It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Tryon Palace gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in New Bern, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Union Point Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant or visit North Carolina History Center at Tryon Palace, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in New Bern, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in New Bern, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in New Bern, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
If you’ve ever read a Nicholas Sparks book (or seen a movie adaptation), you’ve likely fallen in love with a fictional character. We can’t help but swoon over the chemistry between Will and Ronnie in The Last Song, or the tragic young love between Landon and Jamie in A Walk to Remember. And of course, we’re forever in awe of the unbreakable bond between Noah and Allie in The Notebook. While the characters in Sparks’s novels aren’t real, many of the places where their love stories...
If you’ve ever read a Nicholas Sparks book (or seen a movie adaptation), you’ve likely fallen in love with a fictional character. We can’t help but swoon over the chemistry between Will and Ronnie in The Last Song, or the tragic young love between Landon and Jamie in A Walk to Remember. And of course, we’re forever in awe of the unbreakable bond between Noah and Allie in The Notebook. While the characters in Sparks’s novels aren’t real, many of the places where their love stories unfold are. Take for example, New Bern, North Carolina. Sparks’s adopted hometown also happens to be the setting for some of his most popular novels. A Bend in the Road, The Return, The Wedding, and most notably The Notebook are all set in New Bern.
Everything about New Bern, from its scenic setting on the Trent and Neuse Rivers to its centuries-old churches and historic downtown, make it the perfect backdrop for a Southern romance. The town of around 31,000 people in east North Carolina was founded in 1710, making it the second oldest town in the state. It’s part of a region known as North Carolina’s Inner Banks, which means while it’s not quite on the ocean like neighboring Outer Banks towns, it’s still decidedly part of the Carolina coast. Expect days to be filled with activities like standup paddle boarding, pontoon boat cruises, and waterfront dining. If you've ever wished to be transported inside one of Nicholas Sparks’s novels, New Bern quite literally gives you the opportunity to live out your dreams. Here are the 15 best things to do in New Bern, North Carolina.
It doesn’t get more picturesque than a golden hour walk at Union Point Park that ends with a sunset show under the park’s iconic green-roofed gazebo. The six-acre site in historic downtown marks the convergence of the Neuse and Trent Rivers, and is a popular gathering space that includes two boat launches, grills, a playground, picnic tables, and a fishing pier.
Stroll the tree-shaded streets of historic downtown New Bern to find all kinds of treasures, from quirky antique stores and art galleries to artisan shops and boutiques housed in historic homes. The Black Cat Shoppe is a colorful spot for eclectic oddities and The Next Chapter Books & Art carries on the town’s rich literary history that dates to 1783 when the state’s first bookstore was opened in New Bern.
Learn about Black history in New Bern and its surrounding regions by exploring its African American Heritage Trail. The trail is made up of 16 panels at 10 sites in the Craven Terrace and Dryborough neighborhoods that tell the stories of historical events, people, and places that pertain to Black history in New Bern. The entire trail covers 1.3 miles and takes around 30 minutes to complete.
New Bern was once home to the state’s capital building, and you can see a replica of it, plus historic homes and spectacular gardens at Tryon Palace, which was built in the 1760s as a home for the Royal British Governor when North Carolina was just a colony. A one-day pass to the site includes entry into the North Carolina History Center, a tour of the governor’s mansion, and access to four historic homes and the complex’s 21 acres of meticulously upkept gardens.
One of New Bern’s many claims to fame is that Pepsi was invented there in 1898. 100 years later, the town decided to honor the major milestone with a Birthplace of Pepsi historical site and experience in the heart of downtown. Free to the public, head inside to learn about the history of Pepsi, buy Pepsi-themed merchandise, and get an ice-cold Pepsi from the old-school soda fountain.
This downtown eatery is beloved for breakfast thanks to two things, their Dutch Potatoes and their Butter Syrup. The creamy, rich, and cheesy potato dish is perfect alongside a short stack of pancakes smothered in their addictive butter syrup. The stuff is so good they’ve even bottled it for diners to take home.
After training at Johnson and Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, Chef Ashley Moser returned home to open Cypress Hall Kitchen + Bar in New Bern. His menu focuses on seasonal, local, and fresh ingredients in New American dishes like ricotta gnudi with summer squash, asparagus, brown butter, and Parmesan or pork cheeks with rice grits, collards, smoked ham, lemon, and chive.
The South is known for its legendary barbecue, and North Carolina’s specific variety brings a little something special even to that. If you want real deal smoked meats, Harry’s is the place to go. Fill your platter with meats like pulled pork, sausage, ribs, and pastrami beef rib surrounded by classic Southern sides like corn pudding, potato salad, braised greens, hush puppies, and pit beans.
Most folks fall head over heels in love with New Bern from the moment they arrive, but a stay in a bed and breakfast is always enough to seal the deal. The Aerie, located in downtown New Bern, is an impressive Italianate Victorian that dates to 1882. Each of its nine guest rooms and suites are uniquely decorated, but all offer modern amenities and plenty of Southern hospitality. Other worthy options include Hanna House Bed & Breakfast and modern boutique hotel The Harvey.
Take advantage of New Bern’s coastal locale by renting a standup paddle board from Banx Watersports, which is perched on the water’s edge. The company’s private launch on Lawson Creek gives access to both the Trent and Neuse Rivers, so your paddling adventure is limitless.
New Bern was named after the Swiss capital city of Bern, which is an old Germanic word for bear. As such, New Bern’s unofficial nickname is Bear Town, and you can find painted statues of the animal all over town. Celebrate the mascot and satisfy your sweet tooth at Bear City Fudge Company, where you’ll find a wonderland of confections and sweet treats that include homemade fudge, pralines, truffles, and ice cream.
See the beauty of New Bern by boat on one of four daily excursions that depart from the New Bern Grand Marina. During the 90-minute cruise along the Neuse River, a captain relays stories and facts about New Bern. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Daytime tours leave at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m.; a sunset tour departs at 6:30 p.m.
It’s always cool to read about a place and then see it in person. If you’ve read A Bend In the Road, The Wedding, or The Notebook, you can have plenty of those page-to-real-life experiences in New Bern. The city’s Walk to Remember tour points out 15 landmarks around town that are all mentioned in Sparks’s novels. Places like Tryon Palace (mentioned in both A Bend in the Road and The Wedding), the Masonic Theater (The Notebook), and the famous Alfred Cunningham Bridge (The Notebook) are all on the list.
The best way to get an overview of the city is on a 90-minute historic trolley tour. Operating from March through December, the tours take passengers around downtown New Bern and to historic landmarks including New Bern Academy Museum, Cedar Grove Cemetery, and Christ Episcopal Church. While you ride, a historian will relay interesting details, historical narratives, and true stories about what you’re seeing.
Views of the water abound in New Bern, and one of the best places to get a particularly great one is at Persimmons, which sits on the end of a short dock suspended over the Neuse River. The restaurant has been an integral part of New Bern’s dining scene since opening in 2010. You can opt for a table on the back deck for panoramic views of the water, but even from inside, you’ll experience similar stunning sights thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows. For dinner, seafood is certainly on the menu with options ranging from linguini and clams to shrimp and grits to jumbo lump crab cakes. Pair your meal with a craft cocktail like the effervescent Grapes of Wrath (Moscato, Campari, blood orange, soda), and you’ve got a night to remember.
Editor's Note: Hurricane Helene has impacted the South. Our thoughts are with those affected, and we encourage readers to stay informed about travel disruptions and road closures. Learn how you can help support our neighbors here.
A North Carolina priest has resigned his parish, after news reporting detailed allegations of sexual and spiritual manipulation in the context of spiritual direction.The priest, who has been banned from a Catholic university in Virginia over the allegations against him, was made last month administrator of St. Paul Parish in New Bern, North Carolina, and resigned from the office Friday evening.“After a recent news publication, I will be voluntarily stepping away from ministry at St. Paul and St. Peter the Fisherman and mo...
A North Carolina priest has resigned his parish, after news reporting detailed allegations of sexual and spiritual manipulation in the context of spiritual direction.
The priest, who has been banned from a Catholic university in Virginia over the allegations against him, was made last month administrator of St. Paul Parish in New Bern, North Carolina, and resigned from the office Friday evening.
“After a recent news publication, I will be voluntarily stepping away from ministry at St. Paul and St. Peter the Fisherman and moving away from New Bern,” wrote Fr. Steven Costello in a July 25 email to parishioners, obtained on Saturday by The Pillar.
“I want to say once again as I did when I returned here in October how very sorry I am for my past actions.” I will say that it was certainly the worst mistake of my life,” the priest added.
—Costello’s resignation came one day after The Pillar reported that a former spiritual directee had alleged against him a three-year period of abuse and manipulation, during which he reportedly said that God had given them a unique relationship, which he allegedly characterized as “spousal friendship.”
In the context of that relationship — during which he allegedly manipulated the woman’s emotional vulnerabilities disclosed in spiritual direction — the priest often told the woman he loved her, initiated hand-holding and cuddling sessions, touched her breasts, discussed his sexual desire for her, and disclosed to her that he had ejaculated while texting her, or during a FaceTime Call.
The priest allegedly analogized the couple’s relationship to the mystical spirituality of St. Theresa of Avila, while urging the woman to be “discreet,” because others, including her husband, would not “understand” the nature of their relationship.
According to the woman, the priest also disclosed to her that he had engaged in three similar relationships with women in the past.
—In 2024, after three years of the relationship, the woman’s husband became aware of its character and attributes. The couple consulted with psychologists, one of whom called the relationship a “textbook” pattern of coercion and manipulation.
The couple reported the relationship to the Diocese of Raleigh, where Costello — incardinated in the Legionaries of Christ religious community — was assigned to parish ministry, and was seeking diocesan incardination.
The couple included the recording of a phone call with the woman’s husband, in which the priest admitted to much of the alleged conduct.
In that recording, heard by The Pillar, Costello conceded that he had “touched” the woman’s chest “more than once,” embraced her closely, and said that “my hand might have gone to her backside.” He conceded that he had talked about “entering” her and discussed a desire for sexual intimacy, sent sexual texts using language from Song of Songs, discussed her breasts and genitalia, and ejaculated while texting her.
While the priest insisted there was a “context” to those admissions that was not being understood, he also conceded that their relationship was “wrong,” and that it was a part of “certain patterns of my whole life, certain themes.”
He insisted that his relationship with the woman was not for the purpose of sexual gratification, and that he “wasn’t preying upon her.”
—Two months after the woman reported the relationship, Costello was placed on a six month leave, with the Raleigh diocese saying in a March 2024 email to priests that Costello’s actions were “consensual” and between adults..
When he returned to ministry, the woman and her psychologist objected, with the psychologist telling Bishop Luis Zarama that “[Costello] very likely continues to pose a serious spiritual and sexual threat to parishioners and the diocese.”
While he was on leave, the priest was banned from Divine Mercy University, a Virginia graduate school of psychology sponsored by the Legionaries of Christ, where he first became the woman’s spiritual director in 2019.
“Given the unique role and authority that comes with the priesthood, inappropriate sexual behavior with another person has an aggravated degree of gravity for a priest,” wrote Fr. Charles Sikorsky, LC, Divine Mercy University’s president, in an internal email obtained by The Pillar.
“In this case, the severity was further compounded by the power differential stemming from having been a spiritual director and professor of the student.”
But in Raleigh, Costello was returned to ministry, for nine months as a parochial vicar, and then — beginning last month — as administrator of St. Paul Parish in New Bern.
In his resignation letter — first posted online Friday night by victims’ advocate Dan Sealana, who had written several blog posts about the priest’s ban from DMU — Costello said he was sorry for the pain he had caused.
It is not clear that the priest has actually expressed contrition to the woman, or to other potential victims. The woman previously told The Pillar that the last time she or her husband spoke to Costello was in January 2024, when the woman’s husband confronted the priest on the telephone. That conversation, reviewed by The Pillar, did not contain an apology.
The woman had previously told The Pillar that she wrote to Costello in May 2025, to “invite [Costello] into a process that serves healing,” — namely, evaluation of their prior relationship by a third party —seemingly a clinical psychologist — to assess the stark difference in their accounts.
In her May letter, the woman lamented the “two vastly different accounts [of the relationship]: one, now public, claims the relationship was consensual between a woman and a priest. The other—held quietly by my care team—is that I was subjected to deeply rooted and sustained spiritual abuse, under the guise of care and authority. The gap between these two narratives is profound, and the stakes are too high to allow only one to be heard.”
“Truth is the foundation of healing, and healing cannot happen in darkness or silence,” the woman wrote.
Costello, she said, did not respond to the letter.
But in his resignation letter Friday, Costello told his parishioners that he was “deeply sorry for the pain I caused the individuals involved and for any way learning about my actions has hurt you. I ask for their forgiveness and yours.”
It is not clear whether Costello will remain in the Diocese of Raleigh. He was previously accepted conditionally in the diocese, to be evaluated for the prospect of incardination, with an ad experimentum indult of departure approved by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life. If he is not accepted for incardination in the Raleigh diocese, he will revert to his obligations as a member of the Legionaries of Christ.
Neither Costello nor the Diocese of Raleigh have responded to repeated requests for comment from The Pillar.
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - From a bold belt buckle to his signature cowboy hat, Deion King knows a thing or two about flair, and now he’s making his mark in New Bern after purchasing the historic Elks temple.“It’s amazing, it’s a dream come true,” King said.King is the owner of western wear ‘King & Lasso’ and is also no stranger to the city, growing up just down the road from the historic building.“I’ve been here my entire life and grew up here and been gone for...
CRAVEN COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - From a bold belt buckle to his signature cowboy hat, Deion King knows a thing or two about flair, and now he’s making his mark in New Bern after purchasing the historic Elks temple.
“It’s amazing, it’s a dream come true,” King said.
King is the owner of western wear ‘King & Lasso’ and is also no stranger to the city, growing up just down the road from the historic building.
“I’ve been here my entire life and grew up here and been gone for 11 years and came back after the army,” King said.
There were plans for the historic five-story property to become a boutique hotel last fall. But those plans were scrapped, and the Elks building was put on the market.
In June, King bought the building for around $3 million in cash, and now he says he has some big plans for the property.
“We want to do a lot of commercial space and help small businesses. So, any small business owners, we’ll try to help those guys out. We’re growing and providing job opportunities for the community,” King said.
King also plans on adding residential space and even an upscale steakhouse that will be located on the first floor, he says.
But he and his general contractor, Jay Ammon, say there’s a lot of work that needs to be done first inside, which is why they have a $30 million budget.
“It’s a mess, an absolute mess. There’s a lot of work to be done. Structurally, it’s decent, but we’re going to have to do a lot of structural stuff in there,” Ammon said.
Both say they have no plans on changing the exterior of the building and wish to preserve the historical building.
The reason King says he bought the Elks Temple building is so he can help bridge a gap in the community.
“In this neighborhood, I used to pass the building all the time. I was considered low-class and barely branching into the middle class. I want to actually provide opportunities for people coming out of these lower-income communities,” King said.
King says he hopes to finish the project in the next three years and is also looking at other properties in New Bern with plans on building a western-style speakeasy.
Copyright 2025 WITN. All rights reserved.
252.669.0023
