Help support tomorrow’s priests today
CHARLOTTE — One thousand people in the Diocese of Charlotte have stepped forward so far to fund the St. Joseph College Seminary capital campaign.
To date, $17.1 million has been raised towards the $20 million goal for the new college seminary building project that was completed this fall.
A broad communication campaign continues to keep parishioners apprised of the status of the fundraising campaign, appealing to all of the faithful to play a part in raising the additional $2.9 million in pledges by Dec. 31.
In a Dec. 14 letter, Bishop Jugis asked the faithful to prayerfully consider a three-year pledge to help fund the college seminary.
“Your pledge is an essential building block in our quest to form many more good and holy priests for the Diocese of Charlotte. Let us promote and cultivate priestly vocations to serve our joyful and growing diocesan family,” he said.
With Gothic architecture and brickwork inspired by nearby Belmont Abbey, where in 1876 Benedictine monks planted the roots of Catholicism in western North Carolina, the two-story, 30,000-square-foot building includes 40 dorm rooms, a chapel, classroom and library, faculty offices, a refectory and kitchen, and a picturesque cloister walk where students can meditate and pray.
Twenty-seven men currently call St. Joseph College Seminary home.
The aim of the college seminary program is to nurture local vocations among the parishes and families in the diocese, close to home, before the men graduate and go on to major seminaries located elsewhere to complete their priestly formation and return for ordination to serve in the diocese’s growing parishes.
“As we journey through this season of Advent, preparing for the birthday of Jesus Christ and the celebration of Christmas, I ask for your prayerful consideration in this matter,” Bishop Jugis said.
“Our Lord has given us an extraordinary gift of a large number of young men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood. We have gone from 16 men in formation to 41 in only five years, with 27 of these men in the first four years of their formation, the college seminary phase. In response, we are creating a place that will allow these young men to discern their vocations close to home, and close to you and the parishes that they will one day serve as priests,” he noted.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Support the St. Joseph College Seminary campaign
Pledge financial support for the college seminary by returning the pledge card included with the Dec. 14 letter from Bishop Jugis or go online to www.stjcs.org.
Donations can also be mailed to: St. Joseph College Seminary, c/o Development, 22 Arctus Ave., Mount Holly, NC 28120. Questions?
Contact Fredrik Akerblom, St. Joseph College Seminary development director, at 704-302-6386 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..