CHARLOTTE — Two Charlotte-area Lay Dominican organizations recently held annual Rites of Reception and Promises.
St. Dominic founded the Order of Preachers, known as the Dominicans, in 1216. The Dominican Fraternity includes Dominican friars (first order), cloistered Dominican nuns (second order), and the third order: religious (ordained priests and religious sisters) and secular (laity). Dominican laity adopt a spiritual practice of daily Morning and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, daily rosary, study, contemplation and, where available, daily Mass and monthly confession.
A five-year formation process enables people to discern a call and adopt a daily routine that blends the Dominican charism with their family, parish, work and civic obligations.
St. Ann Church hosted a Sept. 21 Mass for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapter’s Rite of Reception and Promises ceremony. Martina Benedikovicova, Kristine Lentl and Deacon Martin Ricart III each made a one-year promise, becoming new candidates in the five-year formation process. Daniel Peters made a three-year promise. Carolyn Franks, Renate Rayner, Mary Clark, Jean Winkelman and Diona Mathews made Perpetual (lifetime) promises.
Started in 2009, the chapter has more than 45 members who actively support the works of the Church in their home parishes throughout the Carolinas. OLPH chapter meetings and formation classes are held monthly. Their next inquirer meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at St. Joseph College Seminary, 22 Arctus Ave., Mount Holly. Contact Gretchen Filz, chapter president, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Our Lady of the Rosary Group celebrated its Rite of Reception and Promises Sept. 28 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. Phil Haemmerlein and Joe Warwick made a one-year promise. Janet Norton made her three-year promise. Since 2021, OLOR has gained over 10 members, all active in their home parishes. They meet monthly at St. Matthew Church. Their next inquirer information meeting will be at noon Sunday,
Oct. 20, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Contact Tom Mathis, group president, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Also, in addition to Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary, and Father Joseph Matlak, pastor of St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish, two priests in the diocese recently completed Lay Dominican priestly formation in Siena, Italy: Father Matthew Buettner, spiritual director at St. Joseph College Seminary, and Father Jason Christian, pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon.
— Sandra W. Coughlin
CHARLOTTE — Veteran journalist Trish Stukbauer will join the Catholic News Herald as editor beginning Oct. 1, bringing a passion for the faith and effective outreach through news and storytelling.
Stukbauer has three decades of experience in writing, editing and marketing for newspapers, magazines, corporate communications and public relations clients, as well as Catholic and
Episcopal organizations and fundraising firms. She is an author and editor who has guided the publication of two poetry compilations in addition to marketing local and national authors. Most recently, she has managed her own marketing firm, serving corporate and nonprofit clients.
As Catholic News Herald editor, Stukbauer will oversee production of the award-winning newspaper with a print circulation of 60,000, as well as its growing website and social media channels in English and Spanish. In June, the Catholic News Herald was named the best diocesan newspaper in the country among non-weeklies.
Stukbauer’s affinity for religious communications began with a college internship at The Pittsburgh Catholic, the diocesan newspaper, where her first article centered on Rachel’s Vineyard, an organization that focuses on post-abortion healing. One of her most gratifying moments was receiving a letter from Vatican Assessor Monsignor Roberto Campisi noting that Pope Francis had read an article she’d written for the Catholic 365 publishing platform.
The Pittsburgh native has called Charlotte home since 1992, with a brief stint in Nashville. She has a 17-year-old son and a 92-year-young father. They attend both St. Therese Church in Mooresville and St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
— Catholic News Herald