CHARLOTTE — Parishioners of St. John Neumann Church recently gathered to celebrate the parish’s 40th anniversary with an outdoor bilingual Mass on the parish grounds, followed by games, food, music and fellowship.
The Mass was concelebrated by Father John Starczewski, pastor; Father Peter Pham, in residence; Father Pat Hoare, Father Frank O’Rourke and Monsignor Richard Bellow, all former pastors. The day’s events were organized by the parish’s 40th anniversary committee: Jeanette Merwin (chair), Mark Krouse, Eliana Malta, Terry Peeters and Soo Jin Ridgell.
St. John Neumann Parish was established in 1977. In his anniversary message, Father Starczewski noted, “Today we celebrate that the Lord is with us. Over the 40 years of our existence God has blessed His church and as a result we have grown to the parish that we are today. Let us give thanks to our God!
The most important way that we give thanks to God for His blessings is the celebration of the Eucharist. The meaning of Eucharist we have all been taught is ‘thanksgiving.’
So it is appropriate that we gather together today to celebrate the Eucharist as one parish family. ... May our parish continue to grow and through our work in the Lord’s vineyard and His continued blessing upon us lead us and many others to salvation until the end of time.”
— Photo provided by St. John Neumann Church