CHARLOTTE — Couples in the Diocese of Charlotte have an opportunity to take part in a program focused on strengthening and enriching their marriages.
The Diocese of Charlotte Family Life Office is partnering with the St. John Paul II Foundation to offer the “Together in Holiness” Formation series, which brings married couples together in small faith-sharing groups at the parish level. The year-long, seven-part program includes videos and discussion, plus time for prayer and fellowship.
The Formation series is designed to augment existing marriage preparation classes for engaged couples and NFP education programs already provided by the Family Life Office.
People can learn more about the Formation series at a special wine and cheese reception set for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27. It is being hosted at the St. Ann Parish Allen Center on Park Road, but couples from across the Charlotte area are invited to attend and learn more.
The diocese partners with the St. John Paul II Foundation to offer larger “Together in Holiness” conferences, but bringing marriage enrichment opportunities to parishes and homes is a new priority, according to Brendan Dudley, the diocese’s new marriage preparation and enrichment coordinator.
“The Family Life Office promotes ‘Together in Holiness’ because it offers dynamic opportunities for married couples to support each other in learning and implementing the plan of God for marriage and family,” Dudley said. “Married couples will receive insights and strength by journeying together through the various initiatives.”
Dudley has 15 years of experience in ministry at high schools, parishes and dioceses and recently played a key role in developing and launching a Catholic storefront and resource center. He holds a master’s degree in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and a bachelor’s degree in theology and politics from The Catholic University of America.
The program received a positive endorsement from Bishop Michael Martin, who praised its opportunity to bring couples together to talk one-on-one about their marriage experiences.
“We go to a conference and have an awesome experience, but then what?” the bishop said. “All married couples need a steadier reinforcement of the key dimensions of keeping your vows in Christ – slow and steady always wins the race. Don’t let your married life be a series of ups and downs. Rather, commit to becoming a part of the ‘Together in Holiness’ Formation series that will give you the resources to strengthen your relationship in Christ for the long haul.”
Couples will gather for the sessions at the home of a host couple, on a schedule they set themselves. Dudley noted the Formation series is designed primarily for couples in the early years of their marriage or with children in the home. This phase in a marriage is an important one that often gets overlooked in the area of formation, so the program is uniquely placed to serve couples who are setting the foundation for their families.
“The Formation series is an incredible opportunity for couples to grow together year-round in small communities, supporting each other in their call to holiness and desire for marriage enrichment,” Dudley said.
The Formation series is growing in the Charlotte area, and the Family Life Office hopes to bring it to parishes across the diocese, Dudley said.
The connection between the diocese and the St. John Paul II Foundation dates back to 2017, said Jessica Grabowski, director of the diocese’s Respect Life Program. Since 2018, the diocese has partnered with the Foundation to present seven “Converging Roads” conferences focused on medical and pro-life issues and eight “Together in Holiness” conferences centered on strengthening marriages.
For couples interested in attending a one-day “Together in Holiness” conference, the diocese is offering two this fall, both on Saturday, Nov. 16 – one at St. Barnabas Church in Arden and another at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. On-site childcare is offered to help accommodate the schedules of couples with young children.
“What started as an idea on a phone call has developed into a long-lasting and truly fruitful collaboration, which I could never have imagined at the time,” Grabowski said. “It has been wonderful working with the Foundation to bring all of their initiatives serving life and family to the people of our diocese.”
For more information about the “Together in Holiness” Formation series, contact Rachel Townsend at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
For more information about the “Together in Holiness” conferences, contact Alexandra Landrigan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Christina Lee Knauss
Trusting in Divine Providence
GREENSBORO — Filing in from both sides of the courtyard of St. Pius X Church, nearly 2,000 friends, family, clergy and religious gathered Wednesday to pray for and say goodbye to Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio.
The beloved longtime pastor of the Greensboro parish passed away July 19 due to complications from appendiceal cancer. The Mass of Christian Burial came after 1,700 people paid their respects during a wake that stretched seven hours on Tuesday.
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., celebrated the priest's funeral Mass, his first as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. He reminded the congregation how they’d been enriched by their pastor of more than 24 years, and he offered to walk with them in their time of mourning.
Dozens of clergy concelebrated the liturgy, including Father Timothy Nadeau, a close friend of Monsignor Marcaccio and the pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, Maine.
Father Nadeau delivered the homily, inspired by the Gospel reading about when the apostles were caught in a storm while in a boat on the Sea of Galilee.
In it, Jesus walks on water toward their boat and says, “Take courage, It Is I; do not be afraid.” (Mt 14:27)
“Jesus didn't avoid cancer. Jesus didn't avoid death. Jesus didn't avoid water. He confronted it,” Father Nadeau preached. “The gentleman, the brother, the priest that we've gathered around this day – he followed Jesus’ call.”
Father Nadeau also noted that many people knew Monsignor Marcaccio had an “allergy to pain, an allergy to needles, an allergy to all things medical, but he knew this momentary life situation would produce some weight of glory for God, so he carried it.”
Then he quoted from Monsignor Marcaccio’s own words: a letter he had written to his parishioners just weeks prior:
“Trusting myself to Divine Providence and the kindness of your prayers, I will carry this cross henceforth with renewed confidence that God is mysteriously working on these prayers. May it all be for the glory of God and the spread of the gospel.”
Monsignor Marcaccio’s siblings – Charles, John and Celeste – were all present with their families at the funeral Mass.
Charles, asking to be called “Chuck,” the eldest of the siblings, offered remarks, thanking the parish while including lighthearted comments about who the favorite child of the Italian American family was – clearly, the baby of the family who became a priest, he said.
Parishioner and friend Derek Ritzel also spoke to the congregation, describing the closeness of their pastor to Jesus and to many of them, and how his holiness was recognized by all who knew him – including strangers and even those from different cultures who spoke other languages.
Bishop Martin offered concluding remarks at the end of Mass, noting the difficulty of losing a pastor. He added that their pastor had an impact across the diocese and the universal Church.
“The faith community has a big question mark in their hearts right now. Where do we go from here? What's the future going to be like?” he said. “I would suggest to you in my brief knowing of Monsignor Marcaccio that he would want you to put aside those questions to say: ‘Get behind me, Satan. That's not of this world.’
“We believe in the power of the Holy Spirit made manifest in the Church – through lots of different people and lots of different ways. This has been one of those manifestations of life in the Spirit. I believe firmly that he would want all of us to look forward to the future of this parish community – not with a dampened sense of Church, but a strengthened sense of Church.”
Bishop Martin will celebrate Masses at the parish the weekend of Aug. 24-25.
“As your bishop, I'm with you in this time of mourning,” he said. “But I'm with you more as we look forward to a future here at St. Pius that will continue to build up the People of God in the spirit of Anthony, your pastor, and all the men and women who have done so much to build this community and will continue to do so much to build this community.”
— Annie Ferguson. Photos by Mary Ann Luedtke.
Read more about the life of Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio here.
