CHARLOTTE — The Eritrean Catholic Community welcomed the archbishop of Asmara, Eritrea, during his first pastoral visit to the Charlotte region April 5-6.
Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I., was in Charlotte to visit one of his priests, Father Michael Solomon Debesay, who recently moved here to minister to the Eritrean Catholic Community, and to meet with Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis, who has supported the immigrant African community for many years.
The archbishop met with Bishop Jugis April 5 at the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, part of their shared effort to meet the spiritual needs of the African Catholic community that now numbers about 300 families. Because of the community’s growth, it has been designated an apostolate of the diocese that will fall under Bishop Jugis’ authority because Ge’ez Rite Catholics do not have their own bishop here.
Asmara Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam, M.C.C.I., met with Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis on April 5.
On April 6, Archbishop Tesfamariam celebrated a Mass at St. Matthew Church, taking time during the liturgy to speak with the youth of the Eritrean community and lead them in prayer.
Eritrean Catholics first found a spiritual home at St. Gabriel Parish, worshiping monthly at Masses offered by visiting priests, and later moved to St. Vincent de Paul Parish. The community also has a cultural center on donated property in Mint Hill that it uses for youth activities, faith formation classes and community gatherings.
With Father Debesay’s assignment to the diocese in March, the community now has a priest who can regularly offer Mass, the sacraments and other aspects of the faith.
— Catholic News Herald, Photos by Troy Hull
READ MORE: Priest arrives to serve growing Charlotte Eritrean community, now a diocesan apostolate
