June 7, 2013
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Diocese, McNultys rejoice at diaconate ordination Mass, 5 ALSO INSIDE: Several priests celebrate jubilee anniversaries, 7
Bishop Jugis tells Charlotte, Triad grads: ‘Always be open to the Holy Spirit,’ 20
‘Nuns on the Bus’ rally for immigration reform during stop in Charlotte, 6 Father Richard Ho Lung: Missionaries of the Poor, corporal works of mercy are ‘movement of the Holy Spirit,’ 2-3
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Pope Francis
‘Throwaway culture’ harms environment, human life
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ope Francis blamed widespread degradation of the natural environment and disregard for human life on an increasingly common “throwaway culture” that places no value on the needs of others. “We are living through a moment of crisis,” the pope said June 5. “We see it in the environment, but above all we see it in man. The human person is in danger.” The pope made his remarks during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square. Noting that the United Nations had designated June 5 World Environment Day, Pope Francis recalled the biblical account of creation, according to which God made man and woman to “cultivate and protect the earth.” “Are we truly cultivating and protecting creation?” the pope asked. “Or are we instead exploiting and neglecting it?” “We are often guided by the arrogance of domination, possession, manipulation, exploitation. We are losing the attitude of wonder, of contemplation, of listening to creation, and thus we are no longer able to read there what Benedict XVI calls the ‘rhythm of the love story of God with man.’” “We have distanced ourselves from God, we do not read His signs,” he said. Today’s environmental problems also betray neglect of what Catholic teaching calls “human ecology.” “What rules today is not man, it is money,” he said, denouncing an “economy and financial system lacking in ethics.” “Men and women are sacrificed to the idols of money and consumption. That some homeless people freeze to death on the street, that is not news. On the other hand, a drop of 10 points in the stock markets of some cities is a tragedy. That is how people are thrown away. We, people, are thrown away, as if we were trash.” “Human life, the person are no longer felt to be primary values to be respected and protected, especially if they are poor or disabled, if they are not yet useful – like an unborn child – or are no longer useful – like an old person,” the pope said. Today’s “throwaway culture” is also reflected in frequent waste of food, he said, adding that “food that is thrown away might as well have been stolen from the table of the poor, the hungry.”
‘Catholics must touch the body of Christ, take on the suffering of the poor. For Christians, poverty is not a sociological or philosophical or cultural category, it is a theological category, because Christ made Himself poor in order to walk the earth, suffer, die and rise to save humanity.’ — Pope Francis
Vigil Mass of Pentecost 2013, St. Peter’s Square
Father Richard Ho Lung:
Missionaries of the Poor, corporal works of mercy are ‘movement of the Holy Spirit’ SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — On May 23, Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, granted an interview with the Catholic News Herald. He was in the area visiting the Missionaries of the Poor in the Diocese of Charlotte who have a monastery in Monroe. He also met with the staff of TAN Books to discuss his new biography, “Candles in the Dark,” by Thomas Craughwell, which he hopes will benefit the Missionaries of the Poor’s new monastery in Haiti. The following are excerpts from the interview with Father Ho Lung:
A SHARED BACKGROUND WITH POPE FRANCIS I was also a Jesuit and taught at Boston College for a while and the University of the West Indies. I taught literature, and he taught literature as well as psychology, which I also taught. I have the same background in psychology. He chose the name Francis… and the fact is, everybody says to me, “You are more Franciscan than you are Jesuit!” because of my deep concern for the poor.
ON MOP’S GLOBAL MISSION: FINDING CHRIST IN THE POOR “It’s a movement of the Holy Spirit I find that is working in many places at one time and I find that it is not a coincidence – we don’t believe in coincidences – but it is a
plan of the Lord. We must address the entire frontier of the needs of the poor, and especially the materially as well as the spiritually poor, who are abandoned but who are yearning for the Lord. I have often said to the brothers, ‘We are living in a new age and it is an age of the Beatitudes. It’s a new time, new wine, new wineskin; requiring a people of a new vision.’ Old in the sense of Scripture, but new in the sense that I think the Church has done well in finding Christ in the sacraments and focuses on that very deeply. I find that now we are also pushing toward the Word of God, which is very strong in other Christian denominations than ours. The Word of God is sacraments that lead you inevitably as sources of finding the Presence of Christ, because you do find the Presence of Christ in the sacraments, and you do find it in the Word of God. He is actually in the Presence. But I find we are now to find Christ in the poor. I think of the incident in Scripture where Thomas says, “Unless I place my finger in your hands and in your wounds I will not believe.” I think people need to touch the needs of the broken Christ as they grow in their faith. They need to actually find Christ in the wounds of Christ. All spirituality is “Servitum Dolce Cum Christo Crucifixo” – that is to say, “Joyful service of Christ on the cross.” We (the Missionaries of the Poor) are very much focused on Christ in two ways; both in our own way of living, so that once again the Church recovers that whole sense
Did you know? The Missionaries of the Poor currently number 550 brothers who serve in nine missions in 13 countries around the world, including right here in the Diocese of Charlotte, in Monroe. Learn more about their work and how you can help at www.missionariesofthepoor.org.
that religion and asceticism go together. In fact, you cannot have religion without asceticism – which involves a lot of selfcontrol of the mind, the heart, even which can be very tortuous, as the Scripture tells us. We have to look at the emotions and passions of people and we have got to learn to curb them so that they are focused on the fulfillment of what it means to be a perfect man, a perfect person, a holy person, in the service of God. More and more I see the statement, “Ecco Ecce Homo,” which has been translated theologically as “Here is the man that has created so much trouble, controversy,” but the way I read it theologically is, “Here is mankind defined.” Here is what we are called to be and meant to be in order to fulfill our humanity on earth – not just simply that He has created so many miracles, but that this is the definition of man. This is the way we MISSIONARIES, SEE page 3
Your daily Scripture readings JUNE 9-15
Sunday: 1 Kings 17: 17-24, Galatians 1:1119, Luke 7:11-17; Monday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Matthew 5:1-12; Tuesday (St. Barnabas): Acts 11:21-26, 13:1-3, Matthew 5:13-16; Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday (St. Anthony of Padua): 2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1, 3-6, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 5:27-32; Saturday: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Matthew 5:33-37
JUNE 16-22
Sunday: 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13, Galatians 2:16, 19-21, Luke 7:36-8:3; Monday: 2 Corinthians 6:110, Matthew 5:38-42; Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Matthew 5:43-48; Wednesday (St. Romuald): 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday: 2 Corinthians 11:1-11, Matthew 6:7-15; Friday (St. Aloysius Gonzaga): 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-30, Matthew 6:19-23; Saturday (St. Paulinus of Nola, Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More): 2 Corinthians 12:110, Matthew 6:24-34
JUNE 23-29
Sunday: Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1, Galatians 3:26-29, Luke 9:18-24; Monday (The Nativity of St. John the Baptist): Isaiah 49:1-6, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66, 80; Tuesday: Genesis 13:2, 5-18, Matthew 7:6, 12-14; Wednesday: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Matthew 7:15-20; Thursday (St. Cyril of Alexandria): Genesis 16:1-12, 15-16, Matthew 7:21-29; Friday (St. Irenaeus): Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22, Matthew 8:1-4
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
We are in Indonesia, Jamaica, Africa, India and the Philippines. Our brothers just came from Vietnam with an invitation to open a home. There is great suffering there with children, homelessness and destitution. We are in Haiti; we have built four homes there. We have about 300 homeless and destitute there. We feed thousands and thousands of people aside from that. We are taking on a home for 85 destitute and homeless children this October. It will be for the poorest of children: hydrocephalic, blind, deaf and mute children in Port-Au-Prince, in Santo. We are building a monastery there at this moment. We are taking this over from Food For the Poor, which felt it was important that religious run that home. We’re not doing social work. We are obeying the Lord and the Lord’s command to wash each other’s feet. “Who’s my neighbor?” the Lord says, not my next-door neighbor but the stranger and the forgotten ones.
What the Catechism says about works of mercy The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Spiritual works of mercy include: n Instructing the ignorant n Advising the doubtful n Admonishing the sinner n Comforting the afflicted n Forgiving others n Bearing wrongs patiently n Praying for the living and the dead The corporal works of mercy consist of: n Feeding the hungry n Giving drink to the thirsty n Sheltering the homeless n Clothing the naked n Visiting the sick and imprisoned n Ransoming the captive n Burying the dead Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2447) True development concerns the whole man. It is concerned with increasing each person’s ability to respond to his vocation and hence to God’s call. (CCC 2461) Giving alms to the poor is a witness to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God. (CCC 2462) How can we not recognize Lazarus, the hungry beggar in the parable (cf. Lk 17:19-31), in the multitude of human beings without bread, a roof or a place to stay? How can we fail to hear Jesus: “As you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me” (Mt 25:45)? (CCC 2463)
LIVING THE GOSPELS
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Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor (center), with Brother Augusto (left) and Brother Arnold, visited the offices of TAN Books in Charlotte May 23. He is pictured with a copy of his new book, “Candles in the Dark.” He hopes some proceeds from the book’s sales will benefit the Missionaries of the Poor’s newest monastery, which will help 85 Haitian children with severe disabilities.
MISSIONARIES: FROM PAGE 2
need to understand humanity. “Ecce homo” really happens at the time of the crucified Christ. We need to crucify our flesh, but we also need to crucify our flesh in service of our brothers and sisters. Not what we wish or what we like, but what we know must be. The Christian vocation cannot be fulfilled until we have reached out to the poor. That’s the culmination for me.
LIVING THE BEATITUDES
I think of the announcement of the Beatitudes; He did say, “I have come to preach Good News to the poor.” I have seen many priests try to skirt around that. But He specifically says, ‘hunger ... thirst ... naked,’ and it culminates in Matthew 25. The whole framework of the Gospels is the Beatitudes at the beginning and Matthew 25 at the end. That is the purpose, and in between we are called to fulfill that rule. I feel very strongly about this. Until the Church becomes once again deeply engaged with crucified humanity, we will not be renewed. But we will be renewed if we stop evading suffering. If we teach people how to suffer, teach people how to make sacrifices, including our children – unless that is done we will never ever become the brothers of Christ, the sisters of Christ, one with Him in His mission.
‘The Christian vocation cannot be fulfilled until we have reached out to the poor.’ — Father Richard Ho Lung
Founder of the Missionaries of the Poor I find we need to be decisive about the matter. We have got to be prophetic in our times. To me, the age I have seen is, “Don’t suffer. Don’t be engaged in the sufferings of others. Solve everything by easy life. Security, security, security, security.” Our age has become an age of fear, instead of an age of faith, which is to take risks and allow yourselves to be free men and free women, free of fear and really be taken into the call to build the Kingdom of God here on earth – no matter what the cost might be – and among the poorest of the most forgotten of people. That is the route we have taken as Missionaries of the Poor.
MOP MISSIONS AROUND THE WORLD
We go to the very poorest, wherever we are.
We must not be afraid. I find that in these days where there is so much fear about the fall of the economy or about worries and struggles, I think that we need to hit out against that with a power of faith that is required. We do not be afraid, but we strike out and live out the life of Christ and become a thoroughly spiritual people, understanding that we don’t need to have so much. We don’t need to worry so much. We sometimes forget that we are in God’s hands. It’s a work of God. We don’t earn any money; we don’t take any money from governments. We want to learn to live by faith. We have seen the miracles from day to day over the past 31 years, where somehow we have managed to house the poor we have…maybe not of the highest standard materially, but always with the love of the brothers. And that seems to count most with the people. So many people – Muslims, Hindus, Protestant denominations and hostile people within the Church – once they come and see the poor, they see this is the foundation upon which the Church is built. It is where quarrels stop and misunderstandings go by the wayside, because we have a purpose. The Lord says, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” It’s very odd that the weakest have become a spiritual force that draws people to us and, of course, to Christ. We need to liberated from all fears and enjoy the movement of grace that the Lord wants us to partake of from His hand.”
ON HIS VOCATION
It’s been a joy. I feel engaged with the life of Christ fully, whereas when I was just teaching at the universities I found an emptiness. You are just telling people what to do or instructing people. There is a famous line by T.S. Elliot that says, ‘Between the inception and the birth lies a shadow,” and that I understand very much. You can have the idea, but the fulfillment of the reality of it does not happen until it passes through the valley of darkness. You say, “OK, I will do it.” When you drag your reluctant body along to follow the work of Christ, that is really the passage of proof where you are serious about what you said and the Word of God.
MOP and the New Evangelization Father Ho Lung (center) joins his performers during the “Praise Him” concert in Charlotte in July 2011.
Father Richard Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor regularly offer original concerts and performances as part of their efforts to build up the Body of Christ. Both the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, the Holy See’s representative to Trinidad and Tobago; and Archbishop Charles H. Dufour of Kingston, Jamaica, have given their official approval for Father Ho Lung and Friends’ work. Father Ho Lung incorporates Caribbean genres of music into the liturgy in his missions and into the performances as well. Reggae, mento and calypso are incorporated to uplift the human spirit to God.
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CDs from the MOP online store can be ordered at www.missionariesofthepoor.org/music.php.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Diocesan calendar of events ARDEN ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, 109 CRESCENT HILL DRIVE
Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the coming weeks: JUNE 9-14 U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS MEETING SAN DIEGO, CALIF. JUNE 17 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, TRYON JUNE 19 – 7 P.M. SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE JUNE 21 – 5 P.M. HOLY HOUR FOR PRIESTHOOD CANDIDATE ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE JUNE 22 – 10 A.M. LITURGY OF ORDINATION TO THE HOLY PRIESTHOOD ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE JUNE 24-26 BISHOPS’ PROVINCE MEETING ATLANTA JUNE 27-28 QUO VADIS DAYS BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE
— Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. June 8. Topics includes: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting, offered by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704370-3230 or join via live webinar.
and grave diseases. For details, call the parish office at 704-543-7677. — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) meeting: Meetings on the third Monday of every month. RCIA will provide information about the entire conversion process and include detailed Q&A sessions. For details, call Tom Lindemuth at 704-543-7677. — Living the Faith Book Club: Second Thursday of each month, 7-8 p.m. Everyone welcome.
ASHEVILLE ST. EUGENE CHURCH, 72 CULVERN ST. — Pancake breakfast: 8:30-11 a.m. Sunday, June 16 sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Donations will be accepted to support the works of the Western Regional Office of Catholic Charities. — Respect Life Rosary Committee: 7 p.m. June 17 in the church. We are praying for a respect for life at all stages of life. — El grupo de oración se reúne todos los sábados a las 7 p.m. en la Iglesia
BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES Church, 503 North Main St. — Community Breakfast: 8-11 a.m. Saturday, June 15, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. Everyone invited. — Faith Formation Group, “Triple B”: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11. All parish members 45 years old and younger are welcome to attend. For details, e-mail qoatripleb@gmail.com.
CHARLOTTE ST. JOHN NEUMANN church, 8451 Idlewild Road — Third Annual SonFest Carnival: 5 p.m. Friday June 14-15. Come and indulge in great foods, games and entertainment. For details, call the parish office at 704-536-6520. ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — Protecting God’s Children Workshop: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 15, in the Banquet room. All volunteers must attend. Register at www.virtus.org. — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. June 22. Topics includes: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting, offered by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704370-3230 or join via live webinar. — Special Event workshop, “Answering the Call to Transform Our Hearts and the World”: 7-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, in the banquet room. Presented by Jack Jezreel. — St. Peregrine Healing Prayer: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 27. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer
St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East — Mass for our Military Personnel: Sunday, July 7. Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for our military personnel who are currently serving and who have been injured while serving. Rosary at 3 p.m., Mass at 3:30 p.m. Everyone welcome. — Annual parish picnic: 2-6 p.m. Sunday, July 14. All are welcome to attend. Food and games will be available. Please bring a side dish to share along with blankets and chairs. For details, email info@stpatricks.org. — Young adult group entitled “Theology on the Vine”: Meets every Friday 7-8:30 p.m. The group is open to young adults aged 18-35. For details, email Father David Miller at dmiller@stpatricks.org. — Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every Wednesday. ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, 1400 SUTHER ROAD — The Columbiettes, the auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, welcomes all women who are practicing Catholics, and who are older than 17 years old, to join them as they form a new chapter. Open meeting: 7 p.m. Monday, June 10, in Aquinas Hall. For details, contact Gen Rollin at Gen526@aol.com or 704-5480644. — “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. — “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.
— Second Annual Women’s Retreat: July 26-28. The weekend retreat will be held in Dover, Del. For details, e-mail Meg at uncgmeg@gmail.com.
HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 Stumptown Road — Catholic Athletes for Christ youth ministry: Meets the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Ministry provides an evening of fun, athletic activities, meals and featured speakers who address faith and athletics. For details, teens and parents can contact Tim Flynn, at 704-948-0231 or stmarklifeteen@gmail. com.
GASTONIA ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, 708 ST. MICHAEL LANE — Dia de la Familia: Domingo, 16 de Junio. Venga y Comparta con su familia. Habrá un compartir después de la Misa en el gimnasio. — Fortalece a tu Familia asistiendo a este “Encuentro Espiritual”: Viernes y Sábado, Junio 14 y 15. Encuentro sera dirigo por Roberto Ramirez. Para más información y registrarse, llamar a Ariel y Diana Salazar al 704-648-6401.
GREENSBORO ST. MARY CHURCH, 812 DUKE ST. — Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group “Servants of Light”: 10 a.m. Saturdays. Everyone welcome. 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 or descent, who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, or the mother of a junior member. Meetings are the first Thursday of the month. To join or for more information, email marylisk@aol.com.
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.
HIGH POINT — Pro-Life Rosary to pray for an end to abortion: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 6, rain or shine, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive in High Point. Parking available on site. For details, contact Jim Hoyng 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman 336-848-6835. Immaculate heart of Mary church, 4145 Johnson st. — Immaculate Heart of Mary Feast Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 8. Small reception afterwards. — Mass of Thanksgiving: 5 p.m. Sunday, June 9
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June 7, 2013 Volume 22 • Number 16
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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June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Catholic Voice NC issues alert on death penalty legislation
McNulty
Deacon Paul D. McNulty Home Parish: St. Patrick Cathedral City of birth: Charlotte Family: Deacon Brian McNulty, who serves at St. Patrick Cathedral; mother Michelle McNulty; and siblings Mara Hiller and Kelsey Kuhlman Elementary and Middle School: Mallard Creek Elementary School and Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School High School: Zebulon B. Vance High School College Seminary: The Pontifical College Josephinum Theology: The Pontifical College Josephinum Summer assignments in the diocese: Previously at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton, and St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton; Currently at St. Michael Church in Gastonia Interests/hobbies: Flight, “I wanted to be a pilot before entering seminary and still enjoy talking about flying, new planes, technology, etc.” Weather, “I also wanted to be a meteorologist, so anything weatherrelated from storms to radar piques my interest.” Music, “I play guitar and enjoy singing.” Sports, “Basically, I enjoy any sport, but the one I like to play the most when I get a chance is golf.”
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sueann howell | catholic news herald
The newly-ordained Deacon Paul McNulty (left) is embraced by his father, permanent Deacon Brian McNulty (right), as Bishop Peter J. Jugis looks on during the transitional diaconate Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte June 1.
Diocese, McNultys rejoice as another deacon is ordained in the family Cathedral hosts diaconate ordination Mass June 1 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE – It is a great grace for the whole Church when a new transitional deacon is ordained on his journey toward the holy priesthood. For seminarian Paul D. McNulty, June 1 was an especially joyous occasion as his father, permanent Deacon Brian McNulty, assisted at his ordination and vested him during the Mass at their home parish of St. Patrick Cathedral. “It has been wonderful to watch God’s grace working in Paul’s life, as he first acknowledged and then struggled with the idea of a vocation to the priesthood,” said Deacon Brian McNulty. “Through the years, his faith has grown, his love for Our Lord has deepened, and his ability to love others has expanded – all in a beautiful way. “His vocation has called for a lot of prayer and trust on our part, knowing that the Lord would reveal His purposes and answer these prayers at the best of times.” During the rite of ordination, Father Christopher Gober, diocesan vocations director, presented the diaconate candidate to Bishop Jugis, who asked, “Do you know him
to be worthy?” Father Gober More online answered, “After inquiry At www.catholicnewsherald.com: among the See more photos from the Mass Christian people, and upon the recommendation of those responsible, I testify that he has been found worthy.” At Bishop Jugis’ confirmation of the reception of the candidate to the diaconate, a resounding round of applause confirmed the assembly’s desire to see McNulty ordained. “Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude to Almighty God as our brother Paul McNulty is ordained to the sacred order of deacon,” Bishop Jugis said at the beginning of his homily. “Through the laying on of hands and the prayer of McNulty, SEE page 25
Deacon Christian to be ordained June 22 at the cathedral CHARLOTTE — Deacon Jason Christian of Charlotte will be ordained a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. Bishop Peter J. Jugis will preside over the ordination and will be the main celebrant for the ordination Mass. The Catholic News Herald will
offer a live webcast of the ordination Mass beginning at 10 a.m., at www. catholicnewsherald.com. Deacon Christian attended seminary at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Ohio, where he received a B.A. in philosophy. He studied theology at Santa Croce University in Rome, where he received a master’s degree in sacred theology.
Christian will celebrate his first Mass, in the Extraordinary Form, at his home parish, St. Ann Church in Charlotte, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 23. View the live webcast and coverage from the ordination Mass at www. catholicnewsherald.com. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
North Carolina’s two Catholic bishops have issued an action alert on a capital punishment bill that was due to be debated by the North Carolina Legislature during the week of June 3. The Capital Punishment Amendments bill would effectively repeal the Racial Justice Act and would lead to a resumption of executions in North Carolina. The last execution in North Carolina took place in 2006. Senate Bill 306 would remove the requirement that only physicians can administer the drugs that are used in the lethal injection method of execution. The bill also would also repeal the Racial Justice Act of 2009 that gave convicted murderers an avenue of appeal that could commute their death sentences to sentences of life in prison. In their alert, sent as an e-mail to more than 5,400 registered Catholic Voice NC participants, the bishops urged legislators and residents to oppose the passage of Senate Bill 306. The measure has already passed the state Senate and was reported favorably out of a committee in the state House. Gov. Pat McCrory has said he would sign the bill if it is approved by the Legislature. “S306 does several things: it effectively repeals the Racial Justice Act that was signed into law four years ago; and it allows for non-medical personnel to administer the drugs that are used for executions. This clears the path for the resumption of capital punishment in North Carolina. S306 passed the N.C. Senate, and has now gone to the N.C. House of Representatives for consideration by the House. We urge you to write to your Representative asking him or her to vote against S306,” stated the June 4 alert from Catholic Voice NC. — David Hains, diocesan communication director and director of Catholic Voice NC
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Troubled Latrobe clinic faces scrutiny, legislative interest Pro-life bills stalled in Legislature Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
CHARLOTTE — Two North Carolina legislators are looking into recent problems at A Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte and hope public attention can push forward pro-life legislation that has stalled in various legislative committees. The abortion facility at 3220 Latrobe Drive was shut down May 10 after state health inspectors found that the facility was improperly administering chemical abortions, among other health code violations. State regulators allowed the Latrobe clinic to reopen five days later after its medical director submitted a notarized affidavit stating that the problems had been corrected. Latrobe has a history of health code violations. State regulators have documented more than 40 problems inside the Latrobe clinic at least six different times over the past 14 years. Latrobe’s brief closing last month, and a similar closing in 2007, are the only times when state regulators have closed an abortion clinic in nearly two decades. A series of bills already introduced in the N.C. General Assembly would add to existing regulations for abortion clinics, but the bills remain in various House and Senate committees: n House Bill 716 would ban abortions based on the unborn child’s gender. n House Bill 730 would extend conscience protections to nurses and other health care providers who object to offering abortions. Currently, the protection covers only physicians. It would also limit abortion funding under health insurance plans through the federal health insurance exchange or by local governments. n Senate Bill 132 would require the state’s public school health education curriculum to mention abortion as a preventable risk for later premature births. n The largest piece of legislation – Senate Bill 308 – did not make it past an internal legislative deadline, so the bill is dead for this year unless supporters can attach it to another piece of proposed legislation. This bill, amending the Woman’s Right to Know Act, would: require abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges within 30 miles of their abortion facility; require that an abortionist be physically present throughout the abortion procedure and during the patient’s recovery at the abortion facility; and list on the state’s website resources for women to seek help in cases of poor prenatal diagnoses. This bill could particularly address problems like those reported at Latrobe: Both of its abortionists do not have hospital admitting privileges nearby, and Latrobe has been cited multiple times for not providing patients with adequate medical supervision after abortions. Staffers for Sen. Warren Daniel (R-Burke and Cleveland counties) and Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake County) said they hope all the legislation can still pass, although the legislative session is winding down. Rep. Stam said through a spokeswoman that he remains “cautiously optimistic” that all of the pro-life bills will pass the legislature before the session ends early this summer. North Carolina’s two Catholic bishops, Bishop Peter Jugis and Bishop Michael Burbidge, support the pro-life legislation. People are encouraged to contact their legislators to urge them to pass these bills, said David Hains, director of Catholic Voice North Carolina, the public policy arm of the state’s two Catholic bishops.
HEALTH REGULATORS UNDER REVIEW
Meanwhile, staffers in both Stam’s and Daniel’s offices have been researching the actions of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Resources, after constituents contacted them in response to the Catholic News Herald’s coverage of Latrobe’s problems. They said they are trying to learn more about what the current regulations for abortion clinics are, whether enforcement needs to be strengthened, and what new regulations, if any, might be needed. Daniel’s office requested copies of all the inspection reports for all of the state’s abortion clinics dating back to 2008. They are now going through the box load of documents, studying the state health department’s actions in those inspections. It appears, his staff said, as if the cycle of repeat violations found at Latrobe is not unusual. LATROBE, SEE page 18
Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald
Women religious and supporters gathered in Charlotte May 31 to greet the “Nuns on the Bus,” a campaign by Network to highlight the need for comprehensive immigration reform. The 21-day bus tour is traveling across the South and Southwest, and along the U.S.-Mexican border, to raise public awareness and urge Senate passage of comprehensive immigration reform in June.
‘Nuns on the Bus’ rally for immigration reform during stop in Charlotte Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
CHARLOTTE — Three days into its 6,500-mile journey from Ellis Island in New York to Angel Island in San Francisco, the “Nuns on the Bus” tour for immigration reform cruised into Charlotte May 31 – fueled by a cheering crowd outside St. Peter Church. The bus campaign, dubbed the “Network Nuns on the Bus: A Drive for Faith, Family, and Citizenship,” is rallying support for immigration reform legislation currently being debated by the U.S. Senate. A total of 29 women religious are going along for at least part of the trek through 40 cities in 15 states, including two Sisters of Mercy from the Diocese of Charlotte. Organized by Network – a Catholic social justice lobby led by Sister Simone Campbell, a Sister of Social Service who made headlines as a speaker at the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte – the “Nuns on the Bus” tour is modeled on a similar campaign through the Midwest last summer that denounced U.S. House Republican budget cuts. This second bus tour kicked off May 29 in New Jersey and will end June 18 in San Francisco, stopping along the way at churches and U.S. senators’ offices in the South and Southwest to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. Campbell was not at the rally May 31 because of a speaking engagement, organizers said, but she rejoined the bus tour June 1 as it rolled out of Charlotte on to Greenville and Charleston, S.C. Leading the rally in her place was Sister Mary Ellen Lacy, a Daughter of Charity from Brooklyn, N.Y., who works with Network. “We are all God’s children,” Lacy told the crowd of about 150 supporters gathered at St. Peter’s. “Our laws should reflect our values, not our fears.” She urged people to call their senators and talk with their friends and co-workers about the need to pass the Senate immigration reform bill S.744, which is expected to move to the Senate floor for a vote in early June. Immigration reform has bipartisan support and polls show a majority of Americans favor it, but Senate work on the legislation has recently slowed.
The U.S. bishops have long advocated for immigration reform, stressing the need for a path to legal status for the 11 million estimated undocumented people in the U.S. – particularly reforms that preserve family unity, ensure just wages and working conditions for immigrant workers, provide humane law enforcement, and address the root causes of migration.
VOICES AT THE RALLY
Sister Rose Marie Tresp, justice director for the Sisters of Mercy for the geographic area that includes most Southern states, said she could tell many stories of how the nation’s immigration system is hurting people, but her voice broke when she talked particularly of her brotherin-law José Chavez, “who came during the Salvadoran wars when he saw his father shot in front of him.” “So I really, really believe that we need immigration reform for the sake of all of those people who suffered in our country, but also for our own sake – because we will be a better country, we will be a more unified country, and all of us whose families have been here for generations will gain by the people who then are able to become fully citizens and not live in the shadows,” Tresp said. “These are our brothers and sisters, whether they’re Catholic or not,” she also noted in a statement from the Sisters of Mercy. “They’re coming to our country because their homelands are afflicted by poverty and war. With this tour of Nuns on the Bus, we hope to raise awareness that the opportunity for immigration reform is now. Our goal is to get the support of as many everyday Americans for this bill as possible.” Tresp joined the Nuns on the Bus tour for five days of its 21-day journey. Her traveling partner was Mercy Sister Susie Dandison, a native of Argentina who works in Hispanic outreach in Mocksville. They joined five other women religious for a leg of the tour through South Carolina. Georgia and Florida. Rally participant Tom Strini said as the son of an Italian immigrant, immigration reform is of particular concern to him. RALLY, SEE page 19
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
Father Kowalski: Trusting God during 20 years as a priest SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
GREENSBORO — It has been two decades since Father Eric Kowalski, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, was ordained to the priesthood in Newark, N.J., by then-Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. Over the course of the past 20 years, Father Kowalski has served the Diocese of Charlotte first as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Grace Church, Kowalski then as pastor of Holy Angels Church in Mt. Airy, before returning to Our Lady of Grace Church as pastor last year. He has greatly enjoyed “being present to people in their sacramental moments – when they are most open and ready to meet the Lord and to experience His healing presence and mercy through the sacraments of His Church.” Father Kowalski also enjoys preaching and offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in both the ordinary and extraordinary forms. “The biggest lesson I learned over the past 20 years is how important it is to trust God – that as much as I would like to think I’m in charge, He’s the one who really is in charge, and how much better my life is if I remember that, learn humility and
patience, and then get out of His way and let Him use me to accomplish His Will in my life and in the lives of those with whom I am blessed to come into contact.” He offers advice to men discerning a call to the priesthood, reminding them to “always keep in mind that the vocation they have received, if it’s truly a vocation to priesthood or religious life, is just that – a calling from God and as such it’s between that person and God and will always be between them. It’s a personal bond and connection. It’s a vocation, not a career in the secular sense.” Father Kowalski notes that Pope Francis reiterated that same concept recently. “If I had tried to ‘plan’ my priesthood as some do in the same way one would plan out their career path with a company, I would have missed out on so many blessings that God was trying to impart, and I wouldn’t be where I am today.” “Has every experience been easy or convenient? No. But I believe each was necessary,” Father Kowalski explains. “Don’t worry about packing your luggage. Trust God enough to go where He wants and needs you to when He manifests His Will to you, and let Him worry about getting your luggage there. He has always gotten me there and given me everything I’ve needed, when I needed it.” Other priests celebrating jubilees are: Father John D. Hanic, pastor at St. John Baptist de la Salle in Wilkesboro, 30 years; and Father Vang Tran at St. James the Greater Church in Concord, 30 years.
St. Francis Springs’ director marks 50th anniversary as Franciscan STONEVILLE, N.C. — Franciscan Father Louis Canino, director of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center and a member of Holy Name Province, the largest community of Franciscan friars in the United States, celebrates 50 years as a friar this month. A native of Syracuse, N.Y., he was received into the Franciscan Order in 1962, professed his simple vows in 1963, and was ordained a priest in 1969. Father Canino, who Canino always felt called to open a spiritual retreat center, was given the opportunity to oversee the construction of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in 2005. Today, it is one of the most picturesque spiritual retreat centers in the country and welcomes between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors a year. “I think, at this time in the history of the Church and the world, this is probably one of the province’s most important ministries,” he said. “As Franciscans, we believe everyone has a contemplative bent; it is one of the most undeveloped and undernourished gifts. If people really engage in qualitative prayer, we realize that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. There will never be peace in the world, unless there is justice.” He continued: “Because St. Francis Springs Prayer Center is an interfaith center, we revere and respect all faith traditions. Because of this dynamic, people feel welcomed, and it is a catalyst for more interfaith dialogue and exchange.” Father Canino also ministers in Greensboro,
where he established the Franciscan Center, an urban storefront ministry, 22 years ago. There, he celebrates a weekly liturgy and offers a spiritual direction program. He also serves as needed at nearby churches. Prior to becoming director of the prayer center, Father Canino served as a parish priest. He has ministered at St. Elizabeth Church in Wyckoff, N.J., St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, and at St. Joseph’s Monastery in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. While in Boston, Father Canino helped found St. Francis House – now the largest daytime shelter in New England – as a direct response to an increase in homelessness and other problems created by the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill. The organization offers food and shelter, medical care, job counseling and other services to those in need. After 50 years of ministry, he remains confident he chose the right vocation. “I could not be more affirmed in my life as a friar.” Father Canino and other friars marking anniversaries of religious live will be honored by Holy Name Province at its annual jubilee celebration on June 20 at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City. Holy Name Province is the largest of seven entities in the United States belonging to the Order of Friars Minor. With ministries in 12 states along the East Coast, its more than 300 Catholic priests and brothers serve in colleges, parishes, urban ministry centers and a wide variety of social ministries, as well as in overseas missions. The Order, founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi, commemorated its 800th anniversary in 2009. — Jocelyn Thomas, Holy Name Province
OUR PARISHESI
Prayerful best wishes on the occasion of your ordination to the Diaconate.
Deacon Paul McNulty
“If some of you hear the call to follow Christ more closely, to dedicate your entire heart to Him, like the Apostles John and Paul...
be generous, do not be afraid, ...because you have nothing to fear when the prize that you await is God Himself, for Whom, sometimes without ever knowing it, all young people are searching.” - Blessed John Paul II
Office of Vocations Diocese of Charlotte Father Christopher Gober Director of Vocations
(704) 370-3327 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 vocationsmail@charlottediocese.org
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Where are you going? QUO VADIS DAYS 2013 June 24-28 * Belmont Abbey College
A camp for Catholic men ages 15-25 to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern God’s call in their lives.
www.charlottediocese.org/vocations
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Celebrating the sacraments
Photo provided by Joshua Felious
CHARLOTTE — Five children at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte celebrated their first Holy Communion on May 18. Pictured with Father Carl Del Giudice, pastor, are (from left) Mariama Melton, Amorie Martin, Havilyn Smith, Tyson McKnight and Jensen McDonald.
Photo provided by Done Espina
SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis confirmed 28 youth at St. Ann Church in Charlotte on May 13. In his homily, Bishop Jugis told them, “God the Father has chosen you this evening to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit in the site of your confirmation. From all eternity of course, God knew you, had a plan for you and chose you to be a follower of Christ.” The gift of grace from confirmation is a sign of God’s love, Bishop Jugis said, and he encouraged them to accept the gift with deep humility and gratitude to God.
ALBEMARLE — Twelve parishioners were confirmed by Bishop Peter Jugis at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle May 19. Pictured, Bishop Jugis administers the sacrament of confirmation to Maleia Bazinet while her sponsor, Lisa Snow, and Father Peter Fitzgibbons, pastor, look on.
Photo provided by Annie Fournier
WINSTON-SALEM — Parishioners of St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem received the sacrament of confirmation April 28, during a Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. Pictured with Father Lucas Rossi, pastor, are (from left) Alese Berry, Hueston Eaton, Carledward Russell and Sophia Kremidas.
Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald
DENVER — Bishop Peter Jugis confirmed 35 students at Holy Spirit Parish in Denver on April 29.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Celebrating the sacraments CHARLOTTE — Nearly 120 young members of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte celebrated their first Holy Communion during two Masses on May 11. Photos provided by Jennifer Noto
Paul Viau | Catholic News Herald
WAYNESVILLE — Ten young men and women at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville received the sacrament of confirmation May 26 during Mass celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Father Lawrence LoMonaco, pastor. Members of the confirmation class were Venus Arellano, Sammie Bernardi, Sam Cox, Eduardo Garcia, Ivan Gamez, Alejandra Herrera, Erika Jimison, Carlos Mendoza, Carlos Salinas and Miguel Villalon.
Photo provided by Mary “Annette” Morales
CHARLOTTE — Five members of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation June 2, during a Mass celebrated by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor. Susan Nguyen and Wes Saxon received the sacrament of confirmation. Edwin Ntasin received his first Holy Communion. Korrine and David Belfield both received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation. KING — On April 21, youths at Good Shepherd Mission in King celebrated their first Holy Communion with parishioners and family members. Father Lucas Rossi, pastor of Good Shepherd Mission in King and St. Benedict Church in Winston-Salem, centered his homily on the children and the real and joyful presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Pictured with him are: Ashley Alcantara, Emanuel Alcantara, Yadira Fernandez, Emelyn Fernandez, Nancy Fernandez, Litzy Fernandez, Paul Thomas Fisher, Sergio Guerra, Alejandro Hernandez, Gustavo Hernandez, Abraham Jimenez, Isabella Landaverde, Rebecca Luzzi, Jasmin Mares, Linda Mares, Jonathon Martinez, Frank Martinez, Fredy Martinez, Nancy Martinez, Jahir Munoz, Oscar Neri, Brenda Ocampo, Kallie Orosz, Gabriel Pedroza, Leslie Pedroza, Yvette Torres, Cindy Torres and Sarah Windsor. Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald
WINSTON-SALEM — Parishioners of St. Benedict the Moor Church in WinstonSalem who recently received the sacrament of first Holy Communion during a Mass celebrated by Father Lucas Rossi, pastor, were (from left) David Gray, Samara Shepard, Anijha Fries and Julia Horstkamp. Photo provided by Annie Fournier
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Celebrating the sacraments
Photo provided by Jean Navarro
GREENSBORO — On May 21, second-grade students from St. Pius X School led the school Mass and May crowning. The students also received the sacrament of first Holy Communion on May 11. St. Pius X second-grade students are pictured, in their first Communion attire, with Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio (center), pastor; Anne Knapke, principal; Ann Flynt, assistant principal; and second-grade teachers Lorraine Malphurs and Kathy Davidson.
Photo provided by Radu Alfredo Campos Sanchez and Gina Otranto
ASHEBORO — During a bilingual Mass May 11 at St. Joseph Church in Asheboro that was celebrated by Father Philip Kollithanath, 75 children received the sacrament of first Holy Communion. Many thanks were offered to the catechists, parents and godparents who assisted in the children’s faith formation, with the coordination of Manuela Torres and the direction of faith formation director Gina Otranto. The bilingual music was provided by Julio Ruiz’s Estudiantinas with the help of music ministry director Tamara Hill. The Ladies Guild provided a cake and refreshments after the Mass.
BREVARD — Six young parishioners of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard recently received first Holy Communion. Capuchin Franciscan Father John Pagel officiated at the Mass.
BOONE — Pictured are the children of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone who received the sacrament of first Holy Communion on April 28.
Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald
Photo provided by George Logsdon Jr.
Photos by Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald
DENVER — Nearly 40 children of Holy Spirit Church in Denver celebrated their first Holy Communion during two Masses celebrated on May 11.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Corpus Christi: Walking with Jesus LENOIR — On June 2, the parish community of St. Francis of Assisi in Lenoir was abundantly blessed as it celebrated the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Following the 10 a.m. Mass there was a procession of the Blessed Sacrament led by pastor, Father Julio Dominguez, and Deacon Stephen Pickett. The children and youth who had recently received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation, as well as the parish high-school graduates, participated in the procession. There were seven altars along the procession route prepared by different ministries in the parish. At each altar Father Dominguez stopped and led the congregation in prayer for the needs of the universal Church: the intentions of the Holy Father, for the victims of abortion, the dignity of holy matrimony, vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the parish family, Christian unity and for the holy people of God.
John Bunyea | Catholic News Herald
KERNERSVILLE — Father Paul Dechant, pastor, led members of Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville in a Eucharistic Procession inside the church for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi June 2.
THE ORATORY 434 Charlotte Avenue, P.O. Box 11586 Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586
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Photo provided by Sister Joan W. Pearson, SSJ
Center for Spirituality MOORESVILLE — After the 5:30 p.m. Mass on June 2, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, parishioners of St. Thérèse Church participated in a special Eucharistic Procession followed by a Holy Hour for World Peace and Unity. They joined in spirit with the special Eucharistic Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that Pope Francis presided over at 5 p.m. Rome time. After the procession, parishioners joined in prayer to say the rosary and the prayers said by Pope Francis earlier in the day, concluding with Benediction.
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31st Annual Summer Bible Institute Sunday, July 14 – Friday, July 19 The Summer Bible Institute is an opportunity to come together to study and reflect on the scriptures. Two programs are offered:
Old Testament (Evenings) Laura Manzo, Ph.D. St. Mary’s Seminary, Houston, TX
Photo provided by Lisa Cash
The Psalms: A Collection of Prayers and Praises This workshop will offer a general introduction to the Hebrew Psalter and introduce the types of psalms found in the collection. Some psalms will be selected to illustrate aspects of their poetry and imagery, and the spiritual importance of daily prayer with the psalms will be explored.
New Testament (Mornings) Fr. Kevin O’Brien, Ph.D. Diocese of Richmond Virginia Book of Revelation: A Playground for Religious Eccentrics or a Faithful Witness to the Gospel? Visually, the frightening images in the Book of Revelation can be haunting! And yet, this book was written to offer hope, call forth repentance and inspire faithfulness. How can such a paradox be Good News? We will examine not only the historical background, literary style, purpose and major themes but also what it has to say about God, Jesus and the Church.
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June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Waynesville parish embarks on Marian pilgrimage Editor’s note: Pope Francis has urged all Roman Catholics to become pilgrims: “Having our eyes opened, our faith deepened, and enjoying the spiritual experience of our lives.” This spring a group from Waynesville embarked on a true journey of faith, an 11-day pilgrimage from Lourdes to Fatima. This is the first part of their story: Paul Viau Correspondent
Spiritual growth should be the goal of all Christians, and as Catholics we are blessed with many avenues to guide us on our journey of faith. From the simple discipline of daily worship and communion to weekend retreats; from mission trips to perhaps the ultimate journey of faith – a pilgrimage. Recently, 31 parishioners from St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville embarked on an 11-day Marian pilgrimage, led by their pastor, Father Larry LoMonaco. Their journey took them to France, Spain and Portugal, including the Shrine at Lourdes, the Cathedral of St. James in Santiago de Compostela, and the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Along the way, these parishioners became good friends and better Christians, with a renewed faith in the power of prayer and a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the request of Father LoMonaco, each St. John parishioner began the pilgrimage by choosing a “secret” prayer partner – a prayerful “buddy system.” Each
parishioner was then presented with his or her own rosary and daily devotion booklet. The group flew from Charlotte to Munich, then to Toulouse, where they met their guide and bus driver. Their first stop was the Convent des Jacobins, the founding church for the Dominican Order and shrine to St. Thomas Aquinas. Father LoMonaco celebrated Mass directly above the sarcophagus containing the remains of St. Thomas Aquinas, humbly beginning with the remark, “I am not worthy.” At the conclusion, all sang a resounding, and echoing, version of “Amazing Grace.” It was a memorable day. The pilgrimage continued to Lourdes and the group checked into their hotel.
Many weary travelers retired after dinner, but several joined the nightly candlelight procession and were truly rewarded, as they were engulfed by the throng of the faithful following the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. The procession included thousands of pilgrims from all over the world. Immediately following the statue of Our Lady were “les malades” – the sick and the disabled who come to the healing waters hoping for a miracle. All recited the rosary in unison as they processed, each pilgrim with candle held high, speaking his or her own language. After the rosary, the crowd sang “Immaculate Mary” in an effort “to come to Jesus through Mary.” Perhaps the most touching event of the evening took the Waynesville pilgrims by surprise, when a young man offered parishioner Barbara Dillon his candle. At first she refused, but the young man insisted. She said later, “It took me a minute to figure out that he wanted to share the light.” The following day, the pilgrims met their guide for the day, Sister Fatima, for their tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The tour began with a visit to the Museum of St. Bernadette, where Sister Fatima recalled the story of the poor young girl collecting firewood along the river, when she was touched by a gentle breeze and saw the apparition of Our Lady. When Our Lady appeared to Bernadette a second time, she spoke lovingly, asking, “Would you do me the favor of coming for 15 days?” Bernadette said, “Yes.” In a subsequent visit, Our Lady asked Bernadette to “go wash yourself.” With great humility, Bernadette fell to her knees, scratching the ground until she found a source of the water in the cave. In another visit, Our Lady told Bernadette to go “tell the priest to build a church and come in procession.” The priest did not believe Bernadette’s stories, and asked for a miracle. Our Lady responded, providing a beautiful flower blooming in the dead of winter, but the priest remained skeptical. It wasn’t until Our Lady chose the Feast of the Annunciation to give Bernadette the powerful message, “I am the Immaculate
Conception,” that priest believed the young girl’s story. Our Lady remained silent on her final visit with Bernadette, but her message still resounds. As their tour guide, Sister Fatima, explained to the Waynesville pilgrims, “No words are needed with people you love.” Touched by the stories of Bernadette, the Waynesville pilgrims spent the rest of the day touring Lourdes, visiting the Grotto where Our Lady first revealed herself to Bernadette, and the taps where visitors are invited to “Wash your face and ask God to purify your heart.” Many took the plunge into the sacred water of the baths, and joined the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and blessing of the sick. That evening, the Waynesville pilgrims again participated in the torchlight procession. As they reflected on their time in Lourdes, Barbara Dillon put the first leg of
their pilgrimage in perspective: “I could feel Our Blessed Mother’s love all around us.” In the June 21 edition, join the pilgrims from St. John in Waynesville as their journey takes them into Spain along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela – following “The Way of St. James.”
CCDOC.ORG
Grant Writer Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte seeks full-time grant writer. Position requires an undergraduate degree, proven record of strong writing skills, attention to detail, and ability to meet tight completion deadlines. Regular daytime and some overnight travel required. Cover letter, writing sample(s), and resume must be submitted electronically by 5 PM on Friday, June 14, 2013 to sabeason@ charlottediocese.org. No telephone calls, please.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
Belmont Abbey athletics strives for ‘sports properly directed’ Values and personal excellence the intertwined goal SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
BELMONT — At Belmont Abbey College, a Catholic college with a long history of excellence in virtue following the Benedictine tradition, one might expect a higher standard of conduct in their student-athletes. A great example of this can be seen in the men’s soccer team under the direction of men’s head soccer coach, John Keating. Keating, an Oblate of St. Benedict who is married and a father of four, left a more lucrative coaching position to come to Belmont Abbey College two years ago on what he says is his “mission.” When he arrived at the Abbey, he and assistant coach Seth Lowther brainstormed and developed 15 “Core Values” for their players, designed to create a culture of excellence in virtue. “We threw out ideas as to what is our culture,” Keating recalls. “We decided I would find 15 quotes to go with those values. We took them from diverse sources – Aristotle, popes, soccer managers, golf caddies, sports psychologists. In the end, we had an eclectic mix.” The Core Values state that the team is: resilient, energetic, extraordinary, selfless, appreciative, joyful, consistent, fearless, has perspective, oozes class, is full of leaders, practices with focus, learns from its mistakes, loves big games and can enter the peak experience at will. He had the players memorize them all. On the first day of preseason, they had to write them down – verbatim. They had to pass the fitness test and the Core Values test to get into the locker room. They also had a Core Values signing ceremony. Keating began to notice the difference these Core Values were making in the lives of his players. Senior players Zach Wertis and Mauricio Lopez, who had formerly not been given opportunities for leadership before Keating’s tenure, began to rise to the occasion. “By giving the opportunity to lead, they did,” Coach Keating explains. “They are natural leaders. You can say to them, ‘Everyone has to lead,’ but some of the guys don’t know how. By coming up with Core Values, it was a foundation to pin the leadership model to practice. I could always
say to them, ‘Were any of the core values violated or upheld?’” Keating gave one particular example at a preseason game when some Belmont Abbey freshmen players got into an altercation with the other team. “Because we had discussed Core Values all weekend long, a moment presented itself after the game. The senior (Belmont Abbey) players asked if they could talk to the guys and called them together, telling them, ‘That stuff on the field cannot happen.’ And then one of the guys said, ‘That is not what class is about.’” Lopez, who recently graduated, also recalled another opportunity that presented itself early on in the season. “We were really tested on the Core Values on the second week of the preseason when we took a team building trip to a camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains,” he said. “The cabins were rustic, with 12 bunks to a room, one-inch thick mattresses, and chilly night air blowing through them. Expecting hotel rooms, the ‘new accomodations’ challegned the players to embrace the Core Value of Appreciation - ‘Our team is appreciative, grateful for everything and entitled to nothing.’” Another test came when on that same weekend they went for what was supposed to be a 30-minute jog. It turned into a 12mile run after they became lost. “We got closer together. We lived the Core Values: we had perspective, we were energetic. We saw that no man is an island,” Lopez said. “I think he (Keating) wanted to test us on all those core values in one weekend!” Periodically they had to revisit the Core Values and retest and reiterate the values when Keating noticed some players forgetting some of them out on the field. “As they forgot the Core Values, we saw a spike in poor discipline in January and February. We got together with the senior leaders and retested on the Core Values. We gave them consequences if they didn’t know them.” Keating also saw the junior players take on leadership roles as the seniors were preparing to leave upon graduation. He said he is encouraged by the way all the young men have responded to the Core Values this season. “They used the Core Values to frame their leadership. So I think that with those values they can bring legitimate skills to the future. They’ll be leaders in their communities, great dads and great priests someday.” Belmont Abbey College’s president, Dr. William Thierfelder, who is an Olympic athlete and speaker for the professional athlete’s association of Catholic Athletes For Christ, has written a book coming out
The 2013 Belmont Abbey College men’s soccer team this fall entitled, “Less Than a Minute To Go: The Secret to World Class Performance in Sport, Business and Life.” “It’s important to recognize that sport and virtue are not opposed to one another,” Thierfelder points out. “They are not mutually exclusive. When I talk about sport and virtue, certainly an athlete, no matter what level they may be, are called by God to use their skills, talents and abilities and do the very best they can, to be the very best performing athlete they can. But that’s only one of the virtues. Virtues don’t work in isolation, they work together. It’s important to integrate the virtues in everything they do.” Keating, who has received high praise from Thierfelder for his work in the athletic department at the college, is grateful to have the opportunity to mentor the young men “to become who they are called to be by God.” He was especially proud to present the graduating seniors with a special certificate for their excellence in virtue in adhering to the Core Values both on and off the field during commencement on May 11. “I honestly feel that this is my apostolate. It’s very rewarding. I am grateful for their response. I have been used as an instrument. I’m like John the Baptist. I’m just the instrument. They could have turned their backs, but they haven’t.”
Photos provided by John Keating
Soccer player Zach Wertis, who just graduated from Belmont Abbey College
More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the 15 Core Values drafted for student-athletes at Belmont Abbey College
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Hollywood portrayal of exorcisms not the whole truth Father Winslow explains fallen angels, demonic possession and exorcism Gretchen Filz Correspondent
What is an exorcism?
CHARLOTTE — Parishioners at St. Thomas Aquinas recently enjoyed a documentary movie and discussion on one of the most sensational theological topics: demonic possession and exorcism. One of the hallmarks of Jesus’ earthly ministry, as recounted in the Gospel, was the demonstration of His divinity through His authority and command over fallen angels. Jesus gave His disciples the power to do the same. Ever since the time of Christ, the Church has been exerting its authority over demons by performing exorcisms, albeit somewhat quietly until recent times. In recent decades the topic of exorcisms and demonic possession has gained Hollywood appeal. This began with the movie “The Exorcist,” a popular 1973 horror movie that depicted a young girl suffering from an especially terrible possession. Since then, the topic of demonic possession has been so sensationalized through books and movies that a distorted and incomplete understanding often prevails. For his parishioners to get the truth from the Church rather than succumb to the distortions presented by popular media, Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, presented a talk on demonic possession followed by a documentary recounting the true story of a modern-day exorcism. Father Winslow began his talk by carefully explaining the metaphysics behind the kind of beings that angels are.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1673) states: “When the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion, it is called exorcism. Jesus performed exorcisms and from Him the Church has received the power and office of exorcizing. ... Exorcism is directed at the expulsion of demons or to the liberation from demonic possession through the spiritual authority which Jesus entrusted to His Church.”
Unlike humans, angels do not possess a common or shared nature. All human beings have the same human nature and are therefore equals; this is not the case with angels. Angels do not have an “angel nature” the way humans have a human nature. Each angel is a one-of-a-kind, unique creation unlike all the other angels. “An angel is a function, not a nature,” Father Winslow said. “None are equal; one is more powerful than another, and therefore they fall into rank.” The Bible talks about a hierarchy of angels – cherubim, seraphim, archangels, etc. – with different functions associated with each. When some of the angels sinned and fell, it did not change what they were. They still fell into rank, but instead according to their now-evil functions. “When you’re dealing with fallen, diabolical spirits, they are engaged according to their level of potency or strength,” Father Winslow said, emphasizing, “Everything a diabolical spirit does is an illusion. They appear to have substance which is a manipulation of the natural order.” But, he added, their abilities are confined to manipulation
of creation only: “The ability to create something from nothing is a Divine power.” This ranking of evil angels is evidenced by the kind of power they exert. Some fallen angels are so powerful that “some can actually possess a person, and therefore violate them. They can suppress the soul and emerge in possession of the body,” Father Winslow said. Lucifer was the highest-ranking angel, so when he fell he became the most powerful of all the fallen angels, with the greatest power to exert himself over the material world. Father Winslow went on to explain how demonic possession works. “With a possessed person, you have periods of lucidity and periods of emerging. It will come and go.” This is one indication of what distinguishes a possessed person from someone who may be suffering from a physiological or psychological disorder. “There is a perfect grasp of reality with a possessed person,” Father Winslow said. “The person’s mind and will is pushed aside. It’s not psychological, but evil.” However, a person who is suffering from
mental illness or chemical imbalance will be consistent with their symptoms. With the necessary background information explained, Father Winslow introduced the documentary, “In the Grip of Evil: The True Story Behind the Film ‘The Exorcist.’” “In this documentary you will see what many exorcists believe is a possession by Lucifer, the most powerful of the fallen spirits,” he said. “You’ll hear a first-hand account of a (then) newly ordained priest. His diary is the basis of the movie.” The diary is the most complete and carefully detailed modern-day exorcism account available. The documentary was based on an actual exorcism case that happened in the United States in the 1940s. “It’s more chilling because it’s true,” Father Winslow said. The documentary recounted the story of a boy named Robbie whose visiting aunt gave him a Ouija board to play with. This was the window to the possession. The demonic activity began with strange noises, then escalated to shaking and turning over furniture. The boy himself began to clearly display signs of what could only be explained as possession, so much so that his parents took him to a Lutheran minister for help. According to the documentary, the minister told them, “This is something Catholics understand – you’d better go see a priest.” The boy’s case was one of extreme possession; it would take a corresponding fullness in truth – the keys given to Peter EVIL, SEE page 18
Amid spiritual warfare, be mindful and pray for deliverance Gretchen Filz Correspondent
CHARLOTTE — More than 130 members of the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group met for the final time of the season May 29, attending Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and listening to a reflection on spiritual warfare by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor. Father Winslow navigated the topic by breaking it up into three sections: First, understanding the spiritual terrain and who the key players are, he explained. Second, understanding the drama of spiritual warfare as it unfolds in human history, and how the key players exert themselves in it. Finally, how spiritual warfare personally affects everyone. First, the terrain. There is God, the “Uncreated Creator,” and then there is everything else. Everything that is not God is His creation. Within creation there is a divide between good and evil. “Good is determined by God; evil is revolting against God,” he said. It is free will itself that “opens up the possibility to use it against God,” Father Winslow explained. “Evil is wrapped up in the mystery of freedom,” and evil is the “use of freedom against the One who created you.” Both human beings and spiritual beings can use their freedom to do good or evil, and these become the key players in the spiritual terrain. The angels who used their free will to oppose God “made their choice freely and permanently” – they “made themselves evil,” he said. Next, the drama: These fallen spiritual beings “exert themselves in the drama of human history,” he said. Not only do we have accounts of this in Scripture, but across numerous cultures and sources. “Even outside the Bible we see Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, and practices like animism ... the existence of spirits are identified outside of the Judeo-Christian
‘We deal every day with evil. You’ve never known life without it.’ Father Patrick Winslow
Pastor, St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte
worldview.” “The oldest story of an exorcism is in the Old Testament,” he said. 1 Samuel describes how an evil spirit tormented Saul and that it was the harp of David that became an instrument of relief. In the New Testament we find Jesus interacting with the spiritual terrain, Father Winslow noted. “Jesus brought His disciples into His authority, sharing it through them. This was part of Jesus proclaiming His kingdom.” Not only do we see the drama of spiritual warfare in ancient cultures around the world, as well as recorded in the Old and New Testaments, but we also find that the Church has continually used its authority over evil since the time of Christ. Father Winslow pointed out that when Jesus sent out the 70 with His authority, we see the beginnings of ordination. We even find the Council of Carthage in the 4th century references an ordination, or minor order, of exorcists. “Spiritual warfare was formal within the Church just as with Jesus’ ministry,” he said. “We now have the rite of exorcism.” We also have the sacraments, he said. “Minor exorcisms have always been a part of baptismal preparation. When you aren’t baptized, you are under the general dominion of Satan.”
“Exorcism means to ‘adjure’ – an expulsion,” he explained. To “adjure” is an authoritative decree or order. There is a connection between exorcism and the sacraments: exorcism is an “oathing out” while the sacraments are an “oathing in,” he said. Even though evil spirits exert themselves into the drama of human history, Christ has given His Church all that is necessary to overcome evil. Father Winslow concluded his talk with spiritual warfare and the individual. “We deal every day with evil. You’ve never known life without it,” he said. But as our awareness of evil increases, it shouldn’t increase our worry, he emphasized. “That you see more evil doesn’t make you more imperiled; it makes you less.” “Good spiritual practices keep us strong as we walk through the mud of life. You run into the spiritual world all the time, just like germs, but don’t be paranoid.” Among good spiritual practices are frequent reception of the sacraments and the use of sacramentals, he said. “Sacramentals are sacred signs that have spiritual effect and are connected to the sacraments and the authority of the Church.” These are many and include such things as the rosary, scapulars, and holy water. “Don’t panic, don’t worry,” Father Winslow assured the group. “Avoid paranoia; be realistic.” Prayer is always a good thing, he emphasized. “Pray for your family. If it’s not (demonic) oppression, they will still benefit from the prayers. Always pray for deliverance, and you’re never going to go wrong.” We are also protected in various ways, he added. “By virtue of baptism we can deliver from evil,” for example, and “we pray for deliverance every time we say the Our Father.” Christ comforts us when He assures us to “be not afraid,” Father Winslow said. “Christ invites us to be victorious.”
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
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In Brief New deacon welcomed at SJN CHARLOTTE — Deacon Joseph Denzler has been granted faculties by Bishop Peter J. Jugis and has been assigned to St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte. Deacon Denzler was ordained for the Diocese of Brooklyn in New York in 2009. A native of Brooklyn, Denzler he served four years in the U.S. Navy. He and his wife Erlinda relocated to Charlotte in late 2012. — Deacon Ron Steinkamp
Military Mass planned for July 7 CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate a Mass for U.S. military personnel at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, July 7, at St. Patrick
Cathedral in Charlotte. The Mass and rosary (to be recited at 3 p.m.) will be offered for all military personnel who have died and for those who are now serving. All military personnel are invited and encouraged to come in uniform. Photos of those who have died or who are now serving in the military will be displayed in the cathedral. To include your service member, preferably in uniform, mail a color or black/ white photocopy of them with their name and military rank on the back of the photocopy to: Nancy Weber, Office of the Bishop, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, to be received no later than July 2. (Please do not send original photographs as they will not be returned.)
Good Shepherd dedicates new confessional KING — Good Shepherd Mission in King has been blessed with the gift of a confessional. Good Shepherd’s Knights of Columbus Council 12267 provided the funding and much of the labor. The confessional was inspired by the confessional at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury and was designed by Knights of Columbus members Dan Chauvin and Peter
Asian festival fund raiser held LAKE NORMAN — Couples for Christ, FilipinoAmerican Spirit, and the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas participated in the Asian Festival held May 4 at Lake Norman. All three organizations collaborated in the fund raiser, in which all of the proceeds will be donated to help the poor. — Dr. Cris Villapando
SonFest returns Nielson. The confessional was dedicated on May 1, the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The confessional is a particularly sacred place, said Father Lucas Rossi, pastor. He hopes that having this beautiful and private environment will speak to the heart of parishioners of all ages and call them to receive the holy sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis. Toward that end, Father Rossi has increased the Saturday confession time to a full hour. “The confessional’s presence here,” said Father Rossi, “shows us there is a sacred place set aside for a confessor to come and renew the truth that Christ, through His priests, is always ready to forgive the sinner who approaches Him for mercy.” — Annette Tenny
CHARLOTTE — The third-annual SonFest 2013 will take place June 14-15 at St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte. The two-day community event features music from 15 bands, ethnic and carnival food, rides and entertainment. Admission is free but tickets for food, games and rides such as the Ferris Wheel, Merry-Go-Round and bungee trampoline will be on sale at the entrance to the event. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Friday, June 14, and 1-11 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Visit www.4sjnc.org/sonfest for details.
His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte requests the honor of your presence at the Liturgy of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Jason Michael Christian Saturday, the twenty-second of June Two thousand and thirteen ten o’clock in the morning Cathedral of Saint Patrick 1621 Dilworth Road, East Charlotte, North Carolina Reception following Great Hall
— Al Tinson
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
nationalities that were shared by attendees of the festival. Entertainment for the afternoon included groups from Korean, Chinese, Filipino, Congolese, German, Mexican, Indian and Aztec cultures. The highlight of the afternoon was a fashion show of traditional costumes and everyday clothing representing several cultures and countries. — Susan Bino
Maronite Mission bids farewell to pastor Father Kauth earns doctorate, takes published thesis to Rome A doctorate in moral theology was awarded to Father Matthew Kauth, who graduated summa cum laude from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Santa Croce) in Rome Nov. 2, 2012. The 400-page thesis, entitled “Charity as Divine and Human Friendship: a Metaphysical and Scriptural Explanation according to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas,” was given an imprimatur by Bishop Peter Jugis on Feb. 22, and through the generosity of Saint Benedict Press in Charlotte was recently published. Father Kauth traveled to Rome June 2 to deliver 30 copies to the university. Bishop Jugis (pictured above with Father Kauth on May 31) is grateful Father Kauth agreed to the “hard work” required to complete a doctorate in moral theology. “From time to time we do have moral and ethical issues that come to our attention in the diocese,” Bishop Jugis said. “We have had the ability to contact the National Catholic Bioethics Center to help us on important moral issues that come to our attention – beginningof-life issues, end-of-life issues – although having a priest in the diocese who has done in-depth studies on moral issues and has an advanced degree in moral theology will also be a tremendous benefit to us in the diocese, when consultation is needed from time to time. It is a great service to the diocese and to his pastoral ministry.” Father Kauth also expressed his gratitude saying, “I am most grateful to Bishop Jugis for his kindness, generosity and encouragement. Whatever knowledge I have gained is at the service of the diocese to assist in gaining moral clarity and precision in increasingly confusing times. As for the thesis, the bishop’s own motto, ‘Caritas Christi urget nos’ (‘The Love of Christ impels us’), was a source of inspiration.” — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Youths hear advice from a coach HUNTERSVILLE — The Catholic Athletes for Christ ministry at St. Mark Church in Huntersville had the pleasure of recently hosting Davidson’s men’s basketball coach Bob McKillop. McKillop addressed a group of 40 teens about having dreams, remembering they’re always on “the stage” in life, and keeping their faith life strong while balancing career goals. Catholic Athletes for Christ meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month, and the ministry provides an evening of fun, athletic activities, a great meal, and featured speakers who address faith and athletics. For details, interested teens and parents can contact Tim Flynn, youth coordinator, at stmarklifeteen@ gmail.com or 704-948-0231. — Jeff Merk
GREENSBORO — On May 18, North Carolina Right to Life hosted its annual pro-life oratory contest in Greensboro. Stephen Holly, a rising high school senior from Wake Forest, won the competition with his speech about abortion. He received a certificate, a pro-life T-shirt, and registration to pro-life youth Camp Joshua in July. Three members of the North Carolina Right to Life Board of Directors – Elaine McHale, Julie Scott Emmons, and Nancy J.R. Wells – served as judges for the oratory contest. They are pictured above with Holly. — North Carolina Right to Life
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HIGH POINT — The International Club of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point presented its ninth-annual International Festival on May 19. The club was established as a potential instrument of peace, with the specific purpose of celebrating the diverse cultures in our community, including those of other faiths. Parish members represent more than 60 nations. The club meets on the 1st Monday of each month at the church. Its mission statement of “Many Voices, One Spirit” was amplified by foods of many
Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor for all who invoke you, special patron in time of need; to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg you, to whom God has given such great power, to come to my assiatance; help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition. I will never forget thy grace and favors you obtain for me and I will do my utmost to spread devotion you. Amen St. Jude pray for us and all who honor thee and invoke thy aid. (Say 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary’s 3 Glory Be)
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spirituality and for having a pastor’s heart, Father Al-Chouefati will be greatly missed by his parishioners. The missions in Charlotte and Raleigh will now be headed by Father Elie Mikhael, who is scheduled to celebrate his first Divine Liturgy for the Charlotte Mission on Saturday, July 13. The Divine Liturgy scheduled for Sunday, June 23, has been cancelled. — Natasha Beathe
International Festival held at Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Holy St. Jude!
2013 Oratory Contest winner named
CHARLOTTE — The Maronite Mission of Charlotte will say its goodbyes to Father Kamil Al-Chouefati at a farewell party on Saturday, June 8, before he leaves to take up his new position as pastor of Our Lady Star of the East Church in Pleasantville, N.J. The party will follow the 7 p.m. Divine Liturgy (Mass), at which Father Al-Chouefati will administer the sacrament of first Holy Communion to 9-year-old Andrei Moubarak. Father Al-Chouefati was born in Lebanon in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1995. He came to the United States in 2006, to serve for six months as parochial vicar of St. Anthony Maronite Church in Richmond, Va. In 2007, he was assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Easton, Pa., and within two years he was made pastor and administrator of St. Sharbel Mission in Raleigh. The Maronite Mission of Charlotte was formed when a small group of Lebanese immigrants asked Father Al-Chouefati to celebrate the Divine Liturgy once a month in Charlotte. Since March 2010, he has been traveling from Raleigh to Charlotte to celebrate the Divine Liturgy on the second Saturday of the month, at the Chapel of St. Matthew Church. Under Father Al-Chouefati’s guidance, it has grown from a handful of worshippers to a congregation of a couple of hundred and a second monthly Mass was introduced last April. Known for his deep
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World Refugee Day is June 20 Refugees are victims of war, political upheaval or persecution. To stay alive, they are forced to leave home for camps in neighboring countries. A fortunate few have the opportunity to escape that life. Catholic Charities has welcomed more than 11,000 refugees to the Diocese of Charlotte since the early 1970’s. Continual assistance helps the family adapt and succeed in the community.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 OUR PARISHES
EVIL: FROM PAGE 15
– to deal with the possession with the full authority of the Catholic Church and its sacraments and prayers. The boy’s parents took him to a Catholic parish to see the priest. The priest, newly ordained, attempted to refer the case to the archbishop, but instead he was given permission to conduct the exorcism himself. The first exorcism attempt took place at a hospital after the usual spiritual preparations, prayer and fasting. However, the inexperienced priest was “catastrophically unprepared” for what would happen. The boy, with supernatural strength due to the possession, tore through the bed mattress, pulled out a bedspring, and with it slashed the priest’s arm from shoulder to wrist – an injury that required more than 100 stitches. The first exorcism attempt was not successful. Subsequent exorcisms took place over many weeks in various locations. As time went by so did the intensity of the possession, and the
exorcisms became more grueling and exhausting for the priests as day after day yielded little result. The boy did experience brief spans of lucidity when evidence of the possession subsided, and during these periods the boy had no recollection of what had taken place. During the exorcisms the demon would evidence itself in the most intimidating ways: holy water bottles flying across the room, the bed rising and slamming to the floor, even bloody scratches suddenly appearing on the boy’s chest as the priests watched. The possession was so powerful that it was decided to have the boy convert to Catholicism, so that he could receive the sacraments as a tactic in what was clearly full-blown spiritual warfare. The boy was baptized and received Holy Communion. At first he refused the Sacred Host; the priests were only able to get him to consume it after praying the rosary. After multiple sessions, when the exorcism was finally complete, there was a noise that sounded like a “loud gunshot” which signaled that the demon was gone. It happened during Holy Week. The length and intensity of the ordeal has led many to suspect that Satan himself had possessed the boy.
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Following the documentary, Father Winslow answered questions from the audience. One question was whether there is always an “invitation” that initiates a demonic possession. Father Winslow responded, “There seems to be a trigger to harass or possess a person. There is some efficient cause to trigger it.” However, this doesn’t necessarily have to be on the part of the possessed person, he added. In some cases it “can be someone outside of you, almost like an evil form of intercession.” Father also made the distinction between three types of activity of evil spirits: oppression, obsession and possession. An example of obsession would be “Padre Pio being beaten up” by the devil, he said. Padre Pio was so holy that the devil was focused on him. Oppression is someone being targeted from the outside: “Something seems to have attached, like a diabolical intercession that looms and leads to menacing problems from the outside.” Possession is “intrinsic, inward” where the evil spirit holds the soul “like a hostage.” But lest this lead the faithful to unnecessary worry, Father Winslow
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State health department spokesman Ricky Diaz said the Latrobe clinic is being closely watched after state inspections of the facility in April and also in December 2012 uncovered numerous problems. Besides continued monitoring from the state health department, another agency that could investigate Latrobe after its reported problems is the North Carolina Medial Board, which licenses all of the doctors in the state. The board relies on many sources to investigate possible cases of medical malpractice, including patient complaints, government regulators and media reports, said Jean Fisher Brinkley, public affairs director for the medical board. In 2012 the medical board conducted about 2,500 investigations; 192 of those resulted in disciplinary action, Brinkley said. However, the state health department is not required to notify the medical board if it uncovers possible medical malpractice, she noted. State regulators use their best judgment in deciding whether to alert the medical board, she said. The medical board has not gotten many reports from the state health department, she said. “It’s not frequent.” Diaz said the state health department does communicate with the medical board. “If concerns are identified related to medical practice, referrals are made to the appropriate licensing agencies,” he said. Latrobe is also a member of the National Abortion Federation, a trade group that states on its website it “sets the standards for abortion care in the U.S. and Canada” and it inspects its members through “periodic quality assurance site visits.” A NAF spokeswoman has not return several calls inquiring about whether it had inspected Latrobe or followed up with state regulators to ensure that Latrobe abides by its membership criteria.
DOCTORS AT LATROBE
The Latrobe clinic is part of a chain of three abortion facilities, with locations also in Raleigh and in Augusta, Ga. The
quickly consoled the audience. “We run into a lot of viruses every day,” he noted, “but our bodies have immune systems to deal with it.” In the same way, he said, “Our souls have immune systems. We have baptism and the other sacraments, God’s grace. Our spiritual immune systems take care of it.” In fact, this is exactly what the sacraments are for, he said. The word “sacrament” comes from the word meaning “oath out,” which is exactly what exorcism prayer does. “When you receive a sacrament, you are receiving grace and pushing out the bad. There is a coming in and a pushing out – we are constantly involved in this kind of flush – just like the human body.” Father Winslow pointed out that the Lord’s Prayer contains an exorcism prayer: “Deliver us from evil” is an incomplete translation from the Latin, which actually says, “Deliver us from the evil one.” “We don’t see the spiritual terrain and we don’t always realize that we’re in it … there may be something spiritual going on that we can’t see,” he said, adding with a smile, “But don’t get spooked – there’s not a devil around every corner. “If you’re worried, go to confession: it’s Purell for the soul.”
More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Since 2006, at least nine women have been rushed to the hospital after botched abortions at the Latrobe clinic. It is just one of many problems uncovered by state regulators since the clinic opened in 1999, a Catholic News Herald review of state records shows.
for-profit company’s website estimates its staff has performed abortions on more than 100,000 women over the past 20 years. The Latrobe clinic alone performed 4,220 abortions from Oct. 1, 2011, to Sept. 30, 2012, it reported on its license renewal application in 2013 – the most of any of Charlotte’s three abortion clinics. Dr. Stuart Lee Schnider, Latrobe’s medical director and husband of the clinic’s owner and CEO, Lois TurnerSchnider, was sued for medical malpractice in 1997. During an abortion performed by Dr. Schnider in 1994, a woman “incurred severe damage to her uterus and bowel that caused excessive hemorrhaging,” according to court documents. She had to have a total hysterectomy as a result of the botched abortion. Schnider, 59, has been licensed in North Carolina since 1987, and the N.C. Medical Board shows no disciplinary action taken against him. The other abortionist at Latrobe, Dr. Jimmie Isaac Newton, 74, works as an independent contractor and was first licensed by the N.C. Medical Board in 1964. Newton surrendered his medical license in 2002 during an investigation involving sexual misconduct with patients at his Winston-Salem OB-GYN clinic. According to documents from the N.C. Medical Board’s investigation, in 2001 and 2002 Newton admitted to having “made inappropriate sexual comments” to two patients and attempting to solicit for oral sex. About a year later, the medical board reinstated Newton’s medical license after he showed that he was receiving “treatment for his sexual misconduct,” the medical board documents stated. Neither Schnider nor Newton have admitting privileges at local hospitals, according to the medical board.
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com
RALLY: FROM PAGE 6
“I take very seriously the biblical passage where Jesus calls us to welcome the stranger,” Strini said. Building fences, deporting people and breaking up families are not Christian, he said. “We’re not loving our fellow human beings when we do all these things.” Sister Judy Best, a School Sister of Notre Dame from St. Louis, Mo., said she has been impressed with the “vibrancy” of the democratic process on the “Nuns on the Bus” tour so far, seeing people enthusiastic about immigration reform wherever they have stopped. Best said this immigration legislation is crucial to bringing millions of people out of the shadows, so they no longer have to live looking over their shoulders in fear. One of those fearful undocumented immigrants, Angelina Venegas, came to the rally to tell her family’s story. Venegas’ car was rear-ended in Charlotte last June while she was driving home from the grocery store with her three children, she said. As an undocumented worker, she does not have a driver’s license, so when police arrived at the accident scene she was arrested – in front of her children, she said. She described how she kept trying to talk to her crying children from the back seat of the police car, telling them to calm down and call a family friend to get them. She was released from jail but immigration authorities were notified. She said she expects to be deported to Mexico June 27, and she is terrified of being separated from her three Americanborn children, who are aged 5, 7 and 11. “I don’t know what to do,” Venegas said through a translator. She doesn’t want her children to choose between leaving their mother to remain in the only country they’ve ever known, or leave their home and move with her to Mexico where they will face a life of poverty. Venegas is receiving legal help from the Latin American Coalition and Action North Carolina, which also participated in the “Nuns on the Bus” Charlotte rally.
TOUR ORGANIZERS
Network’s “Nuns on the Bus” tour is being supported by
Faith in Public Life, a non-profit public policy and strategy organization for progressive evangelical groups that was co-founded by Sister Catherine Pinkerton of Network. FPL continues to maintain a close relationship with Network. FPL criticized the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops last summer for their “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign that called attention to the religious liberty threats at home and abroad. FPL and Network both took a leading role in supporting the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, standing in opposition to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s criticism of Network in its 2012 doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious also drew public attention last year. The Rev. Jennifer Butler, executive director of FPL, was in Charlotte May 31 and said her group was providing media strategy and coordination for the “Nuns on the Bus” tour. Immigration reform, Butler said, brings together people of many different faiths and backgrounds to serve as witnesses to the Gospel message. Financing for the bus trip is coming from Network itself and private contributions, said Casey Schoeneberger, FPL’s press secretary. Last year Schoeneberger coordinated media relations for the first “Nuns on the Bus” tour as a Network staffer. Schoeneberger denied a claim from the Catholic League’s Bill Donoghue that the “Nuns on the Bus” trip is being financed through Organizing for Action, President Barack Obama’s former re-election committee now transformed into a 501(c)4 organization. Donoghue provided no evidence for his claim in a May 29 press statement. “Absolutely not,” Schoeneberger replied when asked whether the bus tour was being financed with help from Organizing for Action. On May 30, during the “Nuns on the Bus” tour through Washington, D.C., Network’s executive director, Sister Simone Campbell, met with Obama at the White House to talk about immigration reform and the bus tour. On Network’s blog, Campbell wrote, “We are grateful that he and other leaders from both sides of the aisle see the urgency of reform and are working to make it happen. A special thank you to the president for his warm words about the work we are doing and our journey for immigration justice!”
OUR PARISHESI
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Second Fatima procession planned for June 13 at St. Thomas Aquinas CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church in northeast Charlotte will host the second of six scheduled Fatima processions on June 13 to mark the 96th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. Last month’s procession was well attended by more than 200 participants and included the praying of the rosary and special prayers for the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima. Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, hopes that people from around the diocese will attend these monthly processions to honor Our Lady and promote her message of prayer, penance and peace in the world. The Catholic Church has endorsed the Fatima Message since 1930. Five successive popes have publicly indicated their approval of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima and her message. The June procession at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish will begin at 7:30 p.m. and is open to everyone in the Diocese of Charlotte. For more information about the processions at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, contact the parish office at 704-549-1607. For details about the devotion and apparitions, go to www.fatima.org. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Join us for SonFest! June 14-5:00-11:00 June 15-1:00-11:00
• RIDES-Merry-Go-Round, Bungee Trampoline, Ferris Wheel and Gyro Extreme! • FOOD-Ethnic and carnival favorites such as hot dogs, Italian sausage, hoagies, cotton candy, funnel cakes and more! • GAMES- Balloon darts, milk bottle knock down, spinning wheel, high striker and the dunk tank • SILENT AUCTION-Bid on items such as vacation getaways, electronics, a Panthers tailgate party, restaurants, salons and more! • MUSIC-Continuous live music! • Special appearance by Drex and Maney on Friday night of the “Drex and Maney” morning show on KISS 95.1 FM! Join us for the fireworks show on Saturday night, sponsored by Keffer Automotive Group! Admission to SonFest is free, but you can purchase tickets for food, rides and games at the gate. St. John Neumann Catholic Church 8451 Idlewild Rd.. Charlotte For more information, visit http://4sjnc.org/sonfest.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
‘Graduates, we are here to pray for you...’
Bishop McGuinness graduates honored at baccalaureate Mass Georgianna Penn Correspondent
GREENSBORO — “Graduates, we are here to pray for you,” said Bishop J. Jugis as he presided over a baccalaureate Mass honoring Bishop McGuinness High School’s Class of 2013. The Mass was celebrated at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro May 24. Family and friends of the 100-plus graduates, priests and deacons from the Triad area, teachers and professors, the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, the choir of St. Leo the Great Church and Bishop McGuinness’ Honors Chorus all attended the Mass. In his homily, Bishop Jugis urged the graduates always to “be open to the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit.” He reminded them that the Holy Spirit comes to us like fire – “Fire burns and transforms” – and he urged them not to be afraid to grow and respond to the working of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The Holy Spirit, he said, “breaks down the old self
and forms us into a new person to become more like Jesus. That is His purpose, that is His mission.” He also reminded the graduates that the fire of the Holy Spirit warms our hearts: “The grace of the Holy Spirit warms chilled relationships. He bends the stubborn heart and will. A cold and hardened heart is what the world will give us, without the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit also comes as light, enabling the graduates to discern God’s plans for them and enlightening each of them on their journeys, he said. “The Holy Spirit is light; He gives us wisdom. The Holy Spirit enlightens you and scatters the darkness.” Reflecting on the Gospel of John 20:19-23, Bishop Jugis encouraged the graduates to carry that light into the world, heeding Jesus’ words: “As the Father sent me, I send you, may peace be with you.” He reminded them that as God sends Jesus into the world, Jesus sends them “His light and presence to all.” The graduates honored their mothers
Photos by Georgianna Penn | Catholic News Herald
Graduates of Bishop McGuinness High School sing and pray during their baccalaureate Mass May 24. with red roses and hugs during the liturgy. Many graduates participated in the liturgy as lectors, gift bearers, choir members
and musicians. Graduates wore complete graduation attire along with their honors and medals.
Bishop Jugis to Charlotte Catholic graduates: ‘Always be open to the Holy Spirit’ SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — A sea of Charlotte Catholic High School graduates in red gowns made their way down the main aisles of St. Matthew Church the evening of May 29, processing into a standing-roomonly baccalaureate Mass. Charlotte Catholic faculty, family and friends gathered together with Bishop Peter J. Jugis and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte to give thanks to God for the 300-plus Class of 2013’s milestone in the highest form of prayer, the Mass. Graduating senior Anthony Morlacci carried a banner in the procession guiding the graduates into the church. Before the Mass, he spoke about his years at Charlotte Catholic. “It definitely was a family bonding experience, especially this past year when we had a lot of things happen and we came together,” Morlacci said. “It blew me away with how well we came together to help provide for each other and have a shoulder to lean on.” Classmate Colin Porter felt the same way. “I enjoyed all my time there and the class bonding. I feel like we are a big family now. ” Principal Jerry Healy sat just behind the graduates and shared that he is impressed by the Class of 2013 and their faith. “They have humbled me,” Healy said. “Especially this year with their faith, the way they have turned to their faith when their classmates were sick and ill, what they did on the field with the living rosary. They constantly humbled me. I am a better person because of it.” During his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on the day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2:1-11, which speaks about Pentecost. He remarked on how the Holy
Spirit comes as fire and how it rested on the Apostles. Like the Apostles were, he encouraged the graduates to be open to the working of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. “Fire burns and transforms,” Bishop Jugis said. “The Holy Spirit is fire and He burns us, breaks us down. The Holy Spirit transforms us into a new person, to be like Jesus. He transforms us by His burning fire.” He encouraged the graduates to allow the Holy Spirit to “mature” them, to mold and reshape them. “We want the old person to disappear, to be transformed” – and to be filled more and more with Jesus Christ. Bishop Jugis also explained that the fire of the Holy Spirit warms us with the warmth of God’s love, and it produces light, enabling wisdom. “The Holy Spirit comes to warm chilled relationships, so that people begin to talk to one another again. The Holy Spirit melts icy hearts. We are able to love our neighbor.” He encouraged the graduates, “Never settle for a cold and hardened heart. That is what the world would want us to do.” The Holy Spirit enlightens people with wisdom, he also said. So when the graduates are faced with choices in life and questions as to which direction to take, Bishop Jugis assured them that the Holy Spirit will enlighten them. “You will not be in the dark. Always be open to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enlightens, warms your heart with God’s love and transforms you.” Diocesan priests attending the baccalaureate Mass included Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church; Monsignor Richard Bellow, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville; Father Roger Arnsparger, vicar of education; Father Frank O’Rourke, pastor of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte; Father
sueann howell | catholic news herald
Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Father Roger K. Arnsparger, diocesan vicar of education, distribute Holy Communion during the Charlotte Catholic High School baccalaureate Mass at St. Matthew Church on May 29. Ambrose Akinwande, MSP, parochial vicar at St. Matthew Church; and Father Paul Gary, pastor of St. Luke Church in Mint Hill. Father Matthew Kauth, who is completing his first year as chaplain at Charlotte Catholic, served as master of ceremonies. Father Kauth addressed the students at the end of the Mass, citing a G.K. Chesterton quote: “People do not leave the faith because they have tried it and found it wanting. They have tried it and found it difficult. Therefore, they leave it untried any further.”
“My one ambition for you as you leave as a class: Please try it! And fight for it! I promise if you do, all goodness and truth and beauty you will find. If you give up, you will find ruination and chaos.” Father Kauth also shared with the graduates about how strange the past few days had been since they finished school and were no longer stopping by his office. “You are the first class that I have come to know. I can say honestly as a Father, I am very proud of you and I will miss you. And should you need me, I’ll be in my office waiting for you to come back.”
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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In Brief
Pictured with Beatitudes Bees artist Jean Aube are Cassandra Willis, 2, and Kaleigh Westfall, 4.
David Exum | Catholic News Herald
‘Bee Generous’ Preschoolers at St. James the Greater Church learn the Beatitudes through bee mural David Exum Correspondent
CONCORD — Something was buzzing inside Suzanne Carney’s head the minute she became director of the New Beginnings Preschool at St. James the Greater Church last fall. Instead of sticking to the idiom of “minding her own beeswax,” Carney contacted fellow parishioner Jean Aube to put her artistic talents to use by creating a mural of cartoon-like bees in the hallways of the preschool illustrating the powerful Beatitudes passage in the Bible. “She doesn’t want any recognition and was just honored to do it, and she has supplied all the paint herself,” Carney said. “She won’t take any donations, she won’t let me buy a single tube of paint. She comes in everyday at about 1:30 p.m. and does it all herself.” When it comes to creating the murals, Aube has been quite the busy bee. According to Carney, Aube works upwards to 20 hours a week on the mural, which depict bees holding signs saying “bee respectful, bee kind, bee caring.” “She is such a busy woman, and for her to be able to carve out time to do this is phenomenal. I don’t know how she is able to put us into her busy life,” said Carney, who has used the Beatitudes bees at other preschools. “She says (that creating the
mural) is her therapy, and that it’s for the glory of God and that it’s for the children.” Aube also came up with the idea of a “Graduate Garden” depicted on one of the hallways. It will include the handprint and name of each preschool graduate in the form of a flower planted in a garden. Aube also created a scenic “Church on the Hill” portion of the Beatitudes bees mural. “I love her idea of the ‘Church on the Hill’ right near the atrium because it gets the children prayerful and ready,” Carney said. The Beatitudes bees are use at the preschool for teachers to engage with the students on a daily basis. Carney said the bees are a large part of the preschool’s character development program. “Teachers will be in the hallways and ask the students, ‘What is this bee doing? This bee is being a friend. Are you being a friend?’ ” Carney also explained that each month she and the teachers choose one of the Beatitudes bees and make it the focus for the month. “As more and more of the bees have been created, the teachers will go to the hallway and show the children ‘Bee Generous’ or some of the other Beatitudes we’ve been working on.” Carney’s approach to building a sound and fundamental preschool program at New Beginnings is based primarily on character development of each individual student. “Nothing is better than the Beatitudes of Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us how to be.” Before becoming director at New Beginnings, Carney and her husband Bobby created a religious-themed nursery at St. James using the Beatitudes. “We used the Beatitudes bees then, too, and we called it ‘How to Bee’ program,” she said. “Noah’s Ark has long been the logo for New Beginnings Preschool, hence the name. So, I wanted to incorporate this into the murals. Together (Aube) and I decided to add a large tree, with the Beatitude Beehive hanging from one of the limbs. Off in the distance, on a hill behind the tree, will be
Noah’s Ark, after it has landed on dry land. Animals, Noah, and his family will just begin to come out of the ark…a New Beginning for all. “I just love the bees and they have been with me forever. (Aube) has really brought these bees to life. The (parish staff and the clergy) are always saying how cute the bees are and how they want to pinch their cheeks,” she added. Carney also said before the mural project began, she contacted Greensboro-based Carson-Dellosa Publishing to ask for permission to use the bees. “They were honored that we were putting (their) bees on our hallways,” she said, adding, “The (Carson-Dellosa) bees were not Beatitude bees. We created that ourselves.” Carney also explained that even after putting up bulletin boards and other types of pictures and photos in the hallways, the preschool still needed something to identify itself with the importance of Catholicism. “Even by adding the children’s artwork in the hallways, I still wanted more. I wanted a place that when people walked in they immediately realized this is a Catholic Christian preschool and that it belongs to the children. The Beatitude bees are also very child-friendly and who better to tell us how we’re supposed to be than Jesus Christ.” Carney also said new and returning preschool parents have told her the Beatitudes bees have created a warm, friendly and family-oriented environment. “The bees open up so many conversations and dialogue with the children,” said Carney, who has eight years of experience teaching at the preschool level and is working online to receive her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ashworth College in Norcross, Ga. “The path to this has been such a blessing,” said Carney, who grew up in Charlotte and now lives in Concord. “I did work at a non-Christian facility but I needed to get back with Jesus, and I am just honored to be given not only the directorship of this preschool but to be at my home church.”
Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council meets CHARLOTTE — High school students from the three diocesan Catholic high schools – Bishop McGuinness, Charlotte Catholic and Christ the King – were selected to join a Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council this year. The Student Advisory Council meets directly with the diocesan schools superintendent, Dr. Janice Ritter, and various school leaders to discuss students’ needs, concerns and successes. The insights provided by these student leaders are a valuable asset to the Catholic Schools Office. Along with their principal’s recommendation, each student completed an application detailing their special skills and desire to be on the council. The first meeting was held at Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville on March 13 and a second meeting was held at Charlotte Catholic High School on May 16. The council members have represented their fellow students well during the 2012-’13 school year. With the success experienced this year, plans are to continue with additional opportunities for student participation next year. — Mike Ford
USCCB art contest winner named MOORESVILLE — Christ the King High School freshman Megan Jackson holds her painting “The Face of Poverty,” which was selected for submission by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s entry into the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s 2013 Multi-Media Youth Arts Contest sponsored by the USCCB Catholic Campaign for Human Development. The aim of the annual art contest is to engage young people to use art to learn about, and offer portrayals of, poverty in America in the light of their faith. Describing her entry, Jackson said she wanted to show that “poverty affects people of all races and gender.” Information about the youth contest can be found at www.usccb.org/ youthcontest. — Joe Purello
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
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Renee 5K.” Our Lady of the Assumption raised $2,440 this year for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and are happy to be a part of something that brings happiness to children with life-threatening illnesses. — Melissa Ocejo
In Brief
OLA holds Make-A-Wish fundraiser
Photo provided by Donna Birkel
Teaching and learning together WINSTON-SALEM — St. Leo School eighth-graders Jake Goulding, Sofia Kremidas and Peyton Pesavento presented a lesson to fourth-graders May 9 explaining the layers of the earth and how the shifting of those layers is what causes earthquakes. They helped the younger students “build” a model of the earth and then cut it in half to see what the layers inside look like.
CHARLOTTE — Our Lady the Assumption School recently participated in its secondannual Make-A-Wish Fundraiser. They kicked off April with a “Spirit Week” that consisted of a theme for each day in which the kids dressed up for $1 a day. Teachers and staff also baked goods for a bake sale in which all proceeds went to Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year the school also hosted a semi-formal dance, themed “A Night Under the Stars,” as a way to raise money for the foundation. Make-A-Wish Foundation is near and dear to the families of OLA School. The foundation granted a wish for an ailing student, Renee, in 2011 and the children are very grateful for the memories the foundation helped create for their classmate and her family. In memory of Renee, the students and staff of OLA wrapped up the month of April with the second-annual “Run for
St. Gabriel students lend helping hand to Holy Angels CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Gabriel School in Charlotte raised more than $4,500 to benefit Holy Angels in Belmont recently, by selling paper hands that were then posted in the school’s lobby. The students exceeded their fundraising goal and actually ran out of room to post the paper hands in the lobby. — Michele Snoke
Students learn about Diego Rivera murals GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School in
Congratulations to Wasser, Anthony Willis, Sydney Wise, Marcus Wright, Dylan Charlotte Catholic High School
CCHS 2013 GRADUATES Alabama, U. of Burelli, Meagan Larsen, Nicholas Miller, Colin Nelson, Bradley Smith, Caroline American College of the Building Arts Helline, Daniella American Musical & Dramatic Academy Perry, Kristen Appalachian St. U. Barrett, Rachel Burns, Shannon Christ, Brian Cline, Jane Daly, Christopher Hady, Sharon Hayes, Chason Hester, Hailey Holder, Jennifer Hubacher, Margaret Kelly, Sean Kloiber, Ashton Kurts, Evan Mayernik, Matthew Morlacci, Anthony Newton, Amy Niederer, Larissa Noonan, Kelsey Palillo, Michael Staub, Elizabeth Strickland, Riley
Auburn U. Allan, Lindsay Ferraro, Nicholas Funck, Alexander Young,Michael Belmont Abbey College Issac, Souzi Teah, Munah Boston College McDonough, Alison Sullivan, McCaela Bridgewater College Gray, Alexis U of California at Berkeley Smith, Conner U. of California at San Diego de Molina, Julia Cape Fear C. C. Keough, Mary Kate Central Piedmont C. C. Alvarracin, Michael Lombardozzi, Alex Lovelock, Cullen Maccubbin, Robert C. of Charleston Kennelly, Katelyn Munekata, Andrew Ready, Jaclyn U. of Chicago Ahrensdorf, Lucia The Citadel Wilkinson, Maureen Clemson U. Auger, Ryan Berretta, Jonathan Bolton, Abigael Buttner, Michael Copeland, Melissa
Cunnane, Gabrielle Grider, Bridgette Johnson, William Kramlick, Eric Rangel, Jason Shear, Justen Werner, Taylor
Mankowski, Matthew McCarthy, Kevin Muniz, Paulina Pauli, Jenna Prys, Stephen Sabates, Alexander Schaut, Nicholas
Coastal Carolina U. Barkley, Ryan Geiger, Spencer Heinz, Jacqueline LaJara, Luis
Eckerd College Santos, Samantha
U. of Colorado Flynn, Kacey Roth, Toria Colorado State U. Keffer, Nicholas Creighton U. Pusanik, Carli Cuyahoga C. C. Parker, Kateri Delaware Valley College Ferraris, Meredith U. of Denver Flynn, Connor Duke U. Nahouraii, Lauren Duquesne U. Ducey, Lauren East Carolina U. Beno, Mark Charles, Joe Crean, Clint Dattolo. Margaret Decker, Justin DellaMea, Anthony Eldredge, Reece Fitzpatrick, Thomas Hrycenko, Matthew Ligon, Hannah Lisi, Joseph Magliocco, Kaitlin
Elon U. Brennan, Rebecca Klochany, Kathryn Roberts, Caila Slota, Alexandra Sweeney, Molly Womack, Jessica Fashion Institute of Tech. Biller, Miranda Florida State U. Gallagher, Katherine Franciscan U. of Steubenville Modzelewski, Paul Furman U. Harouny, Ann Holland, Zachary Georgia Institute of Tech. Selbach, Lee U. of Georgia Bauer, Camille Siegner, Shannon Greensboro College Cole, Abbygail Guilford College Amato, Daniel Hampden-Sydney College Choulas, James Lee, Marc Tomlin, Kyle Haverford College Rodrigue, Alex
High Point U. Booth, Kathryn Clare, Christopher Hoffmann, Shannon Rose, Mary Frances Washburn, Kristen IMG Academy Arnold, Chase Kansas State U. Lochbihler, Mitchell Kent State U. Gallucci, Anna Life U. Cowley, Samuel Limestone College Schwartz, Christian Louisiana State U. Boon, Madeline Loyola U. Maryland Sawyer, Nicholas Mars Hill College Dulskis, Robert Kirkland, Matthew Mills, Melissa Marymount Manhattan College Wilcox, Bowen U. of Memphis Newman, Jenna Miami U. Oxford Rigali, Matthew U. of Miami Crotty, Catherine U. of Michigan Hibler, Erika U. of Milan Medical School Garella, Vittoria U. of Mississippi Brown, Wilson Carroll, Patrick
Hancock, Carly Kelly, Brandon Roberts, James Salerno, Lilly Valentine, Emily U. of Missouri Bertelsen, Dean Montreat College Madden, Kelly Naval Academy Prep School Perez, David New Mexico Military Institute Rodrigue, Griffin UNC- Asheville Hazen, Marylia Reed, Henry Walsh, Holly UNC-Chapel Hill Almon, Kathryn Balbirnie, Sean Barnaba, Madison Batres, Erica Bonen-Clark, Jacob Brinson, Rachel Button, Amy Cady, Max Ciesielski, Jeffrey Conrad, Winston Cook, Madelyn Fowler, Garrett Gasior, Madeline George, Rachael Hageman, Jaime Moore, Emma Porter, Matthew Pray, Francis Russo, Nicholas Schilly, Tyler Shaw, Julia Vercauteren, Brian UNC- Charlotte Abate, Marisa
Boone, Richard Brady, Catherine Colin, Julian Conte, Ariana Grouse, Joseph Holland, Erica James, Joseph Jewell, Christian Johnson, Aura Kalbaugh, Matthew Killian, Aubrey King, Karrington King, Thomas Kuhn, Flannery Levi, Joshua Louis, William Mathew, Sebin Newbanks, John Offord, McLean Park, Susan Perkins, Patrick Phan, Robert Regan, Michael Russell, Lindsay Sinicki, Keaston Spence, Dominique Swiger, Meghan Wagner, Alexandra UNC- Greensboro Dolcimascolo, Paul Rohan, Mary Ruder, Grant UNC-Wilmington Carp, Marisa Cromie, Allison Fiato, Elizabeth Greene, Danielle Harp, Amber Hauck, Emily Kessel, Christine King, Trenton Lee, Courtney Loekman, Nicholas McKee, Sarah Nelson, Elizabeth Poe, Sarah
Rioux, Nicole Sparre, Michael NC Central U. Simms, Bentley NC State U. Arenas, Adam Bellotti, Aurelio Benson, Adam Calderone, Jenna Cipriano, Alex Clark, Mary Claire Connery, Robert Deschenes, Megan Dettmer, Anna Diez, Victoria Eagle, Thomas Echevarria, Everett Eicher, Andrew Francis, Ryan Gabriel, Zachary Gove, Kelsey Gustafson, Erin Harkins, Frank Hatton, Tyler Hoskins, David Lee, Nicki McBride, Riley McElravey, Joseph Miller, Chelsea Minogue, Roland Nantais, Andrew Nguyyen, Jonathan Obimah, Danielle Parra, Michael Phillips, Matthew Riedener, Felipe Rouse, Alexander Shaffer, Natalie Stavropoulos, Gabrielle Stawinsky, Jeremy Tomaszewski, Margaret Vermillion, Riley Wagner, Jared U. of North Georgia Ferris, William
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Greensboro recently hosted a traveling exhibit of reproduced Diego Rivera murals. The murals are part of multi-curricular approach to teaching Spanish to students. Spanish teacher Marie Angiolino wanted to not only teach her students about the Spanish language, but also incorporate the diverse culture of the many countries in which Spanish is spoken. This year, Angiolino has focused attention on Mexico and is using the art of Diego Rivera to teach students about the rich history of the country. Students researched other artists and created murals of their own, including one called the “History of Greensboro.” Created by eighth-graders, students used famous Greensboro buildings to represent the city’s history. The traveling exhibit was funded by a grant from the United Arts Council, as part of its 2012-’13 Teacher Art Grants. — Karen Hornfeck
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to the Church’s call to aid victims of the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma. The group came up with the idea to operate a lemonade stand during morning recess. They are pictured outside at their stand selling lemonade to fellow students. They raised a little more than $160 from the fundraiser. — Donna Birkel
Runners in solidarity with Boston Marathon victims GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School’s middle school track team ran a mile April 18 to honor those who ran the 2013 Boston Marathon this year and show their support of the Boston community.
Photo provided by Pat Burr
Career Day at St. Michael School
— Karen L. Hornfeck
Selling lemonade to aid tornado victims WINSTON-SALEM — Second-graders at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem responded quickly
We welcome your school’s news and photos. Please email items to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@ charlottediocese.org.
GASTONIA — At the school’s annual Career Day, St. Michael students learned about everything from cattle farming to being a chef and from computer-aided fashion designing to a vocation to the religious life. A special thank you to the Penegers from Pennybrook Farms, Dr. Kathryn Caulfield, an orthopedic hand surgeon; Missy Branch, a neonatal intensive care nurse; Maria Adolph, an occupational therapy assistant; Mercy Sister Pat Pepitone, representing religious vocations; Melanie Souza, a CAD designer for Cato; Marvin Randolph, postmaster (pictured above); Jack Achenson, chef at the Round Bistro; and Jim Cagle and Mark Montreuil from SCANA Gas Services. There was a question-and-answer session after each presentation.
the Class of 2013 Notre Dame of Maryland U. Sommer, Kaitlyn U. of Notre Dame Chambers, Lance Linus, Grace Ohio State U. Hakanson, David Strassner, Emily Peri Queens U. of Charlotte Flanagan, Caitlin Fujiwara, Brandon Mixer, Hannah Phillips, Hannah Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Behnke, John U. of Richmond Hoff, Keegan Loesch, Andrew Mainsah, Tafon Rose-Hulman Institute of Tech. Reid, Zuberi Saint Anselm College Anderson, Liam Saint Francis U. Wallon, Rachel Salem College Hughes, Kerri U. of South Carolina, Beaufort Clement, Thomas Waits, Ana U. of South Carolina Alzate, Ashley Borst, Michael Bragg, Michael Buttriss, Darby Davis, Caitlyn Dennstaedt, Samuel DeVore, Jay
Dudek, Emma Gassaway, Kevin Gendoes, Rachael Gottcent, Meghan Hall, Ryan Humann, Joseph Jette, Kevin Knox, John LeFlore, Samuel Paff, Lucas Parker, Margaret Petrilli, Aubrey Shepherd, Amelia Silvagno, Clarissa Stiegler, Lauren Tully, Jonathan Underwood, Emerson Wohlfert, Collin U. of Southern California Arizmendi, Megan Southern Methodist U. Quigley, Rory Spelman College Malcolm, Thalia Syracuse U. Edmonds, Ezekiel Tulane U. Sullivan, Christopher United States Army Wright, Robert United States Marine Corps Andrejcisk, Gabrielle United States Military Academy Manion, Ryan Vinson, Alexandra Vu, Vincent United States Military Academy Prep School Pollack, Mark
United States Naval Academy Kirchmer, Kevin Vanderbilt U. Park, Soo Bin Villanova U. Jensen, Tyler Virginia Commonwealth U. Brady, Erin Kunik, Lindsay Virginia Tech Corcoran, Bridget Wake Forest U. Eberle, Thomas Roche, Patrick Western Carolina U. Callicott, Aubrey LoTruglio, Katherine Miranda, Josie Quigley, William Siczek, Lauren U. of Western Ontario Kalczynski, Sarah Wingate U. Thamm, Gabriel U. of Wisconsin Hattenhauer, Grant Keogh, Tress Wofford College Accetta, Jordon Bambini, Wesley Pruitt, Alex Wright State U. Chisholm, Caroline
BMHS 2013 GRADUATES Alamance Community College Christopher Lora Appalachian State University Riley Brannan Peter McDonough Haley McGowan Rhys Murdock Jose Naveira Ferriero Jordan Pring Adam Sams Maddison Staszkiewicz Caroline Valitutto Brigham Young University Anna Smith Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Katelyn Merendino Charlotte, University of North Carolina Anastacia Conlon Benjamin Coon Gwendolyn Gies Daniel Gomez-Perry Sean Hamacher Rainier Sangalang Zyven Sobkowski Michael Tepedino Chestnut Hill College Priscilla Del Aguila-Vienrich Clemson University Jonah Carmichael Alexandra Errington
Zachary Bruns Alexander Bruno
James Madison University Natalie Hardy
Davidson County Community College James Michaels
Johnson & Wales University Daniel Bazakas
Duke University John Abram
Lees-McRae College Christopher Mullins
East Carolina University Matthew Brackett Cameron Bradford Kelsey Cossio Thomas LaMuraglia Raven Sexton
Loyola University Maryland Kathryn Wright
Elon University Joseph Book Rhett Lawson James Mahood Ferrum College Dannica Bell Furman University Leland Lancaster Jr. Robert Hocutt, III Nicholas Jacoby William Richardson III Guilford Technical Community College Anne Armstrong Marina Black Bianca Bresson Katie Burske Paul Burske Justin Lechner Rafael Leon Jonathan Osborn Evan Starks High Point University Nicholas Stigler Alyssa Walker Courtney Walters Indiana University JinEui Lee
Meredith College Emily Judd Metropolitan State University of Denver Thomas Spencer Mission to Ireland Christian Zik Nsonwu North Carolina State University Ana Arroyo Michael Brackett Tucker Crews Elizabeth Farmer Kyle Justice Luke Justice Benjamin Labra Escudero Jacqueline Lee Katherine McCuiston Megan McDowell Elizabeth Reklau Gregory Redden Eric Dissosway Adam Goodman Samuel Sebastian Lindsay Nedriga Queens University of Charlotte Patrick Willard Radford University Meleana Tisci Roanoke College Brianna Eichhorn
Savannah College of Art and Design Nicholas Stout State University of New York - Oswego Sang Jun Han Texas Christian University Thomas Valle The Ohio State University Hyun Woo Noh Undecided Domenico Coppola Daniel Mullin Taylor Vest Union College Kevin Weckworth United States Air Force Academy Adam Fly United States Army Austin Cancro United States Marine Corps Sean Forrester United States Military Academy Samuel Parker University of Massachusetts, Amherst Young-woo Kwak University of Mississippi Molly O’Toole University of Notre Dame Shannon Gaylord Samuel Nemeth Alexander Preudhomme University of South Carolina Christopher Angiolino Amy Beckham Kylie Boyle
Stephanie Daniel Sean Thomas Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Madeline Burnham Western Carolina University Colton Cortese Michael Fohn John Hauser Brynna Tremblay Wilmington, University of North Carolina Sydney Smith Miranda Wronecki Wofford College Hailey Loftis
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
On TV
For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com
n Friday, June 7, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.” The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word celebrate the Mass of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.
In theaters
Roger Boswell cantors as part of the music ministry at Holy Spirit Church in Denver.
‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ A thought-provoking – yet flawed – exploration of the wide-ranging impact of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks both on individuals and on whole cultures. In 2011 Pakistan, a journalist (Liev Schreiber) has been recruited by the CIA to interview the chief suspect (Riz Ahmed) in the kidnapping of an American professor. Things may not be as they appear, however, as the selfprofessedly peace-loving radical recounts his experiences in the United States – including his meteoric rise to the top within a wicked corporation, his romance with a bohemian artist (Kate Hudson), and his fall from corporate grace as a result of post-Twin Towers discrimination. Working from the novel by Mohsin Hamid, director Mira Nair lets the audience pass judgment, for better or worse. The result is an absorbing story with a flawed conclusion – one that seems to prioritize the force of circumstance over conscience when choosing between good and evil. Fleeting action violence and gunplay, a gruesome image, brief sensuality, some profane and crass language. CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R
‘Fast & Furious 6’ Lured by the promise of pardons for their past misdeeds, a crew of law-flouting underground car racers – led by Vin Diesel and Paul Walker – reassemble to help a federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) thwart the civilization-threatening schemes of a criminal mastermind (Luke Evans) who uses hotrods to speed his heists of top-secret military equipment. The fact that the gangster’s number two (Michelle Rodriguez) is Diesel’s not-dead-after-all love interest is another draw. Director Justin Lin’s barroom brawl of a movie features well-orchestrated chases, and softens the tone of its grunting machismo with the occasional flourish of vague religiosity. But the self-determined code which its heroes substitute for civil obedience is morally dubious and certainly not for the impressionable. Murky moral values, considerable stylized violence including a scene of torture, cohabitation, partial nudity, a few uses of profanity, much crude language. CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: PG-13
Additional reviews: n ’The Hangover Part III’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: R n ‘Epic’: CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG
doreen sugierski | catholic news herald
Holy Spirit parishioner’s CD ministry meant to bring peace, comfort SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
DENVER — Roger Boswell and his wife Maria knew they were in the right place when they moved from California to North Carolina in 2007, once they saw that the local parish was called Holy Spirit Church. Their home parish on the west coast was also called Holy Spirit, so they felt it was God’s way of giving them the “thumbs up” to relocate in this area. Both Roger and Maria sing in the choir, with Roger being an occasional cantor. He has a computer program which allows him to take sheet music and separate the parts so he can practice his part for Mass, and he can sing a wide vocal range. “The way I practice my songs is I have a program that allows me to take a piece of sheet music and, with my mouse, input the music into the computer. I input each line – soprano, alto, tenor and base – individually, as well as any keyboard accompaniment. Once everything is input, it allows me to hear the music as a piano or an organ. I can separate my part, making it louder than the others, and that is how I practice,” he explains. “I recently updated that program so I could record my voice, so now I can sing to it.” When Roger heard a former co-worker’s mother was ill, he asked his co-worker to give him a list of religious songs her mother liked so he could record them for her. He was going on personal leave for a few weeks and could work on creating a CD. “She knew I was religious – I never hide that fact – and that I love to sing, so she knew I could sing. She gave me a list of songs, some of which I had not heard of, nor could find the music for. I created a very basic CD with what I had of her songs and filled in with a few songs I already knew, creating an eight-song CD.” But before he could return, their seasonal job ended and he couldn’t locate her to give her the CD. Roger has been refining the CD over the past few months to get it to a point where he can share it with more people who may be struggling with illness, especially those in
hospice, to bring them some comfort. The CD is called “To Thy Kingdom’s Shore” and features Roger singing an a cappella version of “Amazing Grace,” and harmony versions of “Be Not Afraid,” “City of God,” “Hail Mary; Gentle Woman,” “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling,” “The Old Rugged Cross” and “We are Many Parts.” Roger was baptized Catholic but was raised Baptist, so this CD is a combination of music that embraces both backgrounds. The making of the CD is exceptional in that Roger is doing all the vocal parts himself. “For anybody that has a religious nature, this disc is for them. It can have a calming effect, which is the purpose. It’s meant to be distributed free of charge, for those who are in long-term or hospice care or assisted living centers.” He recently found his former co-worker and had the opportunity to give the CD to her mom. “Her mom is now in home hospice care and will not be around much longer; she is very frail. She was sitting on the couch and was not very alert, but we set a speaker next to her ear and she started tapping her feet and trying to sing to it.” Her daughter was very moved to see her mother’s response to the music. Up to this point, Roger and his wife have been using their own limited resources to create and distribute the CDs. He hopes he can get the CDs in churches for people to give to their loved ones and in hospice centers and nursing homes. He is planning to meet with local administrators at hospice facilities to get the word out about this ministry. “I want to try and share this with as many people as we can,” Roger says. “I want to give something to someone who needs help on their journey, so their family can take it after they pass and have it as a memory.” For more information about the RJB Ministries CD, how you can help provide resources to produce the CDs, or to contact the Boswells, call 704-674-1071 or email rjb. ministry@gmail.com.
n Monday, June 10, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Wales – The Golden Thread of Faith – From Roman Times to the Age of Saints.” A look at Britain before the arrival of the Romans and how Christianity spread among the Romans and Britons converting them both alike. See how they travelled around the western seas evangelizing as they went. n Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Wales – The Golden Thread of Faith – From the Age of Saints to the Reformation.” Learn how the Church in Wales was vibrant during its thousand year span. It was an age where Wales placed Christianity at the heart of its existence. n Thursday, June 13, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Live of the Saints – St. Anthony of Padua.” A documentary look at the life of St. Anthony of Padua, great orator and Doctor of the Church, whose feast day is June 13. n Friday, June 14, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Hours to Ordination.” Host Bob Dolan visits seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome as they reveal their emotions and thoughts standing on the threshold of the priesthood. n Saturday, June 15, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “A Gift of God.” In 1928 St. Jose-Maria Escrivá founded Opus Dei, an international organization through which thousands of ordinary people learn to lead lives of holiness, regardless of their occupations or marital status. n Sunday, June 16, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Thomas More: Faithful Statesman: Last Words on Statesmanship.” In his time in the Tower of London awaiting execution, St. Thomas More wrote moving meditations on the Agony of Christ in the Garden. n “Wednesday, June 19, 11 p.m. (EWTN) “Pius XII and the Holocaust: The Secret History of the Great Rescue.” A look at Pope Pius XII’s heroic efforts in helping hundreds of thousands of Jews escape the Nazis and a survivor tells his story of how nuns hid him and many others.
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
McNULTY: FROM PAGE 5
ordination, he is set apart from other men for the exclusive service of God. He receives the indelible spiritual character through this sacrament, which configures him to Christ the servant, who came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for all.” Bishop Jugis repeated the words from the Mass’s first reading from Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you.” “From this we understand that God has chosen you, my son, for this vocation of being a sacred minister of the Church,” he said to McNulty, who was seated facing him before the steps of the sanctuary. “It’s very humbling, isn’t it? Why you? Because He wants you. “You are the one whom He chooses, and you in turn must choose God every day and at every moment of every day. Jealously guard your heart for God alone. Do not let anything take His place in your heart. He is the first love of your life.” Bishop Jugis also spoke to McNulty about what will be expected of him as he serves the Lord and His people as a transitional deacon this year. “Do not take your cue from the world, but take your cue from Jesus as we hear in today’s Gospel. The world sets as its standard that rulers lord it over others and their great ones make their authority felt. But it cannot be that way for you. Jesus sets as His standard that you must become the servant and slave of others.” He reminded McNulty that God is Love, and acting like Jesus is consistent with love. “God has loved you and brought you to this moment. Love leads you to serve and be the servant of all. There is no arrogance in those He has chosen to serve as His sacred ministers – only humility.” McNulty then confirmed his resolve to carry out the duties of the diaconate and pledged his fidelity to Bishop Jugis as the bishop of Charlotte.
During the Litany of the Saints, as McNulty lay prostrate before the altar at the base of the steps of the sanctuary and his father knelt alongside Bishop Jugis, the whole assembly joined in beseeching the intercession of the saints and the Blessed Mother on his behalf. Afterward, McNulty rose and climbed up the few steps into the sanctuary where Bishop Jugis laid his hands on him, silently conferring the office of the diaconate upon him through the power of the Holy Spirit. When it was time to vest the new transitional deacon, “Deacon dad” Brian McNulty had the honor of helping the newest Deacon McNulty into a creamcolored, gold-embroidered dalmatic. “As a permanent deacon, it is a real privilege and a blessing to be able to serve the Lord in the Diocese of Charlotte and to receive the love and support of the faithful,” the elder Deacon McNulty said. “Paul’s vocation has reminded me of this aspect of our Catholic faith and the love that we share with our brothers and sisters in Christ. There have been countless times during the past many years when our friends and acquaintances, or Paul’s friends and acquaintances from around the diocese, have asked about him and told us of their daily prayers for him and the other seminarians. “So we have a deep sense of gratitude and awareness for Paul’s acceptance of God’s call, but also for the countless prayers that have supported him along the way.” As the Liturgy of the Eucharist unfolded, Michelle McNulty watched her son and her husband in the sanctuary in their matching dalmatics, vestments which deacons wear – Deacon Paul McNulty preparing the sacred vessels and gifts as Deacon Brian McNulty looked on. They stood, one at the right and the other to the left of Bishop Jugis, as he prayed the Eucharistic Prayer. “We are very grateful to God for the good work He has done in Paul,” Michelle McNulty said. “Our Lady, too, has played a special role in his vocation. His path of discernment has brought our family closer to God and each other as we have joined Paul in prayer for clarity on his journey. “We rejoice with the Church in this
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sueann howell | catholic news herald
Proud parents Michelle and Deacon Brian McNulty are pictured with their son Deacon Paul McNulty and Bishop Peter J. Jugis after the transitional diaconate Mass June 1. special occasion as we see his vocation coming to fruition.” Deacon Paul McNulty was beaming at the end of Mass before he, his father and Bishop Jugis descended the steps of the sanctuary. “I want to express my gratitude to the faithful in our diocese – for their sacrifices, prayers, love and support during my formation,” the newest Deacon McNulty said. “One of the many beautiful things regarding this process is that discernment
isn’t left up to the seminarian alone. The Church, through her support and encouragement, discerns with the seminarian and is the one who ultimately confirms the call by calling the man to holy orders. “Because of the generosity of Our Lord, manifested in the love and support of the Diocese of Charlotte, I offer my life as one of service to our Lord and His Church in western North Carolina.” God willing, Deacon Paul McNulty will be ordained to the priesthood next June.
Q&A with our newest transitional deacon: Paul McNulty CNH: When did you first realize you had a vocation to the priesthood? Deacon McNulty: My folks remember it better than I do, but I was about 5 years old when I told my mom while at Mass that I wanted to be a priest. The first time that I sat my parents down and told them, however, was when I was about 9 years old on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, when we were having our home enthroned. Again, this is a story that my parents recounted to me. CNH: Who has helped you, mentored you, or given you a good example to follow during these years of discernment and seminary? Deacon McNulty: First off, my parents and my sisters. Their example of love and fidelity to Our Lord and His Church helped me to fall in love with the Church, and they provided a great Catholic environment for me to grow in my faith and hear the call more clearly. Regarding the priests who have helped me in my discernment, there really are too many to name them all. Some are: Bishop Peter Jugis, Abbot Placid Solari, Father James Ebright, Father Timothy Reid, Father Christopher Roux, Father John Putnam, Father Matthew Buettner, Father Ken Whittington, Father Joshua Voitus — and the first great priestly
example that I remember is Father Ray Berg, of happy memory. CNH: What would you like to say to young men who may have a call to the priesthood? Deacon McNulty: To quote Blessed John Paul II, “Do not be afraid ... put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Don’t be afraid. The call can be daunting at first as a man starts asking questions regarding his own worthiness, holiness, etc., and they can take away from the invitation into relationship that God is extending to him by sowing seeds of doubt. No, you aren’t worthy; no, you aren’t holy enough – but even still, Our Lord calls and gives the grace necessary to live out this life, one that is impossible without grace. Also, realize that Our Lord’s will for your life is where you will find true peace and fulfillment and, ultimately, if lived out faithfully and in utter dependence upon His grace will be that which leads to your sanctification. So, don’t be afraid. Attend Mass as often as you can, stay close to the sacraments, spend time in prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and let God love you. He’ll show you. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Experience the June 22nd ordination online! Join us to celebrate as Deacon Jason Christian is ordained to the holy priesthood on Saturday, June 22. LIVE VIDEO & CHAT: Watch the ordination Mass live online from St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, starting at 10 a.m. ET. The Catholic News Herald will broadcast the two-hour Mass at www.catholicnewsherald.com. Join the conversation in the online chat forum, too. MORE COVERAGE ONLINE & IN PRINT: See video footage and highlights online afterwards, along with news and photos from the Mass. And the June 21 and July 5 print editions of the Catholic News Herald will feature even more news as well as a special look at religious vocations, our priest and women religious jubilarians, and much more. FACEBOOK: Share messages of your support and prayers for our newest priest on our Facebook page.
Go to www.catholicnewsherald.com for all of the details.
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catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
U.S. bishops’ second annual Fortnight for Freedom to be June 21-July 4 Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. bishops’ second annual Fortnight for Freedom – a period of prayer and fasting to raise awareness of challenges to religious liberty, both nationally and internationally – is planned for June 21 to July 4. The observance kicks off with Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore celebrating an evening Mass June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It will conclude with a noon Mass July 4 to be celebrated by Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington,
D.C., at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the nation’s capital. The website www.Fortnight4Freedom.org has details of fortnight events and suggested
activities for parishes and families, as well as fact sheets, educational resources and suggested prayers for the observance. The site includes a study guide on the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Freedom, “Dignitatis Humanae,” and quotes about religious freedom from the nation’s Founding Fathers and the writings of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, noted the fortnight occurs just weeks before Aug. 1, the date final rules take effect for implementing the federal contraceptive mandate, requiring
Scouts’ policy change said to be ‘not in conflict’ with Church teaching
Amber Crisel watches her daughters carry multicolored balloons as they depart a ceremonial last day of the year for Plaza Towers Elementary School students held at the Eastlake Elementary School in Oklahoma City May 23. The Plaza Towers school in Moore, Okla., was demolished when a tornado packing winds of 200 mph slammed into the building May 20 just before school was to have let out. Some of the children at Plaza Towers perished in the violent storm.
Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The head of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting said the Boy Scouts’ vote in May to admit homosexual youth into their ranks is “not in conflict with Catholic teaching,” something by which “we should be encouraged.” Edward Martin, the committee’s national chairman, said Scouting is “still the best youth-serving program available to all youth.” He added, “We need to use this opportunity to show our commitment to making Catholic Scouting a safe environment for all youth in which the Catholic faith is taught, practiced and nurtured.” Martin’s message was posted May 30 on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s website, www.nccs-bsa. org. He said he wrote it after reading mails, blogs, Facebook posting and several discussions, including with Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of Charleston, S.C., liaison to the committee for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Father Michael Hanifin, national chaplain for Catholic Scouting. Martin noted three principles that remain unchanged for the Boy Scouts despite the resolution’s approval. “Any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting,” he said. “The Boy Scouts of America does not have an agenda on the matter of sexual orientation, and resolving this complex issue is not the role of the organization, nor may any member use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda,” Martin added. The third principle is: “The Scout Oath begins with duty to God, and the Scout Law ends with a Scout’s obligation to be reverent. Those will always remain core values of the Boy Scouts of America.” Martin cited section 2358 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in accepting the new policy: “Individuals who disclose a homosexual inclination or a same-sex attraction are to be treated with the same dignity due all human beings created by God,” he said. “This teaching is followed in enrollment policies for Catholic schools, for Catholic sports programs, and for all programs of Catholic youth ministry.” Since, as a result of the new policy, “no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone,” Martin said, “we understand this to mean the following: A youth will not be prevented from receiving a rank award or religious emblem simply for having a same-sex attraction; a youth will not need to hide the fact that he has or experiences this attraction, but a youth also will not be encouraged or pressured to disclose publicly the experience of such attraction; (and) a youth thinking or knowing he has a homosexual inclination should not be afraid that he will be bullied or expelled by the Scouting community by disclosing his sexual orientation.”
most employers to provide contraceptive coverage for employees. The Catholic Church and other faith groups object to the requirement “coercing us to violate our deeply held beliefs,” the archbishop said in a statement. During the fortnight, the Supreme Court’s decisions on the definition of marriage “will likely be handed down as well,” he added, referring to rulings the court is expected to issue in late June on two same-sex marriage cases: one is a challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8, and the other is a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
CNS | Lucas Jackson, Reuters
Tornado victims receiving ‘overwhelming’ outpouring of support Catholic News Service
OKLAHOMA CITY — As communities across central Oklahoma continued to recover from the “powerful and deadly tornadoes” of May 19 and 20, they have experienced an “overwhelming” outpouring of “prayer, love and support from across our great state and from around the nation,” said Oklahoma City’s archbishop. “It is bringing comfort to those who have lost loved ones, suffered injuries and whose homes, businesses and properties have been damaged or destroyed,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley said. He made the comments in his column, “Put Out Into the Deep,” in the online issue of the Sooner Catholic, the archdiocesan newspaper. On May 31, the western suburbs of Oklahoma City were hit by an EF3 tornado area. Thirteen people were killed, including two children. Gov. Mary Fallin, who toured the damage in El Reno, about 30 miles from the city, said the death toll could rise. AP reported that a search was on for missing residents. The dead included three storm chasers who were doing tornado research, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman. Eleven days earlier the suburb of Moore bore the brunt
of an EF5 tornado. It hit mid-afternoon May 20, killing 24 people. More than 200 others were injured in that storm. Among efforts to help victims of the deadliest storm system to hit the area since 2011, the Catholic community established a disaster response center at All Saints School in Norman. By June 3 several recovery centers were opened by state and federal agencies, including the Federal Management Agency. In addition many of the nation’s major insurance carriers had established an “insurance village” at a Baptist church to expedite people’s claims. In his column, Archbishop Coakley said that response efforts were “still fluid and adapting to changing needs and circumstances.” But in the days since the worst tornadoes, “emergency responders, relief workers, counselors, chaplains, friends, neighbors and strangers,” have come together “to bring comfort and sustain hope where hope has been shaken,” Archbishop Coakley said. “And Jesus still weeps. God is with us.” He praised Catholic organizations such as Catholic Charities USA, the Knights of Columbus and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for “reaching out and providing support in the various areas affected by these devastating storms.”
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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In Brief Prelates remind G-8 leaders to help poor, developing countries WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic leaders, including the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reminded the leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations to protect poor people and assist developing countries when they meet in Northern Ireland in midJune. Quoting Pope Francis’ inaugural homily, 11 Church leaders from the G-8 nations urged the heads of those countries to “do no less” than “embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important.” The comments were in a June 3 letter sent to the G-8 leaders. G-8 leaders will meet June 17-18 at Lough Erne resort in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. British Prime Minister David Cameron will assume the G-8 presidency during the meeting. “This letter emerged because the bishops’ conferences decided they wanted to do this together. They thought doing this together would have greater impact,” Steven Colecchi, director of the U.S. bishops’ Office of International Justice and Peace, said. The letter addressed the priorities outlined by Cameron for his one-year term: strengthening the global economy by generating long-term growth, jobs and prosperity. Cameron also has said he wants to emphasize openness in economies, governments and societies through the support of free trade, tackling tax evasion and encouraging greater transparency and accountability in government actions.
Dolan spokesman: Equating HHS mandate, union benefits is wrong NEW YORK — A New York Times article May 27 said the New York Archdiocese “has quietly been paying” for birth control coverage for its unionized employees while New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan has been spearheading efforts to fight the federal health care law requiring employers to cover birth control in employee health plans. The same day, Joseph Zwilling, archdiocesan director of communications, released a statement saying the article “incorrectly equates” the health care benefits of its unionized employees at Catholic facilities with the U.S. Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate. He said the HHS mandate “improperly attempts to define the Church’s religious ministry and could force religious employers to violate their conscience.” He also said “the Constitution and other provisions of federal law prohibit the government from imposing the mandate on the archdiocese.” Zwilling said a labor union is not subject to the same constraints as the federal government. In the New York Archdiocese, health care workers in ArchCare – also known as the Catholic Health Care System – belong to the union SEIU United Healthcare Workers. ArchCare operates seven nursing homes and a variety of health facilities and programs for the elderly in New York.
Court to consider constitutionality of prayer at public meetings ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The U.S. Supreme Court in the fall will hear oral arguments in a case from upstate New York about the practice of praying at open public meetings. One of the questions the high court may consider is what steps a municipality should take to ensure the religious diversity of prayers offered at such meetings. The court announced May 20 that it would
hear the case Greece, N.Y., v. Galloway, Susan, et al., a dispute that dates back to 2008. It centers on the constitutionality of prayers at the beginning of town board meetings in Greece, a suburb of Rochester. According to background on the case filed by attorneys representing the Town of Greece, public prayer has been offered at town board meetings since 1999 by Greece clergy members who were invited by the town based on lists published by the Greece Chamber of Commerce and by a local newspaper. The houses of worship located in Greece are predominantly Christian. As a result, a majority of the invocations offered from 1999 to 2010 contained Christian references, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a nonpartisan, nonsectarian group that is representing plaintiffs Susan Galloway and Linda Stephens, who are Greece residents. “A town council meeting isn’t a church service, and it shouldn’t seem like one,” said a statement from the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “Government can’t serve everyone in the community when it endorses one faith over others. That sends the clear message that some are second-class citizens based on what they believe about religion.”
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Lack of Ill. vote on same-sex marriage called victory WASHINGTON, D.C. — The failure of members of the Illinois House to vote on a bill legalizing same-sex “marriage” before the legislative session ended shows that “marriage redefinition – even in the face of intense political pressure – is not inevitable,” said Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco. It “reflects a failure to have the votes to pass the bill,” said the archbishop, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. He called it a “victory in the Land of Lincoln.” He made the comments in a statement released in Washington June 3. The Illinois legislative session ended the evening of May 31 before House members brought to a vote a measure passed by the state Senate in February. The bill changes the definition of marriage in state law from “between a man and a woman” to “between two persons.” Archbishop Cordileone said: “All persons have inherent dignity and must be treated equally with the respect and justice that is their due. That is part of the purpose of the law; it is not the purpose of the law, though, to give people social status, as the advocates for marriage redefinition contend.” He said a diverse group of faith leaders opposed to the marriage bill “spoke eloquently on the reality that nature and nature’s God make clear that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.”
A Life Celebrated Forever
Florida bishops say use of death penalty ‘sanctions revenge’ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Using capital punishment to show that killing is wrong “sanctions revenge,” Florida’s seven Catholic bishops said in a letter to Gov. Rick Scott. Asking that Scott commute the death sentences of inmates Elmer Carroll, William Van Poyck and Marshall Gore to life in prison, the bishops said the violence of capital punishment would do little to relieve the pain of the survivors of the men’s victims or be helpful to society. Scott recently signed warrants for the executions of the men over a span of 26 days starting May 29. Observers said the executions would be the most in such a brief period of time in more than two decades. “Governor, will our citizenry be any safer, will Floridians be any better protected, if we execute these men? Will not the safety of persons and the preservation of public order be as secure if instead you commute these sentences to lifelong confinement?” the bishops asked. — Catholic News Service
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Society, we invite you to join us with a simple bequest in your will to benefit your parish, school or other Catholic agency. To receive the free brochure, “A Simple Guide to Gift Planning” contact Judy Smith, Director of Planned Giving at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org
Our world 28
catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Vatican officials decry persecution of Christians around the world
CNS | Paul Haring
Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 29.
Catholic News Service
GENEVA — More than 100,000 Christians are killed each year because of their faith, and millions more face bigotry, intolerance and marginalization because of their beliefs, a Vatican official said. Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, the Vatican’s permanent observer to U.S. agencies in Geneva, told the Human Rights Council May 27 that “credible research” by Massimo Introvigne, a former representative of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe on combating intolerance and discrimination against Christians, “has reached the shocking conclusion that an estimate of more than 100,000 Christians are violently killed because of some relation to their faith every year.” In addition, he said, “in some Western countries, where historically the Christian presence has been an integral part of society, a trend emerges that tends to marginalize Christianity in public life, ignore historic and social contributions and even restrict the ability of faith communities to carry out social charitable services.” But, in fact, Archbishop Tomasi said, “The Christian religion, as other faith communities,” serves the true good of humanity by educating members in their human dignity, their rights and responsibilities toward others and in serving their communities and the poor with schools, hospitals, homes for the aged, work in refugee camps and other acts of charity. During a meeting in Tirana, Albania, May 21-22, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace said, “examples of intolerance and discrimination against Christians have not diminished, but rather increased” in member-states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which includes 57 countries in Europe, Central Asia and North America. Bishop Mario Toso, addressing the OSCE’s high-level conference on tolerance and nondiscrimination, said that across the 57 nations “a sharp dividing line has been drawn between religious belief and religious practice,” in a way that tells Christians they can believe whatever they want and worship however they’d like inside the walls of their churches, “but they simply cannot act on those beliefs in public.” The bishop said there has been a “deliberate twisting and limiting of what religious freedom actually means,” an interpretation which claims to promote tolerance for all people, but in fact tells Christians that they cannot wear symbols of their faith, publicly uphold traditional teachings on sexual morality and marriage and conscientiously object at work to procedures that violate the tenets of their faith.
Pope Francis: What have you done to make the Church welcoming? CNS | Paul Haring
The annual Corpus Christi procession makes its way down a street in Rome May 30. Pope Francis walked in the candlelight procession accompanying the Blessed Sacrament from the Basilica of St. John Lateran to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
Eucharist nourishes, sustains and should transform people, pope says Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
ROME — In the Eucharist, Jesus makes Himself the food that nourishes and sustains Catholics, even when the road gets rough, Pope Francis said before leading a Corpus Christi procession through the streets of Rome. Mass and participation in Corpus Christi processions are times for Catholics to reflect on how they follow Jesus and, particularly, what the Eucharist means to them, the pope said at Mass May 30 to celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The pope encouraged Catholics to ask themselves: Is the Eucharist a “moment of true communion with the Lord, but also with my many brothers and sisters who share at this same altar?” and “Adoring Christ truly present in the Eucharist, do I allow myself to be transformed by Him?” The pope celebrated the Mass outside the Basilica of St. John Lateran, then – on foot – joined a candlelight Corpus Christi procession from St. John’s to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, just over a mile away. The monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament was carried on the truck that Blessed John Paul II began using in 1994 when he could no longer walk the full mile. Pope Benedict XVI participated in the procession each year, riding in the truck, kneeling before the Eucharist. “Jesus speaks in the silence of the mystery of the Eucharist and reminds us each time that following Him means going out of ourselves and making our lives not something we ‘possess,’ but a gift to Him and to others,” Pope Francis said in his homily at Mass.
Focusing his homily on the Gospel of Luke’s account of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the pope said gathering around Jesus, listening to His word and being nourished by Him transforms the multitude of anonymous individuals into a community of faith where people share who they are and what they have. The same dynamic should be at work today when Catholics gather at Mass to listen to the Gospel and be nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus, he said. “The Eucharist is the sacrament of the communion that takes us out of our individualism so that together we live our discipleship, our faith in Him,” he said. The pope said he is “always struck” by the disciples asking Jesus to send the crowd away to find food and lodging and Jesus telling them, “Give them some food yourselves.” “In the face of the crowd’s needs, this is the disciples’ solution: Everyone takes care of himself; dismiss the crowd. Many times we Christians have that same temptation; we don’t take on the needs of others, but dismiss them with a compassionate ‘May God help you’ or a not-so-compassionate ‘Good luck.’” Jesus’ solution, though, was to ask God’s blessing on the little food available, then to have the disciples share it with crowd, he said. What Jesus encouraged the disciples to do was an act of “solidarity,” he said, which is nothing other than “placing at God’s disposal what little we have, our humble abilities, because only in sharing and in giving will our lives be fruitful.” In the Eucharist, the pope said, Catholics experience the “solidarity of God,” a solidarity that can never be exhausted and should never stop causing awe.
Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — All Catholics must ask themselves what they personally have done lately to build up the holiness of the Church and ensure people feel welcomed and loved in it, Pope Francis said. “Some people today say, ‘Christ, yes; the Church, no,’ like they say, ‘I believe in God, but not in priests,’” the pope said. Such a position does not make sense because “it is the Church that brings us Christ and brings us to God. The Church is the great family of God’s children.” During his May 29 general audience, Pope Francis began a series of audience talks about the Church: “The Church is the great family of children of God,” he said. “Certainly it has human aspects from the members who comprise it, pastors and faithful. They have defects, imperfections, sins. Even the pope has them – and he has many – but what is beautiful is that when we become aware that we are sinners, we find the mercy of God. God always forgives. Don’t forget this. God always forgives. “Sin is an offense against God, but it’s also an opportunity,” he said. “Humiliation can lead one to see there is something beautiful awaiting you: the mercy of God. Think about this.” God’s plan, the pope said, is to unite all humanity into one family where everyone recognizes he or she is a child of God and loved by Him: “The Church is born from God’s desire to call all people into communion with Him” and “to participate in His divine life.” During the Year of Faith, he said, Catholics should pray that their parishes and the entire Church would increasingly be a family that lives and shares God’s love and mercy. Noting that many people today complain about the Church, Pope Francis urged Catholics to ask themselves: “How much do I love the Church? Do I pray for it? Do I feel part of the Church family? What do I do to make the Church a community where everyone feels welcomed and understood, everyone feels the mercy and love of God who renews life?”
Tilt’n B Farm June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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In Brief Pope Francis recognizes martyrdom of 95 victims of Spanish Civil War VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of 95 men and women religious and laymen who were killed during the Spanish Civil War. The pope’s approval of a series of martyrdom decrees June 3 opened the way for their beatification to be scheduled. A miracle is required before any blessed may be canonized. Among the new martyrs were 66 Marist Brothers, four Discalced Carmelites, four Sister Servants of Mary, two laymen and a diocesan priest. They were killed between 1936 and 1939 during the Spanish Civil War. The pope also approved four other decrees recognizing four founders of religious orders or associations for having lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way and declaring them “venerable.� Recognition of a miracle attributed to each candidate’s intercession is needed for that person’s beatification.
Spokesman: Pope Francis plans to complete encyclical on faith VATICAN CITY — Continuing a papal tradition of finishing a predecessor’s work in progress, Pope Francis intends to complete an encyclical – on the virtue of faith – begun during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. “I can confirm that the plan for an encyclical on faith, begun by Benedict XVI, has been taken up by the new pope,� Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said, but it would “be premature� to guess when the encyclical would be completed.
Pope’s Sunday focuses on need for peace, gift of Eucharist VATICAN CITY — The horror of war, the valor of peacemaking and the gift of the Eucharist were on Pope Francis’ mind June 2, the day Italy celebrates its establishment as a republic and the day most dioceses around the world celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. Pope Francis began the day presiding at a Mass in the chapel of his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, with the families of 24 Italian military personnel killed during peacekeeping missions in the past five years and with 13 members of the military injured during those missions, mostly in Afghanistan. And, reciting the Angelus at noon with visitors gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis appealed again for peace in Syria, which has been embroiled in violent conflict for more than two years as rebels try to oust President Bashar Assad. Defenseless civilians, “who aspire for peace in justice and understanding,� have been struck particularly hard by “the conflict that has enflamed Syria for more than two years,� the pope said.
Pope prays for Chinese Catholics VATICAN CITY — In the face of difficulty, it’s natural to hope just to get by, but being Christian means patiently enduring trials and overcoming oppression with love, Pope Francis said at a Mass that included special prayers for China. During the Mass May 24, Pope Francis concluded the prayers of the faithful with an invocation “for the noble Chinese people, that the Lord would bless them and the Blessed Mother keep them.� The day’s feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians is a feast close to the hearts of millions of Chinese Catholics and is the day Pope Benedict XVI designated as a worldwide
day of prayer for Catholics in China. Joining Pope Francis for the early morning Mass May 24 in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae were Hong Kong-born Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and several Chinese priests, seminarians and nuns. They sang a Marian hymn in Chinese at the end of the Mass. Staff of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications also attended the Mass. In his homily, Pope Francis spoke about the special God-given grace of being able not just to survive difficulties, but to carry them aloft and continue one’s journey.
Pope calls human trafficking ‘despicable, a disgrace’ VATICAN CITY — Human trafficking is “a despicable activity, a disgrace for our societies, which describe themselves as civilized,� Pope Francis said. Refugees, displaced and stateless people are particularly vulnerable to “the plague of human trafficking, which increasingly involves children subjected to the worst forms of exploitation and even recruitment into armed conflicts,� the pope said May 24. With many victims of trafficking forced into prostitution, Pope Francis said that “exploiters and clients at every level must make a serious examination of conscience before themselves and before God. In a world that talks so much about rights, how many times are human rights trampled,� he said. “In a world that talks so much about rights, the only thing that seems to have them is money. Dear brothers and sisters, we live in a world where money rules. We live in a world, in a culture, where money worship reigns.� Pope Francis made his comments during a meeting with members of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, who were holding their plenary assembly at the Vatican. Their main focus was on the rights and needs of refugees and forcibly displaced people.
Catholic charities appeal for help after flooding in Central Europe BONN, Germany — Catholic charities in Central Europe have appealed for help after floods devastated areas of Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. “The overall scale of this disaster will only be known in the next few days,� Wolfgang Duschl, spokesman for the German Church’s Passau Diocese, said June 4. “But our own diocesan offices are closed, and analysts expect the material damage to run into tens of millions of euros.� Duschl said Catholic schools and charities had been evacuated in Passau after local rivers, including the Danube, Inn and Ilz, reached their highest levels since the 16th century, cutting telephones and power supplies. Meanwhile, the Church’s Caritas charity in neighboring Austria also urged a “wave of solidarity� after floodwaters swamped parts of four dioceses, causing extensive damage and at least two deaths.
Pope might visit Philippines for 2016 Eucharistic Congress MANILA, Philippines — Pope Francis might visit the Philippines in early 2016 to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, said Archbishop Jose Palma, president of the bishops’ conference. The Asian Church news agency UCA News reported May 23 that Archbishop Palma said he had received a request from the Vatican to move the Congress, scheduled for May 2016, to an earlier date in January that year to avoid a potential conflict for the pontiff. The 51st International Eucharistic Congress will have the theme “Christ in You: Our Hope of Glory.� — Catholic News Service
29
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Protecting God’s Children We proclaim Christ to the world around us by our efforts to provide a safe environment for all people, especially the young and the vulnerable.Â
In 2002, the bishops of the United States issued the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter addresses the Church’s commitment to respond effectively, appropriately and compassionately to cases of abuse of minors by priests, deacons or other church personnel. DIOCESAN REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING MINISTRY-RELATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR 1. Any individual having actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of ministry-related sexual abuse is to immediately report the incident to the Chancery. 2. The Chancery will then report the incident to the proper civil authorities. The individual reporting the incident to the Chancery will be notified of the particulars regarding the Chancery’s filing of the incident with civil authorities. 3. This reporting requirement is not intended to supersede the right of an individual to make a report to civil authorities, but is to ensure proper, complete and timely reporting. Should an individual choose to make a report to civil authorities, a report is still to be made to the Chancery. The charter can be found on the diocesan website, Charlottediocese.org, click on the tab, “Safe Environment.�
ViewPoints 30
catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Dr. Ronald Thomas
‘All that we can or could ever want to know about the love of God is shown in His heart upon the cross.’
The Sacred Heart is aflame for us T
he feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus had a long history even before it was given definitive shape by the spiritual visions and ecstasies of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. The feast concerns the love of Jesus as symbolized by His heart. It is the loving Heart that hung upon the cross for us. All that we can or could ever want to know about the love of God is shown in His heart upon the cross. It is a heart that, as St. Paul says, grants us peace with God: “But God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by His blood, will we be saved through Him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by His life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:8-11) Paul sees that so much has changed with God with respect to His self-giving. At issue with all these enemies, now made friends, is that they did not merely offend God, like intransigent Israel, they put Him to death on a cross. If God turns this very act of war against Him into the means of reconciliation, then God not only wins the contest, He wins it for the sake of love, for the good of His former enemies. Surely then, Paul writes, will we be saved and saved again, and approach the throne of God by an invincible power of love. The unimaginable has happened: a cross has brought reconciliation. But what is God’s love toward us? It is His intention and will to do us good – to enact the good in, for and around us. That God does good toward us is shown in many, many ways – not least by His maintaining our lives materially and providing a world for us to live in: holding us in being, in other words. However, God’s will for our good is not limited to subsistence. It extends to the beauty and goodness of things about us: people, culture, family, art, music, gardens, buildings, even machines. Awareness of how many good things there actually are can astound and overwhelm us – leaving us to ask the question “Why so much?” In a world of waste, destruction, decline and tawdriness, whence all this goodness? G.K. Chesterton once wrote of his conversion that he began to see all of life’s good things as if they had been rescued from a shipwreck: “And last, and strangest, there had come into my mind a vague and vast impression that in some way all good was a remnant to be stored and held sacred out of some primordial ruin. Man had saved his good as Crusoe saved his goods: he had saved them from a wreck. All this I felt and the age gave me no encouragement to feel it. And all this time I had not even thought of Christian theology.” (“Orthodoxy,” Chapter 4)
All good things had been saved from oblivion and were thereby valuable. All things were rare, and real. Chesterton’s perspective had changed. The negations of life had receded into a backdrop for all of the positives, and his mind had been enlightened to perceive the goodness of the things that are. Wonder and gratitude,
and even restraint and asceticism, were the gifts of this awareness – restraint and asceticism, because one does not respond authentically to the goodness that exists by greedy consumption, but by a type of reverence and will to sacrifice. The love of God is therefore a concrete and tangible thing. It undergirds and perfects the things that are in being, and the mind of man is illumined by such a love. The alternative to such a love and awareness is a sort of “brownout,” a diminution of the luminous goodness of real things. To choose the “brownout” over the full radiance of the good is an evidence of man’s sin and shame. We select this “brownout” habitually for ourselves and others. We find it extremely difficult, even painful, to stand in the true light. We love our shadows, our mediocrity and our dissatisfactions more than we love the real and the good. Inwardly, we resist a vision for the good of ourselves and others. Our minds are darkened and, most of all, we resist God, who is manifestly busy in throwing back the curtains and letting in the light. We snap them shut again and continue our sleep, our diminution, our death. His great life and light illuminate our lives, and in the broad daylight we see their ragged and faded character. No wonder we prefer to remain in the shadows. The great mystery of God’s love in His Sacred Heart for such recalcitrant creatures is really quite simple: He does for us what we do not deserve, and, as the common image of the Sacred Heart displays, His heart is on fire for us with an unrequited love. He seeks our eternal good as well as our temporal good, for He is All Good, and He is aflame for us. God’s will for our good becomes clearer and more marvelous the more we discern our patterns of resistance to Him. We know that hearts of stone must be turned into hearts of flesh before anything quite like life will happen, and we know that no one is exempt from a heart of stone – no one. But a heart made fresh and soft in God’s love may bind itself to the heart of Christ and thus love with Christ, as Paul intimates – sharing the very life of Christ. The deepest meaning of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reveals God reaching past our avoidance of Him, in sometimes shocking and upsetting ways, to heal us. God’s heart upon the cross shows that God will address any resistance to Him that we harbor, and perhaps even to break it, for love’s sake and for our sakes. Our hesitancies, our sin, our walking enmity – these are submerged in the loving Heart of our Savior. We are covered, we are released and at peace with Him. Dr. Ronald Thomas is an assistant professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College.
Most-read stories on the web Through press time on June 5, 1,000 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 2,614 pages. In May, 7,306 people viewed 18,334 pages. The top 12 headlines in May and June were: n LATROBE: Charlotte’s troubled abortion clinic ..................... 1,934 n ‘Humpy’ Wheeler: Relying on faith growing up in the South....347 n Diocese, McNultys rejoice as another deacon is ordained.......333 n Monroe pastor leads pilgrimage to Shrine of St. Dymphna....261 n Holy Trinity helps build library on other side of the world.... 205
n Alan Kulwicki: Catholic NASCAR champ honored at local chapel......................................................................................................... 188 n Bishop Jugis to Charlotte Catholic grads: ‘Always be open to the Holy Spirit’..........................................................................................178 n Former Belmont and Newton pastor, Father Richard Hokanson, passes away..............................................................................................159
n Renewing roots in charity ................................................................153 n Father Patrick Winslow: What can we learn from Pope Francis?. 153 n Father Matthew Buettner: Radical Christianity ........................ 148 n For the love of painting: Life-sized portrait painted of Monsignor Marcaccio..............................................................................89
June 7, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Lennie Cox
R
Matthew Warner
Why the world doesn’t take Catholicism seriously
What is spirituality, anyway?
ecently I was asked to elaborate on my spirituality. In an attempt to answer I found myself listing my devotions, prayer life, Mass attendance, parish participation and personal initiatives. As this list poured out of my mouth, my head began to swim realizing that the examples I was referencing were painfully inadequate and did not convey the depth of meaning, importance or effect of spirituality – either broadly or as it pertained to me specifically. In the days that have followed, I think perhaps I struggled with the question because I have never attempted to carefully define spirituality or communicate its meaning in my life. It’s ironic that this question was posed to me when it was. I recently completed a study of the Gospel of St. Matthew, and throughout the study I contemplated why some people recognized Jesus as the Messiah and others did not. I couldn’t help but recall one of my favorite childhood Bible stories, the story of Simeon. The story as I remembered it was one where Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple to present Jesus to God according to the Law. Upon entering the temple they saw Simeon, who took the baby Jesus in his arms and recognized Him immediately as the child God had sent as the Savior of the World. This fulfilled a promise by God to Simeon that Simeon would not die before he had seen Christ. How it was that Simeon recognized Christ? I felt very strongly that it was through the Holy Spirit, but I reread the story in Luke 2:21-35 to see if I could glean further insights. Well, it should have been no surprise to me that the Holy Spirit was involved, because Scripture clearly states it. “Simeon was righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple.” (Lk 2:25) I found it interesting that Pope Francis taught in his May 6 homily: “It is the Holy Spirit that opens our hearts to know Jesus.” And later he prayed “that people be granted the grace to become accustomed to the presence of the Holy Spirit, this witness of Jesus who tells us where Jesus is, how to find Jesus, and what Jesus tells us.” Pope Francis, in the context of two homilies, completes this cycle by explaining, “The Holy Spirit bears witness to Jesus so that we can give witness to others” (May 6), just as the Apostles’ lives illustrated “their witness to the faith and to the proclamation of Christ” (April 14). “The testimony of faith comes in very many forms, just as in a great fresco, there is a variety of colors and shades; yet they are all important, even those which do not stand out. In God’s great plan, every detail is important, even yours, even my humble little witness, even the hidden witness of those who live their faith with simplicity in everyday family relationships, work relationships, and friendships. There are the saints of every day, the ‘hidden’ saints, a sort of ‘middle class of holiness’ to which we can all belong” (April 14). The pope asks us to remember, “One cannot proclaim the Gospel of Jesus without the tangible witness of one’s life. Those who listen to us and observe us must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips, and so give glory to God! But all this is possible only if we recognize Jesus Christ.” (April 14) The Holy Spirit helps us to recognize Jesus, know where He is, how to find Him, and discern what He tells us. In turn, our spirituality is our response to the presence and indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which should then give witness to Jesus. While my devotions, prayer life, Mass attendance, parish participation and personal initiatives comprise an element of my spirituality, it is through the Holy Spirit that I am called – and we are all called – to be witnesses to Christ in the totality of our lives, “making God the central point of reference in our way of thinking and acting, in our fundamental decisions in life,” as Pope Benedict XVI said. There is a Jewish saying: “May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi.” So too should we, led by the Holy Spirit, follow our Lord so closely that His dust may cover us. Lennie Cox is a member of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
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or years I’ve been immersed in Catholic media and the ongoing conversation within the Church of how to carry on as the Church. And, of course, in the West, at the heart of this conversation is the fact that within the next generation half of the pews will be empty. When I travel, I always get asked by parents how they can get their adult children back to church. It’s an epidemic. We know this. And we can talk about catechesis and community and leadership and orthodoxy and the sacraments and the fullness of truth. We can complain about politics and how we need more preaching from the pulpit. But here is the practical reason why people are not convinced of the Catholic faith anymore: We Catholics don’t look or act any different than non-Catholics. It’s that simple. The question we must answer is: “if Catholicism offers a better way, why don’t Catholics’ lives seem any better?” If we believe our faith and action in this life have eternal consequences, why don’t we act accordingly? If the God of our universe, the Creator of everything, is truly present in the Eucharist, why don’t our actions show this? If our relationship with God is truly the most important relationship, why don’t our daily schedules reflect that? If our marriages and families are our greatest blessings, why do we sacrifice them for our careers? If God has a plan for us, why do we make so many plans without Him? And why are we not on our knees every morning thanking, praising and giving over to Him every moment of our entire day? If Catholicism is true, why isn’t everything we do ordered around this Truth? The incongruity between what we claim to believe and the lives we live is revealing. Any honest outsider can surely tell that we can’t possibly believe what we say we believe. Not only is our religion a fraud, but so are we Christians: that’s what Catholics as a whole communicate about Catholicism. This was summed up half a century ago at Vatican II: “One of the gravest errors of our time is the dichotomy between the faith which many profess and the practice of their daily lives.” (“Gaudium et Spes,” 43) If you are waiting for the institutional Church to stem the tide and fix this problem, you’re missing the point. Sure, we need inspirational leadership. We need solid catechesis. Our official organizations need to be more professional. We need to do “community” and fellowship better. Our leaders need to understand investment and ROI. They need to be more accountable and less wastefully bureaucratic. We should operate in all things with excellence because “excellence” itself is a Catholic thing. And we should embrace all things along the way that are true, good and beautiful and which serve the mission of the Church. But such actions will not fix our problems by themselves. People can find well-run, professional, inspirational organizations and great communities anywhere. Christ gave us His Church for so much more. What we must focus on most is what the Church does best. Our competitive advantage, what nobody else can do like the Catholic Church does, is create saints. Saints are beacons of Christ to the world. They are the most tangible fruits of the sacraments. How many saints is your parish creating? That is the ultimate metric. Saints will not lose their faith because of bad liturgical music. They can suffer bad preaching, small budgets, poor management and every single one of the many fools we have in this hospital for sinners. They will still
be there at Mass, quietly and slowly winning the world for Christ, slowly transforming the Church, recruiting other saints and fixing problems as they go. A saint is a powerful weapon in this culture war and every war to come. They are compelling in every age and from every angle. They need few words to be understood. They need no defense. They need no money, glory or fame. They have but to be themselves and the world can’t help but change. But we’ve gotten bad at making saints, because we’ve gotten bad at teaching. And I’m not talking about what we say in the classroom or preach from the pulpit. I’m talking about our example. The best teachers show. As children, we learn more by what we see our parents do than any words they ever say. We’ve forgotten this when it comes to handing on the faith. We see this deficiency everywhere, online and off. How many times have you seen charity preached in anger? And orthodoxy preached in uncharity? This is the fruit of pride, not the fruit of a genuine concern for souls. We have fallen in love with knowing we are right and called it loving our neighbor. My parents’ generation left the Church without leaving the pews. And now they wonder why their kids find it silly to stand in the pews of a church they never really understood professing creeds they never really believed. And so we find ourselves scrambling for ways to teach the truth, to instruct the ignorant. We demand orthodoxy – “If they only knew what they were leaving!” – but we go about it all wrong. We attack all the symptoms without really getting to the heart. Instead of lecturing people that they have to go to Sunday Mass, inspire them to want to go. Instead of telling people to dress more appropriately for Mass, give them something worth dressing up for. Instead of telling them not to be unchaste, fascinate them with chastity. And on and on. It must not only be an affirmative orthodoxy, but also an active orthodoxy. Instead of talking about how beautiful the faith is, show them its beauty. Instead of insisting upon how good the Church is, be good. Instead of lecturing about truth, live a life transformed by it. You don’t have to beat people over the head with the truth. You just have to open them up to it. Prepare the way, then get out of the way. Open the door and Truth will speak for itself. It will roar like a lion, who – once encountered – needs no help being taken seriously. If we want the world to take Catholicism seriously, we must first take it seriously ourselves. That means making radical changes to the way we live. We need more people to answer the radical call to sainthood. We need saints – not just saints of the past, but your sainthood. When the world sees you, they don’t have to see a saint, but at least let them see a sinner set on sainthood. We shouldn’t need to tell people we’re Catholic. They should smell it in our sweat. They should see Christ radiating authentically and naturally from every move we make. If they can’t, we need to shut up and stop talking about what’s wrong with everyone else and we need to start living more compelling lives. We need an army of saints willing to live a radical life for Christ and others. Saints are compelling. Empty words and prideful lectures are not. Matthew Warner writes for the National Catholic Register, where this column originally appeared. He is also the founder and CEO of Flocknote, the creator of Tweet Catholic, a contributing author to “The Church and New Media,” and writer/founder at “The Radical Life” (online at www. theradicallife.org). He and his family live in Texas.
catholicnewsherald.com | June 7, 2013 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
‘ The Mystery of Faith: Open the Door to Christ Ninth Eucharistic Congress, September 13 & 14, 2013 Charlotte Convention Center
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OF FAITH RY R TO CHRIST: O
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NINTH EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE, SEPTEMBER 13 &14, 2013