Meet Our Priests and Deacons

Rev. John F. Starczewski

Father John was ordained by Bishop Peter Jugis at our Lady of the Assumption Church in 2004. He served as parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church, then at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro. In 2008, Father John became the pastor of St. James the Greater Parish in Hamlet and Sacred Heart Mission in Wadesboro. Prior to joining SJN, he served as pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in Mocksville. Fr. John enjoys golfing, watching hockey, reading and taking Hannah his black lab for long walks. Hannah’s birthday is May 10 and she enjoys snacks of any kind.

Rev. Peter Pham (In Residence)

Father Peter was born in Saigon, Vietnam in April, 1963. He received the call to priesthood in April, 1975 during the fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam war. In 1987, Peter fled his country with the boat people and spent a year in Thailand and the Philippines. In 1989 he attended St. Joseph Seminary College and later went to St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA. In June, 1998 he was ordained a priest by Bishop Curlin at St. John Neumann Catholic Church. Father Peter has served at St. Michael’s in Gastonia, St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte, St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir, St. Joseph’s in Charlotte. He is currently a Priest in Residence in Pastoral care at St. John Neumann. His hobbies include reading, gardening, swimming and traveling.

Deacon James Gorman

Deacon James Gorman is originally from Brooklyn, New York. In June, 1997 he was ordained to the permanent deaconate in the Archdiocese of New York, where he served in several full time ministries: Director of Pastoral Care and Education at a major New York hospital, National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NCAA), Hospice/Palliative Care, Ethics Review Board and Bereavement Ministry. In June 2010 Deacon Jim and his wife, Helen retired to Indian Trail, NC and were assigned to St. John Neumann parish. He serves our parish community with responsibilities in bereavement, catechesis, annulment advocate, baptism catechesis and at the will of the Pastor.  His favorite hobbies are visiting their 2 children and 5 grandchildren, dancing to the 50s and 60s with Helen, the theater, concerts, good restaurants with great parish friends.

Deacon. Mark Diener

Deacon Mark and Kathy Diener grew up on the east side of Detroit and moved to Charlotte in 1985. They have 1 son and 3 daughters and multiple grandchildren. He was ordained at St Gabriel Church June 10,2006 and was assigned to minister and serve there until being placed to serve at St John Neumann Parish August 4, 2020.

Kathy and he were involved with fostering infants for Catholic social services, marriage encounter, and Cursillo. Kathy received here certification of spiritual direction June 26th,2010 in affiliation with the  Franciscan university of Steubenville.

Deacon Mark has been an advocate for the tribunal for those seeking annulments since 2004. By appointment of Bishop Jugis he was past Spiritual advisor for the Cursillo community of the diocese of Charlotte then appointed spiritual advisor on a national level for 17 Dioceses of the southeast. Deacon Mark loves sailing, snow skiing, ice skating and ice fishing (that he doesn’t get to do too often since moving to Charlotte)!

In German “Diener” means servant. With a name like that, deacon Mark finds joy in serving those whom God puts before him to do so.

Es un gran Placer!

Deacon Gary Schrieber

Deacon Gary grew up in Campbell, Ohio, a small town outside Youngstown and on the Pennsylvania border.  He spent some time on his uncle’s farm in PA bailing hay, planting and picking corn, and enjoying the land.  He likes football (the American kind), pizza, and woodworking.

His career is in computer technology and for many years his job took him to cities across the country, including Cincinnati (OH), Dallas (TX), Wilmington (DE), Columbus (OH), Boston (MA), Columbus (GA), Tampa (FL), and finally to Charlotte in 2004.

Deacon Gary was ordained on May 31, 2014, and was assigned to St Matthew until transferring to St John Neumann.  His favorite ministry is Divine Mercy where he has been serving since ordination.  He takes the responsibility seriously of spreading St Faustina’s message of trust and hope in God’s Divine Mercy.

Deacon Gary and Marilyn taught Faith Formation while their son and daughter moved up the ranks and were confirmed.  Marilyn has been involved with the Bereavement Ministry at the parish and diocesan level.  They also have two young grandchildren that are very special to them.

Vaya con Dios!