Oct. 10, 2014

October 10, 2014

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

At annual Red Mass, patron saint of lawyers extolled as example for Christians today,

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MARRIAGE celebrated, but under fire

Sacerdote Vicentino suspendido por su orden religiosa se busca por cargos de abuso sexual,

11 INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español..................................11 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes................. 3-14 Schools..............................15 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................16 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints.................. 22-23 World news.................. 20-21

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‘Every vocation is a response to Christ’s love’ Diocesan Mass honors couples married 25, 50 and 60 years,

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704-370-3333

FUNDED by the parishioners of the diocese of charlotte THANK YOU!

Also inside: Historic Synod on the Family convenes in Rome,

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North Carolina’s constitutional marriage protections at risk,

Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally begins a new series: What is marriage?

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‘Place the poor ahead of yourselves in everything you do’ Pope Francis sends personal greeting to Catholic Charities USA gathering in Charlotte,

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HOLDING OUT HOPE Triad couple trusts in God throughout cancer diagnosis and high-risk pregnancy,

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Francis

Pope recalls another key anniversary in his life: his first Communion

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nable to resist telling the world about a personal event that is dear to his heart, Pope Francis said that 70 years ago to the day, he celebrated his first Communion.

“Today I am so thankful to the Lord because 70 years ago I made my first Communion,” he said at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 8.“Let us all thank the Lord for our baptism, all of us thank Him for our first Communion.”

The pope shared that tidbit to underline what it means to enter into communion with the Catholic Church and to seek communion with Christians who belong to other confessions or traditions. This theme of Christian unity was part of the series of audience talks the pope has been giving on the nature of the Church. In his catechesis, the pope lamented the long history of divisions among Christians, saying such separations “wound the Church and wound Christ,” whose desire is “that they may all be one, so that the world may believe.”

People’s efforts to share the Gospel message will be “much more credible” when all Christians show they are “able to live in communion and love each other,” he said.

Unity was already under threat while Jesus was still with His disciples, who would argue “among themselves who was better, who was more important,” the pope said.

In fact, history shows “the Church is tempted by evil, which tries to divide her, and has been marked unfortunately by serious and painful divisions.”

The reasons Christian communities are divided, he said, include differences in “dogmatic and moral principles and theological concepts, pastoral differences, political motives and self-interest to the point of clashing due to resentments and personal ambition.”

But one thing is certain, he said, “in one way or another, behind these lacerations there is always pride and selfishness, which are the cause of every disagreement and make us intolerant, incapable of listening and accepting those who have a view or a position that is different from ours.”

Full communion, he said, is “everyone being able to participate together in the Body and Blood of Christ.”

Marriage and the Synod on the Family Convened earlier this week, the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family is considering “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.”

Their 50-page preparatory document was drafted after world-wide consultation from national conferences of bishops, priests and laity responding to a long questionnaire on how Catholics perceive Church teachings.

The preparatory document is in three parts: an examination of the faithful’s “knowledge and acceptance” of Church teaching, a study of “various challenges and actual situations” faced by families,” and pastoral challenges concerning “openness to life” and raising of children. Certain of the issues to be discussed feature openness to life, abortion, contraception, same-sex “marriage,” cohabitation without marriage, divorce and remarriage, and the annulment process.

This Extraordinary Synod of the Bishops will be followed by an Ordinary Assembly with the family as its theme in 2015. The next World Meeting of Families, held by the Church every three years, will take place in Philadelphia in September 2015, and it has been suggested that Pope Francis may attend.

These events in the news provide an ideal opportunity to discuss Church teachings on marriage and annulments. Over the coming weeks, Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret NcNally, JCL, PhD, will explore the history of marriage, what makes marriage work, common problems in marriage, divorce and remarriage, the annulment process and much more.

Sister Jeanne-Margaret serves as an associate judge for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami, Defender of the Bond for the Diocese of Charlotte’s marriage tribunal, and assists Church tribunals as a court expert and consultant. The marriage tribunal handles issues relating to marriage, including dispensations and annulments, as well as providing advocates to assist those going through the annulment process.

Professed with the Sisters of Mercy since 1949, she graduated from Sacred Heart Junior College and Mercy School of Nursing in Belmont, and later from The Catholic University of America with multiple degrees including a doctorate in psychology and a licentiate of canon law (JCL).

Besides her extensive service as a canon lawyer, she has had a distinguished career in nursing and higher education, including serving as a professor of bioethics at Barry University in Miami and as associate vice president for general administration at the University of North Carolina. In addition, she has lectured widely in universities and dioceses, published articles and authored the 1993 reference guide “Canon Law for the Laity.”

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk

Of proxies and POLSTs: The good and the bad in end of life planning

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he Second Vatican Council, in the pastoral constitution “Gaudium et Spes” (“The Church in the Modern World”), presents a theologically and spiritually profound doctrine of marriage. It upholds the indissolubility of marriage clearly and distinctly.

Marriage is understood as an all-embracing communion of life and love, body and spirit, between a man and a woman who mutually give themselves and receive one another as persons. Through the personally free act of their reciprocal consent, an enduring, divinely ordered institution is brought into being which is directed to the good of the spouses and of their offspring, and is no longer dependent on human caprice. “As a mutual gift of two persons, this intimate union and the good of the children impose total fidelity on the spouses and argue for an unbreakable oneness between them” (48).

God bestows a special grace upon the spouses: “For as God of old made Himself present to His people through a covenant of love and fidelity, so now the Savior of men and the Spouse of the Church comes into the lives of married Christians through the sacrament

lanning for end of life situations is important. We should put in place an advance directive before our health takes a serious turn for the worse and we are no longer able to indicate our own wishes or make our own decisions.

Advance directives can be of two types: living wills and health care agents.

The best approach is to choose a health care agent (also known as a “proxy” or a “durable power of attorney for health care”).

Our agent then makes decisions on our behalf when we become incapacitated. We should designate in writing who that health care proxy will be. The National Catholic Bioethics Center and many individual state Catholic conferences offer helpful forms for designating a proxy. Copies of that completed health care proxy designation form should be shared with our proxy, our doctors, nurse practitioners, hospice personnel, family members and other relevant people.

Besides choosing a health care proxy, some people may also decide to write up a living will in which they state their wishes regarding end of life care. Living wills raise concerns, however, because these documents attempt to describe our wishes about various medical situations before those situations actually arise, and could end up limiting choices in unreasonable ways. Given the breathtaking pace of medical advances, a person’s decisions today about what care to receive or refuse may not make sense later. It is impossible and unrealistic to try to cover every medical situation in a living will, and it is preferable to have a proxy – a person we trust – who can interact with the hospital and the health care team, weigh options in real time, and make appropriate decisions for us as we need it.

A new type of living will known as a “POLST” form – a tool for advance planning – also raises concerns. The POLST form (which stands for Physician Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment) establishes actionable medical orders for a patient’s health care. The form is typically filled out with the help of trained “facilitators,”

MARRIAGE, SEE page 24

PLANNING, SEE page 24

What is marriage?

Sister Jeanne M. McNally

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Your daily Scripture readings 0CT. 12-18

Sunday: Isaiah 25:6-10, Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20, Matthew 22:1-14; Monday: Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 31:5-1, Luke 11:29-32; Tuesday (St. Callistus I): Galatians 5:1-6, Luke 11:37-41; Wednesday (St. Teresa of Jesus): Galatians 5:18-25, Luke 11:42-46; Thursday (St. Hedwig, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque): Ephesians 1:1-10, Luke 11:47-54; Friday (St. Ignatius of Antioch): Ephesians 1:11-14, Luke 12:1-7; Saturday (St. Luke): 2 Timothy 4:10-17, Luke 10:1-9

OCT. 19-25

Sunday: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, Matthew 22:15-21; Monday (St. Paul of the Cross): Ephesians 2:1-10, Luke 12:13-21; Tuesday: Ephesians 2:12-22, Luke 12:35-38; Wednesday: Ephesians 3:2-12, Isaiah 12:26, Luke 12:39-48; Thursday (St. John of Capistrano): Ephesians 3:14-21, Luke 12:49-53; Friday (St. Anthony Mary Claret): Ephesians 4:1-6, Luke 12:54-59; Saturday: Ephesians 4:716, Luke 13:1-9

OCT. 26-NOV. 1

Sunday: Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10, Matthew 22:34-40; Monday: Ephesians 4:32-5:8, Luke 13:10-17; Tuesday (Sts. Simon and Jude): Ephesians 2:19-22, Luke 6:12-16; Wednesday: Ephesians 6:1-9, Luke 13:22-30; Thursday: Ephesians 6:10-20, Luke 13:31-35; Friday: Philippians 1:1-11, Luke 14:1-6; Saturday (All Saints): Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12.

Our parishes

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

‘Every vocation is a response to Christ’s love’ Bishop Jugis celebrates Mass for couples married 25, 50, 60 years

SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

sueann howell | catholic news herald

A couple embraces during the sign of peace at the wedding anniversary Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte Sept. 28.

VOCATION, SEE page 24

‘Be thankful for what we have’

Clergy, parishioners celebrate opening of new St. Matthew South SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

WAXHAW — The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi and the vigil of the Feast of St. Faustina on the evening of Oct. 4 were perfect timing for the first Mass in the new St. Matthew South multipurpose facility dedicated to The Divine Mercy.

Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, celebrated the standingroom-only Mass in the new worship space which features statues of The Divine Mercy, St. Faustina Kowalska and Pope St. John Paul II, the “Divine Mercy Pope.”

“For all our children here, remember this day, Oct. 4, 2014,” Monsignor McSweeney said. “Because all of us, as a community together, have a part in this aspect of the cornerstone of the future this property holds. All that we do here is for the honor and glory of Almighty God. “Each and every one of us in this building right now are living stones. And it’s the living stones of the Church, us, that build the Kingdom of God. Somehow each of us with our own unique strengths, our own unique gifts, somehow make a difference. And all of us are called to somehow make a difference.”

At the beginning of Mass Monsignor McSweeney blessed the people, the building and the statues with blessed water, circulating around the worship space and

Diocesan foundation celebrates 20 years Assets now total more than $28M

SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Married couples marking their 25th, 50th and 60th wedding anniversaries this year were the guests at a special Mass Sept. 28 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated the annual Mass, a time for the couples to renew their vows and receive a special blessing.

This year 128 couples from throughout western North Carolina participated in More online the celebration with their At www.catholicnewsherald. families. Of those, 70 couples com: See more photos from were celebrating 50 years of the wedding anniversary Mass marriage, 57 were celebrating at St. Matthew Church 25 years of marriage, and one couple was celebrating 60 years of holy matrimony.

“We are gathered today in the joyful celebration of your wedding anniversaries, and I am glad to see so many couples here gathered from many parishes all over the diocese,” Bishop Jugis said. “We honor you for the witness of your love to each other over these many years, and also for the witness of your love for the Lord because it must be the Lord who has blessed your marriage all of these years.”

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Also of note was the San Damiano crucifix from the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the main church on Ballantyne Commons Parkway, which was used in the processional in honor of St. Francis’ feast day.

“The Lord told St. Francis, ‘Rebuild My Church,’” Monsignor McSweeney said.

“The crucifix shows the image of the Blessed Mother. It shows God’s love for His mother and God’s love for each of us.”

He also pointed out that the tabernacle was the original one from St. Gabriel Church on sueann howell | catholic news herald Providence Road, the church Hundreds of people gathered for the celebration of the first Mass in which helped build St. Matthew. the new St. Matthew South multipurpose facility Oct. 4.

He shared that the altar, the pulpit and the ambo in the sanctuary area of the worship space were out into hallway packed with Mass-goers, the original ones from the beginning of St. crossing over the welcome mat that reads Matthew Church that had been restored.

“Jesus, I trust in You.” “Everything here has meaning,” he said.

During his homily, he explained why he Monsignor McSweeney drew laughter from blessed the doors, blessed the people (the the congregation when he mentioned the living stones) and blessed the building and the statues. He shared with the congregation huge mound of dirt across the parking lot.

“If you’re wondering about the pile of how the statues were donated to give glory dirt, that is called ‘Mount McSweeney,’” he and honor to God and to The Divine Mercy. said. “When I first saw it, some of my more “The crucifix was commissioned by a parishioner to show the unending love of God’s outstretched arms for each of us.”

ST. MATTHEW, SEE page 24

CHARLOTTE — Generosity is a trademark of the people of the Diocese of Charlotte and can be seen tangibly in the way the Foundation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte has grown over the past 20 years.

The foundation was established to provide a way for people and organizations to fund various endowments, providing long-term financial stability for the diocese and its parishes, schools, ministries and agencies. Through these endowments, which now number 224, the foundation provides a means to generate income to help sustain the long-term strength and viability of Catholic institutions in western North Carolina.

Endowments are permanent funds, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor organization or individual. The assets of the foundation grow through sound investment policies and from additional gifts.

Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City is the beneficiary of one such endowment. It was set up

by Crosswell and Ethel Regan, who converted to Catholicism in their mid-60s and became active in the parish. They passed away within months of each other in 1997. After their deaths, they willed all their possessions to the Church. In all, they left $400,000, which was put into the endowment for the parish.

Since that time, the parish has received more than $522,000 in income from the endowment, while the principal in the endowment itself has grown to more than $589,000. The endowment will continue to provide income every quarter in perpetuity.

Over the past 20 years, more than $5.7 million have been distributed by the foundation from the endowments it administers.

“When the foundation was established 20 years ago, the goal was to provide endowments to help ensure the long-term future of the parishes, schools, agencies and organizations in the diocese,” FOUNDATION, SEE page 17

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events ARDEN St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the coming weeks: Oct. 5-10 Priests’ Retreat Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, Maggie Valley Oct. 12 – 11 a.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church, Boone

— Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. Topics include: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704370-3230.

BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES church, 503 North Main St. — Ministry of Mothers Sharing: 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14. Meetings are intended for moms with children of all ages. It will be a time for fellowship and study for spiritual growth. For details, email Marianne at marianne@gcube.com.

Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704370-3230.

— Christian Coffee-house: 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19 in the New Life Center Banquet Room. All adults are welcome to join and enjoy spiritual messages through music in a Christian environment. For details, call Kathy Barlett at 704-400-2213.

— St. Peregrine Healing Prayer Service: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer and grave diseases. For details, call the parish office at 704-543-7677.

ST. Thomas aquinas church, 1400 suther road

Oct. 14 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Francis of Assisi Church, Mocksville

— Community Breakfast: 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18.

Costume contest after breakfast.

— Fatima Procession: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13. Monthly devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. We will recite the rosary, have a candlelit procession and close with a litany. All are welcome.

Oct. 16 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of Mercy Church, Winston-Salem

— Women’s Autumn Afternoon of Retreat, “Where Two or Three Are Gathered in My Name”: Noon-4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25. Presented by Sister Mary Hugh.

Salad lunch will be offered. Please bring a topping to share. For details, call Tracy at 704-853-0654.

— “Alan Ames – Healing Ministry”: 9:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 25. Alan Ames is an ex-motorcycle club member who travels the world sharing his “Saul to Paul” conversion story and powerful healing ministry. For details, visit www.alanames.org.

Oct. 17 – 10 a.m.

Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, 6828 Old Reid Road

CHARLOTTE

Oct. 19 – 2:30 p.m.

Mass for Heritage Society St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

— Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat: Nov. 21-23.

Intended for men and women to begin their healing journey after an abortion. For details, call Shelley at 828-230-4940.

— Morning Reflection, “Blessed Pier Giorgio – The Man of the Beatitudes”: 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 13. Presented

by Father Peter Shaw. Hosted by Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group. Refreshments and reflection to follow.

Oct. 21 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

— 20th Annual Fundraising Dinner for MiraVia: Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte Convention Center. For reservations, call 704-5254673, ext. 10.

— All Saint’s Day Celebration and Potluck: Saturday, Nov. 1 after 5 p.m. Mass. Children can come dressed as their favorite saint or Biblical person. To RSVP, call Chris Direnzo at 704-552-1015.

Oct. 23 - 6:30 p.m.

MiraVia 20th Annual Banquet Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte

— Evening Reflection, “Blessed Are the Pure of Heart”: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Charlotte Catholic High School Chapel, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road. Presented by Father Matthew Kauth. Hosted

by Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group. Light refreshments available.

— Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1- 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4. Topics include: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-370-3230.

Oct. 25 – 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation ST. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville Oct. 27 – 6 p.m.

Friends to Seminarians Dinner Bishop’s Residence, Charlotte Oct. 29 – 7 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Barnabas Church, Arden Nov. 3 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte Nov. 4 – 11 a.m.

Presbyteral Council Meeting Diocesan Pastoral Center, Charlotte

ST. ANN CHURCH, 3635 Park Road — Parish Carnival: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11.

Tickets can be purchased for rides, food, games, music and baked goods. Silent auction, $1,000 raffle, and Bingo too. All are welcome to attend.

— Latin Mass: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Bring your own brown bag lunch to the cafeteria after Mass.

St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road, — Forty Hours Devotion: Oct. 19-21. Guest homilist Father Joseph R. Gibino will speak at 7 p.m. each evening on the general themes “To Stand in Your Presence” and “Go and Announ ce the Gospel of the Lord.”

St. Matthew church, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMmONS PKWY. — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18. Topics include:

October 10, 2014 Volume 24 • Number 1

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 Hispanic communications reporter: Rico De Silva, 704-370-3375, rdesilva@charlottediocese.org

GREENSBORO St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St. — Fall Festival, “A Harvest Gathering”: 12-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Live music, beer garden, bake sale, games, prizes and food available. All families welcome. For details, call the parish office at 336-272-4681.

— Seasons of Hope, Grief Ministry: 2-4 p.m. Meets for six weeks on Sunday afternoons. Sept. 28-Nov. 2. Anyone mourning the loss of a loved one is encouraged to attend.

To register, call the parish office at 336-272-4681.

— Hope for the Holidays: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.

Holidays can be difficult for those mourning the loss of a loved one. The Grief Ministry would like to invite you as they share suggestions for coping with mourning during the holiday season. For details, call the parish office at 336-272-4681.

The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

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HIGH POINT Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St. — Free Spanish classes: 7-8:30 p.m. Meets on Thursdays until Nov. 6. For details, call Nancy at 336-884-0522.

— Welcome Back Catholics: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, and will meet once a week for six weeks. People not practicing their Catholic faith and who want to learn more are welcome. For details, call 336-884-5097.

HUNTERSVILLE St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road — Procession for Life: Saturday, Oct. 25. 9 a.m. Mass, followed by prayer with Father John Putnam at A Preferred Women’s Health Center on Latrobe Drive in Charlotte. Hosted by The Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, which organizes prayerful, Eucharistcentered prayer at local abortion mills with priests.

For details, go to www.charlotteHelpers.com.

MAGGIE VALLEY St. Margaret of Scotland CHURCH, 37 Murphy Dr. — Life in the Spirit Seminar: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Meets until Oct. 29. Call Don or Janet Zander at 828-926-2654 for information and pre-registration.

MINT HILL St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Road — Blood Drive: 7 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 11. For appointments, call Jane Hodapp at 704-847-5459.

— Presentation on “Cornelia Connelly”: 3-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Come hear the story of Cornelia Connelly, founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus. Sister Anita Quigley will tell Cornelia’s story in light of Pope Francis’ call to “Wake Up the World” and find its meaning in the 21st century. Light refreshments served. For details, contact Ann Helms at 704-289-8105 or adulted@stlukechurch.net.

MOORESVILLE St. Thérèse of Lisieux CHURCH, 217 Brawley School Road — Grand Ultreya: 9:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1. Grand Ultreya is an opportunity for Cursillistas in the diocese to come together for Holy Spiritdriven fellowship. Hosted by the Charlotte Cursillo.

Bring a covered dish and two-liter drink to share.

Lunch provided. Childcare available. RSVP to CharlottePostCursillo@gmail.com or 704-663-2614.

SHELBY ST. MARY CHURCH, 818 McGowan Road — Mass with veneration of first-class relic on Feast of Pope St. John Paul II: 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. This will be the first public veneration of the relic, given to the parish

by Cardinal Stanislaw Diwisz, long-time aide and friend of the late pope. For details, call Jean Judge at 704-4877697.

THOMASVILLE OUR LADY OF THE HIGHWAYS Church, 943 Ball Park Road — Fall Fest Bazaar: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

Crafts, baked goods, breakfast, lunch and dinner. For details, call Vicki Moss at 336-434-5905.

contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others.

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October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

‘It was such an honor. The more I know him, the more I love him.’

OUR PARISHESI

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— Geraldine Mitchell

Couples, Monsignor McSweeney renew vows at joyful anniversary Mass Sept. 29 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church provided a beautiful backdrop for the 40th anniversary Mass on the feast of the Archangels, Sept. 29. Couples celebrating their 40th wedding anniversaries were invited to renew their vows during Mass before watching their pastor, Monsignor John McSweeney, renew his priestly promises which he originally made to Bishop Michael J. Begley on the same day 40 years ago at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

Monsignor McSweeney was the first priest ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte, which was established in 1972. He admits that the time of his ordination, 1974, was a time of change not only for the young diocese but for the Church, which made his ordination Mass interesting as Bishop Begley had never ordained a priest before and the liturgy was going through some changes at the time.

Father Frank O’Rourke, now pastor of St. Gabriel Church, was instrumental in assisting with the ordination Mass even though he was still in seminary at the time. He was again present as Monsignor McSweeney knelt in the sanctuary to renew his priestly promises.

Monsignor McSweeney wore the same white vestment made for him in 1974 by Sister Agnes Silvestro, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. He also wore a religious medal given to him on that occasion by Sister Catherine Marie of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters that is more than 100 years old.

The readings at Mass were also those selected 40 years ago: Jeremiah 1:4-9; 2 Corinthians 5:14-20; and John 17:6,14-19.

Parish Council Chairman Mark Schuler asked Monsignor McSweeney the identical questions Bishop Begley had posed at his ordination 40 years earlier.

Then Monsignor McSweeney carried a bouquet of flowers and placed them at the foot of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. When he returned to the celebrant’s chair, he was greeted with a resounding round of joyful applause from the congregation.

saying very simply, ‘Jesus, I trust in You.’ “Throughout my life I have had one little saying that helps me get through things. The saying that is embedded in me is, ‘I look for nothing.’ And by doing that and trying to live that way, I gain everything. I learned that saying a long time ago and it has sort of stuck with me. ‘Jesus, I trust in You.’ And from that model I gain everything.”

Monsignor McSweeney explained that God has called each of us to different vocations, but all of us to service for the Lord.

“He’s called some people to be religious men and women, set aside in a unique way, dedicating their lives in the honor and glory of God to give service to others. He calls some to the married state, entering into a covenant of life – good times and tough times but somehow they stick to it.

“He calls some of us to the priesthood. I’m one of those that was called to it. I have taken the journey which I call my ‘adventures of life.’”

Monsignor McSweeney recalled how his journey began in a little town of Oneida in upstate New York and how sueann howell | catholic news herald his parents always encouraged him, Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, blesses one of the couples celebrating telling him, “Never be afraid of being their wedding anniversaries during the presentation of the gifts at Mass Sept. 29. He was also you.” He jokingly shared that they celebrating 40 years of priestly ministry and renewed his priestly promises during the Mass. didn’t always agree with his decisions.

“But that was their problem, I was only doing what they told me to do,” he said, drawing laughter During his homily, Monsignor McSweeney spoke fondly from the congregation. of his childhood, his philosophy of life, vocations in the Church and his priestly vocation.

“As we started out (this evening) I thanked each of you for being here,” Monsignor McSweeney said. “I started out by ANNIVERSARY, SEE page 17

Seminarian Mariani ordained deacon in Rome ROME — Santiago A. Mariani, a seminarian for the Diocese of Charlotte, was ordained a transitional deacon during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome Oct. 2.

Deacon Mariani was among 43 seminarians from the Pontifical North American College ordained by Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, D.C., at Mass celebrated at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica. Deacon Mariani’s home parish is St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon.

Cardinal Wuerl, himself an alumnus of the North American College, told the seminarians during his homily, “In a few moments you will lay down while we pray the Litany of the Saints. The posture is intended to invoke the reality that you are laying down your lives for a friend, the greatest friend, Jesus Christ. It is also here where the bones of Peter remind us that our first pope truly laid down his life for the Lord. To serve means to give whatever it takes to serve Christ.”

During the ordination, the new deacons promised to live a life of prayer, celibacy and obedience to their diocesan bishop. The transitional diaconate is one of the final steps of preparation for the priesthood. The new deacons will have an additional year of theological studies and spiritual formation before being ordained to the priesthood in their home dioceses.

As part of the ordination rite, Cardinal Wuerl placed the Book of the Gospels in the hands of each candidate being ordained and said, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

The Pontifical North American College serves as the American seminary in Rome. Founded in 1859 by Blessed Pius IX, the college has formed more than 5,000 priests near the heart of the Church for service in dioceses around

Photos provided by Michael Lund, PNAC Photo Service; Father Noah Carter

(Right) Seminarian Santiago Mariani was ordained a transitional deacon, one of the final steps towards priestly ordination, Oct. 2 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. (Above) Deacon Mariani, pictured at far right, served his first Mass and preached his first homily Oct. 3 at the altar of St. Monica in the Basilica of St. Augustine. the United States, Canada and Australia. The college strengthens the bonds between Rome and local Churches worldwide, and it allows its students to study the Church’s rich religious and cultural heritage at close range.

The next day, on Oct. 3, Deacon Mariani served his first Mass and preached his first homily as a deacon.

Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, celebrated the Liturgy at the altar of St. Monica in the Basilica of St. Augustine.

In his homily Deacon Mariani reminded everyone at the Mass, including his family and many friends who traveled to Rome for the occasion, that we must imitate the Sacred Heart of Christ by living passionately in union with the Church, the Bride of Christ.

After the homily, he officiated his parents’ renewal of their marriage vows.

— Pontifical North American College. Father Noah Carter contributed.

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Pope Francis to Catholic Charities:

‘Place the poor ahead of yourselves in everything you do’ CCUSA gathering in Charlotte draws over 500 Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

Rico De Silva | Catholic News Herald

Attendees of Catholic Charities USA’s 2014 Annual Gathering in Charlotte enjoyed a personal video greeting from Pope Francis that helped to kick off the four-day conference Oct. 5. Hosted

by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, it drew more than 500 people from Catholic Charities agencies across the United States.

Father Larry Snyder, outgoing president of Catholic Charities USA, is presented Oct. 5 with a personalized T-shirt and Carolina Panthers cap from Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director, and Amy Loesch, who led the local planning effort.

Kathleen Durkin of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte

Parishioners young and old performed a traditional Vietnamese hymn and dance in honor of Mary before the start of Mass Oct. 5 at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte to kick off the CCUSA conference.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — There’s no better way for a Catholic meeting to start than with a personalized video message from Pope Francis.

That was the case for Catholic Charities USA’s 2014 Annual Gathering, held Oct. 4-7 in Charlotte.

More than 500 people from Catholic Charities agencies and partners across the United States met in Charlotte for the event, which had the appropriately NASCAR-tinged theme, “Setting the Pace, Changing the Course.”

“My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I send a warm greeting to all of you gathered in Charlotte, North Carolina, to celebrate the works of Catholic Charities in the USA,” Pope Francis said in Spanish. “I really like the theme you chose for the conference, ‘Setting the pace, changing the course,’ because it’s really fitting with what I wanted to share with you today.

“I am grateful to Our Lord for the work each and every one of you do on a daily basis. Lastly, something that I have said to the whole Church since day one of my papacy: going out in the street could get you bruised, staying in your home behind locked doors is safe. I would rather have a wounded and stained Church that’s out in the street, rather than having a Church that’s ill because of staying behind locked doors, comfortable and clinging to the safety of the status quo.

“You are the very hands of Jesus in the world.

Your witness helps change the course of many people, many families and many communities,” he continued. “You are the engine of the Church that’s responsible for the Church’s love, or caritas. You set the pace for the Church to be present in the world, day in and day out.”

“Be merciful,” the pope encouraged. “I ask you to place the poor ahead of yourselves in everything you do.”

That emphasis on poverty was the focus for Catholic Charities USA’s four-day gathering.

Discussions had extra urgency given the stagnating number of 45 million Americans living at or below the poverty line today.

“This is our opportunity to come together as providers of critical life services to nearly 10 million of our economically poor sisters and brother throughout this nation,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, which hosted the national event.

The Church’s charitable work must move

beyond helping people to survive to enabling them to thrive, said Father Larry Snyder, CCUSA’s outgoing president. At his 10th and final annual gathering as head of CCUSA, Father Snyder was presented Oct. 5 with its highest honor, the Vision Award, for his decade of leadership. CCUSA also announced the creation of the Father Larry Snyder Disaster Relief Fund.

In his keynote address Oct. 5, Father Snyder said, “Pope Francis constantly reminds us to be witnesses to that Gospel message in society.

And his leadership exemplifies what it means to take the love of God to the sick, suffering and the rejected. He encourages us to go into the dirtiness of the streets and to the messiness of life, to be with the sheep. We do this, Pope Francis tells us, and we may end up smelling like the sheep.”

“And my friends, please take this the right way when I tell you that you smell like the sheep!” he joked.

Both Pope Francis’ message and Father Snyder’s comments were echoed by Bishop Peter Jugis, who gave the homily at the opening Mass of the conference at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church in Charlotte. Parishioners welcomed the CCUSA attendees with a brilliant display of fireworks, traditional Vietnamese hymns and dances, and the talented lion dance troup from Hidden Dragon Lion Dance before the start of the multilingual liturgy, which was concelebrated by Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh, CCUSA’s episcopal liaison.

In his homily, Bishop Jugis repeated Pope Francis’ words to go out into the world and promote a “culture of encounter,” which is exactly what Catholic Charities agencies do so commendably, he said.

“A ‘culture of encounter’: going out to meet others, to encounter them, especially the marginalized and those who are on the peripheries, to be with them, paying attention to each person’s human dignity – a ‘culture of encounter’ to counteract the broader secular ‘culture of waste,’ as the Holy Father refers to it, in which some people are deemed to be expendable,” he said. We must respond with “a serious infusion” of Christian charity to counteract this culture of waste, fostering “a cult of communion and solidarity.”

“Let us tend the vineyard that the Lord has entrusted to us,” he continued, referring to the Sunday Gospel from Matthew 21:33-43, “and encounter the poor, the elderly, individuals and families in crisis, the unborn, the youth, the wounded and sorrowing and hurting, immigrants and refugees. And in this encounter with them in Christian charity, let us bring them to know the love of Christ which has touched our lives.”

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor, contributed.

Student artists: Sign up now for Catholic Charities art contest CHARLOTTE — Young artists in the Diocese of Charlotte are encouraged to enter the Catholic Charities Art Contest this fall. Schools, faith formation programs and home school groups are encouraged to hold the contest in their communities and send their top entries in to be judged by the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte office.

The theme for this year’s art contest is taken from 1 John 4:16: “We have come to know and believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and those who remain in love remain in God and God in them.”

Students in grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 are encouraged to create an original visual art piece, submitted to their participating school or faith formation program.

Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, explains the selection of

the theme for this year’s art contest.

“Love expressed in 1 John comes from the Latin word ‘caritas.’ It is God’s love shared with us, which translates into love of neighbor, even neighbors we do not know.

Remember the Good Samaritan who befriends the stranger left by the roadside after being beaten (Luke 10:29-37)?”

Carter notes that the root meaning of “caritas” is the meaning of “Charities” in the name Catholic Charities. It is the organized outreach of the diocese, fueling the joint “caritas” outreach into the community.

“We share God’s love by providing needed services so that families can live better lives and with greater dignity.

We share because we are loved by God,” Carter said.

All interested schools, faith formation programs and homeschool groups are welcome to participate in the

2014 Catholic Charities Art Contest. Registrations will be accepted until Oct. 30. Judged entries from each registered school, faith formation program or homeschool community in the K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 grade categories must be received by Feb. 28 to qualify for judging.

First-, second- and third-place winners in each grade category will be announced in the April 24 issue of the Catholic News Herald, to coincide with Catholic Charities Week April 26-May 2, 2015.

Contact Ann Kilkelly, director of development of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, at 704-370-3349 or akilkelly@charlottediocese.org for more information or to register.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Mothers’ conference in Charlotte to feature ‘Catholic Digest’ editor Danielle Bean Dina DeFabo Wilson Correspondent

CHARLOTTE — Mothers are invited to spend a day being renewed and refreshed in their vocation at “God Equips the Called,” a conference for mothers featuring “Catholic Digest” editor Danielle Bean.

The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located 1400 Suther Road. All Catholic mothers are welcome to attend.

“By its very nature, motherhood requires the constant giving of oneself by caring and providing for others, and it is possible to feel drained as a result,” Bean says Jessica Ferrante, a St. Thomas Aquinas parishioner and founder of the Charlottebased ministry Mothering with Grace, which is coordinating the event.

“Sometimes we mothers need to be reminded of the incredible value of our role to our family and even to society. Sometimes moms just need to take a time-out for themselves, and what better ‘time out’ to have than to be renewed

by Christ and inspired and encouraged by others who are also facing the challenges of motherhood?”

The conference will begin with a guided meditation entitled “Lessons from Cana,” with a focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary’s motherhood, led by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

Danielle Bean, author and editor of “The Catholic Digest,” will present the talk “God Equips the Called.” Bean, who is also a mother of eight, will explore the ways Catholic mothers can hear and answer God’s personal call to holiness, abandon destructive perfectionism and self-doubt, and embrace their vocations as wives, mothers and daughters of God. The conference will also include Mass, the opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation, small-group activities, time for fellowship, and book sales. Infants are welcome.

Cost is $45 and includes lunch. Advance registration is required. For more information and to register, visit: www.motheringwithgrace. org.

The mission of Mothering with Grace is to help mothers grow within their vocation, recognizing the importance of growing in one’s own spiritual life to fulfill the God-given responsibility to form one’s children in virtue.

Bishop Peter Jugis greets U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Conrad Jr. and other members of the local legal community after the annual Red Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral Oct. 2. In his homily, the bishop praised the Christian charity and steadfastness of St. Thomas More, patron of lawyers, as an example for those working in the legal profession today.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

At annual Red Mass, patron saint of lawyers extolled as example for Christians today Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE —Catholics working in the legal profession in Charlotte gathered for the annual Red Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral Oct. 2, celebrating their faith and the example of their patron, St. Thomas More.

The English martyr beheaded for his uncompromising devotion to Christ and His Church remains a wonderful example for people of faith today, Bishop Peter J. Jugis noted in his homily.

The Red Mass is celebrated throughout the United States traditionally in conjunction with the opening session of the U.S. Supreme Court, giving members of the legal community the opportunity to reflect on the God-given responsibilities of their profession. The Mass in Charlotte was concelebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey.

In his homily Bishop Jugis reflected on the life of St. Thomas More, calling him a “perfect example” of the day’s Gospel reading of the Parable of the Sower.

“The seed of God’s word and holiness definitely fell on fertile soil in the life of St. Thomas More and produced an abundant harvest,” Bishop Jugis said. “In fact, the harvest that was produced by the life and holiness of this saint is still producing a harvest five centuries later, as we gather today. People are still inspired by the life and example of St. Thomas More and his dedication to Christ and the Church, imitating His virtues.”

The successful and popular English lawyer and lord chancellor resigned at the height of his career and reputation after refusing to swear allegiance to King Henry VIII as the supreme head of the Church in England, which would supplant the authority of the pope. He was imprisoned for 15 months in the Tower of London and then publicly beheaded on July 6, 1535.

St. Thomas More had an active spiritual life that even his contemporaries recognized, Bishop Jugis noted. That religiosity

gave him a firm foundation to withstand the political pressures from the king and his court. He prayed daily, sought the sacrament of penance frequently, and practiced asceticism.

“He had a spiritual discipline which he practiced for many, many years. As a result of that foundation, that closeness to Jesus which he developed, when he came to the supreme test of his life he was able to remain strong in Christ. He was able to remain absolutely centered, rooted in Christ,” Bishop Jugis said.

The saint never wavered in his faith and charity towards others – even praying for the judges who condemned him to death, and joking with and comforting his executioner.

He added, “He accepted with complete serenity the injustice that was being done to him. His serenity at his imprisonment and his martyrdom was the serenity of a man who knows Christ, who has found his peace in loving Christ and doing His will. He was able to hand everything over to Christ: his reputation, his conscience, his work, his life, his death, everything.”

And St. Thomas More’s gruesome death by beheading harkens to contemporary persecutions of people of faith, Bishop Jugis noted.

“Beheading is very much in the news today. The term that the news commentators have used to describe the videos of the beheading of Westerners by ISIS is ‘barbaric.’ But despite the barbarism that he faced, on the scaffolding during his execution, he was still exercising Christian charity. He could not do otherwise. He comforted and had compassion for his executioner, (displaying) Christian charity to the very end.”

“St. Thomas More is recognized as a holy man because of his love for Christ and his love for Christ’s Church, and because of his faithfulness to conscience, a conscience that had been correctly formed by the teachings of Christ and His Church,” Bishop Jugis continued.

“St. Thomas More is definitely a great example of how it is possible to live in the world, fully immersed in the affairs of this world, but not be of the world.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 OUR PARISHES Ad4_mock.pdf

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Your daughter’s wedding. Your niece’s First Communion. The passing of a loved one.

Your first grandchild. Your parish has been there to celebrate your joys and comfort you in times of sorrow. By establishing an endowment to benefit your parish, the same love and care will be provided for many future generations.

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

Learn more about Pope Francis’ Jesuit leadership style CHARLOTTE — Learn more about the spiritual leadership of the first Jesuit pope during a special program at St. Peter Church in Charlotte, presented

by Jesuit Father Brian McDermott of Georgetown University. In “Pope Francis: Spiritual Leader,” Father McDermott will discuss the influence of the pope’s Jesuit formation and ministry on the way he exercises authority and leadership in our times.

McDermott A systematic theologian by training, Father McDermott is also a spiritual director and teacher of the Spiritual Exercises. For 16 years he was tertian director for the Maryland and New York provinces of the Society of Jesus. He is currently a special assistant to the president of Georgetown University and an adjunct professor of Catholic studies at Georgetown.

The program will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 10, in Biss Hall.

— Joan Guthrie

CCDOC.ORG

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Designed specifically with the mobile audience in mind, the CCDOC app is an integrated tool that compliments the website and provides a fast, easy resource to keep up with what’s going on across western North Carolina. With your support, CCDOC can strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty.

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Wharton retires as catechist CANDLER — Mary Ann Wharton recently retired after 48 years of service as a catechist at St. Joan of Arc Parish in Candler. Wharton has served in various capacities at the parish since 1966: as a catechist of young children, of youth, of adults, of catechumens and candidates in the RCIA. She is pictured (from left) with Dr. Cris V. Villapando, diocesan director of faith formation programs; Father Dean E. Cesa, pastor of St. Joan of Arc Church; and Pauline Tennant, another parishioner also actively involved in faith formation.

Eastern Catholic liturgy to be celebrated in Canton Oct. 11 CANTON — Father Mark Shuey, an Eastern Catholic priest from Cary, will celebrate Byzantine rite Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom at Immaculate Conception Mission Oct. 11. Immaculate Conception Mission is located at 42 Newfound St., Canton.

Father Mark will celebrate Vespers, or evening prayer, and Divine Liturgy, the Eastern Catholic equivalent of a Roman Catholic Mass, at the invitation of Father Christopher M. Riehl, pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton.

Vespers will begin at 4 p.m. and Divine Liturgy at 5 p.m. Participating in the Divine Liturgy will fulfill the Sunday obligation for Catholics of any rite. Both services will be celebrated in English.

Father Mark is pastor of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Cary and St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Charlotte. A priest of the Ukrainian Catholic eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, serving under Bishop John Bura, Father Mark is head of the deanery responsible for all Ukrainian Catholic parishes and missions

from North Carolina south to Florida.

The Catholic Church comprises 22 particular churches in full communion with one another: the Church of Rome and 21 Eastern Catholic churches. The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

— Deacon Kevin Bezner

Non-practicing Catholics encouraged back at High Point parish HIGH POINT — Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, located at 4154 Johnson St., encourages anyone not practicing their Catholic faith to a “Welcome Back Catholics” program starting Wednesday, Oct. 15. The group will meet once a week for six weeks, at 7:15 p.m.

Wednesdays. There is no obligation or cost, but people can find out what is new in the Church and learn how easy it is to come back. For more information, call Jan Hitch at 336-884-5097.

Knights fund two ultrasound machines for use in WNC CULLOWHEE — Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center in Cullowhee and Franklin recently received two new ultrasound machines thanks to donations and matching funds provided by the Knights of Columbus from western North Carolina parishes. Father Joshua Voitus, pastor of St. Mary Mother of God Parish in Sylva (pictured above, at the center in Cullowhee) and Father Tien Duong, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Franklin, blessed each machine.

Knights of Columbus representatives included State Deputy John Murray (also pictured above), Norm Stephen, Tony Tiller and more.

All in attendance were able to view a recorded ultrasound of a 6-week-old fetus that showed its heart beating. Also pictured are SMPCC’s CEO Jenny Golding, nurse Carol Mullarkey and medical director David Ramsey.

— Micki Kaye

20-, 30-something Catholics invited to series of events CHARLOTTE — During October, Catholic young adults will unite to pray, worship and learn together as one. ONE is a multi-parish initiative for 20- and 30-somethings in Charlotte. This event series will bring young adults from various parishes together as one body to grow in faith and fellowship. All Catholic young adults, single or married, are welcome. Each evening will include live bands, guest speakers and peer connections. Events include: kick-off with a live performance by Ike Ndolo and guest speaker Father Mike Martin, Catholic Campus minister at Duke University, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at St. Peter Church; “Uncharity,” a night with HOPE International with Charlotte/ONE at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21, at First United Methodist Church; finale with a live performance by Sara Scott and guest speaker Father John Hoover, of New Creation Monastery, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, at St. Peter Church; and night of ecumenical prayer and worship with other Christian young adults at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, at First United Methodist Church. There will also be casual meet-ups before and after each event for dinner or drinks at Vapiano.

For details, email Heather Moeller at heatherlmoeller@gmail.com, go to www. charlotteone.org/one, or look up “charlotteone” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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WINSTON-SALEM — Conventual Franciscan Father Carl Zdancewicz, pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem, presents the names of the Confirmation candidates to the assembly during the Rite of Continuing Conversion during a recent weekend Mass. The candidates are preparing for the sacrament of confirmation this October.

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First youths confirmed in new Jefferson church JEFFERSON — Seven young men and women from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Jefferson and five more youths from St. Frances of Rome Mission in Sparta received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Peter J. Jugis Sept. 30 during Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church. They were the first class confirmed at the new church in Jefferson.

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October 18 – St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte November 8 – St. Barnabas Catholic Church, Arden December 13 – Holy Family Catholic Church, Clemmons For more information visit our website or contact Batrice Adcock, MSN at 704.370.3230 or bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.

Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald

Candidates presented BOONE — Candidates for the sacrament of confirmation were presented at the 11 a.m. Mass Sept. 29 at St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone.

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Memorial golf tournament helps SPX endowment, youth group

All creatures great and small Blessing of the animals on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi Oct. 4

Ryan Murray Correspondent

HIGH POINT — The Chris Westmoreland First Annual Memorial Golf Tournament took place at Oak Hollow Golf Course in High Point July 11.

Chris Westmoreland was a parishioner at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. Chris was an active member of the St. Pius X Youth Group, and a scholarship student at North Carolina A&T University, majoring in computer engineering. In 2010, Chris began complaining of back pain and it was discovered that he had a rare spinal cancer known as anaplastic ependymoma. After multiple surgeries and treatments, Chris lost his courageous fight, passing away on July 11, 2013, at the age of 22.

To honor Chris, the Chris Westmoreland Endowment Fund was established with interest and monies going towards scholarships for a variety of activities such as Work Camp for active members of the St. Pius X Youth Group.

“One of the reasons we chose to give back to the Youth Group at St. Pius is because it was such an important part of Chris’s life,” said Cindy Westmoreland, Chris’s mother. “The endowment will be able to give back to the youth at St. Pius X forever and ever.”

Proceeds from the Chris Westmoreland Memorial Golf Tournament helped support the endowment fund and was a success in its first year.

The tournament featured a silent auction, multiple raffles as well as a day of fun and camaraderie on the golf course.

“We cleared a total of $8,361 after expenses,” Cindy said. “We had amazing support from our golfers and sponsors. The tournament will be an annual event and we are looking to continue to grow it even further.”

For further information about the Chris Westmoreland Endowment Fund, contact Cindy Westmoreland at 336-392-8639 or kandlekickers@aol.com.

Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald

Deacons Ron Sherwood and Robert Murphy at St. Mark Church in Huntersville stand outside the church to perform the annual St. Francis blessing of the animals in commemoration of St. Francis’ feast day. Several St. Mark parishioners brought dogs and other pets to be blessed.

Father Carmen Malacari, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Denver, blesses animals outside the church, in what’s become a popular tradition at the parish. Parishioners brought dogs, cats and a cockatiel.

Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

Father Paul Dechant, OSFS, pastor of Holy Cross Church, blesses George the guinea pig with its owner, Timothy Fernald. Father Dechant was joined at the ecumenical event in Kernersville by the Rev. Rick Carter, pastor of Main Street United Methodist Church (pictured greeting a dog). Forsyth County Humane Society, Fur Ever Friends of North Carolina, Petco (pictured above at their booth, with Pugsly and his owner Dede McCaslin) and local veterinarian Dr. Julie Dubak of Veterinary Hospital of Oak Ridge were also among the organizations on hand giving out free dog food, information and services to pets and their owners.

Father John Eckert, pastor, blessed animals gathered outside Sacred Heart Church and School in Salisbury.

Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald

Photo provided by Robin Fisher Photos by John Bunyea | Catholic News Herald

Sacred Heart students, including Paisley and Kenley Miller with their cat Bella, celebrated Blessing of the Animals Oct. 3 at their morning assembly. Father Eckert blessed all of the students’ favorite friends – dogs, cats, fish, turtles, hermit crabs, birds and guinea pigs. Also pictured are Karen Bartlett and her “grand-dog” Jack.

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

Sacerdote Vicentino suspendido por su orden religiosa se busca por cargos de abuso sexual CHARLOTTE — La Diócesis de Charlotte ha recibido un reporte de un sacerdote Vicentino acusado de un cargo de abuso sexual en contra de una niña. El sacerdote sirvió por cerca de un mes en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte en el 2008.

Augusto Cortez, de 50 años de edad, el quien había sido suspendido por su orden religiosa en el año 2008 a causa de un incidente previo de abuso sexual contra un menor de edad, es buscado por la policía de la ciudad de Nueva York por orden de arresto de abuso sexual en primer-grado contra una niña de siete años, de acuerdo a un reporte del periódico ‘Newsday’ del 23 de Septiembre.

De acuerdo a un comunicado del 24 de Septiembre hecho por la orden religiosa de Cortez, la Provincia Este de la Misión, basada en Filadelfia, se busca a Cortez por alegación de que el abusó sexualmente a la niña en Hampton Bays, N.Y., en Junio. Al presente, su paradero es desconocido.

Cortez sirvió en la Parroquia de Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe del 22 de Febrero, del 2008, al 27 de Marzo del 2008, pero durante ese breve periodo de estadía ahí, no se le asignó un

cargo específico en la parroquia. Ninguno de los dos alegados incidentes de abuso sexual ocurrió en Charlotte.

En el 2008, Cortez se declaró culpable de haber tocado forzosamente a una niña de 12 años en Brooklyn, N.Y. Cortez fue sentenciado a seis años de libertad condicional y fue suspendido de trabajar como sacerdote, desempeñar cualquier cargo de ministerio público sacerdotal y estar solo en la presencia de niños. “Además, todas sus actividades habían sido supervisadas y restringidas rigorosamente por su orden durante ese tiempo, y su Orden religiosa ha cooperado completamente con las autoridades en este caso,” de acuerdo a un anuncio leído a los miembros de Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe durante todas las Misas celebradas el 27 y 28 de Septiembre.

Feligreses que puedan proporcionar cualquier tipo de información acerca del caso se les pide que por favor llamen a la policía o comunicate con Cancillería de la Diócesis de Charlotte a chancery@charlottediocese.org.

— Catholic News Herald

Grupo de oración ‘María, Puerta del Cielo’ comienza en la Iglesia de San Pedro en Charlotte CHARLOTTE — El pasado Martes, 7 de Octubre, día de la fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, comenzó en la Iglesia de San Pedro, en Charlotte, el grupo de oración en español “María, Puerta del Cielo.”

Es el primer grupo de oración en español en esa parroquia. El grupo de oración fue una iniciativa de Maritza Brunetto, la cual es miembro de la Iglesia de San Pedro y actúa como coordinadora del grupo. “Realmente no hay muchos hispanos en St. Peter’s, pero la idea es que puedan acceder al grupo personas de habla castellana de otras parroquias de los alrededores,” dijo Brunetto.

Brunetto pertenece a un movimiento conocido como “La Escuela de María,” cuya espiritualidad “Se sostiene en dos grandes columnas: Jesús en el Santísimo Sacramento y Maria Madre Dolorosa.”

El grupo de oración tiene una duración de una hora, y se comienza con el rezo del Santo Rosario, seguido de una lectura y estudio de uno de los nueve libros de la Escuela de Maria.

El primer libro de estudio se llama, “Maria, Puerta del Cielo,” y por esa

razón, Brunetto decidió llamar al grupo de oración con ese nombre.

“Pertenezco a las Escuelas de Maria desde hace cuatro años y digamos que la iniciativa fue mía pero por inspiración de la Santísima Virgen mi Madre y Maestra,” agregó Brunetto.

La Escuela de María participó con una mesa en el Décimo Congreso Eucarístico celebrado en Charlotte el pasado Septiembre. Brunetto dijo que más de 20 personas del área de Charlotte se apuntaron para participar en la primera sesión del 7 de Octubre.

También se comenzará una Escuela de Maria en las áreas de Gastonia/ Lincolnton/Hickory, y en Huntersville/ Davidson área en un futuro próximo.

Para mayor información acerca de la Escuela de Maria en Charlotte contacte a Maritza Brunetto por e-mail en marvega11@yahoo.com; en el área de Gastonia/Lincolnton a Rosa Jiménez, en rosesjimenez@gmail.com y en Huntersville/Davidson a Jenny Vargas en jennyvarg@hotmail.com.

— Rico De Silva, Hispanic communications reporter

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28

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Attendees are encouraged to go to Confession before the retreat Bring a brown bag for lunch or you may visit nearby fast-food places

For inquiries, you may contact any of the following: Beth Manning (704) 365-6601 • Margaret Hoar (704) 230 - 4824 Agnes Schaper (704) 660 – 6862 • Sherr Siplon lovelyday.siplon@gmail.com

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iiiOctober 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

‘As I feel our baby girl kicking inside my womb throughout the day, it is a constant reminder to me of God’s love.

Holding out Hop

Triad couple trusts in God throughout cancer diagnosis, high-ris “However, God would soon reveal that He had other plans. Since we were using NFP (Natural Family Planning), we were more than a little surprised to find out we were pregnant with our 10th child.

After sharing our feelings of joy and excitement, we began to wonder GREENSBORO — Keith and Donielle Wilde know what it means how God could think we were able to handle more. But He never let to live ‘Jesus, I trust in You’ every day. Married for 17 years, parents us down before. He always provided for us in the past, and we were to nine children under the age of 12, and the owners of a concrete confident this time would be no different.” business in Summerfield, they rely heavily on their faith in Jesus So they accepted the unexpected pregnancy with joy and prepared Christ and the Church. to welcome their 10th child, a fifth daughter.

But shortly after Donielle became pregnant with her 10th child But when Donielle went to her OB-GYN for a routine ultrasound in April, doctors found that her breast cancer, which had been in at nine weeks into her pregnancy, life took another unexpected remission for the past nine years, had returned – and their faith was turn. The ultrasound revealed a large mass on one of her ovaries – a put to the test again. discovery they would have never made “if it weren’t for the new life “The beginning of this year was extremely difficult for Keith and growing right beside it.” me,” Donielle recalls. “The business, financial stressors, and 11 of “Once again God had shown His light for all to see what was us living under the same roof had us both feeling maxed out. In our happening in the darkness,” she notes with a smile. minds, we were sure that God had given us all that we could handle.

The tumor was diagnosed as cancerous. At 16 weeks safely into her pregnancy, Donielle underwent surgery to remove it.

“With God’s grace we never lost our peace in spite of all that was happening,” she says. “In fact, our faith grew stronger and our hope for a healthy pregnancy and delivery was in the forefront of our prayers, as well as all those praying for us.”

Tests revealed that the tumor was not ovarian cancer, but Stage IV breast cancer which had metastasized. The breast cancer she had successfully fought in 2005 had returned, and doctors told her that the hormones produced from her pregnancy were speeding its growth.

Both the ovarian specialist and the oncologist strongly advised Donielle to begin treatment immediately. She had two options: abort their daughter, then undergo surgery and chemotherapy, or undergo aggressive chemotherapy throughout her pregnancy and risk a possible miscarriage.

“It felt as if the moment was frozen in time,” Donielle says. “Looking back, it was as if we were in the midst of a spiritual battlefield, and the forces of good and evil were intently watching to see what our choice would be ... but in reality there was no hesitation in making our decision. We would not abort our child or place her in harm’s way for any reason.”

Keith recalls that day when they met with the oncologist and received the diagnosis.

“As a father it is very strange to sit across from someone, at arm’s length, and listen to that person tell you to kill your child. I know that is a very blunt description of what took place – but it is also accurate. I realized that he did not see it that way. The doctor is a good man, kind, a father. He is a competent professional and very dedicated to doing all he can to save Donielle’s life. But he simply did not see the child in her womb as a person. The pregnancy was a condition to be dealt with so that Donielle’s treatment could begin.

“I honestly don’t think he was prepared for our response. There were no tears, no breakdowns, no anger. We calmly accepted the news, and calmly refused the abortion. He spoke with us at length to make sure we understood the seriousness of the diagnosis, sharing survival (Above) Photo by lifetouch church directories and portraits; (Far Right) Photo provided by bobby singleton statistics and life expectancies for cases similar (Above) The Wilde family poses for St. Paul the Apostle Church’s parish directory earlier this year. (At far right) to ours.

Donielle Wilde is pictured earlier this month, just a couple of weeks before baby Sylvia Hope is expected to be “We never wavered.” delivered by C-section.

SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

‘Being Catholic is more than words to be spoken, more than books to read, more than places to go – it is how we are called to live our lives.’

Donielle Wilde

Pregnant with her 10th child and diagnosed with breast cancer

The chemoth recall, as the t there was just being effective “This too wa Keith says. “It focus on delive a four-month w delivery date, did not seem li wouldn’t even baby’s ultraso by without us So Donielle a until after thei “My doctors November, wh the start of an treatment will born.”

Keith explai result.

“It is unknow treatments off of prolonging unborn daugh chance to be b “How could in exchange fo years?” he said Donielle passe heard stories o What if that h They don’t k months since h remain optimi Dr. Lewis Li Donielle and t situations like “I have cared cancer during cancer, melan Lipscomb says “Donielle is her early in th ovary. We clos ensure that th also developed which she is re Despite the m is developing a progress.

“Aside from very well,” he Donielle is e November. Im with the gynec operation whic possible, any r

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October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

.’

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sk pregnancy

herapy-only option also had a down side, the Wildes treatment was not specific to her type of cancer and t as much a possibility of it harming the baby as of e. as unacceptable, we would not endanger our child,” t was then that we presented him with a third option: ering a healthy baby and then treat Donielle. It was window of time from diagnosis to earliest possible and even though cancer can be very unpredictable, this ike a very long time to delay treatment. After all, we n have known about the tumor if it had not been for the ound. Four months or four years could easily have gone ever knowing.” and Keith decided to postpone treatment for her cancer ir daughter is born. s, husband and I agreed to a C-section in early hich is four weeks prior to my due date, followed by ny suggested cancer treatments,” she says. “Further l be determined upon results of testing after she is

ins that for Donielle, all three options have the same

wn what will happen with her cancer, none of the fer any guarantee of success but only the possibility her life by an unknown amount of time.” But for their hter, Keith said, “only one option gives her the best born healthy and live out her natural life.” we end that life, a life of endless hope and possibility, or the mere chance of extending Donielle’s by a few d. “If we chose to abort the baby and sometime after ed away, both of their lives would be lost. We have all of cancer survivors who are miraculously cancer free. happened for us – but we had aborted our child?” know if Donielle’s cancer has spread in the intervening her last CT scan in June, but Donielle and her doctors istic. ipscomb Jr. is a pro-life OB-GYN who is caring for the unborn baby, and he has dealt with life-threatening e this before. d for courageous moms who have fought through g their pregnancies – including women with breast noma, lymphoma, cervical cancer and uterine cancer,” s. doing very well,” he said. “I performed an operation on he second trimester to remove the tumor involving her sely monitored her progesterone levels following that, to he pregnancy had adequate hormonal support. She has d a deep venous thrombosis (a blood clot in her leg), for eceiving blood thinner.” medical complications, Lipscomb says Donielle’s baby and growing normally, and he is pleased with her

m needing to be born a few weeks early, I expect her to do says. expected to deliver the baby via C-section in early mmediately following the delivery, Lipscomb, along cological oncology specialist, will perform a staging ch will hopefully help them to remove, as much as remaining tumor.

COUPLE, SEE page 14

tra!

ww.catholicnewsherald.com: Learn more about the patron saints of nant women, safe pregnancies and safe deliveries

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Respect Life Sunday Hundreds of people across the Diocese of Charlotte gathered Oct. 5 to kick off Respect Life Month and form “Life Chains” as a public witness for the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.

Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald

HUNTERSVILLE — A record crowd of more than 150 St. Mark parishioners lined up along Stumptown Road to participate in this year’s Life Chain in front of St. Mark Church. The crowd featured people of all ages with many of St. Mark’s ministries participating. The Life Chain was sponsored by St. Mark’s Respect Life Ministry, which held a contest for the parish ministry with the most participants. The winner was the Women of Joy Bible study group, which had more than 42 members and families.

Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald

SALISBURY — Parishioners of Sacred Heart Church gathered downtown on Main Street in Salisbury, led by Father John Eckert, pastor.

GREENSBORO — Hundreds of Catholics and Protestants came out to Greensboro’s 22nd annual Life Chain. Pictured is Annabelle Dierking, a member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

Photo provided by David Foppe John Bunyea | Catholic News Herald

KERNERSVILLE — Holy Cross parishioners (pictured from right) Cynthia Hatch, Scott Thomas, Elizabeth Thomas and Nicole Thomas gathered on Main Street for their Life Chain public vigil.

Della Sue Bryson | Catholic News Herald

SYLVA — Members of St. Mary, Mother of God Parish stand in prayerful witness in downtown Sylva.

COUPLE: FROM PAGE 13

“Donielle is a courageous and prayerful woman,” Lipscomb says. “She has faced multiple life-threatening and life-changing situations with genuine grace. She is an authentic witness for life to everyone she encounters.

“I personally have come to appreciate even more the sacrificial nature of motherhood,” he says, and he asks for everyone’s prayers for the Wilde family and the medical team, for the safe delivery of their unborn daughter, and for Donielle’s future cancer treatment.

Says Donielle, “We feel very hopeful that our little girl will be healthy and strong.

We’ve accepted in our hearts whatever it is God has willed for my life. Whether it be healing from cancer, strength in suffering or a peaceful death, my heart remains at peace knowing Christ and our Blessed Mother will give my family and me all the grace we need to live it out.”

Both Keith and Donielle say they thank God for the grace to help them persevere, giving them gifts beyond measure.

“We have always had a focus on our marriage, and that it consists of three persons – God being at our center,” Donielle says. “Allowing Christ to navigate

has blessed us with an incredible life of highs and lows, filled with countless blessings and tremendous sacrifice.

“By fully trusting in Christ, with the sacraments and the Holy Church it is possible to face all of life’s challenges with the peace of Our Lord.”

Keith says, “Of course, as Catholics our decision not to abort and to postpone treatment was rooted in our faith. We are pro-life by virtue of our Christianity.

We have placed God at the center of our marriage, and he has blessed us profoundly. Now he has given us a cross to bear – who are we to say no?”

As Catholics, the Wildes believe in protecting the sanctity of life at all stages – but it’s not just an abstract concept for them. It gets more real to them every day of this pregnancy.

“We have told all our children I have cancer and have explained to them the importance of prayer for our unborn baby and my health,” Donielle says. “We have also found this as a great opportunity to educate them more deeply on the sacredness of life in every circumstance.

We feel they are comforted by the example of peace and hope reflected in the way Keith and I are living out this unknown part of our life. Children often respond to crisis based on what they see others do.”

She and Keith believe that is just another reason faith and communication are vital in times like this. It is a way of teaching

their children virtue at a young age, setting the foundation for adulthood.

“As husband and father, I feel called to be a source of strength for my family,” Keith says. “In these times, everything feels ‘supercharged’ with meaning and added importance, and I often struggle with a need to convey that to my young children.

“At the same time, I don’t want them – or anyone who knows of our situation – to be fearful or terrified of what may happen.

Instead, I want them to pray and to be hopeful. I want them to be confident in God’s mercy and love. I want them to grow and strengthen their faith.”

“These little lives – all 10 of them – we feel are blessings from God,” Donielle says.

“As I feel our baby girl kicking inside my womb throughout the day, it is a constant reminder to me of God’s love.”

She recalls a recent homily from their pastor, Father Joseph Mack at St. Paul the Apostle Church, in which he encouraged parishioners to “go into the vineyards.”

“What does that mean? It means go forth and live the Gospel, do works in faith striving to imitate Christ,” Donielle says.

“Being Catholic is more than words to be spoken, more than books to read, more than places to go – it is how we are called to live our lives.

“What better way to imitate Christ than by repeating Our Lord’s own words, ‘This is My Body which I have given up for you’ and then living out those words in love, for

Did you know? n Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women, and one in eight women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

— Source: National Breast Cancer Foundation,

Him, with joy in our hearts?”

Keith adds, “Someday, whether Donielle is here with us or not, everyone will be able to meet our little girl. She will grow and do incredible things, she will love and be loved and she will be a part of this world. We will sing her happy birthdays and wish her Merry Christmases, she will learn to crawl and walk and run. She will bring into the world gifts given to her by God. Who knows what those gifts may be?”

Donielle believes each of us needs to challenge ourselves: “What is God is asking of me, personally, to better live out the Gospels? Whatever the answer may be, I ask you to fearlessly give God your ‘fiat,’ your ‘yes’.”

The Wildes have said “yes” to God’s latest gift in their lives, and no matter what may come in November, they are confident that their faith will keep their family strong.

Their baby daughter – whom they have named Sylvia Hope – is already proof of that.

Our schools

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

15

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

Charlotte Catholic students donate blood CHARLOTTE — Members of Charlotte Catholic High School’s Latin Club collected 89 units of blood to be distributed to local hospitals, during a blood drive Sept. 23. Latin Club students organized and ran the daylong blood drive.

— Suzanne Cona

St. Michael students form living rosary GASTONIA — After Mass Sept.

26, all of the students, faculty and staff at St. Michael School followed Father Matthew Buettner, pastor, to the school’s field to form and pray a “Living Rosary.” Father Buettner began the rosary and eighth-graders had speaking parts to begin each decade. After each prayer, one balloon was released. The purpose of the Living Rosary is a way to bring people to a prayerful way of life.

— Patricia Burr

Kirsh to head national guitar curriculum task force KERNERSVILLE — Dr. Alan Hirsch, chair of the music department at Bishop McGuinness High School, has been invited by the American String Teachers Association to head the Guitar Education task force to develop a national standardized guitar curriculum.

The ASTA is a national Hirsh membership organization for string and orchestra teachers and players, helping them to develop and refine their careers. Hirsch teaches Orchestra, Guitar, AP Music Theory, Electronic Music, Chorus, Honors Chorus and directs the a cappella group Voice Crossings at Bishop McGuinness High. In addition, he is an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University. He has composed and arranged extensively both in solo, ensemble, and orchestra mediums.

His original works appear in Mel Bay publications such as “Twenty Etudes in Fixed Positions,” Aaron Shearer’s “Learning the Classic Guitar Part II” and “New Music for Classic Guitar.”

— Shawn Trego

Bishop McGuinness students help Ronald McDonald House KERNERSVILLE — The Bishop McGuinness High School Ronald McDonald House Club was recently recognized by the Ronald McDonald House of Winston-Salem and their Executive Director Charles Kraft for their donation of $1,000. Bishop McGuinness students involved in the club raised all of the money included in the donation. The money will afford families who have children staying at Brenner’s Children’s Hospital to experience the Winston-Salem Ronald McDonald House through family support programs such as Family Bingo, Pet Therapy, and Arts For Life Programs.

Celebrating the feast of St. Matthew CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew School celebrated its patron’s feast day Sept.

19 with the school’s annual Balloon Derby. This year, Principal Kevin O’Herron also participated in the “Ice Bucket Challenge.” The Thursday before the festivities, students brought in a donation for the locallybased Joe Martin ALS Foundation in exchange for the privilege to dress out of uniform and a raffle ticket for the opportunity to dump a bucket of ice water on him. One student per grade was chosen to dump a bucket.

Pictured is first-grader Meg Tebben.

Photos provided by Kevin O’Herron

— Jeff Stoller

BMHS celebrates Field Day KERNERSVILLE — A long-standing annual community building tradition at Bishop McGuinness High School was observed again this year Aug. 29, when students gathered at the end of Field Day to celebrate the beginning of the school year. The event was organized by the school’s student council.

— Tracy Shaw and Jeff Stoller We welcome your school’s news! Please email news and photos to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.

Photo provided by Karen L. Hornfeck

A delicious science lesson GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School fourth-graders recently studied the different phases of the moon using Oreo cookies. Pictured are OLG students Lindsey Ramsey, Sophia Wolff and Teresa Graves with their delicious phases of the moon display.

Mix 16

catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

marriage, and remaining open and faithful to God’s plan, written and directed by Richard Ramsey. A singer-songwriter (Alan Powell) is looking for his big break and trying to escape the long shadow of his famous musician father. His love for his future wife (Ali Faulkner) inspires the song of the film’s title. It becomes a breakout hit, and a worldwide concert tour is arranged. The young couple’s marriage is challenged by fame, separation, and temptation, especially in the form of the band’s new member (Caitlin Nicol-Thomas). Hollywood can take a lesson from an entertaining film which is openly and happily Christian in its outlook, and eager to remind viewers about forgiveness and redemption, as well as the sacredness of married love. Adulterous situations, suicide, and drug use.

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

‘Gone Girl’ A jaundiced view of marriage permeates this abrasive drama in which an apparently happy suburban couple’s dark secrets are revealed after the wife (Rosamund Pike) mysteriously disappears and all clues seem to suggest that her husband (Ben Affleck) has murdered her. Fortunately for him, the lead investigator (Kim Dickens) on the case is reluctant to jump to conclusions and his twin sister (Carrie Coon) proves steadfast in her support despite the mounting negative evidence. Profanity, pervasive rough and much crude language.

CNS: 0(morally offensive); MPAA: R

Additional reviews:

‘The Song’ The Old Testament’s Song of Songs is the inspiration for this modern-day parable on love,

n ‘Annabelle’: CNS: A-III (adults) ; MPAA: R n ‘The Equalizer’: CNS: 0 (morally offensive); MPAA: R n ‘The Boxtrolls’: CNS: A-II (adults); MPAA: PG

On TV n Friday, Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Walk to Mary.” Bob Dolan joins hundreds of pilgrims for the annual 21-mile Walk to Mary, beginning at St. Norbert Abbey’s National Shrine of St. Joseph and ending at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wis. n Saturday, Oct. 11, 10:30 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Wilfrid.” The life of St. Wilfrid, an English saint of the 600s who became known as the Apostle of Sussex. n Sunday, Oct. 12, 9:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Our Lady of Fatima: International Rosary and Candlelight Procession.” The candlelight vigil and procession at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. n Monday, Oct. 13, 5 a.m. (EWTN) “Holy Mass in Honor of Our Lady of Fatima.”

The Eucharistic liturgy for the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, broadcast live from her principal shrine in Portugal. n Monday, Oct. 13, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Christopher Columbus: Faithful Christ Bearer.” Special feature on the life of Italian-born explorer Christopher Columbus, whose first name meant ‘Christ-bearer’ and how he believed he was not only destined for expeditions but to spread the Gospel in far-off lands. n Tuesday, Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Hound of Heaven.” A lively documentary presenting the life and

work of English poet Francis Thompson and the back story of his famous work “The Hound of Heaven,” a poem that has captured hearts and minds around the world for more than 100 years. n Wednesday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Armenia: A Corner in Heaven.” Sister Arousiag Sajonian, director of the Our Lady of Armenia Centre, brings faith, hope and practical solutions to Catholics living in a depressed region, particularly for the children of Armenia. n Friday, Oct. 17, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Hour Has Come to Reap: The Persecuted Church.” Documentary about the harsh reality of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan, where persecutions and martyrdoms are widespread. n Saturday, Oct. 18, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “Life is Worth Living: Our Lady of Fatima.”

Archbishop Fulton Sheen states that the time period in which the events of Fatima took place was almost the birthday of the modern world, where the forces of good and evil seemed to reach their peak. n Wednesday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Iraq: Land of Saints and Martyrs.” Ironically a country rich in Christian history, where Sts. Thomas and Thaddeus brought the faith to the Assyrians and spawned thousands of churches and monasteries, the persecuted Church in Iraq now pleads for support to survive.

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Cover letter and resume must be submitted electronically by 5 pm Friday, October 24, 2014 to sabeason@charlottediocese.org No telephone calls or email inquiries please.

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Successful candidate must hold at least an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, possess strong communications skills, and have experience promoting the Church’s call for the protection and respect of human life. Frequent travel within diocese, and weekend and evening work,

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October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

ANNIVERSARY: FROM PAGE 5

He grew up in St. Joseph Parish in Oneida and he shared that their pastor, Father John P. Lauer, made a great impression upon him with his exemplary life of service to the Church. He said the Daughters of Charity in their “big white hats who were afraid of rain storms” taught him the love of St. Vincent de Paul, another of his role models.

“St. Vincent de Paul understood the love you must have in your heart and your head that you must have for the poor ... understanding poverty and all the subtle ways as a quiet servant to try somehow to make a difference in the life of the poor.

I’ve never forgotten it.”

Monsignor McSweeney recounted that he and Father O’Rourke wanted to be missionaries in a time when segregation, the Vietnam War and changes within the Church were taking place. They were sent to Alabama to serve one summer.

“Here we were with a Chevy with New York license plates going to Holy Trinity, Alabama,” he reminisced, mentioning also that the Trinitarian Sisters who were stationed there made a great impression on them.

He also shared about his dear friend Phil Rizzo, now deceased, who was in other people’s eyes “a total reject.”

“I loved Phil Rizzo. He taught me to have a personality of confidence. No one wanted anything to do with him. He had paralysis.

I taught him to read. Why am I saying this?

God always puts someone in our path to give us a change in life.”

He also credited Bishop Begley, the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont and Father O’Rourke as significant people in his life.

The couples from St. Matthew Church who were invited to participate in the 40th anniversary Mass all felt blessed to be a part of this special celebration.

Paul and Geraldine Mitchell, longtime St. Matthew parishioners, were on hand for the Mass and renewed their vows. They

FOUNDATION: FROM PAGE 3

said Judy Smith, diocesan director of gift planning. “It is very gratifying now to have 224 endowment funds in the foundation – thanks to the generosity of these many forward-focused donors.”

Those who make a planned gift to the diocese or any of its parishes, schools, ministries or agencies become members of the Catholic Heritage Society. The society is the diocese’s way of honoring the Christian generosity of Catholic friends who are providing for the future of the Church.

There are currently more than 900 members of the Catholic Heritage Society in the diocese, many of whom are leaving

were thankful to be a part of Monsignor McSweeney’s anniversary.

“That’s typical Monsignor – he is so concerned about people and is concerned about his parish,” Paul Mitchell said. “He’s a super priest.”

“It was such an honor,” Geraldine Mitchell said. “The more I know him, the more I love him.”

Tom and Anne Duffy have known Monsignor McSweeney for two decades.

“It was a very memorable occasion because we are celebrating along with him,” Tom Duffy said.

“It was just a treat,” Anne Duffy said. “It was an unexpected bonus (to renew our vows).”

Bruce and Vicki Hull are also married 40 years and joined the parish in 1999. They have four children and seven grandchildren.

“It was amazing (to celebrate with Monsignor McSweeney),” Bruce Hull said.

“It was special,” Vicki Hull added.

At the conclusion of Mass Richard Caron, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 10852 at St. Matthew Church, made a special presentation to Monsignor McSweeney.

“We would like to present to Monsignor McSweeney in recognition and with wholehearted appreciation of his 40 years as a Roman Catholic priest, this St. Joseph statue and a life-sized St. Joseph statue to be placed on the wall in the sanctuary as soon as it arrives from Italy,” Caron said. As he gave the statue to the beaming pastor, the congregation burst into applause.

“Every assignment I have been in has been unique and different,” Monsignor McSweeney said. “I learned something a long time ago in all the different places I’ve lived in life and worked in life that I really believe in the saying, ‘Jesus, I trust in You.’ I also believe that as I go through life, I really look for nothing and from it I gain everything.”

As Monsignor McSweeney made his way up the center aisle of St. Matthew Church at the conclusion of Mass behind the Knights of Columbus and the large number of priests, deacons and altar servers who had joined the celebration, one thing stood out: his unmistakable Irish grin.

gifts to the foundation in their wills.

Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development, said he is grateful for the generosity of the people of the diocese over the past 20 years.

“More and more people in the diocese are setting up endowments in their estate plans to leave a legacy to what is important to them during their lifetimes – their Catholic faith. Many of those people are setting up named endowments to remember special loved ones,” Kelley said. “What a wonderful way to make an impact on the future of our diocese and its parishes, schools, agencies and ministries. The good they do will go on in perpetuity. For that, we are grateful.”

For more information about establishing an endowment to benefit the Church in western North Carolina, contact Judy Smith at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org.

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Principal - Charlotte Catholic High School Charlotte, North Carolina The Diocese of Charlotte in Western North Carolina is seeking a loyal and practicing Catholic with the necessary spiritual and intellectual formation as well as academic credentials and experience to be the Principal of Charlotte Catholic High School (CCHS) in Charlotte, NC. CCHS has a student population of approximately 1,350.

The candidate must be strongly committed to and enthusiastic about Catholic Schools and their mission; a mission-driven, visionary, energetic, innovative, confident and collaborative leader who inspires cooperation and must respect, appreciate, and uphold the teachings, principles, legislation, policies and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church in both word and example. A Master’s degree in educational administration , or a Master’s degree in education with appropriate credits in administration is required. Experience as a principal at the high school level is required.

For more information and consideration, please send resume and a cover letter with salary requirements to: Theresa Ramirez Catholic Schools Office or catholicschools@charlottediocese.org 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 Applications accepted through October 29, 2014

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Supreme Court declines to review rulings overturning same-sex ‘marriage’ bans N.C. bishops express disappointment, continue to affirm traditional marriage David Hains and Patricia Zapor Catholic News Herald and Catholic News Service

CHARLOTTE — The clock may be running out on the traditional definition of marriage in North Carolina.

Rulings that overturned five states’ bans on samesex “marriage” will be allowed to take effect, after the Supreme Court declined Oct. 6 to consider appeals of seven lower court rulings that such prohibitions are unconstitutional.

Another half-dozen states in the same appellate court jurisdictions are also likely to begin allowing such marriages. But the high court’s refusal to hear the cases does not translate into a nationwide mandate for all states to follow – and that uncertainty has traditional marriage supporters in North Carolina wondering what might happen next for the state’s constitutional amendment defining marriage as between only one man and one woman.

A Greensboro federal district court judge has given lawyers until Oct. 16 to file briefs on a North Carolina case challenging the state’s constitutional amendment.

In the short run, the action by Judge William Osteen of Greensboro is the only glimmer of hope for preserving traditional marriage in North Carolina. But even the judge’s order gave supporters of marriage little hope for a reversal. North Carolina falls under the same appellate court jurisdiction as Virginia, one of the cases the Supreme Court declined to hear. That move cleared the way for Virginia to overturn its ban on gay “marriages,” and presumably cases pending in North Carolina will be decided in line with Virginia’s precedent.

The judge’s order stated, “However, there are at least two issues that remain for resolution by this court; first, what further action by this court is necessary with respect to those issues arguably resolved by Bostic (the Virginia case) and second, how this court should proceed with respect to a resolution of the adoption laws at issue in this case.”

The cases before the Supreme Court included a mixture of state constitutional amendments like North Carolina’s and legislation that banned same-sex “marriages,” as well as appeals by couples who were married in other states and sought recognition of their unions by the states where they live. The court issued the orders without comment.

The high court’s action effectively allows same-sex “marriages” to begin in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin as soon as lower courts lift temporary stays that were imposed while appeals went to the Supreme Court. Six other states within the same three federal circuit court jurisdictions would fall under those appellate rulings, presumably bringing to 30 the number of states allowing same-sex couples to wed.

Two years ago, when 1.3 million North Carolina voters affirmed traditional marriage in a statewide ballot initiative, fewer than 10 states allowed same-sex couples to wed.

North Carolina’s two Catholic bishops reacted with disappointment to the high court’s ruling. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh issued a joint statement through Catholic Voice North Carolina, their non-partisan public policy advocacy organization.

“Millions of Americans have looked to the Supreme Court to put this issue to rest by supporting marriage as being between one man and one woman. We know from our Catholic teaching that marriage is a permanent, faithful and fruitful covenant joining a man and a woman.

It is our duty to continue to affirm marriage in this way, and it is our hope that the Supreme Court will ultimately agree,” their statement read.

The disappointment was echoed in a statement from the chairmen of two committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CNS | Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

Visitors stand in line for oral arguments on the first day of the term of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington Oct. 6. Rulings that overturned state bans on same-sex marriage in five states will be allowed to take effect, after the court declined to consider appeals of lower court rulings that such prohibitions are unconstitutional.

“All of these state laws were democratically enacted, including most by the direct vote of large majorities within just the last decade,” said the Oct. 6 statement from Bishop Richard J. Malone of Buffalo, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. “Millions of Americans had looked to the court with hope that these unjust judicial decisions might be reversed.”

“The Supreme Court’s action fails to resolve immediately the injustice of marriage redefinition, and therefore should be of grave concern to our entire nation,” the bishops said.

While Catholic teaching opposes discrimination against homosexuals, the Church holds that homosexual acts are always immoral and that marriage can only be a union between one man and one woman.

In a teleconference Oct. 6, Ted Olsen, former U.S. solicitor general and now attorney for the Virginia samesex couple who sued for the right to marry, said the court’s decision not to take up any of the cases means a faster track to more states permitting same-sex “marriages.” Had the court accepted any of the seven cases, it would have meant a final ruling from the Supreme Court would likely come in the spring.

The Family Research Council, which opposes samesex “marriage,” said in a statement from president Tony Perkins that the court’s action is “in part, an indication that those on the court who desire to redefine natural marriage recognize the country will not accept a Roe v.

Wade type decision on marriage.”

While proponents of same-sex unions were claiming victory this week in the Supreme Court’s decision to bypass the cases, the issue may not be completely resolved until it comes back before the high court.

The justices’ decision not to take up any of the cases came as a surprise to legal observers. The high court typically does not take up cases with nationwide implications unless there are conflicting lower court

rulings. But in each of the seven cases, both the winning and losing sides had asked the court to review the lower court decisions, to help clarify the overall situation.

When the Supreme Court justices consider whether to take a case, it takes four votes to put an appeal on the docket. Four justices dissented from the 2013 rulings that overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman.

After the U.S. v. Windsor ruling, attorneys general in some states declined to defend their bans on same-sex “marriage,” while others vigorously fought to keep them intact.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th, 6th, 9th and 11th circuits all have same-sex “marriage” appeals on the docket. The Supreme Court’s decision not to take up the cases gives the appellate courts little new information on which to base their rulings, so it’s possible that a split between circuits could still develop.

Elon University law professor Scott Gaylord noted that a federal district court in Louisiana affirmed that state’s voter-approved ban on same-sex “marriage,” and the appeals of same-sex “marriage” rulings pending elsewhere leave final resolution of the legal disputes in doubt. According to Gaylord, if one of those circuit courts upholds such a ban, the Supreme Court is likely to take up the issue. Additionally, he noted, “any intervening vacancy on the Court could alter the judicial landscape significantly.”

Father John Putnam, who as judicial vicar leads the Charlotte diocese’s marriage tribunal, recently stated that even as the courts upend natural law and thousands of years of precedent with the traditional form of marriage, holding onto core Catholic beliefs is critical.

Said Father Putnam, “Sadly, too many people already believe that this is a ‘lost cause.’ This is foolish, and it is something that we must keep defending and fighting for. The battle for the protection of innocent human life is ongoing, so too should be our defense of marriage as defined by God.”

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In Brief Feds grant $4.2M in funds for legal aid to unaccompanied minors WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the first time, federal funding will help pay for unaccompanied minor immigrants to get legal assistance, including through Catholic agencies that will receive a little more than half of $4.2 million in grants for this fiscal year. An additional $4.8 million will be allocated for the legal program for the 2015 fiscal year. The Obama administration also announced plans in early October to allow minors to apply for refugee status from within El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, intended to prevent them from making the dangerous trek to enter the United States illegally. Tens of thousands of such minors have done so in the last year, overwhelming the U.S. Border Patrol and the Office of Refugee Resettlement under Health and Human Services, which assumes care for unaccompanied minors after the Border Patrol processes them. The legal assistance and refugee programs were among the proposals supported by Catholic agencies and others as a way of addressing a surge of minors who have been coming into the country without an adult relative or guardian.

Kristyn Peck, associate director of children’s services for Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, told Catholic News Service that the legal assistance grant “is huge, precedent-setting.” Because immigration law violations are civil offenses, not crimes, there is no requirement to provide people facing deportation with lawyers if they cannot afford one. Peck cited a U.N. study that found at least 60 percent of the unaccompanied minors from Central America are eligible to be considered for some kind of relief from deportation. Among the possibilities are asylum, protection as victims of human trafficking or victims of violence and a program for minors who have been abandoned by their parents.

Okla. archbishop calls Holy Hour ‘powerful witness of faith’ OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma City’s archbishop called the overflow crowd at a Sept.

21 eucharistic Holy Hour “a powerful witness of faith.” More than 600 people filled St. Francis of Assisi Church for the prayer service led by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley. Another 1,400 people stood in overflow areas and outdoor prayer gardens to listen to his homily over loud speakers. The Holy Hour was celebrated as a response to a Satanic “black mass” held the same day in a downtown arena. The more than 2,000 Catholics at St. Francis of Assisi also participated in a Eucharistic procession through the streets of Oklahoma City, led by Archbishop Coakley carrying a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament. “I was very grateful for the overwhelming support and prayers we received from all over the country, in fact, from all over the world,” he said in a statement afterward.

“The Holy Hour and procession at St. Francis of Assisi Parish was a very public and positive witness to the beauty, truth and goodness of our Catholic faith in the face of an unexpected challenge. No doubt great fruit and many graces will come forth as result of this ordeal.” In early August, Archbishop Coakley asked Catholics to offer prayer and penance to prevent the Satanic group Dakhma of Angra Mainyu from holding the “black Mass,” which took place in a conference room at the Civic Center Music Hall.

Evidence collected for Father Tolton’s sainthood cause heads to Vatican CHICAGO — With prayers, songs and sealing wax, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago formally closed the investigation into the life and virtues of Father Augustus Tolton Sept. 29 in a ceremony in the St. James Chapel at the Archbishop Quigley Center. The prayer service marked the binding and sealing of the dossier local research aimed at making Father Tolton, the first African-American diocesan priest, a saint. Cardinal George opened the cause in 2010. Now the cause for Father Tolton’s canonization moves to the Vatican, where the documents collected by supporters of his cause in the Archdiocese of Chicago will be analyzed, bound into a book called a “position,” or official position paper, and evaluated by theologians, and then, supporters hope, passed on to the pope, who can declare Tolton “venerable” if the pope determines he led a life of heroic virtue.

Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry, the postulator of the cause, said the collected evidence – which includes everything from newspaper articles to correspondence to eyewitness testimonies – indicates that is the case. “Everything in the record of the case demonstrates that we had a saint among us and we hardly noticed,” Bishop Perry said. “Father Tolton leaves behind a shining example of perseverance.”

Life of newly beatified N.J. sister ‘Pro-life mom’ from Fla. honored called ‘recipe for holiness’ for campaign for ethical vaccines NEWARK, N.J. — More than 2,200 people packed the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark Oct. 4 to celebrate the first beatification liturgy in the United States. Sister Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, a Sister of Charity of St. Elizabeth from Bayonne, was given the title “blessed” in a joyful ceremony. Blessed Miriam Teresa died in 1927 at age 26. Pope Francis paved the way for her beatification in December 2013 when he accepted that, through her intercession, Michael Mencer, a young New Jersey boy, was cured in 1963 of blindness caused by macular degeneration.

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of God for Life, which is considered a world leader in the campaign for ethical vaccines and medicines that do not use cell lines derived from aborted human fetuses. Her organization also leads consumer campaigns against corporations that fund research that utilizes any human tissue or cell lines derived from embryos or use such cell lines in their products.

Vinnedge said she was upset when she learned about embryonic stem-cell research back in 1999, and reading about that issue led her to discover that some vaccines were being produced from cell lines derived from aborted fetuses. Knowing her children had had such vaccines, she said, “I made a promise to God that I would do everything I could” to stop the development of vaccines. The website for Vinnedge’s organization, www.cogforlife. org, lists close to 20 vaccines the group says were developed by means the Catholic Church considers morally illicit.

Father Groeschel, beloved author, retreat master and preacher, dies TOTOWA, N.J. — Father Benedict J. Groeschel, a founder of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a leading pro-life figure and popular author, retreat master and preacher, died Oct. 3 at St. Joseph’s Home for the elderly in Totowa after a long illness. He was 81. A funeral Mass was celebrated Oct. 10 at Newark’s cathedral basilica, followed by burial at Most Blessed Sacrament Friary in Newark. “The Catholic Church and the Franciscan family lost a giant today,” said an Oct. 3 statement issued by Father Groeschel’s community.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Debi Vinnedge of Largo, a self-proclaimed “pro-life mom,” received the “Evangelium Vitae” award for outstanding service to the pro-life movement during the Catholic Medical Association’s 83rd annual education conference. Vinnedge is founder and executive director of the nonprofit Children

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Our world 20

catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Blessed married couples, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, highlighted at synod Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The first two married couples beatified as couples and St. Thérèse of Lisieux were being honored during the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family.

The relics of St. Thérèse, her parents Blessed Louis and Marie Zelie Guerin Martin, and Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi, were to be in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major for the duration of the synod Oct. 5-19.

Before the synod’s opening Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Oct. 5, Pope Francis venerated the relics, which were brought to St. Peter’s just for the Mass. Their presence and prominence underlined the importance of St. Thérèse and the blessed spouses for today’s families.

Blessed Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi became the first married couple to be beatified together; declaring them blessed 2001, Pope St. John Paul II called them models of holiness for all Christian spouses.

The husband was an Italian civil servant, a Church activist and promoter of social welfare, who eventually became the country’s assistant attorney general. He died in 1951. When his wife was pregnant with their fourth child, doctors told her that she would die unless she aborted the baby.

The couple decided they couldn’t do that; a daughter was born in 1914 and the mother lived another 51 years.

All four children became priests or religious. Testifying to their parents’ holiness, as adults they said the couple seemed like ordinary parents at the time – they suffered through hardships and disease, argued a little, but mostly treated each other with a deep respect and love.

When Pope St. John Paul announced in 1997 he would declare St. Thérèse of Lisieux a doctor of the Church, he said that the humble and poor “Thérèse shows the ‘little way’ of children who confide in the Father with ‘bold trust.’ The heart of her message, her spiritual attitude, is for all the faithful.”

She became known as St. Thérèse the Little Flower because she referred to herself as a little, not particularly important flower in God’s garden. Pope Francis has said he has a particular devotion to this French saint, who died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 in 1897. Her parents were beatified in 2008, making them the second married couple to be beatified as a couple. They were also the first parents of a saint to be beatified, highlighting the important role parents play in their children’s human and spiritual upbringing.

The “secret of success” of the Martins’ Christian life, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins said at their beatification Mass, had been their readiness to “walk humbly with God in seeking the advice of the Lord,” while also “placing all aspects of their lives in harmony with Church teachings.”

In a “Letter to Families” in 1994, Pope St. John Paul said many married couples display heroic holiness “even if they are not well known or have not been proclaimed saints by the Church.” Even during the most difficult circumstances, the family is always the “seed bed” or “nursery of holiness,” he said.

Pope tells bishops at family synod to speak fearlessly, listen humbly Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis opened the first working session of an extraordinary Synod of Bishops Oct. 6, urging participants to speak fearlessly and listen humbly during two weeks of discussion of the “pastoral challenges of the family.”

Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest then outlined some of the major challenges the bishops would discuss, including such controversial topics as cohabitation, divorce, artificial birth control and the impact of social and economic pressures.

The Oct. 5-19 synod is not supposed to reach definitive conclusions but set the agenda for a larger world synod in October 2015, which will make recommendations to the pope.

“Let nobody say: ‘I can’t say this; they’ll think such-and-such about me,’” Pope Francis told more than 180 bishops and more than 60 other synod participants. “Everyone needs to say what one feels duty-bound in the Lord to say: without respect for human considerations, without fear. And, at the same time, one must listen with humility and welcome with an open heart what the brothers say.”

Similarly, in his homily for the opening Mass of the two-week synod, Pope Francis warned participants against the temptations of hypocrisy, pride and greed, urging them instead to serve the church with “freedom, creativity and hard work.”

“We can thwart God’s dream if we fail to let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit,” the pope said Oct. 5, during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. “The Spirit gives us that wisdom which surpasses knowledge, and enables us to work generously with authentic freedom and humble creativity.”

Pope Francis’ homily drew on the day’s reading from the Gospel of Matthew (21: 33-43), in which Jesus describes the people of God as a vineyard, farmed by tenants who betray its owner and seek to take it over for themselves. Addressing his words to the 184 bishops and 69 others who would take part in the synod, the pope said Jesus aimed his parable at the “chief priests and the elders of the people, in other words the experts, the managers,” whose job it was to “nurture, tend and protect” God’s people.

“We are all sinners, and we too can be tempted to take over the vineyard, because of that greed which is always present in us human beings. God’s dream always clashes with the hypocrisy of some of his servants,” the pope said. “Synod assemblies are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas, or to see who is more intelligent. They are meant to better nurture and tend the Lord’s vineyard, to help realize His dream, His loving plan for His people.

In this case the Lord is asking us to care for the family, which has been from the beginning an integral part of His loving plan for humanity.”

Later on the first working day of the synod, Cardinal Erdo, who as the synod’s relator has the task of guiding the discussion and synthesizing its results, gave an hour-long speech that drew on written statements submitted in advance by the synod fathers and on responses to a well-publicized questionnaire sent to the world’s bishops last November.

He said the synods would seek to develop shared pastoral “guidelines to help those living in difficult situations,” so that individual bishops would not resort to the “improvisations of a do-it-yourself ministry.”

“What is being discussed at this synod of an intense pastoral nature are not doctrinal issues, but the practical ones, nevertheless inseparable from the truths of the faith,” the cardinal said.

Among the difficult family situations he identified was that of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, whose predicament Pope Francis has said exemplifies a general need for mercy in the Church today.

The cardinal made only an oblique reference to what is sure to be one the synod’s most discussed topics: a controversial proposal

by German Cardinal Walter Kasper that would make it easier for such Catholics to receive Communion, even if they do not obtain annulments of their first, sacramental marriages.

He focused instead on the possibility of streamlining and simplifying the annulment process – the task of a special commission Pope Francis established in late August – and noted proposals to allow bishops to declare marriages null as an administrative action, without holding a trial before a Church

CNS | Paul Haring

Family members leave after presenting offertory gifts to Pope Francis during a Mass to open the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 5. tribunal.

“Under the influence of the existing culture, many reserve the right not to observe conjugal fidelity, to divorce and remarry if the marriage might not be successful, or not to open themselves to life,” the cardinal said, citing attitudes that could render many marriages invalid.

While he reiterated Catholic teaching that “a second marriage recognized by the Church is impossible while the first spouse is alive,” the cardinal said it would be important to study the “practice of some of the Orthodox churches, which allows for the possibility of a second or third marriage.”

Noting that Catholics increasingly choose to marry civilly or live together without marrying at all, Cardinal Erdo said the Church should “draw close” to such couples in order to lead them on the “path toward celebrating the sacrament of marriage.” He said doing that would require the Church to recognize the “best part of these situations which oftentimes is not understood or capable of being grasped.”

“When these relationships are obviously stable in a publicly recognized legal bond, they are characterized by deep affection, display a parental responsibility towards their offspring and an ability to withstand trials,” he said.

On the subject of artificial birth control, the cardinal emphasized that “openness to life is an essential part, an intrinsic requirement of conjugal love,” but said that families cannot be expected to live up to that value without an increased expression of “diffused and concrete solidarity” from the wider community, including the Church.

“The tendency toward the privatization of love needs to be overcome,” he said. “The Western world risks making the family a reality entrusted exclusively to the choices of the individual, totally detached from a regulatory and institutional framework.”

Cardinal Erdo highlighted social and economic pressures on the family, an area that bishops from developing countries are likely to emphasize.

“We are not dealing with only problems involving individual behavior but the structures of sin hostile to the family, in a world of inequality and social injustice, of consumerism, on the one hand, and poverty, on the other,” the cardinal said, noting in particular the weight of “increasing job insecurity” and migration.

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In Brief Vatican summit says extremists must be stopped with sanctioned force VATICAN CITY — Extremist groups in the Middle East, including the Islamic State, must be stopped with sanctioned military force and through dialogue, said a Vatican statement. “One cannot be silent, nor (can) the international community remain inactive, in the face of the massacre of persons,” said the statement issued Oct. 4 at the end of a threeday Vatican summit on the plight of Christians in the Middle East. “The participants at the meeting reaffirmed that it is licit to stop the unjust aggressor, always in accordance with international law,” it said.

Pope Francis convened the Vatican summit Oct. 2-4 because of his growing concern and desire to do something about the dramatic situation Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities are facing in the region. Those called to the summit included the seven Vatican nuncios based in Syria, Jordan-Iraq, Egypt, Israel-Palestinian territories, Iran, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as top officials from the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Vatican’s permanent representatives at the United Nations in New York and Geneva, as well as from Vatican offices dealing with issues concerning refugees, charitable aid and Eastern Churches.

A Vatican communique marking the end of the talks said, “The activity of some extremist groups is a cause of grave concern, particularly the so-called ‘Islamic State,’ whose violence cannot be met with indifference.”

Pope Francis criticized arms trafficking as the root cause of many problems in the region, speaking about his worries connected with the wars in the region and his concern for those suffering because of the widespread violence.

Pope: Albania proves to world that diverse religions can live in peace VATICAN CITY — People of different religious beliefs can and must live together in peace, Pope Francis said. The Muslim majority and Christian minorities in Albania cooperate beautifully for the common good and prove to the world that it can be done, he said.

“I could see, with great satisfaction, that the peaceful and fruitful coexistence between people and communities belonging to different religions is not only beneficial, but is concretely possible and practical. They put it into practice” in Albania, he said.

During his general audience in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 24, Pope Francis reviewed his one-day trip to Albania Sept. 21. He told the more than 30,000 people in the square that he wanted to visit a country where people of different religious traditions were peacefully living and working together, despite suffering decades of violent oppression “by an atheist and heartless regime. I thought it seemed important to encourage them on this path” of religious respect and to urge them to never give up looking for ways to benefit the common good, he said.

Catholics make up only about 16 percent of Albania’s 3 million inhabitants; about 65 percent are Muslim and 20 percent Orthodox.

Send prayers, needed aid for those hit by Ebola, pope says VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called for prayers and concrete help for the thousands of people affected by the deadly Ebola virus. “I

hope the international community may provide much-needed help to alleviate the sufferings of our brothers and sisters,” he said in an appeal at the end of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 24. Before leading the 30,000 people in the square in a prayer to Mary, the pope said he had been praying for those hit by this “terrible disease” and epidemic in West Africa.

It was the second time in the past 24 hours that the pope spoke about the outbreak. The pope highlighted the Church’s valuable work in helping deal with the disease, during an address Sept.

23 to bishops from Ghana. The bishops were at the Vatican for their periodic “ad limina” visits.

“I pray for the repose of the souls of all who have died in this epidemic, among whom are priests, men and women religious and health care workers who contracted this terrible disease while caring for those suffering,” the pope said in the written address.

Pope: Use gifts to benefit Church, not create division, envy, annoyance VATICAN CITY — Everyone has a special gift to offer the whole Church, just make sure it is used to serve everyone and not to puff up one’s own pride or to create division, Pope Francis said.

“It is a gift that God has given to someone not because he or she is a better person than someone else or because she or he deserves it,” the pope said at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 1. God gives gifts freely, out of love, so that they can be “put at the service of the whole community for the good of all people,” he said.

The pope continued a series of talks on the nature of the Catholic Church, focusing on charisms or precious gifts the Holy Spirit bestows on individuals for the edification of the Church. “But what is a charism exactly? How can we recognize it and receive it?” he asked. In the wider sense of the word, most people think of a charism as having to do with a particular talent or skill or a certain kind of charm seen in people who get labeled as “charismatic,” he said.

But in the Christian sense, it’s more than that; it is “a grace, a gift bestowed on us by God the Father through the action of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Church suffers from bishops choosing ill-suited priests, pope says VATICAN CITY — Many of the problems in the Church today come from accepting men who are unsuitable for the priesthood, Pope Francis told the Congregation for Clergy. The vocations crisis and lack of priests have meant that “we bishops are tempted to take in, without discernment, the young men who present themselves. This is bad for the Church,” he told those taking part in the congregation’s plenary assembly meeting at the Vatican. “We have to think of the good of the people of God,” which means taking the time to screen and “study” those seeking a vocation, he said Oct. 3.

“Examine closely whether he belongs to the Lord, if that man is healthy, is balanced, if that man is capable of giving life, of evangelizing, if he is capable of forming a family and turning that down in order to follow Jesus,” he said in off-the-cuff remarks.

“Today we have many problems, and in many dioceses, because of this error made by some bishops to take those who come – sometimes thrown out of other seminaries or religious institutes – because they need priests.”

The Church does need priests and there is a lack of vocations, he said, but the solution cannot come at the expense of the faithful.

Proper formation of candidates and priests is like polishing “a diamond in the rough” so that “they shine in the midst of the people of God,” he said.

Pope: Greed, throwaway culture fuel ‘hidden euthanasia’ of elderly VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis warned against the abandonment and neglect of the elderly, calling it a “hidden euthanasia” rooted in today’s “poisonous” culture of disposal and an economic system of greed.

In the presence of his predecessor, Pope Francis also thanked retired Pope Benedict XVI for staying to live at the Vatican and being like “a wise grandfather at home. A people who don’t take care of their grandparents and don’t treat them well is a people with no future. Why

no future? Because they lose the memory (of the past) and they sever their own roots,” he said.

The pope’s comments came during a special encounter and Mass for older people in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 28. Some 40,000 grandparents, retired men and women, and their families attended “The Blessing for a Long Life” event, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Pope Francis specifically invited Pope Benedict to attend the event, making it the third time since his retirement in 2013 that the German pontiff has made a rare appearance in public with his successor.

— Catholic News Service

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A Day of Silence and Contemplative Prayer Saturday, November 1, 2014 9am – 3pm Presented by: Joan Ricci Thome This is not a “teaching” day but, rather an opportunity to experience some free time to be. The day includes multiple periods of 30 minute group meditation and optional Morning Prayer and Eucharist. Lodging is available at an additional charge for those wishing to arrive the night before.

Joan Ricci Thome is a member of Contemplative Outreach and is a trained presenter. She has led / organized Centering Prayer retreats and workshops throughout the Carolinas.

A Day with the Gospel of John Thursday, November 13 or Saturday, November 15, 2014 9:30am – 4pm (same program offered both days) Presented by: Sister Mary Hugh Mauldin, RSM The day will include an overview of the Gospel as well as a consideration of its use in the Liturgy of the Word. Prayer, noon Eucharist and lunch are included in the schedule. Resources for the Gospel of John will be available for purchase.

Sister Mary Hugh Mauldin has degrees in Math Education from NC State, an MA in Theology from St. Bonaventure University and a graduate certificate in Liturgy from St. John’s College. She is a frequent speaker and popular presenter in the Charlotte Diocese.

ViewPoints

catholicnewsherald.com | October 10, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit

We are masterpieces of God’s creation

O

ctober is a real bonanza for us Little Sisters of the Poor. We celebrate the anniversaries of the birth, beatification and canonization of our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan. Along with Catholics all over the U.S., we also observe Respect Life Month. Rereading Pope Benedict XVI’s canonization homily recently, I realized how appropriate it is to simultaneously celebrate St. Jeanne Jugan and respect for life. Inspired by Pope Francis’ greeting for England’s 2013 Day for Life, the theme chosen for our U.S. Respect Life observances this year is “Each of Us is a Masterpiece of God’s Creation.” “Even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect,” he said.

“We want to be part of a society that makes affirmation and protection of human rights its primary objective and its boast,” Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, wrote in his message for Respect Life Month. “Our mission is to show each person the love of Christ. As uniquely created individuals, we each have unique gifts which we are called to use to share Christ’s love.” This is exactly what St. Jeanne Jugan did as she devoted her life to elderly persons in need.

“Born in 1792 at Cancale in Brittany, France, Jeanne Jugan was concerned with the dignity of her brothers and sisters … whom age had made more vulnerable, recognizing in them the Person of Christ himself,” Pope Benedict XVI said at her canonization. “‘Look upon the poor with compassion,’ she would say, ‘and Jesus will look kindly upon you on your last day.’ Jeanne Jugan focused upon the elderly a compassionate gaze drawn from her profound communion with God in her joyful, disinterested service, which she carried out with gentleness and humility of heart, desiring herself to be poor among the poor.”

Pope Benedict attributed St. Jeanne’s compassion to her profound union with God, which she achieved through years of prayer and an active sacramental life. Cardinal O’Malley suggests we pursue the same course – to draw close to Jesus in prayer and the sacraments – asking God for the grace to see ourselves and others as He sees us, as masterpieces of His creation.

“When God created each of us, He did so with precision and purpose, and He looks on each of us with love that cannot be outdone in intensity or tenderness.” If we wish to help build the Culture of Life, we should reflect on these words of Cardinal O’Malley until they are assimilated into the deep recesses of our minds and our hearts. From there they will give birth to deep convictions: “We must look at ourselves and at others in light of this truth and treat all people with the reverence and respect which is due.”

This was Jeanne Jugan’s secret: seeing in each elderly person a suffering member of the Body of Christ and treating them as she would have treated Christ. During Respect Life Month, pray through her intercession for the conversion of our society’s values to those of the culture of life, in which everyone is valued as masterpieces of God’s creation.

Sister Constance Veit is communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Mick Mulvaney

I

Pay attention to religious liberty threats overseas

was fortunate enough to participate over the summer in a private meeting of Catholic lawmakers from about 30 different nations. We gathered to discuss religious liberties around the world.

I will fully admit that going into the conference I believed religious freedom, while certainly important, to be an issue secondary to other more pressing issues worldwide. I was very much aware of the domestic challenges to our religious liberties, but I was fairly oblivious to other threats that existed internationally.

I can assure you that, I am comfortable now saying the words that too many politicians are afraid to utter: I was wrong. An assault on the Christian faith not only lies at the very heart of what is happening today in the Middle East, but it is also affecting our foreign policies in Africa, and it should be, but is not, tied to our policies regarding China.

The connection between the current violence in the Middle East and religious liberties is probably the easiest to make. While most of us usually see the violence as tied to the internecine battles between rival Shia and Sunni factions within Islam – and certainly anti-Semitism plays a significant role as well – there is most definitely an antiChristian element to the strife. After all, anyone who has followed the recent developments regarding the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) will know that radicalized Islamic fundamentalists have been putting tremendous pressures on local Christian (and Jewish) communities in the regions where ISIS is active.

What I failed to grasp until this summer, however, was the level of atrocities being committed against Christian and Jewish peoples. This is not, as some news outlets would have us believe, simply a question of regulating the practice of other faiths (as is addressed in several places in the Koran).

This is an attempt at what can only be described as “religious cleansing.” When I was able to meet with several leaders of the Catholic and Orthodox faiths in the region, I asked whether Christians were simply being forced to “pay a tax or leave.” The unequivocal response was that the real choice is to “leave or die.”

It is critical to recognize that these Christian and Jewish communities predate the Muslim faith in the Mideast. Indeed, it is the Christians and Jews in Syria, for example, who are the “indigenous” peoples. The Jews have been resident there for 4,000 years; some of the Christian churches (many of which are in full communion with Rome) date their creation to St. Peter’s presence in Antioch prior to his travels to Rome.

The presence of those groups is often cited – as for example in Lebanon – as a moderating agent that has permitted the existence of what little individual freedom and civil stability that exists in the Middle East. Thus the current efforts to eradicate those groups have more than just a religious element: ISIS is attempting a complete cultural destruction.

Beyond what was happening in Syria and Iraq, I was stunned to find out that current American policy in many sub-Saharan African nations is having the direct effect of

The St. Thomas More Society

This commentary comes thanks to the St. Thomas More Society Inc., an independent charitable organization sponsored by members of the North Carolina Bar who believe that the legal profession is a high calling in which the principal objective of every lawyer should be to promote and seek justice in society.

undermining religious freedoms there. Despite my position in the Congress, for example, I have never even heard it reported that it is current U.S. policy to discourage countries in Africa from enforcing local laws with which our current Administration disagrees. Simply put: various Christian countries in sub-Saharan Africa have passed laws banning abortion or gay marriage, or restricting artificial birth control, yet our current U.S. policy is to deny or limit their foreign aid or other assistance unless they change those laws or rein back their enforcement of them. These are your tax dollars being used to countermand local laws, passed by legitimate governments and based on the Christian values of a majority in those nations.

As callous as this Administration has been to the religious liberties of Americans at times, I never even considered the possibility that a similar tactic was being employed overseas.

Again: I was wrong.

Finally, we discussed briefly the crackdown on the practice of Christianity in China. Since this summer developments there have started to get some media attention, but not much.

Churches are being destroyed (the crucifix has apparently become a symbol of subversion) and communities of the faithful have been denied the right to congregate. One can only wonder when, if ever, these types of developments will impact Sino-American policies. As of now, the answer appears to be “never.”

The meeting opened my eyes to many things I hadn’t considered in my brief time in government. While religious liberties are something that mean a great deal to me as a Catholic, I suppose I have always focused on the exercise of my beliefs in a very “domestic” setting (the Health and Human Services rules regarding religious exceptions to certain mandates within Obamacare come immediately to mind). I had not even begun to consider the fact that there are anti-Christian efforts in almost every corner of the globe.

It may be that if we are interested in protecting our rights to practice – and to live – our Catholic Christian faith in this country, we will be well served to pay attention to the fate of Christianity overseas.

Mick Mulvaney is the U.S. representative for the 5th Congressional District in South Carolina, and a Republican. A graduate of Charlotte Catholic High School, he is a member of St. Philip Neri Church in Fort Mill, S.C., and Our Lady of Grace Mission in Indian Land, S.C.

Letter to the editor

Home School Fine Arts Festival had outstanding quality, jubilant spirit It was a pleasure to read the Sept. 12 article about the success of the Home School Fine Arts Festival. My husband and I attended the closing theatrical performance as guests, unaffiliated in any way with the festival. As avid theater-goers, and I as a professional classical musician, we were floored by the outstanding quality and jubilant

spirit of the performance.

We feel compelled to write this letter to add to the (necessarily brief) published description of the play.

These young volunteers, ranging in age from preschool through high school, came together to form a backstage team, performing cast and musical support equal in excellence to many professionals productions we have witnessed in our lifetime. Their stage presence, poise, intelligence, clarity, acting skills and enthusiasm captivated their audience and owned their script.

The dance choreography and musical

numbers were incredibly beautiful, engaging and entertaining.

The artistic liberties which the directors took with the original script resulted in a stellar drama laced with deep Catholic truths and scriptural teaching.

Throughout the performance, which lasted more than two hours, the children maintained unflagging vigor and joy. The Home School Fine Arts Festival’s “Taming of the Shrew” was truly a rich and eloquent witness to the beauty of our faith.

Andrea Stroot lives in Gastonia with her husband Joel.

October 10, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Allison Schumacher

The apostolic smile

E

ach of us – no matter our background, education, or vocation in life – has at our disposal a simple but effective means of evangelization: a joyful spirit. We all know that a smile can completely disarm another person and gradually engage his attention and perhaps even his trust. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”

What is joy, essentially? Contrary to the immediate connotation this word produces in our minds, Christian joy is not merely a sensible feeling and emotion, nor does it depend at all on our exterior situations. A fruit of the Holy Spirit, joy manifests itself in a soul under the influence of the gift of fortitude and in living out the beatitude, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for justice” (Matthew 5:6).

In his book “Divine Intimacy,” Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D., explained, “Just as a starving person rejoices when he can satisfy his hunger with bread, so the soul living under the influence of the gift of fortitude rejoices when it is able to satisfy its hunger for justice and sanctity. It is happy when able to immerse itself in God’s will, the only food which can satiate it; it rejoices when it can quench its thirst for immolation by sacrificing itself for God and for souls… This is a pure joy, because it is not sought after, but is the fruit of the fulfillment of duty, the joy of the soul gravitating toward its center, God, and conscious of giving itself more and more to Him, of belonging entirely to Him.” Besides a mere emotion, authentic joy is Christ-filled because it involves this relationship with another – that is, Christ Himself. Through the expression of joy, one brings the person of Christ to those around him or her. As one priest told me, such joyous souls wear “apostolic smiles.”

Joy is really a sign of sanctity, and true Christian joy penetrates much deeper than a superfluous attitude of silliness or giddiness. Actually, in souls who are striving for union with God, the joy they radiate to others often stems from incredible labor and sacrifice.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta experienced years of interior darkness and desolation, not to mention various trials in founding the Missionaries of Charity and erecting homes for the poorest of the poor. She wrote, “If you only knew what goes on within my heart.

Sometimes the pain is so great that I feel as if everything will break. The smile is a big cloak which covers a multitude of pains … the greater the pain and darker the darkness, the sweeter will be my smile at God.” The smile of this religious sister, costing so much, won many souls for Jesus. She was one of the most loved people of the 20th century, and even non-Catholic leaders and citizens around the world respected and admired her. Perhaps the witness of her smile was the only invitation to God’s love these people would ever recognize.

If joy is not dependent on emotional feelings or external prosperity, how do we obtain this fruit of the Holy Spirit?

Again Mother Teresa, who understood this so well, told us, “Cheerfulness is a sign of a generous and mortified person who forgetting all things, even herself, tries to please her God in all she does for souls. Cheerfulness is often a cloak which hides a life of sacrifice, continual union with God, fervor, and generosity.”

Joy attracts other souls and gives them hope because it defies the chains and weights of this “vale of tears.” One only has to think of the countless examples given by the saints.

For instance, St. Lawrence, while roasting alive on the gridiron, said humorously, “Turn me over now. I’m done on this side!” Blessed Miguel Pro cheerfully faced the dangerous persecution of the Church in Mexico by dressing up in costumes to hide his priestly identity from the authorities, so as to keep ministering to the people. St. Teresa of Avila famously exclaimed, “Lord, preserve us from sour-faced saints!”

For us, a smile at the cashier or bank teller, along with a simple but genuine “God bless you!” could make them stop long enough to think a moment about their Creator and His invitation to a relationship with Himself. After all, since joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, wherever we spread this joy, the Third Person of the Trinity is present, and He is the Source of all fruitful evangelization.

Allison Schumacher is a freelance writer who works with MiraVia in Belmont.

Most-read stories on the web Through press time on Oct. 8, 3,367 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 6,502 pages. The top 9 headlines in October were: n St. Matthew South to open for first Mass Oct. 4.......................................................................................396 n Seminarian Mariani ordained deacon in Rome........................................................................................... 374 n Couples, Monsignor McSweeney renew vows at joyful anniversary Mass........................................ 250 n Batrice Adcock: Theology of the Body provides insights on marriages, families............................ 184 n Program offers women regimen to reverse RU-486 abortion in first stages....................................158 n Charlotte diocese priests to gather for annual retreat with author of ‘To Save a Thousand Souls’... ........................................................................................................................................................................................116 n Church suffers from bishops choosing ill-suited priests, pope says......................................................114 n Speakers tell pope, synod that parishes should welcome same-sex couples.....................................90 n First priest ordained for the Charlotte diocese celebrates milestone anniversary........................... 87

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VOCATION: FROM PAGE 3

The readings chosen for the anniversary Mass were those recommended for the wedding Mass. Bishop Jugis said no doubt the couples’ thoughts went back to their special day, remembering the vows that were exchanged and the intentional commitment to build their marriages on the solid foundation of Christ.

“How is it that you are able to arrive at this milestone in your marriage?” he asked the couples. “Isn’t it because you’ve placed the Lord first in your marriage? Because you have rooted your life together in the Lord’s grace and love?

“That is the vocation to marriage – not just any civil union, but a sacred vocation to holy matrimony. And as with any vocation, whatever it is in the Church, Jesus Christ is an essential, central element of that vocation.”

Jim and Mary Ann Kirchner, high school sweethearts who met in Shelby, are longtime St. Matthew Church parishioners who are celebrating their silver anniversary this year. They have one son, Blake, a high school freshman who served the anniversary Mass with Bishop Jugis.

When asked what the secret to 25 years

ST. MATTHEW: FROM PAGE 3

colorful language came out. But then I was told it was worth $1.7 million. That is what we saved on the project, because we will need it as things continue to grow on this site.”

Upon learning that, he said, he “cleaned up his mouth real fast and praised the Lord.”

Monsignor McSweeney recognized all of the people who helped build the new facility, including Heather Mitchell, president and chief architect of the Boudreaux Group, which designed the facility. Mitchell said she was thrilled to take part in the project.

“It was such an honor,” Mitchell said.

“It was a great team and Monsignor McSweeney was an amazing man to work

PLANNING: FROM PAGE 2

usually not physicians, who ask questions about patients’ health care wishes, and check boxes on the form that correspond to their answers.

The facilitators receive training that can lead them to paint a rather biased picture of treatment options, emphasizing potential negative side effects while side-stepping potential benefits or positive outcomes.

POLST forms thus raise three significant moral concerns: n The approach encouraged by the use of POLST forms may end up skewed toward options of non-treatment and may encourage premature withdrawal of treatments from patients who can still benefit from them. n Filling out a POLST form may preclude a proxy from exercising his or her power to protect the rights of the patient, since the form sets in

of marriage is for them, Jim replied, “Love for each other and love for Christ.” Mary Ann added, “Prayer.” And for couples just starting out in their marriages, the Kirchners recommended, “It’s important to have a prayerful life. Be patient, forgiving, understanding, and try to always remember the person you fell in love with.”

For Kevin and Christine Eagan, parishioners at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, the secret to their 25 years of matrimony is “understanding and communication, not dwelling on the past, not holding a grudge, and moving on.”

Their advice? “Always talk, don’t let things fester. Never assume something.

It’s too easy for two people to be looking at an issue and one thinks of something one way and the other thinks another way. Just never assume,” cautioned Kevin, who also works as the advertising manager for the Catholic News Herald.

For St. Gabriel parishioners Sheila and Frank Barilla who have three teenagers, their secret to 25 years of marriage is humor and forgiveness, they said.

“Especially since I’m really funny!” Sheila added with a smile. They said couples today need to remember the importance of forgiveness.

“You have to be able to take a deep breath, and not speak before you think,” Sheila said. Frank encouraged couples to “remember the long term, not just the

immediate.”

Two couples celebrating 50 years of marriage are lifelong friends from Syracuse, N.Y. Frank and Mary Ann Graziadei are members of St. Gabriel Church who volunteer with the parish’s disability ministry. They invited their best friends Matthew and Elizabeth Iudice, who still live in Syracuse, to attend the Mass with them Sept. 28.

The couples grew up together and were married in Syracuse in the same church on the same day 50 years ago. The men even attended LeMoyne College together. They are godparents to each other’s sons. They had two boys each, and both named one son Matthew and the other son Michael.

They were headed to Charleston Sept. 29 to celebrate their anniversaries together.

When asked what the secret of staying married for 50 years is, both couples agreed it is hard work.

“We pray, and it’s a lot of hard work,” the Graziadeis said.

“We live separately,” joked Matthew Iudice.

For couples starting out, Frank Graziadei advised, “Try to nurture each other and laugh when you can.”

Iudice said he thinks “persistence” is a vital characteristic of a successful marriage.

Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, was also at the special Mass, which is sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

“It is such a privilege to coordinate once again the annual diocesan anniversary Mass and to celebrate the commitment of couples to the holy sacrament of marriage,” Carter said. “These couples are such wonderful, visible witnesses of the enduring love and steadfastness of marriage in our modern world.”

During his homily, Bishop Jugis echoed those sentiments, speaking of Christ and the spirituality of the marriage bond.

“He chose you. He called you to the sacrament of holy matrimony. He chose you at this time and place in history of the Church to go forth, as He told the disciples, and to bear fruit for the salvation of the world.

“Every vocation in the Church is a response to Christ’s love. Christ loves.

Christ calls. And we respond according to the particular gifts He has given us – whether it be marriage, single life, religious life or holy orders.

“You’ve kept Jesus in your life and that is the secret to the 25 years, to the 50 years and, God willing, to many more years to come,” he said. “May this love which Jesus is pouring into your married life continue to shine in your marriage for all of us to see.”

for.” She grew up Catholic and enjoyed learning about the Divine Mercy devotion.

“We really tried to incorporate that imagery into the design.”

Mitchell encourages young women who aspire to be architects to “go for it! Architecture is such a rewarding profession because of days like this. You spend so much time with the building in your head. To see it filled, just really glorifying God, is such a joy.”

Deacon Jim Hamrlik, who has served at St. Matthew Parish since it was established, joyfully assisted at Mass Oct. 4.

“The interesting thing is that when St. Matthew (Church) began almost 28 years ago, I was there with Monsignor Kerin when we walked into a similar building (now the parish center). So it’s fitting that I should be the deacon for this very first Mass,” Deacon Hamrlik said.

Carol Vincent, a founding St. Matthew parishioner who serves as an extraordinary minister of Holy

Communion, said she is excited about the new location.

“I’m going to be moving if I can sell my house. I’ll be just 1.2 miles from here,” Vincent said.

An usher for the church, Bob Pierlott, is also an original member from the days when local Catholics met for Mass in an old movie theater.

“It’s fantastic,” he said. “I never thought St. Matthew would grow to multiple locations. I remember the first Mass with Monsignor Joseph Kerin.”

Joe Calicden, also a parishioner at St. Matthew Church, is donating a special statue of the Blessed Mother that he brings to the Eucharistic Congress in Charlotte each year. It will be positioned to the right of the altar near the choir area.

“She has a permanent home now in Charlotte,” Calicden said. “It’s a blessing to attend the opening of the new building.”

There were newcomers at the Mass on Oct. 4, as well.

Rich and Stephanie Elliott and their two children relocated to Waxhaw from Buffalo, N.Y. The first Mass at the new location was their first time visiting the parish, where some of their relatives are already members.

“We’re looking for a church that will help us teach our children, something that is accessible for families, and that has ways for our children to get involved and grow in faith,” Stephanie Elliott said.

During his final remarks at the day’s celebration, Monsignor McSweeney reiterated what the new facility is all about.

“I conclude by saying very clearly: this facility is dedicated to the Divine Mercy.”

He encouraged people to remember God’s mercy and love, which in turn “challenges us to show that mercy and compassion and love for others.”

“Likewise, the new facility is an important part of the growing south Charlotte church community, and everyone should be thankful for what we have.”

motion actual medical orders that a medical professional must follow. As a set of standing medical orders, the POLST approach is inflexible. Many POLST forms begin with language like this: “First follow these orders, then contact physician or health care provider.” Straightforwardly following orders created outside of a particular situation may be illadvised, improper and even harmful. n In some states, the signature of the patient (or his or her proxy) is not required on the POLST. After the form has been filled out, it is typically forwarded to a doctor (or in some states to a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant) who is expected to sign the form. Thus, in some states, a POLST form could conceivably be placed into a patient’s medical record without their knowledge or informed consent.

In a recent article about POLST forms in the “Journal of Palliative Medicine,” approximately 95 percent of the POLST forms sampled from Wisconsin were not signed by

patients or by their surrogates.

Fortunately, in some other states like Louisiana, the patient’s signature or proxy’s signature is mandatory.

A POLST form can be used to manipulate patients when they are sick and vulnerable, and can even lead to mandated orders for non-treatment in a way that constitutes euthanasia. It represents a fundamentally flawed approach to end of life planning.

No one is required to agree to using a POLST form. Patients are free to decline to answer POLST questions from a facilitator, and should not hesitate to say that they instead plan to rely on their proxy for end of life decision making, and to discuss their options with their doctor.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org.

MARRIAGE: FROM PAGE 2

of matrimony. He abides with them thereafter so that just as He loved the Church and handed Himself over on her behalf, the spouses may love each other with perpetual fidelity through mutual self-bestowal.”

Through the sacrament of matrimony, the indissolubility of marriage acquires a new, deeper sense: it becomes the image of God’s enduring love for His people and of Christ’s irrevocable fidelity to His Church.

This teaching was translated into the Code of Canon (Church) Law to read: “The matrimonial covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature for the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized” (Canon 1055§1).

“Marriage can be understood and lived as a sacrament only in the context of the mystery of Christ. If marriage is secularized or regarded as a purely natural reality, its sacramental character is obscured.” (Congregation of the Faith, Oct. 24, 2013) Coming next: We take a brief look at the history of marriage in the Church.