0£6£-66£Z2 OH
11IH IBdVHO DNfl
D£6£ so
Abvaen
no sum
NOI103T103
tfHOLIC
D N
W000-801
News & Herald Volume 3 Number 20 • January
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
From Russia,
21, 1994
With Love
Orphaned Children Ready For Adoption, Catholic Social Services Eager To Help By JOANN KEANE Associate Editor
Devon faced
a bleak and uncertain Without a loving family, Devon lacked emotional stability. A steady diet of rice porridge left him malnourished. At the age of 3, he weighed 1 1 pounds, far below that of a normal child his age. Developmentally, his mental and motor skills were comparable to those of a 1 -year-old. centered within The tiny waif s world the confines of a Russian orphanage presented little probability of a normal future.
—
—
childhood.
Ann Wilson, and
single, felt
approaching 40 the tugs of motherhood fast
pulling her heartstrings. Determined to
Above: View of Russian Orthodox Seminary
in Sergi Posad.
adopt, Wilson, an environmental scientist in Charlotte, found the process virtually impossible under the limitations of a strained
Below: Orphaned children age
in the
orphan-
Vidnoy, located about 40 miles
in
outside
Moscow.
Photos by
ELIZABETH THURBEE
American
adoption system. The cards were stacked against her; too few infants available for adoption left her discouraged. Until the prospect of foreign adoption entered as
Going through the motions of adoption utilizing several agencies brought Wilsons' dream of a child closer.
A little girl in Honduras almost made
it
into her arms, until the adoption fell
be happier. "I can't imagine him," she says.
without
life
Wilson shared her Russian contacts with CSS. Today, CSS is using the information to unite other Russian
through. Intent on fulfilling her mothering instincts, Wilson contacted
children with American families. Wilson
Catholic Social Services.
transition for others interested in Russian
CSS connected Wilson with an agency linked with a Russian orphanage. From the former Soviet Union, a photograph of young Devon reached Wilson. Her heart melted. Nine days shy of his third birthday, the Russian orphan found a mother. Wilson flew to Russia and brought her son home. A wafer-thin tot with a blank stare left his homeland, bound for a new life abroad.
adoptions.
A
year-and-a-half
happy and
later,
Devon
is
His blue eyes sparkle with the wonder that surrounds the world of a four-year-old boy. His glistening blonde hair regained its luster, thanks to a healthy diet. Wilson couldn't full
of
life.
remains a
liaison, helping to ease the
This past December, Wilson traveled to Russia with
Elizabeth
Thurbee
Meyerriecks, a
CSS
CSS
Director
and
Carol worker in
social
Asheville.
A World
Apart The Siberian winds whip the Russian
tundra into a harsh winterland in December. Outside, below zero temperatures nip the flesh of those
who
brave the elements. The Russian residents, however, helped thaw the travel-weary visitors from North Carolina. "The people are warm, generous and friendly," says Thurbee. See Russia, Page 2
an option.
Our Lady Of Guadalupe Image Brings By
Renewed Devotion
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe made the rounds to several
St. Ann, Charlotte, traveled with image and offered evening homilies. He also
parishes in the diocese Jan. 9- Jan. 13,
heard confessions. "Our Lady s presence really touched a lot of people's lives," Father Byer
bringing people to a deeper appreciation
of the Catholic faith and a renewed
devotion to the Blessed Mother.
"The sense was
that
it
was
truly a
missionary image," said Marcia Ebner, a Secular Franciscan who coordinated the visitation.
The
Pro-Lifers Brave Bitter Cold
thousand or more and children braved bitter cold to take part in the annual North Carolina Right to Life Rally and March
women
Jan. 15 in
downtown
Raleigh.
President Clinton's health care program was criticized for including abortion coverage and leaflets and posters attacked the plan for allegedly restricting other health services.
Red, octagonal signs held aloft at and carried in the march said: "Stop Clinton's health rationing plan." the rally
Leaflets distributed to participants said:
"Clinton's plan would not only deny ... it would deny lifesaving care to certain vulnerable people ... Don't be fooled, the Clinton health plan means rationing."
protection to unborn chidren also
is
a
—
—
parish.
Mexico on an Aztec Indian' s tilma, or cloak, in 1531. Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego as the pregnant mother of God. She came to offer faith, hope and consolation to oppressed Mexicans. Her appearance was said to
out on a cold, rainy night" at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson, said Ebner.
David O'Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Commmittee, and Burke Balch, NRLC state legislation
convert 10 million natives over a 10-
director.
of the Catholic Church and lets people know our traditions have not died out," Ebner said. The experience of traveling
good show of people." The presentation at St. Mary Church in Syl va was followed by a parish gathering for supper. The turnout at Holy Angels in Mount Airy was small with maybe 15 people "but oh so beautiful," said Ebner. Father Conrad Kimbrough at Holy Spirit Church in Denver fdled two vases with yellow roses for Our Lady of Guadalupe
in
GUY MUNGER
RALEIGH — A
men,
image
said. "She comes as their mother. Whatever special needs they had she was whatever hurts or burdens able to talk with them in a special way." The number of people who prayed before the image varied from parish to
photographic replica of a miraculous image that Our Lady of Guadalupe left
For Raleigh March and Rally By
missionary
'
The same
points were
made by
principal speakers at the rally
— Dr.
Because of a bone-chilling wind and temperatures near 10 degrees, the rally was moved from an open-air parking lot to a lower level of a state government parking deck. But the pro-life forces didn't let the cold stop them from marching. After the including some rally, the audience bundled up against infants in strollers
— —
the cold and moved along a route through the state
government complex north of
year period.
"The image emphasizes
traditions
with the image was "very spiritual,"she said. "There was a real strong presence of the Blessed Mother." Our Lady's appearance, which was
an end to human sacrifice, has come to be associated with a call for an end to abortion. Moreover, it emphasizes the quality of life for all people, young and old, says Ebner.
meant
in part to put
Father Jim Byer, parochial vicar
the Capitol.
"A good number
of people turned
Msgr. William Wellein at St. Mary Church in Shelby offered a formal Mass before a full church. At Holy Family Church in Clemmons, "there was a real
and sent the flowers along with the image at the remaining parishes. Presentations were also made at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Charlotte, St. John Baptist de la Salle, traveling entourage to grace the
at
See Tiln See Raleigh, Page 13
lb