The store at St. James the Greater Parish in Concord recently celebrated 25 years of selling books, Bibles and other Catholic items. It is staffed by volunteers and overseen by parishioners Charlotte and Robby Schomberg. ( Photos provided by St. James the Greater Parish) CONCORD — Each week before and after Masses at St. James the Greater Parish in Concord, people looking for a new Bible, crucifix or a Catholic-themed gift can find it at the parish Catholic shop. Located in the entryway and staffed entirely by volunteers, the store recently celebrated its 25th anniversary.
That milestone is a testament to the dedication of a volunteer team that runs it and keeps it stocked with all things Catholic. Beside Bibles and books, customers can find rosaries, jewelry, statues, crucifixes, funeral urns, prayer cards and other religious items. There is a selection of greeting cards and a toy bin for kids.
Parish stores like the one at St. James are often the only local resource for people who want to do hands-on shopping for religious items instead of buying online. Similarly successful shops are hosted at St. Mark Parish in Huntersville, St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, and St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, among other places.
St. James’ store first opened in August 1999, originally located in the basement of the old church, recalls Charlotte Schomberg, the store’s volunteer coordinator. When a new church for St. James opened in 2004, the store reopened in the narthex.
“The store was originally started by three elderly women, all named Mary,” Schomberg said. “I started volunteering with the store when we only had three staff members, and then our pastor at the time asked if I would take it over after the last of the original founders left.”
Running the store alongside her husband Robby has been a labor of love for Schomberg these past 20 years. The Schombergs work with more than 80 vendors to source items, some from as far away as Puerto Rico.
Funds from sales go back to the parish, but Schomberg said the store is about much more than the money it raises.
“It’s really a ministry more than just a revenue source,” she said. “We give Bibles to people who need them and we give a lot of rosaries to the hospitals. A lot of people who visit aren’t even necessarily buying anything – they’re people who just need to talk.”
The store also partnered with the parish’s Deacon Todd Labonte on a fundraiser to donate more than 200 “Behind the Badge” prayerbooks to local law enforcement officers, Schomberg said.
Volunteers of all ages have run the store from the start, with 52 currently on staff. The store is open before and after all seven weekend Masses and also on holy days. Two volunteers work each shift.
The team has been so committed that they were able to keep the store running on an appointment-only basis during the pandemic.
Along with parishioners, the store also attracts customers from surrounding parishes and visitors who come to the area for NASCAR races.
Helping people track down what they need or select a special gift item is gratifying for volunteer Audrey Macek, who started working there 15 years ago.
“I love working there and helping parishioners find what they need,” Macek said. “It’s very rewarding when somebody comes in looking for a specific thing, and you can help them find exactly what they’re looking for.”
Roxanne Johnston, a volunteer for 16 years, said the store has become an important social hub for the parish and the community.
“It’s become like a social group,” she said. “People stop in before and after Mass to see how your week went. It’s a meeting place for a lot of parishioners, and you also meet race fans and others who come for Mass and discover the bookstore. I’ve made a lot of good friends.”
Schomberg said she and her husband have built friendships and made countless connections with people thanks to the shop.
“Over 20 years I’ve watched kids grow up,” she said. “I taught faith formation and now people I taught when they were kids are bringing their own kids in to meet me at the bookstore.”
— Christina Lee Knauss