Vatican officials are in Raleigh to help begin the canonization process for Wilmington-born priest Thomas Price.
Price was known for bringing spreading the teachings of the Catholic Church across the state.
"He was priest for a longtime here and very influential in the early history of Catholicism in this diocese," said Paul Griffiths, of Raleigh.
Griffiths was one of dozens who filled Sacred Heart Cathedral Friday to see history.
The procession, hymns and the homily delivered by Bishop Michael Burbidge.
They were there to kick off the diocesan phase for the canonization of Price.
"I just had to come, because you know of the North Carolina connection, and I love the church," said Peggy Taylor, of Knightdale.
The Vatican has established several commissions to examine Father Price's life. In charge of the investigating tribunal is Rev. James Garneau.
"The church seeks the truth and trying to find the truth about Father Price and his life and his work and the effects of that work is the task of the commissions and the tribunal," said Garneau.
The Wilmington-born Price became the first Tar Heel native ordained a Catholic priest in 1860. He's said to have ridden hundreds of miles across the rural state on horseback proclaiming the gospel among hostile crowds when fewer than 1,000 Catholics lived in the state.
"A saint is someone who lives a heroic life that can inspire others to do the same," said Burbidge.
After years in the Wilmington area, Price moved to Boston and co-founded a mission society before traveling the world and dying several years later in Hong Kong.
"It's always important when God's holiness shines through the work and life of human beings and the church simply tries to recognize it," said Garneau.