Leadership
The Bishop of Charlotte is responsible for the spiritual, pastoral and temporal needs of more than 530,000 Catholics living in the 46 counties of western North Carolina. Since his ordination and installation as the fourth Bishop of Charlotte, Bishop Peter Jugis has:
- Guided the diocese through unprecedented growth among Catholics and communities across western North Carolina.
- Established the annual Eucharistic Congress in 2005, which now draws more than 10,000 people to Charlotte each fall to celebrate our Catholic faith.
- Founded St. Joseph College Seminary in 2016 to form priests for the diocese from among the parishes they will one day serve. In 2020, he opened a permanent home for the seminary program in Mount Holly, with capacity for 40 seminarians and room to grow.
- Led the diocese through the aftermath of abuse revelations, installing robust safety protocols and embracing the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
- Fostered diversity and inclusion of Catholics from all backgrounds and cultures, especially Spanish-speaking Catholics, as well as welcomed and supported communities of other Catholic rites in the universal Church.
- Enhanced diocesan ministries, services and administration through successful fundraising including the unprecedented “Forward in Faith, Hope and Love” campaign that received $54 million from generous parishioners and other donors.
- Led the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022, harnessing technology to minister to people at home, while also carrying on safe in-person worship, education and charitable work.
- In 2022 led the diocesan-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte with the theme “Faith More Precious Than Gold.”
- Since the start of his episcopacy in 2003, has issued calls to holy orders for the ordinations of 57 new priests and 65 permanent deacons for service in the Diocese of Charlotte.
- From 2004 to 2022, canonically established six new parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte, elevating former mission churches and centers to parish status.