Moments in Diocesan History

On 9 February 2002 the first Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael Begley, passed from this life. He was the Shepherd of the Diocese of Charlotte from 1972 until his retirement in 1984. He fell asleep in theContinue reading REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Ten years ago on September 10, 2002, Bishop William Curlin retired as Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte. He had served as Bishop of the Diocese since 1994. As Bishop-Emeritus he continues to serve the people of western North Carolina.Continue reading RETIREMENT OF BISHOP CURLIN

Fifty years ago on May 10, 1963 the third church for St. Aloysius parish in Hickory was dedicated by Bishop Vincent Waters. Msgr. Michael Begley (who would later become the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte) preached the sermonContinue reading ST. ALOYSIUS’ THIRD HOME

On November 16th, 1958 St. Francis Church in Mocksville was established as a mission of Holy Rosary Church in Lexington. Fr. James F. Keenan was the first pastor of the mission and the first Mass was offered on November 30th,Continue reading ST. FRANCIS CHURCH IN MOCKSVILLE

On June 2, 1952 Bishop Vincent Waters dedicated St. John Baptist de la Salle Church in North Wilkesboro. The first pastor was Msgr. John Roueche. This parish was chosen by Bishop Waters to be the headquarters of the Diocesan MissionaryContinue reading ST. JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE

In July 1972, with construction completed, the first Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was offered inside the new St. Jude Church in Sapphire Valley. Before the construction of the church, Mass for the Catholics in and around Sapphire Valley hadContinue reading ST. JUDE IN SAPPHIRE VALLEY

In Feburary 1954, St. Leo Hospital in Greensboro closed its doors. The Hospital, which was opened in 1906, was staffed by the Sisters of Charity and also functioned as a School for Nursing. It was placed under the patronage ofContinue reading ST. LEO HOSPITAL IN GREENSBORO

On 24 June 1925, Bishop William J. Hafey was ordained Bishop and became the first Ordinary of the newly established Diocese of Raleigh. At the time, the new diocese covered all of North Carolina except for 8 western counties belongingContinue reading BISHOP HAFEY CONSECRATED

On 1 August 1869, Bp. (later Cardinal) James Gibbons dedicated the first St. James Church in Concord. This original church building, located on Gold Hill Rd., would remain until 1954 when a fire destroyed it. While the location of theContinue reading A CHURCH FOR CONCORD

St. Joseph Church in Mt. Holly was re-dedicated on November 1st, 1975 by the first bishop of Charlotte, the Most Rev. Michael Begley. St. Joseph’s, originally called Sts. Mary and Joseph, is one of the oldest churches in the stateContinue reading A REDEDICATION IN MT. HOLLY

On 1 July 1888, Abbot Leo Haid of Belmont Abbey was consecrated bishop by James Cardinal Gibbons of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. It was fitting that Gibbons, the first Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina, be the one to ordain theContinue reading ABBOT HAID CONSECRATED BISHOP

On 14 June 1956, Bishop Vincent Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh blessed and dedicated the Catholic Assembly Grounds of North Carolina near Hendersonville. Although this property was used for various purposes over the years it is mainly remembered forContinue reading BLESSING OF OUR LADY OF THE HILLS

On December 18, 1988 the Catholic Conference Center was dedicated by the second Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop John Donoghue. Bishop Donoghue would become Archbishop Donoghue when he was transferred to the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1993. ForContinue reading CATHOLIC CONFERENCE CENTER DEDICATION

On 25 May 2003 His Excellency George E. Lynch, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Raleigh, fell asleep in the Lord. Bishop Lynch was consecrated bishop on 6 January 1970 and served as Auxiliary Bishop of Raleigh until his retirement in 1985.Continue reading DEATH OF BISHOP LYNCH

On 3 July 1944, Rev. Emmanuel Callahan fell asleep in the Lord. Fr. Callahan had spent his years as a missionary priest riding horseback through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although a priest of the Diocese of Nashville, Fr. Callahan crossedContinue reading DEATH OF FR. CALLAHAN

On 31 July 1971 the current Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle was dedicated by Diocese of Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters. This new church replaced the original one which was dedicated in 1934. Rev. Anthony Kovacic, who servedContinue reading DEDICATION OF OUR LADY OF THE ANNUNCIATION

On December 24, 1893, Abbot-Bishop Leo Haid of Belmont Abbey, dedicated the new St. Peter Church located in downtown Charlotte, NC. The original St. Peter Church, which was dedicated in 1852, had become too small for the growing congregation. ItContinue reading DEDICATION OF ST. PETER CHURCH

A decree from 15 August 1955 issued by Bishop Vincent Waters of the DIocese of Raleigh officially established the parish of St. Anne’s in Charlotte. Many things have changed at this parish over the years, but one of the firstContinue reading ESTABLISHMENT OF ST. ANNE’S

On 11 September 1955, Diocese of Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters dedicated Notre Dame High School in Greensboro. The High School was located in a building on Summit Avenue that was formerly St. Leo Hospital. The Sisters of Notre Dame deContinue reading NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL

On 29 June 1852, the original St. Peter Church in Charlotte was dedicated by Diocese of Charleston Bishop Ignatius Reynolds. It was the first Catholic parish in Charlotte and was served initially by the circuit riding priests of the time.Continue reading OLDEST CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE IS DEDICATED

The Diocese of Raleigh announced its purchase of property near Hendersonville, NC in January 1956 and called it the Catholic Assembly Grounds of North Carolina. The original plan for the property was for it to be used not only forContinue reading OUR LADY OF THE HILLS PROPERTY PURCHASED

On December 14, 1968 an additional relic was deposited in the new altar at St. Lawrence, Asheville during the altar’s consecration. The parish obtained a relic of it’s patron saint, the martyr St. Lawrence, to place beside the other altarContinue reading RELICS OF ST. LAWRENCE

On 15 August 1978, Bishop Michael Begley dedicated the St. Benedict Center at Queen of Apostles Parish in Belmont. The newly renovated building once housed St. Benedict Grammar School which was staffed by the Sisters of Mercy and served primarilyContinue reading ST. BENEDICT CENTER DEDICATION