Members of the Christ the King High School Class of 2019 pray during the Baccalaureate Mass May 30 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. (Photos by SueAnn Howell, Georgianna Penn and Amy Burger | Catholic News Herald)CHARLOTTE — Three Catholic high schools in the Diocese of Charlotte recently celebrated Baccalaureate Masses for the Class of 2019, which is comprised of a total of 472 graduates.
Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville celebrated its 2019 Baccalaureate Mass May 23 at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.
Father Christian Cook, school chaplain, celebrated the liturgy and reflected on the Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
“The Beatitudes and the Gospel of Matthew are telling us that these are the building blocks of being blessed,” he said. “Living a life in Christ is the highest form of happiness.”
“If you build your life on a solid foundation as you have begun to do at Bishop (McGuinness), and you live an authentic life in Christ, you will be blessed,” he said. “Each blessing builds upon another. Be merciful and seek to make peace, and goodness will cling to your soul.”
Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church, concelebrated the Mass. He told students, “It’s been a pleasure to get to know you and watch you grow to full stature in Christ.”
During his remarks he recognized Dr. Janice Ritter, superintendent of the diocese’s Catholic Schools, who is retiring in June, and he thanked her for her many years of service to Catholic education.
Principal Tracy Shaw noted, “The Class of 2019 will go out into the world living the mission of Bishop: ‘Serving a world in need of peace, love and justice.’ We are so proud of each and every one of them and will miss them.”
Bishop McGuinness High School graduated 118 seniors, who will attend a total of 41 colleges this fall. They earned $7,083,752 in scholarships.
Charlotte Catholic High School celebrated its 2019 Baccalaureate Mass May 28 at St. Matthew Church for 285 graduating seniors. Father Pat Hoare, pastor, served as main celebrant and homilist. Father Elias Khalil, parochial vicar, and Father Jason Barone, school chaplain, concelebrated.
Principal Kurt Telford said he is honored to be the principal for the Class of 2019. “They are a delightful group of students who value their education at Charlotte Catholic. They have been supportive of each other and are genuinely happy for their classmates’ success. They are a very kind class.”
The CCHS Class of 2019 will attend a total of 78 colleges and universities in 27 states, plus the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic. They have earned $19,633,500 in scholarships.
Thirty-eight graduating seniors have signed to play 14 different collegiate sports at 32 different colleges and universities.
Christ the King High School’s Baccalaureate Mass was celebrated May 30 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville by Father John Putnam, pastor. The homily was given by Father Paul McNulty, parochial vicar and school chaplain. Parochial vicars, Father Noah Carter and Father Brian Becker, and Monsignor Richard Bellow were also in attendance.
“It was such a wonderful opportunity for our seniors, their loved ones and the faculty to gather around the altar of the Lord one last time,” noted Dr. Carl Semmler, CTKHS’s principal.
“The Eucharist is the summit of our prayer life as a Church. If CTKHS did its job well, Christ will be the center of the journey for our students at the universities. Catholic high schools not only educate their students, but they help to form their students into disciples of the Lord and worshipers in the Catholic faith,” Semmler said.
“Ending the high school journey with the celebration of the Eucharist speaks volumes about who we are as a people and what we are as a school,” he added.
Christ the King High School graduated 69 seniors. Members of the Class of 2019 will continue their education at 40 colleges this fall. They earned $5,282,541 in scholarships.
— SueAnn Howell and Georgianna Penn, Catholic News Herald
Bishop McGuinness High School graduates Ashlee Wilson, Albamaria Rivera and Katie Herzberger. (Photos by Georgianna Penn | Catholic News Herald) 
Bishop McGuinness grad Giuseppe Pugliese, who will attend N.C. State University, is pictured with his family May 23 at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.
Deacon Daren Bitter distributes Communion during the CCHS Baccalaureate Mass May 28 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.