GREENSBORO — A life-changing surprise awaited Our Lady of Grace teacher Carol Wiedwald and her eighth-grade son Chase in the school’s lobby the morning of March 29. It was a $20,000 scholarship to Bishop McGuinness High School from parishioners Don and Mary Gay Brady, who were there to present the award.
“We are absolutely grateful,” Wiedwald said as she searched for words to express her joy. “It’s a wonderful opportunity. Bishop has been great for Tyler, my older son, this year.”
Don Brady added, “We wanted the first recipient to be from our parish school.”
For the Bradys, belief in the crucial role of Catholic education in society stems from extensive personal experience. Their five children and many of their grandchildren have attended Our Lady of Grace, and two of their grandchildren currently have Wiedwald as a teacher. The couple and a small, dedicated committee are seeking contributions to match their $500,000 donation to raise the fund’s total to $1 million while encouraging others to actively support Catholic schools.
“More and more Catholics across the diocese are making a difference with five-, six- and seven-figure donations,” said Jim Kelley, development director for the Diocese of Charlotte. “This is a testament to the life-changing difference our Catholic institutions are making.”
The Catholic Schools Employees Scholarship Fund – the largest donation the high school has ever received – has a twofold purpose. “The goal is to recruit and keep quality educators. It’s an incentive for them to fulfill their vocation and allows them the opportunity to send their children to Catholic schools, even if their financial situation wouldn’t have allowed for that,” said Katie Williams, advancement director for the diocesan high school in Kernersville. “It also will, over time, increase enrollment.”
When it comes to retaining quality educators, the fund is already succeeding.
“Carol (Wiedwald) has been a great gift to OLG because she started the STREAM program, so she’s teaching all our kids from kindergarten to eighth grade,” said Our Lady of Grace School Principal Catherine Rusch. “She’s really leading the charge with advanced math in middle school, up to two years advanced, so we’re very lucky to have her.”
Father Casey Coleman, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, noted, “Teachers here and at other parochial schools are oftentimes already making a sacrifice because they can make more money as a teacher elsewhere, but they buy into the mission. If they buy into the mission of Catholic schools by doing such hard and dedicated work, then we should be giving back to them in ways like this. By making that sacrifice, putting their own kids through Catholic school is harder to do. This is a wonderful opportunity that makes it more feasible.”
As of press time, nine students are eligible for the scholarship during the 2021-’22 school year. Additional scholarships have continued to be awarded since the first one on March 29. Any faculty or staff member from Bishop McGuinness or other Piedmont Area Catholic Schools (PACS) are eligible for the scholarship for their children. Qualifying students are rising ninth-graders or transferring to Bishop McGuinness. For every year of enrollment at Bishop McGuinness, the eligible students receive $5,000 toward tuition.
PACS includes Bishop McGuinness, Our Lady of Grace and St. Pius X in Greensboro, Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo in Winston-Salem, and Sacred Heart in Salisbury.
“We have great teachers and staff at all our Catholic schools including the Piedmont Area Catholic Schools,” said Dr. Gregory Monroe, superintendent of the diocese’s Catholic schools. “This scholarship is a way to make Catholic education available to the employees who work for and with us, and at the same time provide their children with the gift of a Catholic education.”
Since 2017, Don Brady has served on a committee to help increase enrollment while fostering religious vocations from Bishop McGuinness, which has a capacity for 600 students and a current enrollment of 420. Brady also helped with the search for its new head of school, Dr. Jared Rashford, who starts in June.
The Bradys are longtime advocates of Catholic education, having generously donated time, talent and treasure to new building projects, a preschool playground and technology upgrades at OLG School over the years, as well as many projects for the church and community.
“We want to promote Catholic education and culture, so we can literally change the world,” Father Coleman said. “We’re extremely blessed and privileged to be the first beneficiaries and to have such wonderful parishioners like Don and Mary Gay Brady who have done so much for Catholic schools and continue to do so.”
For more information or if you are interested in helping with a matching gift, contact Katie Williams, the director of advancement at Bishop McGuinness, at 336-564-1009 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Annie Ferguson, Correspondent
Pictured (from left) Catherine Rusch, principal of Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro; Katie Williams, advancement director for Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville; philanthropists and Catholic school supporters Don and Mary Gay Brady; scholarship recipient Chase Wiedwald and his mother Carol Wiedwald; and Father Casey Coleman, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church. (Photo provided by Paola Scilinguo)
‘Carry with you humble, thankful hearts into the future’
The Class of 2021 of Charlotte Catholic High School, Christ the King High School and Bishop McGuinness High School gathered with Bishop Peter Jugis, their friends and family for their respective baccalaureate Masses May 25, 24 and 27. (Photos by SueAnn Howell, Amy Burger and Katie Williams)CHARLOTTE — Before graduating from what has been a year like none other, the Class of 2021 was able to enjoy a baccalaureate Mass together in person with their bishop.
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced churches to close and state regulations made large gatherings impossible.
With restrictions eased just days before graduation season, hundreds of members of the Class of 2021 and their families were able to attend Mass with Bishop Peter Jugis near their local parishes.
Bishop Jugis celebrated special Masses last week for each of the Diocese of Charlotte’s three high schools, personally congratulating the graduating seniors.
He traveled May 24 to Christ the King High School at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, May 25 to Charlotte Catholic High School at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, and May 27 for Bishop McGuinness High School at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville.
At each baccalaureate Mass, the Class of 2021 packed into the pews, happy to celebrate together after a school year marked by mask mandates, social distancing and virtual classes.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis shared the history of the baccalaureate Mass and how it began sometime in the late Middle Ages as a way for students to come together one last time before graduation to thank God for the many blessings they received during the course of their education.
“You, the graduating Class of 2021, come to this baccalaureate Mass in that spirit of thanksgiving which denotes the baccalaureate, in order to thank God for all of the blessings that you have received and all that you have been able to accomplish with God’s help,” he said.
He noted how this class of seniors has truly achieved a lot to arrive at this milestone in their lives – not just this year but in all of their years of study.
“St. Paul tells us, be thankful. Have gratitude in your hearts to God. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” Bishop Jugis said. “Good advice that St. Paul gives us this day and to all Christians all the time.”
“A humble heart is able to be thankful,” he continued. “A humble heart knows that it is to God, first of all, that the prayer of thanks must be made.
“So many good things have been given to you, graduating seniors. And so many opportunities for growth have been offered to you by God, who is gracious and good. Be thankful to Him.”
Bishop Jugis also urged them to be thankful to their parents, family, teachers and friends for all the ways they have sacrificed and enriched their lives.
“Your faith in God… has given you an excellent, strong foundation to stand on as you build your life – a foundation of faith that will never fail you,” he said. “Be thankful to God for your faith, which is a gift He has given you.”
“Carry with you humble, thankful hearts into the future.”
The Class of 2021
Bishop McGuinness High School graduated 93 seniors, who will attend a total of 40 colleges and universities in 15 states this fall. They earned more than $5.6 million in scholarships.
Twelve graduating BMHS seniors have signed to play 11 different collegiate sports at 12 different colleges and universities.
Charlotte Catholic High School graduated 274 seniors who will attend a total of 79 colleges and universities in 24 states, plus the District of Columbia, Canada, Ireland and the United Kingdom. They have earned $20,233,419 in scholarships.
Seventeen graduating CCHS seniors have signed to play eight different collegiate sports at 16 different colleges and universities.
Christ the King High School graduated 83 seniors who will attend a total of 49 colleges and universities in 15 states. One graduate will serve in the U.S. Navy.
They have earned $8,642,286 in scholarships.
Three graduating CTKHS seniors have signed to play three different collegiate sports at three colleges and universities.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter
