CHARLOTTE — Every Catholic household across the Diocese of Charlotte is being asked to consider a donation to help fund the education of our future priests by giving to the seminarian education second collection taken up in all parishes Nov. 6-7.
“Tremendous growth has taken place within our diocese over the last decade. Growth of this nature is paralleled by a need for priests to pastor this increasing number of Catholics,” Bishop Peter Jugis said in an October letter to parishioners urging them to support the collection.
The number of seminarians has almost tripled in the past six years – from 16 seminarians to 45. There are 20 men in major seminary and 24 men at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, with one seminarian taking a pastoral year.
“In our diocese, we are deeply blessed with 45 dedicated and faith-filled seminarians who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood. We are both blessed and challenged. As you know, our challenge is to provide the funding needed to educate, nurture and form our future priests,” the bishop noted.
The need for more priests to serve the growing Catholic population has never been greater. There are currently about 77,000 registered households in the diocese, which spans the 46 counties of western North Carolina. By the year 2025, it is estimated that the number of registered households will climb to 86,800 – a population increase of approximately 13 percent.
In addition to considering a gift to support all diocesan seminarians, Bishop Jugis asks the faithful to pray for each of the men by name. The names of the seminarians are listed in the brochure sent to all households with the letter.
“These men desire to commit their lives to Christ and to His Church, and in a very real way, your prayers strengthen them in their commitment,” he said.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Support seminarian education
To make a gift to support seminarian education, drop off or mail your contribution to your parish or make a secure gift online. If making an online gift, consult your parish’s website to see if they offer online giving or go online to www.charlottediocese.org/donate, then click on “Seminarian Education.”
National Vocation Awareness Week Nov. 7-13
The Becker family gathered at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte Sept. 26 for Deacon Joseph Becker’s first Mass after being ordained a permanent deacon for the diocese the day before. (Photo provided by Deacon Joseph Becker)CHARLOTTE — Catholics in the United States will mark National Vocation Awareness Week Nov. 7-13, an annual celebration dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life through prayer and education.
For the Becker family, this year’s commemoration of vocations in the Church has special meaning. Their patriarch, Deacon Joseph Becker, is now a permanent deacon at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte, and the eldest son, Father Brian Becker, is now promoter of vocations for the Diocese of Charlotte.
Father Becker’s dad, Deacon Becker, was ordained Sept. 25 by Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, where Father Becker was also ordained and served his first assignment as parochial vicar from July 2017 to February 2020.
“Since Father Becker is my spiritual father, and yet I am his dad, our personal relationship has evolved in wonderful ways since his ordination,” Deacon Becker says. “In our many long discussions, at times I speak from the perspective of a dad; other times he speaks as my spiritual father giving counsel.”
Since their relationship is rooted in Christ, he shares, both roles are very comfortable and make their life so much richer together.
“I admire him a lot and am continually amazed at the priest that he has become,” Deacon Becker adds. “God has formed him and continues to grow him to be the priest that he was meant to be from birth. Now that I am ordained, I can better appreciate the graces God has given him to do all that he does, as I see those graces at work in my life and my ministry as well.”
Father Becker says it has been a great joy to watch his father’s progress to the permanent diaconate over the past several years.
“When I went through seminary, we would talk often about my discernment, and I think we both learned a great deal from those discussions. It’s been fascinating to see that process now play out in reverse. I know I’ve benefited greatly from the example he’s given me in his process of preparation for the diaconate. Amid all the good theological discussions we’ve had and all the strong opinions we’ve each formed throughout the process, he’s constantly given me the example of humility.
He’s just desired nothing more than to humbly present himself in service to the Church, and for the sole reason that he’s seen that it’s God’s will. Our Lord has been so generous with our family, in bringing us to serve His Church in ways that we don’t deserve.”
Deacon Becker acknowledges that his wife Tammy has been a spiritual leader in their family “and has beautifully lived her vocation as wife, mother and Catholic school teacher.”
He says both his wife and his daughter Deena are living their vocations to married life and motherhood fully and in ways that enrich their loved ones and those around them. His son Mark, currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, is discerning a vocation to the priesthood, with hopes to enroll in seminary next fall.
“With Father Becker’s priesthood, Mark’s planned entry into the seminary and my recent ordination, many of our family conversations revolve around our faith and Church,” Deacon Becker says. “Our times together are richer as we talk about meaningful issues and questions in our faith. I cherish the depth of our faith sharing as a family.”
As the diocese’s vocations promoter, Father Becker says he “very much enjoys working with our young men and women who are working through the same process of discernment that I’ve gone through myself. It’s a great joy to be a part of the process of discovering God’s call in a young person’s life, and helping him or her to respond to that call in love.”
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
Learn more
Find out more about National Vocation Awareness Week and check out additional resources online at www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/national-vocation-awareness-week.
Information about vocations in the Diocese of Charlotte is online at www.charlottediocese.org/vocations.