Jan. 4, 2013

January 4, 2013

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

A new year begins Bishop Peter Jugis looks forward in 2013,

5 INDEX Contact us.......................... 4 Events calendar................. 4 Our Parishes.................. 4-11 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................12 U.S. news...........................24 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news...................... 25 Year of Faith.................... 2-3

MARCHING FOR

LIFE

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CHARLOTTE MARCH FOR LIFE, JAN. 11:

Speak out against 40 years of ‘unprecedented child-killing in our country’ INSIDE: Everything you need to know to get involved, learn more, pray and work for an end to abortion.

WATCH LIVE: Join the march online during a special live broadcast.

EMBRACING THE CROSS:

14-17

From the Democratic National Convention to joyful anniversaries and celebrations, 2012 was a memorable year,

Bishops urge tighter gun controls,

18-23

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Living our faith with courage and charity

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Year of faith

catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Benedict XVI

Christmas is reminder of God’s great power

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he annual celebration of Christ’s birth fills Christians with hope and joy because it is a reminder that the power of God is always at work, and He does great things even through the weak and the small, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Continuing his Christmas reflections at his weekly general audience Jan. 2, the pope explained why Catholics traditionally bow their heads when, in reciting the creed, they come to the words, “For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”

With an estimated 7,000 visitors and pilgrims filling the Vatican audience hall, the pope said Christmas naturally raises the question, “How could that little and weak baby have brought something so radically new that it changed the course of history?”

The answer, the pope said, is that the baby Jesus is God incarnate and savior of the world.

“This proclamation, which continually resounds as something new, gives rise to hope and joy in our hearts because it gives us the certainty that, even if we often feel weak, poor and incapable in the face of the difficulties and evil of the world, God’s power is always active and He works marvels precisely through weakness,” the pope said.

With a Christmas tree and Nativity scene still dominating the stage in the audience hall, the pope said awe is the most appropriate response to the great mystery of God becoming human and being born in a manger.

“When we listen to the Masses composed by the great masters of sacred music – for example Mozart’s Coronation Mass – notice how they dwell” on the Incarnation phrase of the creed, “as if they were trying to express with the universal language of music that which words cannot explain: the great mystery of God made man,” he said.

A CULTURE OF LIFE ‘The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a “Gospel of life.” We believe that this Gospel is not only a complement to American ... principles, but also the cure for the spiritual sickness now infecting our society. We cannot simultaneously commit ourselves to human rights and progress while eliminating or marginalizing the weakest among us.

Nor can we practice the Gospel of life only as a private piety.

American Catholics must live it vigorously and publicly, as a matter of national leadership and witness, or we will not live it at all.’

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n 2013 our country observes a shameful anniversary: marking 40 years of a “culture of death” that began when the U.S. Supreme Court, in Roe v.

Wade, struck down all state laws restricting abortion. Since the advent of “legalized” abortion, over 53 million children have lost their lives.

In addition to opening the door to abortion on request for all nine months of pregnancy, the Supreme Court’s decision eroded respect for human life and led to a growing acceptance of death as the “solution” to personal and societal problems. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are now promoted as answers to declining health and disability. Human embryonic stem cell research, in which week-old embryos are sacrificed, is championed as a means to cure disease. To solve the problem of low fertility, many doctors create human embryos in their clinics, knowing full well that few embryos will survive to birth and the majority will be discarded or die. And the death penalty is still vigorously defended as the answer to violent crime.

The 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade lands squarely within the Year of Faith. It is as if Pope Benedict XVI has given the Church in the United States a focused time to acknowledge the great sin of abortion with all its manifold consequences, and to embrace a time of penance and conversion.

A long time ago, God the Father allowed the Israelites to wander in a wasteland for 40 painful years. This exile was not only a punishment for having rejected Him, it was also a test of their faithfulness before they would be allowed to enter the land He had promised them. At the end of their time in the desert, the Israelites were given one final challenge: “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, / by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him” (Dt 30:19-20). Even after reaching Canaan, the Israelites had to

endure many battles before they could freely occupy the land. All this was to strengthen their faith in God and affirm their total reliance on Him. So, too, have these last 40 years tested our faithfulness. But they have also strengthened the resolve of many Christians, especially teens and young adults, to be more determined than ever to help bring about a “culture of life.”

How do we strengthen our faith and resolve today, as our country marks 40 years in the wasteland of the culture of death?

In introducing the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict spoke of the grave difficulties of our time, and the need for the Church to lead people out of the desert and clasp sinners to its bosom. He suggested a path of penance and renewal and called for authentic conversion and witness to charity so the Church might be the visible community of God’s mercy.

He reminds us that faith is a journey, a pilgrimage. The path to true happiness is a path of penance and renewal. As pilgrims make their progress, both the pathway and the journey can change them profoundly.

The Israelites who set out for the Promised Land were not the same Israelites who finally entered Canaan. As they grew in their faith, they were finally able to recognize the treasure God put before them.

Faith opens our eyes to the true value of what is before us. In the light of faith, we come to understand that every human being is priceless in the Father’s eyes because our lives have been ransomed at the price of His Son Jesus’ blood.

Each of us is called in this Year of Faith to study the teachings of Catholicism and to strengthen our personal relationship with God. While the Church singles out the Catechism of the Catholic Church as foundational for our reflection, it also calls our attention to the beautiful teachings in the pro-life encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”).

Above all, in this Year of Faith, may the Church and all its members become living witnesses to God’s longing to forgive and to pour out His healing mercy upon all those who have promoted or been wounded by the culture of death.

— USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities, Respect Life 2012

More online

— U.S. Catholic Bishops, “Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics,” 1998

At www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities: Find more pro-life materials and commentaries At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Check out a searchable version of the Catechism, and read the full text of Blessed John Paul II’s “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”) 4 weeks

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 6-12

Sunday: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthews 2:1-12; Monday (St. Raymond of Penafort): 1 John 3:22-4:6, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25; Tuesday: 1 John 4:7-10, Mark 6:34-44; Wednesday: 1 John 4:11-18, Mark 6:45-52; Thursday: 1 John 4:19-5:4, Luke 4:14-22; Friday: 1 John 5:5-13, Luke 5:12-16; Saturday: 1 John 5:14-21, John 3:22-30

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 13-19

Sunday: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-16, 21-22; Monday: Hebrews 1:1-6, Mark 1:14-20; Tuesday: Hebrews 2:5-12, Mark 1:21-28; Wednesday: Hebrews 2:14-18, Mark 1:29-39; Thursday (St. Anthony): Hebrews 3:7-14, Mark 1:40-45; Friday: Hebrews 4:1-5, 11, Mark 2:1-12; Saturday: Hebrews 4:12-16, Mark 2:13-17

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 20-26

Sunday: Isaiah 62:1-5, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, John 2:1-11; Monday (St. Agnes): Hebrews 5:1-10, Mark 2:18-22; Tuesday: Hebrews 6:1020, Mark 2:23-28; Wednesday (St. Vincent): Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17, Mark 3:1-6; Thursday (St. Francis de Sales): Hebrews 7:25-8:6, Mark 3:7-12; Friday: Acts 22:3-16, Mark 16:15-18; Saturday (Sts. Timothy and Titus): 2 Timothy 1:1-8, Mark 3:20-21

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

What we believe: Excerpts from the Catechism

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s Catholics, we know that God alone is the Creator and Lord of life. “Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2319) Our respect for all human life must be absolute – despite what today’s society may say on such issues as abortion or euthanasia:

Abortion 2270 Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person - among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. (Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Donum vitae,” I,1) 2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law ...

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.

The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life ...

2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation: “... These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin...” (“Donum vitae,” III) 2274 Since it must be treated from conception as a person, the embryo must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as possible, like any other human being.

Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, “if it respects the life and integrity of the embryo and the human fetus and is directed toward its safe guarding or healing as an individual. ... It is gravely opposed to the moral law when this is done with the thought of possibly inducing an abortion, depending upon the results: a diagnosis must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.” (“Donum vitae,” I,2) 2275 “One must hold as licit procedures carried out on the human embryo which respect the life and integrity of the embryo and do not involve disproportionate risks for it, but are directed toward its healing the improvement of its condition of health, or its individual survival.” (“Donum vitae,” I,3) “It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material.” (“Donum vitae,” I,5)

From its conception, the child has the right to life. (CCC 2322)

Euthanasia 2276 Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible.

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. Thus an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering constitutes a murder gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person and to the respect due to the living God, his Creator. The error of judgment into which one can fall in good faith does not change the nature of this murderous act, which must always be forbidden and excluded.

2278 Discontinuing medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome can be legitimate; it is the refusal of “over-zealous” treatment. Here one does not will to cause death; one’s inability to impede it is merely accepted. The decisions should be made by the patient if he is competent and able or, if not, by those legally entitled to act for the patient, whose reasonable will and legitimate interests must always be respected.

2279 Even if death is thought imminent, the ordinary care owed to a sick person cannot be legitimately interrupted. The use of painkillers to alleviate the sufferings of the dying, even at the risk of shortening their days, can be morally in conformity with human dignity if death is not willed as either an end or a means, but only foreseen and tolerated as inevitable Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged.

www.annusfidei.va

2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.

2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. ...

Suicide is contrary to love for the living God. 2282 Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law. Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the

The official Vatican site for the Year of Faith, this is a mustsee for your own journey. Here you’ll find: – the full text of “Porta Fidei,” Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter announcing the Year of Faith – the full text of all the Vatican II documents, including the four constitutions: “Dei Verbum,” “Lumen Gentium,” “Sacrosanctum Concilium” and “Gaudium et Spes” – catechetical talks by Pope Benedict on the Apostles and saints, the Church Fathers, leading Catholic women, medieval theologians, and prayer

www.usccb.org At the U.S. bishops’ website, check out a video series on the Year of Faith, download Catholic prayers and catechetical resources for free, search the Catechism of the Catholic Church, get games for kids, check out resources for families, and more.

responsibility of the one committing suicide.

2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to Him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance.

The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.

32 weeks

www.vcat.org A new website featuring “Video Catechism for Teens,” produced by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in association with Outside da Box. Besides the video series on the Nicene Creed, check out free resources geared toward youths and young adults.

www.flocknote.com/ caTechism Read the Catechism over the course of this year: Get daily reflections from the Catechism to your email inbox, for free.

Suicide is seriously contrary to justice, hope and charity.

(CCC 2325)

www.OnceCatholic.org 26 weeks

CATECHISM, SEE page 28

24 weeks

A general website geared for people who have left their Catholic faith behind for various reasons. Produced by the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province in Cincinnati, Ohio. It offers resources and FAQs on Church teaching, reconnects people with local communities, and features online forums.

Year of Faith indulgence offered Catholics who participate in events connected with the Year of Faith can receive a plenary, or full, indulgence, Pope Benedict XVI has announced. An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven.

7 weeks

9 weeks

12 weeks

Online resources for your Year of Faith

Suicide

Intentional euthanasia, whatever its forms or motives, is murder. (CCC 2324)

10 weeks

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16 weeks

At www.catholicnewsherald. com/ourfaith: Details on obtaining the indulgence

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events ASHEVILLE “Gala for Hope Dinner and Fundraiser”: Saturday, Feb. 2, Crowne Plaza Resort Expo Center. To benefit Catholic Social Services in the Asheville area.

Reserve your complimentary tickets at www.cssnc.org.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events in the coming weeks:

JAN. 19 – 5 p.m.

Mass for Diamond Jubilee of Christ the King Cathedral Parish and school Atlanta JAN. 22 – 11 a.m.

Presbyteral Council meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

JAN. 31 – 9:30 a.m.

Mass for Catholic Schools Week Sacred Heart School, Salisbury

BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, 503 NORTH MAIN ST. — Community Breakfast: 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19. In the MAK Family Life Center. All are welcome.

CHARLOTTE

JAN. 23 – 7 p.m.

Vespers Service for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

JAN. 29 – 11 a.m.

Mass for Catholic Schools Week Bishop Mcguinness High School, Kernersville

ARDEN St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road — Bilingual Charismatic Mass: Every Monday at 7 p.m.

JAN. 7-11 Annual Retreat for Bishops

JAN. 25 – 11:30 a.m.

Holy Mass for Life Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, 1400 SUTHER ROAD

— Natural Family Planning classes: 7-10 p.m. Jan. 18-Feb. 8. Learn the effectiveness of modern NFP methods.

Sign up online at www.ccli.org. For more information, contact Joe and Kathy Hack at 704-548-1834.

— Marriage Encounter Weekend: Feb. 8-10. Renew and rekindle your marriage. Registration required. For more details, call 704-315-2144.

ST. MATTHEW church, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS Pkwy.

— Protecting God’s Children workshop: 9:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, New Life Center. Must register at www.virtus.org.

— Symposium on “Catholicism: The Indispensable Men, Peter and Paul”: 7-9 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14, New Life Center Banquet Room — Living the Faith Book Club: Second Thursday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Everyone welcome.

— Healing prayer service: First Monday of each month, 7:30 p.m. in the chapel.

— Eastern Reflection on the Baptism of Our Lord, “Theophany: The Mystery of Baptism and the Vocation to Holiness”: 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5. Bring a bagged lunch. For more information, visit www.stacharlotte.com.

— Knights of Columbus will host the Annual Charlotte Ultra Run: Saturday, Feb. 2. For more information, contact Patrick Kelleher at 704-724-1303.

— Please join us for our first “Divine Mercy Holy Hour”: Exposition and readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: 7-8 p.m. every first Friday. For questions, contact Paul Deer at 704-948-0628.

— Men of Veritas: All men are invited on the second and fourth Saturdays, at 8:30 a.m. Contact menofveritas@ stacharlotte.com.

— “Rosary for Life”: Join the Respect Life group to pray each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. To participate, contact Gretchen Filz at gfilz10@ ses.edu or 704-919-0935.

St. Vincent de Paul church, 6828 old Reid road — CCWG Morning Reflection: 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7. All women invited. For more information visit www. charlottecatholicwomensgroup.org or contact Anita Di Pietro at 704-543-0314.

CLEMMONS HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, 4820 Kinnamon Road — Charismatic Prayer Group: 7:15 p.m. Mondays

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE — Healing Retreat: Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat Weekend, Feb. 1-3, sponsored by Catholic Social Services Respect Life Program. Retreat will be held in the Charlotte area and is open to both men and women beginning their healing journey after an abortion.

For more information call Maggi Fitzpatrick at 704370-3229 or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.

ST. PIUS X Church, 2210 North elm st.

— Women’s retreat with Father Michael Klepacki: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12. For details, contact Joan Workman at jworkman1963@hotmail.com.

— The Catholic Women Council invites all women to attend their annual covered dish luncheon, featuring “The Art and Vision of Charles Schultz”: Noon Wednesday, Jan. 23. Bring a dish to share. Call Debbie Porter at 336-288-4255 to RSVP. — Knights of Columbus hosts a recitation of the “Rosary Of Our Lady”: Second Sunday of each month at 10:20 a.m. All are welcome.

HIGH POINT — Pro-Life Rosary to pray for an end to abortion: 11 a.m.

Saturday, Jan. 5, rain or shine, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive in High Point. Parking available on site. For more information, contact Jim Hoyng 336882-9593 or Paul Klosterman 336-848-6835.

Immaculate heart of mary church, 4145 johnson st.

— Free Spanish class: 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.

HUNTERSVILLE St. MARK CHURCH, 14740 STUMPTOWN ROAD — The Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes all men who are practicing Catholics and who are Irish by birth or descent, to attend this meeting. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10. For details, contact uniteire@yahoo.com.

— Curso en Español, ”Católico, Conoce y Practica Tu Fe”: 7 p.m. Todos los Lunes de Febrero.

— Hora Santa en Español: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Primeros Viernes — Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novenas: following 6:30 p.m. Mass on Wednesdays

MINT HILL ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 LAWYERS ROAD — Protecting God’s Children Workshop: 9:30 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Jan. 12. Pre-register at www.virtus.org.

ST. PATRICK Cathedral, 1621 DILWORTH ROAD EAST — Men’s Book Club, “My Life with the Saints”: 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13. All men invited to join. For more information, contact Mark DuBose at markdubose@ yahoo.com.

GREENSBORO

— Evening study, “Seven Deadly Sins & Seven Lively Virtues”: Starting 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Everyone welcome. To register contact Margaret Gustafson at jmgusto@bellsouth.net.

St. Mary Church, 812 duke st.

— Para honrar a la Virgen María, rezamos el Santo Rosario: Todos los Domingos a las 5:30 p.m.

— Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. Eucharistic Adoration is a time of prayer to worship and adore Jesus Christ.

ST. PETER CHURCH, 507 SOUTH TRYON ST. “13TH Annual Kennedy Lecture: The Dark Nights of Malcolm X, Catholic Spirituality and The Challenge of Social Justice”: 9-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26. All are welcome. For more information, call the parish office at 704-332-2901.

Our Lady of Grace church, 2205 West market ST. — Traditional Latin Mass: Offered each Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

St. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, 2715 HORSE PEN CREEK ROAD — 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 first Thursdays. Contact: marylisk@aol.com.

WINSTON-SALEM — “Partners in Hope Dinner”: Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Benton Convention Center in downtown WinstonSalem. To benefit the work of Catholic Social Services in the Triad area. For details, contact Kristin Lennex at 336-714-3227 or Donna Kronner at 336-655-2876.

Is your parish or school hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.

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January 4, 2013 Volume 22 • Number 5

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 ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org Online reporter: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

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January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the full texts of the U.S. bishops’ statement and the North Carolina Council of Churches

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis recently sat down for an interview with Editor Patricia Guilfoyle to discuss his priorities for 2013: CNH: What are your prayer intentions and priorities for the new year?

Bishop Jugis: As always my priorities – ever since my first year as bishop – continue to be four major themes of emphasis: on catechesis, evangelization, promoting vocations to the religious life and to the priesthood, and the liturgy.

My prayer intentions would be based on conversations we bishops had at our November meeting regarding this prayer campaign for life, marriage and religious liberty which we’re taking on this year. I would like for our diocese to participate in that national effort to continue to promote respect for life, protection of marriage, and religious liberty and conscience protection. There are five components to that prayer campaign: a monthly hour of Eucharistic Adoration, a Jugis daily family rosary, prayers of the faithful at Masses, a new strategy that was suggested at the conference – fasting and abstinence from meat on Fridays – and a new Fortnight for Freedom campaign in June and July.

In addition this year, I will continue to remember the poor, the needy and the unemployed during what is still a difficult economic time.

CNH: As we continue the Year of Faith and look forward to the Eucharistic Congress in September, what would you like the people of the diocese to think about or do throughout this year, to help us grow in faith?

Bishop Jugis: I specifically wanted to tie in our diocesan Eucharistic Congress with what is happening in the universal Church with the Year of Faith, so choosing the theme for our Eucharistic Congress: “The Mystery of Faith: Open the Door to Christ” specifically ties us into that international effort. Of course, the words “mystery of faith” are the words that the priest says immediately after the consecration at Mass. We’re also explicitly tying in our local effort with the universal Church by

adapting the logo that the Vatican is using for the Year of Faith to our local needs, with words shaped into an outline of the Eucharistic host on the Year of Faith logo for the Eucharistic Congress.

The Eucharistic Congress, of course, will be a time for us in the Diocese of Charlotte to gather together for our communal celebration for the Year of Faith, so that we as a diocesan family can come together to celebrate the Year of Faith. Specifically, it’s an opportunity for us to affirm and celebrate our Catholic faith in the Eucharist. Not only with the Eucharistic Congress, of course, but at every Mass we attend we are affirming our Catholic faith in the Eucharist. But the Eucharist is so central to our lives as Catholics, so central to the life of every single parish, that we want to make sure that our faith during this Year of Faith, our Catholic faith in the Eucharist, is also strong and vibrant. It’s a faith that goes back all the way to the Apostles, when at the Last Supper they received the Eucharist from Jesus, who said, “This is my Body, this is my Blood.” That is ultimately our faith: the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

In his apostolic exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis” (“On the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church’s Life and Mission,” 2007) regarding faith in the Eucharist, Pope Benedict said if the faith of the people of God in the Eucharist is strong and vibrant, then the people’s involvement in the life and mission of the Church is also going to be strong and vibrant. Our activity in the mission of the Church flows from our strong Eucharistic faith, the pope said. And it’s easy to see that those who are regular attendees at Sunday Mass are more involved in the life of the Church, whereas those who attend only rarely or who don’t come to Sunday Mass have a weaker attachment to the Church.

He also said that when one looks at the history of the Church, every important reform that ever took place in the Church is always tied somehow to a rediscovery on the part of the people of God of their Catholic faith in the Eucharistic Presence of Christ.

Of course, we always want to be engaged in reform – ongoing reform of the Church for the new evangelization. For that to work, we always have to be strengthening our faith in the center of the BISHOP, SEE page 9

Eucharistic Congress:

High water mark for faith in 2013 David Hains Diocesan Director of Communications

A sailboat guided and powered by the love of God is the logo for the ninthannual Eucharistic Congress, which will be held Sept. 13-14 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

The theme for this year’s event, “The Mystery of Faith: Open the Door to Christ,” was selected by Bishop Peter J. Jugis.

The theme is featured in a logo for the congress that is a slight variation of the Vatican’s Year of Faith logo created for the 12-month observance announced by Pope Benedict XVI. The Year of Faith began Oct. 11, 2012, and concludes on Nov. 24, the Feast of Christ the King.

According to the Vatican Year of Faith website, the logo features a boat, symbolizing the Church, at sail upon the waves. The mast of the boat forms a cross, and on the sail is displayed the familiar IHS monogram for Christ that dates to the third century. Behind the sail is a circle, representing the sun as well as the Eucharistic host. The logo is being used with permission of the Vatican. The diocese slightly adapted the Year of Faith

OF FAITH RY R TO CHRIST:

EN THE D OP O

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement Dec. 21 calling for tighter gun control and better access to mental health care – a week after the Newtown, Conn., massacre that shocked a nation.

The North Carolina Council of Churches issued a similar statement Dec. 21 expressing profound grief at the deaths of the 20 children and six adults in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, at the hands of a 20-year-old man armed with several weapons.

Both religious groups, which include the two bishops of North Carolina, are calling for legislators to act quickly to restrict access to assault weapons.

Both Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge reiterated the USCCB’s long-standing support for gun control legislation.

In their Dec. 21 statement, the U.S. bishops called for laws limiting the sale and use of firearms, particularly assault weapons and handguns – as well as making “a serious commitment to confront the pervasive role of addiction and mental illness in crime.”

The chairmen of three USCCB committees issued the joint statement to decry violence in society, repeating the call from Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, USCCB president, who expressed on the day of the horrible tragedy deepest sorrow for all the victims and a call to work for peace in our homes, streets and world.

They called on all Americans, especially legislators, to address national policies that will strengthen regulations of firearms and improve access to health care for those with mental health needs.

In the statement, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, and Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend bemoaned the fact that “guns are too easily accessible,” and they also criticized the entertainment industry, saying they “need to realize how their profit motives have allowed the proliferation of movies, television programs, video games and other entertainment that glorify violence and prey on the insecurities and immaturity of our young people. Such portrayals of violence have desensitized all of us.”

They also called for improved mental health care and compassion for those suffering from mental illnesses.

“Our society must provide health services and support to those who have mental illnesses and to their families and caregivers,” they urged.

The North Carolina Council of Churches issued a similar statement Dec. 21 advocating tighter gun controls.

In the Dec. 21 statement from Stan C. Kimer, president, and J. George Reed, executive director, of the North Carolina Council of Churches, said, “Surely our leaders, both at the state and national levels, can act with courage and wisdom and in a bi-partisan spirit to recognize that common-sense restrictions afford more protection and security than easy access to weapons capable of such horrific destruction,” the statement continued.

— Catholic News Herald

A new year: Q&A with Bishop Jugis

THE MYSTE

After Sandy Hook: N.C. bishops call for gun restrictions

5

O

NINTH EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE, SEPTEMBER 13 &14, 2013

logo to add the Eucharistic Congress theme, which itself references the pope’s theme for the Year of Faith, “Porta Fidei” (“Open the door to faith”).

The Year of Faith is a call for Catholics to renew their conversion to the Lord.

The words “Open the door to Christ” are a reference to the idea expressed in the Acts of the Apostles that God opened the door of faith and each of us is called to deepen that relationship through prayer and especially through the Eucharist.

“The theme for our Eucharistic Congress connects the activities of the faithful in our diocese to the celebration

of the Year of Faith in the universal Church,” noted Bishop Jugis.

The line-up of speakers for the congress will be announced in the coming months. As in years past, the congress will consist of a concert of sacred music on Friday evening, followed by a keynote address. On Saturday morning the Congress will begin with a solemn Eucharistic Procession from St. Peter Church on Tryon Street to the Charlotte Convention Center.

Priests, religious, sodalities such as the Knights of Columbus, banner carriers and thousands of laity will follow the monstrance, carried by Bishop Jugis.

A Holy Hour, speakers in Spanish and English, K-12 education tracks, short concerts, vendors selling religious goods, and a concluding vigil Mass will transform the convention center into a faith-filled gathering place for more than 10,000 people. Registration for the K-12 tracks opens June 1.

More online At www.goeucharist.com: Read the latest on plans for the Eucharistic Congress and get registration information.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 OUR PARISHES

Bishop Jugis: This Christmas, accept Jesus’ outstretched hand ‘Christmas is about making a new beginning’ Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — “Christmas celebrates the profound truth that God comes close to us – to seek us out, to come looking for us,” preached Bishop Peter J. Jugis in his homily during midnight Mass Dec. 25 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior – but the Incarnation is much more than we might realize. Jesus’ coming is a personal invitation to each one of us to return to friendship with God. It is up to us to accept His invitation, Bishop Jugis emphasized, and to leave behind the darkness of sin and “enter into the light radiating from the infant in the manger.”

“The world needs a savior,” he said, adding with a smile, “Yes, we all need a savior, even those who think they do not need a savior.”

We are all sinners, whether we acknowledge it or not. If we were not sinners, we would have no need of a savior – no need for Jesus to be born, no need for Him to suffer and die, no need for Him to rise again, he said.

God sent us Jesus, His only Son, “to come personally to look for us, to rescue us.”

“It’s as if at Christmas God is saying, ‘Where are you, O Man? Where have you wandered off to? Why are you so far away from me? What happened to the friendship that you and I formerly enjoyed? See, I have come personally to look for you.’”

Jesus “comes Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald to save us, and He never gives In his homily for midnight Mass on Christmas, up searching Bishop Peter J. Jugis encouraged the faithful to accept the outstretched hand of the infant Jesus – until He has which we can understand as God’s invitation to love found us and brought us Him and grow closer to Him. back to God’s friendship.”

But, Bishop Jugis emphasized, our redemption cannot happen “until we make room for Him in our hearts.”

God is stretching out His hand to us, “begging us to come in from the darkness – to come in from the darkness of our sins, to come in from the darkness of our sinful choices, to leave that behind in the darkness and come into the light, to come into the light that surrounds that child in the manger.”

He continued, “You know how an infant will always grasp your finger and hold it tight in his own little hand? It comes naturally. So also this infant Savior will hold on tight to your hand – if you extend your hand to Him there in the manger at His invitation, to come live in friendship with Him. “And He will not let go of your hand.”

“Christmas is about repenting of our sins and accepting the invitation of the outstretched hand of God to live again in friendship with Him,” Bishop Jugis said.

“Christmas is about making a new beginning. It’s about asking forgiveness for our pride, and becoming humble before the humility of God in the manger of Bethlehem.

“How can anyone hold onto the darkness? How can anyone hold onto his pride when that little child is ready to grasp our hand in His humility, in His tenderness, to bring us back to friendship with God? “Turn again more profoundly this Christmas season, turn again more profoundly to Jesus. He has come to look for you, He has come to find you, even if you are lost.”

Celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord

Photos by Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

DENVER — Above, Father Carmen Malacari, pastor, uses incense to bless the Nativity scene after the baby Jesus is laid in the manger, as midnight Mass begins at Holy Spirit Church in Denver.

Left, parishioner Emillio D’Addio sings a powerful “O Holy Night” during midnight Mass.

At top: The baby Jesus surrounded by poinsettia blooms adorns the Christmas altar.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Photo provided by Bert and Lith Golamco

Members of the BLD community recently brought Christmas cheer to retirees at Pennybyrn in High Point and Spring Arbor in Greensboro. BLD, an abbreviation for the Filipino title “Bukas Loob Sa Diyos” (which in English means “Open to the spirit of God”) is a Catholic charismatic group loyal to the magisterium that originated in the Philippines and now is active all over the world. The local district has as its spiritual director Father Kurt Fohn, pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville. Learn more online at www.bldcharlotte.net.

Photos by Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald

BOONE — Youths of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone are pictured in the parish’s annual Christmas drama. Also pictured, below, is the parish’s Nativity scene.

Photo provided by Patrick J. Hession

JEFFERSON — Approximately 70 adults and children from the Hispanic community at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jefferson joyfully celebrated Las Posadas during the days before Christmas, in what was estimated to be the largest turnout ever. Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration in which Catholics reenact the arrival of Mary and Joseph into Bethlehem and find no place to stay. The faithful process from door to door, singing and praying, until the “innkeeper” lets “Mary” and “Joseph” in. Pictured above is a statue of the Virgin adorned for Christmas by the parishioners.

Photos provided by Al Tinson

CHARLOTTE — More than 100 volunteers made it possible for nearly 300 families to have a brighter Christmas through Operation Santa’s Helpers at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte last month. The program was begun more than 20 years ago by long-time Special Olympics volunteer Bob Bowler and provides food, clothing and Christmas presents to individuals in the Charlotte area with intellectual disabilities as well as

to other needy families. Students from Charlotte Catholic High School and members of various groups from St. John Neumann Parish, along with pastor Father Pat Hoare, were among those who volunteered in support of this annual event. “Santa” Bob Bowler expressed his gratitude to the employees of Acosta Sales and Marketing for another outstanding effort in organizing all of the food, clothing and Christmas presents for

distribution. Pictured above (right) are Father Hoare with parishioner Debbie Smith and her son Craig. Also pictured above (left) are parish youth ministry members Ricardo Pupo, Nicole and Jacqueline Adams, and Robert Pupo Jr., delivering Christmas goodies to a family in need.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 OUR PARISHES

A Spiritual Journey to France, Spain & Portugal Under the Spiritual Direction of: Rev. Lawrence LoMonaco St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church Waynesville, NC

April 8 to 18, 2013 Only $3,099 from Charlotte (CLT)*

Highlights Include: Lourdes, Shrine of St. James, Fatima, Nazare, Lisbon & more! * Plus airport taxes, security fees, current fuel surcharges, and tips.

For More Information and your FREE Color Brochure

Spa is lim ce it Regi ed. s TOD ter AY!

Download an Online Version

www.GoCatholicTravel.com/Lomonaco

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Contact Rev. Lawrence LoMonaco Email: stjohn23@charter.net or Call (828) 456-6707

Ushers distribute collection baskets at St. Eugene Church in Asheville during a Mass in 2011.

CST: 2018667

Please pray for the following priests who died during the month of January: Rev. Francis T. Connolly 2008 Rev. Tom Stott 2005 Rev. Vincent Erb 2005 Rev. Msgr. Eugene H. Livelsberger 1987 Rev. Msgr. Lawrence Newman 1981 Rev. Arthur J. Racette 1975 Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org

ACCOUNTING CLERK POSITION The Accounting Department of the Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for a part-time accounting clerk with flexibility to work full-time during the peak season (Feb-Apr) as needed. Responsibilities include preparing DSA (Diocesan Support Appeal) pledges and payments for processing, entering data into Raisers Edge software and assisting with various related accounting duties as assigned.

Applicants should be proficient with a ten-key and in Microsoft Excel. Experience with accounting software or Raisers Edge a plus.

Please send resume and salary history by January 11, 2013 to: Mason Beaumont, Controller Diocese of Charlotte Diocese 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 2820 mtbeaumont@charlottediocese.org.

The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

New Year brings new opportunities for giving Second collections supply critical funds to local, international causes SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — One of the best things about being Catholic and belonging to the universal Church is that we have many opportunities throughout the year to put our faith into action by supporting our brothers and sisters in Christ here at home and around the world.

As this is the Year of Faith, we are especially attuned to growing in our faith and reaching out to others this year in response to Pope Benedict XVI’s universal call to holiness.

The Diocese of Charlotte will conduct seven second collections throughout the course of 2013 so that we can contribute to the welfare of others and respond to their needs. Each second collection aids a specific ministry or community, from helping missions around the world to our retired clergy and religious here in our own diocese.

The first collection of 2013 will take place during Masses in all parishes of the diocese the weekend of Jan. 19-20. It will be for the Combined Missions, supporting the work of the Church in Latin America, the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, the U.S. Mission Appeal (Black and Indian Missions), Catholic Home Missions, and the Church in Africa.

Some of the other collections throughout the year will fund continued education for seminarians and priests, Catholic Relief Services, the works of the Holy Father, and retirement benefits for priests and religious.

Second collections in 2013 JAN. 20: Combined Mission Collection: The Church in Latin America, the Church in Central and Eastern Europe, U.S. Mission Appeal (Black and Indian Missions), Catholic Home Missions, and the Church in Africa March 31: Seminary and Priests’ Continuing Education MAY 19: International/National Combined Collection: Catholic Relief Services, Collection for the Holy Land, Collection for the Works of the Holy Father (formerly called Peter’s Pence), Catholic University of America, and the Catholic Communications Campaign SEPT. 8: Priests’ Retirement and Benefits OCT. 20: World Mission Sunday (formerly called Propagation of the Faith) NOV. 24: Catholic Campaign for Human Development DEC. 8: Religious Retirement

More online At www.charlottediocese.net/ministries-adepartments/sdevelopment: Read more about stewardship opportunities in the diocese.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com

BISHOP: FROM PAGE 5

life of our Church: the Eucharist.

People interested in strengthening their faith – studying and going deeper into their faith in the Eucharist – should read Pope Benedict’s exhortation “Sacramentum Caritatis,” or read Blessed John Paul II’s 2003 encyclical on the Eucharist “Ecclesia de Eucharistia.” Another interesting document is Pope Paul VI’s 1965 encyclical on the Eucharist, “Mysterium Fidei,” which is also the theme for our Congress.

He wrote it during the Second Vatican Council to address some common heresies about the Eucharist.

CNH: With a Republican-led legislature and governor for the first time in many years, what efforts through Catholic Voice NC do you and Bishop Burbidge foresee?

Bishop Jugis: It remains to be seen what the agenda of the government in Raleigh is going to be. We always have our themes with Catholic Voice NC that we keep focusing on: respect for life, immigration, family life issues, and end-of-life issues.

Those will continue to be the focus of our attention this year.

It was a big disappointment that the Choose Life license plate was struck down by the appeals court. We hope that maybe some activity in some venue may continue to be possible on that front, so that these license plates can be available to North Carolinians.

Other than that, it just remains to be seen what issues are going to arise. Certainly, we’re going to be right there to have our input.

CNH: This year also marks a sad milestone: the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. What message do you have for the many people who think that legalized abortion is “settled law” and Catholics should turn to other issues?

Bishop Jugis: Respect for innocent human life is a fundamental social justice issue. Abortion flies in the face of obvious human dignity. Because it is such an injustice, it never really will become a “settled” issue. So I would encourage people, always, to have input into the public discussion and education efforts, and pastoral care for those in crisis pregnancies – engaging on all fronts.

In fact, there are many encouraging signs that the pro-life movement is even better organized today than it was 40 years ago, and even more multi-faceted than it was years ago. There is so much going on, on so many different fronts, which is a sign that it’s not stagnating.

There are so many new efforts – just in recent years, the increased awareness of Rachel’s Vineyard and the Silent No More campaign, and the fact that the Washington march continues to maintain its strong numbers with hundreds of thousands of marchers each year. Another new initiative is our Charlotte March for Life, which is in its seventh year. In addition, the collegebased maternity center on the campus of Belmont Abbey College, and the great success of Room at the Inn and Room at the Inn of the Triad, are all signs that there is no need for despair or discouragement.

I was also quite encouraged by the recent efforts that Cardinal Timothy Dolan made to speak personally with President Barack Obama regarding conscience protection and religious liberty, which ultimately was about respecting the dignity of the unborn. No person of faith should be forced to provide contraception or abortifacients in their health insurance coverage. Going face to face, head to head with the president of the United States is cause for encouragement.

It’s not a settled issue. We’re not sitting back and accepting the status quo.

CNH: Between the HHS mandate and recent votes in other states to permit same-sex unions, it seems like our Catholic faith is under siege.

What message do you have for Catholics who seek harmony among God’s people yet want to practice their faith in an increasingly secular society?

Bishop Jugis: We have to live our faith!

There are many opportunities for our voices to be heard, for the voice of reason to be heard, for the voice of religious liberty to be heard. All of the bishops of the United States, in a common effort, are banding together to help the Catholic faithful let their voices be heard on the issues of religious liberty, conscience protection and traditional marriage through prayer campaigns and legislative campaigns. In addition to the national prayer campaign I mentioned earlier, we’re also going to be taking part in a postcard campaign in early February for religious liberty – similar to a successful 2009 campaign against the Freedom of Choice Act, which Congress scrapped – for parishioners to have their voices be heard directly in Washington on big issues like the HHS mandate, as well as petitioning Congress to limit or eliminate federal funding for abortions. Stay involved and take advantage of these opportunities.

And because the Supreme Court this year is expected to make a decision on same-sex unions, we need to be praying for the Supreme Court.

In the pope’s message for the World Day of Peace, he said that many of these issues we can speak to our society about are not sectarian issues, not just based upon Catholic ideology. They are based on reason. We can enter into discussions with people of our time on the grounds of human reason – without necessarily even having to rely upon the faith, even though the faith buttresses and backs up our understanding of respect for human life, marriage and religious liberty. Human reason, common sense, says that one does not attack innocent human life. Marriage as the union of one man and one woman is part of nature, it’s based on reason. And religious liberty is based on the common good, the freedom to practice one’s beliefs. These beliefs are based on human reason, they’re logical. So we don’t have to cower and retreat before those who like to say we just want to impose our religious faith on others. No, this is valid outside of a discussion of religious faith – it’s moral, it’s social justice.

CNH: The Holy Father and the U.S. bishops are encouraging the use of digital media to evangelize, especially to young Catholics and to those who have abandoned the Church. What message should the youth of the diocese, and the rest of us, be communicating?

Bishop Jugis: In my visits with confirmation classes when I go to parishes, either visiting with them before the Mass or in my homily, I usually mention that even as teenagers they can be witnesses to their faith. It’s not something that only adults need to do. Young people should take the opportunity of the Year of Faith, and of the digital age, to know their faith, to be serious about their faith formation or religious education classes, to study their faith, and to be willing to share their faith especially on controversial moral issues of the day.

I myself am a product of both Catholic school education and public school education; I went to Catholic schools from kindergarten to second grade, then public school from third grade through college.

I know from personal experience that current topics are discussed in school, whether it be the definition of marriage, or respect for the unborn, or religious liberty, or immigration. Our Catholic youth should be able to enter into that discussion, and not be afraid, because they have something very important to add to the discussion:

what our faith tells us.

But if we’re not firmly grounded in our faith, any of us can be easily swept away by secular notions of what is just and right. As Pope Benedict has said, when a discussion becomes divorced from God or uprooted from its foundation in God, discussion about rights tends to go askew and the weak and the vulnerable eventually have their rights trampled upon.

CNH: Preliminary planning is under way for a diocese-wide capital campaign for long-term planning. What is significant to you about this initiative?

Bishop Jugis: By way of an initial introduction, we’ve already been considering this diocesan campaign for a year and a half already. For anything of this magnitude to turn out well, a lot of lead time and careful planning has to take place, and we have been doing our homework.

It is the first time the diocese is

OUR PARISHESI

undertaking something of this magnitude; it is a historic venture in the diocese’s 40-year history. Our diocese is growing so fast that we have to be looking ahead, we have to be preparing for the future. Every person in the diocese can relate to this because everyone in their own parishes is experiencing this growth. Many parishes in recent years have either undertaken efforts to expand their church, move to a new location, or build an activity center for social gatherings.

The annual Diocesan Support Appeal does a good job taking care of current needs, but this diocesan campaign is meant to go beyond that and be transformational, providing a solid foundation for the future of our diocese. It’s meant to benefit our parishes, our schools and the diocese as a whole – to meet a broad range of needs.

The people of the diocese will be learning more about it in the months to come.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

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Mark your calendar for these upcoming pro-life events!

March for Life Charlotte: Friday, January 11, 2013 Visit www.marchforlifecharlotte.org for more details.

Washington, D.C. Vigil Mass, January 24, 2013, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

6:30pm – 9:30pm.

Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap, Principal Celebrant and Homilist

Mass for NC Pilgrims, January 25, 2013, Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Upper Church.

11:30am. Bishop Michael Burbidge, Principal Celebrant. Bishop Peter Jugis, Homilist.

March for Life, January 25, 2013.

Your Local Catholic Charities Agency Respect Life Office

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Please check website: www.marchforlife.org for information.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Greensboro pastor named VP at Pontifical College Josephinum CHARLOTTE — Father John Allen has been named to the position of vice president for advancement at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, effective Jan. 1. Father Allen had been serving as pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro prior to the appointment. Father Joseph Mack, pastor of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, will become pastor of St. Paul Allen the Apostle Church effective Jan. 14, Bishop Peter J. Jugis announced.

Father Allen is well acquainted with the Josephinum, having served as a member of its faculty from 2005 to 2009. A complete announcement from the Josephinum regarding Father Allen’s move is pending approval from the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., who is chancellor of the Josephinum.

It has not yet been announced who will replace Father Mack at Holy Infant Church.

— Catholic News Herald

Pro-Life Rosary set for Jan. 5 HIGH POINT — A Pro-Life Rosary will be prayed at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, outdoors, rain or shine, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive in High Point. Come and help pray for the end of abortion, especially during the 40th anniversary month of Roe v. Wade. The Pro-Life Rosary is held on the first Saturday of each month. Parking is available on site. Contact Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.

Eastern reflection on Baptism of Our Lord to be presented CHARLOTTE — On Saturday, Jan. 5, St. Thomas Aquinas Church will host a talk entitled “Theophany: The Mystery of Baptism and the Vocation to Holiness,” presented by Father Deacon Matthew Hanes of St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Charlotte. This

talk will explore, through an Eastern Catholic perspective, the fall of Adam and Eve and how Christ as the new Adam restores and refashions man through His own baptism. Byzantine rite liturgical texts as well as writings of the Church Fathers and saints will be examined to gain a deeper understanding of the fall of Adam, the sacrament of baptism and our own vocation to holiness as Christians.

Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m., and the presentation will begin at about 10:45 a.m., with a break for lunch, and the second session will begin at 1 p.m. Bring a bagged lunch. A free-will offering will be taken.

Come find out more about one of the great feasts of the Eastern Catholic Church, the sublime dignity of the baptized, and why we are all called to be saints.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church is located at 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Go online to www. stacharlotte.com for details.

Photo provided by Al Tinson

A new home for the holidays

High Point Knights contribute to priests’ retirement fund HIGH POINT — Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Vincent Smith, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point, recently accepted a $6,200 donation from Grand Knight Brian Dilloway of Bishop Hafey Council 4507 on behalf of the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales’ Priest Retirement Fund. The contribution represents the proceeds from various sponsors of the North Carolina State Knights of Columbus 42nd Annual Golf Tournament, which was hosted by the council and held in High Point.

The two-day event was held in honor of the Oblates Priest Retirement Program.

The Oblates of St. Francis De Sales staff 11 parishes in North Carolina.

The High Point Knights have sponsored local golf tournaments for the past 17 years with the benefits of more than $90,000 going to the order’s priest retirement fund.

— Jim Neely

WEBMASTER – INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for Webmaster. This position manages the Diocese of Charlotte websites, including web security, development, design, deployment, and analytics. Candidates must be able to show prior work with Joomla, Apache, Linux, Microsoft OS, IIS, open source code programming, PHP, Java, and web security.

Applicants must possess the ability to work independently and deliver on-time results. Bachelor’s degree preferred, with 2+ years as webmaster, 2+ years HTML/HTML5, PHP, CSS, and Java script programming. EOE. Send resume and salary history by January 14 2013 to: IT Director, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203.

CHARLOTTE — The St. John Neumann Parish Refugee Ministry, in partnership with Catholic Social Services, recently placed a family who just arrived from Rwanda into an apartment in Charlotte. Thanks to generous donations from parishioners and many volunteers, St. John Neumann Parish was able to welcome Marie Mukantabana and her five sons ranging in age from 8 to 19 with a furnished apartment, food and clothing. It was the second refugee family for whom the parish ministry group has helped Catholic Social Services prepare a home to live in Charlotte. The family is pictured in their new home with St. John Neumann’s pastor, Father Pat Hoare, and resettlement volunteer Susie Pingree.

Training held for regional catechists

Charlotte Catholic Men’s Conference coming up Feb. 16

LEXINGTON — Mercy Sister Larretta RiveraWilliams conducted a session for about 35 of the Northern Region Parish Catechetical Program Leaders (PCPLs) on “Developing the Spirituality of the Catechists” Dec. 6 at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington.

The goal of the workshop was to complement the educational role component of religious education directors with its spirituality dimension so that Catholic educators can be more effective in their work.

Sister of Providence Sister Betty Paul, who serves as the northern regional coordinator for faith formation, organized the workshop.

CHARLOTTE — All men of the diocese are invited to the third-annual Charlotte Catholic Men’s Conference, to be held Feb. 16 at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in Charlotte.

Featured speakers include Catholic writer, clinical psychologist and humorist Dr. Ray Guarendi; and Father Larry Richards, inspirational speaker and author of the bestselling “Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You To Be.” Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin will also speak at the day-long conference, as well as celebrate Mass and lead Eucharistic Adoration. There will also be time for confessions, fellowship and much more at the conference, which is aimed to men of all ages.

For details and registration information, along with multiple resources for your faith journey, go online to www.cltcmc.org.

A companion Women’s Night of Reflection will be held Friday, Feb. 15, hosted by the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group. For details, go online to www.ccwg.eventbrite.com.

— Dr. Cris Villapando

Fish fry fundraiser held WINSTON-SALEM — St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem held its first Alumni and Church Fish Fry and Barbecue Nov. 17. About 350 people attended this event at which Mr. Bill’s Production provided music and a yard sale was held. A dance, step and twirl team, Ladies of Distinction (pictured above with pastor Father Lucas Rossi), provided entertainment, along with a group, Bounce Bonanza, which furnished inflatable rides for the children. Vendors for the event included Girl Scout Troop 41258, Gourmet Coffee, St. Monica’s Guild and the Sisters of Mercy.

— William K. Ach

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

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and reception held in Raleigh. This award is based on her long-term involvement and accomplishments in 4-H. McAnulty, 16, has been a member of the Catawba County 4-H Garden Club for five years. Pictured with her is Carolyn Crouse Register, a member of the N.C. State 4-H Honor Club and the N.C. 4-H History and Learning Center Committee.

— Jean McAnulty

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Now serving Charlotte and Greensboro C

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Craft earns Eagle Scout rank

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McAnulty wins 4-H Award HICKORY — Barbara McAnulty, a parishioner at St. Aloysius Church in Hickory, was recently recognized as the 2012 State Gold Award Winner for 4-H cumulative records in the Plant and Horticultural Science category. McAnulty received a monetary award at a luncheon

BOONE — Bryan Craft, a parishioner at St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone,CY was presented with his Eagle Scout award on CMY Dec. 18. He is pictured above (second from left) with his family. For his Eagle project, Craft built K benches along a prayer trail at St. Elizabeth Parish that his brother Alan (far right), had built for his Eagle Scout project in 2010.

— Amber Mellon We welcome your parish’s news! Please email news items and photos to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@ charlottediocese.org.

704-549-4010 336-665-5345

Tour of Egypt and Kenya March 8-22, 2013 Cairo – Aswan – Giza – Memphis Luxor – Nairobi – Maasai Mara

African American Ministry Diocese of Charlotte

2013 Catholic Camporee March 15-17 Calling all Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts!

Attend or visit the 37th annual Catholic Camporee for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Camporee will conclude on Sunday with Holy Mass celebrated at

For more information please contact: Sandy Murdock 704-370-3267 at the African American Ministry Office -orinfo@palacetravel.com 215-471-8555 Toll Free 800-683-7731

10 am by Bishop Peter Jugis. The Bishop will recognize all Cub scouts and Boy scouts who have earned their Religious Awards.

For more information visit our website www.cdccos.info Piedmont Scout Reservation – Camp Bud Schiele 668 Boy Scout Road – Rutherfordton, NC 28139

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

On TV

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

n Sunday, Jan. 6, 11 a.m. (EWTN) “Solemnity Of The Epiphany Of The Lord With Pope Benedict XVI.” From St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

In theaters

n Sunday, Jan. 6, 1:30 p.m.

(ETWN) “Thine Eyes: A Witness To The March For Life.” Actress Jennifer O’Neill tracks the journeys of young people who travel across the United States to attend the march in Washington, D.C. n Monday, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Angels Of The Arctic Circle.” An inside look at Carmelite nuns who have become an oasis of healing and wisdom for believers and nonbelievers alike in secular Norway.

‘Les Miserables’ Lavish adaptation of the worldwide musical stage sensation, based on the Victor Hugo novel and directed by Tom Hooper. Inspired by the kindness of a Catholic bishop (Colm Wilkinson), an exconvict (Hugh Jackman) assumes a new identity and amends his life, becoming a benevolent mayor and factory owner, all the while evading the obsessive pursuit of his former jailer (Russell Crowe). When one of his workers (Anne Hathaway) is unjustly fired and forced into a life of prostitution, he pledges to raise her daughter (Isabelle Allen) as his own. Years pass, and the nowgrown lass (Amanda Seyfried) falls for a young revolutionary (Eddie Redmayne) amid violent protests on the barricaded streets of Paris. A positive portrayal of the Catholic faith, with characters calling on God for grace and mercy, and seeking personal redemption while trying to better the lives of others, makes this rousing film especially appealing to mature viewers of faith. Scenes of bloody violence, a prostitution theme, nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity.

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

Additional movies: n ‘Django Unchained’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPPA: R n ‘This Is 40’: CNS: A-O (morally offensive); MPAA: R n ‘The Guilt Trip’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald

Author Deanna Klingel shared booth space with New Covenant Bookstore at the 2012 Eucharistic Congress. She is pictured discussing her book “Bread Upon the Water” with Our Lady of Grace parishioners David Foppe and his children Maggie and Frank.

Local Catholic author inspires young readers with stories of faith Annette Tenny Correspondent

SAPPHIRE — Author Deanna Klingel has a lot of “loves” in her life; her faith, family, gardening, her glorious dogs and, thankfully for all her readers, she loves telling stories.

Her books and short stories cover a wide range of time and space, people and places.

Though the fabric of every story is different, each one is carefully stitched together with the precious threads of faith, love, redemption and the mystery and miracle of a loving God present in our lives.

CNH: Do you consider yourself a Christian writer, a young adult writer, or do you prefer not to put yourself in a category?

DK: I’m usually not the one that decides the category, it’s usually the publishing company that’s publishing that particular book. All my protagonists are going to be Christian, mostly, because that’s the only kind of character I enjoy spending time with. Writers spend a lot of time with their characters. My characters are Christians who are struggling with something, and they have to resolve those things with their own values, and their own understanding of who they are and how they can make things better.

For example, in Avery’s situation, in “Avery’s Battlefield” and “Avery’s Crossroad,” it was a matter of growing up during very difficult times, when there were a lot of different directions he could take.

But he learns the right thing to do is often the most difficult. He grows up during this difficult time, the Civil War; he’s 14 at the beginning of the series and 19 at the end of the war.

CNH: You go to Civil War reenactments with your books. Were you going to the reenactments before you wrote these books?

DK: No. I had never been to a reenactment before. I go to the reenactments because that’s

where I find a good audience for the Civil War books. There are a lot of middle-school aged kids there who have an interest in that time period, and a lot of homeschoolers who enjoy reading.

CNH: Have you always been a young adult writer?

DK: I didn’t start out to write for young adults. I just started writing what I thought I would like to read. Actually, I didn’t know I was a young adult writer until editors started looking at my work. I didn’t know that much about young adult literature, because when I was growing up, they weren’t segmented that way. You could read anything you wanted.

I didn’t realize that young adults had their own genre to read. When I realized all that I went to Brevard College and took Young Adult Literature classes and African American Literature classes as well.

CNH: It’s really more of a marketing tool?

DK: Yes. It’s interesting, though. The first publishing company that was interested in Avery and Gunner, the reason those books didn’t end up with them, is that they have this belief that there are things you have to do to make it marketable to young adults – the books need to be “edgy.” When I realized what those requirements were, I found them objectionable.

I was content to not ever have it published, rather than do that. It wasn’t until I met Nancy Lohr, acquisitions editor at JourneyForth (Christian books) and she said, “No, you don’t have to do that. This is exactly the kind of thing we want.” That’s how they got published.

Otherwise they’d be sitting in the drawer. It was after that I learned that there was a whole world of Christian writers. I’m a Christian, I’m a writer, but I never knew that we were an entity. Then I found the Catholic Writers Guild and I write for them, too!

AUTHOR, SEE page 13

n Tuesday, Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Alter Christus.”

Reflections from various cardinals on important aspects of the priesthood. n Friday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “A Hidden Jewel: The Diocesan Museum Of Sacred Art In Venice.” Visit a former 12th-century Benedictine church cloister that is now the Diocesan Museum in Venice. Begun in 1980, it started as a decree by Cardinal Luciani (the future Pope John Paul I). n Friday, Jan. 11, 10 p.m. (EWTN) “Bloodmoney: The Business Of Abortion.” Dr. Alveda King exposes the truth behind the abortion industry from the pro-life perspective, and hosts an examination of the history of abortion in America. n Saturday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Thérèse.” The mesmerizing story of a young girl’s romance with God. Her faith and sacrifices reveal a way of life based on love and simplicity.

A contemplative film based on the true story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the most popular saint of modern times. n Sunday, Jan. 13, 11 a.m. (EWTN) “Solemn Mass For The Feast Of The Baptism Of The Lord.” From St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. n Sunday, Jan. 13, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Theology Roundtable: Theology of Prayer.” Colin Donovan, Father Joseph Mary Wolfe and the theology staff discuss what prayer is and how we can deepen our own prayer lives. n Sunday, Jan. 18, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “A People Of Life.” A look at the pro-life movement in North America, and the Knights of Columbus’ support and involvement.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

AUTHOR: FROM PAGE 12

CNH: Speaking of Catholic books, tell me about “Bread Upon the Water” and Father Tien Duong’s story that was featured in the Dec. 7, 2012, Catholic News Herald. What was the genesis for this book?

DK: Father Tien was assigned to our parish, and he was our priest for a couple of years here in Sapphire. He didn’t share a lot, but eventually he shared enough that he got us together and told his story one night. His language skills at that point were not very good – that made it difficult to follow him – but I knew he had a story in there. Once I convinced him that he really needed to tell it to the world, I did it in a series of interviews a couple hours a week for over a year. Then they transferred him before I was finished and I had to go to his new church (St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Franklin). I’d drive over in the morning and go to Mass, then stay and visit with him for an hour or two.

CNH: Tell me a bit about your latest book, “Cracks In the Ice”?

DK: “Cracks in the Ice” is also about faith, but it deals with a loss of faith first.

This is the story of Gina, the niece of a mafia don. As a very young girl, Gina has a dream of Olympic ice skating glory.

She has both the talent and the drive, and everything it takes. She’s totally committed and dedicated to getting there, and it seems that she will. Then disaster strikes. She has no coping skills, no support group. She spirals into depression. Bad decision upon bad decision, Gina ends up an alcoholic. It takes the love of two people who never gave up on her, to return her to the church of her childhood. They help her see that she is still, even though she’s not on the ice,

which is the only place she thought she was loved – God still loves her. It’s important for our young people, whether it’s alcoholism or depression or whatever it is, to see how important a support system is. They need good friends, they need a strong and loving family, and they need their faith.

CNH: You have a non-fiction book called “Just For the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog.” You’ve trained your own dogs – what is “Just For the Moment” about?

DK: It’s about my dogs’ experiences. It’s about the moments that the dogs made a difference in other people’s lives. It’s about moments that they were working as therapy dogs in nursing homes and hospitals, children’s centers, cancer treatment and hospice. It’s more of a short story collection – stories of moments.

Dogs live in the moment and they teach us to do the same thing. So when I sign these books, I write in the front, “Our lives are measured in years, but lived in moments.”

Dogs have taught me to live in the moment. Just stop worrying about what might happen later on, and don’t be worried about what happened yesterday.

You can’t do anything about it anyway.

Breathe and live in this precise moment.

Klingel is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild, the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators, the North Carolina Writers’ Network and the American Christian Fiction Writers. Her books “Avery’s Battlefield” and “Avery’s Crossroad” have been awarded bronze medals by Branson Stars and Flags Book Awards. “Just for the Moment” and “Bread Upon the Water” have received the Seal of Approval from the Catholic Writers Guild.

Her books are available on Amazon and on her website, www.booksbydeanna.com (most are available on Kindle).

For the past 15 years it has been my pleasure to help the employees of the Diocese of Charlotte plan for a secure retirement.

I would also like to be your trusted financial advisor.

Retirement planning – Life – LTC – Auto & Home Insurance Member: National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) St. Mark Catholic Church – Huntersville

THE ORATORY

Center for Spirituality

434 Charlotte Avenue, P.O. Box 11586 Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586

(803) 327-2097

rockhilloratory.org

oratorycenter@gmail.com

ICONOGRAPHY RETREAT Wednesday, February 6 – Sunday, February 10, 2013 Father Damian Higgins – Ukrainian Rite During this retreat students will pray, study and learn the traditional method of egg-tempera icon writing / painting.

All materials are included in the tuition, and the schedule is flexible for commuters with work and families. Enrollment is limited to 12 participants.

Cost: $375 tuition $200 room and board

The Dark Nights of Malcolm X

$40 meals for commuters

33rd ANNUAL CARDINAL NEWMAN LECTURE Saturday, February 16, 2013

Saturday, January 26, 2013 9:00-11:30 a.m.

St. Peter Catholic Church Reverend Bryan N. Massingale, s.t.d.

9:30am – 4:00pm Alice Camille

The Newman Lecture is an annual gift from the Rock Hill Oratory to the regional Church to celebrate the life and ministry of the English Oratorian, Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman.

Associate Professor, Marquette University Noted lecturer and commentator on issues of social and racial justice

Reverend Massingale will explore the major conversions of Malcolm X’s life in the light of the Carmelite understanding of the “dark night of the soul.”

He will show the implications of this spirituality for pursuing social justice and the challenges of church membership in these trying times.

Ken Altman

Call: 704-839-3755 or email: kaltman1@metlife.com

13th Annual Kennedy Lecture

Catholic Spirituality and the Challenge of Social Justice

13

The lecture is open to all without charge and includes noontime Eucharist, a light lunch and a short chamber music concert.

St. Peter Catholic Church | 507 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC Parking is free (enter to the left of the church) ADMISSION IS FREE Questions: Email: KennedyLecture@gmail.com or call the church office: 704-332-2901

Pre-registration is not required but we would appreciate you contacting us

Made possible by a generous gift from the Joan and Keith Kennedy Family

with the number of participants in your group so we can plan accordingly.

14

iiiJanuary 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

MARCHING FOR

LIFE Speak out against 40 years of ‘unprecedented child-killing in our country’

Join the Jan. 11 Charlotte march – in person or online SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — The United States is approaching a somber anniversary on Jan. 22, with the 40th anniversary of the legalization of abortion. The National March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 25 will give citizens from across the country the opportunity to make their voices heard in the nation’s capital, but people in the Diocese of Charlotte can also support the pro-life cause by participating in a similar march closer to West home.

The seventh-annual March for Life Charlotte will take place on Friday, Jan. 11. The event will begin with a 9 a.m. Mass for the Unborn at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, followed by a 1.2-mile march at noon from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center on South Church Street to the heart of uptown Charlotte at Independence Square, ending in front of the Charles H. Jonas Federal Courthouse.

This annual grassroots effort includes speeches, testimonies and prayers for the recognition of the sanctity of all human life, from the moment of conception until natural death.

Father Peter West, vice president of missions for Human Life International, will be the guest speaker for the march as well as the celebrant and homilist at the 9 a.m. Mass. As a member of the pro-life missionaries of the world, Father West works to carry out HLI’s mission to “respond to our calling as followers of Jesus Christ by building a culture of life and of love around

the world through education, outreach, advocacy and service.”

Marchers will gather starting at 11 a.m. outside the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, 1123 South Church St., and the march will start at noon. Signs conveying pro-life messages will be available for participants who want them.

Marchers will proceed to the corner of Trade and Tryon streets, where Father West will preach and testimonies will be offered. Marchers will then continue to the federal courthouse at 401 West Trade St. a little after 1 p.m. to pray the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Catholics of all ages, local clergy and Catholic students are encouraged to participate in this powerful witness for the sanctity of human life. It is a time to pray for reparation for the millions of babies killed by abortion since 1973, including more than 26,000 in North Carolina in 2011, and to pray for the mothers and fathers who are victims of this violence.

Tina Witt, organizer of the March for Life Charlotte, hopes that in light of the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, more people will turn out for this year’s march.

Speaking just a few days after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, Witt noted, “Everyone is stricken with the horror over the tragedy in Connecticut,” adding, “We pray everyone also to be stricken with the horror of the reported 26,192 unbaptized babies killed in the state of North Carolina alone in the year 2011.”

The anniversary of Roe v. Wade, she said, marks 40 years “of unprecedented child-killing in our country – a ‘legalized’ death sentence to innocent little souls.

“We pray for everyone to come out and be a witness to stand up for the rights of the pre-born, to march, to pray, to get in the line of fire for them – so that the last child who is aborted will utter like a little Christ, ‘It is finished.’”

Even if you cannot attend the local march, donations to underwrite the Charlotte march are always welcome. Go online to www.marchforlifecharlotte.org for details, or mail contributions to: March for Life Charlotte, P.O. Box 78575, Charlotte, N.C. 28271.

WATCH THE MARCH LIVE ONLINE! The March for Life Charlotte will be broadcast live online starting at noon on Friday, Jan. 11. Go to www.catholicnewsherald.com to

walk alongside the marchers, hear their testimonies and join your voices in prayer for an end to abortion.

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January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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END HERE Marchers will then proceed down West Trade Street toward the federal courthouse. After the recitation of the rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the march will conclude.

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ST. At the corners of Trade and Tryon streets, presentations and testimonies will be given, including preaching by Father Peter West.

A time of quiet prayer will conclude the presentations. March organizers caution everyone to be mindful of the busy uptown traffic and obey all laws for pedestrians.

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Free parking and restrooms are available in The Green parking deck next to St. Peter Church.

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March for Life will start at noon Friday, 11. Line up beginning at 11 a.m. outside diocesan Pastoral Center parking lot at corner of West Palmer and South Church ets. Free parking will be in the overflow lot essible from West Palmer Street, across m the Pastoral Center. Non-MACS buses not park in the overflow lot – instead, buses uld park where available along the sides of t Palmer Street or elsewhere nearby. The X rail stop at Carson Boulevard is also one k away. Restrooms are available on the first r of the Pastoral Center.

Marchers will proceed up South Church Street, turning right onto West Carson Boulevard.

Marchers will turn left at the intersection of South Tryon Street and West Carson Boulevard, towards uptown Charlotte, and will continue past St. Peter Church to the corner of Trade and Tryon streets.

LYNX STATION CARSON BLVD.

Signs conveying pro-life messages will be available for any marchers who want them.

The line-up for the march will be: the crucifix (carried by Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte), the Knights of Columbus, the image of Divine Mercy carried by a brother of the Missionaries of the Poor, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary carried by members of the Knights of Columbus Council 770, Silent No More witnesses carrying an image of an unborn child, other Knights of Columbus members, priests and deacons, and the laity.

Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald graphic by Tim P. Faragher | Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 FROM THE COVER

Plans under way for 40th annual March for Life in nation’s capital Other pro-life events

Churches across the Diocese of Charlotte are making plans to participate in the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., set for Jan. 24-25, 2013.

The national event features a Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, another Mass for North Carolinians celebrated jointly by Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge, a youth rally, the dramatic march up the Mall from the Capitol to the U.S. Supreme Court, and more. This march will mark the 40th anniversary of the legalization of abortion.

Here is a list of some participating parishes as of press time Jan. 2:

Jan. 19 — Raleigh 8 a.m., Mass for Life: Bishop Michael F. Burbidge will celebrate the annual Mass for Life at St. Joseph Church in Raleigh. At 7:45 a.m., there will be a prayer service memorializing the unborn children of Project Rachel participants.

1 p.m., March for Life: The Raleigh diocese will participate with other pro-life advocates, including co-sponsor N.C. Right to Life, beginning at Nash Square on the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets. Headline speakers, followed by a procession through downtown Raleigh, ending with refreshments at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

At www.ncrtl.org: Learn more about the Raleigh Rally and March for Life

St. Barnabas, Arden

Travel via chartered bus to attend the march with pastor Father Adrian Porras Jan. 24-26. Attend the youth rally, the Mass and the March for Life, along with a concluding Mass celebrated by Father Porras. Call Debbie Scott at 228-493-5923 to find out more and reserve a seat.

St. Michael, Gastonia

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Attend the national Mass and the North Carolina Mass, the March for Life, and more Jan. 24-26.

Motor coach, group hotel rates, and some meals included.

To reserve a seat, contact Linda Mooney at vpmooney@ aol.com or 704-589-3930. Reservations available until the trip is sold out.

St. Aloysius, Hickory / St. Joseph, Bryson City

Parishioners led by pastors Father Bob Ferris and Father Shawn O’Neal will travel Jan. 24-25 on two chartered buses to the March for Life. Accommodations at a nearby parish and two meals included. To reserve a seat or get details, email or call Bob Hall at bobnancyhall@ charter.net or 828-322-9570.

Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro

A bus will pick up passengers in the Greensboro, Burlington and Durham areas on the way to D.C. Jan. 25. Participants will go to Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and the youth rally, as well as visit their local congressional representatives. Discounted rates for youth and college students available. Reserve a seat with Lydia Manca at 336-617-8798.

St. mark, Huntersville

Travel to D.C. on a chartered bus to attend the Vigil Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 24, and the N.C. Mass and the March for Life on Jan. 25. Cost is $10 per person and includes lodging at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Arlington. Contact Gini Bond at 704-562-9573 or email allen_gini@bellsouth.net to reserve a seat.

8,461 babies killed in Mecklenburg County alone last year!!

Come and save our children today… join the 7th Annual March for Life Charlotte and pray.

Friday, January 11

Be a witness for the sanctity of human life and an act of reparation for an end to abortion.

March for Life Schedule

Mass for the Unborn 9:00am St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 Guest Preacher Fr. Peter West, Vice President of Missions - Human Life International 11:00am Start to gather in overflow parking lot across from the Pastoral Center at 1123 S. Church St. to prepare for march

Fr. Peter West

Jan. 24-25 — Washington, D.C. National Prayer Vigil for Life: Opening Mass at 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Celebrant and homilist: Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., chairman-elect, USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Prayer, confession, Adoration and Holy Hours for Life will continue throughout the night and into the morning of Friday, Jan. 25, ending with a closing Mass at 7:30 a.m. celebrated by Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell.

11:30 a.m. North Carolina Mass for Life: Join North Carolina Bishops Peter Jugis and Bishop Burbidge for Mass at the basilica. Then accompany them in the national March for Life on the National Mall, marching with hundreds of thousands of others to the steps of the Supreme Court.

Noon, March for Life Rally: The rally begins on the National Mall, west of 8th Street near the Smithsonian Castle.

1:30 p.m., March for Life: The march will begin immediately after the rally and follow its customary route up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill.

11:45am Instructions for march and prayer before march 12:00pm Begin march to Trade and Tryon Streets where Fr. Peter West will preach; then to the courthouse at 401 W. Trade St. to pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Go to www.marchforlifecharlotte.org for details on parking and signs

Pro-life music to inspire marchers this year

At www.usccb.org: See a detailed schedule for the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the basilica At www.marchforlife.org: Get more information about the D.C. March for Life

MTV. “I never rose again in the entertainment field, and the reasons for the abortion fizzled away and left me with the simple realization that I had committed murder against one of God’s beautiful children – my child,” he recounts.

MacDonald has given permission for some of his songs to be played during the March for Life in Charlotte.

Listen and download David MacDonald’s music at www.catholicbridge.com/ catholic/pro_life_songs.php.

CHARLOTTE — As marchers carry signs and walk through the streets of uptown Charlotte, this year they will be able to enjoy an inspirational soundtrack

by Canadian musician David MacDonald.

MacDonald started writing pro-life themed music after his own experiences with abortions. MacDonald, a member of Silent No More, has written theme songs for the National March for Life in Canada.

— Kimberly Bender, online reporter He was rising in the entertainment industry when a girlfriend got pregnant, according to his testimony recounted on www. catholicbridge. com. He helped to pay for her abortion, and writes, “I did not learn my lesson” as another girlfriend also got pregnant and also had an abortion.

After that, MacDonald lost his voice, his performing job and his chance to tour with Photo by Cynthia Bredfeldt, courtesy of www.catholicbridge.com Madonna and David MacDonald stands (second from right) with the Silent No More awareness audition for campaign, in this undated photo.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com

Save a life, learn more about abortion

Other opportunities to help and learn more

Any woman who is pregnant and in need can turn to the pro-life movement for help. She never has to feel that abortion is the only option. Thousands of pregnancy centers, churches and other organizations are providing counseling, medical services, legal advice, job and education opportunities, adoption services, or just the understanding ear of a friend.

n Join the prayer campaign. Prayer is the foundation of everything Catholics do in the pro-life movement.

Strengthen the movement, save lives, and change hearts and minds by praying explicitly each day for an end to abortion, for the babies and their parents, for doctors and public officials, and for all who are working in this great cause. At PrayerCampaign.org is a source for prayers to end abortion, and also check out prolifeprayers.com.

Diocese of Charlotte support services: Pregnancy Support: 1-888-789-4989 Natural Family Planning: 704-370-3230 Adoption: Asheville: 828-255-0146; Charlotte: 704-370-3262; Winston-Salem: 336-714-3203 Option Line of Care Net/Heartbeat: 1-800-395-HELP; PregnancyCenters.org National Life Center: 1-800-848-LOVE

There is forgiveness after abortion Catholics who reject abortion do not reject those who have had abortions. Counseling, forgiveness and healing can be found for both men and women after abortion.

Priests for Life operates the world’s largest ministry for healing after abortion. Known as “Rachel’s Vineyard,” this ministry holds hundreds of retreats worldwide each year and provides follow-up services as well. For more information: Diocese of Charlotte, Maggi Nadol, 704-370-3229 Rachel’s Vineyard: 1-877-HOPE-4-ME; RachelsVineyard.org National Helpline for Abortion Recovery: 1-866-482LIFE; NationalHelpLine.org

within the Diocese of Charlotte

n Partner with the Silent No More awareness campaign. At SilentNoMoreAwareness.org, Catholics can join with the world’s largest movement of women and men who have lost children to abortion. Doing so spreads the word that healing and forgiveness are available. n Exercise political responsibility. The pro-life movement works across party lines and calls everyone to rediscover that the foundational principle of government is the right to life, and the duty of government is to protect life. Moreover, if Catholics want public policies to be based on that principle, then it’s necessary to participate in elections and in communicating with those who are elected.

Catholic Voice North Carolina, CatholicVoiceNC.org, is the non-partisan voice of the state’s two Catholic bishops: Charlotte Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Michael F. Burbidge. Catholic Voice North Carolina participants have sent thousands of e-mails to legislators and other public officials when life issues were under consideration. Participants receive e-mail alerts when a public policy issue regarding life is under consideration.

There is no cost to join.

Femcare, 62 Orange St., Asheville

n Make a tax-deductible donation. The diocesan Respect Life office welcomes donations online at www.cssnc.org, or by mail: Catholic Social Services, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203-4003. Support the Charlotte March for Life: online at www.marchforlifecharlotte. org, or by mail: March for Life Charlotte, P.O. Box 78575, Charlotte, NC 28271.

Carolina Womancare PA/Abortion Medical Services, 712 N. Elm St., High Point

A Preferred Women's Health Center, 3220 Latrobe Dr., Charlotte Carolina Center for Women, 421 N. Wendover Road, Charlotte Family Reproductive Health, 700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte A Woman's Choice of North Carolina, 201-E Pomona Drive, Greensboro Piedmont Carolina Medical Clinic, 2425 Randleman Road, Greensboro

Planned Parenthood/Winston-Salem Health Center, 3000 Maplewood Ave., Suite 112, Winston-Salem

Live Coverage of Charlotte March for Life!

Available online at

CatholicNewsHerald.com Starting at noon Jan. 11 Walk with the marchers Listen to the prayers for the unborn Interviews with participants

704-370-3333

17

Abortion Facilities

— Source: www.PriestsforLife.org and staff

www.catholicnewsherald.com

FROM THE COVERI

Tim P. Faragher | catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

2012 Embracing the Cross: Living our faith with courage and charity

A brief look back at 10 significant stories in the Charlotte diocese 1. The Democratic National Convention: Catholics say, ‘Listen up!’

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Patricia L. Guilfoyle and anthony perlas| Catholic News Herald

Zoe Griffin (top) and Andrea Hines (above, center) were among those standing out in witness of the dignity of all human life during the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. Members of several Charlotte-area parishes participated in pro-life rallies and prayer vigils while the convention was in town, while other Catholics learned more about Church teaching on a range of issues.

atholics and the issues they care about dominated the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte in September – demonstrating that our faith is not a personal matter but a public witness, a theme we saw repeated throughout 2012.

Catholics took the stage inside the convention and Catholics protested outside. They prayed, they marched, they debated. At stake: the right to life, the duty to help the poor, the care of immigrants, the protection of marriage, the protection of religious freedom – in essence, the role of our faith in the public arena. Wrestling with these incredibly difficult topics was not easy, and Catholics clashed with each other and often disagreed with what the Church teaches.

The convention ended with a controversial benediction given by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who pointedly reminded the Democrats that the rights to life and religious freedom must be protected, but it was local Catholics who spurred conversation and debate throughout the week-long convention.

At St. Peter Church, just steps away from the convention

action, Catholics talked during a week’s worth of programs highlighting issues of Catholic social teaching: solidarity with the poor, immigration reform, tax policy and the wealth gap. Not satisfied with two banners the Diocese of Charlotte hung from the church declaring the Church’s stance on life, traditional marriage and religious liberty, St. Peter parishioners hung up a third sign stating “Catholics care” about immigrants, health care and economic justice.

At nearby St. Patrick Cathedral, Catholics gathered to pray during 80 continuous hours of Eucharistic Adoration in reparation for our sins and to seek protection of religious liberty.

Catholics also prayed, marched and demonstrated on behalf of the millions of babies killed through abortion – condemning the Democratic Party’s stated “unequivocal” support for abortion access anytime, anywhere and for any reason. During the convention, pro-life Democrats asserted their worth and vowed to fight for “neutral” abortion language in the party platform, while national party leaders faced loud opposition even to keeping the word “God” in that platform.

The message that perhaps everyone could agree on: Being Catholic means embracing the Cross.

DNC, SEE page 19

TAKE A LOOK BACK: MORE PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND STORIES ONLINE At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Relive the experience of the ad limina trip to Rome and retrace the Marian pilgrims’ footsteps in France.

At www.youtube.com/dioceseofcharlotte: See lots more photos from 2012 in our highlights slideshow.

At www.facebook.com/catholicnewsherald: Tell us what your favorite story of 2012 was.

At www.pinterest.com/charlottecnh: Read all these stories and see more photos and videos, all in one place, on our Year in Review board.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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2. The HHS mandate: Standing up for religious liberty

David Hains | Catholic News Herald

Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave the closing prayer at the Democratic National Convention Sept. 6.

Following Barack Obama’s reelection win Nov. 6, Cardinal Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told the president in a congratulatory letter that the U.S. bishops pray that “you will exercise your office to pursue the common good, especially in care of the most vulnerable among us.”

DNC: FROM PAGE 18

In his homily Sept. 4, the first day of the convention, Bishop Peter J. Jugis described how all of our work – for the unborn, for religious liberty, for traditional marriage, for the poor and for immigrants – springs from the love of Christ.

“There is great power in the Cross because on the Cross Jesus showed us the power of His love. Divine Love absorbed all of that unto Himself.

Divine Love always prevails. This is the power of Christ’s love and this is the power of the Holy Eucharist – the love of Christ, which prevails over all sin and all sorrow.”

He asked, “Is there anything now that the world can throw against Jesus that it hasn’t already tried?”

“No. Christ’s grace and Christ’s love cannot be eclipsed, cannot be defeated.

His love is everlasting, His love is eternal. No force in the universe is more powerful than Christ’s love.”

In his homily to conclude the 80-hour “Vigil for Liberty,” Father Christopher Roux, pastor and rector of St. Patrick Cathedral, called out Catholics who are apathetic about their faith and encouraged everyone to embrace the Cross like they really mean it.

“Either be hot or cold. Be one or the other. Don’t be apathetic. Don’t be wishy-washy,” Father Roux said.

Shared one Catholic News Herald fan on Facebook after the convention: “I am a ... Roman Catholic. That is my ‘party.’ And if I am true to the Church, then I am a pilgrim without a homeland, I guess... And that makes me the most dangerous guy of all.”

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Brice Griffin, organizer of the Charlotte Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in March 2012, encouraged the crowd to get involved, contact federal legislators, and pray.

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hat began as an innocuous rule about women’s preventative health care, buried in the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in late 2011, erupted into a firestorm last year after Catholics realized its sweeping consequences for religious institutions, schools, churches and businesses. The mandate by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department requiring all nearly health insurance plans to include free contraception, sterilization and abortifacient coverage stood in direct opposition to Catholic teaching – and it went further, narrowly defining what a religious organization is and limiting exemptions to the HHS mandate to only those religious employers who primarily hire or serve people of their own faith. Catholic institutions were faced with either providing contraception in

violation of Church teaching, paying severe penalties for not complying with the mandate or shutting down entirely.

Catholics across the country, led by the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey College, filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the HHS mandate’s constitutionality. Reacting to the unprecedented public outcry from Catholics, President Barack Obama modified the mandate, allowing religious employers to deflect the cost for birth control to their insurance carriers, but opponents criticized the move as ignoring the unconstitutionality of the mandate itself.

“Stand Up for Religious Freedom” rallies were held nationwide, including in Charlotte, Marion and Winston-Salem. The U.S. bishops launched a full-scale opposition campaign – the “Fortnight for Freedom,” a 14-day period of prayer, education and action to expose the attack on religious freedom.

In homilies throughout the year, Bishop Jugis criticized the HHS mandate and reminded the faithful that Catholics must live our faith in our personal lives and in the public arena: Our faith is not “a personal hobby,” he said.

In a letter to the Catholic News Herald, reader Ed Dowd noted, “I think it is refreshing that the leaders in getting this ruling overturned are the monks at Belmont Abbey ... I don’t think suing the federal government to get back your First Amendment rights is covered in The Rule of St. Benedict. God bless them – we pray for their success, for it will be our success, too.”

Belmont Abbey College’s lawsuit was initially tossed out, but a federal appeals court ruled in December that the Obama administration must provide a wider exemption for religious organizations who believe the HHS contraception mandate violates their consciences. The government has until March 31 to comply.

3. Voting yes to support marriage

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Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Father Frank Cancro, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, uses a rope made of three strands to illustrate a point about how people of faith must bring their beliefs into their decision-making process: basing the morality of their actions on God’s natural law, Church teaching and tradition, and our properly-formed consciences bound up together.

George Hoffman Jr. | Catholic News Herald

Parishioners at St. Ann Church in Charlotte stood along Park Road on May 6, 2012, holding signs and forming a prayer chain to demonstrate their support of the constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage. North Carolinians went to the polls on May 8 to approve the amendment by an overwhelming margin.

orth Carolina overwhelmingly said “I do” to a constitutional amendment to define marriage, by a 3 to 2 margin, with heavy turnout to the polls on May 8, becoming the 31st state to enshrine traditional marriage in its constitution.

Reaction from North Carolina’s two bishops, who had championed the amendment as a way to protect any arbitrary redefinition of marriage, was enthusiastic: “I am pleased that the people of North Carolina voted for marriage. The Church consistently teaches that marriage is created by God as the faithful and exclusive union of one man and one woman, open to the gift of children,” Bishop Jugis said.

Bishop Jugis had mentioned the marriage amendment battle during his “ad limina” meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, which happened to be the same day as the statewide vote. In his homily at Mass at the altar of the tomb of Blessed John XXIII in St. Peter’s Basilica that morning, Bishop Jugis said he and Bishop Burbidge had endured scorn for their efforts to uphold Church teaching on marriage. It was a cross worth bearing, he said, “to be courageous in witnessing to the Gospel.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

4. Ad limina: Walking in the footsteps of the Apostles

Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald; L’Osservatore Romano, CNS

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ishop Jugis made his “ad limina” visit to Rome in May, his first such visit with Pope Benedict XVI. He wrote upon returning home, “I was happy to write in my ad

limina report that in the Diocese of Charlotte there is tremendous enthusiasm for the faith. The faithful of the diocese are eager to grow in their relationship with Christ, to increase their knowledge of the faith, and to put their faith into practice. The attitude of the faithful is very positive and upbeat, and there is a strong sense of mission throughout the diocese.”

Accompanying the ad limina visit were dozens of pilgrims from the diocese, who traveled to Rome and surrounding holy sites to walk in the footsteps of the apostles and deepen their faith. They discovered more than beautiful artwork and architecture.

Wrote Father John Eckert, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon and a chaplain on the pilgrimage: “The joy that arises as we look upon and encounter these beautiful artifacts of the faith is that they are not confined to some place of the distant past. Though some of these treasures have been around for nearly 2,000 years, the faith they inspire does not find itself living only in antiquity, but is very much alive today!”

Christopher Lux | Catholic News Herald

Cutting the ribbon to Room At The Inn’s new maternity center in Belmont July 16 were (from left) Tom Mathis, RATI’s board president; Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey; Cindy Brown, vice chair of Feminists for Life of America; Jeannie Wray, RATI’s executive director; and Bishop Jugis.

5. Speaking out for life

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esides the pro-life rallies at the Democratic National Convention and religious freedom rallies against the HHS mandate, hundreds of Catholics took to the streets of Charlotte and Washington, D.C., for the annual March for Life in January. They prayed outside abortion mills in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem, they prayed during 40 Days for Life campaigns in the spring and the fall, and they prayed again in October on Respect Life Sunday.

They also took action to help provide women with alternatives to abortion – supporting crisis pregnancy centers, opening a pro-life OB/GYN practice, and celebrating the opening of what’s believed to be the first college-based maternity center in the United States.

“Congratulations, this day has arrived,” Father Frank Pavone, president of Priests for Life, told those gathered in Belmont July 16 for the unveiling of Room at the Inn’s dream: a 10,000-square-foot facility for women on the campus of Belmont Abbey College.

But on a related front, a step backward: In December a federal judge struck down North Carolina’s plan to issue “Choose Life” license plates and fund crisis pregnancy centers from the fees, calling it “viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”

6. Eucharistic Congress: Behold the Lamb of God

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Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

ore than 12,000 Catholics from across the Diocese of Charlotte converged on the Charlotte Convention Center for the eighth-annual Eucharistic Congress Sept. 21-22 – another record crowd. The 2012 Eucharistic Congress theme “Behold the Lamb of God – The Source and Summit of the New Evangelization” set the scene for a joyful and spirit-filled Congress, followed by an emphasis on prayer and Eucharistic Adoration.

In his opening remarks to congress goers after the Holy Hour, Bishop Jugis said, “May today assist us in growing in awe and amazement at the profound gift of the Eucharist in the mission of the Church: ‘Behold the Lamb of God, the source and summit of the New Evangelization.’ May our participation at the Eucharistic Congress deepen our appreciation and our devotion to His Eucharistic Presence. Today is a day for us to encourage each other in this great opportunity for worship and service.”

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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7. Nurturing vocations

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Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Newly-ordained Father Peter Shaw embraces his father, Deacon William Shaw, after giving him a blessing following his ordination June 2. Also ordained to the priesthood were Father Jason Barone and Father Matthew Codd.

e gave thanks last year as Jason Barone, Matthew Codd and Peter Shaw were ordained priests for the diocese. Their ordination Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville June 2 was filled with family, friends and well-wishers. The joy was especially evident when the three new priests exchanged the sign of peace with the large array of brother priests, active and retired, who traveled from across the diocese to celebrate the ordinations, which were presided over by Bishop Jugis. Bishop Jugis encouraged the new priests, “Love everyone unconditionally and shepherd them in Christ.”

Also, seminarian Jason Christian was ordained a transitional deacon July 7, the next step towards priesthood, and 15 men were instituted as lectors on their journey to becoming permanent deacons for the diocese.

Sister Mary Immaculata of the Divine Shepherd professed final vows with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Charlotte on Divine Mercy Sunday, and Benedictine monks Brother Tobiah Abbott and Brother Elias Correa-Torres took final vows on the feast of St. Benedict at Belmont Abbey.

Dominican Sister Mary Leo Nordmark, a former Lincolnton parishioner, and Maryknoll Sister Rebecca Nyaki, who cares for disabled schoolchildren at St. Gerard House in Hendersonville, also professed their final vows.

Above, newly professed Sister Mary Immaculata, P.C.P.A., kneels before Bishop Jugis to receive her ring, the symbol of her solemn profession, on Divine Mercy Sunday April 15 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Left, 40 deacons from around the diocese vowed to recommit themselves to their ministry during a special Mass Aug. 10 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte cooked a huge Thanksgiving meal Nov. 16 for clients of Lifespan, which serves children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities in Charlotte and other locations throughout North Carolina. The annual tradition is a service project of the Ladies Rosary Society, one of OLC’s most active ministries. This year 14 volunteers from the parish fed more than 150 Lifespan clients.

9. Charity: Being the hands and feet of Jesus 8. Inspiring youth

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he year was filled with notable inspirational events and programs for young people across the diocese. The Diocesan Youth Council marked its 35th anniversary, and it held its annual youth conference at Black Mountain April 2729. Also, students from about 20 colleges across the diocese attended the “Give Your Heart Away” conference at the Catholic Conference Center Feb. 10-12, organized by Catholic Campus Ministries. Hundreds of young people also turned out to the bishop’s annual Lenten Youth Pilgrimage at Belmont Abbey College March 23-24, the prelude to the Eucharistic Congress in September.

Top, teens at the Eucharistic Congress enjoyed games and fellowship during their program. Left, youths from 33 churches across the diocese took part in the 35th annual Diocesan Youth Conference April 27-29 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center.

Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald; photo provided by Paul Kotlowski

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he faithful wholeheartedly took part in an astonishing number of charitable causes, from Albemarle to WinstonSalem.

A couple of noteworthy initiatives: Parishioners across the diocese raised money and supplies for victims of Hurricane Sandy, and they joined their voices in prayer for those affected by the massacre in Newtown, Conn. Closer to home, area parishioners, in partnership with Catholic Social Services, chipped in to help their neighbors recover from tornadoes that tore through Davidson and Murphy.

Jenny Cox | Catholic News Herald

St. Matthew parishioners collected 100,000 pounds of food for their 10th Annual World Food Drive, reaching a total of 1 million pounds donated over the life of the program, to help the poor in Haiti, Zambia and local hunger organizations in the Charlotte area. They packaged more than 285,000 meals to feed the hungry at the Charlotte parish’s Stop Hunger Now event July 14.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis; Father James Stuhrenberg, pastor; and other local dignitaries broke ground Sept. 29 on a new church for St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jefferson.

Located at the foot of Mount Jefferson, the 15-acre site already features a prayer garden that parishioners constructed. The 10,205-square-foot church will have a “Gothic mountain” style, featuring Gothic pointed arches, stonework and a vaulted wooden ceiling.

Ty Reamer | Catholic News Herald

The award-winning choir at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte sings during a Holy Week Mass. Besides providing music at Mass, the choir regularly performs in concert, encouraging people to rise to their feet and join in praise and worship of God.

10. Building local Catholic culture

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ur diocese abounds with people using their God-given talents to build up local Catholic art, literature and culture.

St. Benedict Press, a family-owned publisher of Catholic literature, opened a studio on the former Sacred Heart campus in Belmont, where it films Catholic writers and theologians and produces companion multimedia content to its print titles.

The “Catholicism” series with Father Robert Barron, produced by former Charlottean Nancy Ross, enthralled thousands at parishes across the diocese. Many parishes hosted study groups to dive into the 10-part series and learn more about our faith, especially as the Year of Faith opened in November.

Catholic Scripture Study International’s founder Gail Buckley started a Radio Maria USA radio program, and diocesan Natural Family Planning program director Batrice Adcock launched a blog for Catholic women.

“Charlie’s Scars,” a documentary about former St. Matthew parishioner Charlie Petrizzo, who nearly died in multiple accidents and who now trains therapy dogs, was screened in a Charlotte film festival.

ABCatholic founder Zachery Brakefield, a local videographer, created a learning CD series for babies featuring Catholic themes.

Artists displaying their work included WinstonSalem stained glass artist Betti PettinattiLongionotti, Kernersville potter Peter Strafaci, and Shelby painter Chrys Riviere-Blalock.

Local Catholics who published books included St. Pius X parishioner Stephen Martin, Father Herbert Burke (pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City), St. John the Baptist parishioners Ann Strozzo and Ann Marie Rowe, St. Ann parishioner Conor Gallagher and young adult author Deanna Klingel.

Mike Murray | Catholic News Herald

Growth, growth and more growth Parishes continued to respond to growth in 2012 with groundbreakings, expansions and renovations – all to meet the needs of an estimated 325,000 Catholics: n Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point broke ground for a parish hall and larger school. n The cloistered Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the Te Deum Foundation jointly bought 484 acres for a monastery and future regional seminary in Mooresboro, about 60 miles west of Charlotte. n Two new cemeteries, including columbaria, were blessed by Bishop Jugis at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton. n Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville expanded into a larger building, and St. Matthew Church in Charlotte bought 33 acres in Waxhaw for a future “south” campus. n St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte moved forward with plans to build a new ministry center and chapel, and St. Luke Church in Mint Hill kicked off a capital campaign to pay off a new land purchase for a future church expansion. Also, St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte opened an outdoor pavilion. n Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte expanded to

Famous faces, right here in our diocese The Diocese of Charlotte hosted numerous leading Catholic speakers, intellectuals and activists in 2012.

Some of them were:

Dr. Peter Kreeft, Catholic author and philosophy professor, spoke at St. Mark Church on “How to live a virtuous life in the 21st century.”

John Allen Jr., veteran Vatican reporter and author, spoke at St. Matthew Church about his latest book, “The Future Church: Current Trends that will Revolutionize the Church.”

Father Tad Pacholczyk, director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, gave a presentation on ethical decision-making and advance planning for end-oflife issues.

Johnnette Benkovic, host of the EWTN program “Women of Grace” and inspirational speaker, keynoted the Room at the Inn banquet Oct. 25.

Sister Simone Campbell, head of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice lobby, spoke three times at St. Peter Church – about “Faithful Citizenship” and the Vatican’s scrutiny of the Leadership of Catholic Women Religious, and then again at the Democratic National Convention in September.

Shawn Carney, the national campaign director for 40 Days for Life, visited Charlotte to pray outside the Hebron abortion mill March 8, one of eight abortion facilities in the diocese.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Julio Ruiz, a member of Estudiantina Nueva Generacion of Asheboro, plays the tricordia, which is a variation of the mandolin, during Mass at Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2012.

add a seventh grade, putting it on track to become a PK-8 school by 2013-2014. n Planning on supportive housing for developmentally-disabled adults in Charlotte, through the Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp., also moved forward. Mother Teresa Villas will feature 12 apartments for very low-income adults who are physically or intellectually disabled and can live independently. n The Missionaries of the Poor added a hydroponic greenhouse and improved a community garden to help feed more needy families in the Monroe area. n The sanctuaries of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton and St. Aloysius Church in Hickory were remodeled and beautified, and Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City completed installation of 10 stained-glass windows featuring scenes from the life of Jesus. n In conjunction with the school’s 10th anniversary, St. Mark School renovated its chapel.

Jason Evert, national inspirational speaker and author on chastity, spoke to teens at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte and St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Catholic composer Dan Schutte led the audience in singing “City of God” during a special concert at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville Aug. 10.

Dr. Stanley Fish, literary theorist and legal scholar, kicked off Belmont Abbey College’s first literary conference June 23.

Serrin Foster, president of Feminists for Life of America, spoke at Belmont Abbey College, noting, “Abortion is a reflection that we have not met the needs of women.”

Dr. Robert P. George, a renowned legal scholar, lectured on religious liberty at Belmont Abbey College Oct. 4.

Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa, host of the popular EWTN program “EWTN Live” and other programs as well as a renowned theologian and Church historian, came to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte for three days in November.

TV actor Frank Runyeon performed one-man religious dramas in Asheboro and Boone, and Broadway singer FRANC D’AMBROSIO performed Christmas programs in Asheville and Charlotte.

Dan Schutte, Catholic composer of such wellknown hymns as “You Are Near,” “Here I Am, Lord,” “Table of Plenty” and “City of God,” performed during Hendersonville’s 100th anniversary celebrations.

Catholic Charities USA’s president Father Larry Snyder visited during CCUSA regional training about parish social ministry, hosted by the diocese at St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Milestones celebrated

Jubilarians

2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte, and there were signs everywhere of the growing faith and stewardship among the faithful in what had once been considered mission territory.

65 years: Monsignor Anthony Kovacic 60 years: Father Joseph Elzi, CM 60 years: Mercy Sister Monica Perez, Mercy Sister Carmen Cruz and Mercy Sister Mary Andrew Ray 55 years: Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin and Monsignor Joseph Kerin 25 years: Father Bernard Manley and Father Raymond Hourihan

n Parishes celebrated more than 6,000 infant baptisms, more than 5,600 first Holy Communions and more than 4,000 confirmations. More than 900 people entered the Church. In an emotional ceremony, 5-year-old Jackson Laskowski, who has been battling cancer since he was 2, received first Holy Communion and confirmation at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. n Bishop Jugis celebrated the sacraments for inmates in two state prisons in Spruce Pine July 9. It marked the first time Bishop Jugis traveled to one of the prisons to celebrate Mass and administer the sacraments of initiation. n Deacon Mark Diener was named spiritual director for the Diocese of Charlotte Cursillo community. n The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation surpassed 200 endowments, hitting the $20 million mark for the first time. n St. Matthew Church in Charlotte was named one of seven certified “Stewardship Parishes” across the country. n Father Edward Sheridan, a priest for nearly 50 years and superintendent of diocesan schools when the diocese was established in 1972, established the first endowment by a priest specifically for tuition assistance at a diocesan school. n Catholic Social Services launched a vehicle donation program in 2012 and raised $11,000 in the program’s first six months.

Photo provided by Jeannie DeSena, n Four Belmont Abbey College jeanniedesena.zenfolio.com alumni embarked on an eightmonth mission experience in Kenya, Jackson Laskowski celebrated his first Communion and confirmation at St. Thomas part of the college’s newly-formed Benedictine Volunteer Corps.

Aquinas Church in Charlotte on Sept. 29.

In Memoriam Mercy Sister Mary Michel Boulus, noted Lebanese-American community leader and former president of Sacred Heart College, died Dec. 9, 2012, aged 86.

Deacon Jack Burke Jr., who served Sacred Heart Church in Brevard, died Feb. 29, 2012, aged 77.

Photo provided by Donald Waugh

Bishop Jugis administered the sacrament of confirmation to nine inmates during visits to two state prisons in Spruce Pine July 9. The diocesan prison ministry, which leads Residents Encounter Christ retreats and regular visits to the facilities, had been ministering to the nine men at Avery Mitchell and Mountain View correctional institutions for several years. Five men were baptized, and six also received first Holy Communion. n More than 1,600 laptops were distributed to Charlotte Catholic and Christ the King high school students last fall in a major “Technology Infusion” initiative totaling $2.2 million and capping more than two years of planning by diocesan school leaders.

Parishes marking anniversaries in 2012 n Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, 100 n Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, 50 n Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, 60 n Sacred Heart Mission in Burnsville, 50

Providence Sister Petra Daschbach, longtime teacher and member of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington in her final years, died Jan. 13, 2012, aged 92.

Vincentian Father Daniel E. Donovan, who served St. Mary Church in Greensboro from 1949 to 1956, died Jan. 26, 2012.

Father William Evans, who served parishes in western North Carolina and taught at Western Carolina University, died Aug. 20, 2012, aged 77.

Benedictine Father Kenneth Geyer, educator and musician at Belmont Abbey College for more than 70 years, died Feb. 2, 2012.

Jesuit Father William J. Lynch, who served St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville for nearly 20 years, died June 10, 2012, aged 94.

Sister Mary Joseph McCloat, a Little Sister of the Assumption who served the poor for more than 70 years, died June 15, 2012.

Benedictine Father Matthew McSorley, an English professor and mentor to countless students at Belmont Abbey College and priest who served St. Helen Mission in Spencer Mountain, died May 24, 2012, aged 91.

Sister Helene Nagle, a Sister of St. Joseph for 57 years who taught in Catholic schools, served as principal at St. Ann School in Charlotte and worked with the poor, died June 9, 2012, aged 76.

Deacon Edwin Rodriguez, who served at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, died July 1, 2012, aged 63.

St. Mark School celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2012.

Left, eighth-graders let go of balloons during the 10th anniversary celebration.

From left are Anne Munday, Blaire Schneider, Emily Langbo and Allisson Shimmoller.

Photo provided by Denise Romaniello

Mercy Sister Mary Anita Sheerin, who served St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mocksville and St. Eugene Parish in Asheville, and was chaplain at Mission/ St. Joseph Hospital in Asheville, died Nov. 15, 2012.

Deacon Joe Smith, one of the first permanent deacons ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte in 1983, died Aug. 28, 2012, aged 89. He served Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Ignatius Zampino, who served St. Thomas Aquinas Church from 1995 to 2006, died Sept. 1, 2012, aged 78.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Faithful encouraged to send cards, keep Newtown priests in prayers St. Rose of Lima Church has taken center stage in the aftermath of the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School Dec. 14. Parishioners and community members gathered for a prayer vigil the night of the shootings and flocked to Sunday Masses seeking solace. Many of the 20 children who died were buried after funeral Masses at that church.

The community has looked to Monsignor Robert Weiss, Father Luke Suarez and Catholic leaders for pastoral outreach in the aftermath.

Father Suarez’s sister recently sent an email asking for prayers and encouragement for her brother and Monsignor Weiss.

Father Suarez has been a priest for only a little over a year. He was in seminary at Mount St. Mary’s in Send cards with encouragement to Father Emmitsburg, Md., with Father Matthew Luke Suarez and Monsignor Robert Weiss at: Codd, who was ordained in 2012 and now 46 Church Hill Road serves as parochial vicar at St. Mark Newtown, CT 06470 Church in Huntersville.

According to the email, Father Suarez and Monsignor Weiss arrived at the school within moments of the shooting, and have been caring for the community’s spiritual needs ever since.

All they ask for is prayer. But Father Suarez’s sister wanted to do more.

“I also want to ask everyone to search their hearts, and if the Holy Spirit moves you, please consider sending one of your family’s Christmas cards to the rectory, with a few words of love and encouragement,” she wrote in the email.

Father Codd also encouraged everyone to pray for Father Suarez and Monsignor Weiss.

“Please pray for him, because he definitely needs it,” Father Codd said.

St. Rose of Lima is a parish of 3,200 families in a town of 27,000 people.

— Catholic News Herald

Send them a note

Principal Christ Our King – Stella Maris School, a K-4 through 8th grade Catholic School with an enrollment of 600 students is accepting applications for principal.

Located in Mt Pleasant, SC, near Charleston, our school enjoys an excellent reputation as thoroughly Catholic and academically excellent.

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In Brief Parishioners mourn firefighters ambushed while responding to blaze WEBSTER, N.Y. — Christmas Masses in the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y., took on a somber tone as parishioners mourned two volunteer firefighters fatally shot while responding to a fire in a lakeshore community outside of Rochester.

Firefighters Michael Chiapperini, 43, and Tomasz Kaczowka, 19, died in a hail of gunfire Dec. 24 after being lured to a blaze that New York State Police said was set by the gunman.

Two other firefighters, Joseph Hofstetter and Theodore Scardino, were injured in the ambush and remained hospitalized in satisfactory condition Dec. 27.

Police said William Spengler Jr. ambushed first responders before turning a gun on himself.

Police are also investigating the remains of another victim found in the charred ruins of the home that Spengler shared with his sister, Cheryl Spengler. The fire eventually destroyed seven homes as first responders delayed battling the inferno until police secured the neighborhood located on a narrow strip of land along the Lake Ontario shore.

Many people at St. Rita Parish in Webster were touched by the tragedy, said Father Lance Gonyo, pastor. Kaczowka occasionally attended Mass at St. Rita when he was unable to make it to his home parish of St. Stanislaus, where he had been active with the Polish community and had been an altar server, staff members of both parishes said. A funeral Mass for Kaczowka was scheduled for Dec. 31 at St. Stanislaus Church.

He is survived by his parents and two brothers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor denied two companies’ request for an injunction while they challenge part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate in court.

In an order filed Dec. 26, Sotomayor ruled that the owners of the Hobby Lobby craft store and the Mardel Christian bookstore chains did not qualify for an injunction while they challenge requirements of the Affordable Care Act. The law took effect Jan. 1.

Four days later, a federal District Court judge in Michigan granted a temporary restraining order to Tom Monaghan, the founder of Domino’s Pizza, allowing him to decline to provide contraceptive coverage to the employees of his current business, Domino’s Farms Office Complex.

District Court Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff issued the Dec. 30 temporary restraining order, saying there would be little harm to the government in delaying possible implementation of the law at the company and that there was enough evidence of a possible valid religious rights claim by Domino Farms to justify further court proceedings.

At the Supreme Court, Sotomayor ruled on the bookstore chain’s petition because she oversees the federal circuit where Hobby Lobby filed suit challenging the HHS mandate.

The companies’ Oklahoma City-based owners contend that the mandate violates their religious beliefs because some of the drugs they are required to cover can lead to abortion. The family-owned companies have said they have no moral objection to “the use of preventive contraceptives” and will continue to cover those for employees. The owners have appealed lower-court rulings that denied their claims on religious grounds.

Meanwhile, Priests for Life won its challenge to the mandate when government lawyers agreed Dec. 20 that the pro-life organization would not have to offer contraceptive services through the health insurance it provides to employees.

— Catholic News Herald

Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte

The school is one of only a few elementary schools operating under the President – Principal Model. Our Middle School is an International Baccalaureate World School where our 5th – 8th grade students are issued iPads. We are a Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School and we are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS).

Executive Director: Gerard A. Carter, Ph.D. (704) 370-3250 Refugee Office: Cira Ponce (704) 370-3262 Family Life: Gerard Carter (704) 370-3228 Justice and Peace: Joseph Purello (704) 370-3225 OEO/CSS Murphy Satellite Office (828) 835-3535

The successful candidate must be a practicing Catholic who is able to continue the spirit of academic achievement and provide essential educational leadership in maintaining a vigorous Christian environment. Candidate must hold a Master’s Degree in Administration or Education and have at least 5 years of teaching experience. This position reports to the School President.

Salary will be commensurate with degree and experience. Position is available for the 2013 – 2014 school year. A curriculum vitae and references may be submitted to: Christ our King Stella Maris School Search Committee, c/o John Byrnes, President, Christ Our King Stella Maris School 1183 Russell Drive, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464 or by email to coksmprincipalsearch@coksm.org. These items must be received by Tuesday January 15, 2013. www.coksm.org.

U.S. justice denies HHS injunction; lower court grants one

Charlotte Region: 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Area Director: Sharon Davis (704) 370-3218 Your Local Catholic Charities Agency

Western Region: 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Area Director: Michele Sheppard (828) 255-0146 Piedmont-Triad: 627 W. Second St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101 Area Director: Diane Bullard (336) 727-0705 Greensboro Satellite Office (336) 274-5577

For information on specific programs, please call your local office.

www.cssnc.org

Strengthening Families. Building Communities. Reducing Poverty.

Our world

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Pope names Boston priest to be Vatican’s abuse investigator Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has named a canon lawyer from the Archdiocese of Boston to be the new promoter of justice in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position that includes monitoring and investigating cases of priests accused of sex abuse.

The Vatican announced the appointment Dec. 22 of Father Robert W. Oliver, an assistant to the moderator for canonical affairs of the Boston Archdiocese and a visiting professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

The 52-year old priest had served as a judge and promoter of justice in Boston tribunals and as a consultant to the Boston archdiocesan review board, a body that advises Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley in assessing accusations of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy and in determining the suitability of an accused priest for ministry.

At the Vatican, Father Oliver will succeed Auxiliary Bishop Charles Scicluna of Oliver Malta who, from 2002 until his appointment as a bishop in October, served as the Vatican’s first doctrinal congregation promoter of justice, a position similar to a prosecuting attorney in a civil court. The position also involves monitoring the procedures that national bishops’ conferences have in place for dealing with abuse accusations and handling the dismissal from the priesthood of those guilty of sex abuse.

In a statement issued by the Archdiocese of Boston, Father Oliver said, “Receiving this assignment during the Year of Faith is inspirational and it is challenging. The congregation’s role is to promote and safeguard the doctrine of the faith and morals in the universal Church,” he said.

Cardinal O’Malley said, “Father Oliver is a distinguished canon lawyer who brings the requisite experience and an understanding of the importance of this office within the life of the Church.”

Bishop-designate Robert P. Deeley, Boston archdiocesan vicar general, said Father Oliver “is an experienced canon lawyer.” In an archdiocese that was rocked by the clerical sexual abuse scandal, particularly in 2002, Bishop-designate Deeley said Father Oliver “has had an important voice in many of the major decisions we have faced as an archdiocese and in the national Church. His experience, intelligence, understanding, compassion and respect for all of God’s people have prepared him well for this important ministry of justice.”

Born in New York in 1960, he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Boston in 2000. He earned his doctorate in canon law from the Catholic University of America and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

According to the Archdiocese of Boston, Father Oliver’s late father served as justice of the New York State Supreme Court, and one of his grandfathers was chief justice of the U.S. Customs Court.

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Pope: Despite evil, human beings are hard-wired for peace Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Welcoming in the new year, Pope Benedict XVI said that despite the injustice and violence in the world, every human being yearns for and is made for peace.

“Man is made for peace, which is a gift of God,” but peace is something individuals must work tirelessly to build, he said.

The pope celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Jan. 1, which the Church marks as the feast of Mary, Mother of God and as World Peace Day. Thousands of people filled the basilica, which was decorated with white roses, small yellow flowers and evergreens.

In the crowd was a group of children wearing colorful capes and cardboard crowns in memory of the three kings who traveled to Bethlehem; three of the children brought offertory gifts to the pope.

Prayers for peace were offered in five languages; in Arabic, the prayer asked that Mary “awaken in government leaders, legislators and men and women of science respect and concern for motherhood, Gods supreme gift to humanity.”

In his homily, the pope quoted from the peace day message he had sent to government leaders around the globe.

CNS | Paul Haring Despite the “tension and conflict Pope Benedict XVI accepts offertory gifts from children dressed as the Three Kings during Mass on the feast caused by growing instances of of Mary, Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 1. inequality between rich and poor, by the prevalence of a selfish and individualistic It’s easy to forget that the good will win, since evil acts like mindset which also finds expression in an unregulated financial homicides, violence and injustice are what grab the headlines, capitalism,” as well as terrorism and crime, “I am convinced rather than acts of love and kindness, which often remain that ‘the many different efforts at peacemaking which abound hidden in the background, he said. in our world testify to mankind’s innate vocation to peace.’”

If people are to truly understand the world and what life People are called to find an inner peace with God by living is about, they must go beyond the news flash and be able to according to His will, and to enrich that gift by living peacefully silently reflect, think and listen to God. with and for others, including all of creation, he said.

“That way our soul can find healing from the inevitable Inner peace is possible even when struggling with “problems, wounds of daily life” while the mind tries to see things with darkness and distress,” he said; Mary is a prime example God’s eyes and learn to “look with truth upon our actions and with how she faced uncertainty and challenges with calm and also the evil present in us and around us.” Such self-reflection is peaceful reflection. necessary for “conversion, which makes one wiser and better” “It’s this inner peace we would want to have in the midst of and more able to act in solidarity and communion, he added. sometimes tumultuous and confusing events,” he said.

Christians are people of hope, especially in the midst of Nothing can destroy a Christian’s inner peace because darkness, because they know that what’s bad in the world it is rooted in the certainty that there is a good, loving and doesn’t come from God but comes from human sin and error, omnipotent God who always offers His grace and peace, the the pope said. pope said.

Christ is the true source of life and hope and it’s this “In fact, suffering, trials and darkness don’t corrode, but certainty “that prompts us to look to the new year with strengthen our hope, a hope that never disappoints,” he said. confidence,” he said.

Pope Benedict also tweeted a special blessing in eight After the prayer service, the pope went by popemobile into St. languages to his more than 2 million Twitter followers: “May Peter’s Square, where he visited the Vatican’s Nativity scene.

Our Lord bless you and watch over you in the new year.”

While the Swiss Guard band played “Silent Night,” the pope Speaking after the Mass from his apartment window above knelt before the manger scene for a few moments of prayer.

St. Peter’s Square, the pope highlighted the importance of On Dec. 30, the feast of the Holy Family, the pope prayed at peacemakers, who, day after day, “try to conquer evil with his noon blessing for all the families in the world. good, with the strength of truth, with the weapons of prayer Just like the Holy Family, mothers and fathers worry about and forgiveness, with honest work done well, with scientific properly raising their children, hoping to create honest and research serving life and with works of mercy.” responsible adults and citizens, the pope said.

He said there are many peacemakers in the world, but Children need not only the gift of faith, but also the personal they work without fanfare, acting quietly “like yeast helping example of their parents, he said. humanity rise up to God’s plan.”

“Let us pray that every child is welcomed as a gift from God The pope also presided over an evening prayer service with and is supported by the love of a father and mother so as to Eucharistic Adoration and the singing of a special hymn of grow like the Lord Jesus.” thanksgiving to God Dec. 31 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

He asked that Mary and Joseph’s love, fidelity and dedication No matter how many troubles in the world or in one’s life, inspire today’s Christian couples to see that “they are not “there is good in the world and this good is destined to conquer friends or lords over their children’s lives, but custodians of all thanks to God, the God of Jesus Christ, incarnate, died and this unparalleled gift of God.” risen,” he said.

ViewPoints 26

catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Patrick Hoare

A.J. Ohlhaut

We are called to be living water, refreshing the world W We, as Catholics, are the New Israel, the new People of God, and we are called to proclaim the Good News so that all people might share in the glory of God.

e are now a few months into the Year of Faith, which officially opened on Oct. 11, 2012, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Pope John XXIII convened the Council with the concept of “aggiornamento” – an updating of the Church, bringing it into a fruitful dialogue with the modern age. He also spoke of “opening the doors and windows of the Church” to let in a little fresh air.

As a Church, we’ve spent most of the past 50 years arguing about what good Pope John, and the Council fathers, really meant by all of this. One group thinks the Church has engaged the world all too well, removing the majesty from the liturgy and “dumbing down” God so that He agrees more with us rather than challenging us to walk a path of self-sacrificial love and holiness. Another group would argue that we are reversing course, seeking to return to the “glory days” of the mid-20th century, which, they would remind us, weren’t really glory days at all. It could be that both sides have really missed the point.

The prophet Ezekiel (Ez 47:1-12) gives us a stunningly beautiful image of the Church. The prophet has a vision of the new Temple, from which fresh waters flow into the salty, deadly waters of the earth’s surface. The flowing water from the Temple makes the water fresh, allowing life to spring up and thrive along the banks of the river. This, I believe, is the true vision of the Second Vatican Council – that the Church, reinvigorated by a new encounter with the ancient and unchanging Word Made Flesh, is an agent of life-giving grace flowing to refresh and renew the face of the earth. We, as Catholics, are the New Israel, the new People of God, and we are called, just like the Chosen People in the Old Testament, to proclaim the Good News so that all people might share in the glory of God. The Council was intended to engage every person – clergy, religious, and every baptized person – to become intentional evangelists and messengers of the Gospel.

Admittedly, the Church (which includes the pope and the bishops, but also me and you), has not always done that perfectly. But 50 years, in the span of centuries, is a short time.

The Church has made great progress in inviting and relying on the People of God to take an active role in the work of the Church – in parish pastoral councils, finance councils and the various ministries of parish life. Sadly, there is still a resistance among many to commit their time and talent to the work of the Church, seeing it as “the priest’s job” or the “nuns’ jobs,” with the problem being there are not enough priests, and almost no sisters, to be found.

Instead of arguing about the real meaning of the Second Vatican Council, let us commit ourselves to its purpose. Let each of us take our baptism seriously, and be that living water that refreshes the world.

Father Patrick Hoare is pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte.

Charitable GivingGIVING CHARITABLE

Most-read stories on the web

Nearly $300 $300 billion to to charities in 2011, withwith much of the Nearly billionwas wasgiven given charities in 2011, much ofmoney the comingcoming from individuals. money from individuals. = $20 billion

During 2012, 85,090 unique visitors to www. catholicnewsherald.com viewed a total of 263,367 pages.

The top 10 stories in 2012 were: n Ad Limina 2012 - A Virtual Pilgrimage.......................................9,488 n Journey in Faith - A Marian Pilgrimage to France...................7,752 n Priest assignments announced.................................................... 5,258 n Catholic Church conveys strong messages during DNC...... 3,778 n Catholics stand in peaceful protest of play in Charlotte ......3,150 n Cardinal Dolan to deliver closing prayer at DNC.................... 2,968

INDIVIDUALS 73% Source: Giving USA Foundation, Giving USA 2012

FOUNDATIONS 14%

BEQUESTS 8%

CORPORATIONS 5%

2012 Catholic News Service CNS |©Nancy Phelan Wiechec

Released this June, a report on giving in 2011 from the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy, its research partner, showed that close to $300 billion was given to charities. Individuals accounted for the “vast majority” of the charitable gifts, which has been the case, the foundation said, since it first began examining charitable donations in 1955. Religious organizations received $95.88 billion in 2011 and they remain the largest type of recipient, the report said.

n Joyful celebration as three ordained to priesthood ............2,382 n Appeals court sides with Belmont Abbey on HHS lawsuit...1,598 n St. Benedict Press resurrects old theatre on Sacred Heart campus..........................................................................................................1,330 n Bishop Peter J. Jugis: We must stand up and protect religious freedom ........................................................................................................ 1,149

Watch your tongue

I

t’s morning on Jan. 3. You get out of bed, get dressed, and go into the kitchen to make breakfast. But then you spill milk all over the counter. Or you drop the frying pan on your foot.

What do you do when this happens? Do you say something like: “Thank you, Jesus, for an opportunity to grow in virtue.” Or do you shout His name using words that evoke damnation from Him? Remember the date: Jan. 3. Irrelevant, right?

Wrong. Jan. 3 is the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Would that have any bearing on how you express your anger and frustration? Or does the fact that the Name of Jesus is the most Holy Name on the face of this planet change how you take it out on the frying pan?

If you are not saying the name of the Lord in prayer, or if you are saying it without thinking of the God who created you, chances are you shouldn’t be saying it at all. The Holy Name of the Lord, who is Kindness and Love itself, should not be used as a way of expressing anger, hurt, frustration or annoyance. Using the Lord’s Name in anger is a clever scheme of the enemy, trying to numb us to the power and wonder of the Holy Name.

In the media, words considered “offensive” must be bleeped or blanked out. However, it is shameful that the Holy Name taken in vain is not considered offensive. Yet we know that it is offensive. It offends the Creator Who gave each of us being, a body, a mind, free will, life itself. The least we can do is show respect for Him by not treating His Name as a curse.

After all, we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ Himself on our tongues at Holy Communion. We should not use those same tongues to abuse His Name.

Some might say objecting to the misuse of the Lord’s Name is old-fashioned or quaint. But it comes from an explicit instruction from God that we read in the Bible – right there in black and white in Exodus 20:7: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”

It’s like screaming curses at God instead of at the frying pan or the spilled milk, which was the problem in the first place.

Smiling and thanking Our Lord for our suffering is aiming high, but there is also nothing wrong with just grimacing and enduring minor annoyances.

When we get hurt or frustrated, we naturally want to do or say something to vent our feelings.

But it should not be yelling the Holy Name in vain.

The tongue is a powerful weapon. It can be used to praise God and give Him glory, but too often it is used to dishonor Him by failing to hold His Holy Name in the highest esteem. Profanity is a trick of the enemy designed to breed contempt and irreverence toward the Name of God, which eventually leads to contempt and irreverence of God Himself.

Don’t let your tongue become an occasion of sin.

Instead, use it to pray in reparation for the sins of profanity which wound His Sacred Heart so deeply.

A.J. Ohlhaut is a parishioner of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

January 4, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

27

Letters to the editor

Pray for our nation It is in times of senseless tragedy that our call as Christians is confirmed. When our immediate hands cannot help, we are instinctively called to prayer. More than ever, our nation, as well as our world, need our prayers. Prayer groups, whether in our own churches or within the community, urge us to join them in prayer. This was always a plea that I put on the back burner. I felt I had more pressing needs for prayer within my own family and, selfishly, for myself. Yet, recent tragedies in our world have shown me that I too am part of the chain. I may not have time to join a prayer group, but I can do my part.

Jesus taught us that faith even the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Luke 13:18-19). Sometimes we may feel as small or as insignificant as a mustard seed, but if such a tiny amount of faith can move mountains, how much more can be accomplished by millions of Christians joining in prayer? Can we make a difference? The answer is yes.

Prayer only takes a moment. As I have realized my call to prayer, I find myself praying at the oddest times: while stirring my yogurt, while washing my hands, while brushing my teeth, or while putting on my shoes.

What should we pray for? I am called to prayer for my daughter and my nieces to be able to grow and learn in nurturing, safe environments. I pray for teachers sharing my profession who each day balance the needs of both their families and their students. I am called to pray for all children, especially those who are unwanted or neglected. I pray for the hopeless, the depressed, the desperate and those suffering from mental illnesses that may impact the lives of those around them. We must pray for the souls of innocent death – for the victims, as well as for the perpetrators. And finally, I am called to prayer for both Christians and atheists. Our goal is a conversion of hearts.

If we pray for all souls and we act as examples of Jesus Christ here on earth, we can do our part to change our world. Every little step, as tiny as it may be, starts the path toward Jesus, the path toward Heaven.

Let this new year mark a new beginning in your prayer life. Get involved and join a prayer group. Maybe even start one in your own parish. Even in the quiet calm of our own homes or offices, prayer can have a massive impact. Today, let us take a moment to start the prayer chain that will link all souls, drawing them ever closer to Christ, thus filling our world with peace.

April Parker is an author, freelance writer and teacher at St. Pius X School in Greensboro.

Prayer for the innocents I was inspired to write the following prayer in response to the shooting in Connecticut: O God, we rightly mourn the slaughter of the innocents in our country and around the world. Yet in our selfishness, we, as a nation, are still too casual and cavalier about the millions we continue to slaughter through abortion or even prevent from being conceived through artificial birth control. These innocents never even reach the age of those children. When, O God, will we mourn these boys and girls who were never allowed to see the light of day? Shake us, O God! Open our eyes to what we are doing so that we can see that we are the Herods of our day who slaughter the innocent before they can even reach the age of 2! Forgive us, O God, for thinking only of ourselves and not of the lives that you desire to create so that they can also bring joy to our lives as those innocents did. Amen.

Patrick Hession is the director of religious education and RCIA at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson.

Grief support for divorced Catholics is also needed The Dec. 7, 2012, article “Grievers dread the holidays” certainly hit the feelings that are connected to the grief of the death of a loved one. I would like to add to the list of grievers those who are living with the grief at the death of their marriage. In many of the stories we share in our Separated and Divorced Catholic support groups, the tangible pain carries the same deep suffering. And there is the enhanced fact that the divorced spouse often reopens the wounds when there are children in the equation.

Our program seeks to provide grief support to the victims of divorce similar to that provided by many active parish grief support programs. There is a need for parishioners/ parishes to provide loving support for all grievers. It would be interesting for many to read the USCCB statement of Sept. 19, 2010: “The Church’s healing ministry in caring for those touched with the trauma of separation and divorce,” by Siobhan M. Verbeek, associate director, Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices.

Leo J. Gottschalk, vice president of the Catholic Divorce Ministry Board, lives in Jamestown.

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 factual 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: c atholicnews@charlottediocese.org Mail: Letters to the Editor Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203

Deacon James H. Toner

O

On kindness

ver the years, I have had the opportunity both to teach apologetics at an excellent Catholic seminary and to practice it with a number of people – too many of whom have left the faith. In teaching apologetics, most seminary professors emphasize the importance of Catholic doctrine, and rightly so, for we all must know the faith better. Apologists are fond of quoting from First Peter, in which we are instructed that we must be ready to respond to anyone who asks us about our hope and our faith (3:15).

The next line from that epistle, however, is equally critical: we are to make our defense of the faith with “gentleness and respect.” There are those who leave the Catholic faith because of intellectual disagreements about moral theology, or because they are perturbed that their priests rightly support established Catholic teaching, say, about marriage or baptism.

Many, though – far too many – have left the Church because their priests were brusque, callous and unkind. We can repeatedly read St. Paul’s adjurations about kindness (as in Col 3:12-15 or Eph 4:3132) or St. Peter’s call to virtue (2 Pt 1:3-9), but somehow miss the point that harsh words stir up anger (see Prv 15:1).

In another diocese, in another state, at another time, I served with a priest who actually shoved altar servers if they did not move fast enough; he routinely berated, or yelled at, servers, lectors, EMHCs and me. I asked him to coffee, and privately and gently urged him to show the kindness which, surprisingly and ironically, marked his conduct outside of Mass.

The fact was that the liturgy made him nervous, and that nervousness erupted in unacceptably gruff ways. I expected an explosion, but, instead, he was gracious enough to thank me. (I still had to pay for the coffee.) The improvement was noticeable – and immediate.

Some time ago, I had a discussion with a friend who, as a boy, had encountered a bully priest. He became upset when I said I thought the first requirement for any priest is orthodoxy. Priests, for instance, are not to trifle with or improvise the words and actions of the Holy Mass. I had lived through years of liturgical abuse, so I thought “reading the black and doing the red” (in the Sacramentary or Roman Missal) was paramount.

My friend would have little of that.

He agreed, of course, about orthodox preaching and practice, but he insisted that there is far more to ministry (of any kind, by the way) than that. He was entirely correct. The first lesson of apologetics, after all, is that we do not argue someone into (or back into) the faith! (The second lesson is that we don’t win converts or reverts; the Holy Spirit does.)

The Second Vatican Council told us that each of us has the obligation of spreading the faith to the best of his ability (“Lumen Gentium,” 17; see also Catechism of the Catholic Church 2044 and 2105).

The Holy Father, similarly, in proclaiming this Year of Faith, said, “What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end” (“Porta Fidei,” 15).

As a baseball coach, I learned the maxim, “The players won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” That is a good lesson for priests – and deacons – and for anyone else who bears the solemn and sacred title of “Christian.”

By prayer, faithful witness and appropriate expressions of concern, we can help anyone who has left the barque of Peter to find his way home again. Home again – to Holy Mass in the ordinary and extraordinary forms, to the seven sacraments, to Eucharistic Adoration, to all 73 books of the Bible, to the sacred Tradition and sacred Teaching of the Church, to the Liturgy of the Hours, to the Stations of the Cross, to the most beautiful music and art in the world, to the lives and intercessory prayers of the saints, to Benediction, to the most holy rosary, to novenas, to the Sacred Triduum of Holy Week, and to all the beautiful disciplines and devotions we love as Catholic Christians.

St. Thomas Aquinas called upon us to be both just and merciful. G.K. Chesterton was well known for his vigorous defense of the faith he loved, but also for his kindness, his genuine concern for his opponents, and his willingness to listen as well as write and speak. It’s hard to be unkind when we’re joyful – and it is to joy, St. Paul tells us, that we are called (1 Thess 5:16, Rom 12:12). Amen!

It’s hard to be unkind when we’re joyful – and it is to joy, St. Paul tells us, that we are called.

Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

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catholicnewsherald.com | January 4, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CATECHISM: FROM PAGE 3

Death penalty

704-841-1160

South Charlotte & Union County, NC Bathing / Dressing Assistance

803-610-4200

York, Lancaster & Chester Counties, SC

2266 The efforts of the state to curb the spread of behavior harmful to people’s rights and to the basic rules of civil society correspond to the requirement of safeguarding the common good. Legitimate public authority has the right and duty to inflict punishment proportionate to the gravity of the offense. Punishment has the primary aim of redressing the disorder introduced by the offense. When it is willingly accepted by the guilty party, it assumes the value of expiation. Punishment then, in addition to defending public order and protecting people’s safety, has a medicinal purpose: as far as possible, it must contribute to the correction of the guilty party. (cf. Lk 23:40-43)

2267 Assuming that the guilty party’s identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people’s safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and are more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm – without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself – the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity “are very rare, if not practically non-existent.� (Blessed John Paul II, “Evangelium vitae,� 56)

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Miles Christi 2ELIGIOUS /RDER s 0 / "OX s 0LYMOUTH -) s INFOUSA MILESCHRISTI ORG s WWW MILESCHRISTI ORG For more information and to register for these Exercises please contact Mary Jaye at northcarolina@spiritualexercises.net or at (248) 767-1669.

Our Lady of

Mercy

Catholic School Celebrating 55 Years of

Service learning

OPEN HOUSE ON JANUARY 10TH AT 9:30 AM

A Blue Ribbon School of Excellence for PreK-8th

Faith Academics Values

Join us for an Open House: - January 17, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

- January 29, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

- February 21, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

You are also invited to join us for Mercy Experience Day on Tuesday, January 22.

Your child can shadow a host student for a half-day to see what Mercy is really like.

For more information or a private tour, contact Lara Davenport via e-mail at ldavenport@ourladyofmercyschool.org, or visit our Admission web page.

1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 (336) 722.7204 www.ourladyofmercyschool.org Welcoming students of all races, religions, ethnic and national origins.