Editor's note: Monsignor Anthony J. Marcaccio celebrated the 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood June 1. Born in Michigan in 1963 the youngest of four children, he grew up in Greenwood, S.C. He attended Francis Marion University and completed graduate studies at The Catholic University of America.
He is a member in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and is a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. After he was ordained in 1991, Monsignor Marcaccio first served parishes in Charlotte and western North Carolina, then for five years served as priest secretary to Bishop William G. Curlin. He also served as the diocese's vice chancellor in 2002.
He has served as pastor of St. Pius X Church and School in Greensboro since 2000, and has led the parish during a time of unprecedented growth and activity. A new church was built in 2010, and later this year the parish will open a new parish center and enlarge its school.
Monsignor Marcaccio talks with parishioner Frances Giaimo at his 25th anniversary celebration June 5 at St. Pius X Church. (Photo provided by Terry Rumley)I was reflecting with some friends on the upcoming silver jubilee of my priestly ordination and someone asked, "What is your most satisfying accomplishment? What you built at St. Pius?" I corrected him and said, "It's not what I've built, but what we've built together at St. Pius."
Our conversation reminded me of the great British architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed among many things the huge and beautiful Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul's in London. His memorial tablet reads in Latin: "If you seek his monument, circumspice – look around." I hope in 25 years, and then after another 25 years, someone looking for my greatest accomplishment and the legacy of my priesthood wouldn't point to a school building, or parish center, or even a church – but would be circumspect, look around, and see a vibrant Catholic community living its faith in love.
Monsignor Marcaccio talks with parishioner Frances Giaimo at his 25th anniversary celebration June 5 at St. Pius X Church. (Photo provided by Terry Rumley)During my pastorate here at St. Pius X we have built a lot, but it wasn't my original intention. The buildings flow from our mission. I didn't come to St. Pius X to build a school, but to help build future Catholic moral leaders for our society. The parish center isn't my personal legacy, but a purpose-driven project to provide us the space for hospitality and parish-wide learning. It will be a tool of administration for efficient and effective ministry to more and more people.
Our church, our most important building, was built big and beautiful to accommodate our growth. And while there always are things I would have done differently, I was proud to present it to the diocese for dedication.
The most beautiful aspect of the church is when we gather for liturgies, so I suppose I would be happy to say, "There, be circumspect, look around and see this church. Look around and see these people being the Church. Look around and see this church being and bringing Christ to the community."
One of those things I would do differently is to place a memorial inscription on the front door of our church that spoke profoundly to me when I first read it on a church door in Boston: "This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate to heaven."
I hope that after 25 years people would think of the success of my priesthood in Jesus Christ in terms of a living legacy – not brick and mortar, not a building, not even a church door, but as someone who helped them open the Door of Mercy, that Living Door, the Gate through which the people of our parish were able to pass and develop that deep, abiding friendship with God.
— Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio
SHELBY — Members of St. Mary, Help of Christians Church in Shelby gathered around fellow parishioner Bessie Thompson Aug. 13 to honor her life of service, devotion to God and love for all as she celebrated her 100th birthday.
At a reception in the parish social hall after Mass, Thompson was presented with framed congratulations from President and Mrs. Barack Obama, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and Shelby Mayor O. Stanhope Anthony III.
Bessie Walton Thompson was born in Oconee, Ga., on Aug. 12, 1916. Around 1919, her family moved to Buffalo Street in Shelby. She attended Cleveland School, although her education was cut short after the eighth grade because of financial difficulties.
After her mother died, she moved in with her grandmother on Pinkney Street. It was there she met Jay Giles “JG” Thompson, her next-door neighbor and future husband.
She began working when she was very young, at first helping her grandmother with her laundry work. She also worked several jobs in and around Shelby, including a few summers at Ridgecrest Resort, where she especially enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.
After she and JG Thompson were married on Oct. 22, 1941, they were employed as a team in many different jobs. They worked at the Ogontz School for Girls, spending the school year in Pennsylvania and the summers with the students in New Hampshire and Maine. (The Ogontz School is now part of Pennsylvania State University.)
The young couple decided that the constant traveling was too much, so they settled down for a while in Cape May, N.J., where they worked at the Hotel Congress Hall. Thompson also worked at a Girl Scout Camp in East Hampton, N.Y.
In 1958, the Thompsons flew to Washington, D.C., and adopted a baby boy when he was only a few days old. They named him Danny Jay “Chip” Thompson.
The family of three then moved back to Shelby on Miles Street, where the Thompsons worked at Cleveland Country Club, First Baptist Church, Camp Thunderbird, Cleveland Hospital and Shelby High School.
After growing up Baptist and joining her husband in the Methodist Church after they were married, Thompson took instructions from Father John Huston around 1970 and joined the Catholic Church. At that time St. Mary, Help of Christians Church was located at Graham and Beaumonde streets. Thompson says she still has a special love for the old stone church.
Thompson worked as a housekeeper for several of the pastors at St. Mary's, helping to clean the church and working in the nursery watching the children.
She retired from her parish job to care for her husband and her aunt and uncle, and later her ailing son, but her devotion to serving others did not diminish.
After the death of her husband in 1992, Thompson joined the Foster Grandparent Program in Shelby. She also continued volunteering at Marion and Graham schools until around 2014.
Today, Thompson enjoys good health, independent living, visits from her family, church family and friends, and she still does all her own shopping.
— Giuliana Polinari Riley, correspondent