CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is reorganizing its regional structure to group parishes more strategically by geography, making it easier for clergy and parishes to work together and support their growing Catholic communities.
The restructuring also creates a new region around Lake Norman, bringing the total number of regions, known as vicariates, to 11.
The changes make the regions more manageable and represent the first major realignment of vicariates in nearly 30 years. They were affirmed by the Presbyteral Council and announced Oct. 14 by Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv.
The new Lake Norman Vicariate brings together nine parishes encompassing north Charlotte and the Lake Norman area, Concord, Hickory and Newton. It also includes Christ the King High School in Huntersville, UNC Charlotte’s Campus Ministry and the Catholic Conference Center.
Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Therese Parish in Mooresville, will lead the new vicariate.
Vicariates serve as a vital link between the bishop and local parishes, helping to coordinate pastoral ministry, strengthen communication and encourage collaboration among parishes.
Each is led by a “vicar forane,” a priest appointed by the bishop to provide pastoral and administrative guidance, help implement diocesan policies and foster mutual support among priests in the region.
Primary reasons for the realignment included the growing Catholic populations in vicariates that covered a wide geographic area. Diocesan leaders said the size made it a challenge for vicars forane to visit parishes, support their fellow priests, organize regional meetings and balance those responsibilities with their own parish duties.
The 11 vicariates and their appointed vicars forane are:
- Albemarle Vicariate: Father Benjamin Roberts, priest in charge, Waxhaw Catholic Community
- Asheville Vicariate: Monsignor Roger Arnsparger, pastor and rector, St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville
- Boone Vicariate: Father Alfonso Gamez, pastor, St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Lenoir
- Charlotte Vicariate: Father John Starczewski, pastor, St. John Neumann Parish, Charlotte
- Gastonia Vicariate: Father Paul McNulty, pastor, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Gastonia
- Greensboro Vicariate: Father Christian Cook, pastor, St. Pius X Parish, Greensboro
- Hendersonville Vicariate: Father Adrian Porras, pastor, St. Barnabas Parish, Arden
- Lake Norman Vicariate: Father Mark Lawlor, pastor, St. Therese Parish, Mooresville
- Salisbury Vicariate: Father John Eckert, pastor, Sacred Heart Parish, Salisbury
- Smoky Mountain Vicariate: Father Paul Asoh, pastor, St. Mary Mother of God Parish, Sylva
- Winston-Salem Vicariate: Father Christopher Gober, St. Leo the Great Parish, Winston-Salem
Three of the vicars forane are newly appointed: Monsignor Arnsparger, Father Asoh and Father Lawlor. The other eight have been reappointed for another term.
In his announcement, Bishop Martin said the diocese is planning to align other ministries, including the Permanent Diaconate, Hispanic Ministry and Faith Formation, within the new vicariate boundaries to further improve regional coordination.
The diocese’s regional structure has evolved since its founding in 1972, when it was first organized into five vicariates: Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Salisbury and Waynesville.
In 1975, the map was redrawn into nine vicariates across three geographic areas: Piedmont (Charlotte, Gastonia and Greensboro); Central (Albemarle, Hickory and Winston-Salem) and Mountain (Asheville, Boone and Smoky Mountain). In 1997, Salisbury was re-established as a vicariate, creating the 10 that existed until now.
— Christina Lee Knauss
Diocese of Charlotte Vicariates
Churches and other ministries by vicariate
Albemarle Vicariate
Our Lady of the Annunciation – Albemarle
Our Lady of the Americas – Biscoe
St. Matthew – Charlotte
St. James – Hamlet
Sacred Heart – Wadesboro
St. Luke – Mint Hill
Our Lady of Lourdes – Monroe
Waxhaw Catholic Community – Waxhaw
Medhanie Alem Quasi-Parish – Charlotte
Other ministries:
Novant Health Matthews Medical Center
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center
Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center
Atrium Health Union – Monroe
Asheville Vicariate
St. Lawrence Basilica – Asheville
St. Eugene – Asheville
Immaculate Conception – Forest City
St. Andrew the Apostle – Mars Hill
Sacred Heart – Burnsville
St. Margaret Mary – Swannanoa
Our Lady of the Angels – Marion
Other ministries:
Mission Hospital – Asheville
Boone Vicariate
St. Elizabeth – Boone
Church of the Epiphany – Blowing Rock
St. Francis of Assisi – Jefferson
St. Frances of Rome – Sparta
St. Francis of Assisi – Lenoir
St. Charles Borromeo – Morganton
St. Lucien – Spruce Pine
St. Bernadette – Linville
Holy Trinity – Taylorsville
Other ministries:
Appalachian State University Catholic Campus Ministry – Boone
Charlotte Vicariate
Our Lady of the Assumption – Charlotte
St. Ann – Charlotte
Little Flower Chapel – Mooresville
St. Gabriel – Charlotte
St. John Lee Korean – Charlotte
St. John Neumann – Charlotte
St. Patrick Cathedral – Charlotte
St. Peter – Charlotte
St. Vincent de Paul – Charlotte
Other ministries:
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center – Charlotte
Atrium Health Mercy – Charlotte
Atrium Health Presbyterian Medical Center – Charlotte
Charlotte Catholic High School
Holy Trinity Academy
SEARCH Ministry (OFM)
Gastonia Vicariate
St. Mary, Queen of the Apostles – Belmont
St. Helen – Gastonia
St. Michael the Archangel – Gastonia
St. Dorothy – Lincolnton
St. Mary, Help of Christians – Shelby
Christ the King – Kings Mountain
Our Lady of Consolation – Charlotte
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Charlotte
St. Joseph – Charlotte
Other ministries:
St. Joseph College Seminary
Belmont Abbey
Greensboro Vicariate
St. Joseph of the Hills – Eden
Our Lady of Grace – Greensboro
St. Pius X – Greensboro
St. Benedict – Greensboro
St. Mary’s – Greensboro
St. Paul the Apostle – Greensboro
Holy Infant – Reidsville
Other ministries:
Franciscan Center
North Carolina A&T State University/Bennett College Catholic Campus Ministry – Greensboro
High Point University Catholic Campus Ministry
St. Francis Springs Prayer Center
Hendersonville Vicariate
St. Barnabas – Arden
Sacred Heart – Brevard
St. Joan of Arc – Candler
Immaculate Conception – Hendersonville
St. Margaret of Scotland – Maggie Valley
St. John the Baptist – Tryon
St. John the Evangelist – Waynesville
Immaculate Conception – Canton
Lake Norman Vicariate
St. Thomas Aquinas – Charlotte
St. James the Greater – Concord
St. Mark – Huntersville
St. Joseph – Kannapolis
St. Therese – Mooresville
St. Philip the Apostle – Statesville
Holy Spirit – Denver
St. Aloysius – Hickory
St. Joseph – Newton
Other ministries:
Christ the King High School – Huntersville
UNC Charlotte Catholic Campus Ministry
Catholic Conference Center – Hickory
Salisbury Vicariate
St. Joseph – Asheboro
Christ the King – High Point
Immaculate Heart of Mary – High Point
Holy Cross – Kernersville
Our Lady of the Rosary – Lexington
St. Francis of Assisi – Mocksville
Sacred Heart – Salisbury
Our Lady of the Highways – Thomasville
Other ministries:
Bishop McGuinness High School – Kernersville
Korean Catholic Community of the Triad
Pennybyrn
Smoky Mountain Vicariate
Holy Redeemer – Andrews
Prince of Peace – Robbinsville
St. Joseph – Bryson City
Our Lady of Guadalupe – Cherokee
St. Francis of Assisi – Franklin
Our Lady of the Mountains – Highlands
St. William – Murphy
Immaculate Heart of Mary – Hayesville
St. Jude – Sapphire
St. Mary, Mother of God – Sylva
Other ministries:
Western Carolina University Catholic Campus Ministry – Cullowhee
Winston-Salem Vicariate
Divine Redeemer – Boonville
Holy Angels – Mount Airy
St. John Baptist de La Salle – North Wilkesboro
St. Stephen – Elkin
Holy Family – Clemmons
Our Lady of Mercy – Winston-Salem
Our Lady of Fatima – Winston-Salem
St. Benedict the Moor – Winston-Salem
Good Shepherd – King
St. Leo the Great – Winston-Salem
Other ministries:
Wake Forest University Catholic Campus Ministry – Winston-Salem