July 4, 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
Priest assignments announced for the diocese,
‘Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of the priesthood’
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Sex abuse case against Father Kelleher dismissed, 3 INDEX
Contact us.......................... 4 Español.................................13 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes................. 3-12 Schools......................... 18‑19 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies..................20-21 U.S. news..................... 22-23 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news................. 24-25
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Diocese blessed with 3 new priests,
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MACS education grants announced,
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Boone parish celebrates 50th anniversary,
HHS contraception mandate vs. religious liberty Church leaders and religious employers laud recent court rulings, but say fight continues,
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IV Congreso Carismático Católico ‘El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí’ se celebra en Concord, 13
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Our faith 2
catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Faith Q&A What’s the difference between confession and reconciliation? Confession, one aspect of the sacrament of reconciliation which used to receive the greatest emphasis, is now seen as just one step in the total process. Confession of sin can only be sincere if it is preceded by the process of conversion. It is actually the external expression of the interior transformation that conversion has brought about in us. It is a much less significant aspect of the sacrament than we made it out to be in the past. This does not mean that confession is unimportant – only that it is not the essence of the sacrament. Look at the parable of the Prodigal Son. The father, seeing his son in the distance, runs out to meet him with an embrace and a kiss. Through one loving gesture, the father forgives the son – and the son hasn’t even made his confession yet! When he does, it seems the father hardly listens. The confession is not the most important thing here; the important thing is that his son has returned. The son need not beg for forgiveness, he has been forgiven. This is the glorious Good News: God’s forgiveness, like God’s love, doesn’t stop. In this parable, Jesus reveals to us a loving God who simply cannot not forgive! Of course the new Rite does concern itself with the confession of sins. But one’s sinfulness is not always the same as one’s sins. And, as a sacrament of healing, reconciliation addresses the disease (sinfulness) rather than the symptoms (sins). So, the sacrament calls us to more than prepared speeches or lists of sins. We are challenged to search deep into our heart of hearts to discover the struggles, value conflicts and ambiguities (the disease) which cause the sinful acts (the symptoms) to appear. Celebration is a word we haven’t often associated with the sacrament of reconciliation. But in Jesus’ parable, it is obviously important and imperative. “Quick!” says the father. “Let us celebrate.” And why? Because a sinner has converted, repented, confessed and returned. — AmericanCatholic.org
Why do Catholics confess their sins to a priest? Out of his great love, Jesus instituted this sacrament through which a sinner who is sorry receives pardon and peace and is restored to the fullness of grace with God. Confession is a very intimate experience. Even in a communal reconciliation service that you might attend during Advent, Lent or a retreat, individual confessions are private. The Church maintains, however, that there is also a social aspect to sin. Sin not only affects our relationship with God, sin also alienates us from other people and the Church. In the sacrament of reconciliation, Jesus provides us with a way of being reconciled to God and to those we’ve hurt, and to be strengthened in our connection to God’s entire family. This is more than symbolic; it is spiritual reality expressed through human ritual. — AmericanCatholic.org
More online At www. catholicnewsherald.com: In the “Our Faith” section, read the stories of other saints whose feast days are in July, including: St. Augustine Zhao Rong and companions, July 9; St. Henry II, a German king, July 13; St. Lawrence of Brindisi, diplomat and missionary, July 21; St. Bridget of Sweden, copatroness of Europe, July 23; and Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Virgin Mary, July 26.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, ‘Lily of the Mohawks’ Feast day: Monday, July 14 On July 14, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized. Known as the “Lily of the Mohawks,” Kateri lived a life of holiness and virtue, despite obstacles and opposition within her tribe. Kateri was born in Auriesville, N.Y., in 1656 to a Christian Algonquin woman and a pagan Mohawk chief. When she was a child, a smallpox epidemic attacked her tribe and both her parents died. She was left with permanent scars on her face and impaired eyesight. Her uncle, who had now become chief of the tribe, adopted her and her aunts began planning her marriage while she was still very young. When three Jesuit fathers were visiting the tribe in 1667 and staying in the tent of her uncle, they spoke to her of Christ, and though she did not ask to be baptized,
she believed in Jesus with an incredible intensity. She also realized that she was called into an intimate union with God as a consecrated virgin. Kateri had to struggle to maintain her faith amid the opposition of her tribe who ridiculed her for it and ostracized her for refusing the marriage that had been planned for her. When Kateri was 18, Father Jacques de Lamberville returned to the Mohawk village, and she asked to be baptized. The life of the Mohawk village had become violent and debauchery was commonplace. Realizing that this was proving too dangerous to her life and her call to perpetual virginity, Kateri escaped to the town of Caughnawaga in Quebec, near Montreal, where she grew in holiness and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
Kateri lived out the last years of her short life there, practicing austere penance and constant prayer. She was said to have reached the highest levels of mystical union with God, and many miracles were attributed to her while she was still alive. She died on April 17, 1680, at the age of 24. Witnesses reported that within minutes of her death, the scars from smallpox completely vanished and her face shone with radiant beauty. Devotion to Kateri began immediately after her death and her body, enshrined in Caughnawaga, is visited by many pilgrims each year. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980, and she was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. — Catholic News Agency
Your daily Scripture readings JUNE 29-JULY 5
Sunday (Sts. Peter and Paul): Acts 12:1-11, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Matthew 16:13-19; Monday (The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church): Amos 2:6-10, 13-16, Matthew 8:18-22; Tuesday (BI. Junípero Serra): Amos 3:1-8, 4:11-12, Matthew 8:23-27; Wednesday: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24, Matthew 8:28-34; Thursday (St. Thomas): Ephesians 2:19-22, John 20:24-29; Friday: Amos 8:4-6, 9-12, Matthew 9:9-13; Saturday (St. Anthony Zaccaria, St. Elizabeth of Portugal): Amos 9:11-15, Matthew 9:14-17
JULY 6-12
Sunday: Zechariah 9:9-10, Romans 8:9, 11-13, Matthew 11:25-30; Monday: Hosea 2:1618, 21-22, Matthew 9:18-26; Tuesday: Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:32-38; Wednesday (St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions): Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12, Matthew 10:1-7; Thursday: Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9, Matthew 10:7-15; Friday (St. Benedict): Hosea 14:2-10, Matthew 10:16-23; Saturday: Isaiah 6:1-8, Matthew 10:24-33
JULY 13-19
Sunday: Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:1823, Matthew 13:1-23; Monday (St. Kateri Tekakwitha): Isaiah 1:10-17, Matthew 10:3411:1; Tuesday (St. Bonaventure): Isaiah 7:1-9, Matthew 11:20-24; Wednesday (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel): Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16, Matthew 11:2527; Thursday: Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Matthew 11:28-30; Friday (St. Camillus de Lellis): Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8, Isaiah 38:10-12, 16, Matthew 12:1-8; Saturday: Micah 2:1-5, Matthew 12:14-21.
Our parishes
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Priest assignments announced for diocese CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces the following clergy appointments effective at noon July 8:
Newly ordained
Buchanan
Father Paul M. Buchanan: In residence at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, and returning to Rome in the fall to complete a Licentiate in Theology
Carter
Eckert
LoMonaco
McNulty
Father Noah C. Carter: In residence at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, and returning to Rome in the fall to complete a Licentiate in Theology
Father Roger K. Arnsparger, vicar of education: From pastor of St. Mark Church in
Huntersville to pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon Father John J. Eckert: From pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon to pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury Father Lawrence M. LoMonaco: From pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton to pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory
Putnam
Riehl
Father Paul D. McNulty: Parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville
Carvajal
Father John T. Putnam, judicial vicar: From pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury to pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville Father Christopher M. Riehl: From parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte to parochial administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton
Christian
Father Robert Ferris
Pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory
Conway
Father Robert Conway
Codd
Father Gabriel Carvajal: From parochial vicar of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory to parochial vicar of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte Father Jason M. Christian: From studies in Rome to parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte Father Matthew P. Codd: From parochial vicar of St. Mark Church in Huntersville to parochial vicar of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory
Retirements
Ferris
Sex abuse case against Father Kelleher dismissed Kimberly Bender and Patricia L. Guilfoyle Catholic News Herald
Other clergy assignments
Arnsparger
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Parochial vicar of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte
ALBEMARLE — A criminal sex abuse case against retired Father Michael Joseph Kelleher was dismissed by Stanly County Superior Court July 1, nearly four years after he was arrested. Judge Anna Mills Wagoner dismissed the single charge of taking Kelleher indecent liberties with a child after considering the results of two courtordered psychological evaluations of the ailing, 86-year-old priest. In her order, Wagoner declared Father Kelleher “incompetent to proceed in this matter,” stating “that the defendant lacks the requisite mental capacity to proceed in this matter, and that the likelihood of restoring his capacity is unlikely...” His “level of functioning will most likely continue to deteriorate over the next several months or years,” she also noted. Father Kelleher, now living in a North Carolina nursing home and suspended from public ministry, was not present for the hearing in Albemarle. His attorney, Charles Brown, said during the hearing that Father Kelleher would only have been able to attend court if transported via ambulance. Brown said he met with Father Kelleher the day before the hearing, and said he referred to him as someone else and talked about a trip they never took together. Father Kelleher has dementia, is delusional and is “unable to make independent decisions,” according to court documents, and has also been hospitalized this year for heart-related illnesses. His condition has been declining for a while, Brown told the judge. “It’s quite clear that the judge made the right decision,” Brown told the KELLEHER, SEE page 21
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 OUR PARISHES
Diocesan calendar of events ASHEVILLE basilica of st. lawrence, 97 haywood St.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the coming weeks: July 6 – 3:30 p.m. Mass for the Military (Rosary, 3 p.m.) St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte
— Presentation on Human Trafficking: Catholic Charities and the basilica will host Sister Rose Marie Tresp, RSM, who will speak on Human Trafficking from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 in Laurentine Hall at the basilica. Adults are encouraged to attend. Please call Joe Purello at 704-370-3225 or email jtpurello@charlottediocese.org for more information.
BELMONT
July 8 — 1:30 p.m. Diocesan Building Commission meeting Diocesan Pastoral Center, Charlotte July 9 — 10 a.m. Ground Breaking and Blessing for Mother Teresa Villa, Charlotte July 13 — 11 a.m. Sacrament of Confirmation Christ the King Church, High Point July 15 — 5 p.m. Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Board Meeting Diocesan Pastoral Center, Charlotte
QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES church, 503 North Main St. — El Grupo “Porque Ser Católico” se reúne todos los miércoles a las 8 p.m. en la casa de la Señora Carmen Mirón. Si estas interesado(a) en iniciar tu formación a cerca del catolicismo, te invitamos a participar. Para más información, llamar a la Señora Alba Cadavid 704-904-7988. — Young at Heart Covered Dish Supper: Saturday, July 12, following 5 p.m. Mass, in the MAK Family Life Center. All parishioners age 50 and older are invited to attend. For details, contact Cathy Boyd at 704825-4669. — Bingo and Movie Night: 6:30 -10 p.m. Saturday, July 19 in the MAK Family Life Center. Everyone welcome.
CHARLOTTE ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 3016 Providence Road — Free Choir Concert, “Les Petits Chanteurs de Monaco”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 16. Sponsord by Allegro Foundation. For details, visit www. monacoconsulate.populr.me/monacoboyschoir.com — Young Widowed Support Group: 6 p.m. Meets second Tuesday of the month. Group is intended for widowed persons, around 55 years of age and younger. For details, call Sister Marie Frechette at 704-543-7677 ext. 1073 — Polish Prayer Group: 7 p.m. Meets first Thursday of the month in the Chapel. For details, contact Evona Cholewa at 704-488-7490. ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, 8451 Idlewild Road — Six Week Fellowship Reading Circle: 7:30 p.m. Meets Wednesday, July 23 - Aug. 27. Mass will be at 7 p.m. For details, contact Shea Barja at 704-451-3629 st. Matthew church, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMmONS PKWY. — Special Event Lecture entitled, “Understanding Catholics Today”: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15. Father Thomas Gaunt, SJ, Ph.D., head of CARA, will speak on Catholic diversity and how Catholics are engaged in their local parish communities. For details, contact the parish at 704-543-7677.
Correction Deacon Gordon Forester’s name was misspelled in the June 27 edition. We regret the error. — Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
July 4, 2014 Volume 23 • Number 19
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
— Protecting God’s Children Workshop: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28 in the Room D/E of the Education Building. All volunteers, in any capacity and program, must complete this training. To Sign up, visit wwww. virtus.org or call Sue Sforza at 704-370-3357.
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
— Living the Faith Book Club: 7-8 p.m., second Thursday of the month. For details, call Kevin Berent at 803287-7898. ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 Dilworth Road East — Mass for our Military Personnel: Sunday, July 6, celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis, to honor our military personnel who are currently serving and who have been injured while serving. All military personnel are encouraged to come in uniform. Rosary at 3 p.m., Mass at 3:30 p.m. Everyone welcome. — Young Adult Ministry Sunday Lunch: St. Patrick’s Young Adults Ministry will host its third Sunday of the month Mass & Lunch on July 20th. The group will meet in the courtyard after the 12:30 Mass and go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. The event is open to all Catholic adults in their 20s & 30s, single or married (21+). sT. Thomas aquinas church, 1400 suther road — Fatima Procession: 7; 30 p.m. Sunday, July 13. Monthly devotion to Our Lady of Fatima in the Church. We will recite the Rosary, have a candlelit procession and close with a Litany. All are welcome. — Third Annual Polish Mass in Honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24. A first-class relic of Pope St. John Paul II will be brought to Mass for veneration. Reception following Mass. Your donation of Polish or American food is appreciated and can be dropped off before Mass at the Aquinas Hall. For details, call Mary Witulski at 704.290.6012. Everyone welcome. — “Divine Mercy Holy Hour”: Exposition and readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: 7-8 p.m. every first Friday. For questions, call Paul Deer at 704-948-0628. — “Rosary for Life”: Join the Respect Life group to pray each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. To participate, contact Gretchen Filz at gfilz10@ ses.edu or 704-919-0935.
CLEMMONS HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, 4820 KINNAMON ROAD — Charismatic Prayer Group: 7:15 p.m. Mondays. All are welcome.
FRANKLIN ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, 299 MAPLE St. — “St. Ignatius of Loyola, the Society of Jesus and Ignatian Spirituality”: Father Joseph Koterski, S.J., professor at Fordam University will speak about the order and its founder from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10 at the church in the Family Life Center. All are invited to attend. Please register at 704-370-3225 or email sabeason@charlottediocese.org. For more information go to ccdoc.org.
GREENSBORO ST. MARY CHURCH, 812 DUKE ST.
The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year. NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives. ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information,
— IGBO Mass; 9 a.m. Sunday, July 20. For details, call 336-392-6840.
HICKORY — Marriage Encounter Weekend: Aug. 1-3. Early registration recommended. For details, call 704-3152144 or visit www.NCMarriageDiscovery.org
HIGH POINT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, 4145 JOHNSON St. — Pro-Life Rosary: 11 a.m. Saturday, July 5, at 819 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, to pray for the end of abortion. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at 336-8829593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.
HUNTERSVILLE St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road — The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians welcomes all women who are practicing Roman Catholics, and who are Irish by birth, who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, or the mother of a junior member to join. For details, contact Bernadette Brady at 704-210-8060. — Charlotte Athletes for Christ Youth Ministry: 7-8:30 p.m. Meets the first and third Wednesday of the month. The ministry provides an evening of fun, athletic activities, a great meal, and featured speakers who address faith and athletics. For details, contact Tim Flynn at 704-948-0231.
LENOIR St. Francis of Assisi Church, 328 B Woodsway Lane — The rosary, led by Father Gabriel Meehan, is prayed every Monday evening at 7 p.m., in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. All are welcome.
MURPHY ST. WILLIAM CHURCH, 765 ANDREWS Road — Grief Support Group: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the conference room. “Embracing Your Grief” should be helpful for those mourning the recent loss of a loved one.
WAYNESVILLE St. John the Evangelist Church, 234 Church St. — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1- 5 p.m. Saturday, July 26. Topics include: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704370-3230. Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.
contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others. POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.
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July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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Charlotte marchers pray, speak out for religious liberty Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
CHARLOTTE — About 40 people marched from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center through uptown Charlotte to the federal courthouse June 27, kicking off the local Fortnight for Freedom with speeches, patriotic music and prayer that religious liberty will continue to be protected and cherished around the world and here at home. “Today we are gathered at Independence Square, the crossroads of two Native American trails,” Tina Witt, one of the organizers of the march, told the marchers after they reached Independence Square, halfway along the march route. “Our city was literally founded and grew from this intersection. You might say it is the epicenter of Charlotte.” Pointing to one of the four bronze statues at Independence Square, Witt continued, “You can see the statue on the northwest corner with the woman holding her baby. This statue is named Future. Where is the future of Charlotte? Of North Carolina? Of the United States of America if we are seeking to build a Godless society? “Our very constitution with the First Amendment has been like the crossroads of Trade and Tryon streets, where our nation has grown because of freedom of religion. All citizens should have the right to practice their faith and should not be threatened in any way.” Marchers spoke about their opposition to the HHS contraception mandate, which has threatened the religious freedom of Church-related ministries and schools, colleges and universities, and religious orders, as well as for-profit businesses owned by Christians who oppose offering contraception and sterilization coverage in their employee insurance plans. Recent court rulings have temporarily halted enforcement of the contraception mandate in several cases involving non-profit organizations and religious orders, and most notably the Supreme Court ruled June 30 that closely-held, for-profit companies such as the Christianowned Hobby Lobby do not have to pay for contraceptive
Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald
Marchers gather to pray and sing patriotic songs outside the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse in Charlotte June 27, as part of the diocese’s celebration of the Fortnight for Freedom campaign. services in violation of their owners’ religious beliefs. But the marchers noted that the secularization of American culture continues to threaten respect for religious liberty and tolerance of others’ beliefs. It is important to exercise one’s religious beliefs, especially when they come under threat, they agreed. Marches like the one on June 27, in addition to constant prayer, are needed, they said. “We will not fight with weapons of destruction (like
contraceptives and abortion) but fight with weapons of instruction, by proclaiming the Truth,” Witt said. Fellow marcher Chris Cona, a parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral, thanked the people of all ages who came out for the march, including two brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor from their monastery in Monroe. “Thanks for joining in celebrating our freedom and having the guts – and the courage – to drop what you were doing to spend a minute and get out here,” Cona said.
Injunction stops enforcement of HHS mandate for local Bible publisher BALTIMORE — A federal district court in Oklahoma issued an injunction June 4 preventing several Catholic entities – including a Gastonia-area religious publisher – from being forced to comply with the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate. Good Will Publishers, the parent company of Saint Benedict Press and TAN Books, is among the nine Catholic entities granted temporary relief by the court’s action. Four others are based in Baltimore, three in Oklahoma and one in Kansas. The class-action lawsuit was filed in March to protect the plaintiffs’ free exercise of religion by exempting them from the HHS mandate that would require them to provide coverage for free contraceptives, abortioninducing drugs and devices, sterilization and related counseling. “The administration has already effectively granted exemptions from the mandate to various employers whose plans cover more than 130 million employees. We’re simply seeking the same exemption for Catholic employers who have religious objections to the unjust requirements of the mandate,” said a June 5 statement from Archbishop Paul E. Coakley of Oklahoma City, vice president of one of the plaintiffs, the Catholic Benefits Association.
The association, formed last October, has 450 Catholic employer members and 2,000 parish members. Among the members are eight archdioceses, 15 dioceses, include religious orders, local Catholic Charities affiliates, colleges, nursing homes, cemeteries, retreat centers, and medical facilities. The Diocese of Charlotte and Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte are members of the Catholic Benefits Association. Diocesan officials say they are pleased with the ruling, but they know the temporary injunction does not resolve the underlying constitutional conflict at the heart of the HHS contraception mandate and religious liberty. Terri Wilhelm, diocesan human resources director, said she looks forward to the day when the dispute is resolved so that the diocese can move forward with updating its insurance coverage. The diocese’s insurance plan, which covers employees of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte as well as its parishes, schools and diocesan ministries, has been essentially unchanged since the Affordable Care Act took effect – “grandfathered” in as a pre-existing plan and avoiding the controversial HHS contraception mandate.
“We are planning for the time when we can make changes to our health plan and offer other options for employees and their families. But we will have to wait until we are confident that we can make changes without the risk of having to choose between offering contraceptive coverage or discontinuing our plan,” Wilhelm said. “We are most grateful to the CBA and its attorneys for their help in fighting for religious liberty, and gratefully appreciate the support of our Catholic and nonCatholic employees alike during this process,” said Robert Gallagher, CEO of Good Will Publishers. Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, himself a plaintiff in the case, said following the ruling, “We formed the Catholic Benefits Association to support Catholic employers in providing quality, cost-competitive, morally compliant health care benefits for their employees. Yesterday’s decision makes this a reality.” “This ruling is especially gratifying because this lawsuit, alone among the HHS contraceptive mandate cases, includes three groups of Catholic employers – ‘houses of worship’ that are, by regulation, exempt; nonexempt ministries like colleges, Catholic Charities, and health care institutions; and Catholic-owned for
More updates Read more about the June 30 Supreme Court decision protecting some for-profit companies from the HHS mandate, 22 At www.catholicnewsherald.com: In our comprehensive online section, keep up with the latest developments in the various religious liberty disputes
profit businesses,” Martin Nussbaum, the Catholic Benefits Association’s general counsel, said. In issuing the injunction, the court said: “Because the CBA’s members are so uniform in their beliefs --particularly their beliefs that contraceptives are objectionable – the court finds that the CBA can properly present its members’ claims in this case such that the participation of the individual members of the CBA is not required.” — Catholic News Service. Catholic News Herald staff contributed.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 OUR PARISHES
Head of CARA to speak at St. Matthew July 15 CHARLOTTE — Jesuit Father Thomas Gaunt, the Diocese of Charlotte’s former planning director who is now head of a national research group for the Church in the United States, will give a free talk at St. Matthew Church on Tuesday, July 15. Father Gaunt, executive director for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, based in Washington, D.C., will speak on “Understanding Catholics Today” from 7:30-9 p.m. in the parish’s Banquet Room. Everyone is welcome to attend. He will speak specifically about Catholic diversity and how Catholics are engaged in their local parish communities, exploring the evolution occurring in the pastoral leadership in parish life as well as examining the growth of the “nones” – those who do not identify with any traditional religious group. Some of CARA’s latest research has been coGaunt sponsored by St. Matthew Church. Father is a Jesuit of the Maryland Province. He has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from St. Louis University, a S.T.B. from the Bellarmine School of Theology in Chicago, a M.Div. from Loyola University-Chicago, and an M.P.A. and Ph.D. in city planning from the University of North CarolinaChapel Hill. His M.P.A. research was on diocesan synods and his dissertation was on low-income citizen participation in human services planning. Father Gaunt’s research interests are focused on the longterm impact of a year or more of volunteer service on individual volunteers; demographic changes and challenges for religious congregations; and community development efforts with disabled populations. He is an active board member of L’Arche Greater Washington, D.C., and has served on the Jesuit Volunteers International board. Prior to becoming executive director at CARA, Father Gaunt was the executive secretary/socius of the Jesuit Conference-USA, the national office of the Jesuits of the USA. He also served as the director of formation and studies for the Jesuits of the Maryland and New York provinces. Early in his ministry, he served as a pastor and director of planning and research in the Charlotte diocese for 10 years. St. Matthew Church is located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway in south Charlotte. For details, contact Michael Burck at 704-541-8362, ext. 4, or at mburck@ stmatthewcatholic.org. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Photos by Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald
Boone parish celebrates 50th anniversary Amber Mellon Correspondent
BOONE — Pentecost was an extra special day for St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone as members honored the parish’s 50th anniversary. The second oldest church in Watauga County, St. Elizabeth has a diverse make-up of Catholics ready to serve God and the community. To honor that history, the 50th anniversary celebration was a community-wide affair bringing the entire parish together. Father David Brzoska celebrated a bilingual Mass and then parishioners gathered for a picnic and games on the parish grounds. The Hispanic men helped assemble the tents for the picnic, the Second Wednesday Club created games for the children, and the Family Life Commission made sure the potluck ran smoothly. Displays were also created to tell the story of St. Elizabeth Parish, and members enjoyed viewing photo albums and historical items inside the parish hall. “Celebrating a parish anniversary is a great opportunity for us to remember the dedicated families, priests and sisters who through their faith and hard work helped to plant the first seeds of our parish,” said Father Brzoska. “We also celebrate the lives of all those who have since tended to the parish so that we, today, can share in the fruits of their labors. As we are inspired by the faith and dedication of the people who have given so much, we know that our church is more than stone and mortar, but a community formed by love and sacrifice, and the grace of God.” Following World War II, North Carolina saw a migration westward as more jobs were created. In 1946, the Barnes family became the first active Catholic family in Watauga County, but before this, many Catholic tourists had been visiting the Blowing Rock area during the summers. The Diocese of Raleigh saw the need for Catholics priests in western North Carolina and in 1948 established the Church of the Epiphany in Blowing Rock as a mission of St. John Baptist de la Salle Parish in North Wilkesboro. The Catholic population in Boone continued to grow, so in 1953 Father William Wellenin was sent from Raleigh to find land for a new church in Boone. During this time, Mass was said in Boone residents’ homes, the American Legion Hall or in a Madonna of the Highways chapel (a mobile trailer-chapel owned by the Raleigh diocese). In November 1958, St. Elizabeth was dedicated. Father Edward Smith was St. Elizabeth’s first resident pastor in 1964 when St. Elizabeth was decreed a diocesan parish by Bishop Vincent Walters
of Raleigh. An Explorer Post was founded at St. Elizabeth during this time as well as a relationship with Appalachian State Teachers College with the introduction of a Newman Club in 1962. Soon after, Sister Ann Thomas Griffin, “the Town Nun,” came to serve as the college’s first Catholic campus minister. Jan. 17, 1984, brought devastation to St. Elizabeth as a fire somehow started in the church and it was destroyed. Appalachian State University allowed the parish to use IG Greer Auditorium for Mass while a new building was built, and in July 1988, the current church was dedicated. One of the most active programs at St. Elizabeth is its faith formation program. Children from the age of 3 are encouraged to participate in weekly Sunday classes where they explore their faith on a level appropriate to their age. An adult class, “Catholic Cafe,” also meets during this time, and lively discussions are held based on speakers, daily readings or current topics. There are many active commissions such as Family Life, Worship, Communication, Outreach and Maintenance to make sure the parish is taken care of and that the Liturgical Cycle is celebrated. Around 2000, a Hispanic Ministry was established, and the church began offering Sunday Masses celebrated in Spanish. The local college community is also welcomed into the parish, particularly through ASU’s Catholic Campus Ministry. And just as they did 50 years ago, the parish welcomes Catholics who visit the Boone area each summer. The parish is also active in the community. St. Elizabeth was one of six local churches that founded Hospitality House, the homeless shelter serving the Boone and High Country region, during Father Frank Connolly’s pastorate. That service continues to this day, as St. Elizabeth parishioners serve a meal there at least once a month, and members also have raised enough money to sponsor a chapel at the shelter. Also, every first Sunday of the month, parishioners take up a food collection at Mass to help the Health and Hunger Coalition, and a baby bottle collection happens between every Mother’s and Father’s Day to help Hope Pregnancy Resource Center. An Angel Tree Collection is also held every December to help less fortunate families and seniors have a merry Christmas. St. Elizabeth parishioners love and care for each other and warmly welcome new people. Receptions and picnics are held after sacramental celebrations, the Parish Fest Day and a Fall Festival. Parishioners donate their time to help the church – be it singing or assisting at the liturgy as altar servers, organizing and putting on parish activities and events, or decorating and helping with grounds maintenance.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Hickory pastor will retire this month Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
HICKORY — After 14 years as a priest for the Diocese of Charlotte, Father Robert Ferris is hearing God’s call to a new path of service for the Church and will retire July 8. Father Ferris has served as pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory for 10 years, and he says his decision to retire was not an easy one. His parish is truly a family, not just a church. But, he adds, after a great deal of prayer his prayers were confirmed and he “just got this understanding that it’s time to move on.” “I feel very strongly God has something Ferris else for me to do,” he says, adding, “What it is, I don’t know yet.” “I think it’s what God is calling me to, and I’ll go, but I do it with a lot of tears.” In his decade of ministry in Hickory, Father Ferris oversaw the parish’s centennial anniversary celebration in 2013 and the establishment of a Perpetual Adoration chapel in 2011. That accomplishment at the 1,600-family parish is one he is most proud of, he says. “It’s not me who did it, it’s they who did it,” he says of all of his parish’s achievements, and he will have happy memories of his entire priestly service there. “It’ll always be a part of me.”
Father Ferris heard the call to the priesthood late in life. His wife of 29 years passed away unexpectedly from a deep vein thrombosis that had been misdiagnosed. The division director of pharmacology at Wellcome Research Laboratories struggled with his wife’s death and spent a great deal of time in prayer. “One night I got this very strong call that I was called to be a priest,” he recalls. “It just kept growing and growing – it never went away.” He says he thought it was crazy at first, but he prayed to God for confirmation and he received several unexpected answers, including while he was on a retreat from a respected friend who is a nun. “She walked up to me – startling me – and said, ‘Bob, I know you’re here to discern priesthood, because God is telling me you’re supposed to be a priest.’” He continued praying and he waited several years until his youngest son had graduated from college. Then he left behind his six-figure salary and his leather-appointed office to enter the seminary at the age of 59. “Some guys would give their right arm to be where I was,” he says, but all he wanted was to serve Christ and His Church as a priest. “The Lord really opened this up for me. It’s really amazing.” Father Ferris says he remains “eternally grateful” to Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, who supported his vocation when most dioceses did not accept older men such as him into seminary.
Before he met with Bishop Curlin, he recalls, he was nervous – after all, the Raleigh diocese had already refused his application. But the minute he entered the bishop’s office, “This peace came over me, and I knew Bishop Curlin was going to accept me.” “He called me ‘son,’ which I really appreciated,” he recalls with a laugh. His late vocation is unusual, he acknowledges, but his family has been very supportive of his desire to serve the Church. And, he jokes, “My kids call me ‘Father Father,’ or ‘Father Squared.’” He entered the seminary along with another similarly late vocation, Father Kurt Fohn, who retired last year as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville. Father Ferris was ordained in 2001, at the age of 62. Before serving in Hickory, he spent a year at St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte and two years at St. Benedict Parish in Greensboro. After he retires, Father Ferris will take a few months off to move to Greensboro to be nearer his six children and 10 grandchildren, the youngest of whom is 1, and then he will remain active assisting priests around the diocese whenever needed. He says he can’t wait to spend more time with his grandchildren and spoil them, as all grandfathers are supposed to do. A retirement reception for Father Ferris will be held Sunday, July 6, after the 5:15 p.m. Mass, at approximately 6:30 p.m., in Holy Family Hall. All are invited to attend.
Former Greensboro-based Dominican sister celebrates diamond jubilee Barbara Kelley, OP Special to the Catholic News Herald
ADRIAN, Mich. – Sister Mary Ellen Plummer, formerly of St. Paul Parish in Greensboro, celebrated an important anniversary in June. Sister Plummer observed 60 years of service and dedication to the Church and her congregation, the Adrian Dominican Sisters, over the week of June 17-21 at the Sister’s Motherhouse in Adrian, Mich. The week particularly honored sisters marking their diamond (60), golden (50) and silver (25) jubilees. The 2014 jubilee class includes nine sisters celebrating 75 years; 17 celebrating 70 Plummer years; 34 diamond jubilarians; 15 golden jubilarians; and two silver jubilarians. Their years of service total 4,705. Sister Mary Ellen entered the Adrian Dominican Congregation on Sept. 8, 1963, at the age of 16, after completing her junior year at St. Ambrose High School in
Detroit. She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 6, 1965, and her perpetual (final) vows on April 23, 1973. After her first assignment at the Polish-Lithuanian community of St. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish in Chicago, Sister Mary Ellen spent two and a half years at Mary Queen of Apostles in Riverdale, a southern suburb of Chicago. She left in the spring semester to finish her bachelor’s degree in French and minors in English and history from Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian in 1971. Sister Mary Ellen also holds a master’s equivalency from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn. For the next two years, Sister Mary Ellen served as director of religious education in Belding, Mich., near Grand Rapids. In 1976, as a full-time liturgy and Scripture student at St. John’s University, Sister Mary Ellen spent her first semester studying in Israel. She was among a group of 16 students – priests, sisters, seminarians and lay people – who lived in a youth hostel. Her time in Israel “brought home the scenes in the Gospels, seeing the countryside, the olive trees, the rocks, the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem.”
While supervising the student volunteer program at Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, Fla., Sister Mary Ellen was invited to help with a liturgy workshop offered by the diocese. That experience evolved into her nine years of ministry as co-director, with Father Bob Heffner, of the Diocese of Orlando’s Office of Liturgy. After a sabbatical in St. Paul, Minn., Sister Mary Ellen began her two-year ministry at Marywood Retreat House in Jacksonville, Fla. She moved on to Aquinas Institute of Theology to earn her doctorate in preaching and, after graduation in December 1998, took on a parish liturgy position at St. Paul Parish in Greensboro. She was later invited to minister in the formation of seminarians at Assumption Seminary in San Antonio, Texas. She currently resides at the Motherhouse of the Adrian Dominicans, in service wherever she is needed. The Dominican Sisters of Adrian are a congregation of about 760 vowed women religious whose roots go back to St. Dominic in the 13th century. The sisters minister in 26 states; the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and in six other nations.
Gaddy retires after 19 years in diocesan development office SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Nineteen years ago, Barb Gaddy accepted the position of associate director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte under the leadership of its director Jim Kelley. She was immediately sent to a stewardship institute so she could learn the ropes. “That was a real exciting time,” Gaddy said. “It made me realize that stewardship is a way of life, a spiritual thing rather than fundraising. We certainly have to raise the funds for the mission of the Church, but that was a big help for me.” She spent the week with Archbishop Thomas Murphy, the father of the U.S. Bishops’ seminal Pastoral Letter on Stewardship, first issued in 1992. “I also remember the very first national conference I went to in Chicago in 1995. I was going up the escalator, and Jim (Kelley) was coming down the escalator with all of the administration team. He said to me, ‘Barb, guess what I’ve volunteered us to do!’ “That’s when it all started. He volunteered us to co-write and edit the very first stewardship manual produced by the International Stewardship Conference Council.” Gaddy said the task was daunting but she and Kelley
worked closely together on the project and then also worked on the first National Children’s Stewardship Manual. Over the years, what has brought her the most satisfaction is working with the parishes and helping them promote stewardship as a way of life, she said. “Not as a campaign, not as means of fundraising ... but as a way of life for the people. I’ve always told the parishes that is what I have treasured the most in my job – spending time with them.” Gaddy also said she enjoyed helping pastors and parishes understand that instilling a true “attitude of gratitude” would reap more spiritual and financial rewards for their communities. “When that happens, then that translates into giving in the gifts of time, talent and treasure.” Over the years Gaddy has spent countless hours training stewardship committees and helping train lay witness presenters. She was also a member of the development team for the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. “The DSA was part of my job when I came on board. When I started working with the DSA, I was truly convinced of the importance of keeping the umbrella of stewardship as part of that – that we are truly grateful for GADDY, SEE page 21
rico de silva | catholic news herald
Barb Gaddy and Deacon Guy Piché stand with Bishop Peter J. Jugis (left) and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin during a retirement party June 27 for the two longtime diocesan employees.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 OUR PARISHES
Statue of Mary, St. Edward plaque blessed at IHM Kathy Roach Correspondent
Kathy Roach | Catholic News Herald
Father Tom Norris, sculptor Paul Nixon, and Rosemarie Boone and Ashley Culler, granddaughters of one of the founding families of the parish, stand by the statue of Mary that was blessed at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point June 28. Carey Ilderton and Father Vincent Smith, pastor, unveil an etched glass plaque of the original St. Edwards Church, now known as Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
HIGH POINT — On the feast day of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary June 28, a special Mass and blessing of a lifesized wood statue of Mary and a large, etched glass plaque of the original church was celebrated at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Both events were in honor of three siblings of the Ilderton family – Clarence, Carey and Gloria – who helped found the High Point Parish, which used to be called St. Edward. The etched glass plaque was a project overseen by IHM parishioner Tom Fatyol and created from an original photo of St. Edward Church. Gloria Ilderton Rochelle’s two daughters, Ashley Culler and Rosemarie Boone, commissioned the statue of Mary, with the help of a parish committee led by parochial vicar, Father Tom Norris, and Mary Connolly, sacred music director, to honor Gloria, who passed away last year. Father Vincent E. Smith, pastor, said, “In keeping with the ways of the Church, we looked at local artisans to sculpt this statue.” He met local artist Paul Nixon, who lives in McLeansville, at the Eucharistic Congress and was familiar with one of Nixon’s first pieces, a bronze sculpture of firefighters and children at the fire station on Church Street in Greensboro. Nixon also sculpted a large wooden Lamb of God for St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill and confessional doors for Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro. Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Nixon came to New York in 1985 where he met his wife, Francesca. They moved to Greensboro to be close to her family. Fourteen years ago, they adopted their daughter, Anna Claire, from Guatemala. Around the same time, Nixon received the gift of a lathe from a friend and started sculpting. He had been around tools since childhood. His father, a cabinetmaker, had a construction business and took his son to sites where he could watch artisans at work. As a teen, Nixon worked for the business during summers. Nixon met with the Ilderton sisters and found “they had an idea in mind of a more universal Mary that people could identify with.” Father Smith added, “We have over 64 nationalities in the parish and wanted an accessible image for kids and a diverse community.” He also pointed out that the statue is placed so Mary’s eyes look across St. Edwards Hall to a statue of Jesus on the crucifix. Nixon created the statue using two different kinds of wood – mahogany and basswood – with a mahogany stain to highlight the folds in the simple, belted robe and veil. Instead of bare feet or sandals, he fashioned shoes typical of leather ones worn during Mary’s time. Working on statues such as this, Nixon feels he “has found his niche and has never felt more peaceful.”
Diocesan campaign pledges rise to $58.5 million CHARLOTTE — Priests are among the cheerful givers who are contributing to the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign across the Diocese of Charlotte. The Forward in Faith, Hope and Love campaign goal is $65 million after expenses. As of June 30, the campaign has reached the 90 percent mark, with $58.5 million in pledges from 12,946 families and individuals. Among those donors so far are 50 pastors and parochial vicars, who have pledged just over $400,000 collectively with an average gift of $8,100. One of those priests who has made a pledge is Father Robert Ferris, who is retiring as pastor of St. Aloysius Church in Hickory this month. His parish has a campaign goal of $1.8 million, and as of June 30 it stands 18 percent over that at $2.1 million from 595 pledges. Father Ferris said he thinks it important to plan ahead for the growth across western North Carolina and the region that is occurring now and anticipated to continue the future. “It’s about investing in the growth of Catholicism in the Southeast,” he said. Even though some parts of the campaign are more interesting to him than others – providing housing for the elderly and supporting Catholic schools and faith formation programs are among the 13 campaign areas he is most excited about – the overall strategy of the campaign is right on target. “We’re propagating the Catholic faith,” he said. “I want to invest in that and I want to be a part of that. That’s the bottom line.” Another pastor contributing to the campaign is Father Timothy Reid of St. Ann Church in Charlotte. His parish’s goal is $1.1 million and church members have raised $1.98
By the numbers The Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign has two aspects, one to benefit specific parish projects and another to support broader or diocesan ministries. Here’s where the campaign stands overall on each of these, as of June 30: Total for parishes: Total for broader ministries: TOTAL
million to date, surpassing their goal by 75 percent. “This campaign is helping our diocese meet the increasing demands of our ever-growing Catholic population, while also benefitting the parishes,” Father Reid said. “I thought it important to contribute generously myself in order to be a good example to my parishioners and to help ensure the campaign’s success. As we priests are some of the beneficiaries of this campaign, I also see my gift as an act of gratitude for all that I have received from the Church.” Of the 92 parishes in the diocese, more than half of the parishes in the diocese are still under way with their fundraising drives. Thirty-one other parishes completed their campaigns in 2013. “It is wonderful to see so many of our priests make sacrificial commitments of both their financial resources and their time to support this transformational effort,” said Jim Kelley, dicoesan development director. “Our priests really care about the future of the Catholic Church in our diocese and they have encouraged their
Net goal $16.25 million $48.75 million $65 million
Total raised $21.9 million $36.6 million $58.5 million
% of goal 135% 75% 90%
parishioners to make commitments themselves to the FFHL effort. “The leadership of our priests has been so important to the success of the campaign so far. I am so grateful for that involvement.” Bishop Peter J. Jugis said he is also grateful for the leadership of the clergy in the diocese. “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love has become much more than a campaign,” Bishop Jugis said. “It is my hope that this effort will have a lasting impact on our parishioners’ understanding of the Catholic Church in western North Carolina both now, and in the future. Around the Diocese of Charlotte, we hope that it will affirm those who have loyally supported the Church in the past as well as inspire others to take a more active role in parish life and stewardship.” For more about the Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love campaign, go to www.forwardfaithhopelove.org. — Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com
A Life Celebrated Forever
Members of a new local pro-life teen group, which calls itself E.P.I.C., pray outside A Preferred Women’s Health Center on Latrobe Drive in Charlotte June 7. Photo provided by Molly Rusciolelli
Pro-life group just for teens organizes in Charlotte Gretchen Filz Correspondent
CHARLOTTE — A new pro-life group has formed in Charlotte, this time started by teens for teens. Molly Rusciolelli, an energetic 17-yearold member of St. Patrick Cathedral, led the effort among her friends several months ago and named the group E.P.I.C., which stands for “Each Person is Cherished.” “I thought it would be great to have a pro-life group for teens in Charlotte,” Rusciolelli said, noting that most pro-life groups are geared towards adults, either parish-based Respect Life ministries or regional efforts such as the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants and the 40 Days for Life campaigns. What started as a call-out to her homeschool friends has turned into a dedicated group of about 20 teens who go monthly to pray in front of one of Charlotte’s three abortion mills. Any local teen interested in the Church’s local prolife activities is encouraged to join, she noted. E.P.I.C. members attend the 9 a.m. Saturday Mass at St. Gabriel Church, located at 3016 Providence Road, then go to one of the Charlotte abortion mills to pray until about 11 a.m. Rusciolelli’s pro-life inspiration to start E.P.I.C. came from the example of her mother. “My mom did tons of prolife work when she was in her teen years and in college,” she said. Abortion is a “horrible reality and the only way to stop it is by doing something,” she said. “How can I be sitting around when there are babies dying? I feel like I should be doing something.” “Prayer also comes with works,” she added. “We need to help people come around to the truth.” She is convinced that when it comes to building a pro-life culture, young people have an important role to play. Like her mother, she didn’t want to wait until she grows up to get involved. “I feel that youth can make an impact. You don’t need to be a learned person to understand the truth and know what God’s will is,” she said. “We don’t need lots of knowledge to know what the truth is. Innocent kids know the truth even though they are still young – they know it because it’s simple.”
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By naming our parish in our will, we celebrate and recognize how important this place has been to our family. And, as new members of the Catholic Heritage
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Society, we invite you to join us with a simple bequest in your will to benefit your parish, school or other Catholic agency.
To receive the free brochure, “A Simple Guide to Gift Planning” contact Judy Smith, Director of Planned Giving
Want to go? A Youth Pro-Life Conference open to all diocesan teens will be held July 11-12 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. The conference runs 5:309:30 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $5 and includes a Friday night pizza dinner. On Saturday, conference goers will attend 8 a.m. Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral, then go to pray in front of A Preferred Women’s Health Center on Latrobe Drive.
Let’s keep talking.
at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org
For details, email Molly Rusciolelli at mollymoose.mr@gmail.com.
Nationwide – 41 years after the legalization of abortion on demand in 1973 with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton – teens and college-aged young people are becoming the driving force behind the pro-life movement. This new generation of pro-lifers – which calls itself the “survivor generation” – sees the statistics that since 1973 more than 50 million babies have been aborted. That’s one-in-three-to-four of their generation killed. “Kids don’t want to just sit around and play video games,” Rusciolelli said. They want to make a difference, and they ask themselves, “What have we been doing about this? Next door, babies are dying.” E.P.I.C. is now planning a pro-life youth conference for all diocesan high school teens (aged 13-19) at St. Patrick Cathedral July 11-12. Speakers will include: n Bryan Kemper from Stand True ProLife Outreach, “Social Justice Begins in the Womb” n Dr. Martha Shuping, M.D. “Chastity: Preparing for the Future of Your Dreams” n Zoe Griffin, a St. Patrick Cathedral parishioner, “Abortion in Africa: Bringing Hope and Healing to the People of Ghana” n Judy Townsend of Be Not Afraid Ministry, “The New Kind Of Crisis Pregnancy: Poor Prenatal Diagnosis” Said Rusciolelli, “We want the youth in our diocese to show the world what the plain truth is” so that we can put an end to abortion. “We need to stop it.”
Prayerful Best Wishes to Father John Starczewski On the 10th Anniversary of your Priesthood
Ad Multos Annos! Thank you for all that you do for the parishioners of St. Francis of Assisi parish.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 OUR PARISHES
PART-TIME STAFF AUDITOR The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for the position of Staff Auditor. This is a part-time position requiring twenty hours per week. The position is primarily responsible for performing audits of school accounts and the procedures related to those accounts. Requirements include: • Bachelors’ Degree in Accounting or Finance • Three years experience in accounting or auditing. • Strong understanding of internal control systems. • Strong verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills. • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook and familiarity with accounting software. • Ability to maintain confidentiality. Please send resume and salary history by July 25, 2014 to: Director, Parish Audit Services Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 or email to sjsyta@charlottediocese.org.
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The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Let’s keep talking.
CCDOC.ORG
Photos provided by Jennifer Noto
SonFest enjoyed by thousands Jennifer Noto Special to the Catholic News Herald
Forgiveness and Healing Following Abortion Catholic Charities can help men and women who have experienced abortion begin their healing journey. Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat creates a healing environment of prayer and forgiveness. The retreat works to reconnect individuals to themselves, their friends, and family and to realize God’s ever present love.
The next Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat is September 5 - 7 in Asheville, NC. Visit our website or rachelsvineyard.org for more information or contact Shelley Glanton at 828.230.4940/sglantonop@charter.net.
CHARLOTTE — More than 6,000 people attended the fourth annual SonFest at St. John Neumann Church on June 13 and 14. The carnival event kicked off Friday night with a special appearance from Drex, Maney and Cassiday of the “Drex and Maney Morning Show” on KISS 95.1 FM. The all-star radio hosts emceed on the main stage, moderated the inaugural “Hamburger Eating Contest” and called a few rounds of bingo in the parish hall. “We are so honored to have Drex and Maney back for the second year in a row,” said Father Patrick Hoare, pastor. “This year we had the pleasure of having Cassiday with them and they were one of the entertainment highlights on Friday night.” Kids of all ages enjoyed several rides, including Thomas the Train, Paratrooper, Way Out Swing, a 3-Ring Circus bounce house, Bungee Trampoline and a Super Slide. The midway featured several carnival games like the Ring Toss, Balloon Darts, Putt Putt, Quarterback Challenge and Water Race. A variety of ethnic and
carnival-friendly foods were available for purchase. To escape the heat, visitors went inside to the parish hall to place bids on the silent auction or play some bingo. The silent auction featured a variety of items such as an autographed football, golf packages, spa services and tickets to sporting events. The entertainment schedule featured 12 bands, including the return of Relentless Flood, Waiting Hill and Bought by Blood. The event closed Saturday night with a spectacular fireworks show. “Our fireworks show is one of kind,” said Anthony Morlando, who has been the event director every year since its inception in 2010. “People can sit on the hill in front of the baseball field and watch the show up close and personal like no other event in town.” A portion of the proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the AGAPE Dental Ministry, an organization that provides free dental care to underprivileged residents of the Charlotte area. Patients who qualify financially are offered a full range of dental services, administered by a staff of volunteer dentists, hygienists and dental assistants.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com
DENVER — More than 40 children from Holy Spirit Parish participated in the Totus Tuus summer program last week, wrapping up with the ever-popular “human sundae” with a Totus Tuus leader. This summer there are three teams of Totus Tuus catechists, serving 17 parishes throughout the diocese, dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith. Upcoming camps will be held: July 6-July 11 – St. Barnabas Church, Arden, St. Aloysius Church, Hickory, Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro; July 13-18 – St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon, St. Michael the Archangel Church, Gastonia, St. James the Greater Church, Concord; July 20-25 – St. Bernadette Church, Linville, St. Dorothy Church, Lincolnton; and July 27-Aug. 1 – St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte, St. Pius X Church, Greensboro.
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Carmela Manago - Executive Director
Catholic News Herald picks up 16 Catholic media awards CHARLOTTE — The Catholic News Herald received 16 awards from the Catholic Press Association for its work in 2013, presented during the closing awards banquet of the 2014 Catholic Media Conference in Charlotte. The diocesan newspaper, which competes in the 40,000-plus circulation category, placing it among the largest Catholic newspapers in the U.S., won: n First Place, Best Coverage of Religious Liberty Issues: for “HHS mandate forces people to act against their convictions,” “Take your place in the battle for religious freedom,” “Belmont Abbey College files new lawsuit against HHS mandate” by Patricia Guilfoyle, SueAnn Howell and Matthew Orso n Second Place, Best Web/Print Combination Package: for “Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus” by Kimberly Bender n Second Place, Best Front Page Tabloid: for “Catholic News Herald: Path to Peace?, Church is ‘field hospital after battle,’ Celebrating the past, looking to the future” by Tim Faragher and Patricia Guilfoyle n Third Place, Best Feature Story (among diocesan newspapers over 40,000 circulation): for “‘Three bishops in one place, who can miss that?!’” by SueAnn Howell n Third Place, Best On-Line/Multimedia Presentation of Visuals (Spanish): for “El Señor de los Milagros” by Rico De Silva n Third Place, Best Multimedia Package for Feature: for “Pipe organ dedicated at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury” by Patricia Guilfoyle n Third Place, Best Use of Art or Graphics/Best Original Illustration: for “Open the Door to Jesus” by Tim Faragher n Third Place, Best Single Ad Originating with the Publication Color: for “Quo Vadis Days: Where are you going?” by Tim Faragher n Honorable Mention, Best Web/Print
Combo Package: for “2013 Eucharistic Congress” by Catholic News Herald staff n Honorable Mention, Best Web/Print Combo Package: for “The March Goes On” by SueAnn Howell, Gretchen Filz, Anthony Perlas, Ruben Tamayo, Kimberly Bender and Patricia Guilfoyle n Honorable Mention, Best Especial Supplement or Special Issue with Editorial Emphasis/Best One-Time Special Issue: for “Catholic News Herald: Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” by David Exum, Tim Faragher and Patricia Guilfoyle n Honorable Mention, Best Coverage of the Year of Faith: for “Year of Faith” by Patricia Guilfoyle n Honorable Mention, Best Coverage of Local Politics: for “N.C. legislators eye abortion restrictions; Troubled Latrobe clinic faces scrutiny, legislative interest; Legislature supports pro-life bills, governor to sign” by Patricia Guilfoyle n Honorable Mention, Best Coverage of Immigration: for “Coming out of the immigration shadows: Edward tells his story,” “Immigration reform in the spotlight,” “Catholics, other Christians gather to pray for immigration reform” by Patricia Guilfoyle, Annette Tenny and Father Shawn O’Neal n Honorable Mention, Best Multimedia Package for Feature: for “Quo Vadis Days” by David Hains, Patricia Guilfoyle and Ruben Tamayo n Honorable Mention, Best Sports Feature/Column: for “Coach shows love is powerful force on, off basketball court” by Lianne Finger “We are grateful for this recognition,” said Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle. “The Catholic News Herald is the product of a lot of hard work by many people, as you can see from the awards list. We hope our efforts help to educate and inspire our readers in the faith.”
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Congratulations Graduates! Graduating from high school as a teen parent is beating the odds. The national high school graduation rate for teen parents is 40%. Less than 2% of teen parents finish college before age 30. Children of teen parents are significantly more likely to repeat a grade or not receive their high school diploma. At Catholic Charities, we help teen parents and their children beat the odds. 100% of teens receiving Teen Parent Support Services at the Piedmont Triad Office graduated from high school. Congratulations to all 10 seniors! Six of these graduates will begin college this fall.
For more information about teen parenting services or if you know someone who would benefit from the program visit the website or call 336.714.3203.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Thank you. The Catholic News Herald recently received 16 awards for its work in 2013 from the Catholic Press Association. This recognition would not have been possible without the generous support of our readers, advertisers and news contributors, as well as the clergy and religious of the Diocese of Charlotte. Thank you for helping us in our mission to serve Christ and connect Catholics in western North Carolina.
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July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Experto en estudios pastorales hispanos en los Estados Unidos da importante charla durante la Conferencia de Periodistas Católicos
(Derecha) Algunos de los presentes rezando el Padre Nuestro durante la Misa de clausura del IV Congreso Carismático Catolico celebrado en el Cabarrus Arena de Concord (Abajo a la derecha) El Padre Alvaro Riquelme, Párroco de la Iglesia de San José en Kannapolis consagrando la Sangre de Cristo durante la Misa de Vigilia de la Fiesta de Corpus Christi, y a su izquierda, el Padre Teófilo Rodríguez de Panamá alabando a la Sangre de Cristo durante la elevación de la copa.
Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter
Fotos de RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
IV Congreso Carismático Católico
“El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí” se celebra en Concord Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter
CONCORD — Una multitud de más de mil fieles colmaron el Cabarrus Arena en Concord durante la celebración del IV Congreso Carismático Católico: ‘El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí’ celebrado el Sábado, 21 de Junio. El evento fue patrocinado por la Renovación Carismática Católica de la Diócesis de Charlotte y contó con la presencia de dos renombrados sacerdotes carismáticos, el Padre Pedro Núñez sacerdote de la Arquidiócesis de Nueva Orleáns, y el Padre Teófilo Rodríguez de Panamá. El evento que duró todo el día contó con coros de alabanza y oración, como también con conferencias de los Padres Núñez y Rodríguez durante todo el día. El Padre Alvaro Riquelme, Párroco de la Iglesia de San Jose en Kannapolis, fue el celebrante principal durante la Misa de clausura del evento. La Misa de Vigilia Dominical del Domingo de Corpus Christi, o el Cuerpo y la Sangre de Jesucristo en el Santísimo Sacramento. El Padre Núñez predicó la homilía durante la Misa, “El sacrificio de Dios en la Última Cena, y el sacrificio de Dios en la cruz es uno… Ahí en la Eucaristía se representa; ahí se hace real el único sacrifico de Jesús por amor a ti y por amor a mí en una Cruz en el Calvario,” dijo el Padre Núñez durante su homilía predicando acerca de la Sagrada Eucaristía. El Padre Pedro F. Núñez es uno de los más conocidos predicadores católicos en el mundo de habla hispana. Nacido en la Habana, Cuba, emigró a los Estados Unidos en el año 1962. Fue ordenado en el año 1977. Desde el año 1979 dirige el ministerio “Mensaje” de la oficina de comunicaciones de la Arquidiócesis de Nueva Orleáns. El Padre Teófilo Rodríguez es el fundador
y responsable de la Fraternidad de la Divina Misericordia de los Sagrados Corazones de Jesús y María, una sociedad de vida apostólica presente en ocho países del Continente Americano y Europa, y que está conformada por clérigos, religiosas y laicos. El Congreso contó con participantes de varias parroquias de la Diócesis de Charlotte, y la presencia del Espíritu Santo se sintió fuertemente durante todo el Congreso. “Me gustó mucho este evento. Yo no me considero carismático, pero me gusta mucho alabar a Dios por medio de la música,” dijo Pedro Altamiranda de la Parroquia de San Gabriel en Charlotte. “Yo he recibido muchas bendiciones en el día de hoy. Los dos sacerdotes han dado excelentes conferencias, y yo he visto a varias personas que han recibido sanaciones en el día de hoy. Dios ha derramado su Espíritu aquí hoy,” dijo Jose Pastor, miembro de la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe.
CHARLOTTE — El Doctor en Filosofía, Hosffman Ospino, considerado a nivel nacional como un experto en el estudio de la pastoral hispana en los Estados Unidos fue uno de los conferencistas de la Conferencia de Prensa Católica 2014 (CMC 14) en Charlotte, que se celebró en esta ciudad del 18 al 20 de Junio en el Hotel Sheraton del Centro de Charlotte. El Dr. Ospino, originario de Colombia, enseña acerca del Ministerio Hispano y Educación Religiosa en la Escuela de Teología de la Universidad de Boston College en Boston, Massachusetts. En su charla titulada en inglés, “Acercándonos a los católicos Latinos(as) en los Estados Unidos,” Dr. Ospino habló en una de las sesiones de la tarde del 19 de Junio ante un grupo de cerca de 20 periodistas Hispanos y Anglos. Entre los presentes también estuvo el Padre Fidel Melo, Vicario del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte. “El catolicismo en los Estados Unidos ha sido moldeado por dos olas de inmigrantes. La primera ola de inmigrantes llegó primordialmente desde el oeste de Europa, y esta primera ola de inmigrantes ha sido el modelo que la Iglesia ha adoptado hasta el día de hoy,” dijo Ospino. Pero Ospino dijo que parte del reto de la Iglesia actualmente, comenzó en la década de los 1950s cuando la segunda ola de inmigrantes llegó a los Estados Unidos. Esta segunda ola de inmigrantes está compuesta primordialmente de inmigrantes de Latino América, y un pequeño número de asiáticos. Durante la primera ola de inmigrantes europeos existían parroquias de diferentes nacionalidades, debido a la variedad de idiomas y tradiciones. También, el énfasis en las parroquias era en asimilación en la cultura americana, y la identidad era de ser ‘americano’ y ‘católico.’ El concepto de parroquias nacionales de un país especifico, fue remplazado por las parroquias personales en 1983. De acuerdo a los estudios del Dr. Ospino, la demografía de la Iglesia Católica en los Estados Unidos está Ospino compuesta actualmente de las siguientes razas: 47% son Anglos/blancos, 43% Hispanos, 3.6% AfricanoAmericanos, 5% Asiáticos y 1% Indio Americano. En comparación con los años 50s, cuando la población Anglo/blanca católica formaba casi el 95% de los católicos, y los Hispanos solo era apenas un 4% de los católicos en ese entonces. “Entonces lo que tenemos en el día de hoy es una Iglesia (católica) que todavía funciona de muchas maneras con una estructura que sirvió a una generación diferente de católicos, y con necesidades y demandas culturales de católicos que vienen no de Europa, sino de Latino América y Asia,” dijo él. Dentro de ese 43% de los católicos Hispanos que forman la Iglesia en este país, el Dr. Ospino identificó a tres grupos muy importantes para el ministerio Hispano: El primer grupo está compuesto de los Hispanos inmigrantes a los Estados Unidos. Segundo grupo, son los católicos Hispanos nacidos en los Estados Unidos que practican el catolicismo activamente. El tercer grupo son los católicos Hispanos nacidos en los Estados Unidos, pero que no practican la fe. “La Iglesia entera necesita dar de todos sus recursos a los inmigrantes Hispanos. Necesitamos estar al tanto de los intereses y dudas de los inmigrantes… También necesitamos urgentemente recursos y materiales didácticos religiosos de inculturación en español,” dijo el Dr. Ospino. “30% de los católicos Hispanos nacidos en los Estados Unidos practican su fe activamente en este país. Pero un grupo que permanece descuidado son los Hispanos nacidos en este país que no practican el catolicismo. Ellos son el futuro de los católicos en los Estados Unidos, y son la mayoría de la población católica hispana en este país,” dijo él. Una estadística interesante mencionada por el Dr. Ospino fue que de los 43% de católicos que son hispanos en este país, 55% son menores de 30 años, y 63% de los católicos menores de 18 años son hispanos, y el 97% de este 63% son Hispanos nacidos en los Estados Unidos. “No podemos ignorar a este 63% de los jóvenes hispanos en la Iglesia. Solamente un 40% de las parroquias que tienen ministerio hispano tienen ministerio juvenil,” agregó él.
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FROM TH
photos by sueann howell, patricia guilfoyle and rico de silva | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Bishop Peter J. Jugis and the diocese’s three newly ordained priests (from left) Father Noah Carter, Father Paul Buchanan and Father Paul McNulty, are pictured after the ordination Mass on June 28 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. (Below) From left are scenes from the ordination Mass, including the parents of the newly ordained bringing up the offertory gifts.
‘Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of the priesthood’ Diocese blessed with three new priests at ordination Mass June 28 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
HUNTERSVILLE — The morning of June 28 was marked by pure joy and gratitude as the Diocese of Charlotte’s three newest priests were ordained. With their faces filled with emotion, Paul Maxwell Buchanan, Noah Christian Carter and Paul David McNulty stood before Bishop Peter J. Jugis to present themselves for priestly ordination at the start of the ordination Mass at St. Mark Church. Father Christopher Gober, director of vocations for the diocese, presented the three men to Bishop Jugis, declaring
their worthiness to receive holy orders. “My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, our Deacons Paul McNulty, Noah Carter and Paul Buchanan have now been chosen for ordination to the sacred priesthood,” Bishop Jugis replied. “Jesus, the Great High Priest Himself, established this priesthood in the Church. He chose Apostles from among all His disciples to carry out a special priestly office in His Church so that through the Apostles and now through the successors of the Apostles the bishops, He continues even to this day to exercise His office of teacher, priest and shepherd in the Church.” In his homily, Bishop Jugis explained that the three
Online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See lots more photos as well as video highlights from the ordination Mass
young men are to become coworkers with the order of bishops to continue Christ’s mission to teach His Gospel, to offer His sacrifice which reconciles the world to Almighty God, and to shepherd His people to heaven, he said. “Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of the priesthood.” He encouraged the three men to draw courage from what Jeremiah the prophet said about his own vocation, as described in the Mass’s first reading from Jeremiah 1:4-9. Jeremiah said, “The Lord extended His hand and touched my mouth saying, ‘See, I place My words in your mouth.’” Bishop Jugis continued, “Christ now touches you deeply
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July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.comiii
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Paul Buchanan kneels before Bishop Jugis as he lays on hands during the ordination rite. (Below) All three new priests pray over Bishop Jugis and give him a priestly blessing at the end of the ordination Mass.
with the grace of the Holy Spirit in holy orders, and He places His word not only in your mouth but deep within you. Jesus the Word of God dwells in you as priest. Let His Word remain in you so that you nourish the faithful on Jesus’ teaching and His Church’s teaching so that you build up the Church.” He also reminded them that they will exercise the sacred duty of sanctifying, above all in the Eucharistic assembly, offering the sacrifice of reconciliation through the sacraments. “He has given you the ministry of reconciliation. Every time you offer the sacrifice of the Body and Blood of Christ, you are continuing Christ’s work of reconciling the world to God. Every time you celebrate the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, you are continuing the work of reconciling the world to God. “Every time you celebrate baptism, you are continuing Christ’s work of reconciling the world to God. When you offer prayers of praise and thanks to God throughout the hours of the day for the people of God, and indeed the whole world, you are reconciling the world to God.” He also instructed the three new priests – whom he addressed as “my dear sons” – to gather the people of God together, to seek out the straying faithful, and to strengthen those who are weak – “to shepherd the people to heaven.” “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve and who came to seek out and save what was lost,” he told them. He reminded the men that as celebrants of the mystery of the Lord’s death and resurrection, they should put to
death in themselves whatever is sinful so that they can walk in the newness of life of the Risen Lord. And as the day marked the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, he also encouraged them to have recourse to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asking her to help them grow in priestly holiness. After the homily, each of the three men declared their intention to carry out the duties of the office of the priesthood. Then each took his turn before the bishop, kneeling at his feet, placing their hands in his as they promised respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors. At the Litany of Supplication, they lay prostrate on the floor before the altar, as an expression of their unworthiness and complete dependence on the Lord. The people chanted the Litany of the Saints, asking for God’s mercy and the intercession of the Mother of God and all the saints. Upon rising after the Litany of Supplication, each of the three then took turn kneeling before Bishop Jugis as he laid his hands on their head. This ancient act marked the most solemn moment of the ordination rite. He prayed silently over each man, asking for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come upon them. More than 40 priests who were present for the ordination Mass then also took turns laying hands and praying over each of the men. The new priests received their priestly vestments, and Bishop Jugis then anointed each of the new priests’ hands and wrapped them in the maniturga before they came back before him to receive the bread and wine to be consecrated
during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Presentation of the Gifts, the parents of the new priests – Gloria and Rob Buchanan, Holly and Gregory Carter, and Michelle McNulty – processed down the main aisle to present the bread, wine and water to be used during the Eucharistic sacrifice. The newly-ordained Father McNulty’s father, Deacon Brian McNulty, was already in the sanctuary during the presentation, as he assisted at the Mass and chanted the Gospel during the Liturgy of the Word. The new Fathers Buchanan, Carter and McNulty then gathered around the altar with Bishop Jugis and the other priests as they prayed the prayers of consecration during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The two-and-a-half hour Mass, full of pageantry, joyful music and smiles, attracted a standing-room only congregation at the Charlotte area’s second largest church, and at the conclusion of the ordination Mass all three new priests received a resounding ovation from everyone gathered. At the end of Mass, Bishop Jugis announced the new priests’ assignments: Father Paul Buchanan will serve as priest-in-residence at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte as he prepares to travel back to Rome to continue studies for a License in Sacred Theology. Father Noah Carter will serve as priest in residence at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury as he too prepares to return to Rome in the fall to pursue a License in Sacred Theology. Father Paul McNulty will serve as parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 FROM THE COVER
(Right) Bishop Jugis lays hands on Noah Carter during the ordination rite. (Below) Father Jason Christian, who was ordained last year, congratulates Father Paul McNulty.
(Right) Bishop Jugis elevates the Eucharist as the three newly ordained priests adore the Lord. (Below) Benedictine Father David Kessinger (left) of Belmont Abbey and retired Monsignor Richard Bellow (right) pray over the men during the ordination rite. Bishop Jugis congratulates Father Noah Carter.
(Below) The three new priests are beaming after being vested. Father Paul Buchanan gives a blessing during Holy Communion.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI
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Vestments and chalices carefully selected by new priests
(Above) Three joyful new priests receive a Knights of Columbus salute and a hearty ovation from the people during the recessional. (Left) Deacon Brian McNulty hugs his newly ordained son, Father Paul McNulty. (Below) Father Noah Carter blesses a family at the ordination reception after Mass.
Selecting vestments and a chalice for a priest’s first Mass is a labor of love. Our new priests share some details about how they made their selections. Father Paul Buchanan: “One of the beautiful things about being Catholic is our tangible link to those who have come before us in the faith. We received the faith from them; their struggles and triumphs have allowed us to have this great gift of faith in our day. “The designs for my chasuble and chalice attempt to reflect this in some way. My chasuble is based on one that was owned by St. Thomas Becket, 12th century Archbishop of Canterbury. I have always had a devotion to St. Thomas, and that has only been increased by the great gift of being able to visit the site of his martyrdom in Canterbury Cathedral on his feast day several times during my years in the seminary. “The chalice is modeled after another 12th century item, the so-called Coimbra Chalice. The Twelve Apostles ring the cup itself; the node is a blue stone to symbolize the Virgin Mary, and the base has medallions of the Four Evangelists, to symbolize that the foundation of the life of a priest (and of every Christian!) has to be the Gospel.” Father Noah Carter: “I commissioned Mrs. Emily Uhl at AltarWorthy in Seattle, Wash., to make a solemn set of vestments for my first Mass. She made a full solemn set, including a chasuble, dalmatic, tunicle, cope, humeral veil, and all the accessories. The chasuble back is embroidered with the symbol of the mother pelican who, as the story goes, during a time of famine would feed her chicks with her own blood by pecking at her chest. This Christological symbol has always been dear to my heart. I remember it on the doors of the tabernacle that we had at St. Barnabas when I was younger. “The cope is the other piece that has special significance. On the hood will be embroidered a gold IHS. Each front panel will have embroidered at the end an “eye of God,” a Trinitarian symbol of divine omnipotence. Since the cope is worn for liturgical rites that are strictly non-Eucharistic (blessings, other sacraments, processions, the sprinkling rite, Eucharistic benediction, etc.), I wanted to have this symbol express the all-encompassing providence of God in our Christian life. It expresses His ever-loving care of each Christian as they walk on their journey of faith with the pilgrim Church in the hopes of enjoying eternal beatitude with the Trinity in heaven. “I am grateful to my family, immediate and extended, who helped me to pay for this project. I will always remember them as I vest in these vestments to celebrate the sacred
mysteries. “Concerning my chalice, I bought it this past fall in an auction in France and then had to do some research to find out its history. It was crafted by Martin and Dejean, who had a silversmith shop in the square in front of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. It features images of wheat, grapes, reeds/cattails and cherubs, and was created sometime in the early to mid1800s.” Father Paul McNulty: “The chalice was a gift from Belmont Abbey. There are a number of reasons why I approached the Abbot about using one of the Abbey chalices for priestly
ministry. Since the Abbey was founded in the late 1800s, it has taken care of the Catholic faithful in western North Carolina before both the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte were founded. Even after the Diocese of Raleigh was founded, the Abbey continued to take care of the Catholics in the area. Both of my parents and my sisters were beneficiaries of the Abbey’s spiritual care. Both of my sisters attended Belmont Abbey College and cherished their time there. “Abbot Placid has been a great spiritual father and friend since I was a young seminarian. He was my spiritual director for the few years when I was out of seminary from 2009 to 2011. Given this history and my relationship and my family’s relationship to the Abbey, I approached the Abbot about using one of the Abbey’s chalices for my priestly ministry. At their passing, the priests of Belmont Abbey leave their chalices to the monastery and Abbot allowed me to choose from one of these chalices. The chalice that I chose was that of Father Sebastian Thomas Doris, ordained on May 30, 1931. I didn’t know at first until I chose the chalice that it was Father Sebastian’s. It was quite a blessing to find out that it was his since Sebastian is my confirmation saint. “I recently had the chalice refurbished by Mark Read, a metalsmith in Boone. He replated the chalice, and set the stones from my mother’s engagement ring in the cross that is engraved on the chalice. He also set the wedding ring of my grandfather Tony, who passed away two years ago, on the bottom of the chalice. He also placed a plate on the bottom of the chalice on which is engraved a memorial to Father Sebastian and the Abbey and also the date of my ordination.” — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
MACS education grants announced CHARLOTTE — The MACS Education Foundation is proud to announce the teacher recipients of the 2014-2015 Grants for Educational Excellence, which total $98,738: n Alejandra Ahrensdorf: The Traveling Language Lab, Language Arts n Kim Antolini, Bill Fountain and Maureen Milligan: ALEKS, Math n Karen Brzycki, Diane Buckley and Safeya Carpano: School Garden, Miscellaneous n Katie Buckley: Connecting to the World Around Us, Multiple n Diane Buckley: Kindred and Kindled Spirits, Religion n LeAnn Callahan: Ukulele Program, Music n Patty Croghan, Patti Dickson, Kelly Henderson and Cyndi Hess: Mastery Club, Multiple n Elizabeth Daniel: Building Model Bridges, Math n Elizabeth Daniel: Outfitting the Math Lab, Math n Elizabeth Daniel, Sondra Bryn and
Catherine McIndoe: Memorial Garden Classroom, Math n Elizabeth Daniel, Jean Mulligan and Scott Kent: The Blended Classroom, Math n Elizabeth Daniel, Kathy Shear and Melissa Ocejo: ALEKS, Math n Lauren Darrell: Reading A-Z, Multiple n Jessica DeMartine: Bringing Good News, Multiple n Bill Fountain: Aeronautical Science, Math/Science n Theresa Goebel, Linda Barich and Katherine Thomann: Learning with LEGOs, Literacy/Reading n Heidi Guerin and Sally Knop: FITGram 10—Testing and Assessment, Multiple n Tammy Harris, Elizabeth Daniel and Melissa Ocejo: I am a STEM Scientist, Science/Computer n Kathleen Healy and Alethea Sproul: Learning Island and Rainbow Egg, Computer n Anna Kiefriter and Vicki Neumann: Writing Reader’s Theater, Music n Sally Knop: Quick Start Tennis, Physical Education
n Darlene Konopasek: Lesson with LEGOs, Gifted/Enrichment n Diana Lambropoulos and Myles Pearl: Movin’ and Groovin’: Strengthening our Gross Motor Skills, Multiple n Debra Ludde and Amanda RiversLucey: Brain Busters Robotics 1, Miscellaneous n Stanley Michalski, Ryan Tinker and Tracy Shoff: Artist-in-Residence Music Program, Music n Lisa Michalski-Gilkey and Ashley Samuelson: Our School, Our Paper, Technology n Linda Nagel and Angie Noonan: Laptops to Run Remedial Programs (Ear-obics, Hearbuilder), Learning Support n Vicki Neumann and Jean Mulligan: Fiber Fun, Art n Anna O’Brien, Marie Moyle and Kathleen Murphy: StrengthsQuest, Religion n Katrina O’Connor: Lending Lab Refill, Learning Support n Christine Ostrom: The International Village, Multiple
n Lisa Roy: Sew Saint Mark, Multiple n Julie Thornley and Jennifer Coughlin: Sowing the Seeds of Faith, Religion n Greg Tucker: Engineering Lab Expansion, Engineering n Nicole Warren: Making Connections, Multiple n Carole Watson: HearBuilder, Learning Support n Sheila Zagar and Keeley Gasparro: HOTS Science, Science In addition, $218,382 was awarded in principal grants that will directly impact each child within the nine schools of the MACS community. You can donate towards the Bridge to Excellence Annual Giving Campaign to show your support for these and many other teachers who continue to work tirelessly for our children by visiting www.macseducationfoundation.org or mailing a check to: The MACS Education Foundation, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203. — Heather Moeller, Diocese of Charlotte Office of Development
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In Brief Guitar camp to be offered KERNERSVILLE — Bishop McGuinness High School’s music program will offer a guitar camp this summer, directed by Dr. Alan Hirsh, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 7-11. The cost is $200 and is open to students aged 12 and older. Contact Dr. Hirsh at ah@bmhs.us or 336-564-1044.
Photo provided by Pat Burr and Maria Adolph
St. Michael School summer vacation robotics GASTONIA — Hands were raised high in the air and shouts of joy came from students at St. Michael School’s four day Robotics Summer Camp. They had just figured out how to successfully program their robot to retrieve items through an obstacle course and bring them back to “base.” It took many attempts at building just the right attachments for their robot, numerous return trips to the computer to “tweek” the program, and lots of measuring and math skills before they experienced the rewards for their perseverance. Campers learned logical thinking skills, how to be creative and work in teams, all while having fun.
St. Michael students enjoy ‘Beach Day’ GASTONIA — First- through seventh-grade students had some fun in the sun during Beach Day June 5 at St. Michael School. This end-of-the-year party included a slip ‘n slide, tug-of-war, sponge race, sprinklers and many more activities. Chuck Culbertson barbecued hamburgers and Christine Eagan and Bonnie Jones served side items to go with the burgers. The watermelon was sweet, juicy and a delicious treat to top off the fun day. — Pat Burr
Sacred Heart students win CDA awards SALISBURY — The Sacred Heart Catholic Daughters of America honored students at their Annual Awards Banquet in May – all who won their annual contests in art, essay, poetry, music and photography. The themes this year were “Jesus Loves Us. How do we spread that love?” and “How Do I Promote Peace in the World?”
All students who placed first at the local level competed in the state level. Sacred Heart had five first-place winners and three second-place winners at the State Level. Local Division 1 winners (elementary) were Ella Trainor (poetry), Caroline Clark (essay) and Caroline Clark (art). Division 2 winners (middle school) were Bess Bryan (poetry), Olivia Dagenhart (essay), Ali Gerig (art) and Keegan Dillon (photography). The Division 3
winner (high school) was Makayla Dillon in three categories (poetry, photography and art). Ella Trainor, Bess Bryan, Ali Gerig, Keegan Dillon and Makayla Dillon all won at the state level and now advance to the national competition. Makayla Dillon is a high school student at Salisbury High School. — Robin Fisher
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Students earn honors at National History Day Contest Christ the King students start NHS chapter HUNTERSVILLE — Christ the King High School in Huntersville recently affiliated a chapter of the National Honor Society. In January 2014, the nine founding members were initiated based on excellence in scholarship, service, leadership and character. As part of their goal for service, the members designed a T-shirt remembering loved ones of their school community who have been affected by cancer. Collecting 54 names to adorn the back of the shirt, the members sold more than 100 shirts, far surpassing the goal set by the chapter. The nine students raised more than $1,000, which was donated to the Levine Cancer Institute for research managing the early stages of cancer. Due to the efforts put forth by the chapter, the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation has recognized Christ the King NHS chapter with its “Young Ambassadors” award. The new chapter recently initiated 11 more members, continues to sells T-shirts, and is looking forward to further fundraisers supporting the Levine Cancer Institute, as well as supporting CTK. Pictured are (first row) Megan Jackson, Hannah Yelanich, Gaby Hurt, Mary Selzer, Hannah Cutlip and Kaitlyn Miller; (second row) Lisa Daidone (advisor), Maddi Sherman, Catherine Strickland, Matthew White, Michael Vu and Patrick Blattner; and (third row) Jack O’Malley, Alex Mielcarek, Connor Holleran, Danny Hogan and Thomas Selzer. Not pictured are Matthew Williams, Amanda Seyler, Romeo Antolini and Logan Thayer. — Kaitlyn Miller and Matthew Williams
Our Lady of Grace students celebrate graduation GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace School recently held its graduation service for the Class of 2014. Shown are eighth-grade
WASHINGTON, D.C. — After months of intensive research and success at regional and school-level competitions, Connor Leidner, Joe Maddock, Lainey Auwarter, Ryan McCurdy, Andrew Okpych, and Lance Broadbooks, all students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville, presented their projects at the annual N.C. National History Day contest, held at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh April 26. Their hard work and dedication earned them the following awards: n Connor Leidner, grade 8, in the Historical Papers category – the American Revolutionary War Era award and cash prize n Lainey Auwarter, grade 7, in the Individual Documentary category – second place and qualified for national competition at the University of Maryland June 15-19 n Joe Maddock, grade 8, in the Individual Website category – first place and qualified for national competition at the University of Maryland June 15-19 n Ryan McCurdy, Andrew Okpych and Lance Broadbooks, grade 7, in the group performance category – the Cold War Era Award and cash prize, third place Each fall more than half a million students worldwide begin the year-long National History Day program, competing in a series of history contests in their local schools, regions and affiliates. The top students in each category are selected for participation in the national contest. Participating students choose their own topics of study and research from original sources based on the theme, Rights and Responsibilities. NHD students research historic documents and artifacts, conduct oral histories, search the Internet for information on their topics, and travel to historic sites. They present their work in a variety of ways, by creating documentaries, performances, websites, or historical research papers. — Tina Okpych We welcome your school’s news! Email your news items and photos to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@ charlottediocese.org.
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What will you learn by taking a free, one-day class? • Effectiveness of modern NFP methods. • Health, relational, and spiritual benefits. • Health risks of popular contraceptives. • Church teachings on responsible parenting. • How to use Natural Family Planning. July 12 – St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Waynesville July 26 – Christ the King Catholic Church, High Point August 16 – St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte September 6 – Holy Family Catholic Church, Clemmons For more information visit our website or contact Batrice Adcock, MSN at 704.370.3230 or bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
On TV n Sunday, July 6, 1:30-4:30 p.m. (EWTN) “In Concert: 6 Suites for Violoncello.” Wen-Sinn Yang performs Bach’s 6 Suites for Violoncello (BMV 1007-1012) composed in 1720. Filmed inside the tiny pilgrimage church of St. Servatius in the Bavarian Alps.
Photos by Christopher Lux | Catholic News Herald
Photo provided by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas
Grant Gerlich, archivist for the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, shows off the repository at the Mercy Heritage Center, the Sisters of Mercy’s new centralized archive. Gerlich unveils the chair and traveling desk of Mother Frances Warde, who led the first group of Mercy sisters to the United States in 1843.
A hand-painted “Register of Professions” from St. Mary’s Convent, Order of Mercy in Rochester, N.Y. Created by an unknown sister, it begins with Frances Warde in 1832 and extends to 1879.
Mercy sisters’ Belmont archives ‘not just about the past’ Christopher Lux Correspondent
BELMONT — Turning off Belmont’s Main Street into the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont, I face a building now used by Belmont Abbey College that once was the sisters’ Sacred Heart College. As I continue driving, I pass Catherine’s House, a transitional facility for homeless women and their children. Behind that is the House of Mercy, where people living with advanced AIDS receive loving care, and nearby is Holy Angels, which provides specialized care for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions. I continue on to another building that’s called the Mercy Heritage Center, and ring the doorbell. Grant Gerlich, archivist for the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, opens the door with a smile and also introduces me to Betsy Johnson, assistant archivist. Both greet me with the same hospitality the Mercy sisters are famous for. “The Mercy Heritage Center is a ministry of the Institute,” Gerlich tells me. “We serve everyone.” The Sisters of Mercy are well known for their care of people in need – the poor, neglected, sick, homeless, immigrant, orphan, soldier and student. Because of their Christlike service to others, it is no surprise they would invest so much time and resources into building a centralized archive that is open to everyone: the Mercy Heritage Center. For decades, the sisters across the country maintained regional archives containing records and artifacts dating from the sisters’ arrival to the United States in 1843. The Mercy Heritage Center was established to centralize and house these historic records as well as
future records, and in 2010 the South Central Community headquarters in Belmont was chosen as its site. The former McCarthy Library on the Belmont campus was completely renovated and by January 2011 the archival materials began coming in. Gerlich was formerly the archivist at the McGreal Center for Dominican Historical Studies at Dominican University and the archival committee chair of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, Ill. The sisters selected him to head up their new, centralized archive and he quickly relocated from the Midwest. He says, “Once they selected the place, it moved pretty quickly. The first collection showed up in February of 2011.” Now, just a few years later, the archive encompasses 30 collections and it is still growing. Gerlich leads me to a room of shelves holding boxes just in from California. He pulls a box off a shelf and places it onto a cart. “This is an archivist’s dream,” he says. “When I interviewed for the job and they showed me the building, I knew this was going to be the real deal. Usually archives are an afterthought,” he says, with historic materials stuffed into a basement or attic. “Things were done here according to Society of American Archivists’ standards for archival facilities,” he says, pointing up to the sprinkler system. “We have a pre-action system that has heat sensors that activate the sprinklers. We have a generator for the HVAC and fire suppression, and we monitor the temperature and humidity twice a day for consistency.” One of the boxes from California holds ledgers and registers dating from the early 1900s at an orphanage run by the Sisters of Mercy. It lists children’s names, along with their birth dates, parents’ names and dates
Want to go? Mercy Heritage Center is open to the public: to those interested in genealogy, scholarly research and others who are curious about the history of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Records date from the sisters’ arrival in 1843 to the early 21st century and include documents, audiovisual materials and artifacts. To access the archives, go online to www. sistersofmercy.org/about-us/mercy-heritage-center.
of parents’ deaths. Another register lists the names of children at a Native American academy and notes their percentage of “Indian Blood.” Other boxes in the room give a quick snapshot of the extensive work of the Mercy sisters in America: another orphanage, a military academy, hospitals, a nursing college. And these boxes come from only one of the regions where the Sisters of Mercy are serving. This information is not only meaningful for those interested in the work of the Sisters of Mercy, it is vital for people doing genealogy or scholarly research. In fact, Gerlich says, their most common inquiry is about genealogy. And there are a lot of people interested. “We handle inquiries from all over the country,” he says. “We’re getting utilized and more people are finding us.” “(In the past five months) this year we have already fielded 388 inquiries. Last year’s total was 489.” Gerlich then takes me to the repository where over a mile of shelving holds boxes ARCHIVES, SEE page 21
n Sunday, July 6, 10-11 p.m. (EWTN) “Franciscan University Presents: Statecraft as Soulcraft.” Michael Hernon and panelists Regis Martin and Scott Hahn welcome Francis Beckwith, professor of philosophy and Church-state studies at Baylor University, to discuss the influence of Christians in the public square.
n Tuesday, July 8, 8-9 p.m. (PBS) “St. Paul’s Cathedral.” This episode of the threepart series “Time Scanners” explores London’s Anglican cathedral, the iconic masterwork of architect Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). n Wednesday, July 9, 10-11 p.m. (PBS) “The Mona Lisa Mystery.” Special analyzing an earlier version of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa that was uncovered in 2012. A “Secrets of the Dead” presentation.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
ARCHIVES: FROM PAGE 20
of records divided by geographical region. He points out records of sisters’ teaching assignments, and says he has used this information to put people in touch with their former teachers. “People will say they had a sister as a teacher at a school and ‘I was bad and I want to apologize’ or ‘She gave me the confidence I have today and I want to thank her,’” he explains. In these cases, Gerlich has been able to find where the sister is living, give her the contact information of the former student, and let her contact them directly. In the artifact storage room, one wall is covered with rows of pictures and paintings depicting the history of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. A painting shows a sister caring for a wounded soldier in Vicksburg, Miss., during the Civil War. The sisters were the Union’s top military nurses, and the painting is said to have been commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln. Some paintings are of Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley, based on written descriptions of what the Irish foundress of the Sisters of Mercy looked like. The shelves are covered with boxes made of archival fiber board, and they are filled with habits, nurses outfits, crucifixes, chalices, relics and many other items that tell the sisters’ story through the years. Among the boxes are pieces of furniture, nun dolls, and more pictures – all draped with cloths of acid-free, unbleached cotton. Gerlich carefully uncovers a black
KELLEHER: FROM PAGE 3
Catholic News Herald after the hearing. The county’s prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Dawn Layton, did not object to the charges being dismissed. Based on both evaluations performed this year, “we do not feel the situation or his condition would improve,” Layton told the judge. Layton declined to comment further. The sex abuse investigation began in early 2010 when the diocese alerted authorities to an allegation of abuse posted online by an unnamed man against Father Kelleher. The allegation stated that the priest sexually molested a 14-year-old boy sometime in the 1970s at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, where he was pastor from 1973 to 1977. The alleged victim, who lives out of state, did not attend the hearing. Layton said he has been made aware of the developments in the case. Father Kelleher was arrested in July 2010 by Albemarle police and charged with one count of taking indecent liberties with a child. He was also suspended from public ministry by the Diocese of Charlotte. During his more than 40 years in priestly ministry, Father Kelleher served in nine parishes in the Charlotte diocese and, before the diocese was created in 1972, at two parishes in the Diocese of Raleigh. He had most recently served as chaplain of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.
chair. “That’s Frances Warde’s chair. And we have her traveling desk here.” Mother Frances Warde, who led the first group of Mercy sisters to the U.S., traveled from Ireland to Pittsburgh in 1843. Her cousin gave Warde the traveling desk before she set sail on the long journey across the Atlantic. Gerlich takes the traveling desk down from the shelf and opens it. “The sisters didn’t sit on their hands while traveling. They used this down time to stay productive doing something.” We walk upstairs to the research room, which contains a large table for patrons to spread out materials during their on-site research. Staff are located nearby to assist them. Gerlich then walks me to an empty exhibit space being designed to serve as a museum to showcase the story of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Expected to open in 2018, the room will display records and artifacts from the sisters’ past and tell the story of their ongoing service – especially on issues including immigration reform, human trafficking and environmentalism. His and the sisters’ hope is that the exhibit room will inspire people to help through volunteer work, donations or joining the Sisters of Mercy themselves. The work of the Sisters of Mercy has had a significant impact on the needy of the world, Gerlich says, and the archives provide evidence of their good work. Now, through their compiled national archives and museum, the Mercy Heritage Center shares the sisters’ story with the public. But it’s not only a story of the past. Their work continues, he says. “It’s never going to be over. It’s evolving. It’s going to be active.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police have also had an open investigation since July 2010 into a second claim of abuse from a man who alleges that Father Kelleher sexually abused him as a teenager in about 1980, while the priest was serving as pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte. No charges have been filed. Father Kelleher was ordained in 1953 in Ireland. He was a Trappist monk at Southern Star Abbey in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, until he joined the Diocese of Raleigh in 1966. In 1972 when the Charlotte diocese was carved out of the Raleigh diocese, he was serving as pastor of St. John Church in Waynesville. He remained with the Charlotte diocese until he retired in 1999. Other parishes in the Charlotte diocese where he served include: St. Joseph Church in Asheboro, the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point, Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington, and St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.
GADDY: FROM PAGE 7
what we have been given, we do have a need to give back, and part of that does involve helping with the ministries of our diocese that the DSA funds.” The first year she helped oversee the DSA, Gaddy learned a valuable lesson from the late Father Jim Devereaux, then pastor of St. Peter Church in Charlotte. He told her that up until that point the DSA never related to the Scripture readings on the weekend of the appeal. He asked her to try to incorporate the readings in her efforts. “I started doing that 19 years ago,” she remembered. “I would look at the Scripture readings for the Sunday we were kicking off and I would pull the DSA theme from the Scripture readings.” The Diocesan Support Appeal grew from $2,375,475 in Gaddy’s first year as associate director to $5,381,645 in donations last year. One of the larger challenges she faced over the past 19 years was encouraging more than 90 parishes and helping them understand “that this thing we call stewardship is not a one-shot deal. It is something we have to continue to reinforce, to keep the awareness, and to do it year after year after year. It’s a way of life. It’s not just one time,” she said. St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, and St. Aloysius Church in Hickory are all perfect examples of parishes who have incorporated stewardship as a way of life over the years, she noted, and they have been recognized, some nationally, for successful stewardship efforts. At Gaddy’s retirement party on June 27,
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Kelley, her longtime boss and friend, had this to say to her about her efforts over almost two decades: “You have focused on serving others and helping change lives for over 19 years. You focused on your gifts at the service of the Church. You have been a leader in our diocese and throughout the country in both stewardship and development. “I know in our work you can take a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, but you made a lot of people thirsty so they wanted to be good stewards, to get engaged in their local church communities and to make a difference.” “Barb, thank you,” Kelley said. “May God richly bless you in your retirement with new experiences, rest, more time to do what you want and good health. Pray for us and we will pray for you. Well done, good and faithful servant.”
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Our nation 22
catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Religious liberty advocates laud court’s Hobby Lobby ruling, but say fight continues WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling that certain businesses, based on their religious objections, can be exempted from a government requirement to include contraceptives in their employee health insurance coverage means “justice has prevailed,” said two U.S. archbishops. “We welcome the Supreme Court’s decision to recognize that Americans can continue to follow their faith when they run a family business,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. “The court clearly did not decide whether the so-called ‘accommodation’ violates RFRA when applied to our charities, hospitals and schools, so many of which have challenged it as a burden on their religious exercise. We continue to hope that these great ministries of service, like the Little Sisters of the Poor and so many others, will prevail in their cases as well,” the statement said. Robert M. Gallagher, CEO of Good Will Publishers, which recently won a temporary injunction against the HHS contraception mandate for his for-profit religious business, said in a June 30 statement, “Good Will Publishers applauds the Supreme Court’s decision today forbidding the federal government from requiring closely-held businesses to violate their deeply held religious beliefs. This landmark ruling is a victory not only for my family-owned company, but for many others like it throughout the country. “We are thankful that our prayers and petitions have been answered. Subject to further review of the decision, this seems to be a hopeful but narrow ruling that offers a federal safe harbor for closely-held businesses who object to contraception. “Good Will Publishers was recently granted injunctive relief from the HHS mandate through our participation in the Catholic Benefits Association (CBA) litigation in the Federal District Court of Oklahoma. We believe the Hobby Lobby decision confirms our exempt status. “Today is a good day for Good Will Publishers, a good day for those who wish to protect religious liberty, and a good day for those who value life from conception until natural death. The battle for religious liberty, however, is far from over. Nevertheless, the Hobby Lobby decision is certainly a most important step in the right direction.” Belmont Abbey College’s leaders also said the Hobby Lobby ruling bodes well for their own case against the HHS mandate, which was the first lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the mandate in 2011. It is now stayed and awaiting decisions from other cases in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. “Today’s Supreme Court decision is an especially meaningful victory that sends a clear message to the current administration that our freedom is a God-given right and cannot be usurped by any group or individual,” said Belmont Abbey College President Dr. Bill Thierfelder. “It is heartening that the Supreme Court has upheld the right to the free exercise of religion guaranteed to American citizens by the First Amendment to the Constitution. We are confident that our 138 year-old Benedictine community will be able to continue to operate our college, as we always have, in accordance with the faith and teachings of the Catholic Church,” added Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor of Belmont Abbey College. — Catholic News Service, Catholic News Herald
Pro-life demonstrators celebrate June 30 outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington as its decision in the Hobby Lobby case is announced. The high court ruled that owners of closely held corporations can object on religious grounds to being forced by the government to provide coverage of contraceptives for their employees. CNS photo | Jonathan Ernst, Reuters
Court: Companies can’t be required to cover contraceptives Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a narrowly tailored 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court June 30 said closely held companies may be exempted from a government requirement to include contraceptives in employee health insurance coverage under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The court said that Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Woods, the two family-run companies that objected to the government mandate that employees be covered for a range of contraceptives, including drugs considered to be abortifacients, are protected from the requirement of the Affordable Care Act. The opinion essentially held that for-profit companies may hold protected religious views. But the court also said that government requirements do not necessarily lose if they conflict with an employer’s religious beliefs. The ruling is not a slam-dunk for all entities that oppose the contraceptive mandate for religious reasons. The court noted that cases challenging the mandate for nonprofit entities, such as Catholic colleges and faith-based employers, are pending and that the June 30 ruling doesn’t consider them. The decision also did not delve into whether the private employers have religiously motivated protection from laws under the First Amendment. It said the government failed to satisfy the requirement of RFRA, a 1993 law, that the least-restrictive means of accomplishing a government goal be followed to avoid imposing a restriction on religious expression. The majority opinion said the ruling applies only to the contraceptive mandate and should not be interpreted to hold that all insurance coverage mandates -- such as for blood transfusions or vaccinations -- necessarily fail if they conflict with an employers’ religious beliefs. Justice Samuel Alito wrote the primary holding, which was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote a separate concurring opinion, which agreed with the ruling, but made clear that while the opinion applies to the particular companies involved in this case, it’s not a sweeping condemnation of the key elements of the contraceptive mandate itself. “It is important to confirm that a premise of the court’s opinion is its assumption that the HHS regulation here furthers a legitimate and compelling interest in the health of female employees,” wrote Kennedy in his concurrence. He went on to say that the federal government failed to use the least restrictive means of meeting that interest, pointing out that it has granted exemptions from the mandate for employees of nonprofit religious organizations. “That accommodation equally furthers the government interest, but does not impinge on the plaintiff’s religious beliefs,” he wrote.
In the 49-page majority opinion, Alito noted that the department of Health and Human Services that administers the ACA has already provided exemptions from some of the coverage requirements for employers in a variety of situations, including some that were grandfathered in without certain provisions and employers of fewer than 50 workers. He also said that the standard for the government of meeting a general good by the least restrictive means is “exceptionally demanding,” and that the contraceptives provision fails to meet it. The federal government could easily, and relatively inexpensively, cover the cost of providing the disputed contraceptives coverage, Alito said. And he said the federal government already has a system for handling the mandate for nonprofit religious organizations with objections to the mandate. Under that accommodation, organizations self-certify that their religious objections entitle them to exemption from the mandate. In those cases, third party insurers arrange for the provision to be handled without involvement or cost to the employer. Alito specified that the opinion does not decide whether the accommodation approach complies with RFRA for all objections. “At a minimum, however, it does not impinge on the plaintiff’s religious belief that providing insurance coverage for the contraceptives at issue violates their religion, and it serves HHS’s stated interests very well.” Alito also noted that the opinion should not be understood to mean any religion-based objection to a requirement of the ACA would be upheld. Different issues would arise, for instance, in the case of objections to vaccinations that protect public health, he said. In a dissent, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg called the court’s majority decision one of “startling breadth” allowing commercial enterprises to “opt out of any law” except tax laws that they “judge incompatible with their sincerely held religious beliefs.” Ginsburg, joined on the merits of her dissent by Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer, said she was “mindful of the havoc” the ruling could produce and noted that the court’s emphasis on RFRA failed to take into account the impact the decision would have on “third parties who do not share the corporation owners’ religious faith.” “Until today,” she wrote, religious exemptions have not been extended to the “commercial profit-making world” because these groups do not exist to foster the interests of those of the same faith, as religious organizations do. “The court’s determination that RFRA extends to forprofit corporations is bound to have untoward effects,” she said, adding that even though the court “attempts to cabin its language to closely held corporations, its logic extends to corporations of any size, public or private.” As a result, she said, “RFRA claims will proliferate.” — Contributing to this story was Carol Zimmermann.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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In Brief Court gives EWTN last-minute relief from HHS mandate WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court has issued a temporary injunction protecting the Eternal Word Television Network from having to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate. “As we have said repeatedly, contraception, abortion-inducing drugs and voluntary sterilization are not health care and the government should not force EWTN to provide them as part of our employer-sponsored health plan,” said Michael Warsaw, chairman and CEO of EWTN Global Catholic Network, based in Irondale, a suburb of Birmingham, Ala. EWTN has appealed a federal judge’s order from late June dismissing its lawsuit challenging the government’s requirement that most employers, including religious employers, cover contraceptives in employee health care plans. On June 30, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta issued an order barring enforcement of the mandate pending the outcome of the television network’s appeal. U.S. court upholds legality of same-sex ‘marriage’ in Utah WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal appeals court upheld a lower court ruling that struck down Utah’s same-sex “marriage” ban, opening the door for the issue to make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. After issuing its decision June 25, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals immediately put its ruling on hold pending an appeal. The Utah
attorney general’s office said in a statement it planned to file a petition with the Supreme Court. The circuit court covers Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming. As a result, same-sex marriage bans in those states face being overturned in a court challenge. No immediate reaction came from the bishops in the affected states. Since the Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act in June 2013, 16 federal judges have issued rulings in favor of same-sex “marriage.”
Mass. pro-life counselors applaud court’s decision WORCESTER, Mass. — When the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled June 26 that the buffer zones around abortion clinics in Massachusetts violated First Amendment rights, pro-life advocates outside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Worcester were doing what they always do – praying on the sidewalk. “I’m very excited,” said Nancy Clark of Worcester, one of the plaintiffs in the case. “The Holy Spirit is slowly guiding us in the right direction.” The case, McCullen v. Coakley, was brought by several people who volunteer as “sidewalk counselors” outside Planned Parenthood clinics in Boston, Springfield and Worcester. The court’s decision reversed an appellate court decision upholding a 2007 Massachusetts law that made it a crime for anyone other than clinic workers to stand within the yellow semicircular lines painted 35 feet from clinic entrances.
CCUSA head to step down ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Father Larry Snyder, the president of Catholic Charities USA since 2005, will leave the post after 23 years in February for a position at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota starting Feb. 1, 2015. — Catholic News Service
Director of Faith Formation
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish Hendersonville, North Carolina
In 2010, Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake.
Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish is accepting applications for a full time Director of Faith Formation responsible for the parish catechetical program (Hispanic and English), preschool through grade 8, sacrament preparation for Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation, and adult enrichment programs; administers Faith Formation budget; collaborates with Youth Minister and parish staff; reports to the pastor. This position involves evening and weekend work. Requirements include: Candidate must be a practicing Catholic; have current participation in diocesan Safe Environment training or equivalent; BA in Theology/Religious Education or a related educational field and/or certificate in Ministry or Theology from a Catholic institution of higher learning; experience in coordinating parish Faith Formation program; competent in written and verbal communication; have strong organizational and leadership skills. Fluency in Spanish is desirable. Please submit application (available on the Charlotte Diocese web site, Human Resources Dept., personnel forms), and resume by July 15, 2014 to:
Today, the country is still reeling. Watch the Mercy for Haiti film and help us continue to make a difference for those forgotten. Visit urgentcares.org/haiti
Fr. Martin Schratz, OFM Cap., Pastor Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish 208 – 7th Avenue West Hendersonville, North Carolina 28791 icccwnc@bellsouth.net
Visit urgentcares.org to make a donation, or mail your gift (payable to CMMF) to P.O. Box 16367, Asheville, NC 28816
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Our world 24
catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
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In Brief Synod document cites cultural and economic threats to family VATICAN CITY — The working document for the October 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops offers a picture of the Catholic Church today struggling to preach the Gospel and transmit moral teachings amid a “widespread cultural, social and spiritual crisis” of the family. The 75-page “instrumentum laboris,” published by the Vatican June 26, is supposed to “provide an initial reference point” for discussion at the synod, whose theme will be the “pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.” The document is based principally on comments solicited in a questionnaire last November from national bishops’ conferences around the world. But it also reflects comments sent directly to the Vatican by individuals and groups responding to the questionnaire, widely published on the Internet. Topics in the working document include some of the most contested and controversial areas of Catholic moral teaching on the family, including contraception, divorce and remarriage, same-sex marriage, premarital sex and in vitro fertilization. Representatives of the world’s Catholic bishops, meeting together in a synod, are not expected to make any formal proposals about the Church’s pastoral care of families until after a second, larger gathering in 2015. The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family will meet at the Vatican Oct. 5-19, bringing together the presidents of national bishops’ conferences, the heads of Eastern Catholic churches and Vatican officials. The world Synod of Bishops, which will include more bishops – many elected by their peers – will meet at the Vatican Oct. 4-25, 2015.
Pope Francis greets Metropolitan John of Pergamon, head of the Orthodox delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, at the conclusion of a Mass marking the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29. The pope presented the pallium to 24 archbishops from around the world during the liturgy. The pallium is a woolen band worn around the shoulders that symbolizes an archbishop’s authority as shepherd and his communion with the pope. CNS | Paul Haring
Pope, giving archbishops palliums, says stay focused on following Jesus Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
— Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — After placing woolen bands, called palliums, over the shoulders of 24 archbishops from around the world, Pope Francis urged them to trust in God and not seek refuge in power or prestige. “Trust in God banishes all fear and sets us free from every form of slavery and all worldly temptations,” he told the archbishops, including Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford, Conn. The archbishops from 22 countries were named over the course of the last year. The lamb’s wool pallium they received from the pope June 29 symbolizes their unity with pope and their authority and responsibility to care for the flock the pope entrusted to them. As is customary, an Orthodox delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople attended the Mass for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patrons of the Vatican and the city of Rome. Pope Francis greeted Metropolitan John of Pergamon, head of the delegation, at the beginning of the liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, then walked with him after Mass to venerate the statue of St. Peter in the basilica built over his tomb. During his homily, Pope Francis asked the archbishops to consider what, if anything, makes them afraid. “And if we are afraid, what forms of refuge do we seek in our pastoral life to find security? Do we look for support from those who wield worldly power? Or do we let ourselves be deceived by the pride which seeks gratification and recognition, thinking that these will offer us security?” He told the archbishops, “Today the Lord repeats to me, to you, and to all pastors: Follow Me! Waste no time in questioning or in useless chattering; do not dwell on secondary things, but look to what is essential and follow Me.” Jesus, he said, tells the archbishops and all Christians: “Follow Me without regard for the difficulties. Follow Me in preaching the Gospel.”
“Follow Me by speaking of Me to those with whom you live, day after day, in your work, your conversations and among your friends,” the pope said. “Follow Me by proclaiming the Gospel to all, especially to the least among us, so that no one will fail to hear the word of life which sets us free from every fear and enables us to trust in the faithfulness of God.” After the Mass, Archbishop Blair said, “The pallium is a symbol in Catholic faith and liturgy – as the prayers and the text of the liturgy today made clear – of the communion and unity of the Church.” Standing between an archbishop from Brazil and one from Pakistan, “where the Church has been having a very difficult time,” he said, “you appreciate that we are all one, in communion with the successor of Peter, the Holy Father.” Pope Francis held a private meeting June 28 with the delegation representing Ecumenical Patriarchate. The annual exchange of delegations on the Vatican’s and patriarchate’s feast days, as well as the meeting between the pope and patriarch in Jerusalem and again at the Vatican in early June for the prayer for peace in the Holy Land, allow Catholics and Orthodox “to express the love uniting us in Christ and to renew our mutual desire to walk together along the path to full unity,” the pope said. Whenever divided Christians “choose to look at one another with the eyes of faith and to see ourselves as we truly are in God’s plan,” rather than as “we have become as a result of the historical consequences of our sins,” the pope said, it is a result of God’s grace. If Christians learn to look at one another the way God looks at them, he said, “our path will be even straighter and our cooperation all the more easy.” In a letter sent for the feast day, Patriarch Bartholomew also mentioned their recent meetings, saying the prayer for the Holy Land was “was profoundly and personally moving, while at the same time conveying a message of our Lord’s peace and love to a contemporary world that so thirsts for this.” — Contributing to this story was Francis X. Rocca at the Vatican.
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Vatican laicizes former nuncio in connection to abuse allegations Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — A Vatican investigation has led to the expulsion of a former Vatican ambassador from the priesthood in response to allegations of sexually abusing minors. Polish Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, the former nuncio to the Dominican Republic, was sentenced with laicization after a canonical process conducted by the Vatican Congregation of the Doctrine for the Faith, the Vatican said in a written statement June 27. The 65-year-old archbishop has two months to appeal the decision. The Vatican City criminal court’s own trial of the archbishop will begin once the canonical process concludes, the statement said. Given the fact that the archbishop has been “dismissed from the clerical state,” the Vatican said, “all measures appropriate to the gravity of the case” would be taken while he is awaiting his criminal trial. The specifics of those measures were to be decided by the former nuncio’s superiors within the Vatican Secretariat of State, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. The archbishop had “enjoyed relative freedom of movement” while the canonical process was underway, the Vatican statement said. However, given the imposed censure, it was expected the archbishop’s movements would be limited, Father Lombardi said. The Vatican statement said the first round of the canonical process against the former nuncio ended in a “conviction of dismissal from the clerical state.” As such, Archbishop Wesolowski loses all rights and duties associated with being a priest, except the obligation of celibacy. The statement did not specify if there were any other sanctions or requirements in connection with his sentencing. Once the canonical case is closed definitively – in two months if there is no appeal – the “criminal proceedings” of Vatican City State’s own judicial system would begin, the statement said, since the archbishop was a Vatican citizen when he reportedly abused under-aged boys while serving as nuncio in the Dominican Republic.
Father Lombardi said it was not clear whether the archbishop would or could be tried under the new criminal codes Pope Francis approved in 2013. The new laws more clearly define and establish penalties for specific crimes against minors, including sexual violence against children. Before the new laws went into effect Sept. 1, 2013, specific crimes against minors had been dealt with under more generic laws against the mistreatment of minors. The bulk of the Vatican’s criminal code is based on an 1889 version of Italy’s criminal code and did not contemplate many specific offenses such as, for example, the crime of child pornography. The Vatican removed the archbishop from his position as apostolic nuncio to the Dominican Republic in August 2013 after he was accused of paying for sex with boys in the Caribbean country. Archbishop Wesolowski arrived in the Dominican Republic in January 2008 after serving first as a priest in Krakow from 1972 to 1999, then as Vatican ambassador to Bolivia from 1999 to 2002 and ambassador to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan from 2002 to 2008. Pope Francis had told reporters during an in-flight news conference from Israel to Italy in May 2014 that three bishops were under investigation for misdeeds related to the sexual abuse of minors. One – presumably the former nuncio – had “already been condemned,” the pope had said, and his penalty was being studied. The pope told reporters the abuse of children was “an ugly crime” and affirmed a policy of “zero tolerance” for abusers. Previously, the Vatican had acknowledged that a formal investigation was underway against Cardinal Keith O’Brien, the former archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, who resigned in 2013 after admitting to sexual misconduct. Only a few bishops have been laicized in connection to allegations of abusing minors; they include Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Miranda Melgarejo of Ayacucho, Peru, who was dismissed from the priesthood in 2013 because of sexual misconduct. Retired Bishop Raymond Lahey of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, was convicted by a civil court in 2011 of importing child pornography and was laicized by the Vatican in 2012.
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The ADSD will assist the Director of Stewardship and Development to enhance and implement the annual funding strategy and implement the overall communications for the Office of Stewardship. The ADSD will have 5 or more years experience in conducting annual appeals, capital campaigns, major gifts, and/or promoting stewardship in a diocesan, parish, or related non-profit organization. Proven ability to implement a multi-pronged annual appeal effort to include direct mail, personal and small group solicitation, as well as a professional communications plan. Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking skills required. A full time position requiring BS/BA in a related area such as business management, marketing or communications. Multi-lingual/bi-lingual capability a plus. Some overnight and weekend travel to all regions of South Carolina is required. Applicant must be an active Catholic in good standing. Excellent benefits with generous paid time off. For consideration, apply online at http://sccatholic.org/ and attach resume, cover letter, and salary expectations.
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catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Father Patrick Winslow
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Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit
Challenging the culture as we celebrate Independence Day
Of paint and pastors
he season of change has arrived. Priests are moving from parish to parish. The faithful, excitedly or begrudgingly, will experience a shift in clergy from those they know to those they do not. Change is not easy, not for the priest nor for the parishioner. Both feel as if they have little control. Having been on both sides, I speak from experience. When I was a child, I did not want my revered and longserving pastor to retire, much less be replaced. I was not fond of the new priest, primarily because he was not the one I knew and loved. We were family. How could the bishop change our family? As a priest I have come to know the other side. Six times in the past 15 years I have been on the receiving end of a phone call that uprooted my life. Not all calls were equal. Some were less welcome than others. Deep down there was the familiar unsettling, childlike question: How could the bishop change my life? Yet there is a giftedness to it all. Perhaps a little story can help. When I was pastor of a small church in western North Carolina, the church was being repainted. I stopped into a paint store to pick a color so that the painters could begin their work, and the nice woman behind the counter accompanied me as I navigated through a sea of colors, shades and finishes. After her inquiry, I explained that the paint was for the church. She laughed, revealing that she had some familiarity with the task before me. After honing in on a more narrow range of colors, she wanted to know how many paint samples I would need. “None,” I replied. “I’ll take this one.” Incredulously, she replied, “Are you sure? When we paint something in our church it takes forever to settle on one color. Everyone has an opinion. Are you sure the committee is going to agree?” I chuckled and smiled in reply, “There are benefits to a hierarchy.” Laughing, she quipped, “I guess there are.” Admittedly, this is an insignificant and incomplete example of the benefits of hierarchy and obedience. But in a simple way it brings them to the fore. By divine institution the Church does not lead by consensus, neither in choosing paint nor in assigning pastors. We are a Church of pastors and flock who follow the Good Shepherd through this life into the next. Did Our Lord not tell us that He would not leave the flock unattended? Did He not appoint Peter and the Twelve? Did they not appoint bishops and priests as their successors? Pastoral assignments have been around since the beginning of the Church. Without the gifts of hierarchy and obedience, we would be a Church with pastors in name only. The flock would wander, led only by the politics of consensus. The pastor would be a mere mouthpiece following the flock. And in the end, the image of sheep and shepherd would be reduced to one of a cat chasing its own tail. We need pastors to lead; popes, bishops and priests. Not because it’s easier to pick out paint colors, but because we are all trying to get somewhere.
‘We are a Church of pastors and flock who follow the Good Shepherd through this life into the next.’
Father Patrick Winslow is the pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.
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hen we observed the Fortnight for Freedom in 2012, I naïvely thought it would be a one-time event. I assumed that the HHS contraceptive mandate would soon be overturned and our congregation of Little Sisters of the Poor would quickly fall out of the public eye. But this month marks our third Fortnight, and our lawsuit against the federal government over the HHS mandate is still pending as I write this. In May, a group of Little Sisters attended the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty’s annual gala in New York (the Becket Fund represents us in our lawsuit). It was an inspiring evening as we mingled with such an accomplished and diverse group of people gathered in the name of religious liberty. It was also quite sobering to realize the extent of the threats to freedom in America today. Many people at the Becket Fund gala commended us for our courage in taking a public stand against the HHS contraceptive mandate. I felt a bit embarrassed by all the attention, since we are mere newcomers to the cause of religious liberty. Interestingly, hearing so many edifying stories led me to a new appreciation of our own history. As a 175-year-old international community, our congregation has seen its share of ups and downs related to religious intolerance. Our history has helped us to take the long view on our current situation. Our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, was born during the French Revolution and began her work among the needy elderly in its aftermath. When the first Little Sisters arrived in England in 1851 they faced jeers from a suspicious, “anti-Papist” Protestant majority. These pioneers persevered, allowing their selfless charity and radical poverty to convert the hearts of those who were hostile toward Catholicism. In the 1930s, anti-Catholic factions threatened the Little Sisters in Spain during that nation’s civil war, but they remained unwavering in their devotion to the elderly in their care. Two decades later Communist forces took over our homes in China, expelling the foreign Little Sisters and imprisoning the native Chinese, some of whom eventually died in captivity. In the early 1990s our superior general responded vigorously to a proposal before the European Parliament to legalize euthanasia. Although the measure failed, our Little Sisters in Europe remain vigilant in protecting the frail elderly from insidious advances of the culture of death. The experience of these Little Sisters helped us to realize the importance of taking action against the HHS mandate, because if
the government succeeds today in forcing us to provide our staff with contraceptives and abortive services, we fear that they could someday compel us to participate in assisted suicide and euthanasia. As Little Sisters of the Poor living and ministering in the United States since 1868, we thank God that we have never been confronted by war or religious oppression. Nevertheless, we celebrate this Independence Day under the cloud of evident religious intolerance. As I write this, I am reminded of Pope St. John Paul II’s homily on religious freedom during his visit to Baltimore, our nation’s first Catholic diocese, in 1995: “Sometimes, witnessing to Christ will mean drawing out of a culture the full meaning of its noblest intentions, a fullness that is revealed in Christ. At other times, witnessing to Christ means challenging that culture, especially when the truth about the human person is under assault.” As we celebrate our independence this Fourth of July, let us vow to do all we can to uphold the dignity of every human person, especially those most under assault. Let us vow to keep God, who is at the heart of our nation’s founding documents, at the center of our lives. Let us heed the words of Pope St. John Paul II: “Catholics of America! Always be guided by the truth – by the truth about God who created and redeemed us, and by the truth about the human person, made in the image and likeness of God and destined for a glorious fulfillment in the Kingdom to come. Always be convincing witnesses to the truth. ‘Stir into a flame the gift of God’ that has been bestowed upon you in baptism. Light your nation – light the world – with the power of that flame!” Sister Constance Veit is the director of communications for the Little Sisters of the Poor. EDITOR’S NOTE: The Affordable Care Act allows exemptions from the HHS contraception mandate for religious and church-related entities for religious reasons, but the Little Sisters of the Poor and its insurance provider, Christian Brothers Services, are not classified as a religious employer. According to the current law, the sisters fall under the Act’s “accommodation,” which requires non-profit employers who object on religious grounds to work through a third party to provide contraceptive services to their employees. The Little Sisters, and other non-profits who are similarly suing the government, argue this “accommodation” still forces them to participate in providing services that violate Catholic teaching against contraceptive, abortion and sterilization services. On Jan. 24, the U.S. Supreme Court granted the Little Sisters a temporary injunction, protecting them from the law’s penalties while their lawsuit makes its way through the courts.
Most-read stories on the web Through press time on July 2, 14,035 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 41,153 pages. The top three headlines in June were: n Priest assignment changes for 2014 announced ......................................................................................................................................3,092 n ‘Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the order of the priesthood’..................................................................................................2,128 n Summer assignments for seminarians announced....................................................................................................................................... 1,113
July 4, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
Deacon James H. Toner
Peggy Bowes
How St. Bridget taught me perseverance in prayer
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’m ashamed to admit that for much of my life, my prayer life was practically nonexistent. I prayed a lame, madeup prayer every night, which I frequently didn’t even finish before I fell asleep. Basically, I prayed for the same reason I went to Mass on Sundays: so I wouldn’t go to hell. Fortunately, I did pray an occasional rosary, which I think ultimately saved me. I think it was the Blessed Mother who arranged for a random stranger to hand me a little booklet that changed my life. It’s called “The Pieta Prayer Book,” and it’s tucked into a pocket in my purse so that I always have it handy. This prayer book introduced me to St. Bridget of Sweden, who was devoted to Jesus’ Passion and received many visions of His sufferings. During one such vision, she asked how many blows He received during His Passion. Jesus replied, “I received 5,480 blows on my body. If you wish to honor them in some way, say 15 Our Fathers and 15 Hail Marys with the following prayers (which he taught her) for a year. When the year is up, you will have honored each one of my wounds.” These words touched me tremendously. In my lazy prayer life, I had never even thought of the Passion, let alone honored it. As I read through the prayers for the first time, tears rolled down my cheeks. I had no idea how much Jesus had suffered for me! At that moment I vowed to pray those 15 prayers every day for one year. I offered the prayers for a person very dear to me whom I had hurt deeply at one time. I hoped to make some reparation for my actions as I honored Jesus’ wounds. The first few weeks were easy. My baffled husband wondered why on earth I was going to bed early to pray. I explained what I was doing and why, but he didn’t look too convinced. As the weeks turned into months, the prayers became more difficult. My busy life interfered with my plans to get to bed early. There were many nights when I was exhausted and dreaded
the thought of another half hour cut from my precious sleep. Yet I persevered. I was driven by the thought that I was praying for someone dear to me as well as honoring the thousands of cruel blows dealt to our Lord. I didn’t realize it then, but for the first time in my life, I was practicing penance. The year finally came to a close, but I continued the prayers for another month. They had become part of my life, and I wasn’t ready to give them up. I eventually moved on to new prayers and devotions, confident that I could now persevere in real prayer and meditation. I owe it all to the Blessed Mother and St. Bridget. St. Bridget was canonized in 1391. Her feast day is celebrated on July 23. She is the patron saint of Sweden, Europe and widows. Peggy Bowes is a parishioner at Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy. She is a motivational speaker and author of “The Rosary Workout” (www.rosaryworkout.blogspot.com).
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Secular logic C
onferences at various places and conversations with many people over the past few years have persuaded me that there is a strain of “secular logic” which is increasingly evident, not only in our institutions, but even in much of our daily life. Our former president, Bill Clinton, once captured its spirit in a talk at Georgetown University by suggesting that the only secure foundation for democracy is a vigorous uncertainty about the truth of anything. That Clinton’s formulation was expressed at a university supposedly concerned with the permanent things (as in Hebrews 13:8) is an irony which apparently escaped Clinton and others. It is inconvenient, however, for any public person or institution these days to testify to something as fuddy-duddy, or as downright old fashioned, as “truth.” About 25 years ago, Professor Allan Bloom of the University of Chicago told us, “There is one thing a professor can be absolutely certain of: almost every student entering the university believes, or says he believes, that truth is relative.” What is true for me, after all, may not be true for you – or so goes popular opinion. Many today think of truth as having all the permanence and stability of an M.C. Escher print. Here is the secular logic which has come to be the heart of our public philosophy. It is also at the heart of many of our businesses, entertainment, sports, politics and education, and even occasionally our religious convictions. It is, though, a symptom of spiritual illness which Professor Bruce Thornton has described as “plagues of the mind.” The late Allan Bloom had it exactly right, unfortunately, when he said, “The self is the modern substitute for the soul.” Here is how I would formulate this corrupt, if ubiquitous, “secular logic”: Because there is no truth, there is only opinion. Because there is only opinion, there can be no real authority. Because there is no real authority, I am free to think, to do, and to be whatever I please. Because I am free to think, to do, and to be whatever I please, I can and will create my own world of art, of learning, and of moral standards. There is a “sacred word,” as Ayn Rand said, and it is “ego.” In a 1992 U.S. Supreme Court case, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote, “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life.” Kennedy, as a Catholic, should have known that there is real liberty only where and when we are able to do what we ought to do. As St. Paul teaches us: “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor 3:17; and see 10:5). If we remove the “Spirit of the Lord,” which is truth and the moral sense, we do not have liberty. We have spiritual chaos, moral relativism and cultural confusion. At the heart of moral liberty, then, is not self-indulgence but awareness of and commitment to right reason (see Catechism of the Catholic Church 1959). Not for nothing did Dante tell us, 700 years ago, that “In His will is our peace.” Several years ago at an academic convention, one of the main speakers suggested to the audience: “Take a moment to give ourselves a big hug. Let me remind us that the person we’re hugging is the most important person in our lives.” Of course, if anyone truly believes that, he cannot be a husband or a father or much of a son. If anyone truly believes that, she cannot be a mother or a wife or much of a daughter. That kind of rank egoism rules out religious conviction, genuine patriotism and authentic friendship (see Sirach 37:5, John 15:13). When we find “truth” only in our own appetites and urges, we make ourselves into a god – a fraudulent god, a fleeting god, a phony god, a false idol. Truth is more than a concept. Truth is a Person – the person who stood in front of Pilate, who, pathetically or scornfully, wanted to know the meaning of truth (John 18:38). Wisdom, then, lies in our ability, through grace, to discern the Truth and thus to know the difference between good and evil (Romans 16:19). There is, then, a sacred logic: Because truth exists, there can be the light of wisdom – the recognition of truth, which is never merely a matter of opinion. Because wisdom exists, authority which is rooted in it deserves respect. Because respectable authority exists, I am genuinely free to the extent that I accept that authority and configure my thoughts, words and actions to it (Romans 12:2, and see CCC 1269). Because, guided by proper authority (Psalm 25:10), I seek to become the man or woman I am called to be (Eph 4:1), I discover a world of art, learning and moral standards which provides meaning and direction for all people who see it (Mt 13:16). There is a sacred name, but it is St. Paul, not Ayn Rand, who told the Philippians (2:9-11), and us, about it: Jesus Christ. Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.
catholicnewsherald.com | July 4, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
“Behold, I make all things new.”
(Rev. 21:5)
Tenth Eucharistic Congress, September 19 – 20, 2014
FRIDAY
Charlotte Convention Center
Friday Evening, Concert of Sacred Music Keynote address by His Eminence, Edwin F. Cardinal O’Brien,
“The Holy Eucharist: Making All Things New from the Upper Room to the New Jerusalem” SATURDAY
Fr. Angel Espinoza de los Monteros “¿Educas y formas o sólo domesticas?”
Bishop Donald Joseph Hying “Making All Things New in Christ’s Youth”
Fr. Angel Espinoza de los Monteros “Es hora de volver a Dios”
Dr. Allen Hunt “Why 1 of Every 10 Adults is an Ex-Catholic”
Fr. Ernesto Caro Una Evangelización Activa para el Nuevo Milenio”
GoEucharist.com
E ALL THI NG S
D, I
Doug Barry and Eric Genuis “The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ” (A Meditation)
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- Rev. 21:5
Mother Assumpta Long, O.P. “The Eucharist and Religious Life-Making All Things New”
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• Vocation and Catholic Education information • Holy Mass – Concelebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis and the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte
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English and Spanish Tracks for Adults K-12 Education Tracks for Students Religious displays Vendors of Sacred Art
• Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Charlotte • Holy Hour • Confession
BEHOL
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