Attorney John Carter grew up in the rural south, attending Baptist churches. Then, during his time at the University of Virginia, he discovered the Catholic Church by occasionally attending Mass with friends. That experience did not resonate right away.

But years later, when Pope John Paul II’s impending death began saturating the news, Carter, a self-described history adventurer, began researching the Catholic Church. “I told my wife ‘I want to start going back to church, and I want it to be the Catholic Church,’” he said.

It was a true turning point in his life, he said. “I picked up this book, Catholicism for Dummies, and I read it cover to cover.”

He began attending Mass and enrolled in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program to become a Catholic. Soon after, his wife agreed to study Catholicism as well, and she and John were confirmed together, while their children were baptized and confirmed at the Easter Vigil that same year.

But the Largo (FL) resident sought a way to serve God and the Church more, so he attended an inquiry class for those interested in becoming deacons. Once selected to become a deacon, Saint Leo University entered Carter’s life. He spent four years obtaining his master’s degree in theology from the university as part of the diaconate program of the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg (FL).

“My wife [Charmaine] decided to get her degree, too, to increase her knowledge of theology and Christian history,” he said. “We really liked our Saint Leo professors.”

Some professors were more conservative and others had a liberal bent, which Carter believes gave the couple a well-rounded look at not just Catholic history, but also general theology and examining questions about who God is. “Anyone who wants to know about the deity, about God, it’s there,” he said of the teaching.

In 2024, Carter took on a special role at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg, as associate chaplain for the African American community within the diocese. His mission is to give that small Catholic community more recognition and to help grow the faith. The Black community in the United States only accounts for 2 to 3 percent of Catholics, he said.

“I still serve at the cathedral [as a deacon], but I also am working with the African American community meeting their needs, holding special events, serving that community in diversity and culture,” Carter said.

Carter and his wife lead the parish’s Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), helping people who are inquiring about the Catholic Church to have a relationship with Jesus through the sacraments and prayer. The Carters — whose daughter passed away from lupus at the age of 19 — also lead the parish’s Grief Share ministry, helping those who have lost a loved one heal.