March 28, 2014

March 28, 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

Missionaries of the Poor names new leader Brother Augusto Silot moves from Monroe to succeed founding Father Richard Ho Lung, 3

Asheville abortion mill to close, Planned Parenthood to open larger one, 5 INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español............................16-17 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes................. 3-13 Schools......................... 18-21 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies...................... 22 U.S. news...........................24 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news...................... 25

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Not just pi in the sky Raspberry Pi projects mean hands-on engineering for Charlotte Catholic students, 18

Charlotte Catholic High School speaker sparks student petitions, 19 FORWARD IN FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE

St. Patrick’s Day fun, 8-9

Diocesan campaign pledges total $41.9M so far, 3

Caminando en los pasos de Jesús, 16

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte and a member of the diocesan tribunal staff, leads a discussion at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory March 13.

Pope Francis

Bishops, priests need prayers, grace to be holy, loving

T

he world’s bishops, priests and deacons need people’s prayers and encouragement to continually deepen their relationship with Jesus and serve their community with love, Pope Francis said.

A minister of God who does not nourish his love for Christ, his church and his flock “inevitably ends up losing sight and an authentic sense of his service and the joy that comes from a deep communion with Jesus,” he said.

“Priests, bishops, deacons must care for the Lord’s flock with love, and if they don’t do it with love, they’re unnecessary,” he said March 26 during his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope returned to a series of audience talks on the sacraments, focusing on the sacrament of holy orders.

Like the sacrament of marriage, the sacrament of pastoral ministry is a special way to follow Christ, give the gift of love and build up His Church, he told the estimated 80,000 people in the square.

Jesus told His apostles to care for His sheep with the power of the Holy Spirit, not their own human efforts, and to do so “according to His heart,” that is, with the same love Jesus had for others.

A pastoral minister “dedicates his whole being to his community and loves it with his whole heart: It is his family,” Pope Francis said.

Those who are ordained become leaders of the Christian community, but, for Jesus, leadership is “offering your authority as service,” he said.

A priest or “a bishop who isn’t at the service of the community does no good,” he said.

The pope said it is important to constantly renew and nourish the grace and joy of ordination through prayer, daily celebration of the Eucharist, penance, going to confession regularly and listening to the word of God, “which is our daily bread.”

Bishops, priests or deacons who do not do these things diligently throughout life “lose communion with Jesus and they become mediocre, which is not good for the Church,” he said.

“That’s why we have to help bishops and priests” to get closer to God with prayer and the sacraments and to help them to become more holy.

In various languages, the pope asked people to pray for the Church’s ministers so that they may be more holy, generous, authentic and merciful and especially to pray for those who are “most in need of our prayers” – those who are experiencing difficulties or feeling discouraged.

Rico De Silva | Catholic News Herald

Catechists hear talks on preparing for death and funeral rituals Rico De Silva Hispanic communications Reporter

HICKORY — “Is death part of God’s will?”

That was the opening question from Father Patrick Winslow, who gave a talk to about 40 diocesan staff members, including catechists and others, during a day-long training seminar at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory March 13. The talk is part of the Education Vicariate’s yearly “in-service” training sessions.

Father Winslow’s answer? “No, of course not.”

“Death is a consequence of sin,” explained Father Winslow, who is pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte and a member of the diocesan tribunal staff.

Christ put an end to death. “Death forces us to consider the bigger picture because one day we’ll get thrown off the daily life treadmill … It makes us consider the greater things, and ultimately, the (Church’s) universal call to holiness,” he said.

He also talked about what happens when we die. Using Father Leo J. Trese’s book, “The Faith Explained,” Father Winslow described the journey from the moment of death to an individual’s particular judgment, where we immediately come face to face with Christ. This moment with Christ, at the very instant of our death, is the “moment our whole lives have been directed to.”

Quoting from “The Faith Explained,” he continued, “Theologians speculate that what actually takes place (during the particular judgment) probably, is that God illumines the soul, so it sees itself as God sees it and sees the state of which it is in.” Once the judgment is rendered, there is no reversal.

After each of us is judged by Christ, the Church teaches that one of three things happens to us. If we have rejected God and died in mortal sin, we face eternal condemnation. If we have lived a life full of the love of God completely in this life, we go to heaven to enjoy the Beatific Vision. But, Father Winslow says, for most of us the purifying nature of purgatory is a temporary stop we must make before entering heaven.

Father Winslow also spoke of preparing for death and assisting those facing death, and he described the Rite of Christian Burial, including the traditions of burial or cremation of the body.

“Just as Christ’s Body was placed in a tomb, or in a place of burial, there was high regard in the Western part of the Church to follow that same pattern,” he said.

Cremation is an increasingly popular option for people, he noted, but he explained that the remains must still be interred in a final resting place such as a mausoleum or columbarium, and not distributed, divided or moved.

Faith facts n “Death puts an end to human life as the time open to either accepting or rejecting the divine grace manifested in Christ.” — CCC 1021.

(Read more about heaven, hell and purgatory in the Catechism: 1022-1050) n “By death the soul is separated from the body, but in the resurrection God will give incorruptible life to our body, transformed by reunion with our soul. Just as Christ is risen and lives for ever, so all of us will rise at the last day. ... Jesus, the Son of God, freely suffered death for us in complete and free submission to the will of God, His Father. By His death He has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all men.”

— CCC 1016, 1019 n The Church has always held a preference for the corporeal body. The body of a deceased loved one forcefully brings to mind the mystery of life and death and our belief that our human bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and destined for future glory at the resurrection of the dead. — U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops n “The bodies of the dead must be treated with respect and charity, in faith and hope of the Resurrection. The burial of the dead is a corporal work of mercy; it honors the children of God, who are temples of the Holy Spirit.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church 2300 n “Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body. The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.” — Order of Christian Funerals, appendix on cremation, 413 n “The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come.

This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains on the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.” — Order of Christian Funerals, appendix on cremation, 417 At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the Diocese of Charlotte’s policy on cemeteries and columbaria

Your daily Scripture readings MARCH 30-APRIL 5

Sunday (Fourth Sunday of Lent): 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:141; Monday: Isaiah 65:17-21, John 4:43-54; Tuesday: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, John 5:1-16; Wednesday (St. Francis of Paola): Isaiah 49:815, John 5:17-30; Thursday: Exodus 32:7-14, John 5:31-47; Friday (St. Isidore): Wisdom 2:1, 12-22, John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30; Saturday (St. Vincent Ferrer): Jeremiah 11:18-20, John 7:4053

APRIL 6-12

Sunday (Fifth Sunday of Lent): Ezekiel 37: 12-14, Romans 8:8-11, John 11:1-45; Monday (St. John de la Salle): Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 3362, John 8:1-11; Tuesday: Numbers 21:4-9, John 8:21-30; Wednesday: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42; Thursday: Genesis 17:3-9, John 8:51-59; Friday (St. Stanislaus): Jeremiah 20:10-13, John 10:31-42; Saturday: Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31:10-13, John 11:45-56.

APRIL 13-19

Sunday (Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord): Matthew 21:1-11, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Matthew 26:14-27:66; Monday: Isaiah 42:1-7, John 12:1-11; Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 36-38; Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9, Matthew 26:14-25; Thursday: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-36, John 13:1-15; Friday (Friday of the Passion of the Lord): Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, John 18:119:42; Saturday: Exodus 14:15-15:1, Ex 15:1-6, 17-18, Isaiah 54:5-14, Romans 6:3-11, Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, Matthew 28:1-10.

Our parishes

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Local publisher joins class-action lawsuit to block HHS mandate Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A coalition of nearly 200 Catholic dioceses, agencies and businesses – including Good Will Publishers in Gastonia – has asked a federal court in Oklahoma to block enforcement of a Department of Health and Human Services mandate that it says would force its members to violate their religious beliefs.

Under the banner of the recently formed Catholic Benefits Association, the entities contended in a class action lawsuit filed March 12 that the mandate’s requirement that they provide health insurance coverage for contraceptive drugs, abortifacients, surgical sterilizations and related counseling is contrary to the First Amendment’s free exercise, establishment and free speech clauses.

The mandate – under rules issued by HHS – requires nearly all employers to provide such coverage for their employees in their company health plan. It includes a narrow exemption for some religious employers that fit certain criteria.

The lawsuit said the regulations under the Affordable Care Act are discriminatory because some religious entities and ministries are exempt while others are not.

The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma seeks a preliminary injunction to block the mandate as it applies to association members.

Named as defendants were Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary; Thomas E. Perez, secretary of the Department of Labor; Jacob J. Lew, secretary of the Department of the Treasury; and each of those departments.

Besides Good Will Publishers, the array of plaintiffs are the Catholic Benefit Association and its subsidiary, the Catholic Insurance Co., both incorporated in Oklahoma; the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City; All Saints Catholic School in Norman, Okla.; Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore; the Archdiocese of Baltimore; and Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center Inc. in the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan. Attorney L. Martin Nussbaum, a partner in the law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber, represents the plaintiffs. Based in Colorado Springs, Colo., he has represented HHS MANDATE, SEE page 12

More online At www.lifeaffirmingcare.com: Learn more about the newly-formed Catholic Benefits Association At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Keep up with the latest over the HHS contraception mandate

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Missionaries of the Poor names new superior general Brother Augusto Silot moves from Monroe to lead international ministry SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

MONROE — The Missionaries of the Poor has elected a new superior general effective March 25. Brother Augusto Silot will take over leadership from Father Richard Ho Lung, who has served as superior general since he founded the international order in 1981.

The community of more than 550 men religious in 13 countries is based in Kingston, Jamaica.

The announcement of the new leader for the Missionaries of the Poor was made during Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, located near the Missionaries of the Poor’s only U.S.based community, the Guardian Angels Monastery.

Brother General Augusto will leave the Monroe monastery April 2 to move to the community’s central mission in Kingston, Jamaica. A special Mass of installation will take place in Kingston after his arrival on April 4.

Originally from the Philippines, Brother General Augusto, 35, entered the Missionaries of the Poor in 1996. He made his profession of vows in 1999 and took his final vows in 2002. Over the past 18 years, he has served in Jamaica and in the Neba and Cebu missions in the Philippines, besides serving in Monroe.

The Missionaries of the Poor are known as a community of men – religious brothers and priests – who live in community, share all things in common, follow a common spirituality and

sueann howell | catholic news herald

Brother General Augusto Silot, M.O.P., (right) is pictured after Mass on March 25 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe with Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, after the announcement of his appointment was made. charism with a common ministry of service to the least in society. They are known for serving the poorest of the poor, especially the destitute homeless.

MISSIONARIES, SEE page 11

FORWARD IN FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE

Diocesan campaign pledges total $41.9M so far David Exum Correspondent

CHARLOTTE — Thanks to the outpouring of support and generosity from parishioners throughout the Diocese of Charlotte, the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign has raised $41.9 million in pledges from 7,525 families and individuals during its first six months.

Of that total, $25.6 million is earmarked for the broader ministries being supported by the diocese-wide campaign, and $16.3 million is going to parishes for their individual projects.

“The parishioners in all of our parishes have been tremendously generous,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director.

“Parishioners have been excited by different elements of the campaign and realize that this will impact the lives of people in their parishes for many years to come.”

“We are so grateful also to all of our pastors, and the volunteers in the parishes who are sharing the story of the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign with their fellow parishioners,” Kelley added.

“If we want to insure the scope and excellence of our ministry for the future it is imperative we make an investment today,” said Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, who serves on the campaign’s Priests Advisory Committee and as pastor of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro he is noted for his leadership of successful stewardship efforts over the years. “Our

More online At www.forwardfaithhopelove. org: Learn more about the diocesewide campaign and how you can contribute

diocese has a good history of stewardship.

So I feel certain that with the goal already in sight of our first ever diocesan campaign, if everybody were to do at least something for ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love,’ more than everything would get done.”

The diocesan campaign goal is $65 million after expenses, which is comprised of $16.25 million for parishes and $48.75 million for broader ministries.

Campaign distributions in the amount of $1.3 million are already being put to good use in many of the parishes, and another $2 million is going to support broader ministries and activities in the diocese, Kelley noted.

Besides funds being used for capital projects at parishes throughout the diocese, money committed to the capital campaign will also go towards enriching faith formation programs, the priest retirement trust fund, seminarian education, and college campus ministries, among others.

“The support the campaign has received

demonstrates that people really endorse and support what our diocese is doing to educate our youth, support our retired priests and seminarians, and help our neighbors in need,” Kelley said.

Of the 92 parishes within the Diocese of Charlotte, 61 will be wrapping up their campaign drives in 2014. The remaining 31 parishes completed their campaigns in 2013.

Kelley emphasized that the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign focuses primarily on three areas: growth, the future and our parishes.

“There are 13 different components to the campaign,” Kelley said. “Twenty-five percent of the goal goes towards specific parish projects. The other 75 percent goes towards 12 other components which directly or indirectly impact each parish.”

Monsignor Marcaccio added, “I think it’s important to remember that just as the campaign addresses diocesan-wide areas that need immediate attention like the shortfall in funding retirement and benefits for our priests, it at the same time provides us pastors with the development vehicle to achieve the vision and accomplish the projects we have for our particular parishes. So unlike many other dioceses our campaign is a win/win situation for ministry.” forward, SEE page 12

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events ASHEVILLE

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

ST. EUGENE CHURCH, 72 Culvern St. — Estate Planning Seminar: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, April 5, in the Social Hall. Attorney Richard Maita will discuss and accept questions regarding topics such as: the difference between a will and a trust, power of attorney and living wills. In the Social Hall. For details, call the parish office at 828-254-5193.

BASIlicA CHURCH OF BELMONT ABBEY, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road — The Carolina Catholic Chorale will sing a Lenten devotional, “Adoramus te, Christe”: 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7. The program features 14 polyphonic settings of the text sung as responses to the Stations of the Cross. For details, call 518-878-5660.

April 4 – 10 a.m.

Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

— Faith group for men: 7 p.m. Monday, April 7. Men of the parish aged 45 and older are invited to reflect on God’s Word, pray and spend time together. In the Education Building. For details, call Roger Duncan at 704-412-289-9147.

April 6 – 10 a.m.

Boy Scout Catholic Camporee Mass Camp Belk, Mint Hill

April 13 – 11 a.m.

Palm Sunday Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

st. Matthew church, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — Lectures on Africa entitled, “The HIV/AIDS Challenge in the New South Africa”: 10:15 a.m. Sunday, March 30, presented by Dr. Karen Flynt. No registration required. For details, call the parish at 704-332-2901 — International Fair Trade: 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 30, in the New Life Center Banquet Room.

Hosted by the Peace and Justice Ministry. Items from Catholic Relief Services’ Fair Trade and Project Have Hope will be available for purchase.

April 15 – 10 a.m.

Chrism Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

St. Vincent de Paul CHURCH, 6828 Old Reid Road — The Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group April Reflection: 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 7, with Father Jason Barone of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury.

Holy Mass at 9 a.m. Coffee and fellowship to follow.

All women welcome.

April 17 – 7 p.m.

Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 18 – 3 p.m.

Celebration of the Passion of the Lord St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

HIGH POINT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, 4145 JOHNSON St. — Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, to pray for the end of abortion. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.

April 19 – 8:15 p.m.

Easter Vigil St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

HUNTERSVILLE

Correction In the March 14 story “Asheville Catholic reaches out to help schools in Nigeria,” it was misstated where Asheville Catholic students’ donations were delivered. The deliveries were made to Word of Life Academy in Jebba, Nigeria. The Catholic News Herald regrets the errors.

March 28, 2014 Volume 23 • Number 12

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

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

ST. MARk CHURCH, 14740 Stumptown Road — The Carolina Catholic Chorale will sing a Lenten devotional, “Adoramus te, Christe”: 7 p.m. Friday, April 4. The program features 14 polyphonic settings of the text sung as responses to the Stations of the Cross. For details, call 518-878-5660.

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

— Stations of the Cross: 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent ST. JOAN OF ARC Church, 768 Asbury Road — Soup and Stations of the Cross: 6:30 p.m. all Fridays of Lent

CHARLOTTE OUR LADY of the Assumption Church, 4207 Shamrock Drive

— Stations of the Cross and Holy Communion: 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday ST. PETER CHURCH, 507 SOUTH TRYON ST. — Online prayer experience entitled “Moved to Greater Love”: 9 Week Lenten-Easter digital experience focusing on Gratitude, Spiritual Freedom, Vision and Joy. Daily online presentations will offer questions for reflection, a reading and multimedia content. To join, visit www.stpetercatholic.org ST. THOMAS AQUINAS Church, 1400 suther road — All Fridays of Lent: 6 p.m. Knights of Columbus dinner, 6 p.m. Spanish Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m. Lenten reflection, 7:30 p.m. English Stations of the Cross — Lenten Penance: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9

— Lenten Penance: 3:30-5 p.m. Saturday, April 5 ST. ANN CHURCH, 3635 Park Road — Stations of the Cross: 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent

CHARLOTTE

April 10 – 6 p.m.

Friend to Seminarians Dinner Graylyn Convention Center, Winston-Salem

QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, 503 North Main St.

— Lenten Soup Dinners: 6 p.m.

QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES church, 503 North Main St.

April 5 Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage Belmont Abbey College

BELMONT

CANDLER

BELMONT April 2 – 5 p.m.

Dedication Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, Hayesville

Lenten activities

ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 3016 Providence Road — Stations of the Cross: Noon and 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent

— Blessing of the Easter Baskets: Noon Saturday, April 19. Deacon James Witulski will conduct the traditional blessing of the Easter food, in English and Polish. For questions, call Deacon James Witulski at 704-960-3704.

St. Vincent de Paul, 6828 Old Reid Road — Stations of the Cross: 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent

— Lenten Penance: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 ST. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road — Stations of the Cross: 7 p.m. all Fridays during Lent — Lenten Mission, “Filling the World with the Gospel of Christ”: 9 a.m. Mass and 6:30 p.m. discussions, April 5-9. Hosted by Father John Anglin, OFM. — Lenten Penance Service: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 8 — El Padre John Anglin predicará sobre el siguiente tema, “Un Dios de amor que nunca se cansa de perdonarnos”: Domingo 6 de Abril, despues de la Misa de 12:30 p.m.

ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 Lawyers Road — Education Lenten Series, “A Contemporary Look at Moral Theology”: 3-4 p.m. Saturday, March 29, presented by parishioner Dave Galusha. Light refreshments available. For details, call Ann Helms at 704-289-8105.

GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, 2205 West Market St. — Stations of the Cross: 6 p.m. all Fridays of Lent ST. PIUS X CHURCH, 2210 N. ELM ST. — Stations of the Cross: 7 p.m. all Fridays of Lent ST. Mary church, 812 Duke St. — Stations of the Cross: 5:30 p.m. all Fridays of Lent, followed by Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament

HICKORY ST. Aloysius, 921 Second St. — Stations of the Cross: 5:30 p.m. all Fridays of Lent — Estaciones de la Cruz: 7:30 p.m. todos los viernes durante la Cuaresma

LEXINGTON oUR LADY OF THE ROSARY, 619 South Main St. — Discussion and Prayer, “Acts of the Apostles”: 10;30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. all Thursdays of Lent

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 Dilworth Road — Stations of the Cross: 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. all Fridays of Lent — Vespers: 6 p.m. all Sundays during Lent — Eucharistic Adoration: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every

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40 Days for Life continues

High school youth invited to 37th annual Diocesan Youth Conference May 2-4 CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s Youth Ministry Office is preparing for the 37th annual Diocesan Youth Conference held at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. This year’s theme, “Exposed: Now and Forever,” focuses on Jesus Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament, as represented in the event poster which features a monstrance on an altar during Adoration.

The theme comes from the mission statement and prayer used at the Diocesan Youth Advisory Council: “We come together to pray for the grace to make ourselves vulnerable for the sake of Love. This Love is Christ who exposed Himself on the cross and in the Eucharist to be unified to us now and forever. In response to this love, we must strive to be open to the grace of vulnerability to God and His action in our lives, to others and the risk of being ridiculed and to expose our true selves.”

The May 2-4 conference will bring together high school youths from around the diocese for a themecentered weekend of workshops led by youth and adults alike. DYC workshops address a variety of issues, from moral decision-making, Theology of the Body, virtues education, prayer, maintaining faith after going off to college, and everything in between.

The conference also features keynote speakers, entertainment, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the sacrament of reconciliation.

The registration fee for the conference is $115 per person if paid by April 7; $120 if registration is received by April 14. The late registration fee is $130.

High school youths who are interested in applying for a volunteer position on the Diocesan Youth Advisory Council are encouraged to attend the conference and fill out the appropriate recommendation forms to be interviewed for a position on the council during the conference.

For more information, email Paul Kotlowski, diocesan director of youth ministry, at pjkym@ymail.com or go to education.charlottediocese. net/youth-ministry/youth-services/ conference-dyc.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — More than 45 people gathered in front of A Women’s Preferred Health Center abortion facility on Latrobe Drive in Charlotte March 24 to pray for an end to abortion during the 40 Days For Life Campaign that continues through April 13. Shawn Carney, one of the founders and national organizers of the pro-life campaign, visited Charlotte and addressed those gathered. “I had never imagined I would be in the pro-life movement to the level that I am. We are so tremendously blessed to see so many lives saved. And so many people like you are willing to come out and do what most people think is the most controversial thing you can do in our society – to peacefully pray out in front of an abortion facility.

You’re willing to give up your time to do that because it really matters.” Carney was thankful to hear that as of Monday afternoon, 41 babies have been spared from death at the Charlotte abortion mill during this latest campaign. 40 Days for Life is conducting spring campaigns in Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. For more information, go to www.40daysforlife.com.

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Femcare to close; Planned Parenthood plans to open larger clinic in Asheville Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

ASHEVILLE — Asheville’s only abortionist is closing her clinic and moving to a new $2.6 million, 5,300-square-foot abortion mill that Planned Parenthood plans to open in Asheville this summer.

Femcare Inc., located at 62 Orange St., has been put up for sale for $1.275 million, and its owner and sole physician, Dr. Lorraine Cummings, said March 18 that she will move her abortion services to Planned Parenthood once its abortion clinic opens.

Femcare is the only abortion facility operating west of Charlotte, and one of seven abortion mills located within the boundaries of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Besides Femcare, there are six other abortion mills located in western North Carolina: three in Charlotte, one in Winston-Salem, one in High Point and one in Greensboro.

Raleigh-based Planned Parenthood Health Systems Inc. had been renting space at 603 Biltmore Ave., near Mission Hospital, but it recently purchased a medical office building located at 16 McDowell St. It has been doing abortion referrals, but currently does not perform chemical or surgical abortions.

On March 11 Planned Parenthood Health Systems applied for an abortion clinic license with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), to begin performing abortions at its McDowell Street location. Planned Parenthood said it estimates performing 500 abortions there per year.

Cummings said in her statement that she “has been in conversation with Planned Parenthood for several months.

Both parties want to ensure that women in Western North Carolina have strong, long-term access to full GYN health options, including abortion.”

Cummings added that she will not accept new gynecology patients but will continue performing abortions at Femcare until she closes her practice and moves to Planned

Tim Reid | Catholic News Herald

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more about the seven abortion mills located in the Diocese of Charlotte, their most recent health code violations and the latest on state regulators’ work to issue new rules for abortion facilities

Parenthood, which she said has “a rapidly increasing” number of patients.

Cummings recently renewed Femcare’s operating license with state officials, stating that she performed 803 abortions in the previous 12 months’ reporting period. Read more.

Femcare was in the spotlight last July after state health regulators temporarily revoked its operating license. DHHS inspectors discovered dirty operating rooms and tattered anesthesia equipment during a surprise inspection. Femcare reopened in August after DHHS regulators determined that Cummings had corrected the problems.

Anti-abortion activists have been praying outside Femcare since it opened in 1985, and while they expressed gratitude that it was finally closing, news of Planned Parenthood’s abortion mill has them ready to continue their spiritual battle against the killing of unborn children.

Meredith Eugene Hunt of Life Advocates in Asheville said, “How many thousands of

lives were snuffed out at that horrible place over the years? How many women hurt by participating in the deaths of their preborn children? Planned Parenthood’s plans are not surprising, and they’re not a sure thing.

My prayers are that they fail. Perhaps now the hundreds of churches in our area who know abortion is murder will rise up and protect our community from a new killing center opening.”

“We must organize and fight and defeat any corporate evil involved with this ‘project.’ They must be shamed and frankly hit them in their pocketbooks. This was key in the early Civil Rights Movement,” added John Humphreys, who is currently leading a 40 Days for Life prayer vigil outside abortion clinics in Charlotte.

Planned Parenthood Health Systems said March 18 it is “prepared for women who need access to this vital health service.”

“Planned Parenthood is committed to ensuring the continuity of care for Western NC women and families,” said Melissa Reed, Planned Parenthood Health System’s vice president of Public Affairs, in a March 18 statement.

“In response to a growing need for access to reproductive health care in Buncombe County and to protect the rights of North Carolina women living in the western part of the state, PPHS is proud to be opening a new $2.6 million, 5,300-square-foot Planned Parenthood Health Center in Asheville sometime during the summer of 2014.”

“The new health center will allow Planned Parenthood to provide the full range of reproductive health care services for women including abortion, birth control, breast and cervical cancer screening and STD testing, and increased educational programming in Western North Carolina,” Planned Parenthood’s statement continued.

On its application for an abortion clinic license, Planned Parenthood stated that its medical director would be Dr. Katherine Farris. Farris has been working at Planned FEMCARE, SEE page 12

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 OUR PARISHES

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St. Joseph, patron of the Church, honored at March 19 Mass SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — St. Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Jesus, was honored at a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis at St. Patrick Cathedral on March 19, the feast of St. Joseph.

During his homily Wednesday evening for the feast day, Bishop Jugis recounted the saint’s holiness, humility and righteousness.

“St. Joseph is easily the holiest man ever to walk the face of the earth – that is, of course, after the person of Jesus Christ Himself,” Bishop Jugis said. He recounted how Joseph lived continuously in the presence of the Son of God in Nazareth, as well as caring every day for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the holiest woman ever to live.

“We cannot even imagine the effect that this environment of holiness must have had on the soul of St. Joseph, the light and the consolations of the Spirit that he must have experienced living in this environment day after day, experiencing great holiness, living in the visible presence of God.” He noted that the key to Joseph’s holiness is Jesus.

“Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to God the Father who is the origin of all holiness unless it is through Jesus. So he was there basically in the presence of the source of all holiness for all those years. No wonder we can easily say he was the holiest man to live.

sueann howell | catholic news herald

Bishop Peter J. Jugis (right) and Deacon Carlos Medina distribute holy Communion during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte on March 19, the Solemnity of St. Joseph.

We can learn a lot from his example.”

Because of his closeness to Christ and to the Blessed Mother, Bishop Jugis surmised, Joseph probably knew Jesus more thoroughly than anyone else in history.

“Such a beautiful life that he must have had. Everything he did and everything that he was, was for the person of Jesus. Jesus was his life. His whole life was wrapped up in Jesus and, of course, with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St. Joseph serves as a great example for us to strive to live constantly in the presence of Jesus ourselves, Bishop Jugis also said. Although we cannot duplicate exactly the experience the saint had from

living with Jesus, St. Joseph still shows us how to live our lives devoted to Jesus.

“Of course, we approach Jesus through the Holy Spirit and we approach Jesus immediately through the sacrament of the Eucharist, the Real Presence of Christ. But Joseph didn’t have to go through the Holy Spirit or through sacraments. There was Jesus, as He is for us – really present in the Eucharist.”

Besides holiness, St. Joseph also emulated the virtues of humility and righteousness, Bishop Jugis noted.

“We see as a sign of his holiness, his humility. Look at how much we know about Joseph – almost nothing. That was a sign of his humility. He knew he was not here to make a name for himself. He was not put on earth to seek glory for himself, which is the likes and mission of so many people: to make a name for themselves so that they have a remembrance and a line in history books.

“That was far beyond what Joseph even desired, because he was humble.”

Humility is the foundation of all holiness, he said. “Holiness builds upon our humility, our putting God first because as we diminish, Christ increases, and as Christ increases the holiness of our lives increases.”

St. Joseph’s righteousness, said Bishop Jugis, came from being filled with the love of God and being obedient to God’s commands – not following his own path or the ways of the world, but following God’s commandments to care for Jesus and Mary.

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David Exum Correspondent

MOORESVILLE — Known throughout the world for her crusade to abolish the death penalty, Sister Helen Prejean, author of the bestselling book “Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty in the United States,” will speak Friday, April 4, at St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville, starting at 7 p.m.

Sister Prejean, 75, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph since 1957, has been instrumental in sparking national dialogue on the death penalty. She began her work in prison ministry in 1981, when she dedicated her life to the poor in New Orleans.

From that work, she became pen pals with convicted killer Patrick Sonnier, who was sentenced to death after being convicted of murdering two teenagers in 1977.

At Sonnier’s request, Sister Prejean began visiting the death row inmate and became his spiritual advisor until he was

executed April 5, 1984, at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola.

The experience of advising Sonnier was the catalyst to Sister Prejean’s best-selling book, which was adapted into a major motion picture in 1996. The film received critical acclaim, including an Academy Award to Susan Sarandon for her portrayal of Sister Prejean.

“Dead Man Walking” spent 31 weeks on the New York Times’ bestseller list and has been translated Prejean into 10 languages. Her second book, “The Death of Innocents: An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions,” was published in 2004.

It examines death penalty decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and former President George W. Bush when he was governor of Texas.

Sister Prejean has appeared on numerous radio and television talk shows throughout

the years, including “60 Minutes,” NBC’s “Today Show,” PBS’ “Frontline” and ABC’s “World News Tonight,” and she has received several honorary degrees and awards.

Sister Prejean has witnessed six other executions in her native state of Louisiana and continues to educate people around the world about the death penalty. She also continues to counsel death row inmates and their families.

In an effort to raise ongoing awareness and discussions about the death penalty in the United States, Sister Prejean founded Ministry Against the Death Penalty.

North Carolina has 151 inmates on death row, including two women. More than 1,000 persons have been sent to North Carolina’s death row since the state assumed responsibility for executing criminals in 1910.

Since the state’s capital punishment laws were revised in 1977, 43 men and women have been executed, the last four of whom were executed by lethal injection in 2006.

Sister Prejean’s talk is free. For details, call Carmen San Juan at 704-664-7762.

Youth invited to Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage April 5 BELMONT — Bishop Peter Jugis invites the youth of the diocese to gather and rejuvenate their faith at the annual Lenten Youth Pilgrimage at Belmont Abbey College. This year’s retreat will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5.

The Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage is a precursor to the Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress, which will be held Sept. 19-20 at the Charlotte Convention Center. The theme of this year’s congress is “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

During the day-long event, youth will enjoy live music, a vocations fair and motivational speakers, as well as

Eucharistic Adoration and a Eucharistic Procession on the historic campus grounds.

There will be separate program tracks for middle and high school youths, and the sacrament of confession will also be available with priests of the diocese.

The keynote address will be delivered

by Father Lucas Rossi, parochial vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

Dominican Sister Jane Dominic, professed with the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tenn., will also speak.

Mistress of ceremonies will be Tori Harris.

Marie Miller & Co. and Adam Trufant, a Belmont Abbey College graduate, will also

provide music.

Mass will be celebrated starting at 9:40 a.m., and Bishop Jugis will speak at the Eucharistic Adoration in the afternoon.

Registration for the Lenten Youth Pilgrimage is $15 and is required.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

More online At www. goeucharist. com: Get more information about the Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage and register to attend.

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

Where are you going?

QUO VADIS DAYS II

JUNE 23-27, 2014 * Belmont Abbey College A camp for Catholic men ages 15-25 to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern God’s call in their lives.

www.charlottediocese.org/vocations

OUR PARISHESI

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 OUR PARISHES

A SPECIAL ST. PATRICK’S DAY

St. Patrick Cathedral kicks off its 75th anniversary year SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Several hundred people gathered at St. Patrick Cathedral to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day March 17, but this year’s celebration of patron saint was especially meaningful.

The joyous Mass and Irish-themed festivities launched “a special year of celebration” at the Charlotte parish in honor of the 75th anniversary of the cathedral’s dedication. Bishop Peter J. Jugis announced the start of the anniversary year during his homily at Mass, declaring that the cathedral will be “a place of pilgrimage” for the next 12 months.

“It is inspiring to see the church filled with people this evening,” Bishop Jugis said at the start of his homily, smiling as he greeted the hundreds of “pilgrims” present at the special Mass. “This is the third Mass that we are having today at the cathedral – a worthy way to commence this special year of celebration, celebrating the 75th anniversary of this cathedral church.”

The Mass featured Irish-themed hymns and concluded with a special performance of “Highland Cathedral” featuring bagpiper Mark Adamson and cathedral organist Dr. Gianfranco DeLuca. After Mass, everyone gathered in the parish’s Family Life Center to enjoy Irish food and a special performance by Irish dancers from Rince na h’Eireann School of Irish Dance in Charlotte.

In his homily, Bishop Jugis spoke of what we can learn from the example of St. Patrick. Most importantly, he said, the legendary saint was a man of prayer.

Secondly, he shows us that each of us is called to spread the Gospel, no matter how smart we are or where our lives may take us.

St. Patrick relied on prayer to help him endure being kidnapped and forced into slavery from the age of 16 to 22, he said.

“Those six years he was a slave he was in a foreign country, he did not know the language, he was all alone out in the countryside of Ireland tending livestock.

He was in great distress. But he did not let that condition of solitude and aloneness get him down, or make him depressed or angry or bitter.

“Instead, he turned towards the Lord, asking for His guidance and His presence with him in that horrible affliction he suffered for six years, all alone, no human companionship, just with the animals, out there in the countryside.”

Bishop Jugis continued, “Sometimes in our modern culture when we come upon

Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

(Above left) During his homily at St. Patrick Cathedral on St. Patrick’s Day, Bishop Peter Jugis spoke of the patron saint’s reliance on prayer during difficult times and his call to preach the Gospel to the ends of the known earth. St. Patrick is the patron saint of the cathedral parish in Charlotte.

(Above right) Ryan Ma, the son of parishioners Dr. Arnold Ma and Sarah Ma, dressed up as St. Patrick during the cathedral parish’s special feast day celebration March 17. He is pictured with Father Christopher Roux, pastor and rector of the cathedral. difficulties, afflictions, or problems that depress us and weigh us down, people turn to different ways to medicate themselves out of their problems. It might be through alcohol, or it might be through drugs, or through pornography, or it might be through sitting hours on end in front of the television set, hoping somehow to forget about life.

“Instead, we know as Christians that the remedy is to turn to God. Because all of those other so-called remedies leave us empty. They really don’t satisfy the spirit, which is hurting when we are afflicted, in danger, in sorrow or suffering tremendously, whatever the cause of suffering is.”

St. Patrick knew he needed to rely on God by talking to Him in prayer, and that dialogue with God is what can also sustain each of us through life’s difficulties, Bishop Jugis said.

“That’s what prayer is. Prayer is a dialogue (in which) we talk to the Lord.”

St. Patrick also shows us that we can all

be saints, if we answer God’s call to spread the message of the Gospel in everything we say and do, Bishop Jugis pointed out. Each of us has a role to play in evangelizing others, he said, no matter what our state in life is.

“It is not reserved for the most intelligent, the most articulate, the most beautiful,” he said. “St. Patrick acknowledges that he was not well educated. During the six years when he would have been preparing for a trade, he missed all of that education. He struggled for the rest of his life not being as learned as the other bishops. Inarticulate and uneducated as he was, he was chosen to bring the Gospel to the people of Ireland.”

Quoting from Isaiah 52:10, Bishop Jugis said, “’All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of God.’ That’s what St. Patrick did. He took the Gospel to places it hadn’t been before.”

“May this special year of celebration which is now commencing today on St. Patrick’s Day 2014 be accompanied by

St. Patrick’s Day Mass celebrated at Old St. Joseph Church MOUNT HOLLY — Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in the Charlotte area gathered for Mass at Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly on March 17, part of an annual tradition every St. Patrick’s Day at North Carolina’s oldest Catholic church. Father James Ebright, who is in residence at St. Michael Church in Gastonia, offered the Mass. St. Joseph Church was built in 1843

by Irish immigrants and its first pastor was Father T.J. Cronin, who was also Irish born and is buried at the church. It is the oldest Catholic church still standing in the state and is an official North Carolina and U.S. historical site.

Mike Fitzgerald | Catholic News Herald

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from the Mass

the prayers of St. Patrick as we make our journey this year, and also by his loving presence with his flock here in the Diocese of Charlotte, leading us into closer union with Christ,” he concluded.

Bishop Jugis is encouraging Catholics to make a pilgrimage to St. Patrick Cathedral to pray and go to Mass over the next 12 months.

Catholics receive a plenary (or full) indulgence if they attend Mass at the cathedral on six particular feast days, recite an Our Father and the Creed during their pilgrimage to the cathedral, and within a few days either before or after their visit, receive Holy Communion, go to confession, and pray for Pope Francis’ intentions.

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporary punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven,” according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The special feast days being noted during this year of pilgrimage are: the feast of St. Patrick on March 17, 2014, and March 17, 2015; the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul on June 29, 2014; the anniversary Mass Sept. 1, 2014, in honor of the cathedral’s dedication; the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica on Nov. 9, 2014; and the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Jan. 1, 2015.

“This anniversary year offers a perfect opportunity for parish groups to come on pilgrimage to pray at the cathedral,” Bishop Jugis said in a recent announcement about the cathedral’s anniversary. “The cathedral is the mother church of the diocese. Many new Catholics have moved into the diocese in recent years, and if they have not yet seen their cathedral, St. Patrick’s definitely is worth visiting.”

St. Patrick Cathedral began as St. Patrick Church, built to accommodate the growing presence of Catholics in the Charlotte region. John Henry Phelan of Beaumont, Texas, donated funds to have a church built next to the O’Donoghue School in Charlotte (now St. Patrick School) in memory of his parents. Construction began in March 1938.

On Sept. 1, 1939, Bishop Eugene J. McGuinness of Raleigh dedicated the church under the patronage of St. Patrick, and then on Sept. 4, 1939, the bishop consecrated the church. It became the first church in North Carolina to be consecrated immediately upon completion, and in 1942 it became a parish.

On Jan. 12, 1972, Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Charlotte, and St. Patrick Church was designated its cathedral church.

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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St. Patrick’s Day fun

Photos by Mike Fitzgerald and SueAnn Howell, Catholic News Herald

Members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus helped lead the popular St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Charlotte March 15. The 18th annual parade and celebration of all things Irish drew tens of thousands of people to the streets of uptown Charlotte Saturday.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY Jean Judge and Mary Allen

The kindergarten class at St. Mary Help of Christians in Shelby learned about St. Patrick of Ireland on his feast day and made puppets to take home.

Dancers from Rince na h’Eireann School of Irish Dance in Charlotte performed at a special St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the cathedral’s Family Life Center after Mass March 17.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations At the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: See videos from the cathedral’s musical celebration of its patronal feast

Parishioners enjoyed a breathtaking rendition of “Highland Cathedral,” a popular bagpipe tune written by German musicians Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb, performed by bagpiper Mark Adamson and cathedral organist Dr. Gianfranco DeLuca, at the conclusion of Mass. The special performance has become a favorite at St. Patrick Cathedral every St. Patrick’s Day.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 OUR PARISHES

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ASHEVILLE — Sister Carmen Cruz recently received two awards for her service to children and adults with disabilities. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine and the Hartig Leadership Award were presented at a luncheon honoring her on March 13 in Asheville.

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the most prestigious civilian honor from the governor of North Carolina, recognizes extraordinary service to the state.

The Hartig Leadership Award, presented by the Irene Wortham Center in Asheville, honors professionals and philanthropists committed to improving the lives of those

with developmental challenges.

Sister Carmen, who now lives at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont spent 40 years working with nonprofit agencies in Asheville. She served on the Wortham Center’s board from 2005 to 2013.

Cruz She also was a chaplain with the Asheville Police Department and at St. Joseph and Mission Hospitals in Asheville.

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Bobcats to host ‘Catholic Night’ with Matt Carroll CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Bobcats are inviting all Catholics to come out for “Catholic Night” at its upcoming home game against the Orlando Magic Friday, April 4, starting at 7 p.m.

The special highlight of the evening will be a private speaking engagement after the game with former Bobcats player Matt Carroll, who played seven and a half seasons for Charlotte and recently retired from the NBA. A devout Catholic and parishioner at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, Carroll will host a private question-and-answer session where kids and adults can ask Matt anything they would like.

Hailing from Horsham, Pa., the 6-foot, 6-inch former shooting guard will speak about the importance of growing up in a Catholic family, how he continued to follow

his faith during his career at Notre Dame (1999-2003), how he remained committed to his faith during several seasons in the NBA and, ultimately, what his Catholic faith means to him.

Carroll was recently named Bobcats’ community ambassador. Considered one of the most popular players in franchise history, Carroll represents the team at community programs such as youth basketball camps, educational events, hospital visits, charity outings, speaking engagements and fundraising galas.

To purchase tickets to the game, call 704-Bobcats or visit www.nba.com/ bobcats/bobcats-ticket-central.

Special group ticket pricing is available, starting at $22 per seat. Just enter the promo code “CATHOLIC.” — David Exum, correspondent

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Carolina Catholic Chorale to sing ‘Adoramus te, Christe’ During April, the Carolina Catholic Chorale will sing the Lenten devotional “Adoramus te, Christe” at three locations in the Charlotte area.

The program features 14 polyphonic settings of the text sung as responses to the Stations of the Cross. Presentations are April 4 at 7 p.m. at St. Mark Church, Huntersville; April 7 at 8 p.m. at the Basilica Church of Belmont Abbey, Belmont; and April 11 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte.

Admission is free. Donations are gladly accepted to defray expenses.

For details, call 518-878-5660 or email carolinacatholicchorale@gmail.com.

Human trafficking seminar to be held April 4 CHARLOTTE — A conference detailing the extent of the problem of human trafficking in the Charlotte area will be held Friday, April 4, at the Embassy Suites in Concord. Charlotte is ranked among the top 10 U.S. cities for human trafficking.

This event, sponsored by the Charlotte Area Health Education Center, is particularly designed for social workers and counselors, law enforcement, health professionals, lawyers, and faith-based and community leaders.

For details and to register, go to www. charlotteahec.org or call Rebekah Law at 704512-6054.

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

— Dr. Thomas Savoy

MISSIONARIES: FROM PAGE 3

Initially consisting of only four members when Father Ho Lung left the Jesuits to found the new community, the Brothers of the Poor were approved by the bishop of Kingston, Jamaica, and the order’s name was changed to the “Missionaries of the Poor.” The brothers began their work in a governmentrun house for the homeless destitute and aged, where they raised public awareness of the needs and struggles of the poor. They also ministered to prisoners, where they helped to bring to light the need for rehabilitation among prisoners, not mere isolation.

The Guardian Angels Monastery was established just 30 miles southeast of Charlotte at the invitation of Bishop Peter J. Jugis. Father Ho Lung officially opened the community on the Feast of the Guardian Angels on Oct. 2, 2008.

Father Ho Lung, 75, is a prolific homilist, author, songwriter, playwright, poet and musician who has worked tirelessly for the Church and the poor around the world for more than five decades. He will continue to serve the Missionaries of the Poor, traveling the world preaching and sharing his musicals to raise money for the missions.

In the official decree of appointment read at Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, Archbishop Charles H. Dufour of Kingston recognized Father Ho Lung’s tireless efforts for the missions.

“I wish to express my joy and satisfaction at the work accomplished by the Missionaries of the Poor and institute of religious life of diocesan right founded by the Very Rev. Father Richard Ho Lung over 30 years ago,” Archbishop Dufour stated.

Father Ho Lung was not present for the announcement of the new superior general, as he is leading Lenten missions at parishes in New Jersey this week.

Archbishop Dufour’s announcement explained how the mission’s growth over the past 33 years has also necessitated the election of non-clerics to help govern the organization. Besides Brother General Augusto’s election, four other brothers have been selected to fulfill other roles.

Brother Max Medina is the newly appointed vicar general. Brother Anil Minj will serve as second counselor. Brother Marc Maurice will serve as third counselor. Brother Henry Lozano will serve as fourth counselor.

“I ask the founder and present Superior General whom I express my gratitude and I acknowledge as the ‘soul’ of the M.O.P., to communicate this present decree immediately to the religious of the congregation,” Archbishop Dufour stated in his decree.

Besides accepting his appointment as the order’s new leader, Brother General Augusto renewed his vows at Mass on March 25 after the decree was read by Our Lady of Lourdes’ pastor, Father Benjamin Roberts.

Father Roberts has ministered to the Missionaries of the Poor since 2012, when he was assigned to the parish near the Guardian Angels Monastery in Monroe.

The three other brothers who serve at the monastery then renewed their vows while kneeling before him.

After Mass, Brother General Augusto addressed the congregation, many whom are supporters of the Missionaries of the Poor and had gotten Brother General word about the big Augusto Silot announcement.

“I humbly ask you to please pray for me, that like the Blessed Mother I also may be able to do the will of God and do the duties and responsibilities that have been given me,” Brother General Augusto said. “And also that likewise I may be able to humbly serve and lead like Christ, to serve, and, like St. Paul, I pray that ‘I no longer live for myself but Christ lives in me.’”

Brother General Augusto said his nomination as superior general was unexpected.

“I had no thought of being elected. It was a surprise. I couldn’t believe it,” he said with a laugh. “I still asked the Lord, ‘Really?’ There was like a salutatory fear, like Peter himself. I said, ‘Depart from me Lord, I am a sinful man.’ I just experienced those same feelings, knowing my unworthiness and my weaknesses.”

He said he will miss the mission in Monroe and the Diocese of Charlotte.

“Charlotte will always have a special place in my heart.”

‘Like St. Paul, I pray that “I no longer live for myself but Christ lives in me.”’

OUR PARISHESI

Director of Music Ministries Position St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church Greensboro, North Carolina St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church has an opening for a part-time Director of Music Ministries. Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree in music with experience in choral directing, proficiency in organ and piano performance as well as vocal skills.

Responsibilities include overseeing all choirs and instrumentalists at St. Paul while preparing and conducting the adult choir. The director will select music for liturgies, rehearse with the cantors, provide organ/piano accompaniment for 3 weekend Masses and prepare/direct the adult choir during the week-night rehearsal. Other liturgies and services may require the presence of the director during the church year.

Please submit resume by April 1, 2014 to: Estelle Bowman, Music Coordinator ebowman@stpaulcc.org or mail to 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd., Greensboro, NC 27410.

CCDOC.ORG

Celebrate Spring

Join us for the 28th Annual Spring Fling Catholic Charities invites senior adults from across the diocese to join us for fun and fellowship at the 28th Annual Spring Fling days in Hickory and Charlotte. Come reconnect with friends, while meeting new ones, in a daylong experience where you can learn about health information that could transform your life. Build upon your faith, while enjoying exciting activities and performances, creating wonderful memories and friendships.

• Tuesday, April 29 - Catholic Conference Center 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory, NC 28602 • Tuesday, May 20 - St. Matthew Catholic Church 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277 Visit ccdoc.org for a complete schedule of events and registration forms.

For more information contact Sandra Breakfield at: 704.370.3220 or email sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

HHS MANDATE: FROM PAGE 3

archdioceses and dioceses and various Catholic and religious entities in legal matters largely revolving around religious freedom concerns for more than a decade.

Archbishop Lori, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said the new organization offered Catholic entities the best option to legally challenge the mandate.

“The CBA gives a vehicle for many dioceses that would not find it opportune to bring suit to do so in a manner that has a higher possibility of success. That’s very important.

I also think it is a further expression of our desire to promote and defend religious freedom not just in the abstract but indeed in a very real issue that affects Catholic employers and Catholic employees,” he told Catholic News Service March 12.

“We will understand how to help Catholic employers to obtain morally sound insurance in the most cost effective and least disruptive way,” he added.

In a statement released as the lawsuit was filed, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City said Catholic entities across the country objected to the mandate.

“We as Catholics, regardless of the corporate structure within which we work, cannot in good conscience provide employees with insurance that covers contraception, abortifacients and sterilization, which undermine the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of human life and also jeopardizes the physical and mental health of those who use them in untold ways,” the statement said.

“It is my prayer that the courts will recognize that the federal government has no clear and compelling public interest that justifies burdening our free exercise of religion by requiring us to pay for conscience-violating drugs and procedures,” it said.

Robert M. Gallagher, CEO of the 76-year-old family business, which includes TAN Books and Saint Benedict Press, said in a statement released March 12, “We are pleased to join the Catholic Benefits Association suit as a named plaintiff. Requiring employers like Good Will Publishers to fund contraceptive and abortive procedures against our beliefs is an unprecedented attack on religious liberty, the first of our constitutional freedoms – and the one on which all the others depend.”

Gallagher has been an outspoken opponent of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate since it was announced in late 2011. His company recently filed a friendof-the-court brief in a similar high-profile case involving the Christian-owned chain of craft stores, Hobby Lobby.

That case is now being considered by the U.S. Supreme Court.

At issue in that case is First Amendment arguments that a federal requirement that the owners of the companies provide insurance coverage they morally oppose violates the owners’ Free Exercise rights as well as their rights under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “We are committed to fighting the HHS mandate,” Gallagher said. “We undertake this fight not only for Good Will Publishers – but for the thousands of Catholic business owners whose religious liberty is at stake.”

Gallagher also noted, “If we cease providing health insurance we’ll harm our employees and incur a tax of $375,000 per year. If we maintain a plan that does not offer contraception, sterilization, and abortion-inducing drugs, we’ll face penalties in excess of $6 million per year.”

“Through its narrow definition of a religious employer, its inadequate accommodation for Catholic nonprofit organizations, and its disregard for the religious liberty of the owners of for profit companies, the Affordable Care Act is driving the expression and the exercise of religious

FORWARD: FROM PAGE 3

Todd Wilson, 48, has not only pledged personally to the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign, he also serves on St. Eugene Parish’s campaign organizing committee.

“People are so locally focused in what their church is going to get,” said Wilson, who has taught at Asheville Catholic School since 2012 and also taught for three years at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte. “We all need to take a look at the broader needs of the diocese. We all have to recognize that every church, every school and every mission we have in the diocese is all working together. (The

liberty from the public square,” he said. “This is simply wrong.”

Nussbaum told CNS the Catholic Benefits Association was formed in January after months of discussions. Its subsidiary, the Catholic Insurance Co., was incorporated shortly before the lawsuit was filed.

Nussbaum declined to comment about the case but said the new Catholic association and insurance company were started in response to the requirements of the Affordable Care Act and the ongoing legal cases challenging the HHS mandate filed by numerous religious organizations.

The Catholic Benefits Association is comprised of Catholic employers “committed to providing life-affirming health coverage consistent with Catholic values,” the organization’s website said.

“This is an extremely viable option to provide good quality health care at competitive prices that is compliant with Catholic teaching,” Nussbaum said of the association’s insurance component.

Four archbishops make up the association’s board of directors: Archbishop Coakley, Archbishop Lori, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia and Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle.

In addition to allowing Catholic entities to offer health care coverage in line with Church teaching, the association also will provide legal advocacy to protect the religious liberty of its members, the website said.

The association charges monthly dues of 50 cents per employee with a maximum cost of $2,000 per month. The association also adds what the website describes as a “litigation fee” of $1 per covered employee for legal work related to lawsuit against the HHS mandate. Again, the maximum cost is $2,000 monthly for an association member.

“If the litigation is successful, that fee may be partially refundable,” the website said.

The association’s insurance component is described on the website as an association captive, stop-loss insurance company. The arrangement allows members of the association that offer health care coverage through an insurance carrier or self-funded medical plans to take advantage of stop-loss insurance for unexpected costs they may incur.

Joining such an association allows members to take advantage of reduced costs for the same benefit package offered to employees. Having headquarters in Oklahoma gives the association additional tax advantages, the website said.

The association also allows Catholic entities to join without taking advantage of the insurance component.

In a column in the March 7 issue of The Colorado Catholic Herald, newspaper of the Diocese of Colorado Springs, Nussbaum hinted at some of the arguments that would be part of the lawsuit. He wrote that regulations governing implementation of the Affordable Care Act “includes a seldom noted system of discriminatory religious classifications.”

He said the health insurance law creates four classes of organizations religiously opposed to the mandate: those excused, those who direct a third party to provide insurance coverage, those who are protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and those that must provide the coverage or pay fines up to $36,000 per employee annually.

Nussbaum carefully constructed his argument, outlining how the religious freedom of organizations falling into each classification was being violated even as the government determined that other religious entities met criteria for being exempt from the mandate.

“There is a word for this classification system: discrimination,” Nussbaum wrote. “It is the government choosing religious winners and losers – a practice discredited by 1,600 years of Western history and forbidden in America as an establishment of religion.”

campaign) isn’t specifically about their church, but the diocese as a whole.”

St. Dorothy Church parishioners Greg and Teresa Brandt, who converted to the Catholic faith in 2010, have also made a substantial pledge to the campaign as means to help their parish, St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.

Brandt, 61, a professional business manager for more than 30 years, is the general chairperson for the parish’s campaign.

“We’ve never been shy about getting involved,” he said.

Kelley reminds parishioners, “The Diocesan Support Appeal funds annual operating expenses for diocesan ministries and programs, whereas ‘Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love’ will address long-range extraordinary needs over time,” he said.

FEMCARE: FROM PAGE 5

Parenthood’s Winston-Salem health center, which also performs abortions. From Oct. 1, 2012, to Sept.

30, 2013 (the latest data reported to state regulators), the Winston-Salem abortion mill performed 1,134 abortions – ranking it fourth among the seven abortion mills located within the diocese’s territory.

Besides its Winston-Salem abortion mill, Planned Parenthood Health Systems also performs abortions at its clinics in Chapel Hill, Fayetteville and Wilmington.

But its operations span four states, with health centers also operating in South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. It is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America Inc., the largest abortion provider in the United States founded in 1916 by eugenics activist Margaret Sanger. According to its latest 2012-2013 annual report, Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide performed 327,166 abortions.

According to its annual report, Planned Parenthood Health System’s net revenues from its 12 “health and education centers” declined from $7.4 million in 2011 to $6.9 million in 2012. Since 2012 its Asheville, Greensboro, Wilmington and Winston-Salem centers have received federal grant funding (Title X) to provide services to low-income clients and teenagers, after the state legislature cut all public state funding to Planned Parenthood in 2011 and 2012.

In their statements, Planned Parenthood and Cummings blamed Femcare’s closure on “political challenges” because of state legislators’ “unprecedented restrictions on health care,” including legislation passed last summer that sets up tighter regulations on North Carolina’s 15 abortion clinics, bans abortions based on the child’s gender, and expands conscience protections for health care providers.

That legislation calls for DHHS to adopt procedures making abortion clinics conform to the higher safety standards of outpatient surgery centers like Femcare – the first regulatory overhaul for abortion clinics since 1994. The new law also requires an abortionist to be in the same room as the patient throughout the abortion procedure, preventing so-called “webcam abortions” performed via closed-circuit television. And the new law limits abortion funding under health insurance plans through the federal health insurance exchange and by local governments, so no taxpayer funds will be used to pay for abortion services for state and local government employees. (An exception will allow abortions to protect the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.)

Femcare is one of only two North Carolina abortion clinics regulated by stricter outpatient surgery center rules similar to what DHHS is now reviewing and expected to put in place for all abortion clinics in the state.

Prior to last summer, state health regulators had revoked an abortion clinic’s operating license just twice over the past two decades, and both times that clinic – A Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte – was allowed to reopen a few days after promising to correct the problems.

A Preferred Women’s Health Center’s temporary shutdown last May, and its similarly brief closure in 2007, were the only times state regulators had closed an abortion clinic in nearly two decades – until last summer as state legislators’ scrutiny grew over the actions of regulators who inspect abortion clinics across the state.

DHHS is now reviewing its rules for abortion clinic facilities to align them with existing rules for outpatient surgery centers, such as what Femcare is regulated under.

Since Oct. 1, when the legislation took effect, DHHS staff have been reviewing current clinic rules as well as the rules for outpatient surgery centers. According to a recent report to state legislators, the work to draft new rules is still in the early stages.

One of six people helping to revise rules governing North Carolina’s abortion clinics is the medical director of A Preferred Women’s Health Center. A Preferred Women’s Health Center, the busiest of Charlotte’s three abortion clinics, has a history of health code violations: DHHS has documented more than 40 problems there at least six different times over the past 14 years.

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Salt of the Earth…

Light of the World When we live as people of “salt and light” we are called to enhance the lives of others.

Diocese of Charlotte 2014 Diocesan Support Appeal

There are those among us who are called by God to be the “salt of the earth and light of the world” in a very special way.

They are the priests and permanent deacons who serve the faithful of the diocese in our parishes and missions. They are those dedicated men who enhance our lives and bring the “light of Christ” to each of us.

Did you know?

• there are currently 22 seminarians who hope to someday serve you as a parish priest • the DSA provides approximately one-third of the annual budget for seminarian formation

• when the current permanent diaconate class is ordained in May, the Charlotte diocese will have a total of 115 permanent deacons serving in parishes, missions and ministries.

Thank you for being the “salt of the earth and light of the world” to everyone whose lives are changed by our priests and permanent deacons.

You can make a donation to the Diocesan Support Appeal with any major credit card. Go to https://charlottediocese.thankyou4caring.org/DSAdonations

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD LEFT SIDE PAGE

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Missions in the Philippines “Pick Up The Pieces” With Help From Cross Catholic Outreach Catholic leaders in the Philippines have quietly but efficiently begun to “pick up the pieces” in their storm-ravaged country.

Some, like Sister Eloise David, saw a lifetime of work destroyed in a matter of hours when the super typhoon struck. Still, she insists on moving forward, carried forward by faith, hope — and charity.

“Sr. Eloise and I stood in the middle of a pile of rubble. It was another of the many buildings she had helped construct to better serve the poor. Like those we had toured earlier, it was smashed to splinters when the super typhoon struck this past November. I expected her to be heartbroken, but she wasn’t. As we moved on, her stride

conveyed a sense of purpose; her eyes sparkled with optimism. She has an amazing devotion to the poor.”

Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, said he found the same attitude everywhere he turned. Priests, nuns and Catholic lay leaders were all “rolling up their sleeves” and engaging in recovery plans. His organization hopes to collect donations from U.S. Catholics to support this important work.

“One priest told us about his plans to repair homes for poorest typhoon victims. Another Catholic mission was going to focus on helping families regain their livelihoods,” he said. “Each missionary is responding to the

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needs in their own community, and together they’ll have a big impact. This is why the Catholic Church is so respected among the poor in developing countries. Our priest and nuns aren’t afraid to take part in the heavy lifting. They respond to the problems of the poor. They rise to the occasion.”

Cavnar said he was also impressed by the approach Catholic leaders were taking as they worked toward a recovery. Rather than encouraging hand-outs, the resourceful people Cavnar met seemed intent on involving the poor as a workforce and on adopting an entrepreneurial approach to overcoming problems.

“At one stop along the coast, we talked about donating boats so that fishermen could return to their trade and feed their families.

The leaders had a different idea. They preferred a plan to create a boat building enterprise. That way, they said, they could take part in the construction work, replace the lost boats and create a business capable of employing other poor men and expanding the outreach. I found their spirit and optimism inspiring,” Cavnar said.

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The recovery programs underway in the Philippines also illustrate the effective way Cross Catholic Outreach operates. Rather than solve problems by opening offices and sending U.S. staff, the organization empowers the priests, nuns and parish programs already in place. In this way, its donors’ dollars are used more cost effectively.

“Our goal is to give under-supplied missions the resources they need to better serve the poor. If a feeding program needs food, we supply the food. A clinic can depend on us for medicines. A school can get help with teacher salaries or books.

Through this kind of support, we can empower the Catholic Church’s existing programs,” Cavnar explained.

And now, more than ever, Catholic missions overseas need that help.

To support the worldwide outreaches of Cross Catholic Outreach, use the ministry brochure enclosed in this paper or mail your donation to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01039, PO Box 9558, Wilton, NH 03086-9558. All contributions to the ministry are tax deductible.

Cross Catholic Now Endorsed by More Than 80 Bishops, Archbishops As Cross Catholic Outreach (CCO) continues its range of relief work to help the poor overseas, its efforts are being recognized by a growing number of Catholic leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

“We’ve received an impressive number of endorsements from Bishops and Archbishops — more than 80 at last count,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. “They’re impressed by the fact that we’ve done outreaches in almost 40 countries and that we undertake a variety of projects; everything from feeding the hungry and housing the homeless to supplying safe water and supporting educational opportunities for the poorest of the poor.”

Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis sent one of the more recent letters of encouragement, writing: “It is my hope that this ministry will continue to flourish and reach as many people as possible. I will inform the priests of the Archdiocese of St. Louis of the important work that Cross Catholic Outreach does and elicit

their prayerful and financial support for the service you provide to the less fortunate around the world.”

In addition to praising the work CCO accomplishes, many of the Bishops and Archbishops are also impressed by the unique collaborative relationship Cross Catholic has with the Pontifical Council Cor Unum in Rome. This allows the charity to participate in the mercy ministries of the Holy Father himself. In his praise of CCO, Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati underscored this unique connection.

“Cross Catholic Outreach’s close collaboration with the Pontifical Council Cor Unum is a source of encouragement,” the Archbishop said. “The Holy See has unique knowledge of local situations throughout the world through its papal representatives in nearly two hundred countries and through its communications with Bishops and others who care for the poor and needy in every corner of the world.”

CCO president, Jim Cavnar, explained the significance of this connection.

PHOTO COURTESY OF L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO

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Pope Francis recently met with Cross Catholic Outreach’s president, Jim Cavnar.

“Our collaboration with Cor Unum allows us to fund outreaches in virtually any area of the world and we have used that method in special cases — to help the

victims of natural disasters, for example,” he said.“It only represents a small part of our overall ministry, but it can be a very important benefit in those situations.”

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI RIGHT PAGE

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Modern Day Daniel Faces Own “Lion’s Den” Of Hardships — But Perseveres With Help From American Catholics The biblical story of Daniel centers on one man’s immense trust in God during a horrifying ordeal: a night trapped in a den of hungry lions.

Daniel trusts God to save him, and the Lord sees his innocence and intercedes. The biblical Daniel endured only one night of danger, but for Daniel Namapala, an elevenyear-old orphan in Mozambique, the “lions” threatening his life surround him every single day.

Instead of teeth and claws, little Daniel’s lions are loneliness, fear and desperation. Like the biblical Daniel, all he can do is trust God. When Daniel was 2, his mother died of AIDS. His father left him with his elderly grandmother. He later passed away of the same disease. Daniel has no siblings and no recollection of his parents — not even a single photograph.

Daniel’s elderly grandmother and sole caregiver is very sick and can’t protect him, let alone afford to feed, clothe and educate him. He is often hungry, rarely happy and almost completely reliant on the few dollars he earns in the streets by selling odds and ends he makes.

Millions of orphaned children in

Cross Catholic Outreach (formerly known as Cross International Catholic Outreach), a ministry involved with alleviating poverty among children worldwide.

According to Cavnar, the number of orphaned children around the world has reached a “critical mass,” meaning there are thousands more orphans than potential caregivers.

“An entire generation of parents has been all but wiped out in some places, especially in Africa, due to the AIDS pandemic. There simply aren’t enough grandmothers, aunts or neighbors who can care for orphans,” Cavnar said. “Malaria, tuberculosis and treatable illnesses caused by unsanitary conditions are also to blame. Whatever the cause, innocent children are left behind, and there’s no place for them to turn.”

To help solve this terrible problem, Cross Catholic Outreach partners with local parishes and ministries caring for orphaned children in developing countries. As a result, tens of thousands of children worldwide now lead better lives.

The many ministries Cross Catholic Outreach funds provide food when orphans are hungry; medicine when they are sick;

When Marta was discovered living in a straw shack, she was caring for several younger siblings. Today, she has a home and hope — her life has improved and her future is bright. developing countries share stories similar to Daniel’s. When their parents die as a result of preventable diseases, they have no relatives or neighbors to take them in; they live in dilapidated shacks, are forced to drop out of school, and must work odd jobs to earn a few pennies for food.

Sadly, the number of young children who could tell these heart-breaking stories is vast — literally measured in the thousands.

“The plight of orphaned and vulnerable children in developing countries is extreme because, in most situations, they live in poverty so intense they can’t go to school, see a doctor when they’re sick or even eat each day,” said Jim Cavnar, president of

shelter when they are homeless; educational support when they can’t afford to attend school; and loving counseling when they are hurting. For orphans mired in poverty, the impact of this support is profound. Cross Catholic Outreach’s assistance literally means the difference between a “normal” childhood and a life of despair. For those taken into the program, there is a much better chance of a prosperous adulthood too.

“Reencontro” is one of the key Cross Catholic partners involved in this type of outreach. Reencontro was launched by Catholic lay women who provide services for up to 7,000 poor orphaned or vulnerable children in Mozambique.

Catholic support from the U.S. forever changed Daniel Namapala’s fate for the better.

One of their many “success stories” is Marta Macomb.

Marta was only 13 when her father died and left her, the oldest child in the family, to head the remaining household. She cooked meals, fetched water and rewood, washed clothes and ground corn into our with a mortar and pestle. She and her younger brothers and sisters lived alone in a decrepit shack made of reeds left to them by their parents. At such a young age, she could barely scrape together enough food for her siblings, let alone nd time or money to attend school.

Reencontro discovered Marta and immediately enrolled the family in Reencontro’s programs. No longer struggling to survive, Marta is now a thriving 18-yearold who, thanks to educational support from Reencontro, speaks uent English and has plans to study at the university level.

Left to her earlier fate, she might never have survived, and would certainly not have been blessed with such opportunity.

“Children like Marta are examples of what God can do through Catholic lay missionaries — and through the loving Catholics who support them nancially,” Cavnar said.

Like Reencontro, dozens of Catholic ministries are also dedicated to orphaned and

vulnerable children in countries around the globe, including Ethiopia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Philippines and Mozambique. Many of these also depend on Cross Catholic Outreach for nancial support — and Cross Catholic Outreach remains committed to aiding them in Christ’s name.

“That’s only possible because we continue to have the help and support of American Catholics. It is in their name we make our pledges of support,” Cavnar said. “I’m condent our American benefactors will continue to help us give children like Daniel the resources they need to become successful adults like Marta. When God calls Catholics to help in his name, they always seem to answer — even if it is from the other side of the globe!”

For Daniel, receiving this help will ultimately mean obtaining practical things like food, school and medical care — but it will also mean new hope. The volunteers who have become his mothers and who counsel him will show him what it means to have a family for the rst time.

“Yes, they are my mothers,” Daniel said, “I feel happy when they come to visit me. I pray every day they will never leave me.”

If Cross Catholic Outreach has anything to say about it, Daniel will never face that “lion” of loss again.

How to Help: Your help is needed for Cross Catholic Outreach to bring Christ’s mercy to the poorest of the poor. To make a donation, use the enclosed postage-paid brochure or mail a gift to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept.

AC00892, PO Box 9558, Wilton, NH 03086-9558.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 16

(Arriba, de izquierda a derecha) El Padre Fidel Melo celebrando la Misa en la Capilla del Santo Sepulcro, sitio de la Tumba de Jesús. El Padre Melo orando en el lugar donde Jesús ordenó a San Pedro, “Pastorea a mis ovejas.” A orillas del Río Jordán, el Padre Melo rosea agua del Jordán al peregrino Sergio López durante la reanudación de las promesas de Bautismo de los peregrinos. (Arriba) el Padre Melo y el peregrino Sergio López cargando la cruz durante el Vía Crucis en la Vía Dolorosa (Al lado) Los peregrinos en las afueras de Jerusalén. (Abajo) El Gólgota, lugar de la Crucifixión de Nuestro Señor.

Fotos proporcionadas por Sergio López

Caminando en los pasos de Jesús Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — Veinte-seis católicos hispanos de nuestra diócesis hicieron historia el pasado 10 de Marzo al participar en la primera peregrinación a Tierra Santa del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

La peregrinación llamada “Caminando en los Pasos de Jesús” tuvo lugar del 10 al 20 de Marzo, y contó también con la participación del Padre Fidel Melo, Vicario del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte. El Padre Melo sirvió como guía espiritual para los peregrinos durante la visita a los mismos lugares en donde Nuestro Señor caminó hace 2000 años.

“Con alegría, con gozo, entorno a una fe llena de luz y esperanza, entonábamos cantos en español, rezábamos el Ángelus, el Magníficat, y todo lo que pasaba alrededor se elevaba al cielo junto con el incienso, con nuestras oraciones hacia nuestro Padre Celestial y Creador; valieron la pena las 12 largas horas de vuelo finalmente estábamos en Tierra Santa,” dijo Sergio López, peregrino de la Parroquia Divino Redentor en Boonville.

Los peregrinos visitaron Nazaret; reanudaron sus promesas de Bautismo a orillas del Río Jordán, en donde San Juan Bautista bautizó al Señor. Varias parejas participantes también reanudaron sus votos matrimoniales en Caná, sitio de las Bodas de Caná, donde

Jesús hizo su primer milagro.

“El Mar de Galilea, el Río Jordán, el Mar Muerto, Jericó, Belén y finalmente la gran Jerusalén.

Siempre con fe; siempre con emoción; algunas veces con lágrimas en los ojos, revivimos el Evangelio en los escenarios bíblicos y con nuestra imaginación viajamos a otros tiempos,” dijo López.

El Padre Melo dijo que una experiencia de esta categoría deja memorias inolvidables en los corazones de cualquier católico. “Me impactó la fe de la gente que peregrina a los

santos lugares, y la fe de tantos que en el curso de dos mil años han pasado por esos mismos sitios donde anduvo Nuestro Señor Jesucristo,” dijo el Padre Melo.

“La Biblia cobró vida. La Palabra se nos hizo una realidad. Jesús entró en nuestros corazones y nos preguntamos: ‘¿Por qué nos trajiste aquí Señor?’ ‘¿Por qué yo?’ ‘¿Qué quieres de mí?’

Ahora después de esta hermosa experiencia, Jesús ya no es solo parte de mi vida, ¡Hoy es mi vida! Él es todo para mí, y yo quiero vivir solo para Él,” dijo Carmen García, peregrina de la Iglesia de San Gabriel en Charlotte.

Rosa Elba Gutiérrez, peregrina de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe dijo acerca del viaje que, “Fue una peregrinación donde tuve presente a toda la gente de North Carolina, a toda la Diócesis de Charlotte, y reciban muchas bendiciones desde todos los lugares que visitamos, en cada lugar santo, oraba por ustedes, vale la pena seguir a Cristo.”

“No solo caminamos sus huellas, sino también vimos su rostro (Jesús). En el Huerto de Gethsemaní, en el Calvario, en la Iglesia del Santo Sepulcro. En fin, en todos los lugares que visitamos,” dijo López.

El Padre Melo dijo, “Es como un sueño el poder estar ahí y celebrar la Santa Misa y hacer eco del mensaje de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, y tantos que al paso de los siglos han estado ahí mismo predicando la Buena Nueva. Si se da la ocasión, será para mí un honor regresar por aquellos lugares santos.”

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Un verdadero hombre santo Rico De Silva

D

amas y caballeros, niños y niñas, esta Columna de Fuego es solo para hombres. Pero no se preocupen, madres e hijos(as), porque esta columna está dirigida a los hombres que quieren ser santos de verdad--- y no me estoy refiriendo al famoso luchador mexicano.

Me estoy refiriendo a aquellos esposos y padres de familia que están dispuestos a seguir el ejemplo del hombre más santo que Dios Padre ha creado en la historia de la humanidad: San José, el Esposo de la Santísima Virgen María y Padrastro del Niño Jesús, Hijo Único de Dios Padre.

El pasado miércoles, 19 de Marzo, la Iglesia celebró la Solemnidad de San José, Esposo de la Virgen María. Escribo esta columna porque he observado que la devoción a San José ha decaído mucho en la Iglesia en los últimos 30 años, especialmente entre nosotros los hombres.

El Obispo de la Diócesis de Charlotte, Peter Jugis, dijo en su homilía el 19 durante la Misa que celebró en la Catedral de St. Patrick en Charlotte que, “San José es fácilmente el hombre más santo que ha caminado en la tierra – por supuesto, después de la persona de Jesucristo mismo.” Yo estoy completamente de acuerdo con el Obispo Jugis, y quiero compartir tres ideas básicas acerca de porque es importante para un hombre, especialmente un esposo y padre de familia, el cultivar una auténtica devoción a San José.

Primero que todo, vale la pena aclarar que una auténtica devoción a los santos y a la Santísima Virgen María, que es la Reina de todos los Santos, es un medio para facilitar y llevarnos a una unión más profunda con Nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Jesús es el Rey de Reyes y la Cabeza de la Iglesia que es el “Cuerpo Místico” de

Jesús. En otras palabras, todos nosotros formamos parte del Cuerpo Místico de Cristo, incluyendo a todos los santos. Los santos son ejemplos de carne y hueso de personas que han vivido el Evangelio antes que nosotros. Estas son personas que han practicado una virtud heroica siguiendo a Jesús y que han servido a su Iglesia. Por esa razón, la Iglesia los ha reconocido y les ha otorgado el título de santos en la tierra confirmando que a ellos Dios les ha recompensado con la corona de santidad en el Cielo. Entonces, una verdadera y auténtica devoción a San José debe alentarnos a imitar sus virtudes. Si solo decimos que tenemos devoción a San José, o a cualquier otro santo o santa, pero esa dicha devoción no tiene ningún tipo de influencia positiva en nuestras acciones y nuestra vida cristiana, entonces esta es pura superstición. “¡A Dios rogando, y con el mazo dando!” como dice mi madre.

Segundo, San José era devoto de su familia y estaba claro del rol que Dios le encomendó. Dios le dio el papel a San José de proteger y mantener a Jesús y María, y también la de criar junto con María al Niño Jesús en un hogar santo, siempre obediente a la voluntad de Dios. La razón por la cual llamamos a Jesús, María y José como la “Sagrada Familia” es porque Jesús estaba presente en ese hogar. La pregunta que tenemos que hacernos todos nosotros los hombres que somos esposos y padres de familia es, ¿Hago que Jesús esté presente en mi hogar? Nuestra fe católica considera a la familia como la “iglesia doméstica,” y como tal el hombre debe ser la cabeza del hogar, y la mujer el corazón. Si la respuesta a esa pregunta es no, entonces debemos hacer uso de los medios que la Iglesia nos brinda para aumentar la presencia de Jesús en nuestras vidas. Me refiero

a los sacramentos de la Eucaristía y la Confesión. Para que la presencia de Jesús aumente en nuestros hogares, esta debe aumentar primero en nuestros corazones a través de Confesión frecuente y recibiendo la Eucaristía por lo menos cada domingo.

Tercero, como esposos y cabezas de familia, debemos seguir el ejemplo de la Cabeza y Jefe de la Iglesia que es Jesucristo. Jesús dijo que Él vino a servir y no a que le sirvieran. Para ser más como Jesús y menos como nosotros, Jesús debe incrementar en nuestras almas y nosotros debemos morir de nuestros pecados y “malas mañas.” Es ahí entonces que tenemos que acudir a la ayuda de los sacramentos. Porque para el hombre es imposible, pero para Dios todo es posible.

Concluyo con dos preguntas que solo se pueden contestar individualmente en nuestros corazones: ¿Cuándo fue la última vez que me confesé? ¿Doy el ejemplo a mis hijos en mi hogar y voy a Misa con familia todos los domingos? Examinemos nuestras conciencias y tomemos nuestra fe en serio, y sigamos el ejemplo de San José que siempre fue obediente a la voluntad de Dios y preservó con María la presencia de Jesús en su hogar, y al mismo tiempo trabajó para mantener a su familia con la ayuda de Dios.

Que San José, que es el patrono de todos los esposos y padres, este siempre a nuestro lado y ore siempre por nosotros los hombres para que alcancemos un día la corona de santidad, y que Dios le otorgue a nuestras familias y a nosotros también la Vida Eterna.

Rico De Silva es el Especialista de Noticias Hispanas del Catholic News Herald.

Obispo Jugis designa a la Catedral de St. Patrick como un lugar de peregrinaje CHARLOTTE — La Catedral de St. Patrick está celebrando su 75 aniversario este año, y para marcar esa ocasión el Obispo Peter Jugis ha designado a la Catedral como un “lugar de peregrinaje” este año empezando con la fiesta de San Patricio que celebramos el 17 de Marzo de este año hasta el 17 de Marzo del 2015.

El Obispo Jugis quiere invitar a todos los fieles de la Diócesis de Charlotte a que visiten la Catedral y que oren ahí, y asistan a Misa también durante los próximos 12 meses.

Empezando con la fiesta del patrón de la catedral, el 17 de Marzo de este año hasta el 17 de Marzo del 2015, todos aquellos que visiten la Catedral de St. Patrick durante seis fiestas particulares, de acuerdo al decreto del Obispo Jugis, podrán recibir una indulgencia plenaria (o completa).

Durante su peregrinaje a la catedral, los peregrinos deben decir el Padre Nuestro y el Credo, y unos días antes o después, deben recibir la Comunión, ir a confesarse y orar por las intenciones del Papa Francisco.

Las otras fechas de eventos de aniversario para recibir la indulgencia plenaria son: La Solemnidad de los Apóstoles Pedro y Pablo, el 29 de Junio; la celebración litúrgica del Aniversario de la Dedicación de la Catedral el 1 de Septiembre; la Fiesta de la Dedicación de la Basílica de Letrán, el 9 de Noviembre; la Solemnidad de la María, Madre de Dios, el 1 de Enero y la Fiesta Solemne en la Catedral de St. Patrick, el 17 de Marzo.

— Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Above: A basic Raspberry Pi computer component before it is built and programmed by students; the 3-D printer in action creating a “space monkey” out of plastic filament. At right: CCHS senior Van Kpa checks his Raspberry Pi computer’s programming before he takes his remote control car with camera for a spin in the classroom. photos by Sueann howell | catholic news herald

Not just pi in the sky Raspberry Pi projects mean hands-on engineering for Charlotte Catholic students SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — In room 220 of Charlotte Catholic High School, a detached hand sits on a table, waiting to be assembled and programmed, a tiny camera becomes a future baby monitor and a remotecontrolled car zooms across the floor. Yep, this is the honors engineering class with Greg Tucker, and his students are having fun designing these gadgets using a curious little device called the Raspberry Pi. The Raspberry Pi is a $35 programmable, single-board computer that fits into your hand. It has a Broadcom BCM2835 system on a chip (SoC), which includes a 700 MHz processor, VideoCore IV GPU and either 250Mb or 512Mb of RAM. It does not include a built-in hard disk or solid-state drive, but it uses an SD card – similar to what you’d see in a digital camera – for booting up and data storage. The tiny but powerful computer was developed in the United Kingdom to help promote the teaching of basic computer science in schools. Thanks to a $2,500 grant from the MACS Education Foundation, Tucker’s honors engineering students are spending

their senior year creating their own inventions powered by it.

Tucker was a successful engineer who retired twice, but his wife encouraged him to keep busy. So seven years ago he came to Charlotte Catholic, where he has developed the honors engineering track.

Engineering is all about hands-on education to him, and his classroom is a laboratory where students can explore, test, question and build. And with the Raspberry Pi projects, students can do all of this on a shoestring budget, he says.

“The reason I developed this particular program is because most engineering classes are very disciplined and expensive,” Tucker explains. “I wanted a free-form class using new technology. None of the other classes use Raspberry Pi computers. I run this classroom on less than $3,000 per year – and for an engineering class that’s really good.”

There are a total of 45 students taking the class, working in groups of two or more on each project, which requires hours and hours of programming to execute the specific objectives.

“It’s going to take some groups until graduation to finish these projects. I encourage them only to work on them

in class because I don’t want them to get stressed out and I don’t want the parents to get stressed out. I want to do everything in class so I can help them if they get stuck,” Tucker says. He adds, “It’s a discipline I have to make sure I don’t do any of their projects. They do them and I help them find things, but they are on their own.”

Besides the flexible hand, baby monitor and remote-controlled car, the Charlotte Catholic students are building an FM radio receiver, a garage door opener, a video gaming system, and a means to connect people in Third World countries to distance-learning schools using an old TV. Some projects had parts that could be ordered, but students had to assemble all the parts and program the computer to get it to do what they designed. Other students chose projects that they must build from scratch.

For example, three students – Briana Walsh, Grace Deering and Anmar Jerjees – are creating a Raspberry Pi computer to link to Khan Academy, an online educational website. They hope to make the tutoring videos available especially to people in developing countries who may not be able to afford a computer or have access to the internet.

“This project seemed really useful,” Walsh says.

“If we can help anyone in any way, this would be a good way,” Deering adds.

“Especially in Third World countries where they don’t have internet. A large amount of the world population doesn’t have access.”

“The Khan Academy has videos in a lot of languages,” Jerjees says. “They have subtitles, too. Our idea is if there is one large classroom of students and a monitor, they can learn at their own pace.

This is a fast way to get education to other countries.”

Tucker’s students also use a 3-D printer in the classroom to make plastic parts for their Raspberry Pi projects. Using plastic filament, they program the printer to create some of the parts they need.

“We can actually operate the 3-D printer to make prototypes with it,” says Dylan Haecherl, one of the students who programs the printer for the class. “If you cure the plastic in it correctly, you can make screws, nuts and pretty much anything you need.”

Haecherl, a senior, is planning to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering at Mississippi State University this fall.

“I took the class because I wasn’t sure if I was interested in engineering, but I took it and it changed my mind to go into engineering. I now know I want to go to work for Lockheed Martin or Boeing, or develop unmanned aerospace vehicles,” he says.

That’s music to Tucker’s ears: opening his students’ minds to the possibilities of a career in engineering.

“My purpose is to inspire them to be engineers. You do that by challenging them, and you let them be creative and explore on their own.”

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

‘I thought it was sad how every six seconds a child dies from hunger-related causes.’

Holy Trinity students experience hunger first-hand SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE —Eighth-graders on this year’s retreat for Holy Trinity Middle School students had a first-hand experience with hunger. They were asked to refrain from eating during the annual retreat until the appointed “hunger banquet.”

The retreat, held this year at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden March 11-13, focused on poverty, hunger and food insecurity around the world with correlations to Catholic social teaching and how it calls Christians to respond.

Nearly 300 students participated in the retreat, which also incorporated the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. .

The Charlotte Catholic High School retreat team assisted the middle school students each day, and songs and videos were also used to engage the students.

Diane Buckley, retreat organizer and director of sacramental programs at Holy Trinity Middle, said the retreat is meant to educate and “to meet the students where they are.”

“We used some music videos from contemporary Christian artists. One in particular is ‘Do Something’ by Matthew West. I heard the song on the radio and it really impacted me. When I saw the video I thought, ‘I think the students can relate to this.’”

As an act of solidarity with the millions of men, women and children who suffer from chronic hunger and food insecurity, students were asked to abstain from snacking between breakfast and the “hunger banquet,” which as the culminating activity aimed to demonstrate the disparities between rich and poor that exist.

During the “hunger banquet,” students were divided into three groups: 60 percent of the group represented the developing world’s population which has limited food options; 30 percent of the group represented the developed world’s population, level two, which has greater food security and food options; and the remaining 10 percent represented the

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In Brief

developed world, level one, where there is food security and virtually unlimited food choices.

Students in the first group received a serving of rice and water; students in the second group received rice, water and beans; and students in the third group received a meal with multiple food options. A discussion relating to 90 percent of the world’s population living with food insecurity followed the meal.

Eighth-grader Mekayla Gough said, “I really liked the idea that we were separated into three separate groups and we got certain meals based on the percentage of the world.

We learned about world hunger, which I didn’t really know much about because we are pretty well privileged if we go to this school.

“I thought it was sad how every six seconds a child dies from hunger-related causes.”

Student Chibby Obu said he was surprised at just how much of the world lives in poverty. “I never thought it was that big of a number. It inspired me to think about ways I can always be helping end world hunger, like making sure I always donate to my food drive at my church.” Obu added, “I am baking muffins for the muffin ministry at my parish (St. Matthew Church) this week.”

Daniel Allson said, “Our age group usually likes videos, so they used videos and stuff like that, which I liked. I did know there was a lot of poverty, but I didn’t know how little food they got every day. After the retreat, I went to the homeless shelter and I gave out drinks there. That helped me reach out to people in poverty in our community.”

Buckley said she heard some interesting comments from the students on the retreat.

“One of the boys who was at the developed world table, where he got a whole meal, he said he felt like he was cheating the rest of the world. He felt happy that he had this, but he felt slightly guilty. There was a lot of that type of response from people, where it just raised the awareness level – which was one of the main intentions of the retreat.”

As a tangible action to address food

the Young Author’s Contest in November, sponsored by the North Carolina Reading Association. The 2013-’14 theme was, “Happily Ever After: What’s Your Story?” Of the 300 stories submitted in Forsyth County, only 20 advanced to the state level, and that group included five St. Leo students: Allison Dell, Bobby Peters, Nicolas Rivera, Liam Lang and T.J. Boland. They attended the awards ceremony March 20 at Kimmel Farm Elementary School with their parents and fifth-grade teacher Beth Newton, computer teacher Sally Barker, and Principal Georgette Schraeder.

— Donna Birkel

Silence is golden for these St. Gabriel students

St. Leo students submit essays WINSTON-SALEM — Fifth-graders from St. Leo School in Winston-Salem entered

CHARLOTTE — Fourth-grade students at St. Gabriel School went silent for four hours March 19 as part of their observance of Lent.

Teachers continued their lessons as usual, but students refrained from speaking from 8 a.m. to noon. The students each wore a “Silence Speaks” sticker and communicated through notepads and little signs on their desk for

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Charlotte Catholic speaker sparks student petitions David Hains Director of Communication

photo provided by diane buckley

World hunger stats 842 million people do not get enough food to be healthy. They go to bed hungry every night.

One-third of the deaths of children under five worldwide is caused by malnutrition.

One-fourth of the children in countries of the developing world are physically and mentally stunted from malnutrition.

1.2 billion people live on only $1.50 a day.

insecurity, each student was asked to talk about the retreat with extended family members and friends and to ask for donations of dried beans and rice. The beans and rice were donated to assist the Missionaries of the Poor of Monroe in feeding hungry families in the Charlotte diocese.

Buckley noted, “We’re trying to help students to learn, to reach them in a way that is going to be powerful for them, and then to empower them. They have the knowledge and they know the precepts of the Church about reaching out particularly to the poor, so (we hope) that they will in their parishes or other venues reach out and do something.”

“restroom,” “Answer,” and “question/help.”

The class got the idea for the Lenten activity from a book they read, “A Dog Called Homeless” by Sarah Lean, in which a girl volunteers to do a Sponsored Silence for the hospice center at St. Jude’s. She is sponsored by school mates, parents, etc.

The St. Gabriel students obtained sponsorships for each half hour of silence, to raise money for Catholic Relief Services’ Rice Bowl campaign for Lent. The school’s campaign was kicked off in early March with a special visit from CRS’ president and CEO, Dr. Carolyn Woo. — Michele Snoke

CHARLOTTE — An online petition started by a student at Charlotte Catholic High School is questioning the views of a speaker at a recent assembly who spoke on human sexuality. Parents have been invited to a meeting at the school at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 2.

The petition began after a talk by Sister Jane Dominic Laurel, a Dominican from Nashville, Tenn., and a frequent speaker in the Diocese of Charlotte. She spoke to an all-school assembly March 21 on “Masculinity and Femininity: Difference and Gift,” which explains Catholic teaching about gender using Blessed Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. Sister Jane, who has a doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, gave similar talks to youths and parents at St. Mark Church in Huntersville on March 23.

Her talk was based on a series of instructional videos she created for Aquinas College in Nashville where she is an associate professor. According to the www.newmanconnection.com website where the videos are posted, the presentations focus on the differences between the genders, the role of the family in nurturing each child’s unique gifts, the importance of real friendships and emotional intimacy, and the impacts of contemporary culture and the media on our concepts of sexuality. School officials said she spent about half of her hourlong talk on homosexuality including the correlation between the decline of fatherhood in America and the rise in homosexuality.

It was that portion of her talk that sparked the petitions and emails. One email asked readers to contact school and diocesan leadership to express their support for Sister Jane. School officials say a majority of the emails they have received oppose the views expressed by Sister Jane.

The petition opposing the visit, online at www.change.org had more than 1,700 names – some real, some fabricated – as of press time Wednesday. The petition states, “We found some of (sic) ideas expressed to be both offensive and unnecessarily derogatory.”

The petition lists 10 objections to Sister Jane’s talk concluding with “We the students of Charlotte Catholic High School are confused why time was spent condemning the practice of homosexuality,” it said in part.

Another online petition at www.change.org solicits prayers for Father Matthew Kauth, the school chaplain who arranged Sister Jane’s visit. At press time, it had nearly 200 names.

When reached by telephone, Sister Jane said she has given similar talks more than 80 times in 25 states. She also said she presents the Catholic viewpoint toward persons with same-sex attraction by saying, “Homosexual persons do not need our judgment, they need our compassion.”

Father Roger Arnsparger, diocesan vicar for education said, “Our students are bombarded with confusing messages about sexuality. Our task in religious formation is always to help people understand the meaning of love and relationships.”

Sister Jane will return to the diocese in May, when she is scheduled to address the Diocesan Youth Conference at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

DÉJÀ VU

Another amazing 3-point shot clinches ninth state title for Bishop McGuinness

Putnam nails half-court shot to win championship for girls team; echoes boys’ recent heart-stopping title win David Exum Correspondent

KERNERSVILLE — Alex Putnam has no doubt that a higher power is watching over her and her classmates at Bishop McGuinness High School.

After hitting an incredible three-point shot to win the 1A state women’s championship game March 15 against Riverside Williamston, 61-58 – the team’s ninth straight title – Putnam can now be added to the same annals of basketball greatness as fellow classmate Spencer Wilson, a cancer survivor who nailed a 50-foot buzzer-beater Jan. 17.

“We definitely have someone looking over us at Bishop McGuinness,” Putnam told the Catholic News Herald. “All of the hard work we have put in over the months has really paid off. Someone was looking over us and said, ‘You know, they deserve it.’”

Putnam, whose miraculous shot was her only points of the game, doesn’t remember seeing the ball fall into the basket.

“I thought the ball was kind of online, but I was thinking there was no way it was going to go in,” she said. “I thought it would just bounce right off the backboard, but somehow the ball just died on the basket and rolled in. I was just going through a whirlwind of emotions, and it’s something that you really can’t put into words.”

Putnam grabbed the ball after Riverside’s Kayla Jones missed her second free throw, and instead of dishing it off to another player, the junior guard marched up the floor and gambled.

“I was in complete disbelief,” said Putnam, who can be seen pumping her arms in jubilation in a YouTube video. “I don’t even remember seeing it go in or anything. I just remember getting tackled by my teammates. We weren’t even supposed to get a shot off at the end of the game and a minute before we were all thinking that this might be the end of the streak.”

Divine intervention might possibly have been working in Bishop McGuinness’ favor.

According to head coach Brian Robinson, it was a broken play.

“The play was supposed to go to anyone but Alex. She was supposed to take the ball out,” Robinson told www.highschoolot.com. “It ended up in her hands. Sometimes, things like that happen. It was an amazing shot. I was out there looking for someone to hug. I was out there all by myself.”

Putnam said at the end of the game she was rushed into a press conference to meet with the media and didn’t have any time to talk to Robinson about what she did.

“The play wasn’t even designed to go to me,” said Putnam. “I was just supposed to take the ball out after she made her free throws. That’s what was supposed to happen.”

Putnam said she has spoken to Wilson about her heart-stopping heave and said they both agree they are “truly blessed.”

Celebrating the 97th Anniversary Of Our Lady’s Appearance at Fatima July 16 – July 29, 2014 Join Father John Putnam and Father Christopher Roux on the Fatima Peace Pilgrimage to Portugal and Santiago de Compostela, Spain Total Cost from Newark – $2,800 (Price includes air-fare, meals, accommodations and side trips. Taxes not included)

Registration deadline: April 25 For more information, contact:

Te Deum Foundation, Inc. 336 -765-1815 or Carol Stefanec (evenings) 804-346-3049

Our pilgrimages support seminarians and foster vocations.

For more information, visit www.tedeumfoundation.org

Photo provided by WRAL

Alex Putnam’s teammates mob her after her game-winning shot.

Globetrotter surprises St. Patrick students, talks bully-prevention skills CHARLOTTE — Harlem Globetrotters’ Derek “Dizzy” Grant surprised students at St. Patrick School March 17 to talk about the “ABCs of Bullying Prevention.”

“As a Harlem Globetrotter, we are ambassadors of goodwill, and we teamed up two years ago with a national campaign to stop violence and bullying in schools,” Grant said. “This program definitely means a lot to me. I had to deal with the same things they have to deal with. I wasn’t always a Harlem Globetrotter. I got picked on, but fortunately I found a way to deal with it. I had great parents who guided me through it and helped me with it. That’s why I’m here today, to hopefully do the same for the children coming up.”

Grant was greeted with loud cheers by third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students in the school’s gym.

He spelled out to them the “ABCs of Bullying Prevention”: action, bravery and compassion.

Ultimately, the best thing to do when confronting a bully is to walk away from the situation, he noted. “Bullies love an audience. So, as I got older, I would just walk away and go tell a teacher if the bully followed me. And nine times out of 10, he would stop.”

After the talk, Grant made sure

the students also had time for some Globetrotters’ fun and games, where he taught them some of the team’s famous ball-handling moves.

— Rico De Silva

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more and see a video from Harlem Globetrotters’ Derek “Dizzy” Grant’s visit to St. Patrick School

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Youth Minister Photo provided by Donna Birkel

Disability doesn’t stop St. Leo grad from competing in first 10K David Exum Correspondent

WINSTON-SALEM — St. Leo School provided not only an enriching Catholic education for Lisa Pubantz during her formative years, it also provided several life lessons that she continues to use today.

For instance, despite being born with spina bifida, Pubantz, 36, spent more than two years training to compete in her first lengthy road race: the St. Leo’s 10K on March 15.

“It was amazing,” says Pubantz, who had competed in five 5K events previously. “I finished last, so I was expecting most of the people to have gone home by the time I finished, but to see that several people had stayed at the finish line area to cheer on my finish was quite humbling. I feel deeply blessed to live in a community where so many people not only want to see me succeed, but also celebrate my successes and achievements with me.”

As a student at St. Leo’s, Pubantz learned immediately not to shy away from her disability. If classmates didn’t understand her disability, Pubantz educated them and developed friendships that made her a more compassionate person, she says. Her education at St. Leo’s also helped her to become more independent.

“Attending St. Leo’s School prepared me in very significant ways for life’s challenges.

I was the only physically-disabled student in my class (and probably within the school at the time), so I was faced with the challenge of knowing that I was different.”

Since becoming involved in road racing more than two years ago, Pubantz has been exercising regularly at the William G. White Jr. Family YMCA in Winston-Salem.

In an effort to get her body prepared for competition, Pubantz uses free weights and weight machines to strengthen her upper and lower body muscles. Free weights for her arms are especially important because she races in a wheelchair. She also participates in an exercise class called BodyFlow, which consists of yoga, pilates and t’ai chi exercises. A week before the St. Leo’s 10K event, Pubantz walked a few laps with the assistance of leg braces and crutches to loosen up any tightness in her leg muscles.

Completing her first 10K event wouldn’t have been possible without the support and encouragement from trainers Tim Gribble and Tonya Ward at the White Jr. Family YMCA. While Gribble helped Pubantz prepare for the 10K event, and Ward raced right alongside her during it.

Gribble assisted Pubantz in pretty much every aspect of her weight lifting and conditioning training.

“Tim would inspire me by always believing in my abilities, even when I had my own doubts,” says Pubantz, who graduated from Bishop McGuinness High School in 1996 and St. Andrews University in 2001. “He was a really huge support for me both in the days and weeks before the race and on the day of the race. Even though it was tough to take sometimes, I was mostly inspired whenever Tim would push my physical abilities past the point that I thought was their limit.”

Gribble was also there when Pubantz didn’t think she had anything else to give in terms of training. During one of her training sessions, Pubantz recalls, she didn’t think she could keep walking on the track after two laps. But after a short respite, Gribble encouraged her to walk two more.

“Tim stayed by my side the whole time and encouraged me to take one more step ... one more step ... until one more step turned into completing all four laps.”

During the closing portion of the 10K, with Ward right by her side for support, Pubantz was met by a surprise visitor.

“Having Tim right there for that last little bit gave me the boost I needed to finish strong even when I was so exhausted.”

Ward, meanwhile, acted as a driving force to help Pubantz reach the finish line with a time of 02:07:59.893. Ward kept Pubantz hydrated and motivated, and when she was getting frustrated with dealing with the steep hills, Ward said they were simply “gentle slopes.”

“Tonya always inspired me to stay positive even when the reality of the situation seems to be stacked against me.

Tonya would always take my negative realities and put a positive spin on them so that I could find something good in every situation I was faced with.”

Pubantz definitely wants to continue road racing, and with the help of both Gribble and Ward, she plans to participate in a Spartan race sometime in 2015. A Spartan race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty. Pubantz is also considering competing in a halfmarathon later this year.

“The road racing bug is in my blood now. I’m already looking forward to doing the March of Dimes March for Babies 5K (April 12) in Winston-Salem, and I will probably do more races in Winston-Salem throughout the year.”

St. Andrew’s Parish, a Vatican II inspired parish of 1800 households in Roanoke, VA, is seeking a full-time Youth Minister. Responding to a parish mandate for an increased outreach to our middle/high school youth, this person will be expected to be guided by Renewing the Vision (USCCB). Ability to collaborate with pastoral staff and youth/adult leadership is essential. Experience in parish liturgical and musical life is desirable.

Resumes should be forwarded to Jill Blanchard at jblanchard@standrewsroanoke.org or St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, 631 N Jefferson St., Roanoke, VA 24016 by April 30, 2014.

CCDOC.ORG

Refugee Employment Each year nearly 400 new refugees are resettled in the Charlotte area.

A dedicated team of professionals at Catholic Charities works closely with these refugees to prepare them for the local workforce. If you are a small business owner or hiring manager we would like to invite you to learn about potential employment opportunities. Catholic Charities will host two informational workshops at St. Gabriel Catholic Church (3016 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC 28211). With a strong work ethic and determination to succeed, refugees can help your business grow.

• April 7 at 6:30 p.m.

• April 28 at 7:30 a.m.

Serve your community by hiring reliable and hardworking refugees. Visit ccdoc.org for more information about refugee employment or call 704.370.3283.

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On TV n Saturday, March 29, 8 p.m. (EWTN)”La Notte Del Profeta – Night of the Prophet.”Through the eyes of a Roman journalist, a dramatization of Padre Pio, who is unveiled as a man of purity and Christian charity.

In Brief

n Sunday, March 30, 10 p.m. (EWTN) “Heart of the Matter Focus: The Life and Legacy of John Henry Cardinal Newman.” Father Daniel Seward, Monsignor Keith Barltrop, Leoni Caldecott, Clare Coggins and Father James McCaffrey look at the life and legacy of Blessed John Henry Newman. n Thursday, April 3, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “Fourth Week of Lent: Jesus Heals the Blind.” From the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Portsmouth, England, Father Jamie McGrath, Episcopal Vicar for Education for the Diocese of Portsmouth, speaks on the Fourth Week of Lent, focusing on the healing of the blind man.

‘Need for Speed’ The nearly plot-free milieu of director Scott Waugh’s action flick may appeal to young men who prefer their car chases uncomplicated. But many others will find his big-screen version of the eponymous video-game series morally troubling. Illegal city street racing, at great hazard to passers-by, is glamorized, while the pedal-to-the-metal rivalry between an ex-con (Aaron Paul) and his principal competitor (Dominic Cooper) is fuelled by the convict’s thirst for revenge. Things reach a low point as the speed junkies heedlessly destroy the possessions of a homeless man. Reckless street racing, some crude and crass language.

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

‘Divergent’ In post-apocalyptic Chicago, independent will is eliminated, and each person is assigned, at age 16, to a social faction with a specific duty.

One shy young woman (Shailene Woodley), however, discovers that she has a rare gift: she is a “Divergent,” capable of adapting to any group she pleases. Director Neil Burger’s exposition-heavy screen version of Veronica Roth’s novel pushes the boundaries of mayhem to the limit, placing the film squarely outside the proper reach of younger teens. Intense violence, including scenes of torture.

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

‘God’s Not Dead’ Earnest but ineffective message movie in which a college freshman (Shane Harper) takes up his militantly atheistic philosophy professor’s (Kevin Sorbo) challenge to prove God’s existence to the satisfaction of his classmates.

He does so despite the active discouragement of his believing but ambitious girlfriend (Cassidy Gifford), who thinks he should go with the flow to avoid ruining their perfect future together.

There might be the kernel of an intriguing documentary buried within director Harold Cronk’s stacked-deck drama about academic hostility toward religion, but even faith-filled moviegoers will sense the claustrophobia of the echo chamber within which this largely unrealistic story unfolds. Mature themes, brief domestic violence, a potentially upsetting accident scene, vaguely implied cohabitation.

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

Additional reviews: n ‘The Wind Rises’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Muppets Most Wanted’: CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG

n Thursday, April 3, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Let Us Love: Compassion for Those with HIV/ AIDS,” Monsignor Figueiredo visits a home where HIV/AIDS patients are treated with the love and medical attention they need.

Also, share memories of Mother Teresa with Cardinal Marc Ouellet, and study St. Damien of Molokai, who had the courage to work with lepers.

Miami Catholic hopes app will help people ‘fall in love with the Mass’ Ana Rodriguez-Soto Catholic News Service

MIAMI — Want to learn more about the Mass? As the ad says, there’s an “app” for that. And what an app!

Called “Mass Explained,” it was created by a local Catholic, Dan Gonzalez, who made it completely interactive, with pictures, sounds and links to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Church documents and much more.

Want to hear the Jewish blessing that precedes the breaking of bread, a blessing that finds echoes in the first prayer said by the priest during the Liturgy of the Eucharist? Touch the link on the app.

Or spin a 3-D image of a sixth-century Byzantine cross. Or listen to the Kyrie (Lord have mercy) as set to music by Bach and Haydn. Or zoom to explore a detail in Caravaggio’s “The Supper at Emmaus.”

At the end of last year, “Mass Explained” became the first app to receive an imprimatur – seal that it is free from doctrinal error – from Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski, as well as an OK from the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship.

It is now selling on the App Store for download to any iPad running IOS v6

or higher. There is a website for the app, where a video can be viewed to learn all of its features: www.massexplainedapp.com.

Gonzalez, a parishioner at Our Lady of the Lakes in Miami Lakes and a graphic artist by training, has devoted the past 20 years of his life to this “deeply personal” project, which grew out of his own ignorance and quest for answers about the Mass.

“If people would understand the Mass, they wouldn’t leave the Church,” he said matter-of-factly. “Once you understand the Mass it’s like St. Peter said, ‘To whom should we go?’ You can’t go anywhere else.”

It was Gonzalez’s own experience in college that triggered his quest for answers. A Miami native who had never seen snow, he found himself completing his bachelor’s degree in graphic design at the Rhode Island School of Design, after graduating from Miami’s New World School of the Arts.

Immersed in snow and culture shock, he became friends with a fellow student who was not Catholic. Gonzalez was a cradle Catholic who had attended public schools and received religious education MASS APP, SEE page 23

n Saturday, April 5, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Giuseppe Moscati – Doctor of the Poor.”

The story of St. Giuseppe Moscati, and the plight and struggles of the poor and homeless of Naples in the early 20th century, during a time of great inequality and poverty. n Saturday, April 5, 11 p.m. (EWTN) “Thirst for Truth, Battle for Souls – Know Thyself: The Importance of Growing In Self-Knowledge.” Father Wade Menezes preaches on the importance of knowing our own sins and weaknesses to advance in the spiritual life. n Monday, April 7, 3:20 p.m. (EWTN) “Rome’s Hidden Churches: St. Chrysogonus.” Dr. Timothy O’Donnell explores the church of St. Chrysogonus, named after a martyr who refused to deny the faith and was beheaded at the command of Emperor Diocletian. n Tuesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Our Lady of the Lily: A Meeting Point of Art and Faith.” Restored in 1660, the Venetian church known as Our Lady of the Lily was founded in the ninth century by the Zubanico family. n Wednesday, April 9, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) ”Reflections of Glory, Origin of Icons.”

Catholic viewers are given an inspiring look at the history, development and meaning of iconography. n Thursday, April 10, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Fifth Week of Lent: The Raising of Lazarus.” From the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Portsmouth, England, Father Michael Dennehy, Vicar General for the Diocese of Portsmouth, speaks on the Fifth Week of Lent, detailing the dramatic raising of Lazarus from the dead.

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

MASS APP: FROM PAGE 22

at his parish – but not much more.

“I had never been involved with my faith at all. I went to church because my mother wanted me to,” he recalled in an interview with the Florida Catholic, newspaper of the Miami Archdiocese.

His friend, on the other hand, knew everything about the Bible. He could quote chapter and verse and “what he was saying was very interesting to me.” He began attending a nondenominational Bible study, then Sunday services, with his friend. He recalls that the preaching was great. For three months, he stopped going to Mass.

But inside, he felt something was missing. One night, he had a dream.

“I’ve never had a dream like this before or after. I’m not crazy,” Gonzalez said. “The dream said, ‘The reason you’re not comfortable is because I’m not there in the flesh.’”

Spooked, he shared his experience with a Franciscan priest at nearby Brown University – where he used to attend Mass.

The priest told him about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

“We really believe this?” Gonzalez asked him. “I’d never heard that before. At that point, I said I need to learn as much as I can about this Mass.”

He started in 1993, consulting priests and reading books by liturgists and theologians.

He learned “there is a historical meaning for every prayer, every gesture, everything that we do at Mass. Understanding that makes the Mass come alive.”

The research has taken up most of his spare time – and money – for two decades.

He originally envisioned a 23-chapter

book, with volume 1 – on the first part of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word – taking up 400 pages. But self-publishing a tome that big proved “outrageously expensive.”

When the iPad came along, he thought, “This is the perfect way that I can re-purpose the content of the book,” not to mention add videos and music and other links.

He’s made it as “visually compelling as possible,” he said, and wants people like him “to fall in love with the Mass.”

In fact, the “Mass Explained” app is being sold individually on the App Store for $24.99 and through Apple in Education at a bulk price of $11-$12 per student.

“My main thrust is education and having it in the parochial schools,” said Gonzalez, who is now married and the father of a 5-year-old and a 4-year-old.

“This new app on the liturgy will be very helpful to both those not only in high school but also those involved in adult religious formation,” said Monsignor Terence Hogan, director of the Miami archdiocesan Office of Worship.

He spent three months vetting the app for doctrinal accuracy at Archbishop Wenski’s request. “It is well-researched and presents the history and theology of the holy Mass in a very informative way, using the latest in technology which will be appealing to all ages,” Monsignor Hogan said.

Eventually, Gonzalez hopes to create an Android version, but 3-D images are not possible yet on that platform. And if volume 1 sells, he hopes to complete volume 2: the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

“This project is the fire that gets me out of bed each morning and gives purpose,” he wrote in an email a while back. “I really hope, being that it is on an iPad, that it will strike a chord with a younger audience – maybe some who have strayed away from the Church or see little relevance in the Mass.”

23

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Our nation 24

catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Frustrations over inertia on immigration reform bring pressure for fixes

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Stolen funds recovered from U.S. Pontifical Mission Societies

Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

NEW YORK — Following an 18-month investigation, the Pontifical Mission Societies announced March 25, in a joint statement with the Office of the New York State Attorney General, the recovery of some $1.1 million in funds stolen by a now-deceased official of the organization. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman praised the Pontifical Mission Societies for its full cooperation in the investigation, including for reporting financial irregularities as soon as the staff discovered funds were missing and verified they had been diverted.

Mich. bishops: Ruling to allow gay ‘marriage’ ‘regrettable’ LANSING, Mich. — A U.S. District Court judge’s March 21 ruling that Michigan’s ban on samesex ‘marriage’ is unconstitutional does not change the fact “marriage is and can only ever be a unique relationship solely between one man and one woman,” said the state’s Catholic bishops. “Nature itself, not society, religion or government, created marriage. Nature, the very essence of humanity as understood through historical experience and reason, is the arbiter of marriage, and we uphold this truth for the sake of the common good,” they said in a statement released by the Michigan Catholic Conference in Lansing. “The biological realities of male and female and the complementarity they each bring to marriage uniquely allows for the procreation of children,” they said. The Catholic conference is the public policy arm of the state’s bishops.

April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, a Detroitarea couple who are raising three children together, filed suit in 2012 to challenge the voter-approved ban on same-sex ‘marriage.’

U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman in Detroit overturned the same-sex ‘marriage’ ban – which voters passed overwhelmingly in 2004.

Shrine tribute to late pope WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. bishops’ March 19 designation of a center in Washington as the St. John Paul II National Shrine reflects U.S. Catholics’ love for the late pope, said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky. As president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he signed the decree declaring the designation for the site of the former John Paul II Cultural Center. It takes effect April 27, the day Pope Francis will canonize Blessed John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII.

Cardinal George out of hospital CHICAGO — Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, 77, was released from Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood the afternoon of March 21, according to a press release from the archdiocese. He had been hospitalized briefly for flulike symptoms and dehydration. On March 7, the archdiocese announced Cardinal George will undergo additional chemotherapy to address “current signs of activity of cancer cells surrounding his right kidney.” The cardinal was diagnosed with urothelial cancer in 2012.

— Catholic News Service

CNS | Tyler Orsburn

Supporters and opponents of a federal contraceptive mandate for employer health plans gather in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., March 25. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in lawsuits filed against the mandate by Hobby Lobby Stores and Conestoga Wood Specialties on religious rights grounds.

Court hears arguments in challenge to HHS mandate Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Oral arguments in two cases before the U.S. Supreme Court March 25 focused on whether for-profit corporations have religious grounds to object to the new health care law’s requirement that most employers provide contraceptive coverage in their employee health plans.

Crowds on both sides of the issue gathered outside the Supreme Court on a cold, snowy morning, holding aloft signs and chanting for their cause.

Inside the court, the arguments lasted for 90 minutes, an extension of the usual 60 minutes, and the justices in their questions for the lawyers arguing the cases seemed divided on the issue.

At the center was a close inspection of the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, known as RFRA, which allows for religious exceptions to general laws in certain circumstances.

The cases – Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius – made their way to the Supreme Court after federal appeals courts issued opposite rulings about the companies’ claims to a religious rights exemption to the contraceptive mandate of the health care law.

At issue is the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that most employers, including religious employers, provide employees coverage of contraceptives, sterilization and some abortion-inducing drugs free of charge, even if the employer is morally opposed to such services.

Both secular businesses claim the contraceptive mandate of the health care law violates the First Amendment’s free exercise clause and their religious liberty rights under RFRA. The 1993 law says the government

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more about this case and the other legal challenges to the HHS contraception mandate

“shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” unless that burden is the least restrictive means to further a compelling governmental interest.

The legal question is whether RFRA protects a for-profit company from having to provide a benefit to which employees are entitled under federal law but to which the owners have religious objections.

Hobby Lobby is an Oklahoma-based chain of more than 500 arts and crafts stores with more than 13,000 employees owned by a Christian family, the Greens. Conestoga Wood Specialties is a Pennsylvania-based kitchen cabinetmaking company with 950 employees owned by a Mennonite family, the Hahns.

Conestoga Wood Specialties objects to complying with any portion of the mandate. Hobby Lobby is not opposed to covering birth control in its employee health plan – and in fact already provides that benefit. What the Green family objects to is being required to cover contraceptive drugs considered to be abortifacients, such as the morning-after pill and Plan B. Rulings in the two cases are expected to be handed down in June.

The court is likely to hear arguments in the fall in suits brought by nonprofit faith-based employers who believe that the exemptions and accommodations offered by the government for the health care law are not broad enough.

There are currently 93 lawsuits challenging the mandate.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — As frustration grows over the lack of progress on immigration reform and protests about the high number of deportations become more widespread and dramatic, President Barack Obama March 13 and 14 told activists he would consider ways to ease the effects of strict enforcement.

The announcement came as immigrants facing deportation have been waging hunger strikes in detention centers and religious leaders, immigrants and other activists have been participating in advocacy campaigns involving fasting, prayer and public actions. Meanwhile, the House passed two bills aimed at reining in the kind of administrative steps Obama might take.

In a meeting at the White House with congressional Hispanic leaders March 13, Obama said he would ask Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson to “do an inventory” of current practices related to deportation and “see how it can conduct enforcement more humanely within the confines of the law,” said a readout on the session from the White House.

A day later, Obama, Johnson and other key administration officials met with representatives of more than a dozen organizations working for comprehensive immigration reform. The president reiterated his concern for the pain faced by families affected by deportation, but said a permanent solution to the problems of the immigration system must come through “meaningful comprehensive legislation,” according to the White House.

Some participants in the meeting told reporters or issued statements saying that while they encouraged administrative actions to ease the effects of deportation, they also agree it’s up to Congress to fix the whole system.

Two years ago, Obama created the program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which provides a way for young adults who came to the United States as minors to avoid deportation. While more than half a million people have been approved for DACA, the administration also has been deporting people at record rates – about 2 million have been deported since Obama took office.

Earlier in the week, a group of Catholic bishops and evangelical leaders made the rounds of congressional offices, including Boehner’s, to push for immigration reform. In a press release about the sessions, the leaders said the broad consensus among Catholics and evangelicals in support of immigration reform illustrates the importance of the issue.

Our world

March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Boston cardinal, abuse survivor among members of Vatican commission

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief British government bans burning of fetuses to heat hospitals

Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, four women – including a survivor of clerical sex abuse – two Jesuit priests and an Italian lawyer are the first eight members of the new Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Pope Francis established the commission in December; announcing the first members March 22, the Vatican said they would help define the tasks and competencies of the commission and help identify other potential members.

Cardinal O’Malley is also one of eight members of the Council of Cardinals advising Pope Francis on the reform of the Roman Curia and governance of the Church. When the child protection commission was announced, Cardinal O’Malley told reporters it would take a pastoral approach to helping victims and preventing abuse, given that much of the Vatican’s attention thus far had been on implementing policies and legal procedures for investigating allegations of abuse and punishing guilty priests.

The cardinal said the commission would look at programs to educate pastoral workers in signs of abuse, identify means of psychological testing and other ways of screening candidates for the priesthood, and make recommendations regarding Church officials’ “cooperation with the civil authorities, the reporting of crimes.”

The first eight members of the commission include Marie Collins, who was born in Dublin. At 13, she was sexually abused by a Catholic priest who was a chaplain at a hospital where she was a patient. Addressing a major conference in Rome in 2012 on the protection of children, she said being abused led to depression, despair and deep loss of trust in the Church. “Those fingers that would abuse my body the night before, were the same fingers that would give me holy Communion the following day,” she said.

In 1997, the priest that had abused her – and other young girls over a period of three decades – was finally brought to justice. She founded an organization to help victims of sexual abuse, worked with the Archdiocese of Dublin to set up its child protection office and helped draft the child protection policies of the Church in Ireland.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said the commission would take “a multipronged approach to promoting youth protection, including: education regarding the exploitation of children; discipline of offenders; civil and canonical duties and responsibilities; and the development of best practices as they have emerged in society at large.”

“In this way, and with the help of God, this commission will contribute to the Holy Father’s mission of upholding the sacred responsibility of ensuring the safety of young people,” he said.

25

CNS | Leonhard Foeger, Reuters

Members of Vienna’s Ukrainian community hold Ukrainian flags and placards outside St. Stephen’s Cathedral as they protest against Russian troops in Ukraine March 5. A Ukrainian Catholic priest in Ukraine’s Crimea region said Church members are “alarmed and frightened” by the Russian military occupation and fear their communities could be outlawed again if Russian rule becomes permanent.

Priest: Ukrainian Catholics flee Crimea to escape threats of arrest Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service

OXFORD, England — Members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church are fleeing Crimea to escape threats of arrest and property seizures, a priest told Catholic News Service days after Russia finalized the region’s annexation.

“The situation remains very serious, and we don’t know what will happen – the new government here is portraying us all as nationalists and extremists,” said Father Mykhailo Milchakovskyi, a parish rector and military chaplain from Kerch, Crimea.

He said officials from Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, had called him in for questioning about his community and to ask whether he “recognized the new order.”

Father Milchakovskyi told CNS that he and his family and at least two-thirds of his parishioners had left Kerch for Ukrainian-controlled territory on the advice of Ukrainian Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych.

“All my parishioners are patriotic Ukrainians who love their Crimean homeland. But Russia is now seeking to drive us out,” he said March 25.

He said Father Mykola Kvych, pastor of the Dormition of the Mother of God Parish in Sevastopol, Crimea, also fled after being detained and beaten by Russian forces, who accused him of “sponsoring extremism and mass unrest.”

“During 10 years in Sevastopol, he never said or did anything against Russians,” Father Milchakovskyi added. “We’re determined our church will not close up and abandon its mission, and we hope we’ll be given permits to return. But like

others, we’ve had to leave our life and work behind, not knowing when we’ll be back.

This is a time of suffering and anxiety. For now, this is just a temporary evacuation until conditions are safer, but with tension and pressure now strong, many of us are afraid of being arrested.”

The Ukrainian Catholic Church, a Byzantine rite, was outlawed under Soviet rule from 1946 to 1989, when many clergy were imprisoned and most Church properties seized by the state or transferred to Russian Orthodox possession. The Church’s five communities in Crimea traditionally make up around 10 percent of the peninsula’s 1.96 million inhabitants, 58 percent of whom are ethnic Russians. Ukrainians make up 24 percent and mostly Muslim Tartars a further 12 percent.

Father Milchakovskyi said Crimea’s Russian Orthodox Church appeared ready to seize Ukrainian Catholic properties and said all but one Catholic priest and deacon had now left to escape “interest from the FSB and Russian forces.”

Ukrainian newspapers said two Byzantine Catholic churches and a monastery had been burned between March 15 and 26.

In a March 19 letter to Ukrainian Catholic clergy in Crimea and neighboring Odessa, Archbishop Shevchuk said he was aware many priests now faced “inconveniences, pressures and threats” with their families, adding that he hoped they would have “bravery and courage, steadfastness and strength” to continue their work.

He has asked priests to dedicate Ukraine to Mary’s protection April 6, to help calm “hearts filled with anxiety for the future.”

MANCHESTER, England — The British government has imposed an immediate ban on the incineration of miscarried and aborted babies after journalists found cases of hospitals burning fetuses to generate heat. Dr. Dan Poulter, parliamentary undersecretary of state for health, issued a March 24 statement that the burning of fetuses had been instantly prohibited following revelations by a team of investigative reporters working for the Channel 4 television program “Dispatches.”

The journalists used the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to make National Health Service trusts reveal how they had disposed of fetal remains in recent years.

They discovered that thousands of aborted and miscarried babies had been burned as clinical waste with some incinerated in on-site “waste-to-energy” plants generating power to heat the hospitals.

“This practice is totally unacceptable,” announced Poulter, who worked in hospital obstetrics and gynecology before he became a politician.

Vatican, Anglicans, Muslims sign accord against human trafficking VATICAN CITY — The Vatican, the Anglican Communion and a leading Muslim institution signed a historic agreement to work together to end human trafficking worldwide by 2020. The new accord, signed during a Vatican news conference March 17, launched the beginning of the Global Freedom Network, which hopes to expand to include all the world’s major faiths. The global initiative aims to prevent modern forms of slavery; to protect, rescue and rehabilitate victims; and to promote concrete measures that condemn or criminalize human trafficking.

— Catholic News Service

ViewPoints 26

catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Robert Barron

O

ne of the commonest observations made by opponents of religion is that we don’t need God to have a coherent and integral morality. Atheists and agnostics are extremely sensitive to the charge that the rejection of God will conduce automatically to moral chaos. Consequently, they argue that a robust sense of ethics can be grounded in the consensus of the human community over time or in the intuitions and sensibilities of decent people, etc.

What I would like to do is lay out, in very brief compass, the Catholic understanding of the relationship between morality and the existence of God and to show, thereby, why it is indispensably important for a society that wishes to maintain its moral integrity to maintain, at the same time, a vibrant belief in God. Why do we do the things that we do? What motivates us ethically? Right now, I am typing words on my keyboard.

Why am I doing that? Well, I want to finish my weekly column. Why do I want to do that? I want to communicate the truth as I see it to an audience who might benefit from it. Why would I want that? Well, I’m convinced that the truth is good in itself.

Do you see what we’ve uncovered by this simple exercise? By searching out the motivation for the act of typing words, we have come to a basic or fundamental good, a value that is worthwhile for its own sake. My acts of typing, writing, and communicating are subordinate, finally, to the intrinsic value of the truth.

Take another example. Just before composing that last sentence, I took a swig of water from a plastic bottle on my desk. Why did I do that? Well, I was thirsty and wanted to slake my thirst. But why did I want to do that? Hydrating my system is healthy. Why is health important? Because it sustains my life. Why is life worth pursuing? Well, because life is good in itself.

Once more, this analysis of desire has revealed a basic or irreducible good. Catholic moral philosophy recognizes, besides truth and life, other basic values, including friendship, justice, and beauty, and it sees them as the structuring elements of the moral life.

Does goodness depend on God? When Pope Benedict XVI complained about a “dictatorship of relativism” and when Catholic philosophers worry over the triumph of the subjective in our culture, they are expressing their concerns that these irreducible values have been forgotten or occluded.

In her great meditations on the sovereignty of the good, the Irish philosopher Iris Murdoch strenuously insists that the authentic good legitimately imposes itself on the human will and is not a creation of that will. At the limit, contemporary subjectivism exalts the will so that it becomes the source of value, but this puffing up of our freedom is actually ruinous, for it prevents the appropriation of the objective values that will truly benefit us.

This “basic goods” theory also grounds the keen Catholic sense that there are certain acts which are intrinsically evil – that is, wrong no matter the circumstances of the act or the motivations of the agent. Slavery, murder, the sexual abuse of children, adultery, abortion, racism, etc., are intrinsically evil precisely because they involve direct attacks on basic goods. The moment we unmoor a moral system from these objective values, no act can be designated as intrinsically evil and from that state of affairs moral chaos follows.

So far we have determined the objectivity of the ethical enterprise, but how does God figure into the system?

Couldn’t an honest secularist hold to objective moral goods but not hold to God’s existence? Let’s return to our analysis of the will in action. As we saw, the will is motivated, even in its simplest moves, by some sense, perhaps inchoate, of a moral value: truth, life, beauty, justice, etc.

‘No achievement of truth, justice, life or beauty in this world can satisfy the will.’

Protecting God’s Children We proclaim Christ to the world around us by our efforts to provide a safe environment for all people, especially the young and the vulnerable.

In 2002, the bishops of the United States issued the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter addresses the Church’s commitment to respond effectively, appropriately and compassionately to cases of abuse of minors by priests, deacons or other church personnel.

DIOCESAN REQUIREMENTS FOR REPORTING MINISTRY-RELATED SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR 1. Any individual having actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to suspect an incident of ministry-related sexual abuse is to immediately report the incident to the Chancery.

2. The Chancery will then report the incident to the proper civil authorities. The individual reporting the incident to the Chancery will be notified of the particulars regarding the Chancery’s filing of the incident with civil authorities.

3. This reporting requirement is not intended to supersede the right of an individual to make a report to civil authorities, but is to ensure proper, complete and timely reporting.

Should an individual choose to make a report to civil authorities, a report is still to be made to the Chancery.

The charter can be found on the diocesan website, Charlottediocese.org, click on the tab, “Safe Environment.”

But having achieved some worldly good – say of writing this column, or slaking a thirst, or educating a child – the will is only incompletely satisfied. In point of fact, the achievement of some finite good tends to spur the will to want more of that good. Every scientist or philosopher knows that the answering of one question tends to open a hundred new ones. Every social activist knows that righting one wrong awakens a desire to right a hundred more. Indeed, no achievement of truth, justice, life or beauty in this world can satisfy the will, for the will is ordered to each of those goods in its properly unconditioned form. As Bernard Lonergan said, “the mind wants to know everything about everything.” And as St. Augustine said, “Lord, you have made us for yourself; therefore our heart is restless until it rests in thee.” You’ve noticed that I’ve slipped God somewhat slyly into the discussion! But I haven’t done so illegitimately, for in the Catholic philosophical tradition, “God” is the name that we give to absolute or unconditioned goodness, justice, truth and life.

Now we can see the relationship between God and the basic goods that ground the moral life: the latter are reflections of and participations in the former. As C.S. Lewis points out in “Mere Christianity,” the moral absolutes are, therefore, signposts of God. And this is precisely why the negation of God leads by a short route to the negation of moral absolutes and finally to a crass subjectivism. Removing God is tantamount to removing the ground for the basic goods, and once the basic goods have been eliminated, all that is left is the self-legislating and self-creating will. Thus, we should be wary indeed when atheists and agnostics blithely suggest that morality can endure apart from God. Much truer is Dostoyevsky’s observation that once God is removed, anything is permissible.

Father Robert Barron is the founder of the global ministry Word on Fire and the rector/president of Mundelein Seminary. He is the creator of the award-winning documentary series, “Catholicism” and “Catholicism: The New Evangelization.” Learn more at www.WordonFire.org.

Most-read stories on the web Through press time on March 26, 5,241 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 13,274 pages. The top 10 headlines in March were: n Men’s Conference at St. Mark’s transforms men and sends them on a mission.............................. 362 n Bishop Jugis: ‘Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned’.......................................................................... 247 n A special St. Patrick’s Day................................................................................................................................240 n Globetrotter surprises St. Patrick students, talks bully-prevention skills..........................................205 n Redesigned parish website aims to draw in students............................................................................... 189 n The Andrades: A family’s test of faith............................................................................................................ 147 n Bishop Jugis designates St. Patrick Cathedral a ‘place of pilgrimage’................................................ 145 n Missionaries of the Poor names new superior general..............................................................................127 n Femcare to close; Planned Parenthood plans to open clinic in Asheville............................................ 109

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March 28, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Deacon James H. Toner

Allison Schumacher

Some Catholic words

Joys in the desert

W

ell, it’s here! We have entered into “the glory of these 40 days.” We pulled out the ashes and stashed away the sweets; it is time for prayer, fasting and penance.

This year as Shrove Tuesday rolled into Ash Wednesday, and Ordinary Time gave way to Lent, I wondered what the next 40 days would bring. Scripture clearly sets before us the image of a desert experience. Moses led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness before reaching the Promised Land, and Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit for 40 days of fasting and temptation by the devil.

God begins each Lent with an invitation to each of us as well, echoing the words from the book of Hosea, “I will allure her and lead her into the desert and there speak tenderly to her” (Hosea 2:14). We are led into a spiritual desert to be alone with God. Sometimes we use the image of the desert to portray that which is desolate, parched, lonely, and arid – descriptions with negative connotations. Several years ago, though, I was able to spend a couple weeks in Arizona, in the desert. While there I discovered an entirely distinct, but breathtakingly beautiful, landscape.

There were not the kinds of trees and flowers that I had grown accustomed to seeing in my backyard, but the unique fauna and flora of that region absolutely delighted and stunned me.

During my stay, I noticed – sometimes through hands-on curiosity, which ended up with painful repercussions – that certain plants possessed dangerously sharp qualities, such as the needles on a cactus. Why was such a lovely plant “spoiled” by these prickly spikes that caused such pain? With a little research, I discovered that the needles trap and store water within the cacti, while also protecting the blossoms from predators.

Granted, I did not desire to remain in the desert my entire life, but I appreciated the time set apart to see another aspect of God’s creation. I welcomed the quiet stillness of my surroundings, the brightness of the stars in the dark night sky, and the beautiful variety of plants and scenery.

At the same time, I learned how to live in a hostile climate and stay clear of threatening animals. It was an experience that brought me closer to God, while taking me out of my ordinary surroundings, distractions and routines.

The joys and beauties within the Lenten desert have caught my attention this year. I love the traditions that have been passed down through the years, especially those given to us by the Church within the liturgy. When I attend Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings during Lent, my heart is warmed to see families filing into the pews after a long week – dads coming home from work, mothers carrying tired little ones in their arms, older children loudly whispering to each other to see what page we are on, Father leading the parishioners in prayer. Even the fellowship shared at the weekly fish-fry is a treat we gather for every year only during Lent. The most beautiful joys, though, will be those that blossom within our souls as God works through the stillness of prayer and the pain of penance.

Like the needles on the cactus, the crosses and trials that come our way protect us from letting our supply of spiritual water go dry. Our penance strengthens us against predators, namely the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil.

Those periods of spiritual darkness will open our eyes to the awesome glow of the bright stars in our lives – the people, events, and graces that lead us closer to God. Lent should not be disheartening or overwhelming. The Cross is not meant to crush us and destroy us, to prove that we are miserable sinners and then leave us in the mire of our wretchedness. The hymn by Charles Everest urges us, Take up your cross, let not its weight Fill your weak spirit with alarm; His strength shall bear your spirit up, Shall brace your heart and nerve your arm.

The Divine Office readings are full of passages assuring us that God does not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to Him and live (Ezekiel 18:32). He who has led us into the desert will bring us out to the Promised Land: union and divine intimacy with Him.

‘The Cross is not meant to crush us and destroy us, to prove that we are miserable sinners and then leave us in the mire of our wretchedness. ... He who has led us into the desert will bring us out to the Promised Land: union and divine intimacy with Him.’

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

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G

eorge Bernard Shaw, the famous Irish dramatist, is once said to have asked how one should pronounce the word “ghoti.” The answer was “fish.”

The “gh” would be pronounced like the “f” sound in “tough.” The “o” would be pronounced as if it were an “i,” like the “o” in “women.” The “ti” would be pronounced as if it were an “sh” like the “ti” in “nation.”

So the made-up word “ghoti” would be pronounced “fish.” Is the word “ghoti” Catholic? Absolutely! We Catholics should eat ghoti on Fridays.

Each Lent, I have the honor of leading the Stations of the Cross. The printed reflection at one of the stations talks about “flaunting the Roman.” Confronted with that, I am never sure what to say or do. To “flaunt” means “to parade yourself shamelessly.”

The reflection intends the word “flout,” which means “to ignore a law or to ignore a convention,” or, in this case, to ignore a Roman soldier. Then I get to Simon of Cyrene. Again, I am not sure what to say.

“Cyrene” should be pronounced as if it were “sai-REE-neh,” but most of us have heard it as “sai-REEN.” Hmmm. If I pronounce it correctly, people will think, “That poor old guy just doesn’t know how to say it right,” so maybe I should just mispronounce it.

Of course, the same thing is true of the proper noun “Abilene” (Luke 3:1). If it were in Texas, it would be pronounced “AB-uhleen.” But the biblical Abilene is pronounced like Cyrene: “ab-uh-LEEN-neh.” If I pronounce it “right,” then anybody who has ever heard George Hamilton’s song about “the prettiest town I’ve ever seen” will think I can’t speak very well or clearly.

Pity the poor reader who has to say the verb “prophesy” (as in Matt 26:68), which is pronounced “PROF-uh-sigh.” Often the lector, understandably enough, will pronounce it “PROF-uf-see,” which is way we should pronounce the noun. Sigh! See? I recently heard the name of the prophet Malachi (“Mal-uhk-EYE”) pronounced – ready? – “ma-LAH-chee.” A friend says he once heard St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians given as his “Letter to the Filipinos.” It’s hard not to wince, isn’t it?

As an alumnus of Notre Dame, I often hear Our Lady’s University referred to as “NO-treh Dahme.” That’s in Paris. Knute Rockne’s old school is always pronounced “NO-der daym.” Really.

Speaking of French pronunciation, one day a French woman came up to me after Mass and gently corrected me about my pronunciation of “Lourdes,” which I had pluralized by saying “loordZ.” She and I knew the pronunciation should be “Loord,” but almost everyone sticks an additional “s” sound on that noun. If you don’t do that, people will think you didn’t quite say the whole word.

Just as the “s” in Lourdes should not be pronounced, neither should the “s” in the name of the last book of the Bible, Revelations. Oops! There is no such thing; it is the Book of Revelation. I guess that’s why I like the Douay-Rheims version (by the way, pronounced “reems” with a “s” – go figure) a little better than the newer translations because the last book of the Bible there is “the Apocalypse of St. John the Apostle.”

While we are on the letter “s,” how about All Saint’s Day or All Soul’s Day? Neither is possible because the saints and the souls are plural. So it’s All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Occasionally, you’ll see a reference to a holyday of obligation. “Holyday” doesn’t exist; it’s “holy day.” That might be important, for a “holyday” (if the word did exist) would be a corruption of “holiday.”

In fact, though, “holiday” is a corruption of “holy day.”

A few years ago, I had to refer to Zacchaeus (Luke 19) in proclaiming the Gospel. Is it “za-kA-us,” or “zak-EYE-us” or “za-KEE-us”? The fact is, I have no idea. So I looked it up in some reference books, which told me to pronounce it the last way. So I did.

The priest I was with that day pronounced it differently in his homily. He may have used a different guide, and a more reliable one, but it was as though we were talking about a different tax collector.

My wife yells at me (um, in case she reads this column, I had better revise that) . . .

My bride gently counsels me every time I mispronounce “Zechariah.” You would think I’d get it right after saying Morning Prayer for so many years. I still tend to say “zac-arEYE-uh.” Nope: I’m wrong. It’s “zec-ar-EYEuh” – “zec,” not “zac.”

Then there are Capernaum (Matt 4:13) and Siloam (Lk 13:4). I think I’ve pronounced these two proper nouns in every way imaginable. I think “kuh-PER-nay-um” and “sih-LO-um” are right, but different guides may give different pronunciations, so there is liberty there. If the lector wants to pronounce Emmaus (Luke 24:13) as if it were “a-MOUSE,” though, it’s time to take action and gently insist upon “eh-MAY-us.”

One of my favorite Old Testament books is Sirach. Have you ever heard “Sir-ROCK”?

Most guides give the right pronunciation of “SAI-rak.” I can’t do it! It sounds like “SAIgon,” and that is in Vietnam. So I say “SEERock.” No wonder that the New American Bible, Revised Edition, gives it as “The Wisdom of Ben Sira”! But the Douay-Rheims Bible was, as usual, way ahead of this, by calling “Sirach” by the title “Ecclesiasticus” (but not Ecclesiastes – that’s a different book).

So what? Does it matter how we pronounce words?

If your name is Susan, and I choose to pronounce it “su-ZAN,” would it matter?

Sure. Simple respect for the holy people and places we refer to should result in our trying to pronounce their names correctly. If we are “assigned” names such as Quoheleth or Deuteronomy or Antiochus or Habukkuk, we should look them up in a reliable guide, practice them, and read them straight out.

Very few people will criticize you for mispronouncing a difficult name, especially if it’s something like Baal-Shalishah (2 Kings 4:42) or Abel-Meholah (1 Kings 19:16).

Just do your best, and say it plainly (even if it’s wrong). By the way, even if it’s wrong, no one will know – unless, of course, you say “Loordz” and a woman from that French city happens to hear you.

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

catholicnewsherald.com | March 28, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Behold, I make all things new.

(Rev. 21:5)

AK

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- Rev. 21:5

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