Bishop Michael Martin’s first parish visits have included an outdoor Corpus Christi Mass for St. Matthew parishioners in Charlotte, and confirmation Masses at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro and St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. (Photos by Troy Hull, Liz Chandler and provided)CHARLOTTE — The life of a bishop, especially a brand new one, is blessed – and busy.
Just days after his May 30 installation at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., began making good on his promise to get out and meet the people of the Diocese of Charlotte, leaving a lasting impression everywhere he visits.
On June 1, he conferred the sacrament of holy orders for the first time, ordaining six deacons at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. The next day, he delivered a stirring Corpus Christi homily to a crowd of 4,000 at an outdoor amphitheater in Charlotte. And on June 5 he celebrated his first confirmation Mass, traveling to Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro where nearly three dozen young people eagerly awaited receiving the sacrament from their new bishop.
The weeks since have included more confirmations in Charlotte and Newton, visits to a vocations summer camp, a Sunday Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral, and the spring assembly of U.S. bishops – not to mention the ordination of seven new priests, which drew a packed house of 2,000 family and friends to St. Mark last Saturday.
There were also meetings with priests and staff, and a barbecue for Pastoral Center employees. Bishop Martin also offers daily Mass at the Pastoral Center whenever he can.
After every event, he lingers long afterward to bless, shake hands and pose for selfies – even sign autographs – with well-wishers in long lines, sometimes for up to an hour.
“I think it’s fair to say he’s hitting the ground running,” says his executive assistant Michelle Maher, who is racing to keep pace.
Then there’s the mail.
“You wouldn’t believe the number of cards, letters, emails and phone calls that come in every day,” Maher says. “I have an overflowing file for mail from inside the diocese, an overflowing file for mail from outside the diocese, and in the beginning, there were so many letters from other bishops offering congratulations. We are trying to figure out how to answer them all!”
RELATING TO PEOPLE
As predicted by those who know him, Bishop Martin has demonstrated a talent and love for public speaking, projecting a voice that rises and falls, gesturing as he walks around, and leaning forward toward the audience when he makes a point.
He gets laughs, too, tapping into common experiences, such as our reliance on GPS and incredulous looks from siblings when they think our ego is too inflated. But the larger message always challenges people to think, accept “our brokenness,” and do more to demonstrate and proclaim the Catholic faith to others.
In a homily at St. Gabriel Church, he encouraged the congregation to share their faith stories – imperfections and all – not just their “Catholic résumé” including facts such as where they went to Catholic school.
“Rather, if we said, ‘I have realized that I’m a broken man, and God rescues me regularly from my own brokenness. Here, let me tell you a story about that.’ That moves. That inspires,” he told the congregation, including confirmation students and their families.
His homilies that have been posted online have so far drawn more than 8,000 views, with most visitors watching them through, and his Corpus Christi homily drew national media attention.
Across the diocese, people are talking in person and online about Bishop Martin’s relatability, good humor and ability to challenge them – and himself – to live the faith more deeply.
“He really knows how to make a point and drive it home,” says Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte. “People love that he’s so extroverted. It’s clear he wants to be out with the people, and they are responding to that. They are drawn to his friendliness and openness. That’s his greatest asset. He’s a powerful communicator and there is a confidence in his preaching that is also very attractive.”
Father Reid also serves as vicar of education for the diocese’s 20 schools and recently had an unpleasant issue arise he felt was necessary to share with the new bishop.
“He was very quick with some solid advice,” Father Reid says. “I asked a bunch of questions, and I appreciated his vast experience in education.”
Teachers, staff and parents are eagerly waiting to see how the bishop engages with them once school is back in session, Father Reid says. Bishop Martin spent most of his career working in Catholic schools as a coach, teacher, principal and president. With 12 years as director of the Duke Catholic Center, his experience working with college students also has the diocese’s Campus Ministry program brainstorming ways to get the bishop involved.
“His experience teaching has helped him hone his messaging,” Father Reid says. “You can’t be an effective teacher if you can’t talk to kids. Part of that is also just his personality. He’s obviously a big-hearted guy, very extroverted, and comfortable with students.”
PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
On his first Sunday as bishop, just three days after his installation, Bishop Martin swept into Ballantyne’s AMP outdoor venue with 4,000 people spread out on a rolling lawn on blankets and in chairs, and he challenged them to rethink the meaning of “presence” in the Corpus Christi feast day, which celebrates Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist.
He described recent research that shows many Catholics no longer fully believe in the Real Presence, a sad reality he said has roots in a secularized culture that is preoccupied by social media and technology offering impersonal communication.
“I’m not trying to change the culture, but I am acknowledging that the culture has changed us,” Bishop Martin said. “We have to find ways within the culture to not allow that change to make us less present to Our Lord and to each other.”
Attendee Karen Botero Cabas noted the perceptive quality of his words.
“The Mass was wonderful, and it was amazing to have the bishop with us,” she said. “The sermon he gave was great – very concise and very timely, very true.”
After the event, the bishop continued to greet worshipers until the amphitheater staff began to break down the stage equipment.
SHARING GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
A few days later, as he arrived at Greensboro’s Our Lady of Grace Church, he walked over to the parish hall to meet the first young people he would confirm as the Bishop of Charlotte.
As soon as he entered the room, he smiled to put the teens at ease. He assured them there was nothing to be nervous about and joked that he’d be more likely to make a mistake than they would, since it was his first confirmation, too.
“Relax, it’s going to be wonderful,” he told them. “Don’t be afraid of what the Holy Spirit can do in your lives.”
He prayed over the confirmation candidates, then asked the group in jest which one of them would be the homilist for the evening. For a minute, the candidates looked at each other, then back at the bishop.
“Well, I’ll do it this time,” the bishop joked.
Much of Bishop Martin’s homily centered on the Gospel reading about the Parable of the Talents, and he encouraged the candidates not to bury the gift of faith they’ve all received.
“What you’re being confirmed to do is to go out into the world and let other people – imagine this – let other people follow you. They’re going to know who Jesus is because of you. That’s what this sacrament is about,” he said.
Nathanael Foppe, a recent graduate of Our Lady of Grace School, was among the first to be confirmed by Bishop Martin.
“One thing I noticed during the homily is Bishop Martin’s joking disposition,” Foppe said. “There’s a joy you can see in him. Joy happens to be one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and you can tell the Holy Spirit lives in him through his joy.”
In a heartfelt moment outside after Mass – out of earshot of most – Bishop Martin expressed his sincere gratitude to Our Lady of Grace’s pastor Father Casey Coleman for the spiritual bouquet of prayers from parishioners, including those he just confirmed.
The bishop then welcomed a group of young children as they hurried up to him asking him to sign their programs and pose for photos. After a group photo with the newly confirmed, he mingled with families in the parish hall.
ENCOURAGING AN ACTIVE FAITH
At St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, his second Sunday as bishop, Bishop Martin offered Mass and confirmed two candidates.
In his homily, he compared the work required to plan a wedding with the effort needed in building one’s faith life. He also connected the occasion with his recent ordination, noting how his mother said it was the greatest day of her life – and his – and joking about the incredulous expressions that followed from his three sisters.
“But the greatest day of my life is a big claim, right? We know that there’s a lot that goes on behind it. And are we willing to do the unseen work of making our lives reflect God’s glory?” he asked the congregation. “It doesn’t have to be just as good as it is right now. The greatest days of our lives can be yet to come, and that doesn’t mean it has to have some great ordination celebration. God knows, it can mean a lot of different things for many of us, regardless of our age.”
St. Gabriel parishioners said Bishop Martin’s homily resonated deeply with them and that he stayed to greet a line of at least 100 parishioners.
During his visit, he also went to St. Gabriel’s playground to greet and bless parents and children.
“Corry and I met the bishop before Mass, and we’re so impressed with his humility as he interacted with young children on the preschool playground,” said parishioner Sharon Broxterman.
“When one young child shouted, ‘What’s your name?’ he responded, ‘Michael. What’s yours?’”
At Belmont Abbey College on June 11, Bishop Martin offered Mass and spoke with young men discerning their vocations at the diocese’s Quo Vadis Days summer camp.
“I’ve never met a bishop in person,” said Raphael Lugo, 17, a member of Immaculate Conception Parish in Forest City. “I’ve just seen him on the screen and in pictures. It was a really cool experience. He was a really easygoing guy, and he seemed to care for everyone there.”
CONTINUING A LEGACY OF FAITH
Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director for nearly 40 years, has worked with four of the diocese’s five bishops.
“Every bishop offers new opportunities and brings their unique gifts to serve the people of western North Carolina,” Kelley says. “Each has emphasized three key aspects: guiding us toward heaven, fostering a closer relationship with Jesus, and encouraging active participation in our church communities. Bishop Martin has already addressed all three of these priorities.”
For his part, Bishop Martin is getting out to meet as many people as he can. Since he can’t travel immediately everywhere across the diocese’s 20,700 square miles, next week he’s sending a letter of greeting to all the diocese’s registered households.
In it, he encourages everyone to engage with their local faith community in whatever ways they can, recounting a recent visit to St. Patrick School in Charlotte:
“One little girl gave me a card with these words of encouragement written in crayon: ‘You can do it!’ Out of the mouths of babes! I share that same message back to all of you, my brothers and sisters. When we think our response to Jesus is not what it could be, let us hear the voice of the Holy Spirit within us, with the innocence and simplicity of children, reminding us: ‘You can do it!’”
— Annie Ferguson