April 13, 2012

April 13, 2012

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

Catholic Social Services Week 2012, 13-16

JOY

Msgr.

Kovacic marks 65 years as priest,

HOPE

3 INDEX Contact us.......................... 4 Events calendar................. 4 Our Parishes................. 3-10 Our Faith............................. 2 Schools......................... 18-19 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies...................... 20 U.S. news..................... 22-23 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news................. 24-25

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The facts of faith

A saintly life

Pope Benedict XVI

Encounter the risen Lord in the Scriptures, Eucharist

W

ith Easter flowers and blossoming trees still decorating St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI held his weekly general audience and encouraged Catholics to let the risen Lord into their hearts and to share His peace with the world.

As He did with the disciples after Easter, “even today the risen Lord can enter into our homes and hearts even if, sometimes, the doors are closed,” the pope said April 11.

“He alone can roll back the burial stone that man often puts over his feelings, relationships and behavior; stones that sanction death, division, hatred, anger, jealousy, mistrust, indifference,” Pope Benedict said.

Focusing his audience talk on the disciples’ encounters with the risen Jesus, Pope Benedict looked particularly at the story of Jesus meeting the disciples on the road to Emmaus as they were leaving Jerusalem saddened and dejected after His death.

As Jesus walks with them and explains the Scriptures to them, the pope said, the “meaning of everything – the law, the Scriptures, the Psalms – unexpectedly opens and becomes clear before their eyes.”

But they don’t recognize Jesus until He blesses and breaks the bread for them.

“This episode indicates the two privileged places where we can encounter the risen Lord, who transforms our lives: in listening to the word in communion with Christ and in the breaking of the bread – two places profoundly united because word and Eucharist belong so intimately to each other that one cannot be understood without the other. The word of God becomes sacramental flesh in the Eucharistic event.”

Pope Benedict told the crowd in St. Peter’s Square that the Easter period is a time to rediscover the joy of the faith and to undertake a journey similar to that of the disciples on the way to Emmaus, allowing Jesus to open their eyes to the meaning of Scripture and to recognize His Real Presence in the Eucharist. Meeting the disciples after Easter, Jesus repeatedly says to them, “Peace be with you.” Although it was a common greeting, the pope said, it took on new meaning when the risen Lord said it because the peace He gives is the peace of salvation.

“It is not a greeting, but a gift,” the pope said. And it is a gift Jesus’ disciples of all time are called to share with the world.

St. Mark the Evangelist

Is the power of your prayers lost or diminished if your mind wanders while praying?

Feast day: April 25

St. Mark, the Evangelist, is the author of the second Gospel and the patron saint of notaries. He wrote the Gospel in Greek for the Gentile converts to Christianity. Tradition says the Romans asked St. Mark to record the teachings of St. Peter about Jesus.

St. Mark is also said to have traveled with St. Paul and St. Barnabas, who was Mark’s cousin, on their missionary journey through Cyprus. Mark is said to have founded the Church in Alexandria.

St. Mark is sometimes called John Mark in the New Testament. Both he and his mother Mary were highly esteemed in the early Church, and his mother’s house in Jerusalem served as a meeting place for Christians.

— Catholic News Agency

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Mark is the patron of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, which was dedicated in 2009.

A saintly life

Benedictine theologian St. Anselm known for his wisdom, defense of the faith Feast day: April 21 BENJAMIN MANN CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

On April 21, the Church honors Saint Anselm, the 11th- and 12th-century Benedictine monk and archbishop best known for his writings on Christ’s atonement and the existence of God. In his general audience on Sept. 23, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI recalled St. Anselm as “a monk with an intense spiritual life, an excellent teacher of the young, a theologian with an extraordinary capacity for speculation, a wise man of governance and an intransigent defender of the Church’s freedom.”

St. Anselm, the pope said, stands out as “one of the eminent figures of the Middle Ages who was able to harmonize all these qualities, thanks to the profound mystical experience that always guided his thought and his action.”

Anselm was born in Aosta, part of the Piedmont region of present-day Italy, around 1033. While his father provided little in the way of moral or religious influence, his mother was a notably devout woman and chose to send Anselm to a school run by the Benedictine order.

The more fully we give attention to prayer, the more we are praying. But it is good to remember that praying lies in the will. The will to pray is a prayer in itself. Certainly it is wrong to deliberately encourage distractions while at prayer.

But unwanted distractions do not take away the value of prayer. Mother Teresa’s sisters pray the rosary as they walk down busy city streets. They are certainly distracted by the need to navigate, but a part of them is still in prayer.

— Father Vincent Serpa, O.P., for Catholic Answers, online at www.catholic.com

Should we make the sign of the cross after Communion?

Question: The RCIA director at our parish said it was liturgically improper to bless oneself with the sign of the cross after receiving Communion. Can you point me to a Church document defining the appropriateness of this gesture?

Answer: The burden of proof lies with your RCIA director. Ask him or her to show you a Church document that states that the sign of the cross is improper after receiving the Eucharist. Such a document does not exist. The sign of the cross is always appropriate.

— Father Vincent Serpa, O.P., for Catholic Answers, online at www.catholic.com

ST. ANSELM, SEE PAGE 21

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF APR. 15 - APR. 21

Sunday, Acts 4:32-35, 1 John 5:1-6, John 20:19-31; Monday, Acts 4:23-31, John 3:1-8; Tuesday, Acts 4:32-37, John 3:7-15; Wednesday, Acts 5:17-26, John 3:16-21; Thursday, Acts 5:2733, John 3:31-36; Friday, Acts 5:34-42, John 6:1-15; Saturday (St. Anselm), Acts 6:1-7, John 6:16-21

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF APR. 22 - APR. 28

Sunday, Acts 3:13-15, 17-19, 1 John 2:1-5, Luke 24:35-48; Monday (St. George, St. Adalbert), Acts 6:8-15, John 6:22-29; Tuesday (St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen), Acts 7:51-8:1, John 6:30-35; Wednesday (St. Mark), 1 Peter 5:5-14, Mark 16:15-20; Thursday, Acts 8:26-40, John 6:4451; Friday, Acts 9:1-10, John 6:52-29; Saturday (St. Peter Chanel, St. Louis Grignion de Montfort), Acts 9:31-42, John 6:60-69

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF APR. 29 - MAY 5

Sunday, Acts 4:8-12, 1 John 3:1-2, John 10:1118; Monday (St. Pius V), Acts 11:1-18, John 10:1-10; Tuesday (St. Joseph the Worker), Acts 11:19-26, John 10:22-30; Wednesday (St. Athanasius), Acts 12:24-13:5, John 12:4450; Thursday (Sts. Philip and James), 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, John 14:6-14; Friday, Acts 13:26-33, John 14:1-6; Saturday, Acts 13:44-52, John 14:7-14

Our parishes

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Learn more about May 8 marriage vote at parish forums

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

Scouts attend Camporee, receive religious awards NEBO — Nearly 500 Scouts, Scout leaders and family members attended the 2012 Catholic Camporee March 23-25 at the Mecklenburg Scout Reservation (Camp Grimes) in Nebo. At the conclusion of the weekend event, Bishop Peter J. Jugis celebrated Mass for Camporee attendees and presented various religious awards to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as well as adult leaders.

— Mark Morris and Scott Geiler

Rome pilgrimage planned with ad limina visit CHARLOTTE — A pilgrimage to Rome and surrounding areas is planned for May 2-12 in conjunction with Bishop Peter Jugis’ ad limina visit with Pope Benedict XVI. The 11day pilgrimage includes trips to Assisi, Siena and Orvieto, besides the pope’s general Wednesday audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Spots are still available. For details, go online to www.catholicnewsherald.com.

St. Matthew Church pays off parish debt CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte recently completed a fundraising campaign for its school and two other facilities at the parish. The fundraising was finished early because of, in part, a special capital program among parishioners.

The parish took out a $10.4 million construction loan in 2002 to build the New Life Center, daily Mass chapel and Education Building.

Parishioners contributed to a regular parish debt collection and in the “Be My Hands and Feet” capital campaign, and according to the parish’s finance council, parishioners’ generosity “allowed us to pay off the debt a year and a half early, saving us approximately $350,000 in interest cost.”

Because parish facilities range in age from eight to more than 20 years, see heavy use each day and some require “significant repairs and upgrades,” the parish has begun a “Renew St. Matthew” monthly collection, which started April 1, to pay for these improvements.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Monsignor Anthony Kovacic, a pioneer of desegregation in the Diocese of Charlotte, is pictured at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in 2011. In the background is a photo of the home he lived in as a child in Slovenia.

Msgr. Kovacic celebrates 65 years as a priest SUEANN HOWELL STAFF WRITER

HIGH POINT — At 92, Monsignor Anthony Kovacic is the Diocese of Charlotte’s most senior member of the clergy. He also holds the current record for most years being ordained, as he celebrates his 65th ordination anniversary this month.

Monsignor Kovacic, affectionately known as “Father Tony,” was born in the Slovenian town of Bizeljsko in 1920.

His life has been filled with joys and sorrow, narrowly escaping the Nazis who invaded his home country and killed many of his family members in concentration camps and making his way to Rome to study for the priesthood.

“In a way, my life is many miracles,” said Monsignor Kovacic in an interview included in his farewell celebration booklet, compiled when he was leaving Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, to move to his current residence at Pennybyrn at Maryfield in High Point in March of last year.

“The biggest miracle was that I became a priest.”

Monsignor Kovacic is one of a handful of seminarians from his homeland who was “rescued” by Pope Pius XII. He studied in Rome and was ordained a priest in 1947. He was assigned to work in the Colonia Marina refugee camp in Salerno, helping fellow displaced persons from 1948 to 1951. He had hopes of working in foreign missions in Australia, but after discovering he had tuberculosis was prevented from doing so. After review of updated medical records, he was found to be cured of the tuberculosis and cleared to work in the U.S. In 1951 Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh put him straight to work as assistant pastor

at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

At that time, there were only 5,000 Catholics in all of North Carolina.

Monsignor Kovacic spent a year at the cathedral before being transferred to eastern North Carolina, where he helped build up the Church in Kinston, Tarboro, Scotland Neck, New Bern and Greenville over the next 13 years.

His love for all people helped him during the 1960s when he was charged with creating the first desegregated school, St. Joseph Catholic School, in New Bern. Monsignor Kovacic traveled to nearby military bases and communities and appealed to the families there to enroll their children, and eventually he reached the goal of 100 students split evenly along racial lines.

Monsignor Kovacic served in 12 parishes in the state, with more than 29 years of service spent in the Diocese of Charlotte. His legacy in the “missions of North Carolina” also includes the construction of churches and parish centers, the directorship of the diocese’s permanent diaconate program at its inception in 1980, leading the Cursillo movement in the diocese for many years, and bringing the first active Knights of Columbus Council to Queen of the Apostles Church.

“Parish work was always enjoyable,” Monsignor Kovacic said in an interview with the Catholic News Herald last summer. He believes his ministry has always been to help people know the faith, and his greatest joys have come from his work with converts, visiting the sick and spending time with families in his parishes over the years.

Though Monsignor Kovacic formally retired in 1994, he continues to concelebrate Mass alongside the other retired priests at Pennybyrn and share his stories and his infectious smile with all those he meets.

CHARLOTTE — Four parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte are hosting informational forums to educate voters in advance of the May 8 ballot to protect traditional marriage in the North Carolina constitution.

The May 8 ballot states, “Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

The ballot measure will take what is already state law in the state’s constitution, a move proponents say will protect the institution of marriage – based in natural law and elevated to a sacrament in the Church by Jesus Christ – from being redefined by judges or politicians.

Both of North Carolina’s bishops, Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte and Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, are urging Catholics to vote for the measure, and they are using the upcoming vote as an opportunity to catechize the faithful about Church teaching on marriage in general. The bishops have been preaching about the topic and have produced a series of educational videos on YouTube.

David Hains, diocesan director of communication, added, “The parish forums are a great way for Catholics to learn about Church teaching on the sacrament of matrimony, to hear from Bishop Jugis via video, and to get a better understanding of what the upcoming amendment says, and does not say, about marriage.”

Hains will be leading the free public forums, at the invitation of the parishes’ pastors. The upcoming forums are: n April 16 – 7 p.m. St. Barnabas Church, Arden n April 18 – 7 p.m. St. Gabriel Church, Charlotte n April 19 – 7 p.m. St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem n April 25 – 7 p.m. St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte A forum is also scheduled for 10 a.m. May 6 at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.

Hains also pre-recorded an interview for WBT Radio’s “David Chadwick Show” (1110 AM) that will be aired at 8 a.m. and again at 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 15. The program will also be available online afterwards at www. foresthill.org (click on “watch and listen,” then click on “David Chadwick Show”).

Any parish that would like to host a similar forum is encouraged to contact Hains at dwhains@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3336.

More online North Carolina’s Catholic bishops have produced a series of videos explaining Church teaching about the sacrament of marriage. View the videos on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel.

For details about the ballot initiative, go to www.catholicvoicenc.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events ARDEN

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, 8451 IDLEWILD ROAD

ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, 109 CRESCENT HILL DRIVE

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the next two weeks:

ASHEVILLE

APRIL 13 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION St. Paul Church, Greensboro

ST. EUGENE CHURCH, 72 CULVERN ST. — “Medicare choices made easy,” 2-4 p.m. May 22. RSVP with Council on Aging at 828-277-8288 or Catholic Social Services Elder Ministry at 704-370-3220.

APRIL 15 – 3 P.M. SOLEMN PROFESSION OF VOWS FOR SISTER MARY IMMACULATA, PCPA St. Ann Church, Charlotte APRIL 16 – 9 A.M. MASS FOR CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC WOMEN’S GROUP St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte APRIL 18 – 5:30 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION St. Francis of Assisi Church, Franklin APRIL 20 – 7 P.M. CSS SOCIAL MINISTRY TRAINING St. Peter Church, Charlotte APRIL 21 – 11 A.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION Our Lady of the Americas Church, Biscoe APRIL 23 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro APRIL 24 – 5 P.M. MASS FOR PROVINCE TRIBUNAL PERSONNEL St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte APRIL 25 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION St. Michael Church, Gastonia APRIL 26 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem APRIL 28 – 11 A.M. MASS FOR SISTERS’ JUBILARIANS Pastoral Center Chapel, Charlotte APRIL 30 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte

— Forum/Discussion in preparation for the May 8 vote on the N.C. Marriage Amendment, presented by David Hains, Diocesan Director of Communication, 7 p.m. April 16. Contact stbarsec@bellsouth.net or 828-684-6098.

— Presentación para explicar el programa de Medicare, 2-4 p.m. 22 de mayo. Registrese con Council on Aging al 828-277-8288 o con el Ministerio Católico de Servicios para Ancianos al 704-370-3220.

ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA, 97 HAYWOOD ST. — Holy Hour, 3 p.m. April 15. Contact Gwen Hobson at 828-658-0335.

BELMONT BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE, 100 BELMONT-MT. HOLLY ROAD — Arts at the Abbey: Annual Spring Concert, 3 p.m.

April 29 — IHM Carolina Homeschool and Parent Conference, Student Commons, noon-8 p.m. May 25. Contact info@ihmconference.org or 540-636-1946. Visit www. ihmconference.org.

CHARLOTTE OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH, 1235 BADGER CT. — Fourth Annual Ladies Day of Reflection, Parish Life Center, 8 a.m.-noon May 19. Registration required.

Contact olcladiesguild@gmail.com, Deborah Wadsworth at 704-568-8415, or Catherine Gomez at 704-509-2199.

PASTORAL CENTER, 1123 S. CHURCH ST.

— “Just War and Peacemaking Conference,” 7 p.m.

April 20. Contact Shea Barja at sheabarja@gmail. com or 704-451-3269. Register at www.4sjnc.org/ jw_p_conference.

ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 LAWYERS ROAD — “Face-UP!!! (to bullying and cyberbullying), 7 p.m. April 19. Grades fourth through high school are invited.

Contact Nancy Murphy at obxnancy@earthlink.net or 704-776-4261 or Cindy Correll at ccorrell10@carolina. rr.com or 704-821-7650.

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — “Called to be Mom,” supports the vocation of motherhood, NLC 239/240, 10 a.m.-noon, April 18 and May 2. Childcare available by calling 704-543-7677, ext. 1011, 48 hours in advance. Contact Kerry Long at klong003@carolina.rr.com or 704-243-6319.

— “Romance Without Regret,” presented by national chastity speaker Jason Evert, 3:15-4:30 p.m. April 22, eighth-graders and up and parents invited.

— “Catholic Guys Gone Wild,” NLC 234/235, presented by Deacon Mark King, 7-9 p.m. April 30. Opportunity for men to explore living an authentically Catholic life.

Register at registration@stmatthewcatholic.org.

— “Alive in the Spirit,” Charismatic Prayer group, 7:30 p.m. third Mondays. Contact Barbara Gardner at chlt5nc@aol.com.

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 DILWORTH ROAD EAST — Scripture Study Program: “The Epistle of St. James,” 10-11 a.m. Sundays through May 6. Contact Michelle Rahilly at rahillyhome@carolina.rr.com or Margaret Gustafson at jmgusto@bellsouth.net.

ST. PETER CHURCH, 507 S. TRYON STREET — Multi-Parish Peace and Justice Annual Meeting, Benedict Hall, 6:30-8 p.m. April 24. RSVP to Carolyn DeBruhl at carolyndebruhl@hotmail.com by April 18.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, 6828 OLD REID ROAD

— Entrenamiento de Catequista en español, 10 a.m.2 p.m. 28 de abril

— Hispanic Catholic Men’s Support Group, 7-9 p.m. April 23

— Catechist training in Spanish, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 28

— Grupo de Apoyo para Hombres Católicos Hispanos, 7-9 p.m. 23 de abril

ST. ANN CHURCH, 1400 SUTHER ROAD — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Course, 1-5 p.m. April 28. RSVP required to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN at cssnfp@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3230.

— Missa Cantata for the Feast of the Ascension, 7 p.m.

May 17. Visit www.stannparish.org.

ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 3016 PROVIDENCE ROAD — Hispanic Catholic Men’s Support Group, 7-9 p.m. April 17 — Grupo de Apoyo para Hombres Católicos Hispanos, 7-9 p.m. 17 de abril

ST. PIUS X CHURCH, 2210 N. ELM ST. — “Catholicism” Series, parish office, 10 a.m. for 10 weeks starting March 20.

— Seasons of Hope Grief Ministry, Kloster Center, 2-4 p.m. April 15, 22 and 29. Register at 336-272-4681.

HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 STUMPTOWN ROAD — “Romance Without Regret,” presented by national chastity speaker Jason Evert, 7:30-8:45 p.m. April 22, eighth-graders and up and parents invited.

— “How to Raise Chaste Teens,” presented by national chastity speaker Jason Evert, parish hall, 9:30-10:45 a.m. April 23.

— The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes all women who are practicing Roman Catholics, and who are Irish by birth descent, who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, or the mother of a junior member. Meetings are in room 200, 7:30 p.m. first Thursdays. Contact Bernadette Brady at mcbernie38@msn.com or 704-210-8060.

WAYNESVILLE ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH, 234 CHURCH STREET — Eucharistic Adoration, followed by refreshments, 3 p.m. April 15

WINSTON-SALEM ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH, 335 SPRINGDALE AVE. — Presentation on the proposed N.C. Marriage Amendment and HHS Mandate, by David Hains, Diocesan Director of Communication, Bishop Begley Parish Center, 7 p.m. April 19.

IS YOUR PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Calendar is 10 days prior to desired publication date.

Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or fax to 704-370-3382.

GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, 2205 W. MARKET ST. — “Awakening Faith: Reconnecting with your Catholic Faith,” school library, 10-11:30 a.m. Saturdays April 14-May 19. Contact Rebecca Toner at 336-497-4439.

— Mass in the Extraordinary Form, 7 p.m. April 15 — “Volare Women” Meeting, Kloster Center, 7-8:15 p.m.

April 19. Nursery reservations available. Contact volarewomen@hotmail.com.

— Women’s Mass and Reflection, 7 p.m. May 17. Nursery reservations available. Contact volarewomen@ hotmail.com.

APRIL 13, 2012 Volume 21 • NUMBER 12

1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Denise Onativia 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org STAFF WRITER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org

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April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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St. Aloysius Parish aids in tornado recovery effort DAVE GERHARDT SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

HICKORY — A parish that had begun providing charitable relief closer to home is being put to a big test, in the wake of destruction from a recent tornado.

According to the Hickory Daily Record, eastern Burke County was rocked with an EF2 tornado bouncing all over the landscape in the early morning hours of Jan. 12, damaging or destroying 168 homes along a seven-mile path. Incredibly, no one was killed or seriously injured, but many families were displaced and their lives changed forever with the losses of homes and irreplaceable belongings.

St. Aloysius Church was asked to take the lead for the Charlotte diocese’s effort in this recovery.

Parishioners are working with Joe Purello in the Catholic Social Services’ Disaster Relief and Justice and Peace offices to apply for a $5,000 Catholic Charities grant to help with some of the repair costs.

The parish is familiar with some of the work that needs to be done, but hasn’t done such a large project this close to home before.

Like many parishes, St. Aloysius Church has gone on adult mission trips for several years now. We have gone to the North Carolina mountains for three years to do home repairs, the Katrina-damaged area of the Mississippi Gulf Coast for four years, and most recently to Raleigh last October to repair tornado-damaged homes.

After several years of participating in our adult mission trips, we realized that we needed to bring these same relief efforts to

CSS launches new car donation program CHARLOTTE — If you have a used car that you would like to donate to a charitable cause, Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte can help.

Catholic Social Services has now joined more than 500 nonprofit organizations including 16 other Catholic Charities agencies from across the country, in working with Charitable Auto Resources Inc. (CARS) to accept used cars as part of a vehicle donation program.

“CARS was the chosen vendor by Catholic Social Services because it is considered a strong leader in helping non-profits benefit from the donation of used vehicles to support their missions,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Social Services’ executive director.

Proceeds from the car donation program will support services offered

by Catholic Social Services to people without the ability to pay for them.

For more information, visit www. donatingiseasy.org. To put a used car to work helping those in need, call 877-5375277.

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer

our own community, as there are similar needs to be met in Hickory. So the parish created the “Home Improvement Ministry,” or “HIM.” We started out building wheelchair ramps and repairing the homes of needy parishioners, and have since branched out to include working with Catawba County Social Services to repair the homes of some needy local citizens.

The grant only went so far, however, and needs remain to be met.

We have had a small group working in Burke County for several weeks now, and the people whose homes we’ve been working on are so thankful that we would give to them in their time of need.

Now we also hope to be able to make others aware of the rapidly growing mountain of expenses and the need for many volunteers that it will take to restore their homes and their lives.

It is estimated that it will take $13.4 million and probably a year to complete the task of putting our brothers and sisters back in homes they can call their own.

The HIM parish ministry is working both with tornado recovery efforts in Burke County but also continue its other work on the homes of parishioners and other needy local residents.

What drives us to do what we do in our Home Improvement Ministry are the words our Lord gave us: “What you do for the least of my people, that you do unto me.” Our Lord also told us to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

If we have a need, don’t we do everything we can to meet our own need? Then we cannot do anything less for our neighbors, be they down the street or 10 miles away in a neighboring county.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATHY SUCCOP

Members of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory are rebuilding houses in Burke County for neighbors in need, particularly those whose homes were damaged or destroyed following a tornado that hit the area in January.

How you can help n ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH: 21 Second St., N.E., Hickory, NC 28601. Call 828-327-2341. n CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICE’S DISASTER RELIEF OFFICE: Call 704-370-3225. n BURKE COUNTY AMERICAN RED CROSS: Mail checks to P.O. Box 1329, Hickory, N.C. 28602, donate at www. redcross.org, 1-800-REDCROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 for a $10 donation. n BURKE COUNTY UNITED WAY/TORNADO RELIEF FUND: Mail checks to 301 E. Meeting St., Morganton, N.C. 28655, or donate online at www.bcuw.org; to volunteer continue monitoring BCUW’s Facebook page.

Capuchin Franciscan friars to leave two parishes in Charlotte PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

CHARLOTTE — The Capuchin Franciscans are leaving two of the three parishes they staff in the Diocese of Charlotte – St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of Consolation – because of a growing shortage of friars in the region.

The friars who will be leaving are Father Remo DiSalvatore, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Father Martin Schratz, pastor of Our Lady of Consolation Church, and Brother Douglas Soik, pastoral associate at Our Lady of Consolation.

The Capuchin Franciscans will continue to staff Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville. Three friars are assigned there now.

The friars in Charlotte and Hendersonville are part of the Capuchin Franciscan order’s Province of the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis, founded in 1913 and based in Union City, N.J. While the order has 12,000 friars worldwide, the 41 friars in the province (which runs from Florida to New York) staff seven parishes besides serving at a hospital, two retreat centers, and an urban ministry for the poor.

New vocations have not kept pace with the aging friars and the growing needs of these ministries, so the province is being restructured, said Father DiSalvatore, who sits on the provincial council.

The changes were announced to parishioners at Mass in both Charlotte parishes on March 25.

“It is impossible for us to continue as a province without making drastic changes,” Father DiSalvatore also wrote in Fr. DiSalvatore the parish bulletin last week, acknowledging that the changes will be hard.

He continued, “However, as friars, we see God’s hand at work, even when things are difficult. Yes, these changes will call for sacrifice on the part of the friars. Yes, there will Fr. Schratz be sadness as we leave the people we love in the parishes. However, we strongly believe that God will renew and strengthen us as friars as we make these changes. God is calling us to go back to the basics of our Capuchin life...fraternity, prayer and simplicity. The true treasure of the Capuchin charism, what the Capuchins have to offer to the Church, is Evangelical Brotherhood, living the Gospel as brothers.

These changes, as difficult as they are, will enable us to be more authentic in our lives

as Capuchins. In the long run, this is what is best for the Church, and for us.”

No precise date has been formalized regarding the change in pastors at both parishes, although changes usually do occur sometime in July, when priest assignments are announced by Bishop Peter Jugis.

“The Diocese of Charlotte will provide good priests to come in and build upon the wonderful work that all the previous priests and parishioners have done over the years,” Father DiSalvatore noted in his message to parishioners.

“It has truly been an honor and a privilege for the Capuchin friars to serve the good people of St. Thomas Aquinas.

During these next three months, let us all work together to prepare the parish for the upcoming transition. It is never easy to leave a parish, not for the friars, not for the parishioners. However, we must continue to trust in God’s will and pray for guidance and peace, knowing that ‘...all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.’

(Rm 8:28)” In his parish bulletin announcement last week, Father Schratz said the past 13 years of the friars’ ministry at Our Lady of Consolation have been “wonderful.”

“I must add that whomever Bishop Jugis assigns here will find it a ministry with many blessings,” he wrote.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 OUR PARISHES

Bishop Peter J. Jugis lights the Paschal candle at the start of the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 7.

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Celebrating Easter with joy, hope and love Much more online Read more on our website about Bishop Peter Jugis’ homilies for Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.

Read the full text of Pope Benedict XVI’s “urbi et orbi” message for Easter, in English and in Spanish.

See lots of photo galleries of scenes from Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter from parishes across the diocese.

On the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: Check out a video slideshow highlighting the activities and liturgies of Holy Week and Easter. It features ancient chants by the St. Basil Eastern Catholic Mission, scenes from several parishes’ Stations of the Cross and cross veneration services, beautiful Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Masses, and Easter basket blessings and egg hunts.

And don’t forget to send us photos of your family in their Easter best for our photo album on Facebook.

Email them to catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org.

‘With Christ we have died, and with Christ we have risen,’ Bishop Jugis preaches PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

CHARLOTTE — Christians have every reason to rejoice at Easter, as we give thanks to God for our redemption through Christ’s Passion, death and Resurrection.

In his homilies for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, Bishop Peter Jugis stressed that we do not celebrate the events of Holy Week and Easter as historical occurrences, but as a present, living sacrifice meant for all of us. And it is up to each one of us to accept Jesus’ gift of love, then to share it with others.

“Christianity is a joyful religion,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily during the Easter Vigil Mass April 7. Our happiness this Easter is the result of our knowing that we have received new life in Christ.

“With Christ we have died, we have died to this world. With Christ we have died, and with Christ we have risen,” he said. Now, “We live for God. We live for heaven.”

The new life we possess – the Good News we proclaim on Easter – is one with new values and a new spirit, he said. We rejoice in the new hope, the new grace, and the new beginning that Christ’s Resurrection brings.

“It is a life of living in love with God, through Jesus Christ,” he said.

We should take to heart Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, he said during his homily on Good Friday, and then spread the Good News of Jesus’ love.

“We as Catholics, as Christians, want the work of Calvary to be extended to the ends of the earth,” he said, emphasizing that each of us is called to be Christ’s witnesses to the secularized, indifferent people around us. To help us do this, God gives us strength and motivation through Holy Communion.

We should also strive to overcome the sin of pride and instead model Jesus’ humility, Bishop Jugis said in his homily for Holy Thursday.

Jesus’ example of love and humility in washing the feet of His Apostles, then in surrendering Himself to death on a cross, points the way for us: these same virtues are fundamental to our lives as Christians.

As Pope Benedict XVI noted in a recent reflection on Ephesians 4:1-16, Bishop Jugis recounted, living a truthful Christian life means surrendering ourselves to God’s will, keeping a balanced perspective about ourselves and our place in creation, and endeavoring to overcome the sin of pride.

“The opposite of humility is pride, the root of all sin,” Bishop Jugis said, “the pride which is arrogance, which above all seeks power, appearance, making a good impression on others, being someone or something; does not seek to please God but to please himself; likes being accepted by others and, let us say, being venerated by others.”

He continued, “Being Christian means overcoming this original temptation.”

“May we follow His path in service to God and service to each other,” he prayed.

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

7

(Above left) Faithful gather to pray during a cross veneration service on Good Friday at St. Patrick Cathedral.

(Above middle) Christians took part in an outdoor Stations of the Cross through downtown Belmont on Good Friday. The ecumenical “Belmont Cross Walk” has been held each year for more than a decade.

(Above) The youth group of Holy Spirit Church in Denver re-enacted a Stations of the Cross for parishioners and faith formation students on Good Friday.

(Left) Parishioners pray before the crucifix suspended above the altar at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

(Below) A young parishioner took part in an emotional and elaborately staged outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte.

(Bottom left) Deacon James Atkinson and Father Carmen Malacari wash the feet of parishioners at Holy Spirit Church’s evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.

(Bottom middle) Father John Vianney Hoover of New Creation Monastery in Charlotte leads an outdoor Stations of the Cross on Good Friday through downtown Charlotte.

(Bottom right) Patrick Mellon, a young parishioner at St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone, venerates the cross during a Good Friday service.

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE, DOREEN SUGIERSKI, GEORGIANNA PENN, GEORGE HOFFMAN, TY REAMER, SUEANN HOWELL, RYAN MURRAY, JOHN BUNYEA, AMBER MELLON, VICKI DORSEY AND ANTHONY PERLAS

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 OUR PARISHES

(Above and above middle) Father Alex Ayala, pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva, prepares the Paschal candle at the start of Easter Vigil Mass. With him is altar server Augustine Yanez.

Parishioners gathered inside the church following a candlelight procession.

Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio blesses Easter baskets on Easter Sunday at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

(Left) Father Paul Dechant, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Kernersville, baptizes Jackson Gregory Schuler during the Easter Vigil Mass.

(Bottom) Benedictine Father David Brown gathers around the Easter Vigil bonfire at Belmont Abbey.

See more online (Above) Bishop Jugis baptizes Filomena Maria Hiller during the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral. Holding her is mom Mara Hiller.

(Below) The choir at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte sings during a Holy Week Mass.

More photos are online at www. catholicnewsherald. com.

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Bishop Peter J. Jugis prepares the holy oils that are blessed during the annual Chrism Mass. Serving at the Mass were the three transitional deacons who are preparing for ordination to the priesthood this June, including Deacon Jason Barone (right).

Chrism Mass brings ‘life, hope and joy’ during Holy Week SUEANN HOWELL STAFF WRITER

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis celebrated the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Charlotte on April 3. More than 80 priests concelebrated the two-hour Mass, including Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, retired bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, and Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., abbot of Belmont Abbey.

During the Chrism Mass, held each year during Holy Week prior to Easter, priests of the diocese renew their commitment of service to the Church, and Bishop Jugis blesses the holy oils used in the sacraments.

Consecrated religious and hundreds of lay faithful packed into the cathedral to hear the Good News of the Gospel and witness the sacred tradition of the blessing of the sacramental chrism.

Transitional Deacons Jason Barone, Matthew Codd and Peter Shaw also served the Mass. The oils blessed during the Chrism Mass will be used in their ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, June 2, at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

“The Second Vatican Council Constitution ‘Lumen Gentium’ reminds us that the common priesthood of the faithful and the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood are ordered each toward each other, and that each in its own way shares in the one priesthood of Christ,” said Bishop Jugis at the beginning of his homily.

“How interesting that at this Chrism Mass where priests gather to renew their priestly promises and demonstrate their communion with their bishop and their concelebration, that there should also abound references to the priesthood of the faithful.”

Bishop Jugis referred to the readings from Isaiah 61: 1-3 and Revelation 1: 5-8, which were read during the Liturgy of the Word.

“These references remind us that we are ordained priests for service to the whole

More online See more photos from the Chrism Mass at www.catholicnewsherald.com.

Video highlights, including Bishop Peter Jugis’ homily, are available on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel.

people of God, that priesthood is service ... There is a marvelous complementarity of the ministerial priesthood and the priesthood of the faithful – and all of this during the Chrism Mass,” he added.

After the homily, the priests of the diocese made their renewal of commitment to priestly service, responding with a resounding “I am” to Bishop Jugis’ inquiries about their resolve to faithfully minister to the people of God. “You teach, you guide, you shepherd, whether convenient or inconvenient, whether it is accepted or not accepted ... the priest is absolutely essential to the world’s salvation. Jesus entrusts His Real Presence in the Eucharist to you,” Bishop Jugis said.

“Where would the world be without the priest’s ministry and witness to Christ’s love?”

As the vessels containing the sacred oils were brought forth to be blessed, Bishop Jugis prayed for the Holy Spirit to come upon them, praying for the people who will receive the holy oils used in the blessing of the sick and the candidates for baptism, as well as for those who will receive the sacred chrism in the sacraments of initiation and holy orders. He added balsam to the olive oil and also breathed over the glass vessels containing the oils.

At the conclusion of the Chrism Mass, he thanked everyone for their faithful service to the Church and to the diocese, and he encouraged everyone gathered to remember that “Jesus is our life. He is our hope. He is our joy.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 OUR PARISHES

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St. ThĂŠrèse parishioners tackle Linus Blanket Project MOORESVILLE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The seventh-annual Linus Blanket Project was held at St. ThĂŠrèse Church in Charlotte Feb. 25. This Lenten project was originally started by Liz Tadvick as her confirmation service project. Every year, Tadvick organizes the event as an opportunity for students to give back to the community.

She provided tables full of fabric and batting and volunteers provided their sewing machines, irons and ironing boards and rotary cutters. In four hours, the youths transformed brightly colored scraps of fabric into 36 beautiful blankets that will give warmth and comfort to those in need. For many, this was their first experience using a sewing machine and piecing together a blanket. This year, 62 confirmation students, six youths and 19 volunteers participated in the Linus Blanket Project. While working on the blankets, the youth were asked to visualize and pray for the people who would be receiving them.

The blankets are being donated to Dove House, My Sisterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s House, Fifth Street Mission, the Pregnancy Care Center and the Levine Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Center. Everyone involved had a wonderful time working on this service project where kids were given the opportunity to help other kids in need. The Knights of Columbus also donated and cooked lunch for all the youths and volunteers. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Lisa Cash

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Spring break of service: UGA students help CSS CHARLOTTE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A joyful group of students from the University of Georgia spent its spring break in Charlotte reecntly, doing volunteer work for Catholic Social Services.

The students are part of a student-run organization called IMPACT, formerly known as â&#x20AC;&#x153;Alternative Spring Break.â&#x20AC;?

Alternative Spring Break began at UGA in

1994 with a group of students interested in spending the week of spring break engaged in community service as opposed to the more traditional past-times of college spring break.

Since the beginning of the program, more than 1,800 UGA students have participated in these Alternative Spring Break trips and traveled across the U.S. to participate in meaningful service projects that benefit the communities in which they work, according to the groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website.

This is the second time the group has come to Charlotte, but the first time they spent their entire week-long spring break working here.

The students helped stock and organize donations in the CSS food pantry at the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, helped set up an apartment for an incoming refugee family in Charlotte, attended English as a Second Language classes and other educational efforts for refugees being helped by Catholic Social Services, and more. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Patricia L. Guilfoyle

McNulty admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders COLUMBUS, Ohio â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Diocese of Charlotte seminarian Paul McNulty (right) was admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders at the Pontifical College Josephinum on March 27.

He and 10 other seminarians were admitted to Candidacy for Holy Orders by Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair (middle). Also pictured is Father James Wehner (left), rector.

The Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders is celebrated when a seminarian has reached a maturity of purpose in his formation and has demonstrated the necessary qualifications for ordination. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Carolyn Dinovo, photo by Patrick Welsh

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NC Marriage Amendment and HHS Mandate Information Session Thursday, April 19, 2012 7:00 PM Bishop Begley Parish Center Saint Leo the Great Catholic Church, 335 Springdale Avenue Winston-Salem

Guest Speaker:

David Hains, Director of Communication ~ Diocese of Charlotte

All are welcome for an informative evening discussing these two important issues!

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

11

Celebrating 40 years!

Diocese of Charlotte

Catholic Social Services: 64 years of service to western N.C. EDITOR’S NOTE: The Diocese of Charlotte was founded on Jan. 12, 1972. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the diocese and the history of the Church in Western North Carolina, we are publishing a year-long series spotlighting the people who built up the Church, the major developments over the past 40 years, and what changes could be in store for the future.

F

SUEANN HOWELL STAFF WRITER

or more than six decades, the charitable work of the Church in western North Carolina has been organized and led by Catholic Social Services. The wide range of assistance that Catholic Social Services offers illustrates the Church’s commitment to serving all people in need across the diocese.

Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh first incorporated the Bureau of Catholic Charities on April 24, 1948. Within a year, a branch was opened in Charlotte.

Following a mid-century trend among some Catholic Charities agencies, Bishop Waters and the corporate board of directors changed the agency’s name from the Bureau of Catholic Charities to Catholic Social Services Inc. in 1962.

In 1973, not long after the founding of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Michael J. Begley set up the diocese’s own Catholic Social Services agency, and its mission – to serve people in need across the 46 counties of western North Carolina – has continued to be one of the top priorities of every bishop since.

FOUNDING DIRECTOR

Catholic Social Services was originally staffed by three sisters from the Missionary Servants of the Blessed Trinity, an order of Catholic sisters devoted to education, health care and social services. The sisters provided pregnancy support, maternity care, foster care and adoption services to families throughout the state.

Elizabeth Thurbee was the first layperson hired by the Trinitarian sisters in 1980 to head the agency’s adoption

Men and women march for voting rights in this Office of Justice and Peace photo from the early 1980s.

Father Francis Smith holds a baby in this 1979 photo from the CSS adoption services archives.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE ARCHIVES

program. She eventually rose to head the entire agency, retiring in 2010.

Thurbee met the three Trinitarian sisters in 1975, when she was the public information officer for the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and they called her for information about Charlotte.

Five years later – out of the blue – Trinitarian Sister Barbara DeMoranville called Thurbee to offer her the agency’s new position of adoption supervisor. Thurbee recalls being concerned about being tapped for the job, which would cover the diocese’s 46 counties. Her children were still young, and she needed a part-time schedule.

But the sisters were adamant about Thurbee taking the job, and they agreed to a family-friendly work schedule for her so she could say yes.

Thurbee recalls, “I asked Sister Barbara (after accepting the job), ‘You were so persistent. Why did you call me, anyway?’” Sister Barbara told her that the Trinitarian Sisters had been praying about someone to take the position and nothing had happened. But the morning Sister Barbara called Thurbee, she said, “I woke up at four o’clock in the morning with your name in my mind. So I knew that was what we were supposed to do.”

That was the start of Thurbee’s 30 years of service with the diocese. She worked with all four of the diocese’s bishops, helping to develop and steer Catholic Social Services to meet growing and changing charitable needs.

Under Thurbee’s leadership, programs such as burial assistance, counseling services, elder ministry, family life services, the food pantry, refugee resettlement, and educational programs for the Office of Justice and Peace evolved. The Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp., CSS, SEE PAGE 17

A member of the CSS Asheville Regional Office assists members of the Hispanic community in this 2001 photo.

More online History of the Diocese of Charlotte: www.charlottediocese. org/history Anecdota in diocesan history: www.charlottediocese.org/ ministries-a-departments/archives

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com

Catholic Social Services Week 2012 ‘Pope Benedict XVI reminds us in “Deus Caritas Est,” our ministry of Christian charity is an essential part of the Church’s mission, along with the ministries of Word and Sacrament.

Through your support of Catholic Social Services, we are indeed true to who we are as the people of God.’ — Bishop Peter J. Jugis

FROM THE COVER I

PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAT STAUB PHOTOGRAPHY

Your Local Catholic Charities Agency

T

he annual celebration of Catholic Social Services Week will be held April 15-21 throughout the Diocese of Charlotte. The theme, “Strengthening Families, Building Communities, Reducing Poverty,” touches on the impact of the outreach programs offered by Catholic Social Services in western North Carolina.

In a letter to the pastors of the diocese, Bishop Peter J. Jugis affirmed that impact, stating, “With parishes and individuals working together with the agency, this effort becomes stronger, and many benefit across our diocese.”

Catholic Social Services Week focuses on the programs, offices, donors and volunteers who make a difference in the lives of thousands of people throughout the diocese each year.

Food pantries are just one example of the direct assistance that Catholic Social Services provides.

With funds from the Diocesan Support Appeal, direct donations and grants, food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem distributed more than 350,000 pounds of food in 2011.

Disaster relief, teen parenting programs, refugee services, Elder Ministry programs, and Respect Life programs are just some of the other ways that Catholic Social Services assists and enriches the lives of Catholics and non-Catholics in our communities.

Volunteers are essential in all Catholic Social Services outreach programs, and more than 206 volunteers regularly give of their time at each regional office in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, Murphy and Greensboro.

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer

iiiApril 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

Catholic Social Se

Strengthening families, building

DIRECT ASSISTANCE

People who seek assistance from the food pantries are typically underemployed, unemployed, or depending on limited fixed incomes. Most earn less than $15,000 a year. Above, staff from Catholic Social Services helps St. Thomas Aquinas Parish volunteers make a large food delivery.

One mother shared, “I have two kids and I couldn’t have done it without this place. You have pretty much saved our lives.”

Food pantries, located in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, distributed 350,707 pounds of food and 19,909 pounds of personal care items in 2011 in response to 33,770 requests. Catholic Social Services relies heavily on cash contributions and donations of food and personal care items and volunteers to meet food pantry requests.

DISASTER AID

With the help of Catholic Charities USA, Catholic Social Services helps provide disaster assistance. The Piedmont Triad Regional Office assisted 19 tornado victims in Davidson and Randolph counties in their recovery efforts after a tornado in November. Currently the Office of Economic Opportunity in Murphy is assisting residents in their recovery efforts after a more recent tornado tore through Cherokee County.

HE COVER

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

ervices Week 2012

g communities, reducing poverty TEEN PARENTING PROGRAM

The Catholic Social Services teen parenting program, Hand to Hand, enrolls 65-70 teen parents and their babies each year. Through the program, teen moms and dads learn parenting skills, continue their education and seek employment. Statistically, teen parents are at higher risk of living out their lives in poverty. Left, Hand to Hand clients attend a healthy cooking class.

SERVICES AND PROGRAMS Adoption Burial Assistance Counseling Elder Ministry Financial Literacy Food Pantry

Left, participant Jasmine and her baby share a hug.

Justice and Peace Education Legal Immigration Assistance Marriage Preparation Natural Family Planning Pregnancy Support Refugee Services Respect Life Teen Parent Support Youth Services

REFUGEE SERVICES

EDUCATIONAL AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES Catholic Social Services offers a range of educational and enrichment opportunities across the diocese. The Elder Ministry program provides days of reflection throughout the year and a social enrichment day in the spring. Left, Edward Becker and Anita Hillman join in the discussion at the Day of Reflection held at Sacred Heart Parish in Brevard.

Catholic Social Services provides resettlement services to new arrivals and provides ongoing assistance to refugees to help them achieve independence and gain citizenship. More than 1,000 refugees are served each year, including 300 to 400 new arrivals. Above, a young refugee proudly displays his new status as an American citizen.

UPCOMING EVENTS n CHARLOTTE: Catholic Charities USA Parish Social Ministry Conference, April 20-21 n HICKORY: Elder Ministry Spring Fling, April 26 n CHARLOTTE: Elder Ministry Spring Fling, May 31 n CHARLOTTE, HENDERSONVILLE, MURPHY AND SHELBY: Session with Jesuit Father Koterski, June 11-14 Call 704-370-3262 for details

The Office of Justice and Peace, often partnering with the Respect Life program, offers a variety of educational opportunities at parishes around the diocese. More than 2,500 people took part in these events in 2011. Jesuit Father Joseph Koterski from Fordham University has made a number of presentations over the past years.

Left, Noel Nadol follows up on input from Father Koterski at sessions at St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte.

ONLINE Learn more at www.cssnc.org

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 FROM THE COVER

VOLUNTEERS

‘It’s work they do from the heart. You can see it in their eyes.’

— Morris St. Angelo

a volunteer for Catholic Social Services

Volunteers are the backbone of Catholic Social Services food pantries and are a growing force in other areas, such as refugee services and after-school programs, receptionist duties, office work, and other behind-the-scenes activities.

Each regional office (Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem) has a volunteer coordinator who recruits and trains people for services that are needed and according to the interests of the volunteers. Volunteer opportunities are available for a one-time or ongoing basis.

“Our volunteer coordinators help us provide better services for our clients and for all the people of the diocese,” said Dr. Gerard A. Carter, executive director of Catholic Social Services. “On one hand, there is the need to provide the services, and our staff is limited. On the other hand, but no less important, is the opportunity for people in our diocese to put their faith in action by reaching out to others. As

Bishop Peter Jugis stated in a letter to pastors, ‘Through your support of Catholic Social Services, we are indeed true to who we are as the people of God.’ Volunteering is a benefit to both the community and to people who request our services.”

Working together with other committed people throughout the diocese, Catholic Social Services can accomplish more. Michele McGinnis, chair of the Office of Economic Opportunity’s annual gala in Murphy, is such a committed partner.

She said, “People right here where I live are desperate and don’t know what to do. We have to remember that we are a community together. I am glad OEO is here to help them and particularly watches out for families.”

Currently the three regions of Asheville, Charlotte and the Piedmont Triad have 206 volunteers.

From the viewpoint of the volunteer:

‘It makes me feel good that someone is going to have a good meal because I packed up their box.

At least 60 families go home with food each time.’

‘There is so much darkness in the world. By volunteering I feel like I am lighting one candle to dispel the darkness.’

— Bernadette Goodman

Asheville food pantry volunteer

The experience ‘has reinforced my belief that we have an obligation as human beings to assist others. It is a rewarding feeling, spiritually and mentally.’

— Rosemary Spraggins (left) and her daughter Barbara Doyle

— Charles Rozak

Charlotte volunteer with the Refugee Resettlement Office

Volunteers at the Winston-Salem food pantry three times a month

LOCATIONS Administrative Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 704-370-3228 cssadmin@charlottediocese.org

Refugee Resettlement Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 704-370-3262 cssrro@charlottediocese.org

Charlotte Regional Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 704-370-3262 csscro@charlottediocese.org

Piedmont Triad Regional Office 627 West Second St. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 20185 Winston Salem, NC 27120-0185 336-727-0705 csspto@charlottediocese.org

Office of Economic Opportunity 27 Hatchett St. Murphy, NC 28906 828-835-3535 oeocss@charlottediocese.org

Greensboro Satellite Office 2201 West Market St. Greensboro, NC 27420 336-274-5577 cssgso@charlottediocese.org

Family Life Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 704-370-3228 cssflo@charlottediocese.org

www.cssnc.org

Western Regional Office 50 Orange St. Asheville, NC 28801-2328 828-255-0146 csswro@charlottediocese.org

Justice & Peace Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 704-370-3225 justicepeace@charlottediocese.org

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Dr. Gerard Carter, who succeeded Thurbee as executive director of Catholic Social Services, sums up the mission of Catholic Social Services in western North Carolina: â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte, Catholic Social Services works closely with our clergy and laity to bring hope and healing to those in need, especially those who are poor and marginalized. Our work centers on three key service areas of ministry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; strengthening families, building communities and reducing poverty.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Social Services, contributed.

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Our schools 18

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

In Brief

— Doris Melson

Knights sponsor poster contest at OLG Mint Hill middle-schoolers go to state science fair MINT HILL — Emily Esarove (a sixth-grader at Queens Grant Community School in Mint Hill) and Patrick Greene (a seventh-grader at Queens Grant Community School) were each selected to present their research at the recent 2012 N.C. Science and Engineering Fair at Meredith College in Raleigh. They were given this opportunity when they each won first and second place at the Regional Science Fair hosted by UNC-Charlotte’s Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education.

Esarove’s project was titled “Is Your Drink Safe?” It analyzed the effects of soda and apple juice on a drinker’s stomach. Greene’s project was titled “Soda, Think Before You Drink.” It looked at the effects of soda and caffeine on a consumer’s heart rate.

Seven sixth- and seventh-graders from Queens Grant Community School participated in the UNC Regional Science Fair with Phillip Adam, science teacher, as their mentor.

Esarove and Greene are parishioners at St. Luke Church in Mint Hill.

GREENSBORO — Piedmont Council 939 of the Knights of Columbus sponsored a poster contest at Our Lady of Grace School recently, using the theme of alcohol awareness and abuse or drug awareness and abuse. Each poster was to include a slogan reflecting the topic and an original visual image. A total of 66 entries were submitted for judging.

Winners were: Alcohol Awareness and Abuse – Noel Vargas-Machuca, Drug Awareness and Abuse – Megan Standen (both pictured above).

The winners were invited to attend the Piedmont Council 939 Annual Emergency Responders Awards Dinner to receive recognition at an event recognizing responders who deal with those topics every day. Members of the Greensboro Police Department, Greensboro Fire Department, Guilford County Emergency Services and Guilford County Sheriff’s Department attended.

— Karen L. Hornfeck PHOTO PROVIDED BY LISA B. HORTON

A future priestly vocation?

CHARLOTTE — On March 19, Father Tim Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte, visited with kindergartners at St. Ann School, talking to the class about the Church calendar and how a priest vests before each Mass. Kindergartner Max King volunteered to model the vestments Father Reid brought to the classroom.

— Tammy S. Esarove

Kindergartners make bookshelf

OLG Battle of the Books team wins district title GREENSBORO — The Battle of the Books team from Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro won the district championship March 26 in Greensboro. OLG’s team competed against six other private schools.

The team will travel to Chapel Hill in April to compete in the next level of competition.

Team members are pictured: (back row, from left) Lisa Saintsing (coach), Marie Lawson, Lily Hiser, Natalie Hamlet, Kevin Sowinski, Richard Pincus, Riley McNamara and Doris Melson (coach); and (front row, from left) Sean Farley, Morgan Graves, Emily Gentry, Natalie Kolosieke, Maddie Heyn and James Hall.

GREENSBORO — Kindergartners in Jean Williams’ class at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro pose with a bookcase they recently created based on Eric Carle’s books.

Students chose symbols that represented their favorite Carle books and, with parents’ help, put those images on the bookcase.

Students donated the bookshelf to the school’s annual auction as a fundraiser.

— Karen L. Hornfeck

100th day of school marked MOORESVILLE — Little Way Preschool at St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville recently celebrated its 100th day of school. Maria Forte’s four-year-old students celebrated with a party and made 100 Mardi Gras masks. This is Little Way Preschool’s first year of serving the St. Thérèse Parish community.

— Lisa Cash

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DONNA BIRKEL

Young authors honored WINSTON-SALEM — Charlotte Lassiter and Webb Lipscomb, fourth-graders at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem, were recently honored at a state convention of young authors. Their books were selected for publication by the N.C. Reading Association Young Authors Project. They are pictured here autographing copies of their book to be included in the school library.

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Enjoy a spectacular pilgrimage to France with first class accommodations led by Fr. Timothy Reid October 8-19, 2012

The trip includes: 3 days in Paris – Lisieux - Mont St. Michel – Chartres – Nevers – Ars – Paray-le-Monial & Lourdes.

Mass will offered daily in some of France’s most beautiful & important churches.

For more information or to receive a brochure, please contact the St. Ann parish office 704-523-4641 ext 221 stanncharlotte@charlottediocese.org.

Middle School Language Arts Teacher PHOTO PROVIDED BY KAREN HORNFECK

Middle School Language Arts Teacher for the 2012-2013 school year. Candidates

Panther says thanks for the pennies GREENSBORO — Students at Our Lady of Grace School are collecting their own pennies as part of a “Pennies for the Parish” campaign. Money raised goes towards Our Lady of Grace Parish’s capital campaign. In just three weeks, students had raised more than $500. The OLG Panther came to school to help collect the pennies and first-graders posed with him.

must possess excellent oral and written communication skills. A 6-8 Language Arts NC licensure and a minimum of three years successful teaching experience is preferred. Candidates must have a passion for teaching adolescent students and should demonstrate flexibility, energy, enthusiasm, high expectations of themselves

In Brief

and their students, and an understanding of the developmental needs of Middle

Students meet N C.’s governor GREENSBORO — During a day-long field trip to Raleigh, fourth-graders from Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro toured museums, sat in on the North Carolina legislature and met Gov. Bev Perdue. Shown is the fourth-grade class listening to Perdue talk about her role as governor.

Students talk about Pure Fashion GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School seventh-graders Marie Lawson and Mackenzie Bradford met the reigning Miss North Carolina, Sydney Perry, when Perry attended their Pure Fashion end-of-the-year fashion show. Pure Fashion is a program that teaches girls about self-respect and leadership through a series of workshops on public speaking, community service, faith and fashion.

PdmVstAng_5_10.pdf

St. Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro, NC is seeking an enthusiastic and creative

1

4/30/10

School students.

Interested candidates should email their resume and cover letter to Mrs. Anne Knapke, Principal, at aknapke@spxschool.com no later than April 20, 2012.

Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders

— Karen Hornfeck WE WELCOME your school’s news. Please e-mail photos

and story suggestions to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at 1:37 PM

— Karen Hornfeck

plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.

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19

Mix 20

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

On TV n Saturday, April 14, 2 p.m.

(EWTN) “A Hand Of Peace: Pope Pius XII And The Holocaust.”

Featuring interviews with Dr. David Novak, Ron Rychlak, and others, this documentary combats the shameless campaign of misinformation leveled against Pius XII, revealing that, in fact, the Pontiff did much to help Jews during the Second World War.

In theaters

n Sunday, April 15, 1-3:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Mass and Celebration of Divine Mercy (Live).” Celebration of the eucharistic liturgy of Divine Mercy Sunday, broadcast live from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass. n Sunday, April 15, 4 p.m., Monday, April 16, 4 a.m., Thursday, April 19, 3:30 a.m., and Friday, April 20, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “A Holy Hour in honor of The Divine Mercy,” From the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Ala.

‘We Have a Pope’ Gently satiric seriocomedy about a goodhearted but timid cardinal who reluctantly accepts his election as pope, but then, overcome by the prospective burden of the office, balks before giving his first public blessing. In Italian. Subtitles. Much ecclesiastically themed humor that some may find distasteful, at least one use of the F-word, a fleeting reference to sexuality.

CNS: L (limited adult audience), MPAA: Not rated

‘Mirror Mirror’ Director Tarsem Singh brings high camp style to his fresh live-action take on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” This time, the handsome prince is the center of attention, pursued equally by the evil Queen and her fairest-of-them-all stepdaughter.

Mild action violence, some rude humor.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents), MPAA: PG

‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ A fish-out-of-water story about a billionaire Arab sheik with a seemingly impossible dream: to transport the titular activity, his favorite Scottish pastime, to the Arabian Desert, and thereby build a peace-making bridge between East and West. Brief war violence, partial nudity, implied pre-marital sex, occasional profanity and crude language.

CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: PG-13

‘The Hunger Games’ Dark adventure tracking two teens as they participate in the titular event, a televised survival tournament in which youthful combatants from oppressed outlying districts are forced to battle one another until only one remains alive for the entertainment of their society’s decadent urban elite.

Possibly acceptable for mature adolescents.

Considerable, sometimes gory, hand-to-hand and weapons violence and graphic images of bloody wounds.

CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: PG-13

‘Wrath of the Titans’ Stilted, tedious mythology sequel in which the conflicted demigod Perseus is forced to abandon his quiet life among mortals and intervene in a war that pits his father Zeus against his uncle Hades and his half-brother Ares. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Pagan religious themes; bloody action violence; a mildly sexual joke.

CNS: A-III (adults), MPAA: PG-13

CNS | GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

The Year of Faith, which runs from Oct. 11, 2012, to Nov. 24, 2013, is to help the Church focus its attention on “Jesus Christ and the beauty of having faith in him,” said a Jan. 5 statement from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The congregation has recently launched a new website with all of its documents online in several languages, for greater access by the laity. Photo shows a crucifix in St. Albert’s Chapel at the Dominican Sisters’ motherhouse in Amityville, N.Y.

Vatican doctrinal office’s new site offers decades of documents CNA/EWTN NEWS

Comprehensive documents online VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has revised its website and launched a new Internet domain name to distribute all of its documents published since the Second Vatican Council.

“Wider distribution of the teaching of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is necessary in today’s world,” the congregation said March 16. “These texts treat significant questions for the life and mission of the Church and give important doctrinal responses to the challenges of our times.”

The congregation added that making the documents more available will have “significant value” in communicating Church teaching around the world.

The website organizes the doctrinal, disciplinary and sacramental documents both chronologically and by theme.

The congregation is in charge of theological matters within the Church. It issues authoritative, though not infallible, statements on theological questions and contemporary ethical controversies.

Documents of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith which have the express approval of the pope participate in his teaching authority as the successor of St. Peter, the congregation said. “Attentive

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: www.doctrinafidei.va And also check out all of the documents of the Second Vatican Council: www. vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ ii_vatican_council

reception” of these texts is important for all the faithful, particularly those engaged in theological and pastoral work.

The major documents of the congregation are available in Latin, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Polish. Some documents are also available in Hungarian, Slovak, Czech and Dutch.

Other translations will be added in the future.

The website also provides information about the book series “Documents and Studies,” individual printed volumes of major documents with commentaries by prominent theologians.

The site publishes various speeches and other publications by the congregation prefects, among whom were Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger before his election as Pope Benedict XVI.

n Sunday, April 15, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “The Last Appeal: Faustina, Apostle Of Divine Mercy.” Andrea Syglowski and Caitlin Moreland star in the story of a peasant girl, chosen to spread the message of the Divine Mercy to the world in preparation for Day of Judgment. n Monday, April 16, 5:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “Joseph Ratzinger: A Pope From Germany.” This insightful documentary on the life of Pope Benedict XVI examines his former role as the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, his role in the compiling of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, and much more. n Wednesday, April 18, 1 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor Of The Poor, part 2.” The second in a two-part series about the life of St. Giuseppe, who dedicated himself to caring for the sick and forsaken, ultimately dedicating all of his possessions and sacrificing his very life in their service. n Friday, April 20, 1 p.m. and Saturday, April 21, 5 a.m. (EWTN) “Marktl: The Small Village And Its Pope.” A focus on the German village of Marktl where Pope Benedict XVI was born and raised.

Since the Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in April 2005, the village has experienced many changes with the Pope’s birthplace turned into a museum. n Sunday, April 22, 2 a.m., Friday, April 27, 10 p.m., and Saturday, April 28, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Love Is A Choice.” A glimpse into the life of St. Gianna Berretta Molla, through interviews with those who knew her, as well as excerpts from several letters she exchanged with her husband.

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

St. Anselm:

New features online Connect with your faith here: Websites for college-bound Catholics As a step toward sending your graduating seniors off to college, consider using College Connection for Catholics at www. collegeconnectionforcatholics.org.

This site has been designed to get Catholic college students connected with a campus ministry program (an increasingly difficult challenge) before they arrive at their new school.

And for college students who will remain in the Diocese of Charlotte, check out the new website by Catholic Campus Ministry: www.catholiconcampus.com.

— Paul Kotlowski

Liked the ‘Catholicism’ series?

Get the original soundtrack The original soundtrack that accompanies Father Robert Barron’s popular “Catholicism” series has been released and is available online at www. wordonfire.org.

The score was composed by Steve Mullen and draws upon melodies from traditional Gregorian chants. Father Barron’s words and the rich imagery

of the series are amplified by the emotional power of these theological treasures of the faith.

In addition to the 49-minute, 15-track soundtrack, a 28-page booklet explains the composer’s inspiration and songs’ meanings.

Featuring descriptions of the ancient chants as well as art and photography from the series, this booklet serves as an abbreviated spiritual study based upon the entire 10-part journey, “Catholicism.”

All tracks are composed by Mullen with the exception of “Agnus Dei: Tropes on the Resurrection,” which was composed by Dr. Peter Latona and performed by the Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Widely respected as a composer, songwriter and singer, Mullen has spent the past 20 years immersed in music production and performance.

“I came into the ‘Catholicism’ project with a very deep understanding of Christianity, but I have learned an incredible amount about the Catholic Church and come away with a deeper understanding of many of the core tenets of Christianity,” Mullen said. “The discussion of grace in ‘The Teachings of Jesus’ episode particularly spoke to me. This entire production is something that the world needs - executed at the highest level.”

— Nanette Noffsinger, Burke Hollow Media

FROM PAGE 2

The boy felt a profound religious calling during these years, spurred in part by a dream in which he met and conversed with God. His father, however, prevented him from becoming a monk at age 15. This disappointment was followed by a period of severe illness, as well as his mother’s early death.

Unable to join the monks and tired of mistreatment by his father, Anselm left home and wandered throughout parts of France and Italy for three years. His life regained its direction in Normandy, where he met the Benedictine prior Lanfranc of Pavia and became his disciple.

Lanfranc recognized his pupil’s intellectual gifts and encouraged his vocation to religious life. Accepted into the order and ordained a priest at age 27, Anselm succeeded his teacher as prior in 1063 when Lanfranc was called to become abbot of another monastery.

Anselm became abbot of his own monastery in 1079. During the previous decade the Normans had conquered England, and they sought to bring monks from Normandy to influence the Church in the country. Lanfranc became

21

Archbishop of Canterbury, and he asked Anselm to come and assist him.

The period after Lanfranc’s death, in the late 1080s, was a difficult time for the English Church. As part of his general mistreatment of the Church, King William Rufus refused to allow the appointment of a new archbishop.

Anselm had gone back to his monastery, and he did not want to return to England.

In 1092, however, he was persuaded to go back. The following year, the king changed his mind and allowed Anselm to become archbishop of Canterbury.

But the monk was extremely reluctant to accept the charge, which would involve him in further struggles with the English crown in subsequent years.

For a three-year period in the early 12th century, Anselm’s insistence on the self-government of the Church – against the claims of the state to its administration and property – caused him to be exiled from England. But he was successful in his struggle and returned to his archdiocese in 1106.

In his last years, Anselm worked to reform the Church and continued his theological investigations – following the motto of “faith seeking understanding.”

After his death in 1109, his influence on the subsequent course of theology led Pope Clement XI to name him a Doctor of the Church in 1720.

Our nation 22

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishops: Proposal to pay for contraceptives ‘radically flawed’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Even with a new federal proposal that thirdparty administrators pay the costs of contraceptives for religious employers who object to the coverage, the health reform law’s contraceptive mandate “remains radically flawed,” according to the U.S. bishops.

The bishops made the comments in a memo released April 2. The memo came in response to a rule proposed by the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services in a 32-page document that was published March 21 in the Federal Register.

HHS has proposed new ways for religious organizations that have moral objections to providing free contraceptives to their employees to comply with the requirement.

Among the suggestions are having the costs covered by a “third-party administrator” of a health plan or “independent agency” that receive funds from other sources, such as rebates from drug makers. Before it makes a final decision on the proposed ruling, the Obama administration is seeking public comment until June 19.

In their memo, the bishops said the details of the proposal are “both tentative and complex and demand further study.” But based on an initial analysis, they said, the proposal had “the same fundamental issues” they had addressed in a March 14 statement titled “United for Religious Freedom.”

The bishops said they would be commenting on the HHS proposal in more detail and inviting others to add their comments as well. The memo also said representatives from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will continue to meet with administration officials to discuss the new proposal.

— Catholic News Herald

Monsignor William Lynn, left, leans on a counter before entering the courthouse for the opening day of his trial in Philadelphia March 26. Monsignor Lynn being tried on charges of having failed to protect children from two priest-abusers who were under his direction when he served as secretary of the clergy for the Philadelphia archdiocese from 1992 to 2004.

CNS | TIM SHAFFER, REUTERS

Testimony emotional, combative at Philadelphia priests’ ongoing trial MATTHEW GAMBINO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

PHILADELPHIA — A young man took the stand for two days and repeated numerous times that he had been allegedly abused by Father James J. Brennan, one of two priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on trial in the landmark case.

At turns both emotional and combative with Father Brennan’s defense lawyer, William Brennan, who is no relation to his client, the now 30-year-old witness described in his testimony April 4 an incident in 1996 that he called rape.

But state prosecutors have charged the priest with attempted rape in the alleged incident.

Conviction or acquittal on the charge would be significant not only for Father Brennan, 48, but also because the case represents a charge of endangering the welfare of a child against former archdiocesan secretary for clergy Monsignor William Lynn, 61.

As head of the office that dealt with troubled priests and recommended clergy assignments to Philadelphia’s archbishop from 1992 to 2004, Monsignor Lynn is the highest ranking Catholic Church official to be charged for crimes connected with the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the U.S. The trial began March 26 in the Court of Common Pleas. Both priests remain free on bail and their priestly faculties to minister publicly are suspended.

Description of the alleged 1996 incident of abuse by Father Brennan April 4 led to bizarre courtroom drawings and detailed verbal depictions as the witness, who was 14 at the time, said the priest forced him to sleep in the same bed close together and

pressed against the boy as they both slept in their underwear.

Defense lawyer Brennan attempted to show jurors that details of the witness’s story had changed over the years and he pointed to the man’s convictions for crimes including making false reports to police, theft and other offenses.

He cited the man’s testimony at various times that showed a lapse in memory as a result of his admitted drug and alcohol addictions and mental health problems.

In 2008, for example, under oath at Father Brennan’s canonical trial as he fought the Church’s attempt to laicize him, the witness said he could not remember certain details of the alleged 1996 incident.

“My mind might have been scrambled.

I don’t really remember too much of that time (1996),” said the witness, whose name is being withheld by news media.

The lawyer Brennan hammered away at the witness who became increasingly agitated. He showed flashes of anger then, after hours of examination, broke down in tears. Presiding Judge Teresa Sarmina told him, “Don’t cry right now,” and she, defense lawyer Brennan, Assistant District Attorney Mark Cipolletti discussed whether to adjourn for the day.

As they did, the witness sat head cocked, mouth agape, and stunned as groans rose from the gallery of about 25 people.

Sarmina then dismissed the jury and adjourned the tense session.

It resumed April 5 as the witness again took the stand and defense lawyer Brennan again tried to poke holes in the man’s story and his character.

For two more hours they sparred, with the lawyer even suggesting that the man concocted the story because he was

“jealous of the time and attention” the priest had shown to his mother, which Brennan read from the man’s previous testimony.

Again the witness reacted angrily, shouting, “Are you kidding me?” He jabbed his finger in the air toward the priest and shouted, “That man molested me and he knows it. He knows it. He knows it. He knows it.”

Later in the day, the trial resumed as prosecutors returned to a strategy of calling survivors of sexual abuse by priests to the stand to document the many cases of abuse in the archdiocese over the years.

They hoped to show decades-long patterns of administrative decisions that cast doubt on accusers’ stories and failure to act on abuse complaints.

Cipolletti called to the stand a 42-year-old man who as a police officer and detective for 18 years had once worked on child sexual abuse cases.

“One of the reasons it was difficult when you were talking to the kids was, not everyone believed them. It was difficult to see that,” he said, his voice choking with emotion.

It was only the first time his voice would choke. Over the next hour, the man recounted in a shaky voice his own experience of alleged sexual assault by a parish priest in 1981 when he was only 12.

Father Francis X. Trauger, 67, who was laicized in 2005, had visited the school every day and played basketball with the boy, which even at a young age he found unusual.

Trauger took the boy to St. Charles TRIAL, SEE PAGE 23

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Bishop: Santa Rosa will ‘shut down’ if HHS mandate imposed SAN FRANCISCO — If the Diocese of Santa Rosa is required to cooperate with the Obama administration’s mandate requiring most religious employers to provide no-cost contraceptive coverage, the diocese won’t, said Bishop Robert F. Vasa. “If they shut me down, they shut me down,” the bishop said March 30 following a speech on Catholic health care at a three-day conference on Catholic health care reform hosted by Life Legal Defense Foundation and the Christus Medicus Foundation. The Archdiocese of San Francisco and the dioceses of Sacramento, Oakland and Santa Rosa were among the sponsors. However, in an interview with Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper, Bishop Vasa said he believes the Church will prevail on the issue because religious liberty is “enshrined in our Constitution. Precisely because Jesus healed the sick, the Church is involved in healing ministry,” Bishop Vasa said in his keynote address to the conference, stressing the Catholic Church’s commitment to health care.

“We are involved in this based on the conviction that each person has unique dignity.”

Judge: Bishop must stand trial for not reporting suspected abuse KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Missouri judge declined to dismiss misdemeanor charges of failing to report suspected child sexual abuse against Bishop Robert W. Finn and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, which he heads. The ruling by Circuit Court Judge John M. Torrence paves the way for Bishop Finn and the diocese to stand trial, set for September. Both the bishop and the diocese have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Federal appeals panel hears DOMA arguments BOSTON — A federal appeals court heard arguments April 4 in two cases related not to the legality of same-sex marriage but to the

TRIAL FROM PAGE 22

Borromeo Seminary, the Philadelphia archdiocesan seminary, in late summer of 1981 where the priest allegedly molested him in the shower of a locker room.

Several months later Trauger allegedly molested him again in a hotel room of a Pocono Mountain town.

Out of fear, when questioned by his parents, the boy would later deny being molested by Trauger and by a priest friend of the family, Father John Schmeer. The

23

tax, health and pension benefits of marriage.

The cases, expected to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, have drawn national attention from Catholic and other religious leaders, who say the Defense of Marriage Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 “reflects the united judgment of Congress and the president on a matter of basic public policy.”

Judge Joseph L. Tauro of the U.S. District Court in Boston ruled in 2010 that the law forces Massachusetts to discriminate against same-sex couples who are legally married under state law to receive federal funds and unconstitutionally violates the rights of those couples. The Defense of Marriage Act says the federal government defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman and that no state must recognize a same-sex marriage from another state.

In February 2011, President Barack Obama instructed the Department of Justice to stop defending the law in pending court cases.

Cardinal (then-Archbishop) Timothy M. Dolan of New York said at the time that the marriage law was not “unjust discrimination” but rather legislation that “merely affirms and protects the time-tested and unalterable meaning of marriage.”

Conn. Senate votes to abolish state’s death penalty HARTFORD, Conn. — The Connecticut Senate voted to repeal the death penalty, positioning the state to become the fifth in five years to ban the practice. The bill, which replaces the death penalty with life in prison without parole, now heads to the House of Representatives, where observers expected it to pass. Gov. Dannel Malloy has said he would sign the legislation when it reaches his desk.

Vatican approves blessing rite for unborn children WASHINGTON, D.C. — Just in time for Mother’s Day, U.S. Catholic parishes will be able to celebrate the new Rite for the Blessing of a Child in the Womb. The Vatican has given its approval to publication in English and Spanish of the new rite, which was approved by the U.S. bishops in November 2008, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced March 26. The blessing will be printed in both languages in a combined booklet.

— Catholic News Service

latter priest taught at the now-closed Bishop Kenrick High School in Norristown where the witness attended and resided at the witness’s parish.

Father Schmeer, 76, who also has a credible allegation of sexual abuse alleged against him, currently lives “a supervised life of prayer and penance,” according to a Philadelphia archdiocesan website. “As of November 2004, (his) ministry has been permanently restricted and faculties to exercise ministry have been permanently withdrawn.”

He, along with Trauger and scores of other priests, were cited in the 2005 grand jury report about priestly sexual abuse in the Philadelphia archdiocese.

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Our world 24

catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resurrection changed the world, pope says at Easter CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CNS | PAUL HARING

Thousands gather in St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square as Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Easter Mass at the Vatican April 8.

VATICAN CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Light and darkness, truth and lies, hope and despair are in a constant battle in the world, but with His death and Resurrection Jesus conquered sin and death for all time, Pope Benedict XVI said on Easter. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If Jesus is risen, then â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and only then â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has something truly new happened, something that changes the state of humanity and the world,â&#x20AC;? the pope told tens of thousands of people in St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square before giving his Easter blessing â&#x20AC;&#x153;urbi et orbiâ&#x20AC;? (to the city and the world).

With the sun shining on the square â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

&HOHEUDWH 7KH 2FWDYH RI (DVWHU The full text of Pope Benedictâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 'LYLQH 0HUF\ 6XQGD\ homily during the Easter Vigil: Dear Brothers and Sisters, $SULO Easter is the feast of the new creation. Jesus

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is risen and dies no more. He has opened the door to a new life, one that no longer knows illness and death. He has taken mankind up into God Himself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,â&#x20AC;? as St. Paul says in the First Letter to the Corinthians (15:50).

On the subject of Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resurrection and our resurrection, the Church writer Tertullian in the third century was bold enough to write: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Rest assured, flesh and blood, through Christ you have gained your place in heaven and in the Kingdom of Godâ&#x20AC;? (CCL II, 994). A new dimension has opened up for mankind. Creation has become greater and broader. Easter Day ushers in a new creation, but that is precisely why the Church starts the liturgy on this day with the old creation, so that we can learn to understand the new one aright.

At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word on Easter night, then, comes the account of the creation of the world. Two things are particularly important here in connection with this liturgy. On the one hand, creation is presented as a whole that includes the phenomenon of time. The seven days are an image of completeness, unfolding in time.

They are ordered towards the seventh day, the day of the freedom of all creatures for God and for one another. Creation is therefore directed towards the coming together of God and His creatures; it exists so as to open up a space for the response to Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great glory, an encounter between love and freedom. On the other hand, what the Church hears on Easter night is above all the first element of the creation account: â&#x20AC;&#x153;God said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;let there be light!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? (Gen 1:3). The creation account begins symbolically with the creation of light. The sun and the moon are created only on the fourth day. The creation account calls them lights, set

by God in the firmament of heaven. In this way He deliberately takes away the divine character that the great religions had assigned to them.

No, they are not gods. They are shining bodies created by the one God. But they are preceded by the light through which Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s glory is reflected in the essence of the created being.

What is the creation account saying here?

Light makes life possible. It makes encounter possible. It makes communication possible.

It makes knowledge, access to reality and to truth, possible. And insofar as it makes

transformed into a garden with 42,000 flowers, flowering plants, shrubs and trees â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pope Benedict began the celebration of the morning Mass April 8 just 10 hours after having finished celebrating the three-hour long Easter vigil in St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica.

In his Easter message at the end of the morning Mass, the pope said every Christian can share the experience of Mary Magdalene, the first to encounter the risen Jesus on Easter morning.

The encounter â&#x20AC;&#x153;lets us experience all Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goodness and truth,â&#x20AC;? he said. The risen Lord â&#x20AC;&#x153;frees us from evil not in a superficial and fleeting way, but sets us free radically, heals us completely and

restores our dignity.â&#x20AC;?

The resurrection means that Jesus belongs not just to the past, but is present today, giving hope and comfort to all those who suffer, the pope said.

Pope Benedict offered special prayers and encouragement to Christians persecuted for their faith and to the people of the Middle East, asking members of all religious and ethnic groups to work together for the common good and respect for human rights. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate

knowledge possible, it makes freedom and progress possible. Evil hides. Light, then, is also an expression of the good that both is and creates brightness. It is daylight, which makes it possible for us to act. To say that God created light means that God created the world as a space for knowledge and truth, as a space for encounter and freedom, as a space for good and for love. Matter is fundamentally good, being itself is good. And evil does not come from God-made being, rather, it comes into existence through denial. It is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;no.â&#x20AC;?

At Easter, on the morning of the first day of the week, God said once again: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let there be light.â&#x20AC;? The night on the Mount of Olives, the solar eclipse of Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Passion and death, the night of the grave had all passed. Now it is the first day once again â&#x20AC;&#x201C; creation is beginning anew. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let there be light,â&#x20AC;? says God, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and there was lightâ&#x20AC;?: Jesus rises from the grave. Life is stronger than death. Good is stronger than evil.

Love is stronger than hate. Truth is stronger than lies. The darkness of the previous days is driven away the moment Jesus rises from the grave and Himself becomes Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pure light.

But this applies not only to Him, not only to the darkness of those days. With the Resurrection of Jesus, light itself is created anew. He draws all of us after Him into the new light of the Resurrection and He conquers all darkness. He is Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new day, new for all of us.

But how is this to come about? How does all this affect us so that instead of remaining word it becomes a reality that draws us in? Through the sacrament of baptism and the profession of faith, the Lord has built a bridge across to us, through which the new day reaches us.

The Lord says to the newly-baptized: Fiat lux â&#x20AC;&#x201C; let there be light. Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the day of indestructible life, comes also to us. Christ takes you by the hand. From now on you are held by Him and walk with Him into the light, into real life. For this reason the early Church called baptism â&#x20AC;&#x153;photismosâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;illumination.â&#x20AC;?

Why was this? The darkness that poses a real threat to mankind, after all, is the fact that he can see and investigate tangible material things, but cannot see where the world is going or whence it comes, where our own life is going, what is good and what is evil. The darkness enshrouding God and obscuring values is the real threat to our existence and to the world in general. If God and moral values, the difference between good and evil, remain in darkness, then all other â&#x20AC;&#x153;lights,â&#x20AC;? that put such incredible technical feats within our reach, are not only progress but also dangers that put us and the world at risk. Today we can

illuminate our cities so brightly that the stars of the sky are no longer visible. Is this not an image of the problems caused by our version of enlightenment? With regard to material things, our knowledge and our technical accomplishments are legion, but what reaches beyond, the things of God and the question of good, we can no longer identify. Faith, then, which reveals Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light to us, is the true enlightenment, enabling Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s light to break into our world, opening our eyes to the true light.

Dear friends, as I conclude, I would like to add one more thought about light and illumination.

On Easter night, the night of the new creation, the Church presents the mystery of light using a unique and very humble symbol: the Paschal candle. This is a light that lives from sacrifice.

The candle shines inasmuch as it is burnt up. It gives light, inasmuch as it gives itself. Thus the Church presents most beautifully the paschal mystery of Christ, who gives Himself and so bestows the great light. Secondly, we should remember that the light of the candle is a fire.

Fire is the power that shapes the world, the force of transformation. And fire gives warmth.

Here too the mystery of Christ is made newly visible. Christ, the light, is fire, flame, burning up evil and so reshaping both the world and ourselves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whoever is close to me is close to the fire,â&#x20AC;? as Jesus is reported by Origen to have said. And this fire is both heat and light: not a cold light, but one through which Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s warmth and goodness reach down to us.

The great hymn of the Exultet, which the deacon sings at the beginning of the Easter liturgy, points us quite gently towards a further aspect. It reminds us that this object, the candle, has its origin in the work of bees. So the whole of creation plays its part. In the candle, creation becomes a bearer of light. But in the mind of the Fathers, the candle also in some sense contains a silent reference to the Church.

The cooperation of the living community of believers in the Church in some way resembles the activity of bees. It builds up the community of light. So the candle serves as a summons to us to become involved in the community of the Church, whose raison dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ĂŞtre is to let the light of Christ shine upon the world.

Let us pray to the Lord at this time that He may grant us to experience the joy of His light; let us pray that we ourselves may become bearers of His light, and that through the Church, Christâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s radiant face may enter our world (cf. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lumen Gentium,â&#x20AC;? 1).

Amen.

EASTER, SEE PAGE 25

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Pope to visit Lebanon Sept. 14-16 BEIRUT — Pope Benedict XVI will visit Lebanon Sept. 14-16, Maronite Catholic Patriarch Bechara Rai announced during Easter Mass at the patriarchal seat in Bkerke, Lebanon.

Patriarch Rai said April 8 that the pope will meet with the country’s religious and civil officials, including President Michel Sleiman, a Maronite Catholic. During an open-air Mass in Beirut Sept. 16, the pope will present the apostolic exhortation on the October 2010 special Synod of Bishops, which met under the theme: “Communion and Witness.” It will be the pope’s second visit to the Middle East.

Christ,” it was also an opportune occasion to call for reform, especially in allowing greater religious freedom, he said. At his general audience April 4 in St. Peter’s Square, the pope told an estimated 11,000 pilgrims and visitors about his March 23-28 visit.

“I reminded everyone that Cuba and the world need change,” he said. However, real change will come about “only if everyone opens up to the whole truth about mankind – a binding requirement in order to achieve liberty – and decides to cultivate in their lives reconciliation and brotherhood, building their life on Jesus Christ,” he said. Only Jesus “can dispel the darkness of error, helping us conquer evil and all that oppresses us.”

The Church does not seek to secure any special privileges for itself, he said, just the freedom to be able to preach and celebrate one’s faith even in the public sphere and “bring the Gospel message of hope and peace to every part of society.”

Rebels destroy Caritas office, At Holy Thursday, pope criticizes church in Mali dissent from Church teachings VATICAN CITY — Rebels fighting to establish VATICAN CITY — During a Mass in which priests renew their promises of fidelity to Christ, Pope Benedict XVI firmly criticized dissent from Church teachings and disobedience of God’s will as illegitimate pathways toward reform and renewal. Surrounded by more than 1,600 priests, bishops and cardinals, the pope cautioned against calls for women’s ordination, saying such campaigns seemed more “a desperate push” to fulfill one’s own preferences rather than a sincere attempt to conform one’s life more closely to Christ.

During the April 5 Chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, which focuses on Holy Thursday as the day Jesus shared His priesthood with the Apostles, the pope said he wanted to use the occasion to ask all priests, including himself, to meditate upon what their consecration really means. “Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him,” which entails a renunciation of oneself and “of the much-vaunted selffulfillment,” the pope asked. Being Christ-like means not to be served but to serve, not taking but giving, he said. If that is the nature of the priesthood, then what should be the response of priests when faced with “the often dramatic situation of the Church today,” the pope asked.

Pope reviews trip to Mexico, Cuba, says religious freedom is needed VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI said that during his recent journey to Mexico and Cuba, he experienced “unforgettable days of joy and hope.” While he went as “a witness of Jesus

a separate state in northern Mali destroyed a Caritas office and a local church in Gao, one of the cities they captured in late March and early April, according to Caritas Internationalis.

“Caritas staff fled Gao on Saturday. We learned from our guard today that the center and the church compound have been destroyed,” the priest who directs Caritas Gao told the organization’s Vatican-based central office April 2. “We have received calls from the small Catholic community left in Gao. They are now in hiding, fearing for their lives,” said the priest. He said there are about 200 Catholics living in Gao, a city with a population of more than 85,000 people, who are mostly Muslims.

Pope donates funds to aid people affected by Syria violence VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has donated $100,000 to help the people of Syria.

The Pontifical Council Cor Unum, the Vatican’s charity promotion and coordinating office, announced March 31 that the pope made the donation to fund “the charitable work of the local Church in Syria supporting the population” that has been hit by the ongoing violence in the country. The council’s secretary was to personally deliver the aid March 31 and meet with Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham of Damascus, Syria, as well as other local Church leaders. In predominantly Muslim Syria, the Catholic Church helps all people in need through its charitable organizations but is particularly active in the area of Homs and Aleppo.

— Catholic News Service

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EASTER FROM PAGE 24

commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation” after months of violent battles between Syria’s government and opposition forces.

The pope also prayed for the people of Iraq, for Israelis and Palestinians, for those suffering famine and violence in the Horn of Africa, and for those suffering from conflict in Mali and in Sudan and South Sudan.

In his homily at the Easter Vigil the night before, Pope Benedict said “to say that God created light means that God created the world as a space for knowledge and truth, as a space for encounter and freedom, as a space for good and love.”

The light of Easter, he said, proclaims forever the fact that “life is stronger than death. Good is stronger than evil. Love is stronger than hate. Truth is stronger

— Contributing to this story was Francis X. Rocca at the Vatican.

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The world needs the light of Christ and the light of faith, because darkness always attempts to obscure people’s vision of what is good and evil and what the purpose of their life is, the pope said.

“Today we can illuminate our cities so brightly that the stars of the sky are no longer visible,” he said. “Is this not an image of the problems caused by our version of enlightenment?

“With regard to material things, our knowledge and our technical accomplishments are legion,” he said.

But when it comes to the more important matters, such as “the things of God and the question of good,” people can no longer see them.

“Faith, then, which reveals God’s light to us, is the true enlightenment, enabling God’s light to break into our world, opening our eyes to the true light,” he said.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Contraception: Stand up, tell the truth P

resident Barack Obama’s “contraception mandate” of Jan. 20, which has been condemned by every U.S. Catholic bishop, states that all employers (including Catholic hospitals, universities, charities, etc.) must pay for insurance coverage of artificial contraception, including some abortifacients and sterilizations for their employees.

Following the strong objections of the Catholic bishops and other religious leaders to this unjust mandate, on Feb. 10 the president said that if an organization has a religious objection to paying for these services, then that organization’s insurance provider must cover these services free of charge to any employee who requests them.

This “accommodation” offers no help for self-insured religious employers or for groups or individuals whose consciences would be violated by forcing them to abide by this mandate.

This is a clear violation of religious liberty under the First Amendment of our Constitution. Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput said on Feb. 12, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer: “The HHS mandate, including its latest variant, is belligerent, unnecessary and deeply offensive to the content of Catholic belief ...The HHS mandate needs to be rescinded.”

Many Catholics are probably clueless when it comes to Church teaching about artificial contraception and why it is a sin, because we haven’t heard many priests talk about it over these past many years.

This “contraception mandate” presents a “teachable moment” for our bishops to state clearly what is exactly wrong with artificial contraception and how it hurts marriages, families and society.

Artificial contraception destroys the sacred connection between the marital act and its purpose: the unity of the spouses who are open to new life. A barrier is created which prevents them from giving their whole selves to the other person, and this is harmful to their relationship.

This wasn’t always just a “Catholic” issue. Until 1930, all Christian churches condemned contraception. That year the Anglican Church broke with more than 1,900 years of teaching against it.

Even then, proponents advocated that contraception was to be used only for emergencies or extreme situations.

In his 1968 encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” Pope Paul VI predicted the consequences of life lived outside Catholic teaching on human sexuality: Infidelity, lowering

of morality, loss of respect for women, men using women as objects instead of cherished partners. When we look around us in 2012, it’s easy to see the accuracy of the pope’s prediction. So many families are hurting due to the current divorce rate of about 50 percent (Forest Institute of Professional Psychology).

The multi-billion dollar pornography industry continues to grow, decimating marriages and families. And thanks to the radical homosexual agenda, on Feb. 13 Washington became the seventh state in our country to legalize same-sex “marriage.” These are just some of the consequences predicted by Pope Paul VI. Planned Parenthood, the largest provider of abortions in the U.S., according to the American Life League, has said that women need artificial contraception to keep the rate of abortion down. Actually, it leads to more abortion because there is no artificial contraception method that is 100 percent effective. So “unplanned pregnancies” are considered “mistakes.” Babies are not thought of as new little human beings created by God and made in His image, but as problems that need to be “taken care of.”

Many women have bought the lie that contraceptives are safe to use, when in reality every single method of artificial contraception carries with it side effects that are harmful to a woman’s health.

Planned Parenthood’s official website tells us that the Nuva Ring and the Pill have similar possible side effects: blood clots, heart attacks, strokes. The same site says that the Depo-provera shot and implants (rods) have similar possible side effects: intermittent bleeding, depression, hair loss. The Depo shot has a risk of ectopic pregnancy and bone thinning, and implants have a risk of dizziness and nervousness. Also on this site: IUDs, such as Mirena, can cause irregular bleeding, cramps, backaches and infection.

Judy Brown of the American Life League has said that there is a “sexual sadness” that has permeated our country, and that the widespread use of artificial contraception is at the root of it. Many of us have thought that we know better than God when it comes to our fertility.

Now that the “contraception mandate” in the president’s health care plan has caused such a national stir, it seems the right time for men and women of faith to stand up and tell the truth about contraception and its deleterious effects on marriages, families and society.

PATRICIA J. HENNESSY is a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

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Percentage of Internet users who use a social networking site

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CNS | EMILY THOMPSON

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privacy controls on your profile?

As social media usage grows, Church leaders step in to teach

20% public private (friends D.C. — A new study by the WASHINGTON, only) Center’s Internet & American Pew Research 19% partially Life Project Internet shows that the number of 58% private online social networking has grown six-fold over the past five or six years.

The federation in 2010 issued an eight-page guide, “Recommended Technology Guidelines for Pastoral Work With Young People,” to guide Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project youth ministers in navigating the online world. It was developed in consultation with the bishops’ Secretariats for Child and Youth Protection and Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth and looked at the policies of several U.S. dioceses before coming up with its own recommendations.

By fall, an Internet safety guide, produced jointly by the Catholic Church and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America will make it its way to its intended audience: parents.

“While the Internet presents incredible possibilities for Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian families, it also carries many dangers in the form of online pornography, predators and privacy violation. Navigating this complex world can be overwhelming. Many parents simply don’t know where to start,” said Dominic

very 2%

somewhat 16% not difficult Perri, the Catholic co-editor of the booklet, in an atto allCNS. email 30% not too Theo Nicolakis, the Greek Orthodox co-editor, 49% said the guide has five goals: “We are ... trying to give an overview of the potential risksuse that don’t parents face today; we’re trying to set the them 1% theological foundation for responsible Internet browsing; we’re trying to give practical tips to ©2012 CNS parents for protecting their children and their families; providing parents with the step-by-step instruction on how to set up parental controls on key devices; and finally, (to) give them some links to additional resources to help them.”

Nicolakis added, “We’re trying to be multimediumed in our approach” to the guide. He framed the need for Internet safety this way: “Just because I have the power and the right to use a device, I need to consider what the results are going to be from a theological point of view.

“We are all made in the image and likeness of God. We are all icons. When we interact online, we are not interacting just with a computer screen, but with someone else who is also of the image and likeness of God.” — Catholic News Service

Most-read stories on the web Through press time on April 11, 2,498 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com viewed a total of 5,834 pages. The top 10 headlines in April so far are: n Chrism Mass brings ‘life, hope and joy’ during Holy Week...................................................................405 n Capuchin Franciscan friars to leave two parishes in Charlotte............................................................ 167 n On Good Friday, Catholics asked to open our hearts to Christ’s love...................................................81 n At Holy Thursday Mass, pope criticizes dissent from Church teachings...........................................72 n Easter means new, joyful life in Christ, Bishop Jugis preaches.............................................................65 n Bishop Jugis: Let us overcome pride and be humble like Jesus.......................................................... 45 n Reflections from recent converts: My first year as a Catholic............................................................. 44 n Message of ‘October Baby’ film hits close to home for one of its stars............................................ 44 n Area college students go on a very different spring break..................................................................41 n Hosanna! Catholics celebrate Palm Sunday across the diocese............................................................31

April 13, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Letters to the editor

New ABC show ‘GCB’ is offensive to Christians Peggy Bowes

A saintly ‘supermom’

A

s a rebellious teen, I would often argue with my mother about the role of women in society. I wasn’t going to stay home and waste my talents on housework and child care. Instead, I planned to make my mark in the world, emboldened by modern-day feminists. When my mother asked about my future children, I casually shrugged and mentioned a nanny. She sighed and prayed.

I did make a small mark in the world, graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy and becoming an instructor pilot. I’m proud that some of my students still serve today.

Yet I was restless and lonely. I had succeeded in a male-dominated career, but the promises of the feminist movement were empty. I longed for the joy of marriage and children.

Fortunately, God sent me a handsome fighter pilot and two beautiful children. I willingly gave up my career to stay home and raise my children, just as my mother had.

The thought of hiring a nanny never crossed my mind. As I learned to practice humility and self-sacrifice as a wife and mother, I also felt called to use my God-given talents to help others outside my family. Was it possible to be a “supermom” and serve both my family and my community? I found inspiration in St. Gianna Beretta Molla.

I can tell you that today’s “supermoms” have nothing on St. Gianna! She was a practicing doctor in 1950s Italy, a devoted wife and mother, a gifted athlete, and a selfless volunteer. She managed to “do it all” and do it well long before the feminist movement gained momentum.

Unlike the feminists, St. Gianna wasn’t concerned with making her mark on the world. Her career as a doctor was a means of serving others, not proof of success in a male-dominated profession. Her duties as wife and mother were her greatest priority, not a tiresome responsibility to foist on a nanny. St. Gianna’s passion for skiing and mountaineering was an opportunity to enjoy God’s creation, not another line in her impressive resume. She also made the ultimate self-sacrifice, choosing to die during childbirth rather than risk the life of her child.

In 1961, St. Gianna became pregnant with her fourth child. When a fibroma (benign tumor) developed on her uterus, doctors gave her the choice of abortion, hysterectomy or surgery. She chose surgery rather than sacrifice the life of her tiny baby.

The surgery was successful, but a difficult pregnancy lay ahead. Before delivering her baby, St. Gianna firmly instructed the doctors to save the life of her child over her own life. A baby girl was born on April 21, 1962, but St. Gianna died a week later due to complications from an infection.

In our secular world, where women want to be treated as equals and to have “rights” over their own bodies, St. Gianna’s virtuous example shows Christian women that we can be both successful and selfless. That is the true nature of femininity, not the hollow promise of feminism.

St. Gianna’s feast day is April 28th. She is the patron saint of physicians and mothers.

PEGGY BOWES is a member of Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy and author of “The Rosary Workout” (www. rosaryworkout.com).

The new ABC show “GCB” is defamation of all Christians and especially offensive to women, and it should be opposed by anyone interested in preventing hateful programming on television.

GCB stands for “Good Christian B------.” The network changed the show’s name twice in production, first to “Good Christian Belles” and then to “GCB” because they realized how offensive the full title really was. “GCB” stands for the title of the book the show is based on, a book which itself is offensive. Considering changing the name shows that the network knew in advance the title would offend viewers, and it went ahead anyway.

This is just hate speech dressed up in fancy primetime programming, and we should boycott the network in response.

Obscenity and defamation are not protected by the freedom of speech, and when combined with subjects such as religion or gender, have been defined as illegal hate speech by our judicial system.

Would the network ever consider producing “Good Muslim B------” or “Good Jewish B-------“? Of course not. So why are Christians fair game for such a blatant, offensive and hateful attack? We should not stand for such bias-motivated, hate bullying, harassment, verbal abuse and hateful insults just because we are Christians.

I have already sent a message to ABC. I love some of its other shows, but as long as it continues to air “GCB,” I am banning the network in my household. I went into the settings of my DVR and blocked ABC’s channels including the HD versions, and I encourage other Catholic News Herald readers to do the same.

J.R. TYNER lives in Salisbury.

We should support pro-life politicians I agree with the letter from Michael McCarthy, published in the March 30 edition of the Catholic News Herald, that “American bishops must reexamine the contradictions of their alliance with government.” I further urge the bishops to rethink the moral consequences of supporting politicians who promote abortion.

A priest recently interviewed on TV said (and I paraphrase) that the social programs of the Democrat Party outweigh the party’s defense of abortion. The interviewer had no response. I wish he had replied that abortion is certain murder, whereas many of the Democrat Party’s social programs have dubious benefits; they have undermined family values, inhibited self-reliance and created a class of people perpetually dependent on government.

Paul A. Rahe, formerly of Yale University and now a professor of history at Hillsdale College, believes the Catholic hierarchy “have abandoned the moral teaching of the Roman Catholic Church in order to articulate a defense of the administrative entitlements state and the progressive expansion.” He suggests that the decline of the Church worldwide can be traced to its embrace of the entitlement state. (“American Catholicism’s Pact With the Devil,” Ricochet.com, Feb. 10) This decline could be put on a path to recovery if bishops and priests were to openly support pro-life politicians (instead of abandoning them) and work with them to devise cost-effective social welfare programs that really work. Involvement of the laity, including counseling by the bishops on qualifications for political office from a Catholic perspective, would be essential for success.

EDWARD A. DESTREMPS lives in Flat Rock.

Letters policy The Catholic News Herald welcomes letters from readers. We ask that letters be originals of 250 words or fewer, pertain to recent newspaper content or Catholic issues, and be written from a perspective of Christian charity.

To be considered for publication, each letter must include the name, address and daytime phone number of the writer for purpose of verification. Letters may be condensed due to space limitations and edited for clarity, style and accuracy.

The Catholic News Herald does not publish poetry, form letters or petitions. Items submitted to the Catholic News Herald become the property of the newspaper and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org Mail: Letters to the Editor Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203

Ryan Murray

Easter marks the beginning, not the end, of our journey

T

he Easter season is officially upon us and I certainly hope everyone had the opportunity to celebrate the glorious mystery of Christ’s Resurrection with family and friends! Let us not forget however, that just because we celebrated Easter Sunday recently, that this journey is a beginning, not an ending.

In the weeks ahead, we will see the resurrected Jesus consistently spend time with his disciples, offering His peace to them. Similarly, now is a perfect beginning to let Jesus spend some time with us in our personal journey.

There are many times that we find ourselves much like Doubting Thomas, not fully believing that Jesus is with us and in our midst. Now, in my opinion, I think that Thomas gets a bit of a bad rap. Surely, you and I can put ourselves in his sandals – not truly believing unless we see it with our own eyes. I also feel that Thomas represents all of us.

And the best part about it? Jesus opens Thomas’ eyes, shows him that He is alive, ultimately forgiving Thomas and giving him a new beginning to go forth and make believers of all. Just like He does with each and every one of us.

Similarly, Jesus will visit the two disciples on a journey and although they were speaking of how Jesus was made known to them, they are both afraid when He greets them. Jesus once again shows them that He is indeed alive, and He opens their minds. There are many times when we find ourselves afraid when we don’t have control of a situation or don’t know exactly what’s going on, much like these disciples. In reality, we are never the ones in control.

When we let go for God, however, He opens up our minds in ways that we have never experienced before.

Easter Sunday is officially behind us for the year, but the road with Christ for each of us is now just beginning. A friend of mine once told me that God writes straight with crooked lines and sometimes the road is crooked as well.

We may not quite believe it until we see it, like Thomas. Or we may not know what’s around the bend, putting fear into our hearts like the two disciples.

However, what’s important is that we have faith – faith in His plan, His way and His salvation. Because when we do, our eyes are opened, our mind is made clear and we truly begin our walk with Christ.

From my family to each one of you: Have a blessed and happy Easter season!

RYAN MURRAY is a member of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. Have an idea or comment? E-mail him at murrayrj18@hotmail.com.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 13, 2012 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Protect Marriage in North Carolina Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis

Scripture, Church Teaching and natural law all affirm the traditional definition of Marriage as being between a man and a woman only.

On May 8th North Carolina voters have the opportunity to affirm the Sacrament of Matrimony into the state constitution. Making the ancient, sacred institution of marriage a part of the constitution will ensure that future legislative or judicial activism will not change the definition of marriage in North Carolina.

Join Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh in affirming traditional marriage by voting FOR the constitutional amendment.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said: For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife and the two shall become one flesh.â&#x20AC;?

(Matthew 19:4-5)

On May 8, Vote FOR Marriage CATHOLIC VOICE NC www.CatholicVoiceNC.org