BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

After working for the Diocese of Owensboro at the McRaith Catholic Center (MCC) since 2001, Charlotte Hedges will retire on April 30. Her roles at the MCC have included working for the diocesan tribunal, the Office of Social Concerns, the Office of Marriage & Family Life and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro.

Charlotte Hedges. FILE PHOTO

Hedges said when she first came to the MCC, which at the time was known as the Catholic Pastoral Center, “I found everybody very friendly.”

One of her favorite memories over the years has been helping coordinate the diocesan marriage celebration, which before COVID-19 was an annual Mass with Bishop William F. Medley to honor couples celebrating milestone anniversaries.

She also enjoyed going with pastoral center staff to celebrate Christmas parties, Derby Day celebrations, and cookouts at the homes of both Bishop Medley and the diocese’s late bishop, Bishop John J. McRaith.

Hedges said she will miss being able to “celebrate the Eucharist with everybody on a daily basis” through daily Mass in the pastoral center’s chapel; “Morning Prayer with the community” every day; and the special feast days that would often be celebrated with festive meals or desserts – such as ice cream brought in by diocesan music director, Mike Bogdan.

In her retirement Hedges hopes to travel, spend more time with family and continue volunteering at her parish, St. Pius X in Owensboro.

“I’d like to visit every parish in the diocese and while I’m there, visit a mom-and-pop restaurant and eat local,” said Hedges.

Originally printed in the April 2022 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.