Bishop Jugis’ leadership, parishioners, priests and others who have worked with and watched him say the pope and archbishop called it right.

“The entire governance we’ve had under Bishop Jugis has been a steady, calm hand,” says Father Matthew Kauth, who has served under the bishop for 20 years. “Everything Kauth has been measured, and you can always expect there to be a certain dignity about both the office and his style of leadership. He’s a calming presence.”

GROWTH AND DIVERSITY

Much has changed during Bishop Jugis’ tenure.

The number of Catholics in the diocese has more than doubled to an estimated 530,000 – nearly half of whom are Hispanic. Fifty priests and 65 deacons have been ordained to serve here, thanks to the bishop’s unwavering promotion of vocations. He has also elevated six missions or ministry centers to parishes, consecrated 22 churches and numerous parish halls, and overseen the expansion of the diocese’s school system to 20 schools and record enrollment.

The diocese is no longer considered mission territory.

Winslow “What we’re experiencing is growth – from parish to parish, vicariate to vicariate, and region to region,” says Monsignor Patrick Winslow, who has worked closely with the bishop since 2019 as vicar general and chancellor of the diocese. “We have a tremendous influx of different ethnic groups coming from all around the world.

“To be our bishop during this time, over these past 20 years, to shepherd a Church for this extraordinary moment, well, let’s just say it’s an exciting time and we are grateful ANNIVERSARY, SEE PAGE 20B

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(Left and above) Bishop Jugis has consecrated 22 churches during his episcopacy, most recently earlier this year, when he blessed a new St. Luke Church in Mint Hill to accommodate the growing Catholic population east of Charlotte. (Top) More than 70,000 people have received the sacrament of confirmation since he became bishop in 2003.

Mano firme y calmada En medio de un crecimiento en auge, la diócesis celebra el 20 Aniversario de ordenación del Obispo Jugis PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter Jugis asumió la dirección de la Diócesis de Charlotte en un momento turbulento.

Era 2003, un año después de que las revelaciones de abusos en la Iglesia se conocieran a nivel nacional, y las demandas locales de un crecimiento sin precedentes también recaían sobre la diócesis.

La diócesis, que cubre 46 condados de la mitad occidental de Carolina del Norte, todavía se consideraba “territorio de misión” en ese entonces, con recursos limitados y una pequeña población católica, pero ya había comenzado una afluencia de hispanos y otros católicos.

Establecida en 1972, la diócesis había sido bien posicionada por sus tres obispos anteriores, quienes establecieron una estructura administrativa, lanzaron nuevos ministerios y compraron terrenos en todo el territorio. Pero el crecimiento en la década de 1990 intensificó la necesidad de nuevas iglesias, más sacerdotes y una mano firme para guiar a la diócesis: alguien que permaneciera tranquilo en una tormenta, que pudiera mantener a la gente enfocada en Dios y en Su promesa de salvación.

El Papa Juan Pablo II eligió a un sacerdote local, el Padre Peter Jugis, para la tarea.

El mismo Papa había ordenado sacerdote a Pedro Jugis 20 años antes en Roma. Sabía del servicio del Padre Jugis en 10 parroquias de toda la diócesis y estaba seguro de que, como nativo de Charlotte, era el “hombre para el tiempo y lugar”, como dijo el Arzobispo John Donaghue durante la ordenación episcopal del Obispo Jugis el 24 de octubre de 2003.

“Tu corazón, tu alma, tus raíces están aquí, en las

colinas y llanuras de Carolina del Norte”, le dijo el arzobispo. Los obispos, dijo, “deben ser fuertes, por sí mismos y por la Iglesia por la que viven y mueren”.

“Todo el gobierno que hemos tenido bajo el Obispo Jugis ha sido de mano firme y tranquila”, dijo el Padre Matthew Kauth, quien ha servido bajo el obispo durante 20 años.

“Todo ha sido medido, y siempre se puede esperar que haya una certera dignidad tanto en el cargo como en su estilo de liderazgo. Es una presencia tranquilizadora”.

CRECIMIENTO Y DIVERSIDAD

Mucho ha cambiado durante el tiempo del Obispo Jugis.

El número de católicos en la diócesis se ha más que duplicado a un estimado de 530,000, casi la mitad de los cuales son hispanos. Cincuenta sacerdotes han sido ordenados para servir aquí, gracias a la inquebrantable promoción de las vocaciones por parte del obispo.

También ha elevado seis misiones o centros ministeriales a parroquias, consagrado 22 iglesias y numerosos salones parroquiales, y supervisado la expansión del sistema escolar de la diócesis a 20 escuelas con un récord de inscripciones.

“Lo que estamos experimentando es este crecimiento, de parroquia en parroquia, de vicariato en vicariato y de región en región”, dijo Monseñor Patrick Winslow, quien ha trabajado en estrecha colaboración con el obispo desde 2019 como vicario general y canciller de la diócesis.

“Tenemos una tremenda afluencia de diferentes grupos étnicos que vienen de todo el mundo.

“Ser nuestro obispo durante este tiempo, durante estos últimos 20 años, para guiar una Iglesia en este momento extraordinario, bueno, digamos que es un momento emocionante y estamos agradecidos por todo lo que el Obispo Jugis ha podido hacer para guiarnos a través de él”.

El crecimiento ha sido particularmente evidente en la última parroquia donde el Obispo Jugis sirvió antes de convertirse en obispo: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe. El entonces Padre Jugis ministró a 466 familias registradas. Veinte años después, la parroquia se ha disparado a más de 1.600 familias.

El actual párroco de la iglesia de Monroe, Padre Benjamin Roberts, conoce los desafíos relacionados con el crecimiento y cómo el Obispo Jugis ha abordado su ministerio. Lo compara con San Ignacio de Antioquía, un obispo de principios del siglo II que predicó constantemente la fe y la unidad a pesar de los desafíos de su época. El santo fue descrito de esta manera, dice: “Con su bondad y mansedumbre, manifiesta la misma mansedumbre de Dios.

Siempre he pensado en el Obispo Jugis de esa manera: él manifiesta la misma mansedumbre de Dios”.

Nacido con una gran compasión por los demás, el obispo también demuestra una fuerte determinación, dicen los sacerdotes. En 2004, menos de seis meses después de convertirse en obispo, se disculpó públicamente con las víctimas de abuso durante su primera homilía del Miércoles de Ceniza en la Catedral San Patricio. La diócesis justamente había reportado alegatos contra 13 sacerdotes en ese momento para un estudio nacional sobre el problema. A lo largo de su servicio, el Obispo Jugis se ha mantenido enfocado en proteger a los niños y promover la sanación de las víctimas de las historias de abuso.

“El obispo se ha reunido regularmente con víctimas de abusos que ocurrieron mucho antes de su tiempo, y contrató a auditores independientes para que revisaran nuestros registros e identificaran y publicaran todas las acusaciones creíbles de abuso por parte del clero, como ANIVERSARIO, PASA A LA PÁGINA 21B

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Bishop Jugis’ four episcopal priorities Catechesis “I want you to know your faith, and to be strong in your faith. I want you to know Jesus, so that you can say to Him right away without hesitation, ‘Yes, Lord,’ when He calls you to be a priest or a sister, or a deacon or a brother, or when He calls you to be a Christian husband or wife, or father or mother. I want you to know Him well, so you can tell Him, “Yes, Lord.

Here I am. I love You. I wish to serve You in whatever way You ask.”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the diocese’s first Eucharistic Congress, 2005

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Six pastoral priorities for the diocese

Evangelization “In my visits to parishes to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation, I have reminded the confirmation students that as confirmed Catholics they are now Christ’s ambassadors – that they are to represent Christ to others. That is why Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the Apostles at Pentecost – so that they would be His witnesses, His ambassadors in the world, and that is why He gives the Holy Spirit at confirmation. ‘But,’ I remind them, ‘you cannot be effective as Christ’s ambassadors unless you really know Him well and become His friend. You can’t represent someone unless you know that person.’ The knowledge we are talking about here is more than intellectual knowledge. It is, as Pope Benedict says, a knowledge of the heart...”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the 2007 Eucharistic Congress

Vocations “In the Gospel He tells us: The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. This is what He expects of you. You will lay down your life in service to Christ as you visit the sick for the sacrament of anointing, as you absolve from sins in the sacrament of penance, as you offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the nourishment of Christ’s sheep, as you teach the Gospel, as you celebrate the sacraments. It is all about Jesus, and the salvation of your brothers and sisters. It is Christ whom we proclaim.”

— Homily from the 2010 ordination Mass

The Eucharist “There are many, many ways that Jesus is with you always. He is with us in the sacraments. ... He is with you in your prayer. He is present where two or three are gathered in His name. He is with us in His Word. He is with us in the person of His sacred minister: the bishop, the priest, or the deacon. He is present in the poor, the sick and the imprisoned.

“But, of all these ways that Jesus is with us always, He is especially with us in a totally unique way in the Holy Eucharist. In the Eucharist, He is present in the fullest sense of the word ‘present,’ meaning it is a substantial Presence of Jesus Christ unlike the other presences of Christ.

The whole Christ is truly present, His Body and His Blood, together with His soul and divinity. ...

“Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for you.

Resolve to deepen your relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. You are probably very busy, as most people are nowadays. But there is someone waiting for you at Church, in the tabernacle. And I do say Some-One, not some-thing. It is the Lord Jesus who is waiting for you.”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress 2023

Catholics and communities across the Diocese of Charlotte are noticing a shift or renewed emphasis on certain priorities of the Church, as Bishop Peter Jugis rolled out an ambitious agenda following the diocese’s participation in a worldwide Synod of Bishops that Pope Francis convened to listen and consult with the People of God about envisioning the future of the Church.

More than 7,000 Catholics took part in over 400 listening sessions in the diocesan synod from October 2021 to June 2022 on the Synod’s theme of “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”

In a letter to the faithful read during Masses on April 16, 2023, Bishop Jugis touched on “busy lives bombarded by distracting and worldly messages” and called for increased unity, outreach and focus on the Holy Eucharist – especially important in an ever-growing diocese that now has more than 530,000 Catholics. He announced six pastoral priorities after reflecting on testimonies and needs highlighted during the diocesan synod discussions: n Renew and anchor our lives in the Holy Eucharist n Draw from our communion with Christ to strengthen

the Communion of the Church and the family n Inspire youth to find their home in the Church

n Inspire lives of personal holiness highlighting

the beauty of chaste love n More effectively evangelize in the digital age n Prepare for future growth

‘Jesus says of Himself that He came not to be served but to serve. He is the model for us to follow. The Lord has given us a diocese full of dedicated priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and lay faithful eager to participate in the Church’s mission of salvation. It is a great joy to serve in the Diocese of Charlotte.’

— Bishop Peter Jugis, on the occasion of his 20th anniversary

Leadership accomplishments Since his ordination as the fourth Bishop of Charlotte, Bishop Peter Jugis has: n Guided the diocese through unprecedented growth in the Catholic

population, which has more than doubled from 2003 to an estimated 530,000 Catholics in 2023. n Established the annual Eucharistic Congress in 2005, which now

draws more than 10,000 people to Charlotte each fall to celebrate our Catholic faith. n Founded St. Joseph College Seminary in 2016 to form priests for

the diocese from among the parishes they will one day serve. In 2020, he opened a permanent home for the seminary program in Mount Holly, with capacity for 40 seminarians and room to grow. n Led the diocese through the aftermath of abuse revelations,

installing robust safety protocols that embraced the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and launching the Diocese of Charlotte’s Accountability website and abuse reporting hotline. n Fostered diversity and inclusion of Catholics from all backgrounds

and cultures, especially Spanish-speaking Catholics, as well as welcomed and supported communities of other Catholic rites in the universal Church. In 2009, he issued a comprehensive Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry that has made the Diocese of Charlotte a model for the country. n Enhanced diocesan ministries, services and administration

through successful fundraising including the unprecedented “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign that received $54 million from parishioners and donors. n Oversaw the growth of the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation to

349 endowments in 2023, with more than 1,600 Catholic Heritage Society members. n Oversaw the rebranding of Catholic Social Services to Catholic

Charities Diocese of Charlotte in 2013 and expansion of Catholic

Charities’ outreach throughout the diocese, most recently with the opening of a location in North Wilkesboro. n Led the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022,

harnessing technology to minister to people at home, while also carrying on safe in-person worship, education and charitable work. n Led the diocesan-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the

Diocese of Charlotte in 2022 with the theme “Faith More Precious Than Gold.” n Oversaw the Diocese of Charlotte’s participation in the worldwide

Synod on Synodality – which encompassed more than 400 listening sessions with over 7,000 Catholics – and issued six pastoral priorities that summarized key needs identified by the faithful. n Championed the strengthening of families and protection of all

human life, participating regularly in annual Marches for Life in Charlotte and in Washington, D.C., preaching on the value of life and the sanctity of marriage, advocating for the protection of traditional marriage in civil law, and in 2021, establishing the Diocese of Charlotte’s Family Life Office to grow the diocese’s pastoral outreach to families. n Supported ecumenism, especially with the reaffirmation in 2007

and 2019 of the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Renewal n Fostered Catholic education, opening and expanding Catholic

schools and appointing a second vicar of education whose role is to focus on Catholic education. n Since the start of his episcopacy in 2003, has issued calls to holy

orders for the ordinations of 50 new priests and 65 permanent deacons for service in the Diocese of Charlotte. n From 2004 to 2022, canonically established six new parishes in

the Diocese of Charlotte, elevating former mission churches and centers to parish status.

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BISHOP JUGIS: Calm, intentional, faithful ‘Steadfast leadership’

‘We’re so grateful’

Bishop Jugis, I would like to congratulate you on your upcoming jubilee anniversaries – 20 years as the fourth Bishop of Charlotte and 40 years as a priest. Your steadfast leadership of one of America’s fastest growing dioceses is a testament to your love of Jesus and His Church. As you gather for the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress, I want to thank you for your remarkable example of service to the people of God.

Bishop Jugis, in 20 years you’ve been bringing the Body of Christ to the faithful here in western North Carolina. We’re so grateful, and we ask God to bless you in your ministry.

MONSIGNOR ANTHONY MARCACCIO, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro

‘A desire to get back to God’

ARCHBISHOP GREGORY HARTMAYER of the Atlanta Province

He’s a man with a sort of an interior temperament, one that I think finds its rest in prayer with God. He has always been very generous about sharing his time with me, with my brother seminarians, and with all the faithful. He has quite the reputation for remembering everybody that he’s spoken with and for driving those around him a little bit mad sometimes by his insistence that he stays to shake hands with everybody, to speak with everybody, and to address everybody by their name, which he remembers.

But at the back of that, I know that there’s always a Bishop Jugis who desires to get back to God.

‘A true shepherd’ When you consider the fact that we’re over half a million Catholics in western North Carolina, the bishop has done a tremendous job. What we’re experiencing is growth – from parish to parish, vicariate to vicariate, and region to region. Places like Catholic Charities are having to step up to meet the needs of the growing community. Parishes are having to build and expand to meet and accommodate the growth that we’re experiencing.

We have a tremendous influx of different ethnic groups coming from all around the world. To be our bishop during this time, over these past 20 years, to shepherd a Church for this extraordinary moment, well, let’s just say it’s an exciting time and we are grateful for all Bishop Jugis has been able to do in leading us through it.

FATHER BRIAN BECKER, vocations promoter for the Diocese of Charlotte vocations program

‘We have a family’

MONSIGNOR PATRICK WINSLOW, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte

‘Joyful service’ One of the things that I think has marked his 20 years of service as a bishop is his joy. Obviously, he’s a quiet person, but when you see Bishop Jugis with people, there’s just a joy that shows up on his face, and the Eucharistic Congress is the perfect example of that. The Eucharistic Congress is really for all of us a homecoming. It’s where we come to revitalize and to get reconnected and to remind ourselves of why we’re doing all this. There’s good news that Jesus Christ is here in Charlotte and wants to minister to anyone who will open their heart to Him. FATHER JOHN PUTNAM, judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte and pastor of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

Devoted to the Eucharist

A wry sense of humor On the evening that Bishop Jugis installed me as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, before the liturgy, he took me into the room in the old rectory where he had received the phone call that he would be Bishop of Charlotte. He stood right in this one spot, looked down, and said, “This is where I was when I accepted the call to be the Bishop of Charlotte. Now, let me go and install you as pastor here.” Then he asked for the keys to the church because he said he would symbolically give them back to me, and after the liturgy, I asked him, “Bishop, where are the keys?” and he smiled, “Oh, I was going to keep them and just stay.”

FATHER BENJAMIN ROBERTS, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe

Bishop Jugis, I want to thank you for all you have done for our Hispanic community. We recognize the greatness that you have brought into our diocese, and in working with our Hispanic ministry, I have to say that they are very grateful to you, especially because you bring to us that great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and that personal way that you live that relationship with the Lord. You’ve helped us to realize that it is not about our ministry, it’s not about how much we do, but about how much we live in that relationship with the Lord.

‘Strong pillar of faith’

FATHER JULIO DOMINGUEZ, vicar of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte

‘No more important message than the Gospel’

‘A love for his flock’ He’s meant a lot to me. Seeing how much he cares for his flock, and that is something that’s inspired me for my own part to really care for my own flock, just seeing how much he loves his diocese. I hope to do the same for the people entrusted to my care.

FATHER CHINONSO NNEBE-AGUMADU, parochial vicar of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

Bishop Jugis has always been a prayerful man, very humble, and his humility and prayer life have just really been a huge example for me and, I believe, all the faithful.

He’s really that strong pillar of faith for me and all the faithful.

FATHER JONATHAN TORRES, chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School

One thing that Bishop Jugis is really fantastic about is being very intentional and prepared about what he has to say and how he wants to bring that to people. That’s especially important to the military. I’m a military officer in addition to being a priest. There’s a right way to bring across an important message, and there’s no more important message than the Gospel.

FATHER DARREN BALKEY, U.S. Navy chaplain and parochial vicar at St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte

The Lord Jesus Christ did not leave us orphaned. He left us in the hands of His Apostles, who in turn left us in the hands of priests, all the way down the line to feed us with the holy sacraments, to assist us on our way to salvation. We’re not by ourselves; we have a family. A parish doesn’t exist without a priest because the Eucharist doesn’t exist without a priest, and Bishop Jugis knows the essential importance of that reality.

The entire governance that we’ve had under Bishop Jugis has been a steady, calm hand.

FATHER MATTHEW KAUTH, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary

A love for his people I have had the great honor and privilege of serving the diocese by assisting Bishop Jugis in various ways for almost the entirety of his 20 years. I think of two things that I know about him. First, he loves the Lord, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. One of the greatest honors we can give the bishop would be to strive to deepen our own devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Second, he loves the people of the diocese. He spends a great deal of time in prayer for the diocese, and I know that if he tells someone he will pray for them, he will. Actually, there is a third: he loves his priests. To my brother priests, in those times you are struggling, your bishop, your father, loves you and prays for you daily.

FATHER CHRISTOPHER ROUX, rector and pastor of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte

‘Pray for me, pray for the diocese’ Growing up in western North Carolina past Asheville, when I was a young kid, I would serve whenever I could and certainly whenever the bishop came. When he came the first time, I introduced myself to him. I told him my name and he said, “Thank you for serving.” The second time, I introduced myself to him again, imagining that he probably wouldn’t remember me because I was so far away from Charlotte and at a small parish. Before I was even able to introduce myself, he said, “Aaron, it’s nice to see you again.” I was taken aback. He was so confident. He wasn’t trying to search for the name, he just knew. He gave me and the other servers a prayer card and the rosaries he carries around to give to people and said, “Pray for me, pray for the diocese, and pray for your vocation.”

FATHER AARON HUBER, chaplain of Christ the King High School

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OUR DIOCESE: The Eucharistic Congress

Bishop Jugis leads the Eucharistic Procession through the streets of uptown Charlotte at the diocese’s “family reunion,” the Eucharistic Congress.

The Eucharistic Congress attracts more than 10,000 people each fall for prayer, worship and fellowship. Its companion youth event, the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage held each spring, attracts more than 1,000 young people.

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Devotion to the Eucharist Bishop Jugis calls faithful to unity in the Real Presence CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS cknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Before 2005, a Eucharistic Procession had never made its way through the streets of uptown Charlotte.

That changed, thanks to the vision of Bishop Peter Jugis, who was inspired by then-Pope John Paul II’s announcement of the “Year of the Eucharist” in 2004.

Taking the words to heart of the now saint who had ordained him two decades before, plans were set to hold the Diocese of Charlotte’s first Eucharistic Congress in September 2005.

That first Congress drew approximately 7,000 people and became an annual event that has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the nation, regularly drawing 10,000 Catholics or more from across the diocese and neighboring states. The faithful gather for two days of worship, prayer and fellowship, line the downtown streets and watch joyfully and prayerfully from the sidewalks as the event’s signature mile-long Eucharistic Procession makes its way from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center.

The bishop wanted an event that would both strengthen people’s faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and unite Catholics from around the 46 counties in the diocese, said Father Roger Arnsparger, vicar of education and pastor of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, who helped organize the inaugural event in 2005, and has served as chair of the Eucharistic Congress steering committee since then.

“Bishop Jugis’ idea of a diocesan family gathering centered on the Eucharist has united our people and strengthened our understanding of the Eucharistic mysteries,” Father Arnsparger said. “God has been

praised and we all have been blessed.”

That vision has been more than fulfilled as the Congress has grown in attendance over the past 19 years: from 7,000 attendees in its first year, and the largest crowd recorded in 2015, when keynote speaker Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York drew more than 14,000 people.

“Over the years it has been a real joy to participate in the Congress and watch the reunions of parishioners from all over the diocese and the visitors from other dioceses,” Father Arnsparger said.

Christopher Beal, director of faith formation for the diocese, agrees, recalling first attending the Congress when he was a youth minister at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury and now helps to organize the event each year.

“It is especially profound to see the young people participate in the procession and the youth track at the Congress because it is so important for them to see the community they belong to,” Beal said. “It helps to solidify who they are as Catholics.”

Mary Catherine Surface, a member of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, first attended the Congress in 2007 as a volunteer with the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group and has handled volunteer recruitment for the event for more than 10 years. She recalls her amazement at seeing so many Catholics gathered in one place, a truly rare event in western North Carolina – and much of the Southeast – where Catholics have been in the minority for generations.

“The Congress has borne great fruit for our diocese, which you can see through its growth and the explosion of vocations over the years since it started,” Surface said.

“I really believe that is due in large part to Bishop Jugis’ love for the Eucharist and his beautiful, prayerful spirit.

His commitment to the Eucharist has enabled him to spread that devotion far and wide.”

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Un legado dedicado a la Eucaristía CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS cknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Antes de 2005, una Procesión Eucarística jamás había recorrido las calles del centro de Charlotte.

Eso cambió gracias a la visión del Obispo Peter Jugis, quien se inspiró en el anuncio del entonces Papa Juan Pablo II del “Año de la Eucaristía” en 2004. Tomando en serio las palabras del santo que lo ordenó sacerdote dos décadas antes, se establecieron planes para celebrar el primer Congreso Eucarístico de la Diócesis de Charlotte en septiembre de 2005. El padre Roger Arnsparger, vicario y párroco de la Basílica San Lorenzo en Asheville, aceptó colaborar con la organización del primer evento y ha servido como presidente del comité directivo del Congreso desde entonces.

Ese primer Congreso atrajo a aproximadamente siete mil personas y se convirtió en un evento anual que se ha convertido en uno de los más grandes de su tipo en toda la nación, congregando regularmente a más de diez mil católicos de toda la Diócesis de Charlotte y los estados vecinos. Los fieles se reúnen durante dos días de

adoración, oración y compañerismo, se alinean en las calles del centro y observan en oración desde las aceras el paso de la procesión que se abre camino desde la Iglesia San Pedro hasta el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte.

El obispo tuvo una visión de un evento que fortalecería la fe de las personas en la Presencia Real de Cristo en la Eucaristía y sería una forma de unir a los católicos de los 46 condados de la diócesis, dijo el Padre Arnsparger.

Esa visión se ha concretado con creces a medida que el Congreso ha crecido en asistencia en los últimos 19 años. A la fecha, la multitud más grande se reunió en 2015, cuando el orador principal, el Cardenal Timothy Dolan de Nueva York, atrajo a más de 14 mil personas.

“A lo largo de los años ha sido una verdadera alegría participar en el Congreso y ver las reuniones de los feligreses de toda la diócesis y los visitantes de otras diócesis”, dijo el padre Arnsparger.

El Congreso ha tenido un profundo impacto en personas de todas las edades en toda la diócesis, según Christopher Beal, director de formación en la fe diocesano, quien recuerda haber asistido por primera vez al Congreso cuando era ministro de jóvenes en la Iglesia Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury, y ahora ayuda a organizar el evento

cada año.

“Es especialmente profundo ver a los jóvenes participar en la procesión y las sesiones juveniles en el Congreso, porque es muy importante para ellos ver la comunidad a la que pertenecen”, dijo Beal. “Ayuda a concretar la idea de quiénes son como católicos”.

Mary Catherine Surface, miembro de la Iglesia San Mateo en Charlotte, asistió por primera vez al Congreso en 2007 como voluntaria con las Mujeres Católicas de Charlotte y se ha encargado del reclutamiento de voluntarios para el evento por más de 10 años. Ella recuerda su asombro al ver a tantos católicos reunidos en un solo lugar, un evento verdaderamente raro en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, y gran parte del sureste, donde los católicos han sido minoría durante generaciones.

“El Congreso ha dado grandes frutos para nuestra diócesis, que se pueden ver a través de su crecimiento y la explosión de vocaciones a lo largo de los años desde que comenzó”, dijo Surface. “Realmente creo que se debe en gran parte al amor del Obispo Jugis por la Eucaristía y su hermoso espíritu de oración. Su compromiso con la Eucaristía le ha permitido difundir esa devoción en todas partes”.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 10B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

OUR DIOCESE: The Eucharistic Congress ‘God has been praised’

‘The source and summit’

A treasure in the Congress

Bishop Jugis’s idea of a diocesan family gathering centered on the Eucharist has united our people and strengthened our understanding of the Eucharistic mysteries. God has been praised and we all have been blessed.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic life and the key to evangelization. It took an incredible vision from Bishop Jugis to put such an emphasis on the beautiful witness of evangelization and to make the Blessed Sacrament a key focal point for the people of North Carolina. Just the sheer sight of 10,000 people in the streets of downtown Charlotte is a source of profound awe for people who view it, whether they are Catholics or not.

My first visit to the Eucharistic Congress has been a wonderful and enlightening experience. For me, it’s a chance to deepen my faith in Jesus’ Presence in the Eucharist and His place as the center of everything we do. The realization of how important the Eucharist has been the biggest part of this for me. Bishop Jugis, you have given us a treasure through this Congress.

FATHER ROGER ARNSPARGER, chairman of the Eucharistic Congress committee and vicar of education for catechetical formation for the Diocese of Charlotte

A part of his flock I come to the Eucharistic Congress every year because I have such a devotion to the Eucharist. I developed it when I used to do a middle of the night shift of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During that time, I shared my faith with people who wandered into the chapel in the middle of the night. Through that time I fell so in love with Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s the summit of my life and my everything. The speakers at the Congress this year are all so wonderful and have had a personal impact me. You can see the love of Christ through them. I am so thankful to Bishop Jugis for this gift of the Congress. I love being part of His flock here in western North Carolina.

BARBARA FREEMAN, member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa

Show of faith n Started in 2005 n Our diocese’s response to

the Church’s “Year of the Eucharist” called for by Pope John Paul II n One of the few such events

held annually, and one of the largest in the U.S. n Draws 10,000-plus people

to Charlotte each fall from across the diocese and beyond n Nearly a mile-long

Eucharistic Procession through uptown Charlotte that takes over an hour to complete n Celebration of Catholic

unity and diversity

CHRISTOPHER BEAL, director of faith formation for the Diocese of Charlotte

‘Blessed us with his leadership’

VIVIAN WAKEFIELD, member of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville

A Church on the right path

This is my 10th time attending the Congress. I love coming to it because for me it is a gathering of all of us, children of God coming together to honor Him and be with Him. I am grateful to Bishop Jugis for creating the Congress. He has blessed us with his leadership. Activities like the Congress help us to walk in the faith. It promotes a sense of unity and belonging, and makes me realize I need to constantly try to give back to my Church. I do that currently as a catechist at my parish, and my husband and 16-year-old daughter are catechists as well. I realize that we can always do more to promote the faith.

It’s a great experience to be at the Congress surrounded by our Catholic family of all difference backgrounds and nationalities. I especially looked forward to the Mass that is the culmination of the gathering. I’m so grateful to Bishop Jugis for starting it and for his leadership. His leadership has been a quiet and persistent leadership, and he is actually the reason my husband and I are living here. We came here because we were looking for a location where the Church is on the right path, and we came here in 2006 when we learned what Bishop Jugis was doing.

This is a diocese with a bishop who is not afraid to speak the truth.

GRACIELA LOPEZ, member of St. Michael Parish in Gastonia

FRANCES LIBERTO, member of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 12B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

OUR DIOCESE: Hispanic Ministry

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Thousands pray, sing, and dance at the 2023 Eucharistic Procession.

Hispanic community enriches diocese’s growth, faith CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — In the 1990s, North Carolina began to receive its first major influx of Latino migrants, partly due to the booming textile industry at the time. With the fast-growing population, then-Bishop William Curlin established the first diocesan Hispanic Ministry. Today, the growth, development, expansion and strength of Hispanic Ministry is due to the strong spiritual guidance and support that Bishop Peter Jugis has devoted during his episcopacy.

The early direction of Hispanic ministry in the diocese was led by Sister Pilar Dalmau, followed by Father Vincent Finnerty. In 2002, a year before Bishop Jugis’ appointment as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Sister Andrea Inkrott assumed the leadership of the ministry. At that time, then-Father Jugis was serving as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, giving special attention to the rapidly growing Latino community. Parishioner Rosa Elba Gutiérrez said she witnessed that he did everything possible to serve all communities as pastor.

“He doesn’t like to attract attention, he does everything with a quiet humility,” she said. “In Monroe he established English and catechism classes for the Hispanic population.

We were delighted with the commitment and attention he gave us. He is very attentive to Hispanics, and he knew how to organize the community and prepare us for service to others.”

PLAN AND PROGRESS

In 2009, reiterating his commitment to the Latino community, Bishop Jugis released a long-term Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry in the diocese – a document that even 14 years later serves as a strong foundation for the mission of the entire ministry.

The plan, based on a 2002 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops publication, “Encounter and Mission: A renewed pastoral framework for the Hispanic Ministry,” recognized

the increasing presence of Hispanics in the Church.

In the introductory prologue, Bishop Jugis said he was happy to present the pastoral plan, “which will help to guide our growth in Christ as a diocesan family over the next three years,” through evangelization, service and leadership role development among Hispanic Catholics.

Deacon Eduardo Bernal highlighted that when Bishop Jugis instituted the Eucharistic Congress in 2005, it became “an important meeting point for the Latino community, and we are strengthened in it.”

“Bishop Jugis has been able to interpret the changing times and has facilitated the presence and expression of the different communities of Catholics throughout the diocese,” Deacon Bernal added.

In 2010, Bishop Jugis established the role of Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and appointed Father Fidel Melo to the position. By then, the diocese already had nearly doubled its population of Hispanic Catholics.

Father Melo said the bishop’s pastoral plan would facilitate “the complete incorporation of Hispanics into the life of the Church and its mission, to be evangelizing missionaries for the Church and society, without distinction of race, culture or language.”

Hispanic ministry, Father Melo noted, is more than just about providing Spanish-language services and sacraments.

“It is to emphasize the cultural language, familiarizing the laity with the faith and incorporating people from different backgrounds. Our mission is to bring people closer to God,” he said.

In 2020, Bishop Jugis appointed Father Julio César Domínguez to succeed Father Melo as Episcopal Vicar of Hispanic Ministry, a position he still holds.

Now, the number of Hispanic Catholics in the diocese makes up approximately half the total Catholic population in the diocese. In addition, two-thirds of the diocese’s 92 parishes offer Spanish or bilingual Masses.

UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT

Today, thanks to the planning of Bishop Jugis and

his unconditional support for the Latino community, Hispanic Ministry in the diocese is an example of unique development at the national level. The ministry now has the position of episcopal vicar and an assistant to the vicar – plus 10 coordinators of Hispanic ministry, one for each vicariate of the diocese, as staff on the payroll.

Bishop Jugis is also a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI), which offers evangelization, catechetical and leadership courses for coordinators and lay people engaged in pastoral work.

In 2016, with the goal of increasing priestly vocations among the youth of the diocese, Bishop Jugis created St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, where men discern a call to the priesthood while pursuing undergraduate studies in philosophy at Belmont Abbey College. By establishing a seminary in the diocese, the faithful have the chance to encounter and support vocations in a deeper and closer way. Bishop Jugis requires all seminarians to take Spanish courses and conclude their studies with an advanced knowledge of the language.

Father Dominguez said that since our bishop came to the diocese, “the two things I have seen in him that have particularly impacted me and made me grow as a priest are, first, his love for the Eucharist. We see this very clearly with the institution of the annual Eucharistic Congress and the dedication of several Adoration chapels in parishes as a fruit of this diocesan effort. The second is the promotion of vocations. When I was pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, I marveled at how the bishop identified with the young people and gave them a rosary to pray for their vocation.

This manner of calling was surprising to the young people, because, although not everyone entered the seminary, at least it made them aware of God’s call in their lives.”

Father Dominguez also highlighted Bishop Jugis’ commitment to Hispanic Ministry. “He has always been present and supported the evangelization and formation programs that we have brought to him as a team. For this, and many other things, we are very happy that he is the spiritual guide of our diocese.”

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 13B

Compromiso con el Ministerio Hispano CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — El Ministerio Hispano diocesano fue instituído por el fallecido Obispo William Curlin, pero el crecimiento, desarrollo, expansión y fortaleza que muestra hoy en día se debe al decidido apoyo espiritual y material que el Obispo Peter Jugis le ha brindado a lo largo de su obispado.

Durante la última década del siglo pasado, la ciudad de Charlotte comenzó a recibir sus primeros migrantes latinos, la mayoría de ellos de origen ecuatoriano y cubano, atraídos por la industria textil.

La dirección inicial del ministerio hispano recayó en la hermana Pilar Dalmau y luego el Padre Vicente Finnerty. En 2002, un año antes de la designación del Obispo Jugis como Obispo de Charlotte, la hermana Andrea Inkrott asumió la conducción del ministerio.

En 2003, el entonces Padre Jugis se desempeñaba como párroco de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe. La Sra. Rosa Elba Gutiérrez dijo ser testigo de que hizo todo lo posible para atender a todas las comunidades.

“No le gusta llamar la atención, hace todo sin que se note mucho. En Monroe estableció clases de inglés y catecismo. Nosotros estuvimos encantados con él. Lo queremos mucho. Es muy atento con los hispanos y supo organizar a la comunidad preparándola para el servicio”, resaltó.

PLAN Y AVANCES

asistente del vicario, y diez coordinadores de ministerio hispano, uno por cada vicaría de la diócesis, como personal en nómina.

El Obispo Jugis es también miembro de la junta directiva del Instituto Pastoral del Sureste (SEPI), que ofrece cursos de evangelización, catequéticos y de liderazgo para los coordinadores y laicos comprometidos con el trabajo pastoral.

En 2016, con el objetivo de incrementar las vocaciones sacerdotales entre los jóvenes de la diócesis, el Obispo Jugis creó el Seminario Universitario San José, donde los hombres disciernen un llamado al sacerdocio mientras cursan estudios universitarios en filosofía en Belmont Abbey College. Después de cuatro años de funcionamiento provisional en los terrenos de la parroquia Santa

En 2009, reiterando su compromiso con la comunidad latina, el Obispo Jugis presentó su Plan Pastoral para el Ministerio Hispano en la Diócesis de Charlotte, un documento que hasta hoy, pese al paso de los años, sirve como guía de desarrollo.

El plan, basado en una publicación de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos, ‘Encuentro y Misión, un marco pastoral renovado para el Ministerio Hispano’, publicado en 2002, reconocía la presencia de los hispanos en la Iglesia en Estados Unidos y la calificaba como una “bendición”.

En el prólogo de presentación, el Obispo Jugis dijo estar feliz de presentar el plan pastoral, “que ayudará a guiar nuestro crecimiento en Cristo como familia diocesana durante los próximos tres años”, mediante la evangelización, servicio y desarrollo de roles de liderazgo entre los católicos hispanos.

El Diácono Eduardo Bernal, destacó que en 2005 el Obispo Jugis creó el Congreso Eucarístico diocesano, “que ha sido un punto de encuentro ARCHIVO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD El Padre Julio Domínguez y el Obispo Jugis disfrutan del Día Familiar Católico en Carowinds, una de las importante para la comunidad latina que se varias celebraciones realizadas durante el 50 Aniversario de la diócesis en 2022. fortalece en él, y año a año lo hace cada vez más suyo”.

“El Obispo Jugis ha sabido interpretar los tiempos y ha facilitado la presencia y expresión de las diferentes comunidades de católicos en toda la diócesis”, Ana en Charlotte, el seminario se trasladó a su sede levantada en añadió el Diácono Bernal.

Mount Holly.

En 2010, el Obispo Jugis estableció el rol de Vicario Episcopal Gracias a una disposición del Obispo Jugis, todos los jóvenes del Ministerio Hispano y señaló al Padre Fidel Melo en el cargo. seminaristas toman cursos de español y concluyen sus estudios Para ese entonces, se calcula que la diócesis ya contaba con con un avanzado conocimiento del idioma. aproximadamente 200.000 católicos de origen hispano.

El Padre Domínguez dijo que desde que nuestro obispo llegó a El Padre Melo dijo al asumir su cargo que el plan pastoral del la diócesis, “dos cosas he visto en él que particularmente me han obispo facilitaría, “la completa incorporación de los hispanos en la impactado y me han hecho crecer como sacerdote. La primera es vida de la Iglesia y su misión, ser misioneros evangelizadores para su amor por la Eucaristía, y lo vemos muy claro con la institución la Iglesia y la sociedad, sin distinción de raza, cultura o idioma”. del congreso anual Eucarístico y con el nacimiento de muchas El Ministerio Hispano, señaló el Padre Melo, es más que solo capillas de adoración en nuestras parroquias como fruto de este hablar español. “Es enfatizar el idioma cultural, familiarizando esfuerzo diocesano. La segunda es la promoción de vocaciones. a los laicos con la fe e incorporando personas de diferente Cuando era párroco en San Francisco, me maravillaba ver como procedencia. Nuestra misión es acercar la gente a Dios”. el obispo se identificaba con los jóvenes y les entregaba un rosario En febrero de 2020, el Obispo Jugis designó al Padre Julio César para que rezaran por su vocación. Esa manera de llamamiento era Domínguez como flamante Vicario Episcopal del Ministerio sorprendente para los jóvenes, pues aunque no todos entraban al Hispano, cargo que ostenta hasta el día de hoy. seminario, por lo menos los hacía conscientes del llamado de Dios Al momento, se calcula que el número de católicos hispanos en en sus vidas”. la Diócesis de Charlotte se ha incrementado a aproximadamente Además, añadió, una de las características principales del obispo 300.000 personas. Además, un mayoritario número de parroquias y es su sencillez. “Nunca me he quedado sin respuesta cuando lo he misiones en la diócesis ofrece Misas en español y bilingües. necesitado. Una llamada para hacer una cita e inmediatamente me ha respondido para poder conversar”.

APOYO INCONDICIONAL Finalmente, resaltó su apoyo al ministerio hispano Hoy por hoy, gracias al plan del Obispo Jugis y su apoyo pues,“ha estado siempre presente y apoyado los programas de incondicional a la comunidad latina, el Ministerio Hispano de la evangelización y formación que le hemos presentado como equipo.

Diócesis de Charlotte es un ejemplo de desarrollo único a nivel Por esto y muchas otras cosas más, estamos muy contentos de que nacional, ya que cuenta con el cargo de vicario episcopal, una sea el guía espiritual de nuestra diócesis”.

Persona de Dios El Congreso Eucarístico, un regalo de nuestro Obispo Jugis, me ha parecido maravilloso. Me hubiera gustado que hubiera sido más largo y con más charlas para aprovechar más tiempo.

Nuestro obispo es una persona de Dios que ha apoyado el Ministerio hispano con mucha decisión. Esperamos nos siga dando su apoyo para seguir creciendo.

MIGUEL ANGEL CERDA, parroquiano de la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville

Eucaristía real Hace cuatro años que vengo al Congreso que espero ansiosa porque me gustan sus prédicas y deja enseñanzas para mi familia, mis hijos y mi esposo. Yo soy una convencida de lo que nos dijo el Obispo sobre la presencia real de Cristo en la Eucaristía. Voy al Santísimo los jueves y siento su presencia, empiezo a llorar.

IRMA GARCÍA, parroquiana de la Iglesia Divino Redentor en Boonville

Entregado El Obispo Jugis es una persona muy, muy entregada a los hispanos que estuvo en varias parroquias con gran presencia hispana, entre ellas Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe, donde la congregación es más o menos 70 por ciento hispana, y siempre preocupándose de hablar en español para nosotros. Es una persona muy amable a la que trato siempre con cariño y respeto.

DIÁCONO GUILLERMO ANZOLA, Iglesia San Lucas en Mint Hill

Congreso para siempre Es la primera vez que vengo al Congreso Eucarístico. Nunca había visto una cosa tan bella, nada como esto, con gente de todas partes del estado.

Estamos felices de haber venido en familia, con mi esposa y mi hija. Espero que nuestro obispo siga manteniendo el congreso por muchos años más.

JOSÉ ALBERTO MÁRQUEZ, padre de familia, Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe

Hombre santo Conocí al Obispo Jugis cuando me estaba formando como diácono y, después, cuando fui ordenado, me recibió en muchas oportunidades en que busqué su consejo. Es un hombre santo, muy dedicado, entregado a la Eucaristía.

DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO, coordinador del ministerio hispano en Greensboro

Lo queremos mucho He sido testigo de que hace todo lo posible para atender a todas las comunidades. Nosotros estuvimos encantados con él. Lo queremos mucho.

Supo organizar a la comunidad y la preparó para el servicio. En una ocasión, cuando celebraba una boda, la novia no llegaba y se la llamó por teléfono. La respuesta de la novia fue que la demora era porque no le cerraba el vestido. ¡Al obispo le hizo mucha gracia, no se molestó!

ROSA ELBA GUTIÉRREZ, parroquiana de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 14B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

BISHOP JUGIS: Faith and joy

(Above) Bishop Jugis talks with children at the 2013 Eucharistic Congress. (Far left) Hundreds of families gather for “Catholic Night” to celebrate the diocese’s 50th anniversary. (Left) The bishop prays with seminarians and pilgrims outside the U.S. Supreme Court for the March for Life in Washington, D.C. one snowy day in January. (Bottom left) Bishop Jugis answers questions from St. Matthew School students.

(Below) Bishop Jugis administers the sacrament of confirmation to an inmate as part of ongoing pastoral care provided through the diocese’s Prison Ministry.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR DIOCESE

2003-2023

A STORY OF GROWTH

Over the past two decades, Bishop Peter Jugis has led the Diocese of Charlotte through unprecedented growth, welcoming new families, opening churches and schools, and increasing vocations — a clear sign the Holy Spirit is at work.

Follow the story of our growth in the timeline below:

2003 On Oct. 24, Father Peter Jugis, the diocese’s judicial vicar and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, is ordained and installed as the diocese’s fourth bishop, succeeding the retiring Bishop William Curlin.

2004 Bishop Jugis dedicates four churches in his first year: a new Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, not long after leaving as pastor to FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD become bishop; St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte; Divine Redeemer in Boonville; and St. James the Greater in Concord.

Bishop Jugis makes his first “ad limina” visit to Rome, meeting with Pope John Paul II (who ordained him in 1983 and named him bishop in 2003).

2005 Thousands gather in Charlotte for the diocese’s inaugural Eucharistic Congress, founded by Bishop Jugis to promote devotion to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Catholic faith.

Bishop Jugis dedicates three more churches: St. Lucien in Spruce Pine, Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem and Holy Family in Clemmons.

Holy Spirit in Denver opens a parish activity FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD center.

The first Eucharistic Congress in 2005 drew about 3,500 Bishop Jugis dedicates a Pope John Paul II people. Bishop Jugis said Catholics must proclaim the Gospel Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph Church in with joy. To do that, they must be nourished with the Eucharist.

Kannapolis.

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OUR DIOCESE

A STORY OF GROWTH: Chur 2006

2010

2014

A new Our Lady of the Americas Church is dedicated in Biscoe-Candor by Bishop Jugis.

Asheville hosts a Eucharistic Conference, prior to the diocese’s second Eucharistic Congress.

Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte opens a community life center.

2007

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis anoints and incenses the altar at the dedication of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“If we live in Jesus and (He) lives in us, we conquer sin and death,” Bishop Jugis said at Easter 2018. Since 2003, over 120,000 people have been baptized and received into the Church in the diocese.

Bishop Jugis elevates four missions to parish status: Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte, St. Joseph in Kannapolis, and Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe-Candor.

Bishop Jugis dedicates new churches for St. Joan of Arc in Candler and St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville, as well as a new Catholic cemetery in Salisbury.

Receptions into the Church, including infant and adult baptisms, top 7,000 for the first time.

2008 North Carolina’s two bishops form Catholic Voice NC, a non-partisan public policy organization to express the Catholic viewpoint on state legislative and social issues.

Bishop Jugis dedicates an expanded St. Bernadette Church in Linville, a new Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey College, and St. Patrick Cathedral’s Family Life Center.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new Catholic section of Matthews Cemetery, and a Huntersville cemetery opens a Catholic section (only the second in the diocese).

2009 Bishop Jugis dedicates larger churches for Sacred Heart in Salisbury and St. Ann in Charlotte, as well as St. Mark Church, a new church in Huntersville to serve Catholics in the growing north Charlotte suburbs.

Bishop Jugis releases a three-year Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry to address the spiritual needs of the diocese’s growing Hispanic population, and the next year, names Father Fidel Melo the first episcopal vicar of Hispanic Ministry.

The diocese’s Office of Economic Opportunity marks its 10th anniversary of social justice work in far western North Carolina.

Bishop Jugis dedicates two new, larger churches: Immaculate Conception in Forest City and St. Pius X in Greensboro. In Greensboro, he remarks, “This is the 16th church that I have dedicated since becoming bishop. It is a strong sign of how the Catholic Church in North Carolina is growing.”

The diocese announces it will build a third high school to serve families in the growing north Charlotte area: “Each of the Catholic schools in our diocese places the Person of Jesus Christ front and center in its school life. Naming the proposed new Catholic high school in honor of Christ the King is another sign of our strong commitment to Christ and His Gospel, and to excellence in education,” Bishop Jugis says.

Curlin Commons, the first “green” apartment community for low-income seniors in North Carolina and the diocese’s first housing project, opens in Mooresville.

The diocese hosts its first Marian Rosary Congress.

St. Stephen Mission in Elkin dedicates a family life center, and St. William Parish in Murphy opens a faith formation center.

Immaculata School breaks ground in Hendersonville for a preschool and special needs school.

The century-old St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville earns “national significance” as a unique historic treasure.

2011 The first Diocese of Charlotte Men’s Conference is held.

A “Catholics Come Home” campaign is held to reach approximately 145,000 inactive Catholics throughout the diocese.

2012

Bishop Jugis dedicates more churches to accommodate the growing Catholic population: St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hayesville, and St. Peter Yu for Korean Catholics in Greensboro.

St. Matthew opens a 16,000-square-foot multipurpose facility in Waxhaw, and St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte opens a new ministry center and PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD chapel.

In August, Our Lady of Grace Bishop Jugis sprinkles the walls and altar of the new St. Francis of School begins classes in a state-of-the-art expansion to Assisi Church in Jefferson during its dedication Mass. its original school building.

Bishop Jugis and Bishop Emeritus William Curlin, who was close friends with Mother Teresa, break ground together on Mother Teresa Villa in Charlotte, the diocese’s third housing project. Designed for developmentally disabled adults, it opens in 2015.

The first Quo Vadis Days vocations camp for young men is held.

An unprecedented diocese-wide “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign raises $54 million – now has $21 million in 7 endowments – to fund current and long-range initiatives across the diocese.

The Catholic Conference Center in Hickory gets a $1 million makeover funded in part by the FFHL campaign.

Groundbreaking!

Bishop Jugis, clergy and about 50 supporters brave wind and rain from Hurricane Florence as they break ground Sept. 15, 2018, for St. Joseph College Seminary. “We pray that God will continue to shower down His blessings upon this effort of ours,” the bishop jokes.

Bishop Jugis makes his second “ad limina” visit to Rome and meets with Pope Benedict XVI. The diocese’s 2012 Diocesan Support Appeal campaign tops $5 million for the first time.

Bishop Jugis blesses two new Catholic cemeteries in Haywood County.

2013 Bishop Jugis consecrates the diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Catholic Social Services is renamed Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and begins an expansion plan to add new programs and locations around the diocese in the coming years.

Christ the King High School opens in Huntersville.

Good Shepherd Gardens, the diocese’s second housing project, opens in Salisbury.

The diocese’s first Fatima procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima takes place May 13 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com

2003-2023

rches, schools, vocations, faith 2015 At Advent, the worldwide Church begins a Jubilee Year of Mercy that continues into 2016, with three Doors of Mercy opened in the diocese: St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, and St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. People are encouraged to seek out the sacrament of penance and make a pilgrimage to the churches.

Bishop Jugis urges people to make progress on their life’s spiritual journey and practice works of mercy.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD Bishop Jugis creates the position of diocesan vocations promoter.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a larger St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan gives the keynote address at the diocese’s Eucharistic Congress, which draws its highest attendance ever at more than 14,000 people.

St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte and St. Pius X and Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro break ground for or open expanded parish activity centers to serve their growing communities.

In response to Pope Francis’ call to help protect creation, St. Eugene in Asheville installs solar panels on its parish activity center’s roof. The environmental project becomes a model that

several more churches, schools and the Diocesan Pastoral Center follow.

Christ the King High School in Huntersville graduates its first class of 29 students.

St. Frances of Rome in Sparta and Holy Cross in Kernersville open cemeteries.

2016 On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, Bishop Jugis announces the founding of St. Joseph College Seminary for undergraduate men discerning the priesthood.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD It opens in a Bishop Jugis meets with young people temporary home during the annual Bishop’s Youth in Charlotte with Pilgrimage. eight students.

Attendance at the Bishop’s Annual Youth Pilgrimage reaches 1,000 for the first time.

St. Barnabas receives a $4.1 million bequest from late parishioners Dennis and Mary Kushler – the largest estate gift in the diocese’s history.

The first Duc In Altum vocations camp for young women is held.

St. Matthew Church in Charlotte – the second largest Catholic parish in the United States – tops 10,000 registered families.

Catholic Charities expands its outreach from immediate aid to providing a comprehensive range of “wrap-around” services to people in need, what it calls “Transition Out of Poverty.”

A Catholic cemetery opens in Albemarle.

The 25th annual AIDS Walk raises over $40,000 for the House of Mercy, a care home for AIDS patients run by the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont.

2017 The diocese buys 86 acres in Mount Holly, near Belmont Abbey College, as the future home for St. Joseph College Seminary.

St. Mary Syro-Malabar Church is consecrated in Charlotte by its bishop, with Bishop Jugis and diocesan clergy in attendance.

Several Campus Ministry locations are renovated or expanded, thanks to FFHL funding.

Catholic Charities moves into a larger location in Winston-Salem to enable it to serve more people in the Piedmont-Triad.

Bishop Jugis blesses new parish activity centers for St. James in Concord and St. Pius X in Greensboro.

The diocese commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions with Masses and processions. Three churches host a world-famous pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima on its international tour.

The diocese hosts its first catechetical conference for faith formation teachers and other ministry leaders.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis prepares to bury blessed holy medals on the site of the future St. Joseph College Seminary.

2018 Bishop Jugis breaks ground for St. Joseph College Seminary.

Bishop Emeritus William Curlin dies, aged 90.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new cemetery for St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson.

Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly gets a major overhaul to protect the historic structure. Built in 1843, it is the oldest Catholic church still standing in North Carolina and a U.S. and state historic site.

Our Lady of the Assumption and Christ the King High schools are expanded to accommodate growing enrollments.

PHOTO BY PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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OUR DIOCESE

2003-2023

A STORY OF GROWTH 2021

2019 Confirmations across the diocese top 5,000 for the first time.

Catholic Charities opens a new location in Greensboro.

St. Philip in Statesville opens a new parish hall, and St. Michael School in Gastonia celebrates an expansion and renovation.

Bishop Jugis joins with Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama and Lutheran Bishop Timothy Smith to renew the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant, reaffirming their commitment to finding Christian unity through continued dialogue. The effort began in 1991 with FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD their predecessors Our Lady of Consolation parishioners and has been receive the sacrament of confirmation renewed several from Bishop Jugis on Sept. 22, 2017. times.

2020

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bishop Jugis celebrates Holy Week in 2020 in a near-empty St. Patrick Cathedral, after churches and schools closed during the pandemic. “Stay close to Jesus,” he said. “Let us remember: though we may be quarantined, Jesus is not quarantined.”

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closes all churches, schools and ministries. Everyone shifts online to livestreamed Masses, remote learning, email prayer chains and social media to stay connected to their faith and each other. Catholic Charities redoubles its outreach efforts to help thousands impacted by the pandemic. Churches partner with local hospitals to offer free vaccine clinics. The 2020 and 2021 Eucharistic Congress take place online.

Bishop Jugis announces a “Year of St. Joseph” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being solemnly declared Patron of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis later declares a similar celebration, so the diocese extends its celebration to the end of 2021 to coincide with the universal Church’s event. The pandemic curtails most in-person celebrations, so the diocese offers resources online and in the Catholic News Herald.

Bishop Jugis opens and blesses St. Joseph College Seminary on Sept. 15 – exactly two years after breaking ground on the project.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a new, larger church for Queen of the Apostles in Belmont, and he blesses Guardian Angel Villas, the diocese’s fourth and largest housing project.

retirement community the congregation founded in 1947 in High Point.

After the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, Bishop Jugis encourages the faithful to step up their efforts to help local pregnant women in need.

Canongate Catholic School in Arden joins the diocesan school system as an affiliate.

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools celebrates the opening of its Fine Arts Center on the Charlotte Catholic High School campus.

2023 FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

During the pandemic, Bishop Jugis celebrates a sociallydistanced Chrism Mass March 30, 2021, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

As the pandemic subsides, in-person activities carefully resume at parishes, schools and offices. “It’s a new moment, and we are about to experience an explosion of joy as restrictions continue to loosen,” Bishop Jugis tells his fellow priests at the Chrism Mass. “A new moment is dawning for all of us.”

The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation surpasses 300 endowments, representing more than $71.5 million.

In conjunction with the worldwide Synod of Bishops called by Pope Francis, Bishop Jugis opens a diocesan Synod that includes listening sessions and surveys of the faithful about the future needs of the Church.

Bishop Jugis establishes a diocesan Family Life Office on the Feast of the Holy Family. “With the challenges so many people face today, it is more important than ever that the Church ‘leans in’ to sustain and encourage families, especially those who are just starting out or are struggling,” he says.

Asheville Catholic School expands to meet the needs of a growing enrollment.

Over $170,000 in FFHL funds is awarded to Catholic schools for tuition aid – the highest amount given out since the aid program began.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new chapel and cemetery at Holy Family in Clemmons.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis listens to students at St. Matthew School in Charlotte during one of his visits to the campus.

The diocese’s 20 Catholic schools hit a record enrollment of more than 8,100 students.

The number of seminarians preparing for the priesthood in the diocese tops 50 for the first time.

Following the diocesan Synod that took place in 2021-’22, Bishop Jugis issues six pastoral priorities based on key needs identified by the faithful.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a new, larger church for St. Luke in Mint Hill.

Catholic Charities opens a new location in North Wilkesboro, its seventh.

Immaculata School in Hendersonville completes a state-of-the-art expansion, and Christ the King High School expands again, adding an athletic and activities complex to its campus.

2022 Bishop Jugis kicks off the diocese’s 50th anniversary Jan. 12 with Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral and dedication of a statue of Mary, Mother of God – official patroness of the diocese.

Themed “More Precious Than Gold,” the anniversary celebrations include a Marian Pilgrimage to 100-plus sites, family-oriented events, and “Acts of Charity” performed across the diocese.

Bishop Jugis elevates St. Jude in Sapphire from mission to parish status.

The Poor Servants of the Mother of God announces the diocese will assume Catholic oversight of Pennybyrn, the

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

The bishop leads a contingent of fans for “Catholic Night” at a Charlotte Knights game during the diocese’s 50th anniversary.

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 20B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

ANNIVERSARY FROM PAGE 2B

for all Bishop Jugis has been able to do in leading us through it.”

Growth has been particularly apparent at the last parish where Bishop Jugis served before becoming bishop: Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe. Then-Father Jugis ministered to 466 registered families.

Twenty years later, the parish has soared to more than 1,600 families.

The Monroe church’s Roberts current pastor, Father Benjamin Roberts, knows the challenges related to growth and how Bishop Jugis has approached his ministry. He likens him to St. Ignatius of Antioch, an early second century bishop who consistently preached faith and unity despite the challenges of his day. The saint was described this way, he says: “ ‘With his kindness and gentleness, he manifests the very gentleness of God.’ I’ve always thought of Bishop Jugis in that way – he manifests the very gentleness of God.” Borne of his compassion for others, the bishop also demonstrates a resoluteness of purpose, priests say.

In 2004, less than six months after becoming bishop, he publicly apologized to abuse victims during his first Ash Wednesday homily at St. Patrick Cathedral.

The diocese had just reported historical allegations against 13 priests, in a national study on the problem. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Jugis has remained

focused on protecting children and promoting healing for victims.

“The bishop has met with victims of abuse that happened well before his time, and he engaged independent auditors to review our records to identify – and publish – all credible allegations of clergy abuse, as a way to help victims heal,” said Monsignor Winslow, who oversaw the task. “Like any father, there’s no higher priority for him than keeping children safe.

And he has exacted discipline in historical abuse cases that come to light, relied on an independent Review Board for guidance, and added protocols and resources to ensure we’re doing our due diligence with comprehensive background checks and training for all staff and volunteers.”

Bishop Jugis, who speaks English, Italian and Spanish, has also emphasized the importance of ministering to the diocese’s increasingly diverse flock.

Now, two-thirds of the diocese’s churches offer Spanish or bilingual Masses. There are robust Spanish faith formation and marriage prep programs. Every seminarian must learn to speak Spanish.

And the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry has a full-time vicar and 10 staff coordinators who serve the diocese’s vicariates.

“Bishop Jugis is a very, very dedicated person to Hispanics and served in several parishes with a large Hispanic presence,” says Deacon Guillermo Anzola of St. Luke Parish in Mint Hill, where the bishop recently dedicated a new church building. “(He) always makes a point of speaking in Spanish for us.”

it attracts more than 10,000 people to Charlotte each year to celebrate the Eucharist as the source and the summit of the Catholic faith. It has become a “family reunion” of sorts for Catholics sprawled across the diocese’s 20,470 square miles from Greensboro, to Charlotte, to Asheville and beyond.

Among the largest in the country, the Congress features a Eucharistic procession of thousands praying, singing and proclaiming their Catholic faith through the streets of uptown Charlotte. It also offers fellowship, talks by compelling speakers, shopping for religious art and sacramentals – as well as a Eucharistic Holy Hour and closing Mass that fill the Charlotte Convention Center, led every year for 19 years by Bishop Jugis.

“It’s a great experience to be at the Congress surrounded by our Catholic family of all different backgrounds and nationalities,” says Frances Liberto, a parishioner of St. Mark in Huntersville.

“I’m so grateful to Bishop Jugis for starting it, and for his quiet and persistent leadership.”

Bishop Jugis credits the Congress and its underlying focus on the Eucharist for fueling people’s faith, support and participation in the Church.

“The Congress shows us that the Eucharist brings us together and makes us one in Christ,” he has said. “Strong faith in the Eucharist means a strong local Church, and this strong faith in the Eucharistic Presence of Christ is important for our vitality as the holy people of God.”

BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER

INCREASING VOCATIONS

The growth and diversification of the local Church is especially evident at the Eucharistic Congress.

Founded in 2005 by Bishop Jugis,

Bishop Jugis and his Eucharistic Congress have also inspired young men and women to pursue religious vocations, a number of priests say.

One of the diocese’s newest priests, Father Christopher Brock says, “Being in the seminary and being in this diocese has been really incredible, and I think the Eucharistic Congress sums it up. A lot of it has to do with Bishop Jugis’ devotion to Brock the Eucharist, and we see these vocations coming about because of that. I think Our Lord has blessed this diocese because of events like the Eucharistic Congress and having this good and holy bishop.”

A homegrown priest himself, Bishop Jugis has nurtured local vocations. He’s known for starting early, encouraging young altar servers to follow their hearts, speaking to them personally and handing out rosaries and prayer cards, then remembering their names next time they cross paths. He prays daily for more vocations and has increased funding and staff for the diocese’s vocations program.

One of his signature achievements has been founding St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. Opened in 2016, it has become a seedbed for vocations as young men have responded to the opportunity to consider a priestly vocation close to their homes and the parishes they might one day serve.

As a result of these efforts, this year the diocese has a record number of 51 seminarians in formation, including 21 at St. Joseph College Seminary – now housed on an impressive campus where seminarians live and learn about life in the priesthood while also pursing their undergraduate degree at nearby Belmont Abbey College.

Clergy ordinations are one way a bishop can steer his diocese over the long term, Monsignor Winslow says.

“Ordinarily, bishops have about 10 years

in a diocese and their most enduring impact comes through the men they ordain. In the case of Bishop Jugis, he’s had two decades as bishop to invigorate and inspire a vocations program.”

That impact, he said, “will be felt for the next 40 years and beyond.”

‘WE HAVE A MISSION’

The bishop’s steadying influence may only be eclipsed, observers say, by his example and desire to spread the Gospel – a quest he’s expressed from his earliest days, continuously, right through today.

A “sacred responsibility is given to the laity to grow in personal holiness day by day,” he preached in 2003, “and to see to it that you make known the Gospel message of salvation to all people.” Everyone, he said, must work to “transform our modern culture with the spirit of the Gospel.”

In 2006, he referenced his episcopal motto – “The Love of Christ Impels Us” – as he urged people to go out on a mission “to bring His salvation into the whole world.”

“It is the love of Jesus which impels us in this mission. It has to be Christ’s love which will transform this world – Christ’s love working through us. We are transformed. ... Into every home, every store, every school, every university, every neighborhood, every government office, every workplace, we have a mission to bring the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ’s love.”

That message and the bishop’s own example have inspired many.

“Growing up as a teenager in the Charlotte area,” Father Jonathan Torres recalls, “I saw Bishop Jugis at various events of the diocese.

While all attention is on him in a sense, he’s never really let that attention be about him. He’s always been a window, as it were.

We gaze at the window, but we’re actually seeing what’s through the window – the light that’s coming forth. I believe Torres Our Lord’s grace really shines forth through Bishop Jugis, and it’s that humility that allows him to be transparent for us to see Our Lord.”

Father Torres was ordained by Bishop Jugis in 2020, during a carefully planned ordination Mass held during the pandemic.

‘START OF SOMETHING NEW’

Bishop Jugis recognized this pivotal moment for Catholicism in western North Carolina even at his episcopal ordination in 2003.

“We are a young Church,” he said. “We are a rapidly growing Church, filled with joy and vitality and holiness and the love of Christ. We come from many different ethnic backgrounds and together we form the Body of Christ – a living sacrifice of praise.”

As he marks 20 years as a bishop, Bishop Jugis continues looking forward – constantly encouraging people to get closer to Jesus.

Just last month, in his homily at the closing Mass of the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress, he delivered a stirring message: “Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for you. Resolve to deepen your relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. You are probably very busy, as most people are nowadays. But there is someone waiting for you at Church, in the tabernacle. And I do say Some-One, not some-thing. It is the Lord Jesus who is waiting for you.

“Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for your spiritual life. Go deeper in your relationship with the Lord in the Eucharist.”

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una forma de ayuda en la sanación de las víctimas”, dijo Monseñor Winslow, quien supervisó la tarea. “No hay mayor prioridad para él que mantener a los niños seguros. Y ha exigido disciplina en casos de historia de abuso que salen a la luz, se ha basado en una Junta de Revisión independiente para obtener orientación y ha agregado protocolos y recursos para garantizar que estemos haciendo nuestra debida diligencia con verificaciones exhaustivas de antecedentes y capacitación para todo el personal y los voluntarios”.

El Obispo Jugis, que habla inglés, italiano y español, también ha enfatizado la importancia de ministrar al rebaño cada vez más diverso de la diócesis.

Ahora, dos tercios de las iglesias de la diócesis ofrecen misas en español o bilingües. Hay sólidos programas de formación en la fe y preparación matrimonial en español. Todo seminarista debe aprender a hablar español. Y el Ministerio Hispano de la diócesis tiene un vicario de tiempo completo y 10 coordinadores que sirven a los vicariatos de la diócesis.

UNIENDO A LA FAMILIA

El crecimiento y la diversificación de la Iglesia local es especialmente evidente en el Congreso Eucarístico.

Fundado en 2005 por el Obispo Jugis, atrae a más de 10.000 personas a Charlotte cada año para celebrar la Eucaristía como fuente y cumbre de la fe católica. Se ha convertido en una especie de “reunión familiar” para los católicos que se

extienden a lo largo de las 20,470 millas cuadradas de la diócesis, desde Greensboro hasta Asheville y más allá.

Entre los más grandes del país, el Congreso cuenta con una Procesión Eucarística de miles de personas que oran, cantan y proclaman su fe católica por las calles del Uptown de Charlotte. También ofrece charlas de reconocidos oradores, venta de arte religioso y recuerdos, así como una Hora Santa y una Misa que llena el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte, dirigida cada año, durante 19 años, por el Obispo Jugis.

“El Congreso nos muestra que la Eucaristía nos une y nos hace uno en Cristo”, ha dicho el Obispo Jugis. “Una fe fuerte en la Eucaristía significa una Iglesia local fuerte, y esta fe fuerte en la Presencia Eucarística de Cristo es importante para nuestra vitalidad como pueblo santo de Dios”.

algún día podrían servir.

Como resultado de estos esfuerzos, este año la diócesis tiene un número récord de 51 seminaristas en formación, incluidos 21 en el Seminario Universitario San José, donde viven y aprenden sobre la vida en el sacerdocio mientras también obtienen su título universitario en el cercano Belmont Abbey College.

Las ordenaciones del clero son una manera por la que un obispo puede dirigir su diócesis a largo plazo, dijo Monseñor Winslow.

“Por lo general, los obispos tienen alrededor de 10 años en una diócesis, y su mayor impacto se genera a través de los hombres que ordenan. En el caso del Obispo Jugis, ha tenido dos décadas como obispo para vigorizar e inspirar un programa de vocaciones”.

Ese impacto, dijo, “se sentirá durante los próximos 40 años y más”.

VOCACIONES EN AUMENTO

“TENEMOS UNA MISIÓN”

El Obispo Jugis, que también es sacerdote local, ha alimentado las vocaciones locales.

Es conocido por comenzar tempranamente, animando a los jóvenes monaguillos a seguir sus corazones, hablándoles personalmente y repartiendo rosarios y tarjetas de oración, y luego recordando sus nombres la siguiente ocasión que se encuentra con ellos. Ora diariamente por más vocaciones y ha aumentado los fondos y el personal para el programa de vocaciones de la diócesis.

Uno de sus logros más emblemáticos ha sido la fundación del Seminario Universitario San José en Mount Holly.

Inaugurado en 2016, se ha convertido en un semillero de vocaciones, ya que los jóvenes han respondido a la oportunidad de considerar una vocación religiosa cerca de sus hogares y de las parroquias a las que

La influencia estabilizadora del obispo solo puede ser eclipsada, dicen los observadores, por su santidad y su deseo de difundir el Evangelio, una búsqueda que ha expresado desde sus primeros días.

“A los laicos se les da la sagrada responsabilidad de crecer día a día en santidad personal”, predicó en 2003, “y de velar por dar a conocer el mensaje del Evangelio de salvación a todos los hombres”. Todos, dijo, deben trabajar para “transformar nuestra cultura moderna con el espíritu del Evangelio”.

En 2006, hizo referencia a su lema episcopal, “El amor de Cristo nos impulsa”, mientras instaba a la gente a salir en misión “para llevar Su salvación a todo el mundo”.

“Es el amor de Jesús el que nos impulsa en esta misión. Tiene que ser el amor de Cristo el que transformará este mundo,

el amor de Cristo obrando a través de nosotros. Estamos transformados. ... En cada hogar, en cada tienda, en cada escuela, en cada universidad, en cada barrio, en cada oficina gubernamental, en cada lugar de trabajo, tenemos la misión de llevar el Reino de Dios, el reino del amor de Cristo”.

Ese mensaje y el propio ejemplo del obispo ha inspirado a muchos.

‘COMIENZO DE ALGO NUEVO’

El Obispo Jugis reconoció este momento crucial para el catolicismo en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, incluso en su ordenación episcopal en 2003.

“Somos una Iglesia joven”, dijo. “Somos una Iglesia en rápido crecimiento, llena de alegría, vitalidad, santidad y el amor de Cristo. Venimos de muchos orígenes étnicos diferentes y juntos formamos el Cuerpo de Cristo, un sacrificio vivo de alabanza”.

Al cumplir 20 años como obispo, el Obispo Jugis continúa mirando hacia adelante, animando constantemente a las personas a acercarse a Jesús.

El mes pasado, durante su homilía en la Misa de clausura del XIX Congreso Eucarístico anual, pronunció un mensaje conmovedor.

“Que este Congreso Eucarístico sea el comienzo de algo nuevo para vosotros.

Decídanse a profundizar su relación con Jesús en la Eucaristía. Probablemente estén muy ocupados, como la mayoría de la gente hoy en día. Pero hay alguien esperándolos en la Iglesia, en el tabernáculo. Y digo Alguien, no algo. Es el Señor Jesús quien los está esperando”.

“Que este Congreso Eucarístico sea el comienzo de algo nuevo para su vida espiritual. Profundicen en su relación con el Señor en la Eucaristía”.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 22B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, the clergy, religious & faithful of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, offer congratulations to

Most Rev. PETER J. JUGIS

on his 20th anniversary as Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

May the Lord continue to bless & guide you in your ministry to the people of God!

Ad multos annos!

MOST REVEREND PETER J. JUGIS

CHARLESTONDIOCESE.ORG

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October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 23B

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 24B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

With sincere thanks to God for your Apostolic ministry on this the occasion of your 20th anniversary as Bishop and Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte, the Priests, Faculty, Staff and Seminarians extend to Bishop Peter J. Jugis our heartfelt congratulations.

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The Office of Campus Ministry

CONGRATULATES

Bishop Peter Jugis on 20 years as our shepherd.

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 25B

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Left) Bishop Jugis prays at the tomb of St. John Paul II during one of his ad limina pilgrimages to Rome. The late pope ordained him to the priesthood in 1983, and appointed him the fourth Bishop of Charlotte in 2003.

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Bishop Jugis’ pilgrimages to the Vatican

ishop Peter Jugis has joined the bishops of North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia on ad limina visits to the Holy Father three times since taking the role as Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte.

and his top advisors, the cardinals and archbishops in the Roman Curia.

“This exchange of information among the pastors of the Church serves to strengthen the unity of the Church,” Bishop Jugis explained.

“I was happy to write in my ad limina report that in the Diocese of Charlotte there is tremendous enthusiasm for the faith. The faithful of the diocese are eager to grow in their relationship with Christ, to increase their knowledge of the faith, and to put their faith into practice. The attitude of the faithful is very positive and upbeat, and there is a strong sense of mission throughout the diocese.”

“Ad limina apostolorum” means “to the thresholds of the Apostles” Peter and Paul. The heads of dioceses are required to make the visits every five years or so to celebrate Mass at the tombs of the apostles martyred in Rome, meet with the pope to report on the status of their dioceses, and hold discussions with Vatican officials on issues of common concern.

Pope Francis – February 2020

Pope John Paul II – March 2004 Only five months after Bishop Peter Jugis was ordained leader of the Diocese of Charlotte, he had his first audience as a bishop with Pope John Paul II. Bishop Jugis first met Pope John Paul II in 1979 while studying at the Pontifical North American College, and the pope had ordained him to the priesthood in 1983, yet the other bishops graciously helped Bishop Jugis relax prior to his first audience with the pope as a newly-ordained bishop.

He reported afterwards that he was very much in awe of the experience. Pope John Paul II set the tone for the conversation by commenting that he was 38 years old when he became a bishop in Poland, he recalled.

“The ‘ad limina’ visit is a good exercise in ‘communio’ – it underlines the communication of the pope, the Vatican officials and the bishops,” Bishop Jugis said after the visit.

“We are all drawn together under the power of the Holy Spirit to further the mission of the Church.”

Pope Benedict XVI – May 2012 In 2012, Bishop Jugis and fellow Atlanta Province bishops returned to bring reports of their flourishing dioceses and prayed for courage in their work to build up the Church

across the South. Education and communication were key topics during their Vatican visit, especially since the pope had repeatedly emphasized the importance of using social media, strengthening Catholic colleges, and evangelizing in the public sphere to spread the Gospel.

“There is a spiritual component to the visit – to pray at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. In that sense, there is the idea of a pilgrimage associated with the ad limina visit. In every pilgrimage, one temporarily leaves behind the familiar places of his home and work, to journey to a holy place to spend some time in prayer. In the case of the ad limina visit, the bishop leaves his diocese and journeys to Rome and to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, to draw inspiration and courage from the faithful witness of these two pillars of the Church, each of whom shed his blood for Christ,” Bishop Jugis wrote following the visit.

Besides the spiritual component to the visit, there is also a pastoral component: to meet with the Holy Father

Bishop Jugis was among 15 bishops who went on their ad limina pilgrimage to Rome in February 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down international travel.

During the meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis gave bishops more than two hours of his time, in what was a genuinely friendly conversation among bishops about issues facing the Church. Bishop Jugis wrote following the visit: “The Holy Father has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I promised him my prayers every day, for which he was very grateful.”

The ad limina trip is not only about attending meetings, but there is also time for Mass every day, besides prayer and reflection, he noted.

“My prayers, of course, were for God’s continued blessings upon the Diocese of Charlotte, which I am privileged to serve. On the day of our visit when there were no meetings scheduled – the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes – I took the opportunity to spend a good deal of time praying at St. Peter’s Basilica, the place which I had visited quite often when I was a seminarian student in Rome, and the place where I was ordained a deacon and also a priest,” Bishop Jugis said.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Find full coverage of Bishop Peter Jugis’ three ad limina visits.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 26B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

BISHOP JUGIS: Funny and humble ‘A healing balm for us’ Bishop Jugis has a long history with us at Pennybyrn.

He has always been very supportive of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, which started 25 years ago. He has been very faithful in visiting for the Feast of Corpus Christi and stays after the Mass and procession to visit with the people.

When he is at a parish in the area, he drops by to visit the sisters and have lunch with us. He visits the priests here, and that means a lot to them. Sometimes he would drop in and pray at the Adoration Chapel, and people would notice that and say, “The bishop was here!” In addition to being a welcome presence and healing balm for our residents and staff, Bishop Jugis has supported our expansion.

He was here on Dec. 8, 2005, for the groundbreaking that paved the way for all the growth we’ve experienced in the years since. He also continues to preserve the mission and charism of our retirement community. All of us at Pennybyrn wish him a very happy anniversary as a bishop and priest. May God bless Bishop Jugis!

SISTER LUCY HENNESSY, mission leader and chair of the board of directors at Pennybyrn retirement community in High Point

A lighter side Shortly after I started working in the Bishop’s Office, Bishop Jugis and I had to plan for a meeting of his province bishops that would be coming to Charlotte. We needed to find hotel accommodations for the bishops’ overnight stays and their meetings. After considering a few locations, Bishop suggested the W Hotel. As I was new to the Charlotte area, I asked him where the hotel was located. He motioned me to his office window and pointed, “See that big building there with the ‘W’ on it?” I did, indeed – right across the street. I turned around, and he was grinning like the Cheshire Cat! We both laughed at my first introduction to Bishop humor.

Next came the infamous kumquat. Bishop Jugis was hosting a holiday gathering at his house, to which Jim Kelley, the diocesan director of development, and I were invited, along with many others. Jim and I were chatting in the dining room around the table filled with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Bishop Jugis walked in and, after surveying the spread, pointed with a questioning look to

the kumquats that had been used as a platter decoration. I told him they were kumquats, a fruit. He popped one in his mouth and sat down in the dining chair. Jim commented that they were so small you could choke on them. Bishop Jugis started to choke and sputter, holding his throat and dramatically draping himself over the chair. He pretended to wither away in front of Jim and me! I’m not sure which one of us panicked more. Bishop quickly “recovered” and once again, he grinned like that cat. He got me, yet again.

I have never taken lightly the fact that I was privy to a side of the bishop that perhaps other people didn’t get to experience. My life has been abundantly blessed by that fact in so many ways. I have pinched myself many times over the years to make sure I wasn’t dreaming the wonderful task of working for and with the bishop. I wish I could do it all over again.

NANCY WEBER, executive assistant to Bishop Peter Jugis from 2003 to 2020

‘A gentle, humble, holy soul’ I first met Bishop Jugis when he was associate pastor at St. Leo Parish back in the early ’90s, when I was preparing for marriage. He was assigned to take my future husband and me through marriage prep. He was so wise, and many of his words from that time still resound in my head often today, and I credit him with the 30 years of marriage that we have accomplished so far. He’s just such a gentle, humble, holy soul, so when he became bishop, I was very happy. He’s done so much for this diocese with his powerful, quiet presence and love of the Eucharist, which has overflowed throughout the years to create a very fruitful, vibrant diocese.

MARIANNE DONADIO, associate director of Room At The Inn and member of St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem

‘Father Peter’ My first introduction to Bishop Jugis came in 1988-1989 when I was in second grade at Sacred Heart in Salisbury.

My friends and I were preparing to receive First Holy Communion, and we had wonderful examples in our parish priests – Father Tom Clements and our parochial vicar and future bishop, whom we affectionately called Father Peter. He was busy even then, but he still took the

time to befriend my parents and bless our family home.

When I began contributing to the Catholic News Herald quite a few years later, our paths crossed again, and I learned that he remembered my family well. Once when on assignment, he recognized that I had a particularly involved story and was on a tight deadline. He looked me in the eyes and said, “You can do it.” He said so in a serious manner but with a confident smile. Everything went smoothly as I worked toward the deadline, and it seemed as though with those simple words he had prayed the story into existence. Now, several years later and more than 30 years since my First Communion, I work full time for our diocesan communications department, and “Father Peter” is still teaching me on a regular basis how to deepen my love for Jesus in the Eucharist through his wisdom and example. My heartfelt congratulations go out to Bishop Jugis on this momentous occasion in his ministry!

ANNIE FERGUSON, reporter for the Catholic News Herald and member of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro

‘A part of his flock’ I come to the Eucharistic Congress every year because I have such a devotion to the Eucharist. I developed it when I used to do a shift of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the middle of the night. During that time, I shared my faith with people who had wandered into the chapel late at night. Through that time, I fell so in love with Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s the summit of my life and my everything.

The speakers at the Eucharistic Congress this year are all so wonderful and have had a personal impact me. You can see the love of Christ through them. I am so thankful to Bishop Jugis for this gift of the Congress. I love being part of His flock here in western North Carolina.

BARBARA FREEMAN, member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa

Congratulations Thank you for your devotion to the Lord and His Church.

Happy 20th Anniversary!

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 27B

BISHOP JUGIS: A man of prayer and faith ‘A true father’ When I approached Bishop Jugis with the desire to give my life for the priesthood and to serve the Diocese of Charlotte in that way, he was very careful to take time and pray, discerning himself. Eventually he said yes to letting me dive in and do it. From there other women followed that path, and so it’s really because of Bishop Jugis giving that permission that the Daughters of the Virgin Mother exist as a religious community in the Diocese of Charlotte.

He’s absolutely a father, because without him my vocation as a Daughter of the Virgin Mother wouldn’t even be in existence. The fact that he was open to something new in the diocese spoke volumes to me of the man who’s open to the Holy Spirit. One time I thanked him for letting us exist and allowing us to see if it would work, and he said to me, “Well, I don’t want to be someone who gets in the way of the Holy Spirit.” I try to keep that in mind as I discern God’s will for the Daughters. I don’t want to be a superior who gets in the way of the Holy Spirit.

As a priest of Jesus Christ, he continues that presence and that ministry that Christ left behind through His priests, but as a bishop, we also have this reverence for him because he is a direct successor of the apostles. He’s a real father, and that’s what I’ve seen as an influence on the faithful here. We have a united diocese, and you see that at moments like the Eucharistic Congress or ordinations – this large spiritual family that comes together for the momentous events of our local Church.

There’s a tradition in the religious life that a woman’s hair is cut by her superior, but since I was the first Daughter it was Bishop Jugis’ job to cut my hair on the day that the Daughters of the Virgin Mother were founded.

He grabbed the scissors and said with a smile, “Well, I’ve never given anyone a haircut before.”

He is also a man of deep prayer. He makes decisions for the diocese, he’s at events, he confirms candidates, but on a day-to-day basis he’s there interceding for his sheep.

Bishop Jugis, on behalf of all the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, I want you to know that we love you and that we’re so grateful for the sacrifices, the suffering and the impact that you’ve had on us and on everyone in our diocese.

Know that we’re praying for you and that, with God’s help and His grace, we will be faithful to our vocation.

(Above) Bishop Peter Jugis presents a decree declaring the Daughters of the Virgin Mother a “Private Association of the Christian Faithful.” The group’s founder, Sister Mary Raphael (at right of Bishop Jugis), and the sisters are pictured with him and their spiritual advisor, Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary, after Mass.

(Left) The bishop prays his rosary during an event at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

SISTER MARY RAPHAEL, Mother Superior of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Congratulations Bishop Jugis on your 20th anniversary as bishop of The Diocese of Charlotte

From the Ordination Class of 2017 Fr. Christian Cook

Fr. Chris Bond

Fr. Peter Ascik

Fr. Brian Becker

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 28B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

LOOKING BACK: About our bishop

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH

Bishop Peter Jugis (far left) is pictured on his confirmation day in 1969 with fellow confirmation students and then-Bishop Vincent Waters at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, where his parents were founding members.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pope John Paul II gives the sign of peace to newly ordained Father Jugis during his ordination Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on June 12, 1983.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bishop Jugis confirms Luke Bennett in 2016 at St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon. More than 70,000 people have received the sacrament of confirmation since he became bishop in 2003.

Fourth Bishop of Charlotte: A native Charlottean, ordained by John Paul II

B

ishop Peter Joseph Jugis is a native of Charlotte. The third-generation American – whose name in Latin means “constant” – hails from a diverse background, including Hungarian, German, Irish, Lithuanian and Czechoslovakian descents. His late parents, Joseph and Peggy Jugis, were born and raised in New York but relocated to Charlotte and married at St. Patrick Cathedral in 1953. When St. Ann Church was formed, the Jugises were among the original families.

Monsignor Michael J. Begley, St. Ann’s pastor who would later become the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Charlotte in 1972, baptized the infant Peter Jugis and gave him first Holy Communion. As the family began to grow, they moved to a bigger house and joined St. Vincent de Paul, a mission of St. Ann before becoming its own parish.

He was educated in Catholic and public schools in Charlotte, earning a degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1979.

He supplemented his educational expenses by playing the organ during weddings at local parishes.

“I just began to realize my heart wasn’t in the accounting field,” he said in a 2003 interview. “I could do it intellectually, but I just didn’t feel that this was what I wanted to give my life to totally.”

While visiting St. Gabriel Church where he was to play at a wedding, he met Monsignor John McSweeney, then

Parish Assignments In addition to serving as the judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte before being ordained as bishop, Bishop Jugis carried out pastoral duties at these parishes.

Denver 6

5 1

Statesville

485

Charlotte

Pineville

S.C.

40

85

7 Salisbury

Asheboro

8 Matthews 74

77

Rock Hill

Concord

85

4 Belmont

Reidsville 3 Winston-Salem Greensboro 2 77

Kannapolis

Huntersville 9

16

associate pastor and diocesan vocations director.

“After the wedding rehearsal, he asked me in passing if I had ever thought of being a priest,” Bishop Jugis said. “I told him, ‘No, I never had.’ He said, ‘Well, think about it, would you?’”

And so he did – a lot over the following year – “about what I could really give my heart to completely. I started to realize more and more that giving my life to God and serving the Church as a priest seemed to be agreeable at the time. Of course, I had to continue to discern and think, and talk with priests.”

His parents were supportive of his decision. “It was my mother who said, ‘Well, Peter, we were thinking that you had been moving in this direction for a long time, but we didn’t want to say anything to see if you would arrive at that conclusion on your own.’ It was a tremendous affirmation and confirmation of what I had been feeling and discerning privately for many months.”

After college he entered the seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

When he applied in 1979 to be a seminarian, he interviewed with Bishop Begley, who spoke about his concern for the “unchurched” in the state.

“I remember him saying to me, ‘There’s a lot of work we have to do in North Carolina.’ He was inviting me to study for the priesthood and to join him, I think, in the mission

Monroe 10

DETAIL

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte 74

Rockingham

of the Catholic Church in North Carolina. I received from him a missionary spirit.”

He was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1983,

by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His family was present at the ordination, as were Bishop Begley and Monsignor McSweeney.

He went on to serve at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Holy Spirit Church in Denver, Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, St. Mark Church in Huntersville, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe.

In 1993, he became the first priest of the diocese to earn a doctorate in canon law, defending his thesis, “A Canonical Analysis of the Meaning of Humano Modo in Canon 1061, §1” at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. With his canon law training, he served as judicial vicar (leader) of the diocesan tribunal until becoming bishop.

On Aug. 1, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him the fourth Bishop of Charlotte, succeeding Bishop William G. Curlin, who retired in 2002. He was ordained at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte on Oct. 24, 2003, and is celebrating his 20th anniversary of ordination on Oct. 24, 2023.

— Catholic News Herald

1. St. Ann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 2. St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Winston-Salem, NC 3. Holy Infant Catholic Church, Reidsville, NC 4. Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, Belmont, NC 5. St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte, NC 6. Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Denver, NC 7. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Salisbury, NC 8. Saint John Neumann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 9. St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC 10. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe, NC DAVID PUCKETT | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 29B

LOOKING BACK: Ordination Day 2003

Episcopal motto

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Left) Deacon Ben Wenning and Deacon Louis Pais hold the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Jugis’ head as Atlanta Archbishop John F. Donoghue prays the prayer of ordination during the ordination Mass on Oct. 24, 2003. (Above) Archbishop Donoghue, who had served as the second bishop of Charlotte before moving to Atlanta, lays hands on Bishop Jugis’ head during the ordination rite.

‘A man for the times and for the place’ CHARLOTTE — Speaking in both English and Spanish, Bishop Peter J. Jugis asked the faithful gathered for his ordination to help him carry on the Church’s mission of salvation.

“All of us, regardless of our particular vocation, are involved in this grand mission of salvation,” Bishop Jugis said.

An estimated 3,000 people crowded St. Matthew Church for Bishop Jugis’ spectacular two-hour ordination Oct. 24, 2003.

Attendees overflowed into the parish gymnasium, where they watched the Mass via closed-circuit television.

Bishop Jugis, 46, a native of Charlotte, succeeds Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin as shepherd of the 46-county Diocese of Charlotte, established in 1972.

The multicultural Mass, broadcast live on the Internet, featured West African drummers, children from St. Joseph Vietnamese Church dancing with candles in the aisles and music – including songs in Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese – that was representative of the diverse cultures of the diocese.

“We are a young Church. We are a rapidly growing Church, filled with joy and vitality and holiness and the love of Christ,” said Bishop Jugis. “We come from many different ethnic backgrounds and together we form the body of Christ – a living sacrifice of praise.”

Approximately 400 people participated in the opening procession, including priests, deacons, seminarians, abbots and representatives from diocesan parishes, missions, organizations, institutions and schools. Also included were clerical representatives of the Lutheran, Episcopal, United Methodist and Baptist denominations in North Carolina.

“God has given us great blessings on this day of joy, and it is a sign of His people’s love that we are gathered in such great numbers to witness the ordination of the Diocese of Charlotte’s fourth bishop, and to welcome him into the midst of his flock,” said Archbishop John F. Donoghue of Atlanta, the principal ordaining bishop and second bishop of Charlotte.

Archbishop Donoghue called on the people of the diocese to love and support Bishop Jugis, to seek his guidance and to accept his teaching in his role as their shepherd.

He called Bishop Jugis “a man for the times and for the place.

“Your heart, your soul, your roots are here in the hills and plains of North Carolina. You carry in the record of development of your vocation the blessing and encouragement of two of the finest servants of the Lord – Bishop (Michael J.) Begley and Monsignor (John) McSweeney.”

“And ... you were ordained by the hand of our most beloved and remarkable pope, John Paul II,” he continued. “But do not forget that it is Christ the Lord who has chosen you, and that when He chooses a bishop, He also chooses a martyr. And martyrs must

be strong, for themselves and for the Church they live and die to foster.”

Flanking a kneeling Bishop Jugis, Monsignor McSweeney, now pastor of St. Matthew Church, and retired Monsignor Anthony Kovacic requested Archbishop Donoghue confer ordination on Bishop Jugis. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio, then read the apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Donoghue questioned Bishop Jugis in the presence of the gathered people on his resolve to uphold the faith and to discharge his duties as bishop. Bishop Jugis then lay prostrate as the Litany of the Saints was chanted.

Next was the laying on of hands by the bishops on Bishop Jugis’ head. The ancient gesture, expressing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, has been used since apostolic times for transmitting the authority and offices in the Catholic Church.

Deacon Ben Wenning, diocesan coordinator of the permanent diaconate, and Deacon Louis Pais of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte then held the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Jugis’ head, a gesture expressing the burden the bishop will assume of proclaiming the Gospel as a member of the college of bishops, as the ordaining bishops prayed the prayer of ordination.

His head was then anointed with sacred chrism, signifying the full share in the priesthood of Jesus he received through the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination.

The Book of the Gospels was presented to Bishop Jugis as a symbol of a bishop’s ministry of teaching and preaching. He also received his ring, miter and crosier, which are signs of the office of bishop.

Bishop Jugis then took his seat in the cathedra, the bishop’s chair, and received a round of applause from the bishops and congregation.

In remarks at the end of Mass, Bishop Jugis resolved “to pray without ceasing to Almighty God for the holy people.”

“We all must know that the Lord’s work cannot be done without prayer,” he said.

Bishop Jugis expressed his gratitude for the priests and deacons of the diocese, and he addressed the importance of the laity: “The Second Vatican Council taught that sacred responsibility is given to the laity to grow in personal holiness day by day and to see to it that you make known the Gospel message of salvation to all people,” he said, “and that you transform our modern culture with the spirit of the Gospel.”

“All of this springs from prayer and from our celebration of the sacraments, especially from our communion with the Lord in the holy Eucharist,” said Bishop Jugis. “The Holy Spirit will guide us in helping make known the love of Christ.”

— Reprinted from the Oct. 31, 2003, edition of the Catholic News Herald

“Caritas Christi Urget Nos” (“The Love of Christ Impels Us”) comes from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians – 2 Cor 5:14-15 – and offers the inspiration for growth and formation in the faith, which Bishop Jugis said he wished to inspire in people as their pastor. “I wanted to have a motto that would somehow include Christ’s love in it. The love of Christ is planted in our hearts from the day of our baptisms. ... That love should be the reason and motivation for everything we do as Christians and for me as shepherd of the diocese.”

“After I had chosen it, I discovered the saint whose feast day is celebrated Oct. 24 – St. Anthony Mary Claret – the very day I’m being ordained, has the same motto. I thought it was an interesting coincidence.”

— Catholic News Herald

Coat of arms The design of Bishop Peter J. Jugis’ coat of arms has special significance to him. To the right is a gold field, representing the great treasure of the faith and the hope of salvation offered to us all by the gift of redemption.

“With the gold background, I wanted to tie in the years that I studied in Rome and my priestly ordination by the pope,” said Bishop Jugis. “The colors of Vatican City are gold and silver, so I chose the gold background for my coat of arms. Gold is also a reference to Our Lady, who in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘House of Gold.’ Gold is a precious metal, and Mary, as the mother of Christ, was the most precious ‘house,’ or dwelling place, of God.” The cross is in a style called “bottony,” with three circles at the end of the staff and the cross arms, denoting the Trinity. “The design of the cross that I chose was inspired by a crucifix hanging in the living room of the rectory at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe,” said Bishop Jugis.

To the left are the escutcheons of the Diocese of Charlotte: a Celtic cross of silver-edged gold, which represents St. Patrick, patron saint of the cathedral church of the diocese, and a crown, representing Queen Charlotte, for whom the see city is named. Behind the coat of arms is a gold processional cross. The green heraldic hat with six “houppes,” or tassels, denotes the rank of a bishop.

— Catholic News Herald

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 30B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Seminarians, Priests, Sisters, Faculty, and Staff at ST JOSEPH COLLEGE SEMINARY Join the entire Diocese of Charlotte in thanksgiving for

HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP PETER J. JUGIS

Celebrating 40 Years as Priest and 20 Years as our Bishop Ad Multos Annos!

BishopJugisAd.indd 1

10/4/23 12:27 PM

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 31B

Happy 20th

Anniversary!

Sacrament of Confirmation, July 19, 2021

“One of the things that has marked Bishop Jugis’ 20 years of service is his joy. When you see him with people, there is a joy that shows on his face.

Bishop Jugis, thank you for all that you have done for the Diocese.

Thank you for the way you guide and help those of us who are pastors to be pastors. Thank you for helping those who work in the Diocese to do our jobs to the best of our ability.

And most of all, thank you for praying for us. It is only through prayer that we have been able to accomplish all that we have.”

— Fr. John Putnam Catholic Schools Week, January 30, 2017

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 32B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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