MOORESVILLE — Bishop Pedro Alberto Bustamante López of the Diocese of Huánuco, Peru, concluded a 17-day visit to the Diocese of Charlotte that strengthened ties between the two dioceses and promoted a missionary campaign to support a radio evangelization initiative in Peru.
During his stay from May 5 to 22, the prelate spent much of his time with Father Huver Navarro, a priest from Huánuco who serves at St. Therese Parish in Mooresville. There, he celebrated Masses and participated in various community activities. He also visited several parishes, from Charlotte to High Point, and met with Bishop Michael Martin at the Diocesan Pastoral Center to discuss collaboration between the two dioceses.
Bishop Bustamante, who assumed leadership of the Diocese of Huánuco in 2024, is continuing the relationship initiated by his predecessor, Bishop Jaime Rodríguez Salazar. It was through a meeting between then-Bishop Rodríguez and Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Therese Church, during a trip to Peru in 2006 that a close friendship began. It eventually led to the assignment of the newly ordained Father Huver Navarro as a missionary priest at St. Therese.
Thanks to the efforts of Father Navarro and Father Lawlor, the Diocese of Charlotte maintains its relationship with Huánuco through radio evangelization projects such as “Across Borders” (“Entre Fronteras”), launched in 2025. The program is broadcast live from Mama Katie’s restaurant in Mooresville through DH Radio FM in Huánuco and on various social media platforms around the world.
“We have seen people connecting from many countries, and the program continues to grow,” Reyes said.
One of the purposes of Bishop Bustamante’s visit was to garner financial support for the acquisition of a 800 AM transmitter for DH Radio in Huánuco. The bishop explained that this technology will make it possible to reach more remote rural communities where many parishioners live. Unlike FM signals, AM radio has greater range and more easily overcomes the geographic barriers of the region.
“The response here has been very positive. I see that solidarity here has truly been a virtue,” Bishop Bustamante said. “I saw that almost everyone stood up to help.”
The Diocese of Huánuco, founded in 1865 after separating from the Archdiocese of Lima, has faced significant challenges due to its geography. It covers 17,375 square miles – an area roughly the size of West Virginia, that includes parts of the Andes Mountains as well as river valleys and the Amazon rain forest. Many smaller communities are isolated due to the terrain.
In this context, DH Radio has become a key tool for strengthening communication, formation and evangelization. Through new programs and content, the station seeks especially to reach younger generations and connect not only the faithful of Huánuco and Charlotte, but also Hispanic communities in different parts of the world.
“The jurisdiction remains extensive, so the need arose to create a radio station through which the voice of the bishop, the voice of the priest, the voice of the religious sister, and also of our lay brothers and sisters, could reach the people,” Bishop Bustamante said.
During his visit, the bishop traveled across much of the diocese. On May 13 he met with Bishop Martin in Charlotte to discuss joint projects and strengthening the relationship between the two dioceses.
He also visited Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Charlotte, where he met with its pastor, Vincentian Father Marvin Navas, and then toured Belmont Abbey College in Belmont. On May 20, he presided over confirmation ceremonies at both Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Therese, which allowed him to interact with parishioners.
Each morning, he also broadcast his radio program “Jesus Christ Meeting the Brothers and Sisters of the Countryside” live from Mooresville.
He described his meeting with Bishop Martin as an unforgettable experience, marked by their mutual desire to collaborate pastorally.
“It was memorable because we shared many of the same concerns and, above all, the same interest in the salvation of souls,” he said. “It was impressive to find a brother willing to help in every possible way.”
Reyes, who accompanied the bishop during much of his visit, highlighted the closeness and pastoral warmth he showed to everyone he encountered. She especially recalled his visit to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the largest Hispanic parish in the diocese, where he spontaneously decided to assist with confirmations.
“He had not planned to do the confirmations at Guadalupe, but after spending time with Father Marvin, he felt the desire to help,” Reyes commented. “It was precisely that willingness to serve that made him stay with us longer.”
— Brian Segovia
