Meet the Priests of Sacred Heart Church

Reverend Edward J. Burch was born in Kansas City MO in 1942, the youngest of three children. He was educated in Catholic schools and earned a bachelors degree in business from a Jesuit University, Rockhurst University, in Kansas City MO. His business career included working for Western Electric, AT&T, and Lucent Technologies in Kansas City and Burlington, NC. After 35 years in a corporate career, Fr. Ed retired from industry in 1997 at age 54. Father Ed was ordained on May 31,2003 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Raleigh. Father Ed’s home parish was Blessed Sacrament in Burlington where he was active in founding the Secular Franciscan Order. He was minister of the order for five years. His first assignment was Parochial Vicar at St. Mark’s in Wilmington. Two years later, Fr. Ed was assigned to St. Patrick’s in Fayetteville as Parochial Vicar, and in 2007 was assigned to Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Kinston as pastor. On July 16, 2011 Bishop Michael J. Burbidge installed Fr. Edward J. Burch as pastor of Sacred Heart Church.

Reverend Gregory Anatuanya was born into a Catholic family on the 7th of November, 1969, in Anambra State, Nigeria, West Africa. He is an alumnus of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu, where he obtained bachelor's degrees in Philosophy and Theology, and was ordained for the Diocese of Awka in Anambra State on August 18, 2001. Prior to coming to Sacred Heart he has served as: Parochial Vicar, St. John's Catholic Church, Agulu, Awka, Nigeria (2001-2002); teacher/ pastor, Immaculate Conception Seminary and St. Patrick's Catholic Parish, Asabanka, Calabar, Nigeria (2002-2006); pastor, St. Clement's Catholic Parish, Ufuma, Awka, Nigeria (2006-2007); Parochial Vicar, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Atlanta (2007- Feb. 2011); Parochial Vicar, St. Mark's Clarkesville with St. Helena, Clayton as a mission Parish, Archdiocese of Atlanta (March 2011- June 2011). Father Gregory was appointed Parochial Vicar, Sacred Heart Church, in July 2011. His hobbies are: listening to music, singing and dancing, playing tennis and soccer, reading and writing.