Around the Diocese
Office of Family Life and Catholic Charities Elder Ministry
For Catholic Charities Elder Ministry events, scroll to the bottom of this page.
For Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life events and information, scroll to the bottom of this page or visit https://charlottediocese.org/faith-life/family-life. Please scroll to see information on upcoming events.
Outreach Opportunities
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is joining the national campaign, We Are There, to promote the life-giving work of the Catholic Charities network. For 75 years, Catholic Charities has brought comfort, hope and relief to our neighbors, regardless of their faith, in the Diocese of Charlotte. The agency serves nearly 23,000 people, distributing over 600,000 pounds of food and aiding nearly 900 refugees. To learn more about the We Are There campaign, visit www.wearethere.us. To volunteer or make a gift to support the work of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, visit www.ccdoc.org.
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte needs volunteers and contributions to their food pantry toiletry kits and refugee donation kits. To find out how you can help, click here.
Catholic Charities offers Supportive Services for Veterans (SSVF). We are dedicated to helping very low-income veteran families in Mecklenburg County who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Our services include outreach, housing search and placement, eviction prevention, security deposits, rental assistance, child care expenses, transportation assistance, and assistance obtaining Veterans Affairs (VA) and other benefits. Veterans, please call Supportive Services Supervisor Tonya Lawrence at 704-370-3257. Let us work together to end homelessness among veterans.
Healed and Restored was born at St. Mark Catholic Church in 2020, under the guidance of Father Putnam, to tend to a need that’s been overlooked in our communities and in the Charlotte Diocese in general. Our mission is to transform female victims of trauma and assault into strong survivors who positively impact the world, believe in their worthiness, and feel God’s love. Our vision is to strengthen women who are suffering after physical and mental traumatic experiences through therapy, workshops and retreats. Our goal is to provide a residential program offering a safe, faith-filled home for women to receive care for mind, body, spirit and soul free of charge. We are growing and so are our needs. We are looking for a space to rent (commercial or residential) in the Lake Norman/Charlotte area with a minimum of 900 square feet, where we can hold group and one-on-one counseling sessions, workshops on life skills, nutrition education, and physical fitness therapy for the women we serve. If you or someone you know owns a property that you think might fulfill our needs, we ask that you reach out to us by emailing info@healedandrestored.org. With your help, we can continue to make a difference in women’s lives. Click here for more information on the Healed and Restored ministry.
The Order of Malta runs a pen pal program for those in prison, and we are looking for volunteers to write inmates. This only takes a few minutes of your time each month and a stamp. The program is anonymous and presents us with a way to be true to our call to visit Christ in prison. If you are interested in volunteering, email Maltapenpalprogram@gmail.com. We provide all of the necessary support and direction.
HOM/Catholic Charities furnishes apartments for refugee families settling in the Charlotte area. HOM needs good-condition used furniture and new and good-condition housewares. Furniture collections are the third Saturday of every month except December. Housewares and smaller household items can be scheduled for a pickup anytime. To schedule a pickup, email homfurniture.donate@gmail.com. Furniture and items currently needed include: dressers, sofas, end tables, nightstands, coffee tables, kitchen tables, lamps, pictures and artwork, throw pillows bathroom rugs, toasters, bathroom hand towels, small kitchen trash cans , cutting boards, napkins, face tissues, toothbrushes, deodorant, new queen and twin bedsheets, new or gently used queen and twin comforters and blankets. Please note that we are unable to accept the following items: bed frames or mattresses, cribs, used bed linens, glass tables, large armoires, TVs and electronics (working flat screens TV’s with a stand are acceptable).
Birthright of Charlotte, a pro-life pregnancy center is located at 4435 Monroe Road in Charlotte. For more information, click here. Currently, Birthright of Charlotte needs new or gently worn maternity clothes, baby clothes up to three months, and infant gowns and sleepers. They also need disposable diapers up to size three, hypoallergenic lotion, diaper ointment, baby wash, baby wipes and hand-crocheted or knitted baby booties. To donate, volunteer and offer financial assistance, contact Executive Director Hank Chardos at hank@birthrightofcharlotte.org or 803-543-8144.
Job Opportunities
The Diocese of Charlotte has job opportunities. Click here for more information on the positions.
News
The Catholic Conference Center is hosting its signature New Year’s Retreat. Jesus used questions to promote healing, forgive the past, repair brokenness, and instill hope. The retreat, “Questions Jesus Asks You for the New Year,” will invite you to answer the same life-altering questions. The retreat includes five engaging reflections, Mass, confession, Matins, Vespers, and Adoration. Plus, plenty of time to reflect upon the New Year in our sacred spaces while enjoying the fireplace in our lounge or exploring the beautiful grounds of the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory. Two nights, Dec. 30 to Jan. 1. As a special treat, there is a New Year’s Eve banquet with traditional festivities. The last two years have sold out, so register now at www.catholicconference.org/new-years. For more information email info@catholicconference.org or call 828.327.7441.
Retrouvaille of Western Carolina Marriage Retreats in 2025 – Our January retreat is filling fast. For information, registration please click here.
The 15th Annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas, Quem Servis?: Who Do You Serve?, is Feb. 8 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. The spearkers are Bishop Fabre-Jeune, John Frankman, John Edwards, Eknock, Rick Barrett, Anthony Abbate and Rob Blyton. For more information on these dynamic speakers and to register for the conference, click here.
Take time for your marriage by attending the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Experience on March 21 to 23, 2025 in Emerald Isle, NC and May 2 to 4, 2025 in Hickory, NC. Early sign up is recommended. For more information, click here or contact us at applications@NCMarriageDiscovery.org or 704-315-2144.
Catholic Health Care Ethics Conference – Health care professionals are invited to the 8th annual Converging Roads health care ethics conference on March 29 from 8 am to 5:45 pm at the Cathedral of St. Patrick. This one-day conference explores the theme of The Future of Human Dignity and offers continuing education for health care professionals rooted in the Hippocratic and Catholic ethical tradition. Registration is $75 to $159 based on CME/CNE inclusion. This conference is presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Diocese of Charlotte, and Belmont Abbey College. Click here for more information or email jessie@forlifeandfamily.org.
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC has a singles group for men and women 45 years old and older. They have monthly meetings as well as social events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining or would like more information, contact Judy at spnsingles45@gmail.com.
Celebrate Mass in the Byzantine Rite on Saturdays at 4 pm at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC (292 Munn Road). The Divine Liturgy is held in the Ministry Center, the building across from the main church. All are welcome. Bishop Kurt Burnette granted the Byzantine community a proper name, The Petro Oros Byzantine Catholic Mission. Father Oros was a Ukrainian priest martyred in 1953 and recently beatified by Pope Francis. For more information visit www.carolinabyzantine.com or contact Andrea Kakuk at akakuk1@gmail.com.
Catholic Charities Elder Ministry
For more information, contact Elder Ministry Program Director Sandra Breakfield at sandrab@ccdoc.org or 704-370-3220.
Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life
Join us for the 19th Annual March for Life Charlotte on Friday, Jan. 10. We will offer Mass for The Unborn on Jan. 10, at the Cathedral of St. Patrick at 10 am. At 11 am, we will gather at the parking lot across the street from the Pastoral Center at 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, NC . Parking is limited. At noon, we will march to Trade and Tryon to be a witness for The Unborn. Father Peter Rusciolelli is the guest priest. Click here for more information.
Join a pro-life pilgrimage to Washington, DC for the nation’s biggest pro-life witness, Jan. 23 to 25! The pilgrimage includes the Vigil Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Life Fest with the Sisters of Life, the National March for Life, and more! Tickets are $200 to $300, and includes lodging and transportation. Student discounts available. Sponsored by the Family Life Office of the Diocese of Charlotte. Questions? respectlife@rcdoc.org.
Life and Family Conference: “Cultural Challenges & Catholic Faith”
When: Saturday, Jan. 18; 10 am to 3 pm
Where: Diocesan Pastoral Center, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203
The Charlotte Diocese Family Life Office invites you to a day of formation and education focused on marriage, family and pro-life work. Attendees will experience dynamic, nationally known speakers and a panel discussion:
- “The Way of the Lord: Speaking Moral Truth with Love” with Father Jeff Kirby, STD
- “From Suffering to Healing in Family Life” with Christine Wisdom, MS. LMHC
- “Faith in the Public Square: Catholic Engagement in Politics and Policy” with Adamo Manfra, Major USMCR, S.T.B.
Lunch and refreshments are included. Tickets are $30 adult, $20 student. Please register online here. Walk-ins are also welcome to attend. Childcare is available. For more information, email familylife@rcdoc.org.
The Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life offers a Catholic apostolate for men and women who experience same-sex attractions and for their family members and loved ones. Whether you experience same-sex attractions (Courage) or you have a family member or loved one who identifies as LGBTQ+ (EnCourage), you are not alone. Join the Courage and EnCourage family and discover an apostolate that provides confidential support for living by the Catholic Church’s teachings on chastity and keeping family bonds intact. To learn more, visit https://Couragerc.org. To inquire about our local Courage chapter, email courage@rcdoc.org and local EnCourage chapter at encourage@rcdoc.org.
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Click here for more information on Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life or email FamilyLife@rcdoc.org or call 704-808-4507.