Raleigh bishop sees growth and diversity: 'It's just such a blessing'

The Diocese of Raleigh is celebrating new growth and diversity ahead of preparations to mark its 100th anniversary.

Nearly half a million Catholics worship in the diocese, which covers 54 counties in the eastern half of North Carolina.

Bishop Luis Zarama talked about these milestones in the Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. The grand centerpiece, which opened in 2017, still awes him.

“I feel nervous every time,” Bishop Luis Zarama said of preaching at the cathedral. “I don’t take for granted that I’m here.”

Many North Carolina Catholics spent years apart because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The great thing for me is seeing the people coming back,” Zarama said.

For most of Zarama’s time as bishop, he has had the challenge of ministering during COVID. Nearly 100 churches in the diocese had to find a way to keep serving their congregations from afar.

“Having this church and celebrating a mass here with an empty church, the only thing that I heard was the echo of my voice,” Zarama said. “It was weird.”

Zarama explained how the church adjusted during the pandemic.

“It was a good time too for all of us to really see life with a different speed,” Zarama said. “Taking a little bit more time to enjoy, for example, a good breakfast without being in a rush.

“I think with a challenge, with an opportunity for me to reach more people because of the internet service, and we opened an opportunity to reach people not only here in the diocese, but all over the world because the people can click and can follow us. It doesn’t matter where [they are].”

What started as echoes inside the church sanctuaries led to a growth in this church community. The diocese says the number of registered Catholics has increased more than 5% since 2019.

Zarama points to more diverse and younger parishioners.

“The diversity is growing,” Zarama said. “It is more obvious now to see how diverse we are becoming."

Zarama said the message of the gospel is universal.

Less than 10% of Catholics now living in North Carolina are native to the state. With so many new people moving to the area, more Catholics are part of that growth, and churches are bursting.

A new Catholic church opened last year in Cary, and the diocese recently purchased land near Garner for a future parish.

“It’s just such a blessing,” Zarama said. “It’s a great time.”

Zarama said the fellowship missed during COVID and the lessons learned when we lived apart still resonate today.

“We live our life with masks and we don’t like the people to know us as we are,” Zarama said. “We are afraid, but the Lord challenges us to remove that. Let the people see what they have in your heart.”

The diocese conducts many masses each week in Spanish, including an 8:30 a.m. Sunday service at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. Spanish-speaking parishes are growing especially in the eastern part of North Carolina.

The growth of the diocese also increases the need for more priests.

Diocese plans October event

The diocese plans to hold a Eucharistic Congress from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The event, which will kickoff the centennial, incorporates speakers for adults and young people as well as a Spanish language track.