News
News

Pope appoints pastor of Jonesboro parish as new bishop of Charlotte

Bishop-Elect Michael Martin speaks to students in a theology class at Charlotte Catholic High School during his first day visiting the Diocese of Charlotte following the announcement that he will become the fifth bishop of Charlotte.

Credit: Catholic News Herald

Credit: Catholic News Herald

Bishop-Elect Michael Martin speaks to students in a theology class at Charlotte Catholic High School during his first day visiting the Diocese of Charlotte following the announcement that he will become the fifth bishop of Charlotte.
By Shelia Poole
April 10, 2024

Father Michael T. Martin, the current pastor of St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church in Jonesboro, has been named the new bishop of Charlotte.

He succeeds current Bishop Peter J. Jugis, who is retiring due to health limitations.

Bishop-elect Martin, 62, is a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual and has a background in education.

The Baltimore-born Martin will be ordained and installed as the fifth Bishop of Charlotte on May 29 at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville, N.C.

The Diocese of Charlotte was founded in 1972, and covers 46 counties in the western half of North Carolina. It has more than 530,000 Catholics in 92 parishes and missions.

About the Author

Shelia has worked at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more than 30 years. Previously, she worked at The Lexington Herald-Leader and The Louisville Defender. Her beat is a bit of a mixed bag that includes religion and spirituality, culture and trends, race and aging. She earned degrees from Spelman College and Northwestern University.

Follow Shelia Poole on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Cox Enterprises CEO Alex Taylor and AJC Publisher Andrew Morse were joined by AJC editors and Atlanta business react during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in Midtown on Friday, January 24, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

‘The only thing that changes is how we deliver it’

As the AJC nears the end of its print chapter, some of the reporters, editors and photographers who make the AJC reflect on their “big break" moments.

Georgia authority says ransomware attack thwarted, real estate portal online

The Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority, which operates a database for the state’s real estate index, said it detected the intrusion Nov. 21.

Breakdown: Three days in May

Season 11 of the AJC’s Breakdown true crime podcast starts soon. It begins with a Georgia couple, a newborn—and a discovery that triggers a living nightmare.

The Latest

Atlanta trial lawyer James Hugh Potts II is uploading videotaped depositions to YouTube to expose what he says is important public information, such as negligence in hospitals. This has upset Wellstar, who Potts has several cases against.

Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC

A.M. ATL: TikTok law

Georgia authority says ransomware attack thwarted, real estate portal online

A.M. ATL: Super soakers, smelly water

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.