CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has reached a fundraising milestone – receiving its 50th gift totaling $1 million or more – thanks to an anonymous donation to St. Jude’s campaign to build a new church in Sapphire. The unnamed donor joins 49 other people who have given either one-time gifts of cash or stock, pledged to capital campaigns or special projects, or left gifts in their estate plans.
The St. Jude Capital Campaign – with a goal of raising $9 million – will fund campus renovations and a new building in anticipation of continued growth. Many St. Jude parishioners live or vacation in Transylvania and Jackson counties, an area projected to grow by 10 to 13 percent by 2030, according to “Building Our Future Together: The St. Jude Catholic Church Capital Campaign.”
St. Jude started with a group of Catholics gathering for Mass at the Sapphire Valley Inn. Construction began on its present church in 1971, and it was later dedicated by Bishop Michael Begley in 1972. In 2022, St. Jude was elevated from mission to parish status with Father Jason Barone as its first pastor. The parish has grown to over 400 people and serves Catholics living in Sapphire, Cashiers, Glenville and Lake Toxaway.
“I’m deeply grateful and humbled by the great generosity of this gift and all the gifts we have received for our capital campaign to build a new church for St. Jude,” said Father Barone. “Our community has a bright future!”
“So many generous parishioners and so many gifts have changed the lives of both the donors and the recipients of the gifts,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “We receive gifts of all amounts – and we’re grateful for them all.”
“There have been some individuals with significant resources who have had so much confidence in the Church’s leadership and commitment to their faith that they have given a million dollars or more. I invite more people to be a part of our mission in this kind of significant way to help build up the Church across western North Carolina,” he said.
Fund an endowment
Interested in setting up – or adding to – an endowment to benefit your parish or Catholic school? You can establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a trust or annuity, or a gift of real estate, life insurance, cash or securities.
Donors who make a planned gift become members of the Catholic Heritage Society, which now has almost 1,750 members.
For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Courtney McLaughlin, Special to the Catholic News Herald
Gamez
McNulty
CookCHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., announces the appointments of three priests to fill vacancies as vicars forane, effective Oct. 21:
• Father Alfonso Gamez, V.F., for the Hickory Vicariate
• Father Paul McNulty, V.F., for the Smoky Mountain Vicariate
• Father W. Christian Cook, V.F., for the Greensboro Vicariate
Sometimes called a dean, a vicar forane is a priest appointed by the bishop to assist him in promoting and coordinating the pastoral work of the Church within a specific region of the diocese called a vicariate. The Diocese of Charlotte has 10 vicariates.
Vicars forane also provide guidance and oversight in certain matters, such as keeping good order, property maintenance, administrative practices, adherence to liturgical prescripts, and the like. Also, vicars forane provide support and care for the priests in his region, according to Church law.
— Catholic News Herald