St. Joseph College Seminary welcomes eight new men

SPENCER K.M. BROWN skmbrown@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — St. Joseph College Seminary welcomed eight young men to its latest class during a Mass Aug. 6 at St. Ann Church. With this addition, total enrollment in the Diocese of Charlotte’s vocations program stands at a record number of 51 men in various stages of formation for the priesthood.

The group – called the eighth or “Hotel class”(“H” being the eighth letter of the alphabet) – brings the total at the college seminary to 21 men who are discerning a call to the priesthood while pursuing undergraduate studies in philosophy at nearby Belmont Abbey College.

The 2023-’24 class includes: Patrick Gallagher, Andrew Scott, Charles McCormick, Matthew Sie, Michael Herman, Said Rangel Landeros, John Paul Felder and Peter Andress.

In his homily, the college seminary’s rector, Father Matthew Kauth, drew a connection between the day’s Feast of the Transfiguration and the young men discerning vocations to the priesthood.

“Our Lord is constantly telling the apostles, ‘Don’t be afraid’ … You should be, because I am God, but I’m giving you the confidence not to be,’” Father Kauth said.

He said the Gospels repeatedly describe important moments of revelation – such as during the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, when Thomas sees the Risen Jesus in the Upper Room, or when the angel comes to St. Joseph — as being met with the same words: “Do not be afraid.”

“And so, are you afraid?” Father Kauth asked the eight young men sitting before him. “A little bit? You should be, but that’s OK. But be afraid for the right reasons. Don’t be afraid of the people who think you’re going to lose. Don’t be afraid for the persons you are leaving behind. Don’t be afraid that you’re not smart enough.”

Perhaps sensing the usual nerves and anxiousness that accompanies such a day, Father Kauth reminded the men, “You are sitting here today because you have mastered a different kind of fear, because you desire to see God. Your desire to see Him outweighs the fearful path.”

“And so as you begin this path, and when that fear comes again, as every year I will hear someone say, ‘I don’t belong,’ you must tamp down that fear,” Father Kauth told them. “You only belong anywhere because He has placed you there. Remember to give it time. Be courageous in the face of fear. He will show you the way and each day you will see a little more. So, like the apostles, keep your eyes wide for all you will be shown.”

After Mass, the new seminarians moved into their rooms and met their fellow seminarians after orientation at the college seminary in Mount Holly.

Enrollment in the diocese’s 2023-’24 vocations program also includes 29 men who are studying in major seminary in Ohio and one who is taking a pastoral year of service.

Annual Polish Mass to be offered Aug. 27

CHARLOTTE — All are welcome to attend the 12th annual diocesan Polish Mass in honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa, St. John Paul II and St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, to be offered at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Polish Father Rev. Michal Szwarc of New Jersey will be celebrant and Deacon James Witulski will assist.

The Mass will be in Polish, with the homily given in both English and Polish, and it will fulfill the Sunday obligation. Confessions in Polish and English will be heard beginning at 1 p.m. A Polish choir will provide traditional hymns.

After the Mass, the faithful will have the opportunity to venerate a first-class relic of St. John Paul II: a drop of his blood on a fragment of his cassock from the day he was shot in 1981.

Traditional native Polish attire is encouraged for those who desire. A reception with light refreshments will be held after Mass. Donations for the reception are appreciated and can be dropped off before Mass at Aquinas Hall, across the courtyard from the church. St. Thomas Aquinas Church is located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. For details, call Mary Witulski at 704-2906012.

— Catholic News Herald

Our Lady’s Rosary Makers hold fundraiser for missions

WAYNESVILLE — Our Lady’s Rosary Makers held its annual fundraiser in conjunction with St. John the Evangelist Parish’s annual festival July 29. Under the guidance of pastor Father Paul McNulty and group leader Carol Kielb, handmade rosaries were offered for a donation to support the purchase of beads and other supplies. Rosary Makers take beads and weave handmade cord rosaries for missions. So far, more than 7.000 free rosaries have been sent to missions.

Another opportunity to support Our Lady’s Rosary Makers will be Oct. 1 at St. John Parish, just in time for October celebrations of Our Blessed Mother. There will be many original pieces available at the parish, including glass, stone and wood bead rosaries, rosary brackets, pocket rosaries and more.

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Carol Kielb and Lynn Jefferys

Marion parish hosts adoption baby shower to support mothers in need

MARION — After nine months of daily prayer for children in danger of abortion, Our Lady of the Angels Parish hosted a Spiritual Adoption Baby Shower for the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center.

Father Carl Kaltreider and parishioners collected baby supplies including clothes, diapers, wipes, food, formula and bottles to help meet the local pregnancy support ministry’s needs.

Glen and Carole Keller, representatives of the Our Lady of the Angels pro-life ministry, were greeted with smiles and excitement as they delivered a carload of baby supplies and monetary donations to MPCC afterwards. “We are so grateful,” says Denise McCormick, director of MPCC. “These items will be passed along to our well-deserving clients.”

According to MPCC staff, the center is the busiest it has ever been since opening its doors just over 20 years ago. Its mission is to offer help and hope to families facing an unplanned pregnancy and to walk alongside families during their parenting journey. All of their services are free and confidential.

“My wife and I learned about the pregnancy center about this time last year,” says Keller. “We went by the center, took a tour, met the staff, asked questions, and immediately felt compelled to help. We just can’t imagine that people wouldn’t want to be advocates for children and be a voice for the unborn. We are called to make a difference, and this is one way we can do that.”

— Neil Schunke