SALISBURY — Bishop Siby Mathew Peedikayil of the Diocese of Aitape, Papua New Guinea, traveled 9,000 miles to Sacred Heart Parish June 29-30 as part of a mission appeal on behalf of his diocese.
This is Bishop Siby’s second visit to the Salisbury parish, which is building a mission relationship with his diocese in Papua New Guinea, an emerging nation of more than 600 inhabited islands in Oceania.
About a quarter of Papua New Guinea’s population, approximately 1.5 million people, are Catholic, and many in the Aitape diocese are fishermen or subsistence farmers living in remote mountain villages.
The bishop specifically appealed for donations to support his diocese’s growing seminarian program, build a much-needed junior high school, provide help to people addicted to drugs, and provide food for the hungry.
The visit was arranged through the Diocese of Charlotte’s Mission Cooperative Appeal, which enables parishes here to partner with lay organizations, dioceses and religious orders that are engaged in the Church’s mission work worldwide. Pictured are Bishop Siby with Father John Eckert, pastor; and Bishop Siby visiting with village residents and blessing a new boat.
— Photos provided by Sacred Heart Parish
WINSTON-SALEM — Catholic Charities recently named Mary Beth Marquard as director of its Piedmont-Triad Regional Office, which serves several counties surrounding the physical office locations in Winston-Salem and Greensboro.
Marquard graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Her work experience includes service as executive director of the Davie County United Way, executive director of Smart Start of Davie County and most recently as development manager for Sunnyside Ministry in Winston-Salem.
Not only does Marquard bring a wealth of professional experience, but she is also deeply involved in the community. Early in her career, she worked at KPOM TV 24 as a production coordinator and coordinated fundraising events/development for WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes, the Special Olympics of North Carolina and Communities in Schools of Wake County.
Marquard has also served on several boards, as chairperson of the Emergency Food & Shelter Program of Davie County, as a member of the Davie County Suicide Prevention Task Force and as a field instructor for the joint UNC-Greensboro and North Carolina A&T social work program.
A lifelong Catholic, she is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mocksville.
— David Long