HIGH POINT — At 92, Monsignor Anthony Kovacic is the Diocese of Charlotte's most senior member of the clergy. He also holds the current record for most years being ordained, as he celebrates his 65th ordination anniversary this month.
Monsignor Kovacic, affectionately known as "Father Tony," was born in the Slovenian town of Bizeljsko in 1920. His life has been filled with joys and sorrow, narrowly escaping the Nazis who invaded his home country and killed many of his family members in concentration camps and making his way to Rome to study for the priesthood.
"In a way, my life is many miracles," said Monsignor Kovacic in an interview included in his farewell celebration booklet, compiled when he was leaving Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, to move to his current residence at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point in March of last year.
"The biggest miracle was that I became a priest."
Pictured: Monsignor Anthony Kovacic, a pioneer of desegregation in the Diocese of Charlotte, is pictured at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in 2011. In the background is a photo of the home he lived in as a child in Slovenia. (SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald)
Monsignor Kovacic is one of a handful of seminarians from his homeland who was "rescued" by Pope Pius XII. He studied in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1947. He was assigned to work in the Colonia Marina refugee camp in Salerno, helping fellow displaced persons from 1948 to 1951. He had hopes of working in foreign missions in Australia, but after discovering he had tuberculosis was prevented from doing so. After review of updated medical records, he was found to be cured of the tuberculosis and cleared to work in the U.S.
In 1951 Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh put him straight to work as assistant pastor at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. At that time, there were only 5,000 Catholics in all of North Carolina. Monsignor Kovacic spent a year at the cathedral before being transferred to eastern North Carolina, where he helped build up the Church in Kinston, Tarboro, Scotland Neck, New Bern and Greenville over the next 13 years.
His love for all people helped him during the 1960s when he was charged with creating the first desegregated school, St. Joseph Catholic School, in New Bern. Monsignor Kovacic traveled to nearby military bases and communities and appealed to the families there to enroll their children, and eventually he reached the goal of 100 students split evenly along racial lines.
Monsignor Kovacic served in 12 parishes in the state, with more than 29 years of service spent in the Diocese of Charlotte. His legacy in the "missions of North Carolina" also includes the construction of churches and parish centers, the directorship of the diocese's permanent diaconate program at its inception in 1980, leading the Cursillo movement in the diocese for many years, and bringing the first active Knights of Columbus Council to Queen of the Apostles Church.
"Parish work was always enjoyable," Monsignor Kovacic said in an interview with the Catholic News Herald last summer. He believes his ministry has always been to help people know the faith, and his greatest joys have come from his work with converts, visiting the sick and spending time with families in his parishes over the years.
Though Monsignor Kovacic formally retired in 1994, he continues to concelebrate Mass alongside the other retired priests at Pennybyrn and share his stories and his infectious smile with all those he meets.
-- SueAnn Howell, staff writer
SALISBURY — Twenty years ago this month, Father John Putnam was ordained to the priesthood by the late Bishop John Donoghue at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. Over the past 20 years, Father Putnam continued his studies, specializing in canon law, and accepted several positions in parishes around the Diocese of Charlotte.
His first assignment was as interim parochial vicar of St. Lucien Church in Spruce Pine and St. Bernadette Church in Linville. Since then he has also served as parochial vicar of Holy Family Church in Clemmons and as the administrator of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville. He served as sacramental minister of St. Joseph Church in Eden as well.
Father Putnam is currently the pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, a position he has held for the past 12 years. Since 2003, he has held the position of judicial vicar for the diocese, overseeing the marriage tribunal. He has also served as Tribunal Assessor, Tribunal Judge, Vicar Forane for the Salisbury Vicariate and Interim Vocation Director.
The various boards and councils he has served on include the Priest Vocations Board, Presbyteral Council, College of Consultors, Priest Personnel Committee, and the Eucharistic Congress Steering Committee.
To mark Father Putnam's 20th anniversary, there will be a Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 10, at Sacred Heart Church at 375 Lumen Christi Lane in Salisbury. A celebration dinner will follow.
The Catholic News Herald recently interviewed him about his priestly ministry over the past 20 years:
CNH: What do you enjoy most about your priestly ministry?
Father Putnam: In addition to the celebration of the sacraments, I think being able to celebrate significant milestones in the lives of parishioners and parish families.
CNH: What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the past 20 years, now that you are a "seasoned" pastor?
Father Putnam: Don't forget that God's in charge and sometimes you just have to get out of the way.
CNH: What advice would you give to a man discerning a vocation to the priesthood?
Father Putnam: Be faithful to prayer and the sacraments and seek out guidance from a priest whom you trust and admire.
— SueAnn Howell, Staff writer
Other ordination milestones in May
Other priests of the diocese celebrating major milestones this month include:
- Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin: 55 years. Look for a special in-depth interview with Bishop Curlin in our June 8 edition.
- Father Andrew Latsko: 20 years, now retired and living in Pennsylvania
- Father Bernard Manley: 25 years, retired and living at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point
- Father Carlo Di Natale Tarasi: 40 years, now living in Charlotte