Father John Eckert (at right) is succeeding Father Christopher Gober as vocations director for the Diocese of Charlotte. Father Gober oversaw the flourishing program for 21 years and is now turning his attention to his growing parish, St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem. Father Eckert, who will remain as pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury, is looking forward to building on the vocation program’s solid foundation. (Photo provided)
CHARLOTTE — After more than 20 years leading the Diocese of Charlotte’s growing vocations program, Father Christopher Gober is stepping down – and handing the role to a priest he helped guide through the seminary.
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., has appointed Father John Eckert as the new vocations director, effective July 8. Father Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury, was ordained in 2010 and is one of 57 men shepherded by Father Gober through to priesthood during his tenure.
Father Gober will continue serving as pastor of St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem and as vicar forane of the Winston-Salem Vicariate. The transition will allow him to focus on the needs of his growing parish and his vicariate duties, he said.
“Having reached this milestone of 20 years, it felt like the right time to bring in new energy to build on the foundations we have put in place,” Father Gober said. “I am very grateful to Bishop Martin for supporting my request to step down from the position after so many years. He made an excellent choice in Father Eckert. This will allow me to be more present to my parish and foster priestly fraternity in our region.”
REMARKABLE GROWTH
Since becoming vocations director in 2004, Father Gober has seen the number of diocesan seminarians nearly quadruple to 44 this year. And 13 men have been ordained priests in the past two years alone.
This growth has been driven by increased vocation awareness throughout the diocese, Father Gober said, thanks to the support of clergy, parishes, Catholic schools and families. The Vocations Office has built a strong culture of discernment – encouraging young people to consider God’s call through vocations camps, parish visits and other outreach.
Father Gober oversaw the launch of vocations summer camps in 2014 for young men and in 2016 for young women. “Quo Vadis Days” and “Duc in Altum” have helped thousands of teenagers explore potential religious vocations through prayer, talks and fellowship.
His office also added a vocations promoter role, first filled by Father Jason Barone, who introduced the summer vocation camps, and now by Father Brian Becker, who also directs the propaedeutic (preliminary) stage at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.
St. Joseph College Seminary has fueled priestly vocations since it was established in 2016 by Bishop Peter Jugis. Father Gober supported the effort led by seminary rector Father Matthew Kauth, both drawing from their own seminary experiences to offer college-level formation close to home.
Seminarians now spend summers in local parishes, building relationships from the start with the parishioners they might one day serve. “By the time they’re ordained, they’re not strangers – they’re part of our family of faith,” Father Gober said.
“We’ve built a strong foundation for young men to discern authentic vocations,” he said, “and that’s thanks to a diocesan-wide team effort. Our presbyterate presents the priesthood as a joyful and adventurous life. That’s what draws men to it.”
What’s been most meaningful? “Walking with a man from day one of seminary formation to the moment he lays down his life in service to the Lord and the Church – seeing him reach the altar,” Father Gober said.
Father Gober said he is deeply grateful to his parishioners – past and present – and to longtime chancery staffers Nancy Weber (now retired) and Lainie Lord for their behind-the-scenes support.
BUILD ON FOUNDATION
Father Eckert expressed appreciation for Father Gober’s leadership and example, calling him “a big brother – and not just because he’s taller.” The two share roots in Peoria, Illinois, and even attended the same high school, eight years apart.
During a Palm Sunday visit to the Charlotte diocese in 2006, Father Eckert was impressed by the pastoral approach of his host Father Gober, who was then pastor of parishes in Spruce Pine and Linville.
“His calm, steady personality and the clear love of the priesthood that he had was an inspiration,” he recalls.
Father Eckert has already been active in vocations work, including speaking at Quo Vadis Days camps and welcoming seminarians on summer assignments at Sacred Heart in Salisbury. Three recently ordained priests – Fathers Darren Balkey, Joseph Wasswa and Matthew Harrison – came from his parish.
“Discernment takes time,” he tells young people. “Be open to the Holy Spirit, be quiet and listen to Our Lord, be ready to make a gift of ourselves, and see what unfolds.”
Father Eckert, who will remain pastor of Sacred Heart, said he is grateful for the opportunity to lead and looks forward to working with Bishop Martin to build on a strong foundation.
“I’m excited to be able to help young people discern who God is calling them to be,” he said. “All of us are called to holiness. All of our vocations affect one another. You don’t get good priests if you don’t have strong marriages and families who encourage vocations.”
Both priests agree that promoting vocations is a collaborative effort based on trust in God’s providence – supported through prayer, encouragement and financial generosity.
“Our Lord knows how to provide,” Father Eckert said. “We just need to keep responding generously and trust that He will keep providing.”
Father Gober said he’s confident the program will continue flourishing. “Father Eckert already has a great rapport with our seminarians. The program is in good hands.”
— Patricia Guilfoyle and Liz Chandler
New resources for growing ministries
Father AscikT
Father Dominguezhe Diocese of Charlotte is providing new resources for its growing Family Life and Hispanic Ministry offices, Bishop Michael Martin announced June 18 in an email to priests.
He thanked Father Peter Ascik and Father Julio Dominguez, who he said “have done remarkable work to establish and/or grow these ministries.”
He noted that both priests are taking on new assignments in parishes that will demand their full attention: Father Ascik, director of the Family Life Office, is moving to serve as pastor and rector of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, and Father Dominguez, Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, will serve as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Newton.
They will continue serving as the ministry directors temporarily as the diocese conducts national searches for full-time directors.
— Catholic News Herald