CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte will commemorate its 50th anniversary in 2022, and organizers are already looking ahead to a year full of celebrations.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis has chosen the following theme for the anniversary: “Faith more precious than gold.” It is taken from 1 Peter 1:7, which states: “so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
“Gold is recognized as a precious commodity, but even more precious to us is the gift of our Catholic faith,” Bishop Jugis noted in a recent letter to clergy announcing the theme. “This coming year is a historic occasion to inspire our parishioners and the larger community to a closer relationship with the Lord.”
The Charlotte diocese was formally established on Jan. 12, 1972, when Bishop Michael Begley was ordained and installed as the first Bishop of Charlotte. The diocese was carved out of the Diocese of Raleigh – splitting North Carolina into two dioceses, each with about 30,000 Catholics at the time. Now, the Charlotte diocese numbers more than 515,000 Catholics, making it one of the fastest growing dioceses in the United States.
“An anniversary is a fitting time to reflect prayerfully and joyfully on our past, our present, and our future,” Bishop Jugis wrote in his letter. “The Catholic faith has deep roots in western North Carolina, beginning long before the founding of the diocese. Thanks to the sacrifices, hard work, and devotion of countless missionary priests, consecrated men and women religious, and faithful lay men and women, the diocese was born and has flourished.”
Anniversary plans are still being formulated, but celebrations will kick off with an opening Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral on Jan. 12, 2022. The 2022 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress will also be a key opportunity for anniversary celebrations.
Events and programs throughout the year will highlight our shared faith and history, and our diocese’s diversity and progress. Plans also include a diocese-wide campaign to inspire “50 Acts of Charity” throughout western North Carolina.
The planning effort is being led by Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor.
“It is worth noting that this golden anniversary celebration is not about the diocese as a Church structure,” Bishop Jugis said. “As the Holy Father’s apostolic delegate said during the installation Mass for the Most Reverend Michael J. Begley, the first Bishop of Charlotte, ‘...the administrative apparatus is not an end in itself, but a means to a higher objective. A diocese is established to unite the faithful in the bond of faith, of charity, of grace and Christian fellowship.’”
Though the presence of the Catholic faith in western North Carolina pre-dates the founding of the diocese in 1972, he said, the anniversary year is an opportunity to “give thanks to Almighty God for His many blessings and to grow closer as brothers and sisters in the faith.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
