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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
Our Clergy and Staff
Deacon Andy Cilone
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Deacon Andy was ordained in the Diocese of Charlotte's first Dioconate class on May 29, 1983. He has served at Immaculate Conception since his ordination. He also served the diocese as the vicar of the Hickory Region for the permanent diaconate. Deacon Andy was named 2017 Forest City Citizen of the Year.
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Very Reverend Fr. Herbert Burke, V.F.
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Fr. Burke is an Air Force veteran and a graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md, He was ordained in June 1992 by Cardinal James Hickey at St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He was assigned to Immaculate Conception in 2001. He is the author of 8 books, has a YouTube channel featuring his talks and homilies and was appointed by Bishop Peter Jugis in 2015 as the vicar forane for the Gastonia Vicariate.
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Sharon Date
Sharon has been the parish secretary at Immaculate Conception since September of 2001. Her background in accouting and office management has been a true gift to the parish and has helped it thrive.
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Deacon Dave Faunce
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Deacon Dave Faunce was ordained into the permanent diaconate by Bishop Peter Jugis on April 14, 2018. He is now among one of 135 permanent deacons in the diocese and has been assigned to his home parish of Immaculate Conception.
Immaculate Conception began in 1950 as a small mission Church, situated on four acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains. Shortly after the arrival of Fr. Herbert Burke in 2001, the parish purchased adjacent lots for a total of thirty acres, with a hope to build a bigger Church to accommodate the growing flock.
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In 2010, the large, stone, Gothic inspired 650-seat Church was opened - complete with custom artwork. All of the background pictures featured on the website are located in our beautiful church.
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