Presbyteral Council & Vicars Forane
Presbyteral Council
The Presbyteral Council is a group of priests chosen to advise the bishop in the governance of the diocese. Required by Church law, the council represents all priests in the diocese and is “like a senate of the bishop” (Code of Canon Law 495 §1), with about half the members elected by the priests and others appointed by the bishop.
Officers 2025-2026
| President | Most Rev. Michael T. Martin, OFM. Conv. |
| Chairman | Very Rev. Benjamin Roberts, V.F. |
| Vice Chairman | Very Rev. Peter Ascik |
| Secretary | Rev. David McCanless |
| Treasurer | Very Rev. John T. Putnam, J.V. |
Members
| Term Began | Term Ends | Member | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2026 | Very Rev. Peter Ascik | Appointed |
| 2023 | 2026 | Rev. Paul Buchanan | Elected |
| 2023 | 2026 | Rev. Patrick Cahill | Elected |
| 2023 | 2026 | Very Rev. W. Christian Cook, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2023 | 2026 | Rev. David McCanless | Elected |
| 2023 | 2026 | Rt. Rev. Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. | Elected |
| 2024 | 2027 | Rev. Paul Gary | Elected |
| 2024 | 2027 | Rev. Stephen Hoyt | Elected |
| 2024 | 2027 | Very Rev. Benjamin Roberts, V.F. | Elected |
| 2024 | 2027 | Rev. Timothy Stephens, S.J. | Elected |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Christopher Bond, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Rev. Elias Correa-Torres, O.S.B. | Elected |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. John Eckert, V.F. | Elected |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Alfonso Gamez, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Christopher Gober, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Rev. Patrick Hoare | Elected |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Matthew Kauth | Elected |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Paul McNulty, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Adrian Porras, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. Lucas Rossi, V.F. | Appointed |
| 2025 | 2028 | Very Rev. John Starczewski, V.F. | Appointed |
Ex Officio Members
| Very Rev. John Putnam, Judicial Vicar |
| Very Rev. Timothy Reid, Vicar for Education: For Catholic Schools |
| Rev. Msgr. Patrick Winslow, Vicar General |
Vicars Forane
Sometimes called a dean, a vicar forane is a priest appointed by the bishop to promote a common pastoral activity in a region of the diocese and to provide spiritual and pastoral counsel to the other priests in that region, according to Church law. The Diocese of Charlotte has 10 vicariates:
Reverend Lucas Rossi, V.F.
Very Reverend Adrian Porras, V.F.
Very Reverend Alfonso Gamez, V.F.
Reverend Paul McNulty, V.F.
Reverend Christopher Bond, V.F.
Very Reverend John F. Starczewski, V.F.
Very Reverend John Eckert, V.F.
Reverend Benjamin Roberts, V.F.
Very Reverend W. Christian Cook, V.F.
Very Reverend Christopher M. Gober, V.F.