May 22, 2015

May 22, 2015

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

Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits Charlotte, 3

May blessings Children across the diocese celebrate their first Holy Communion, honor Mary, 14-17

WinstonSalem mom remembers daughter killed in Taliban hotel attack, 9 INDEX

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‘Congratulations, this day has arrived!’

MiraVia’s first residents ‘graduate,’ 10

Belmont Abbey College’s Class of 2015 graduates told: Continue your ‘good work,’

Mother recounts miraculous events surrounding high-risk pregnancy, healing,

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Rita of Cascia: Pope Francis

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Parents must take active role in their children’s lives

arents must not exclude themselves from their children’s lives and, despite what some “experts” may say, they must take an active role in their children’s education, said Pope Francis during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square May 20. “It’s time for fathers and mothers to come out of their exile – because they have exiled themselves from their children’s education – and to fully assume again their educational role,” he said.

Continuing a series of talks about the family, he said its “essential characteristic” is its “natural vocation to educate children so that they grow in responsibility for themselves and for others.” But, faced with experts who tell them how their children should be raised, many parents have withdrawn their involvement in their children’s education.

Parents “tend increasingly to entrust to the ‘experts’ even the more delicate and personal aspects of their children’s lives, setting themselves off alone in a corner,” he said. Children bear the brunt of this crisis, he said.

In describing how “things have changed,” he told a personal story about when he said a bad word to his fourth-grade teacher, who promptly called his mother. When his mother came to school the next day, she made him apologize to the teacher and then disciplined him when he got home.

Today, parents will reprimand a teacher who tries to discipline their child, he said.

In addition, he said, many parents are “paralyzed by the fear of making a mistake.”

“Educating children is difficult for parents who see them only in the evening when they return home tired from work,” he said. “It is even more difficult for parents who are separated, who are weighed down by their circumstances.”

He urged separated parents to “never, never, never take a child hostage” by speaking ill of the other parent. He recognized that being separated is “a trial” but added that “children must not be the ones to carry the weight of this separation or to be used like hostages against the other spouse.”

The advice St. Paul gives in his Letter to the Colossians – that children obey their parents in all things and that parents not exasperate their children by “commanding in a bad way” so as not to discourage them – is “a wise rule,” he said. Rather, children must be accompanied and “grow without being discouraged, step by step,” he said.

“Even in the best of families, there is the need to put up with each other.

But that’s life. Life is not lived in a laboratory, it’s lived in reality.”

Saint of the impossible

Father George David Byers

Priests’ vesting prayers for Mass

Feast day: May 22 On May 22, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, who the late Pope St. John Paul II called “a disciple of the Crucified One” and an “expert in suffering.”

Known in Spain as “La Santa de los impossibiles” (“the saint of the impossible”), St. Rita has become immensely popular throughout the centuries. She is invoked by people in all situations and stations of life, since she had embraced suffering with charity and wrongs with forgiveness in the many trials she experienced in her life: as a wife, widow, a mother surviving the death of her children, and a nun.

Born in 1386 in Roccaparena, Umbria, St. Rita was married at the age of 12 to a violent and ill-tempered husband. He was murdered 18 years later and she forgave his murderers, praying that her twin sons, who had sworn to avenge their father’s death, would also forgive. She was granted this grace, and her sons, who died young, died reconciled to God. The saint heard the call to become a nun in the Augustinian convent at Cascia, but she was refused entry at first. She asked the intercession of Sts. Augustine, Mary Magdalene and John the Baptist and was finally allowed to enter the convent. There she lived the last 40 years of her life in prayer, mortification and service to the people of Cascia.

For the final 15 years of her life, she received a stigmata-like thorn wound in answer to her prayers to be more profoundly conformed to the Passion of Jesus. Rita was bedridden for the last four years of her life, consuming almost nothing except for the Eucharist.

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hile it is no longer the practice for all priests to offer prayers while vesting for Mass, many do offer these “vesting prayers.” The prayers are a good occasion for them to be enriched with a profound humility and willing availability to act in the very Person of Christ at the Holy Sacrifice. In this series, we look at each vesting prayer and its corresponding vestment, as an intimate insight into the spiritual lives of priests at their most vulnerable moment every day, helping all the rest of us also to understand just who we are before God and neighbor.

PRAYER 3 – ‘Ad albam’ (Prayer used for the alb) “Dealba me, Domine, et munda cor meum; ut, in Sanguine Agni dealbatus, gaudiis perfruar sempiternis.” (“Brighten me, O Lord, and cleanse my heart, that being made resplendent in the Blood of the Lamb, I may thoroughly rejoice in eternal joy.”)

Also online At www.catholicnewsherald. com: Read about other saints whose feast days are in May, including St. Athanasius, May 2; St. Hilary of Arles, May 5; St. Damien of Molokai, May 10; St. Epiphanius of Salamis, May 12; and St. Bede, May 25.

She died of tuberculosis at the age of 70 on May 22, 1456.

St. Rita was canonized in 1900

by Pope Leo XIII. On the 100th anniversary of her canonization in 2000, Pope St. John Paul II noted her remarkable qualities as a Christian woman: “Rita interpreted well the ‘feminine genius’ by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.”

She is the patron saint of impossible causes, sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marriage difficulties, parenthood, widows, the sick, bodily ills and wounds.

— Catholic News Agency

The body-length white garment which a priest wears for Mass is called an alb. The word comes from the Latin “albus,” which refers to a resplendent brilliance. We recall the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, when His face became as bright as the sun and His clothing as white as light. Mind you, this was also when He spoke with Elijah and Moses about the dark time to come on Mount Calvary, the exodus that He was to accomplish in Jerusalem (see Lk 9:31), the very completion of the Sacrifice of the Last Supper: His body being handed over and His blood being poured out.

The alb is among the priestly garments of old, with which Aaron and his sons were clothed for their service in the great liturgy mandated by God Most High (see Ex 40:12-15). But Jesus belongs to the House of David, and He is in the priestly line of Melchizedek (see Hb 5:6), a priest after the heart of God Most High (see 1 Sm 2:35). The priest today wears an alb of the priestly order to which Jesus did not belong, but by which He suffered: the chief priests paid VESTING PRAYERS, SEE page 13

Your daily Scripture readings MAY 24-30

Sunday (Pentecost Sunday): Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23; Monday (St. Bede the Venerable, St. Gregory VII, St. Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi): Sirach 17:20-24, Mark 10:17-27; Tuesday (St. Philip Neri): Sirach 35:1-12, Mark 10:28-31; Wednesday (St. Augustine of Canterbury): Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17, Mark 10:32-45; Thursday: Sirach 42:15-25, Mark 10:46-52; Friday: Sirach 44:1, 9-13, Mark 11:11-26; Saturday: Sirach 51:12-20, Mark 11:27-33

MAY 31-JUNE 6

Sunday (The Most Holy Trinity): Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40, Romans 8:1417, Matthew 28:16-20; Monday (St. Justin): Tobit 1:3, 2:1-8, Mark 12:1-12; Tuesday (Sts. Marcellinus and Peter): Tobit 2:9-14, Mark 12:13-17; Wednesday (Sts. Charles Lwanga and Companions): Tobit 3:1-11, 16-17, Mark 12:18-27; Thursday: Tobit 6:10-11, 7:1, 9-17, 8:4-9, Mark 12:28-34; Friday (St. Boniface): Tobit 11:5-17, Mark 12:35-37; Saturday (St. Norbert): Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20, Tobit 13:2, 6-8, Mark 12:38-44.

JUNE 7-13

Sunday (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ): Exodus 24:3-8, Hebrews 9:11-15, Mark 14:12-16, 22-26; Monday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Matthew 5:1-12; Tuesday (St. Ephrem): 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Matthew 5:13-16; Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, Matthew 5:1719; Thursday (St. Barnabas): Acts 11:21-26, 13:113, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus): Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9, Isaiah 12:2-6, Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19, John 19:31-37; Saturday (The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Anthony of Padua): 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, Luke 2:41-51

Our parishes

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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File photo, Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

(Above) Bishop Bohdan Danylo recites the Eucharistic Prayer during the Divine Liturgy. Also pictured is Father Deacon Matthew Hanes. (Left) After the end of the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Bohdan gave a flower and a special blessing to every mother for Mother’s Day. Also pictured are altar servers Cameron Shuey and Charles Shuey.

Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits mission in Charlotte Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — Christians should exude the joy of the Easter season and share it with everyone they meet, said Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bohdan Danylo during a special visit to Charlotte May 10.

The new bishop of the Eparchy (Diocese) of St. Josaphat of Parma, Ohio, was in Charlotte to meet with members of St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission and celebrate Divine Liturgy (Mass). Bishop Bohdan, who at 43 is the youngest Catholic bishop in the United States, was installed last November and is in the process of visiting all of the parishes and missions in the seven states encompassed by the eparchy.

St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission, a mission of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church in Raleigh, celebrates its liturgies in the chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in northeast Charlotte. The mission, part of an Eastern Catholic rite that is in full communion with the pope, is one of two Eastern Catholic communities in the Charlotte area.

About 100 people gathered for Divine Liturgy on the Sixth Sunday of Easter, including members of St. Basil Mission, parishioners from St. Thomas Aquinas Church and additional churches around the Diocese of Charlotte, and others who traveled from Raleigh.

Bishop Bohdan thanked St. Thomas Aquinas Church and the Charlotte diocese for their support of the mission, and said he was “honestly joyful for the numbers you have in this community.”

In contrast to the declining numbers of worshippers at churches in the North, he said, this area is experiencing a “springtime” of growth.

The close-knit and caring atmosphere of the community, he said, reminded him of “the beginning of (the) apostolic time,” when the Church in Jerusalem was small but growing, unified and joyful.

That Christian joy – a hallmark of the faith from its start – must remain a visible sign of witness today, he noted, and not just during the Easter season.

Bishop Bohdan recalled the beginning of Lent, when on Forgiveness Sunday the liturgy commemorates Adam’s expulsion from Eden. Adam is described as “sitting outside the gates of Paradise, and he’s crying.

“He’s crying because he knows what he has lost.

He’s crying because he’s At www.catholicnewsherald. no longer with the Creator com: See more photos from in Paradise,” he said. the May 10 Divine Liturgy with God, who created the Bishop Bohdan Danylo entire universe by His Word, could have said, like any loving parent might, “Adam, come back. Adam, come back into the Kingdom of God. Adam, I hope you learned what you did.”

“But God had a different way of salvation for us,” the bishop explained. “He’s sending us forefathers, fathers, prophets, angels, and finally He’s sending us His only begotten Son. So we can learn what it means to be fully human.”

God became man so that we might grow closer to Him, and in His infinite wisdom, “God decided to save us not as individuals, but as a community,” Bishop Bohdan said.

This knowledge of the history of salvation means that “there is a joy of being Christian,” he said.

And like the holy women who found the empty tomb after Christ’s resurrection, we must tell everyone that Christ died and rose again for our salvation.

“We are the ones who after this holy service are called to go outside the door of the church and proclaim that Christ is risen,” he said.

“We have to be attentive also to those who are walking with us, and tell them about the joy of being at church, tell them about the joy of believing in Christ and gathering each Sunday in a place called church.

“That is our calling.”

“We are gathered each Sunday to receive the Body of Christ, but first of all we are coming to this (campus), to the church, to change ourselves, so that when we walk through these doors, those who see us will see the face of Christ. I hope and I pray that your community, the community of St. Basil as well as the community of St. Thomas … that when we walk outside, people will thirst to know why we are so joyous, why we are so happy. And we can tell them, because we are with Christ. Christ is risen!”

He prayed, “May God bless each and every one of you.”

More online

Totus Tuus summer camps combine fun, faith for Catholic youth CHARLOTTE — Children in 17 parishes around the Diocese of Charlotte will have the opportunity to enjoy a week-long Totus Tuus summer program this June-July. For the fifth year, parishes are hosting Totus Tuus Catholic youth programs dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship.

Totus Tuus, a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,” was the motto of Pope St. John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it signifies the desire to give oneself entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.

The Totus Tuus summer program is a combination of fun and faith for children in rising first grade through the 12th grade. This year’s theme is “Living the Virtues.”

This summer there will be three teams of catechists, serving 17 parishes throughout the diocese. They will come from all over the country, and their training will be conducted at Belmont Abbey College from May 27 to June 6.

Totus Tuus will be held in these parishes in the diocese this summer: n June 14-19: St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte; St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte n June 21-26: St. Mark Church, Huntersville; St. Joseph Church, Asheboro; St. Barnabas Church, Arden n June 28-July 3: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte; St. Mary Church, Shelby; St. Michael the Archangel Church, Gastonia n July 12-17: Our Lady of Grace Church, Greensboro; Holy Spirit Church, Denver; St. Aloysius Church, Hickory n July 19-24: Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury; St. James the Greater Church, Concord; St. Joseph Church, Newton n July 26-31: St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon; St. Mary Mother of God Church, Sylva; St. Dorothy Church, Lincolnton For more information about the Totus Tuus program, go to www. education.charlottediocese.net/faithformation/totus-tuus.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: May 23 – 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Joseph Church, Newton

May 30 – 10 a.m.

Diaconate Ordination of Cory Catron St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

June 5 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Divine Redeemer Church, Boonville

May 26 – 5 p.m.

Charlotte Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass St. Matthew Church, Charlotte

June 1 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Philip Church, Statesville

June 7 – 10 a.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Francis of Assisi Church, Lenoir

May 28 – 7:30 p.m.

Bishop McGuinness High School Baccalaureate Mass St. Pius X Church, Greensboro

June 3 – 5 p.m.

Christ the King High School Baccalaureate Mass St. Mark Church, Huntersville

Diocesan calendar of events May 22, 2015 Volume 23 • Number 17

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

CONFERENCES Catholic Homeschool conference: May 22-23 at Belmont Abbey College. Organized by the Immaculate Heart of Mary Carolina Homeschool Conference. For details, call 540-636-1946 or go to www.ihmconference. org.

NORTH CAROLINA MARIAN ROSARY CONGRESS: 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 13, at St. Mark Church, 14750 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. Call 1-844-YES-MARY for details.

LAY ORGANIZATIONS

STAFF 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

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, 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.

Blood Drive: Sunday, June 14, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte

LECTURES & REFLECTIONS ‘Life in the spirit’ seminar: 10 a.m.-noon all Saturdays until May 23 at St. Mark School Library, 14750 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. Seminar is designed as an aid for introducing newcomers to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and to foster one’s growth in Catholic charismatic spirituality. To register for this seminar, visit www. st.marknc.org.

Understanding adolescent substance abuse: 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, in NLC 239/240/241, and 7 p.m.

Wednesday, Mary 27, in NLC Banquet Room, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte.

Parents and caregivers are invited to learn how to address the signs and symptoms of substance abuse among teens. Q&A session included.

HOly Happy Hour : 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, 238 W. Main Ave., Gastonia.

Dr. Chuck Meakin, practicing Catholic oncologist, will talk about end-of-life discussions. For details, call the parish office at 704-867-6212.

Estate planning seminar: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte. Christian Cherry, estate planning attorney with Grier, Furr & Crisp, will present legal information focusing on wills, estates, trusts and bequests as well as Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues. Q&A session included. To register or get details, contact Judy Smith at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@charlottediocese.org.

SUMMER ADULT FAITH FORMATION IN CHARLOTTE: St. Matthew “You”niversity is offering eight classes this summer on Scripture, theology, the saints, liturgy and social justice. Classes are offered on a variety of days and times. Learn more and register online at www. stmatthewcatholic.org/summerforum.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING NFP Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m.

Saturday, May 30, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible

parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-3703230.

Other Religious liberty March and Prayer Vigil: 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 26, in downtown Charlotte. March will start at the Diocesan Pastoral Center and proceed to the federal courthouse. Organized by March for Life Charlotte to coincide with the U.S. bishops’ Fortnight for Freedom campaign. Email religiousliberty@windstream. net for details.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate: All physicians, nurses and nurses’ aides are invited to join the Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate. The objective is to offer the Divine Mercy spirituality to near death or seriously ill patients, whether homebound, in hospitals, or in convalescent facilities, and their families.

Informational meeting to be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 27, in NLC Room 234/235 at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. For details, email Dr. Thomas F. Coyle at tcoylemd@gmail. com.

Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 6, rain or shine at 901 N. Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point, to pray for an end to abortion. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593.

St. Peregrine Healing Prayer Service: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 28, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of cancer and grave diseases. This powerful healing prayer service is offered for all those suffering with cancer or other diseases. For details, call the parish office at 704-543-7677.

Exposition and Benediction, sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: 7-8 p.m. every First Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. For details, call Paul Deer at 704-577-3496 or Deacon James Witulski at 704-960-3704.

Rosary for the unborn: 7 p.m. every Monday at St. Thérèse Church, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville Divine Mercy Cenacle: 10 a.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month and 7 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Charlotte. For details, call Donna Fodale at 704-237-4820.

Healing mass and anointing of the sick: 2 p.m. every third Sunday of the month at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 37 Murphy Dr., Maggie Valley. Individual prayers over people after Mass by Charismatic Prayer Group. For details, call Don or Janet Zander at 828-4009291.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING “Protecting God’s Children” workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. Upcoming workshops are listed below.

For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus.org.

BELMONT: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 6; Queen of the Apostles Church, 503 N. Main St. CHARLOTTE: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 28, NLC Banquet Room, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

HIGH POINT: 6 p.m. Thursday, June 11, Church Meeting Room 1, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St. HUNTERSVILLE: 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 9, Parish Hall (Monsignor Joseph A. Kerin Family Center), St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road

SUPPORT GROUPS Separated or Divorced Catholics: Group for separated or divorced Catholics meets every third Sunday after the 5 p.m. Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road, Greensboro.

Confidential; all welcome. Childcare provided with a reservation. For details, call Joanne at 336-509-2304.

Grieving the loss of a spouse: Support group for husbands and wives who are mourning. Meets the second Monday of each month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. For details, call Sister Marie Frechette at 704-543-7677.

RETROUVAILLE: Retrouvaille is a program for married couples who are struggling with problems in their marriage. For confidential information, call 1-800-4702230 or 1-434-793-0242, or email retrouvaillenc@msn. com. Learn more at www.retrouvaille.org.

YOUNG ADULTS AQUINAS’ FINEST: A new social group for Charlotte-area Catholics in their 20s and 30s, under the patronage of the Angelic Doctor. Learn more and view upcoming events online at www.stacharlotte.com/finest.

YOUNG ADULTS AT The CATHEDRAl: St. Patrick Cathedral invites all Catholics in their 20s and 30s to join its next fellowship event, an evening reflection by Father Jason Christian, parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, at 7-8 p.m. Monday, June 8, at the cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte.

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.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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(Right, clockwise) Belmont Abbey College faculty process out of graduation. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari addresses the Class of 2015 during his homily at Mass. Traditional degree and Adult Degree Program graduates wait in line to receive their diplomas May 16. sueann howell catholic news herald

‘Congratulations, this day has arrived!’

Belmont Abbey College’s Class of 2015 graduates told: Continue your ‘good work’ SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

friendships that were born here. Maybe more importantly, to encourage and to help bring along those who will be following in

your footsteps in the future. “Congratulations to the Class of 2015.

God bless you all.�

Th f ol e G Cl ub at

BELMONT — Jubilant Belmont Abbey College graduates and their families gathered in front of the Mary Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey for the 137th commencement May 16. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, abbot and chancellor of Belmont Abbey, welcomed everyone at Mass which was celebrated prior to the graduation ceremony. He also served as homilist. “Congratulations, this day has arrived!�

Abbot Placid said to the graduates of the Class of 2015 during his homily. “It’s fitting here at Belmont Abbey that we begin our commencement exercises with the celebration of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of thanksgiving,� he continued. “St. Benedict tells us in his Rule: ‘Whenever you begin any good work ask God most insistently to bring it to conclusion.’�

He explained that although graduation is a conclusion, it also marks the beginning of the next chapter in their lives. “So together here, ask God to bring this good work to completion, this work which is now your life based on the education you have received, the fruits you have received; to go forth and face the challenges, most of them yet unknown; to make of your life something beautiful, something that is a blessing to others,� he urged the graduates, “so that when the Lord comes again that life can appear in all its beauty.�

Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, concelebrated the Mass along with the Benedictine priests of Belmont Abbey.

The 137th commencement exercises followed the Mass. A total of 354 candidates processed behind the Loch Norman Pipe Band to take their seats in front of the basilica to receive their undergraduate degrees. Of those, 176 candidates were traditional students enrolled at the college and 178 candidates earned their degrees through the Adult Degree Program.

Student of the Year Montana Rindahl and Adult Degree Program representative Sherri McKay Cook shared their memories

and messages of encouragement with fellow graduates during the ceremony.

Jennifer Walsh, a 1993 Belmont Abbey College graduate who is now chief executive officer of Pride & Glory, also addressed the students during the graduation ceremony.

The college’s new Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Dr. David Williams, announced this year’s valedictorian, Caitlin Clancy.

Three honorary degrees were given awarded at this year’s commencement: Belmont Abbey alum Maximo Alvarez, president of Sunshine Gasoline Distributors Inc., trustee of Pedro Pan Group serving immigrant children, and founder of Centro Hispano Catolico, a daycare for underprivileged children; Sister Mary Joseph Ritter, general superior of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in Charleston, S.C.; and Benedictine Sister Thomas Welder, president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, shared a quote during the commencement from Benedictine Abbot Leo Haid from 1886: “The work and prayers here shall spread God’s blessing over this beautiful country in the years to come when perhaps few of you who are listening now shall be among the living.� “You are the fruit of those work and prayers,� Thierfelder said. “You are God’s blessing that will be spread over this beautiful country in the years to come, I pray, and you will be in my continued prayers. I hope that this will always be your home, that you will come back here often. I hope you will do that to nurture the

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More photos online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from this year’s baccalaureate Mass and graduation ceremony at Belmont Abbey College

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate forming in Charlotte Medical professionals encouraged to attend meeting May 27 CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church invites all physicians, nurses and nurses’ aides to join the Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate, a new ministry which has ties to the National Shrine of Divine Mercy and the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in Stockbridge, Mass.

Organizers of the new Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate at St. Matthew will hold an informational meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27.

The objective of the new ministry is to offer the Divine Mercy spirituality to near death or seriously ill patients, whether homebound, in hospitals or in convalescent facilities, and their families.

The national outreach effort of the Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy just hosted 143 healthcare professionals at the 11th Annual Divine Mercy “Medicine, Bioethics, and Spirituality” Conference May 6-7 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. The conference included some of the leading names in medicine, bioethics, and the spirituality of the Polish mystic St. Maria Faustina Kowalska.

“In a world wrestling with the moral and ethical implications of medical advances, we cannot leave God out of the equation,” said nurse Marie Romagnano, founder of Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy, during the May conference as reported by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in “Divine Mercy News.”

“That means that, in addition to providing the best medical care, we have to make sure patients have the best spiritual care as well. All of the incredible advancements in medicine and science don’t change the simple fact that spirituality can bring comfort, even healing – even redemption – for the injured, sick and dying.”

St. Matthew parishioner Dr. Thomas Coyle will serve as coordinator of the new Divine Mercy Healthcare Apostolate in Charlotte.

The informational meeting on May 27 will be held in New Life Center Room 234/235 at the church, located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in south Charlotte. For details, email Dr. Thomas F. Coyle at tcoylemd@gmail. com.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

More online At www.thedivinemercy.org/ healthcare: Learn more about the national efforts of the Healthcare Professionals for Divine Mercy

Photos provided by Norm Gemignani and Ellen Sheehan

Knights of Columbus members, supporters and clergy from St. Matthew Church in Charlotte had fun during the second annual Pins-for-Priests Bowl-a-Thon, a fundraiser to support the parish’s four seminarians who are studying at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, as well as the Missionaries of

the Poor in Monroe. The April 18 event featured the four seminarians participating via Skype from a bowling alley in Columbus, as well as first-time bowlers Father Ambrose Akindele Akinwande and Father Binoy Davis, parochial vicars at St. Matthew Church.

St. Matthew’s second Pins-for-Priests Bowl-a-Thon raises money for seminarians Catholic News Herald

MATTHEWS — AMF Carolina Lanes in Matthews was a sea of orange and blue April 18, when St. Matthew Knights of Columbus Council 10852 held its second annual Pins-for-Priests Bowl-a-Thon.

Bowlers of all ages wore bright orange T-shirts. All were enjoying a fun-filled morning of bowling for a worthy cause: to make a difference for St. Matthew Church’s seminarians, deacons and priests, as well as the Brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor.

Funds raised will be used to assist the seminarians in their everyday expenses as well as provide the deacons, priests and brothers with support for their spiritual and intellectual renewal and growth.

St. Matthew Church currently has four seminarians studying and living at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio: Casey Coleman, Brian Becker, Britt Taylor and Jacob Mlakar. Seminary is a time of continued discernment, learning and personal growth for these young men who have answered God’s call to the priesthood.

The four seminarians at Pontifical College Josephinum bowled along online, courtesy of Skype, showing off their bowling prowess on a screen in the bowling alley.

Meanwhile, at the bowling alley in Matthews, it was the first time that Father Ambrose Akindele Akinwande and Father Binoy Davis had ever bowled. But they stayed neck-and-neck with the seminarians in a friendly competition.

This year’s Bowl-a-Thon was dedicated to Father L. Eugene

“Gene” Schellberg, past chaplain of Council 10852. Father Schellberg came to St. Matthew Parish in 2000 where he served as a senior priest in residence.

In June 2010, Father Schellberg was congratulated on his 50th anniversary as a priest and his 80th birthday with a special Mass and reception at St. Matthew Church. He died Nov. 6, 2014.

Father Schellberg is fondly remembered among parishioners for his lively homilies. He was an active member of the Knights council, never shy about voicing his opinions on council matters.

He faithfully supported LAMB (a Knights of Columbus effort to serve people with intellectual disabilities) and could be found many weekends collecting for the cause at area grocery stores.

Norm Gemignani and Tom Larkin, co-chairmen of the Pins-forPriests Bowl-a-Thon, shared that their council faithfully prays for vocations and has generously supported seminarians and priests.

“We give each of our four seminarians an annual stipend for expenses,” Gemignani said. “We looked for a fundraiser that would allow us to do more and that would be a family-oriented and fun activity. And from all the reactions on Saturday, it looks like it does everything we hoped for.”

In addition to the sponsors, companies and individuals donated goods and services for a silent auction and door prizes. Clowns came to add to the fun, making balloon figures, doing magic tricks and face-painting. A large sheet cake, donated by Publix, was served to all participants.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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‘It just gets better!’

Father Richard Hanson reflects on 40 years of priestly ministry SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — You would think at 70 years of age, Father Richard Hanson would want to slow down a bit, especially after 40 years of priestly ministry traversing western North Carolina to serve in more than 15 parishes, campus ministry, a Catholic high school and now in nursing home and hospital ministry.

Quite the opposite is true, though, as Father Hanson, who also takes care of his 97-year-old mother Leone, would enthusiastically attest.

In addition to his nursing home and hospital ministry, he is a regular confessor at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte. He also celebrates the Hanson overflow Masses for St. Matthew Church at Charlotte Catholic High School at Christmas and Easter. Several local pastors also reach out to him when they need help covering a Mass or confessions in their absence.

Father Hanson is a 1962 graduate of Charlotte Catholic High School, making him the first priest for the Diocese of Charlotte to graduate from its largest high school. How he came to be a priest for the diocese is a story in itself.

Born in Wisconsin, he relocated to Charlotte with his family in 1960 as a teenager. His family is one of the founding families at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte. After graduating from Charlotte Catholic, Father Hanson discerned God calling him to the priesthood. He entered Holy Cross Seminary in Wisconsin, at that time being considered a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison as that had been his family’s home before moving to North Carolina.

North Carolina Bishop Vincent Waters then sent him to St. John’s Seminary in Little Rock, Ark., which closed in 1967.

Father Hanson left the seminary and went on to earn a business degree at Kings College, formerly in Charlotte.

Military service then called him, and he enlisted in the Army, serving from 1966 to 1969, including in Korea.

Upon returning to the U.S., he returned to his seminary studies. During his transitional diaconate year, he was given permission to become a seminarian for the newlyformed Charlotte diocese and was ordained at the age of 31 by Bishop Michael Begley on June 1, 1975, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

“I was studying for the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, (originally) and Bishop Cletus O’Donnell signed a $25,000 extension check to Bishop Begley (for me) and said to me, ‘I give you as a gift to the Diocese of Charlotte,’” Father Hanson recalls, smiling.

“I certainly had a beautiful ordination with Bishop Begley at the cathedral,” he adds. “Monsignor Richard Allen (now deceased) was the rector of the cathedral at the time. I spent time before the ordination with him. I remember steel drums playing at the reception. It was very special.”

His first assignment was as an assistant pastor, serving with Monsignor William Wellein at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. He also worked in campus ministry at Wake Forest University and taught at Bishop McGuinness High School.

Over the past 40 years he has been assigned to Our Lady Fr. HANSON, SEE page 25

Other May jubilarians Other priests celebrating special anniversaries of ordination this month include: Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, Father James Collins, pastor at St. Joseph Church in Newton, and Father Eric Houseknecht, 20 years.

sueann howell | catholic news herald

Jesuit Father Patrick Earl, who is leaving as pastor of St. Peter Church in Charlotte, is pictured with the relief sculpture of Chilean Jesuit Father Alberto Hurtado created in his honor. The dedication of the sculpture and a farewell reception for Father Earl will be held May 31.

Father Patrick Earl bids farewell to St. Peter Church Sculpture of Chilean saint to be dedicated in pastor’s honor May 31 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — The past six years have been a sweet surprise for Jesuit Father Patrick Earl, pastor of St. Peter Church.

The Philadelphia native says he had no idea what he was getting himself into in 2009 when he accepted the assignment in “The Bible Belt” where Catholics make up just 2 percent of the population. He will step down as pastor June 15.

As a Jesuit of the Maryland Province who was ordained 41 years ago this June, Father Earl has served in academia, as a director of formation for the Jesuits, in addition to his assignments as a pastor. He has traveled the world, but coming to the South was not what he had expected.

“When my provincial asked me to come down and be pastor and I said yes, I was thinking, ‘I’m going into the South!’ And I thought, ‘What’s it going to be like? Will I fit in?’” Father Earl recalls.

He says he will never forget a particular moment that happened a couple of weeks after he moved to Charlotte: “I remember sitting at my desk two weeks after my arrival and was thinking about things, and a big, big smile came to my face. I thought, ‘You are really happy here!”

He attributes his joy and love for the parish to the people who make up the community.

“It’s the people. The people love this parish. They were wonderfully welcoming. That is a characteristic I have found at the parish that I’ve seen throughout my past six years here. It’s a community that welcomes people.”

Father Earl is pleased how the parish has grown from 800 families to more than 1,700 families over the past six years he has served as pastor.

“Our new members tell me when I’m talking to them is that they were genuinely welcomed by members of the parish. That, to me, speaks of the spirit of God in this parish, the spirit that reaches out and welcomes all in the

A dedication and bon voyage The dedication of the sculpture of St. Alberto Hurtado and a celebration honoring Father Pat Earl’s six years as pastor will be held at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, May 31, in the garden behind St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St. in Charlotte. A reception will follow. Everyone is welcome.

parish,” he explains.

Father Earl also shared that St. Peter Church has a particular interest in the poor, which as a Jesuit concerned with social justice issues, really resonates with him and is a key reason behind the selection of the particular tribute the parish has selected to commemorate his service.

On Sunday, May 31, a bronze relief sculpture of Jesuit St. Alberto Hurtado mounted on stone will be dedicated in honor of Father Earl. The sculpture was created by renowned artist Chas Fagan, whose work is featured at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Fagan, who has lived in Charlotte for 13 years, is a parishioner of St. Peter Church. He also created two prominent statues located in Charlotte, one being the Capt. James Jack statue, which depict moments and people important to the city’s history.

“I knew nothing about St. Alberto and I learned a lot, which was great,” Fagan says. “There were very few images. I had to find the ones that were most popular and make an image of that.”

Fagan first painted an image of the relief sculpture, then worked with a monument company to find just the right stone to use.

The bronze relief itself weighs at least 30 pounds, Fagan says, and it took three people to hoist the even Fr. earl, SEE page 25

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Mother recounts miraculous events surrounding high-risk pregnancy, healing SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

GREENSBORO — Donielle Wilde, her husband Keith and their 10 children know what it’s like to receive a miracle ‒ well, two miracles, actually. One is a healthy little bundle of joy named Sylvia Hope, delivered via C-section after a harrowing pregnancy which was overshadowed by a cancer diagnosis. The other, they say, is a complete healing from that cancer.

The Wilde family’s ordeal began when Donielle was nine weeks pregnant. When she met with her obstetrician for a routine ultrasound, he noticed a 5-centimeter mass on her ovary that looked suspicious.

Donielle underwent surgery to remove the stage IV tumor, which doctors said they might not have discovered if Donielle hadn’t become pregnant.

“All went well,” Donielle says, but doctors thought there was still a risk of cancer because the tumor turned out to be metastasized from breast cancer that Donielle had fought a decade ago. Her oncologist recommended that Donielle abort her unborn baby girl, then start aggressive chemotherapy to prevent the cancer from spreading further. The tumor, doctors told her, was growing fast, as her pregnant body was feeding the cancer.

But Donielle and Keith flatly refused to have an abortion, and Donielle decided to put off chemotherapy until after the baby was born. It was a risky move, but they said they didn’t want to put their unborn daughter in harm’s way. Instead, they relied on their Catholic faith, praying for the strength to follow whatever would be God’s will in their lives.

“We felt like she was such a blessing, because if she wasn’t there growing we would never have known the cancer was there,” Donielle explains. “It could have easily killed me. I felt like she had saved my life, and it was my obligation to save hers.

“I wanted to meet her – this beautiful child inside me.”

The entire family eagerly awaited the arrival of Sylvia Hope, especially the Wildes’ other nine children. “The children were all excited to have another sibling,” Donielle recalls.

Prayer also helped Donielle through another challenge in her pregnancy: a large blood clot that broke up and went to both of her lungs.

“I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t have shortness of breath. I had no pain. I didn’t know anything was happening,” Donielle describes. “I credit that to the power of prayer. When we did find out that the clot was there, immediately people were praying for our situation.”

After that, the rest of her pregnancy went perfectly, she says.

“It was a very joyous time for us with the anticipation of her arrival. I felt like it was one of my easiest pregnancies. I had so much energy! God really blessed us quite a bit.”

Doctors continued to monitor her pregnancy, determined to deliver Sylvia Hope as soon as feasible so that Donielle could begin chemotherapy treatment. On Nov. 6, 2014, Sylvia Hope was born via C-section, weighing 7 lbs., 1 oz.

“It was an incredible experience,” she remembers. “I’d never had a C-Section. It felt like it was my first time having a baby – it was all different.”

Her obstetrician Dr. Lewis Lipscomb,

also a Catholic, led them in prayer in the delivery room, which Donielle says “just put all of us in such peace.”

Donielle had brought two religious medals with her to the hospital, one of St. Peregrine and another of St. Gianna Beretta Molla. She asked Lipscomb to put them in his pocket during surgery. “He said, ‘No, I’m not going to put it in my pocket. I’m going to wear it around my neck.’ He took them and put them on his necklace. He handed me a wooden rosary, which was just so beautiful, (and) which I was able to hold during surgery.”

The delivery room was crowded with doctors “because of the uncertainty of the situation,” she remembers, and she remained awake throughout the delivery.

“Sylvia came out perfect. There was nothing wrong with her,” she says.

Donielle became a little concerned when she overheard Keith, the doctors and nurses saying “I’ve never seen anything like this before!” But there was nothing wrong – it was just that Sylvia Hope was born already with a bottom tooth.

Immediately after the baby was born, doctors performed surgery to check for any cancer, and they removed one cancerous nodule, Donielle says.

“Nothing new grew during the pregnancy, which is extremely unusual,” she says. “The cancer should have grown, it should have spread. Scientifically, everything was lined up for that to happen and none of that happened.”

Donielle recovered quickly from both surgeries, and on Nov. 21 returned to her oncologist.

He told her that tests had found no cancer. “You’re grossly NED!” he said. NED stands for “no evidence of disease.”

That, says Keith, “is really remarkable. It has to be one in a million, scientifically. We know in our hearts we were blessed with a great healing from God, no doubt about it.”

Their Catholic faith, Donielle and Keith both say, was instrumental throughout this challenge in their lives.

“The greatest gift I have ever received is my Catholic faith,” Donielle says. “I thank my parents often for passing this faith down to me. Living out this love for my faith hasn’t always been easy. I have learned it is only in cultivating it that brings about fruition. We must never stay idle, we must never be too busy to pray.

The family has always prayed together, particularly “morning and evening prayers together as a family which would always end with us consecrating ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary,” she says, but at the start of her pregnancy “we decided to ‘kick it up a notch’ by saying the rosary together every evening as part of our Lenten prayers. Even though it was often difficult to get through a rosary with nine children and the oldest was only 12, we persevered and it became easier.”

After Lent they continued the nightly rosary and consecration, she says. “As our love for the Blessed Mother grew as a family, we felt the desire to show her our love in return. In May of 2014 I asked my parish priest if he could enroll our family in the brown scapular. He graciously said yes.”

Their prayer life and reliance on the Blessed Virgin Mary helped propel them through the stage IV cancer diagnosis during her pregnancy, she says. “We felt equipped and ready for anything. That grace and peace was bestowed upon our

‘We felt like she was such a blessing because if she wasn’t there growing we would never have known the cancer was there. I felt like she had saved my life and it was my obligation to save hers.’

(Above, clockwise) Keith and Donielle Wilde pose with their little miracle, Sylvia Hope; a giggling Sylvia Hope on her father’s lap; and Sylvia and Father Joseph Mack at her baptism at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro. sueann howell | catholic news herald; baptism photo provided by donielle wilde

family through Our Lady of the Rosary and the brown scapular.”

Donielle also credits her healing to the intercession of several saints, and the sacrament of anointing of the sick that she received from her priest.

“It is a tremendous blessing to be part of this Catholic faith that through the centuries has been enriched with these beautiful sacraments and sacramentals to help us along the way,” she says.

Above all, she says, she and Keith are grateful for the prayers of so many people in North Carolina and around the country.

“It was extremely humbling. At first I felt uncomfortable asking for prayers because I know of many other people suffering or experiencing tragedy that I felt were more in need of prayer than me – as if I was using them all up.

“Then once again I was humbled.

One Sunday at Mass while reciting the Penitential Rite it struck me as we are all saying, ‘brothers and sisters pray for me to the Lord our God.’ There it was, right there in the Mass. That is the Universal Church in action. We are our brothers’ keeper. We all need each other on this path to holiness.”

To all those who prayerfully accompanied them on their journey she says, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for imitating Christ’s love through your actions of prayer and sacrifice on our behalf.”

The Wildes view their ordeal not as a test of their faith, but as a way to unite their suffering to that of Jesus Christ on the cross.

“It is only through Him that you will be able to experience the joy of suffering and WILDES, SEE page 25

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Winston-Salem mom remembers daughter killed in Taliban hotel attack Kimberly Bender Online reporter

WINSTON-SALEM — “She was very courageous and very determined to do what she set out to do.”

That’s how Barbara Kantor wants people to remember her daughter Dr. Paula Kantor, who was among 14 people killed May 13 during an attack on a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Kantor, 46, was a scientist and development specialist who spent the last 20 years of her life working to improve the lives of women and families in the poorest areas of the world through developing better Kantor sources of food. She had joined CIMMYT, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, in February and was in Kabul leading a new project to help people increase their livelihoods in the significant wheat-growing areas of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Ethiopia.

Kantor was staying at the Park Palace Hotel in Kabul when it was beseiged by Taliban gunmen May 13. Kantor was the lone American killed in the attack, which left eight other foreigners dead.

Kantor, who was living in Egypt but in the process of moving to Islamabad, had been scheduled to leave Kabul that day.

Her parents Anthony and Barbara Kantor, who are parishioners at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, say they are very extremely proud of her work.

“Our comfort is she died doing what she loved to do and she lived her life doing what she loved for the benefit of so many other people,” Barbara Kantor said. “Not many people can say that about their lives.”

“Paula was really devoted to helping the poor,” her mother said. “She was often told it was such a big area of need that she wasn’t going to solve anything.

She’d reply, ‘People have to make the first steps or nothing’s ever going to change.’”

Paula Kantor was Catholic, her mother said, but she couldn’t publicly demonstrate her faith in the Middle East, where Christian minorities have increasingly faced hostilities and attacks.

“She did the work of the Lord in a different way,” Barbara Kantor said.

“And we were here praying for her.”

Kantor spent decades in the field of gender and social development, particularly in poorer countries.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from the Wharton School of

the University of Pennsylvania in 1990, then went on to earn a master’s degree in gender and development from Britain’s Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex. In 2000, she earned a doctorate focused on international economic development and gender from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She published more than a dozen peer-reviewed academic publications and dozens of briefs and conference papers.

Kantor worked with WorldFish in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Egypt, and for the International Center for Research on Women in Washington, D.C., developing intervention research programs in the area of gender and rural livelihoods, including a focus on agricultural value chains – the process of moving food from the farm to the consumer in developing countries.

She had worked in Kabul previously, as the director and manager of the gender and livelihoods research portfolios at the Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU), an independent research agency, from 2008 to 2010. She had also taught in the Departments of Consumer Science and Women’s Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In a May 15 statement, AREU’s director Nader Nadery said Kantor “gave her life ... to make sure millions of people, especially women, get a chance at a better life. She was aware of the risk she was taking to serve in conflict and terrorist-affected places. While we grieve her loss, we shall never forget the cause she gave her life to.”

Thomas Lumpkin, CIMMYT’s director general, echoed those remarks in his own statement May 15: “Paula’s desire to help people and make lasting change in their lives often led her into challenging settings. Her dedication and bravery was much admired by those who knew her and she leaves a lasting legacy upon which future research on gender and food security should build.”

Barbara Kantor said she was fortunate that her daughter’s last visit to North Carolina earlier this year was longer than a few days as she worked on obtaining a visa to work in Pakistan.

“She was very courageous and very determined to do what she set out to do,” Barbara Kantor said. “And she was selfconfident that she could do it. She was self-motivated and a motivator.”

In addition to her parents, Paula Kantor is survived by her brother Anthony John; her sister Laura Styrlund and husband Charles; and her niece Lindsay and her nephew Christopher.

A memorial service will be held next month at St. Leo Great Church in WinstonSalem. A date has not yet been set.

Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Preparing for Pentecost, evangelizing with joy CHARLOTTE — Parishioners at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte, led by the Ladies Guild Auxiliary, spent time reflecting on Scripture, the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the coming of Pentecost May 16, during the parish’s fifth annual Spiritual Day of Reflection entitled “Tongues of Fire – Engaging the Holy Spirit Through Scripture, Song and Dance.”

Scripture reflections were given by several people at this ecumenical program, including storyteller Robin Plummer and Janae Perry of Greater Providence Baptist Church. Teenaged mime duo Elijah Wiley and Destiny Evans as well as the parish’s Next Generation Choir also performed.

Pentecost is not just an event that occurred long ago, speakers noted, but a continuing call to conversion and evangelization for each of us as Christians. We must share the joy of the Holy Spirit with everyone around us, all the time.

“Make a special effort to love someone you thought you couldn’t love,” urged parishioner Otelia Young in remarks summarizing the day’s program. We must prepare for Pentecost and wait with anticipation and hope for the Second Coming of Christ, she said.

In that spirit of evangelization and hope, participants attached cards containing Scripture verses to red and white balloons, and then with lots of prayer and laughter they released the balloons into the sunny skies over Charlotte.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from the Spiritual Day of Reflection at Our Lady of Consolation Church

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

‘Being here was like being part of a big family’ MiraVia maternity home’s first ‘graduates’ begin next step in their lives SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

BELMONT — “Aloha” was the theme of MiraVia’s farewell party May 15 for its first residents, Bianca Nanje and her little boy Kasen. The pair have spent the past two years at the maternity home dedicated to college-aged mothers and their children. They are moving to Hawaii to join her new husband Randy, who is in the Marines and stationed there.

MiraVia opened the college-based maternity home, believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S., on the grounds of Belmont Abbey College in 2012. The 10,000-square-foot facility can house up to 15 unmarried women who have an unexpected pregnancy, providing free care and assistance so that they can continue their college education and better prepare for motherhood.

Pro-life advocates have long noted the need for an abortion alternative for unmarried, college-aged pregnant women, who make up a significant number of those who choose abortion.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood, women in their 20s account for more than half of all abortions in the U.S., and unmarried women make up 45 percent of all abortions. The proabortion organization admits in its research that threefourths of abortion-minded women surveyed say that keeping their baby would interfere with work, school or their family life.

MiraVia’s college-based maternity home aims to give young women like these the help and tools they need after making the decision to continue their pregnancies.

Belmont Abbey’s Benedictine monks donated four acres for the maternity home, and donations from MiraVia benefactors and the Knights of Columbus helped make it a reality. Bishop Peter Jugis, Bishop Emeritus William Curlin; Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte; Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life; Serrin Foster of Feminists for Life; and David Bereit, national director of 40 Days for Life, were among those who praised the maternity home at its 2012 dedication.

Nanje first heard about MiraVia from a nurse at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s student health center. The college student said she was in denial for a while after getting a positive pregnancy test, but she followed the nurse’s suggestion and eventually called MiraVia. “I didn’t believe it at first,” she said. “A month later I called again to make sure it wasn’t a joke and it was really legitimate.”

“I met with (the program director) and she told me about

the new facility and that they were waiting to receive their resident. At first I thought, ‘It can’t be real. There’s no way there’s a place that will help me go to school, help me pay for my baby’s diapers, his food, give me a place to stay, give me a crib and my own bathroom – all for free.’”

In August 2013, Nanje gave birth to Kasen who weighed 7 lbs., 1 oz. During her 22-month stay at MiraVia, Nanje has worked toward a criminal justice degree from UNCCharlotte, and she is expected to graduate in December.

She has taken the LSAT, and says she wants to go to law school and someday practice family law so she can help others like herself who went through foster care. Besides her studies, she has been able to work as well as do internships, all while having the support and guidance to become a new mom.

The past two years have not been easy, Nanje said, “but I think it would have been a struggle if I had not been here. I would rather take hard than a struggle any day.”

She said the most difficult part of leaving is saying goodbye to the MiraVia staff, especially since she grew up in foster care. “Being here was like being part of a big family. They are like real family. I am really, really going to miss that.

“It’s a bittersweet thing (leaving MiraVia). I wish I could build a house right on the property!”

The staff at MiraVia said they have seen Nanje transform from a tentative young mother to a confident young woman who is now married and starting the next chapter of her life with her new husband and her son.

Jeannie Wray, MiraVia’s executive director, and the staff were visibly moved as they took turns sharing prayers and best wishes for Nanje during her goodbye luncheon. They also gave her a rosary which had been blessed by Father Pavone at the 2012 dedication.

“It truly is a realization of a dream, and Bianca was our ideal first candidate. She is driven and she has a good heart. She knows where she wants to go and intends to get there. She also understands that a lot of people made this possible,” Wray said.

“This is the whole reason in the vision of the house,” noted Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari. “This an example of what we wanted to found. We are grateful in particular to the benefactors and those who made this possible. This is what it’s for. It’s a nice celebration to see that it is working.”

Nanje added that she will return to Charlotte often so that Kasen can visit his father.

“The one thing I’ve learned in being here is to do things the right way (in the future),” she said.

She suggests that young women who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy like she did should talk to others and seek help. “Don’t make the decision by yourself. Reach out and talk to people,’ she said. “There are other options (than abortion). The world’s not ending.

Education is still possible, you just need to be more driven and more focused.”

She also said she is grateful to everyone who helped make her son’s life and her education possible.

“I don’t know if Kasen would be here if not for this place. I’m appreciative of MiraVia and the monks. I would not have had the opportunity or the chance to raise him and be his mother if it wasn’t for this place.”

High Cholesterol

photo provided by MiraVia

Bianca Nanje and her little boy Kasen were first residents of MiraVia, a unique college-based maternity home based on the campus of Belmont Abbey College.

sueann howell | catholic news herald

Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Jeannie Wray and Debbie Capen of MiraVia are pictured with Bianca at her farewell party May 15 at MiraVia.

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Spiritual Exercises Silent RetReatS

The Spiritual Exercises are a silent retreat based on the well-proven method of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The Priests of Miles Christi, offer them in a weekend format. The retreat begins at 4pm on Friday and ends 5pm Sunday.

Register now for the Men’s Retreat

June 12-14, 2015 Hickory, NC

Contact: northcarolina@spiritualexercises.net (For men 16 & over)

Mike Fitzgerald | Catholic News Herald

Hispanic members of St. Mark Church in Huntersville sing Marian hymns and pray the rosary during the first Our Lady of Fatima procession May 13.

St. Mark celebrates feast of Our Lady of Fatima with Marian consecration, procession Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

HUNTERSVILLE — Close to 200 people, mostly members of the Hispanic community, attended a Mass in honor of the feast Our Lady of Fatima at St. Mark in Huntersville the evening of May 13.

During the celebration, 53 parishioners, representing the Hispanic community, made or renewed their consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Father Nohe Torres, parochial vicar at St. Mark Church, celebrated the Mass in English and preached his homily in Spanish. Addressing specifically those making their Marian consecration for the first time, Father Torres encouraged them to trust in Mary’s unfailing intercession before her Son Jesus, and to place themselves under Mary’s mantle of protection.

“Do not be afraid to trust in our Mother Mary. She is always there for us when we need her, and always leading us closer to Christ,” Father Torres said during his homily.

After his homily, Father Torres, who renewed his consecration himself, led the Marian consecration prayer in Spanish, and told the congregation that he was offering the Mass for the intentions of those newly consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

After the prayer of consecration was

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Medal is a popular Marian sacramental which dates back to Nov. 27, 1830, when Our Lady herself asked St. Catherine Labouré, a then novice sister with the DaughtersNC Ad2015.indd 1 4/21/2015 4:41:33 PM Do you have a car sitting in a driveway catching leaves? Maybe it will of Charity in Paris, to have a medal made not start or needs a major repair. Catholic Charities benefits from the after Mary’s image standing over the world globe crushing the head of the serpent and donation of your vehicle. Donate your vehicle and receive a tax benefit! with her hands outstretched in front of her, Call 1-855-930-GIVE today! rays of light emanating from her hands.

The front of the medal reads: “O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.”

Immediately after Mass, a large number of the attendees hoisted a small statue of Our Lady of Fatima in a procession around the parish gardens in the front of the church, while praying the rosary in Spanish and singing “Ave Marias” to the tune of Our Lady of Fatima’s hymn.

Parishioner Christian Gallardo, who made his consecration to Mary for the first time during the Mass, described his experience as, “This has reunited me and my wife more spiritually. We now pray together, which is something we’ve never done before. We now pray the rosary together every day.”

“We all know what we should do, but we don’t always do it sometimes,” Gallardo continued. “This consecration to Mary makes you more aware of your Catholic identity and what you should be doing as a Catholic.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

New Salisbury Theology on Tap group discusses demonology, exorcisms Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

SALISBURY — Angels, exorcisms and the authority of God were among the topics of conversation recently at a new “Theology on Tap” group being organized in Salisbury.

Theology on Tap is a way Catholic adults in their 20s and 30s can explore the faith through interesting speakers and discussions of relevant topics in a casual setting. The Salisbury group is led by Michael Becker, youth minister for Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. Other Theology on Tap or similar groups are active in Asheville, Charlotte and Gastonia.

About a dozen young adults, mostly from Sacred Heart Church, met at Uncle Buck’s All American Pub & Grub in Salisbury May 12 to hear the talk on demonology and exorcisms

by Father Jason Barone, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

Evil exists in the world and it can manifest itself in a variety of tangible ways, Father Barone said. That reality makes it even more critical that Catholics foster a strong prayer life and avail themselves of the sacraments frequently – especially the Eucharist and the sacrament of reconciliation, he said.

Spiritual warfare has existed since the fall of Adam, and the Scriptures are full of instances of it. Especially in the New Testament, the Scriptures refer often to Jesus casting out demons nearly everywhere he went, the Apostles followed His example in their own ministry, and the Church continues that work today.

But we as faithful Catholics should keep

things in perspective, he noted.

“Demons are part of it (spiritual life),” he said. “If we want to put our heads in the sand and say ‘they don’t exist’ or ‘they don’t influence me,’ that’s one of the greatest weapons that they have – to (make us) think they don’t exist.

“But have a happy medium. Don’t see demons everywhere, but don’t think they don’t exist at all, either.”

Father Barone described the various angels which exist, and their relationship with the rest of God’s creation. Because we have been created in the image and likeness of God, we have received an intellect and free will from God. “We have a head and a heart. We can know. We can choose,” he said. “The angels that followed the Divine Will are good angels. Those who rebelled against the Divine Will, those that like Lucifer said ‘Non serviam,’ ‘I will not serve the Divine Will,’ are considered fallen.”

The world operates as a hierarchy, he added – whether we realize it or not.

“Reality isn’t democratic, it’s not egalitarian; it’s hierarchical. The angels are set up hierarchically, demons are set up hierarchically. The world is set up hierarchically. You’re going to fall under somebody’s authority. So if you’re not falling under God’s authority, you are going to cede part of yourself to the authority of demons.”

The more we sin, he explained, the more influence evil gains over us and the more easily we succumb to vice.

In extreme cases, this demonic authority can be demonstrated in various types of possession: the stuff dramatized by Hollywood in movies such as “The Exorcist.”

More online Learn more about Theology on Tap in Asheville and Salisbury through their Facebook pages. Just search “Theology on Tap.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that exorcisms, however, are sacramentals, focused not on theatrics but on healing someone and preparing them to receive God’s grace. It is an authority expressly given by Christ to His Church.

In the name of Christ, the Church vests certain priests with the authority to cast out these demons, in what’s called a major exorcism, but in less severe cases any priest can perform a minor exorcism.

Certain blessings, as well as prayers to Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Michael the Archangel are all ways in which places can be liberated from evil, he said.

People can also gain protection from these prayers, in which they ask to be kept safe from the power of Satan or protected more generally from temptation and vice. The sacraments of baptism and reconciliation also incorporate prayers of exorcism.

First of all, Father Barone continued, when encountering demonic activity a priest must determine its extent and whether it’s attached to a person or to a location. Cases of suspected possession must also be thoroughly investigated and distinguished from legitimate psychological illness, he noted.

Major exorcisms can be performed only

by a trained priest who has the permission of the bishop, and he must follow the proscribed rules of the Church, Father Barone emphasized, because exorcism is all about asserting God’s authority over His creation. “These demons react. They reacted to the authority of Jesus Christ, and they continue to react to the authority of His Body, the Church,” he said.

A critical part of a major exorcism, of exerting the Church’s authority and expelling a demon, he noted, is determining the demon’s name. “Names are hugely important. They express dominion over something else,” he explained. “Once the exorcist has the name, (he has) a certain power over it.”

Just as Jesus did in casting out the demons called Legion from the possessed man and then commanding that they enter a nearby herd of pigs, an exorcist must ascertain the demon’s name and then command it go elsewhere, such as “to the foot of the Cross to receive your sentence,” he said.

Father Barone said he has encountered tangible evil during his priestly ministry in the diocese, although he is not the diocesan exorcist (that role is kept confidential).

The fact that evil is at work in the world requires that more people, clergy and laity alike, become familiar with its various signs so that it can be confronted and so that healing can take place, he said. “These people are hurting! At the end of the day, people are hurting and that is why priests and seminarians have got to learn this stuff,” he emphasized.

Theology on Tap-Salisbury will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at Uncle Buck’s in Salisbury.

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May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

Charlotte Center for Women project aims to offer abortion-minded women a better choice Kimberly Bender Online reporter

CHARLOTTE — Ever since Brice Griffin came out of a post-abortion Rachel’s Vineyard retreat to help her heal from her own abortion, she has wanted to help others avoid making the same deadly mistake.

Griffin, a parishioner at St. Patrick Cathedral and ardent pro-life advocate, is taking her “jump in with both feet” attitude and working toward opening a women’s health center on Latrobe Drive in Charlotte, close to the largest and busiest abortion mill in North Carolina. She wants to divert women from A Preferred Woman’s Health Center, instead offering them a better way forward than abortion.

Standing on the sidewalk near the Latrobe abortion facility, praying for and counseling abortion-minded women, Griffin has seen license plates from South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and more.

From Oct. 1, 2013, to Sept. 30, 2014, this abortion mill alone performed 5,610 abortions – more than half the total in Charlotte over that time. Two women had to be taken to the emergency room following abortions at the Latrobe mill, which has the worst record of health code violations in North Carolina.

And unlike other abortion facilities in the state, the Latrobe mill does not provide any health care services to women: the private, Brice Griffin for-profit business focuses exclusively on chemical and surgical abortions.

“Charlotte is an abortion destination. My ultimate goal with this new women’s center is to completely replace our abortion business in Charlotte,” said Griffin. “I want to reach out to these people and tell them that abortion isn’t the only answer.

I want to give them real options without compromising the life of the child or safety of the mother. I want to make it so we don’t even need abortion as a choice for women.”

What started as a vision for Griffin is getting closer to reality after partnering with Stanton Healthcare. Inspired by the example of human rights activist and feminist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, it was started in 2006 in Boise, Idaho, by Brandi Swindell. The clinic’s free pregnancy services in Idaho became so successful that the nearby Planned Parenthood moved its location away from the Stanton Healthcare center, Griffin said.

“That’s what we want to do here. I wanted this in Charlotte, near our abortion clinics. I thought it would be awesome to have that, especially with the abortion pill (RU-486) reversal process gaining momentum. When women walk out of the abortion clinic in tears, regretting what they’ve done, we’ll be there to help them.”

After a fundraiser for Stanton Healthcare/Charlotte Center for Women at St. Patrick Cathedral last month drew

‘I want to make it so we don’t even need abortion as a choice for women.’

Photo provided by Brice Griffin

Stanton Healthcare/Charlotte Center for Women’s team is pictured with the speakers from the fundraiser at St. Patrick Cathedral April 23. Pictured are (from left) Dr. Matt Harrison, Ryan Bomberger, Jewels Green, Patrick Mahoney, Brice Griffin and Mike Griffin. about 100 people and raised more than $12,000, Griffin said they have enough money to sign the lease on an office space in a retail park near the Latrobe abortion mill. The fundraiser included a large turnout from pro-life advocates not just from the Catholic community, but Protestant congregations in Charlotte as well.

Griffin said the next step toward making Stanton Charlotte a reality is training volunteers to be counselors. Dr. Matthew Harrison, thought to be the first doctor to have reversed a chemical abortion, will be the facility’s medical director.

“I think there’s a real need for free prenatal care in the Charlotte area,” Harrison said. “Stanton Charlotte will give resources and services to the women going to the abortion clinic because they don’t have anywhere else to go. We want to have the same types of resources as a crisis pregnancy center, prenatal care and job training to help moms be able to support themselves and their families.”

Harrison, who works as an inpatient resident at Rowan Regional Medical Center in Salisbury, used to run his own clinic where he offered free prenatal care for abortion-vulnerable women.

“I’ve been looking for outpatient places to offer these services again, and Stanton Charlotte is a great opportunity,” he said.

“We want to place the center close to the busiest abortion clinic in town – to have a visible presence right there close to where the people are who need our help the most.”

The hours and services for the new Charlotte Center for Women will depend on volunteers, Griffin said. They will start with counseling, free pregnancy tests and being able to offer the RU-486 abortion pill reversal kit, but Griffin said she hopes the center can quickly expand to include ultrasounds, job training and other services.

Griffin said she hopes to have the center open soon and at least operate during the same hours as the nearby Latrobe abortion mill, but she doesn’t expect this center to take the place of the persistent sidewalk counseling ministry already in place outside Latrobe.

“I’d like to see the new center open today. It’s going to depend on manpower

and God’s will,” she said. “I’ve spent so much time in prayer for momentum and support on this project. Now we have that momentum and I saw all the support at the fundraiser. I see my prayers answered.

I’m ready and chomping at the bit to get started.”

Stanton has affiliates in southern California, Ireland, and is working on expanding in Detroit, Alabama and Ghana.

The goal is to make Stanton Healthcare as recognizable as Planned Parenthood, Griffin said. Stanton’s vision is to replace abortion businesses around the world because they believe that women and their families are entitled to quality, coercionfree care and compassionate alternatives to abortion.

Griffin, who has been active in the local and national pro-life movement, had an abortion in 1998. She has shared her testimony at the March for Life Charlotte and her teenage daughter, Zoe Griffin, shared her experience at this year’s March for Life about learning that she had lost an older brother.

“There was no Stanton Healthcare next door, no sidewalk counselors when I walked out from having my abortion,” Griffin said. “I suffered for many years with depression and suicidal thoughts.”

She said she suffered in silence for nearly a decade until she listened to a homily by Father Larry Richards about confession, in which he urged those who have had an abortion to confess it, because “your child is praying for you in heaven.”

“I ran to (my priest) and confessed my abortion and he directed me to Rachel’s Vineyard,” Griffin said.

“I had no idea so many suffered like I did. Once I realized how many people were out there hurting, I wanted to help. I just jumped in full speed and I haven’t been able to slow down.”

More online At www.thestantonproject. org/charlotte and www. charlottecenterforwomen.com: Learn more about the project, how you can help as a volunteer or donate

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VESTING PRAYERS: FROM PAGE 2

Judas to betray Jesus, with Caiaphas proclaiming the “prophetic” expedience that it is better that one man die than that a whole nation should perish; it is they who mocked Jesus while He forgave them from the cross (see Mk 10:33-34; Lk 23:34-35).

Though ceremonial uncleanness of the priests and their garments – due to the sin offering and the exodus of the scapegoat – was symbolically washed away with water (e.g. Lv 16), it was the blood of a ram which would consecrate the priests and the liturgical garments (see Ex 29:19-21). It was the blood of a goat with which the most famous garment of Joseph was drenched by the other sons of Jacob so as to fake Joseph’s death, making him their scapegoat (see Gn 37:31), for they forgot that their great-grandfather Abraham had a ram sacrificed in place of their grandfather Isaac (see Gn 22:8.13). So much sin and betrayal using goats, but so great the promise of redemption using rams! The mere washing with water of the priests and their garments would have to give way to being washed by the blood of the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (see Jn 1:29).

In the great book of the divine liturgy in heaven and on earth, Revelation, we read of “a great multitude, which no one could count from every nation, race, people, and tongue, who always stand before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes” (Rev 7:9). One of the priests explains to John that those wearing the white robes “are the ones who have survived the time of intense tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Rev 7:14). These are the ones who loudly cry out: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb” (Rev 7:10).

The blood of that Lamb of God began to flow from Him like great drops of sweat during His intense tribulation in His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane at the moment of His betrayal by Judas.

Betrayal only comes from friends, who dip their bread in the dish with Jesus as did Judas. By our sins, all of us priests have betrayed Jesus. Wearing the alb is an occasion to be humble and contrite of heart. Being vested in the alb is also about being willing to be betrayed with Jesus, even by one’s friends. It is an invitation to know intimacy of friendship with Jesus such that we, with His grace, would call a betrayer “friend” as Jesus called Judas at the very moment of that deadly kiss (see Mt 26:49-50).

What a great preparation it is for us priests to recite this little prayer while vesting for Mass. We have the hope that our darkened souls will be brightened, that our filthy hearts will be cleansed, that in the very sacrifice of the Blood of the Lamb we ourselves are made resplendent, and that, finally, we will thoroughly rejoice in eternal joy. The intense tribulation we have in dying to ourselves so as to do only the will of “Abba, Father” (Mk 14:36), brings us to rejoice in the peace provided by the goodness and kindness – and patience – of Jesus even for us priests.

Father George David Byers is administrator of Holy Redeemer Church in Andrews.

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Receiving their first Holy Eucharist

Photos by SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Fifty-six children at St. Ann Church in Charlotte received their first Holy Communion May 2, during Mass celebrated by Father Timothy Reid, pastor. The children each made banners expressing their love for Jesus in the Eucharist, and those banners were displayed outside the church before Mass that morning.

GREENSBORO — Second-graders at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, from Celia McMullen’s class, received their first Holy Communion May 2, and also participated in a May Crowning at Our Lady of Grace Church May 6 to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pictured carrying flowers to a statue of Mary at church are first communicants Gabriel Wilde and Maggie Foppe.

Photos provided by Lori Eanes

Photos by Annette Tenny | Catholic News Herald

KING — At Good Shepherd Mission in King, 36 children received their first Holy Communion May 3. There was a light reception after Mass for the children, family and friends.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Raymond Taber | Catholic News Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — Children at Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem received their first Holy Communion May 9.

ASHEVILLE — Children at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville received their first Holy Communion at a Mass celebrated May 3. The children also honored Mary with flowers.

Photos by Tim Reid | Catholic News Herald

BOONE — At St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone, 17 children received their first Holy Communion April 18 during Mass celebrated by Father David Brzoska, pastor.

Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Honoring Mary Across the Diocese of Charlotte in May, youth honored Mary this month by crowning statues of her with roses and flowers.

Photo via Facebook Photos via Facebook

KERNERSVILLE — Youth at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville processed to crown Mary on May 3.

CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Thomas Aquinas Preschool in Charlotte honored Mary with flowers.

Photo provided by Lara Davenport

Photo provided by Dr. Cris Villapando

CHARLOTTE — The Flores de Mayo celebration of the Filipino American Community of the Carolinas at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte included the May Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary May 10.

Photo provided by Maureen Stapleton

HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark preschoolers crowned Mary in the garden outside the Huntersville school May 1.

WINSTON-SALEM — Our Lady of Mercy eighth-graders led their school’s annual May Crowning May 8. After a representative from each grade presented flowers to Mary, eighth-grader Alexandra Wasilauskas had the honor of placing the crown on Mary’s head. Several of her classmates presented short reflections about a chosen piece of fine art featuring the Blessed Virgin Mary, how each piece shows special qualities of Mary and what Mary means to each of them personally.

Photos provided by Sherri K. Beeker

LEXINGTON — Children from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington gathered to honor Mary with a May Crowning, led by Father Albert Gondek, pastor.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Photos via Facebook

CHARLOTTE — Students at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte celebrated Mary by crowning her statues around campus May 1 to begin the Month of Mary.

Photo provided by Joann Keane and Sally McArdle

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School students crowned Mary May 1 at the school’s chapel. The members of Mary’s Court included seniors Caitlyn Barkley, Erin Lisi, Michelle Nguyen, Ali Buck and Catherine Sparre. Members of Mary’s Court were nominated and elected by the senior class, based on their faithful living of a Catholic lifestyle and devotion to Mary. Seniors were also presented with rosaries; after the May crowning students joined together in prayer, reciting the five glorious mysteries of the rosary, led by Mary’s Court.

Photo via Facebook

WINSTON-SALEM — Students at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem crowned Mary May 8.

Photo via Facebook

HIGH POINT — Young ladies and gentlemen at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point recently honored the Blessed Virgin Mary after their first Holy Communion.

CHARLOTTE — On Mother’s Day, St. Patrick Cathedral honored the Blessed Virgin Mary with a procession and May Crowning, led by visiting Father Matthew Kauth. Many of the cathedral’s First Communicants took part in the procession as the parish gathered together to sing “Immaculate Mary.”

Photo provided by Debra Lemmon

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Rice Bowl Mini-Grants awarded CHARLOTTE — Seven $1,000 Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Mini-Grants have been awarded to parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte from a special 2015 Spring round of grants.

The grant funds come from the annual Lenten CRS Rice Bowl Collection, which supports both overseas development and relief efforts and local hunger and poverty relief projects sponsored by diocesan entities. Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States, providing assistance to people in need in 91 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

These seven grants were awarded for a variety of ministries including food pantries, community gardens, St. Vincent de Paul Societies, nutrition programs for children and outreach to the homeless. Diocesan churches receiving grants included: St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville for its Street Meals and Shelter Project; St. Francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson for its partnering work with the Ashe County Sharing Center to provide meat to those who are food insecure; St. William Church in Murphy for its Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference; St. Mark Church in Huntersville for its Stop Hunger Now – Helping Hands Initiative; St. Barnabas Church in Arden for its Gifts from the Soil Project; St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton for its Food Pantry’s Mobile Food Truck partnership with Second Harvest; and Immaculate Conception Church in

Hendersonville for its Feed the Kids’ Coalition Community Outreach.

Thanks to the $1,000 CRS Rice Bowl grant received by St. Francis of Assisi on behalf of the Ashe County Sharing Center, the agency’s new walk-in freezer will be stocked with chicken, pork and other meats to assist those in need in the Ashe County region. St. Francis of Assisi Church is one of six local churches that began the Ashe County Sharing Center 32 years ago.

The next round of Rice Bowl Mini-Grants will be awarded this fall, with applications due Thursday, Oct. 15.

— Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte

Belmont Abbey appoints VP of academic affairs, faculty dean BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College President Dr. Bill Thierfelder announced the appointment May 14 of Dr. David Williams as Belmont Abbey College’s vice president of academic affairs and dean of the faculty.

Williams, who joined the college as assistant professor of theology in 1999, has served as interim vice president and academic dean for the past 10 months during the college’s national search for a new academic leader.

“Dr. Williams’ leadership, academic credentials, teaching experience, collegiality and dedication to mission will help ensure that our reputation for Williams academic excellence and personal formation of our students continues to grow,” Thierfelder said in a statement.

Williams has served as chair of the college’s Theology Department and of the Government and Political Philosophy Department, as chair

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of the Professional Affairs Committee which reviews applications for tenure and promotion, and as chair of the Faculty Assembly. He is the author of “Receiving the Bible in Faith: Historical and Theological Exegesis,” and often speaks on theological topics.

Raised a Methodist in New York, Williams was received into the Catholic Church during his undergraduate studies at Georgetown University, where he majored in government and minored in philosophy. He also has a Master of Arts in Christian Ethics from Boston College and doctorates in political science and theology.

This is the fourth greater Charlotte area estate planning seminar offered by the diocese. Last year’s seminar was attended by parishioners from 13 parishes in the Charlotte area.

The event is free but registration is required to reserve your take home packet of materials.

Parking is also free and light refreshments will be served. To register or get more information, contact Judy Smith at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@charlottediocese.org.

Estate planning seminar coming up in Charlotte CHARLOTTE — A free estate planning seminar will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, located at 1123 S. Church St. in Charlotte. The focus will be on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and bequests as well as Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues. If you are preparing or updating a will, if you have recently moved here from another state, or if you have an interest in learning more about the probate process and estate planning in general, you will want to attend.

Christian Cherry, estate planning attorney with Grier, Furr & Crisp will present legal information focusing on wills, estates, trusts and probate. His presentation will include an open question-and-answer session. Judy Smith, dicoesan gift planning director, will provide information on planned giving and bequests.

“This seminar offers a great way to learn more about these important topics in a relaxed environment along with the opportunity to have your questions answered by an attorney, and it is absolutely free,” said Ray Paradowski, president of the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation Board of Directors.

IC Knights honor local police, fire, emergency workers HENDERSONVILLE — The Knights of Columbus at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville held its annual Shield Awards reception April 23. Honorees were: Paramedic Nathan Silvers from Emergency Medical Services, Lt. Justin J. Ward from the Hendersonville Fire Department, Detective Cecilia Russell From Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Firefighter David Dalton From Henderson County Emergency Services, and Sgt. Robert Merz from the Hendersonville Police Department.

We are the Ancient Order of Hibernians founded in the 1600’s in Ireland and in America since 1836.

Our motto is

“Friendship, Unity & Christian Charity”

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.

South Carolina Retreat June 12 – 14, 2015 / Charleston, SC For more information please contact: Christy: 803-554-6088 / grace4healing@gmail.com Kathy: 803-546-6010 / kcs6010@gmail.com North Carolina Retreat September 18 – 20, 2015 / Asheville, NC For more information please contact: Deacon Tom Rasmussen: 828-495-7234 / deacontom@centurylink.net Shelley Glanton: 828-230-4940 / sglan1234@aol.com Jackie Childers: 980 241-0251 / jackie.childers.1@gmail.com

We are looking for Catholic Men & Women of Irish Heritage who want to promote their Irish Heritage;

Some of the things we do are:

Offer study-abroad grants for education in Ireland Donate millions of dollars annually to charitable causes Assist Seminarians, & Catholic Schools Continue to fund Hibernian scholarships at Notre Dame

Promote IRISH CULTURE in dance, piping, drumming, films and lectures locally We presently have Divisions locally at St. Mark’s & St. Matthew’s, in addition to Divisions throughout the state.

We are looking to expand into Gaston County. If you live in the Gaston County area and are Irish, or of Irish Heritage Please contact me for information or questions.

John (Sean) O’Daly, Mecklenburg Co. Board President 704-524-4509 (or) email jfodaly@gmail.com Go mbemannal Dia duit

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

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CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Catholic Chorale concluded its 2014-’15 season by singing two “orchestral” Masses by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the Renaissance master Hans Leo Hassler earlier this month. Both works were sung as sacred music for the Mass in the Extraordinary Form together with the Gregorian chants for the day.

Pictured above is the May 2 Missa Solemnis celebrated at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, which featured Mozart’s “Missa Brevis in B-flat Major.” The Mass was celebrated by Father Matthew Kauth, with Father Patrick Winslow and Father Jason Christian of St. Thomas Aquinas Church serving as deacon and subdeacon. The chorale also sang the “Missa Octo Vocum” (“Mass for Eight Voices”) for double choir by Hassler, accompanied by the CPCC Early Music Ensemble, during a Mass in the Extraordinary Form on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord May 14 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

508-340-9370 | 855-842-8001 Carmela Manago Executive Director

Asheville Catholic School Employment Opportunities

Photos provided by John Cosmas

Missa Solemnis offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, featuring music of Mozart

Call us 24/7

Elementary Classroom Teacher

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Elementary Classroom Assistant

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If you are passionate about education, passionate about your faith, and passionate about putting them together to impact the whole child, then Asheville Catholic School would like to speak with you.

Please contact Asheville Catholic School Principal, Michael Miller (828) 252-7896 or email him at: mmiller@ashevillecatholic.org

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from both Masses

WANTED: WRITERS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS Have a talent for writing or photography?

You are invited to become a paid contributor to The Catholic News Herald and share your gift for writing or photography with our readers.

Contributors are wanted particularly in the following communities: Photo provided by Maggie Herbstritt

Columbiettes Auxiliary formed in Asheboro ASHEBORO — Women from St. Joseph Church held their exemplification degree March 21 to establish a Columbiettes Auxiliary at the parish, affiliated with Asheboro Knights of Columbus Council 10891. Columbiettes from Charlotte, Kernersville, Clemmons and the eastern coast auxiliaries participated in the degree ceremonies, which initiated 22 women into this new auxiliary. The ceremony concluded with the installation of new officers by Columbiette State President Marlene Korn from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Shallotte in the Diocese of Raleigh. Pictured are the newly installed officers for the new auxiliary (from left): Secretary Doreen Wilburn, Financial Secretary Wendy Graham, President Jean Hyatt, Sentinel Marilyn Hutchens, Treasurer Sonia Alvarado-Garay and Vice President Ana Moncion. A reception and fellowship concluded the day’s activities. This new auxiliary is now part of the Western Chapter of the Columbiettes.

Albemarle

Lenoir

North Wilkesboro

Asheboro

Lincolnton

Reidsville

Burnsville

Marion

Tryon

Highlands

Murphy

For more information, contact: Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org 704-370-3334

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 20

Rico De Silva

La Virgen de Fátima y la devoción de los 5 primeros Sábados del mes

E

l pasado 13 de Mayo celebramos en la Iglesia la fiesta de la Virgen de Fátima. La fiesta conmemora la primera aparición de la Virgen Maria a los tres niños pastores en Fátima, Portugal, el 13 de Mayo de 1917.

Parece mentira, pero ya casi van a ser 100 años desde que Nuestra Madre se apareció en lo que lo más probable haya sido la aparición Mariana más importante del Siglo XX. Después de su primera aparición del 13 de Mayo, la Virgen se le apareció a los niños Jacinta, Francisco y Lucia durante todos los días 13 del mes de 1917, hasta su última aparición el 13 de Octubre del mismo año.

El principal mensaje de la Virgen de Fátima al mundo fue la de hacer sacrificios y rezar el Santo Rosario por la paz del mundo, la conversión de los pecadores y de Rusia, país en donde nació y se propagó el comunismo.

Después de las apariciones de Fátima, Francisco y Jacinta, quienes eran hermano y hermana, y también primos de Lucia, murieron a la tierna edad de los 10 años. Francisco en Abril de 1919, y Jacinta en Febrero de 1920, como se los había prometido la Virgen. Lucia, por el contrario, fue escogida por la Virgen para quedarse en el mundo y propagar la devoción al Inmaculado Corazón de María.

En 1921, Lucia entró a la orden religiosa de las Hermanas de Santa Dorotea. El 10 de Diciembre de 1925, cuando Lucia era postulante en el Convento de las Doroteas en Pontevedra, España, la Virgen se le apareció sobre una nube de luz, con el Niño Jesús a su lado. La Santísima Virgen puso su mano sobre el hombro de Lucía, mientras en la otra sostenía su corazón rodeado de espinas. El Niño le dijo: “Ten compasión del Corazón de tu Santísima Madre.

Está cercado de las espinas que los hombres ingratos le clavan a cada momento, y no hay nadie que haga un acto de reparación para sacárselas.”

Inmediatamente dijo Nuestra Señora a Lucía: “Mira, hija mía, mi Corazón cercado de espinas que los hombres ingratos me clavan sin cesar con blasfemias e ingratitudes. Tú, al menos, procura consolarme y di que a todos los que, durante cinco meses, en el primer sábado, se confiesen, reciban la Sagrada Comunión, recen el Rosario y me hagan compañía

durante 15 minutos meditando en los misterios del rosario con el fin de desagraviarme les prometo asistir en la hora de la muerte con las gracias necesarias para su salvación.”

Que gran promesa esa de la Virgen.

“Les prometo asistir en la hora de la muerte con las gracias necesarias para su salvación.” Suena como cuando decimos el Ave María, “Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros pecadores, ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte…”

Cuando Lucia le preguntó a Jesús en oración por que los 5 Sábados, Nuestro Señor le contestó, “Hija mía, la razón es sencilla: se trata de 5 clases de ofensas y blasfemias proferidas contra el Inmaculado Corazón de María: Blasfemias contra su Inmaculada Concepción; contra su virginidad; contra su Maternidad Divina, rehusando al mismo tiempo recibirla como Madre de los hombres; contra los que procuran públicamente infundir en los corazones de los niños, la indiferencia, el desprecio y hasta el odio hacia la Madre Inmaculada, y finalmente, contra los que la ultrajan directamente en sus sagradas imágenes.”

Ahí está entonces, hermanos y hermanas. Si nos llamamos católicos de verdad y devotos de la Santísima Virgen María, entonces yo creo que tenemos la obligación como tales de consolar y hacer reparaciones al Inmaculado Corazón de Maria los cinco primero Sábados del mes. Confesándonos, recibiendo la Eucaristía en estado de gracia, rezando el Santo Rosario y haciéndole compañía a Nuestra Madre mientras que meditamos en los 20 Misterios del Rosario con la intención siempre de hacer reparación en contra de las ofensas y blasfemias en contra de la Virgen María. Imagínense, si en 1925 ya pasaba eso, como será en nuestro tiempo actual con todo ese odio que a veces expresan los no católicos en contra de María.

La Virgen estará muy agradecida con nosotros durante la vida si practicamos esa devoción, pero más agradecidos estaremos nosotros a la hora de nuestra muerte.

Amen.

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

Fotos por Mike Fitzgerald | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Arriba) Miembros de la comunidad Hispana de la Parroquia de San Marcos en Huntersville cargando la imagen de la Virgen de Fátima alrededor de los jardines de esa parroquia el pasado 13 de Mayo, fiesta de la Virgen de Fátima. (Izquierda) El Padre, Nohé Torres, vicario de la Iglesia de San Marcos, celebra la Misa en honor a la Virgen de Fátima el 13 de Mayo, más de 50 hispanos de esa parroquia hicieron o renovaron su consagración al Inmaculado Corazón de María durante la Misa.

Fiesta de la Virgen de Fátima Más de 50 Hispanos hacen su consagración a Maria en la Iglesia de San Marcos Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

HUNTERSVILLE — Cerca de unas 200 personas, gran mayoría de la comunidad hispana, asistieron a la Misa de la fiesta de la Virgen de Fátima la noche del 13 de Mayo en la Parroquia de San Marcos en Huntersville.

El Padre Nohé Torres, vicario de San Marcos, celebró la Misa en inglés, asistido por el Diacono Ronald Sherwood, quien también sirve en la Iglesia de San Marcos. El Diacono Sherwood leyó el Evangelio en inglés, y predicó una breve homilía en inglés. El Padre Torres dio su homilía en español, y se dirigió de una manera específica a unos 40 miembros de la comunidad hispana en la congregación, quienes hicieron su primera consagración a Jesús por medio del Inmaculado Corazón de Maria.

“Pidamos a la Virgen que nos bendiga y nos cuide… Para que cada día esta purificación y esta consagración en verdad nos lleve al Cielo” dijo el Padre Torres durante su homilía.

Después de la oración de los fieles, el Padre recitó la oración de Consagración a Maria junto con todos aquellos en la congregación que hicieron o reanudaron su consagración a la Virgen durante la celebración.

“Cada ceremonia de consagración es muy

diferente ya que los días proyectados para ellas son siempre diferentes fiestas que hay durante el año para la Virgen Maria,” dijo Mariella Buscaglia, miembro de los Consagrados a Jesús por Maria de San Marcos después de la celebración. Buscaglia también renovó su consagración a la Virgen durante la Misa.

“En esta oportunidad, la fiesta de la Virgen de Fátima nos refresca la primera aparición de María a los pastorcitos y de sus mensajes y sus recomendaciones,” dijo Buscaglia.

Al concluir la Misa, un gran número de los presentes participaron en la primera procesión de la Virgen de Fátima alrededor de los jardines al frente de la Iglesia.

Al son del famoso himno de Fátima, “El 13 de Mayo, la Virgen Maria bajo de los cielos, a Cova de Iría, Ave Ave, Ave Maria....” los participantes cargaron una estatua mediana de la Virgen Fátima, y rezaron el Santo Rosario durante la procesión.

Buscaglia concluyó, “Pienso que todos los candidatos, y también los que renovaron su consagración, estaban igual de emocionados que nosotros. No solo por entregarse a Jesús por Maria de manera total e incondicional, sino también por realizar la procesión por los jardines de la Iglesia, rezando, cantando, meditando y agasajando a nuestra Madre Maria.”

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Padres y Madres Orantes, es el ministerio hispano que se reúne cada tercer viernes del mes para rezar por sus hijos frente al Santísimo Sacramento.

Romy Machicao | Catholic News Herald

Padres de Charlotte piden por sus hijos en ministerio hispano Romy Machicao Corresponsal

CHARLOTTE — Siguiendo el ejemplo de la Santísima Virgen María que rezó por su hijo Jesús, un grupo de padres de Charlotte se reúnen el tercer viernes de cada mes para participar del Ministerio “Madres y Padres Orantes”, un momento de oración frente al Santísimo Sacramento que fue fundado en Miami por Luis y Loly García.

“Todo padre siempre pide por sus hijos, es por ello que me puse en contacto con los fundadores y decidí traerlo a Charlotte.

Esta es la segunda reunión que hacemos y ya tenemos alrededor de 30 personas.

Esperamos que mas padres se unan para acompañar al Santísimo Sacramento y pedir por nuestros hijos”, dijo Gloria Polanco.

Cada viernes la reunión empieza con el rezo del rosario, seguido por la exposición del Santísimo Sacramento en la Iglesia Saint Thomas Aquinas cerca de

la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Charlotte.

Después de una oración inicial, una a una, las integrantes se arrodillan frente al Señor para hacer una lectura y oración sobre un tema en particular. Estas también son acompañadas por canciones en español dedicadas a Jesús y a María su madre amada.

En estos 15 años, el ministerio ha crecido y hasta el momento está en 11 estados de Estados Unidos, cuatro países de Centro América y el Caribe y otros cuatro países de América del Sur. “Hay una gran necesidad de pedir por nuestros hijos, en estos tiempos de falta de fe y diversos peligros. Nosotros rezamos porque nuestros hijos tengan la ayuda del Señor, sigan sus mandatos y profesen la fe que les hemos dado”, compartió con el Catholic News Herald, Rosana Rojas de Silva, una de las integrantes, quien tiene dos hijas. “Estoy rezando porque

Dios bendiga a mis hijas, sus hogares y las llene de paz. La oración de una madre es poderosa por ello que en mi familia ya vamos viendo cambios. Uno de mis yernos quien no tenia nuestra fe, ahora acompaña a mi hija a Misa y tiene la intensión de obtener los sacramentos”.

En la reunión en la presencia real del Señor, las asistentes piden por salir triunfantes de la batalla espiritual, para agradecer la ayuda de María, recordar a Santa Mónica, la santa que tras varios años de oración fue bendecida con el cambio de actitud de su hijo Agustín, quien luego también se convirtió en Santo, el apoyo de San José, quien llevó a su hijo Jesús de la mano, pedir los dones del Espíritu Santo, el aumento de la fe, el impulso para realizar obras de bien, agradecer la presencia de Dios en nuestras vidas, entre otros.

Lourdes Baez pide por su dos hijos de 25 y 18 años, que Dios bendiga sus caminos y los acerque a El para que vivan la alegría

de tener a Jesús en sus corazones y sus acciones.

“Es un grupo muy bonito”, dijo María Encarnación. “Nosotros pedimos porque podamos ser capaces de aceptar lo que Dios nos pone en nuestras vidas. Si confiamos no estamos preocupados y dejamos el camino libre para que sea El quien dirija nuestras vidas”.

“Estamos agradecidos con la parroquia que nos da la posibilidad de reunirnos en oración y con el Diacono Joseph Díaz, quien se encarga de la exposición del Santísimo y a pesar de no hablar español, nos acompaña y sigue las oraciones que también están en ingles”, dijo Polanco, quien invita a los padres que quieran unirse al grupo se acerquen cada tercer viernes del mes. “Nuestras oraciones son poderosas y así ayudamos mucho a nuestros hijos y ellos pronto también verán la importancia de la oración en la vida de todo cristiano”.

Catequistas del Vicariato de Charlotte se reúnen y organizan trabajo parroquial CHARLOTTE — El pasado Sábado, 16 de Mayo, representantes de 6 de las 8 parroquias que cuentan con Ministerio Hispano en el área del Vicariato de Charlotte se reunieron en el Centro Pastoral Diocesano. Fue la primera vez que tuvieron oportunidad de compartir sus experiencias y empezar a organizar el trabajo catequético parroquial. El evento fue una demostración de que la comunidad hispana es una sola familia, y sus miembros son capaces de ayudarse mutuamente. El trabajo continuará con reuniones en preparación al Segundo Encuentro Diocesano de Catequistas Hispanos, el próximo Agosto, así como colaboraciones inter-parroquiales, de manera permanente. Felicitaciones a todos los participantes.

FOTO PROPORCIONADA POR CARLOS CASTAÑEDA

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Students raise money to drill well in Sudan

In Brief Charlotte Catholic High receives Commissioner’s Cup for community service work CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School was the 4A Western Conference recipient of the 2014-’15 Commissioners’ Cup, an award sponsored by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. Charlotte Catholic was recognized for its contributions to Holy Angels in Belmont, which included many volunteer hours and donations from The Holy Angels Invitational which topped $9,200.

Athletic Director Kevin Christmas received the award on behalf of Charlotte Catholic High at the awards presentation held in Raleigh May 7. Principal Kurt Telford was also in attendance as the Athletic Association was awarded $1,000 in a stipend earmarked for the wrestling program.

This was the sixth annual Holy Angels Invitational where the wrestling team from Charlotte Catholic sponsored a wrestling tournament to benefit Holy Angels. Dubbed the “Battle at the Bo” because it is held at Bojangles’ Arena, this year’s tournament, held Jan. 2-3, hosted 64 high school wrestling teams from the Southeast and more than 1,000 wrestlers.

All proceeds benefit Holy Angels, a residential facility that provides care for people with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions.

Charlotte Catholic’s wresting team visited Holy Angels in November to decorate for Christmas and then set up, participated in and worked during and after the tournament to ensure its smooth operations and success.

— Sally McArdle

WINSTONSALEM — Fourth-grade students at Our Lady of Mercy School were recently spurred to action after reading “A Long Walk to Water,” a work of historical fiction based on the true story of man named Salva Dut, who had to leave his war-torn village in Sudan in search of his family and safety. His struggle showed him horrors of war and the daily struggle just to have clean water. He began an organization called Water for Sudan, which has drilled more than 200 wells in southern Sudan. The fourth-graders were so touched by the story that they wanted to do something to help.

With the help of their teacher Elissa Brannan, they organized a quarter drive at school and did chores at home to earn money for the cause. With a generous matching donation from a parent, they raised $500 – half the cost of drilling one well.

Students also wrote personal letters to the author and continue to talk about and pray for his work in Sudan.

— Lara Davenport

Bishop McGuinness holds Model UN Middle School Day KERNERSVILLE — The Bishop McGuinness Model United Nation Club recently held a Middle School Day event open to the Catholic grade schools in the Triad. Close to 300 students in grades six through eight from Our Lady of Grace, St. Pius X, Our Lady of Mercy, and St. Leo schools participated, and many Bishop McGuinness High School students volunteered their time organizing and moderating the debate to make the event a success. Club moderator and faculty adviser David Seidel noted that the middle school students, middle school teachers and high school moderators worked very hard to come up with ideas, collaborate, and debate the world’s current issues.

Bishop McGuinness’ Model United Nations Club wishes to thank all those involved for a fun and educational day where students were able to discuss new ideas concerning our international community.

— Jeff Stoller

St. Michael eighth-graders go to D.C.

Bishop McGuinness High raises $3,000 for CRS Rice Bowl Campaign KERNERSVILLE — Students at Bishop McGuinness High School raised more than $3,000 during Lent for the CRS Rice Bowl Campaign. The CRS Rice Bowl campaign encourages Catholics to pray, fast and make contributions in an effort to address poverty and hunger. Those who wish to donate are asked to set aside money in a cardboard “rice bowl” that will then be donated to Catholic Relief Services. Bishop McGuinness students have repeatedly shown levels of generosity well above the norm for this effort.

This is the second straight year that Bishop McGuinness students donated more than $3,000 to the CRS Rice Bowl Campaign.

Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, Catholic Relief Services now serves more than 100 million poor and needy people in more than 100 countries on five continents.

— Jeff Stoller

GASTONIA — Eighth-graders from St. Michael School in Gastonia and their teacher Greg Davidowitz recently traveled to Washington, D.C., on a class trip. They visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America, the Dominican House of Studies, the St. John Paul II National Shrine, and the Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam War, Korean War and World War II memorials. They also toured the American Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, and they toured the U.S. Capitol. They met U.S. Rep. John Boehner, speaker of the House of Representatives, and 10th Congressional District Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. Pictured with Boehner are the students and their chaperones.

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

Chinese exchange student shares his experiences as Christ the King freshman SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

HUNTERSVILLE — How many of us would have the courage to travel 7,500 miles from our home and family to study in a foreign country where we don’t know the language? For Christ the King High School freshman Xionghui (Jackson) Xie, it was a huge leap of faith to do just that.

Xie, 15, is not Catholic and spoke little English upon his arrival to the U.S. when he began his student exchange program at Christ the King High School for the 2014-’15 academic year. He is from Zhengjian Province, China, and is the youngest son in his family of four.

Xie Recently he was asked about his reasons for participating in the student exchange program and his experiences at Christ the King High School this year: CNH: Why did you want to be an exchange student?

XIE: I like to learn the history and culture, so that is why I came to America. Also my father hopes I can see more, learn more, so that is why I became an exchange student.

CNH: What do you like most about living in the United States this year?

XIE: The teachers, because they are friendly and also they treat students like their own kids.

CNH: What do you like most about Christ the King High School?

XIE: The church (school chapel) CNH: What is the biggest difference between going to school in your home country and going to school in the U.S.?

XIE: In my home country we do not have the Catholic school, so we do not learn the Bible. But here we are able to learn the Bible and the Catholic culture. It makes the school special.

CNH: How hard has it been to learn English?

XIE: At the beginning, it was so hard because I just started to learn English. I (was) afraid to talk with other people.

When I came to America, all the things changed. I talk a lot with other friends so that I can easily learn English.

CNH: What subjects do you like the most?

XIE: Geometry CNH: What has been the most difficult part about living away from home and studying abroad?

XIE: Missing family and all the things you need (to) do by yourself.

CNH: What are some of the new things you have tried or new things you have done during your time in the U.S.?

XIE: I tried golf and I tried to make dinner for the (host) family.

CNH: What would you say to other students who may be thinking about studying abroad? What advice would you give them?

XIE: If you want come to America, make sure you can take care yourself. Also, you should remember one thing: “All the things you should (be able to) do by yourself.”

Xie’s exchange experience was made possible by Herndon, Va.-based New Oasis International Education, which has also placed international students at Charlotte Catholic High School.

Christ the King High School’s principal Brendan Keane said he has been pleased to host Xie this school year.

“It has been a pleasure having Jackson at Christ the King this year. He has done a wonderful job in the classroom and helped to add a new perspective to our student body. As a result of seeing his success here, we are looking forward to continuing to welcome international students to CTK, both to support their opportunity to study in the United States and to enhance our ability to expose our domestic students to different cultural traditions and norms.”

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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St. Michael Catholic School invites you to visit and see for yourself everything that we have to offer your child.

Now Enrolling PK – 8th Grade!

Financial Assistance Available St. Michael Catholic School is a co-educational Catholic school for children in Pre-K through 8th grade that offers one class per grade level and a close knit family atmosphere.

OLG celebrates multiculturalism

704 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia, NC 28052 www.stmichaelsgastonia.org 704-865-4382 Katie Meseroll, Principal – kcmeseroll@stmichaelsgastonia.org

GREENSBORO — With luggage and passports in hand, students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro recently “traveled” to Australia, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Kenya and Japan. Children in prekindergarten through second grade celebrated diversity at the school during Multicultural Day. They visited classrooms to create crafts such as Sydney Opera House hats and pasta necklaces in the colors of the Italian flag and sampled authentic dishes, including obleas and rice cakes, while discovering each country’s international flair. Pictured, Celia McMullen teaches students about Brazil. Also pictured, teachers Irma Arias and Vicki Spriegel, parent Elena Meza and student Maggie Torpey feature Mexico in their classroom.

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

(803) 327-2097

Photos provided by Lori Eanes

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GLOBAL CATHOLIC TOURS OF VIRGINIA 2015 PILGRIMAGES

9 Days HolyLand August 17-25, $2800 each 5 nights in Jerusalem and 2 nights in Nazareth with Fr Bartlett from Winchester, VA. 11 Days Catholic Ireland September 7-17 $3250 each

Come see our fantastic selection of gift items for Baptism – First Communion Confirmation - Graduation Complimentary Gift Wrapping

From Dulles Airport. 2 nights Warsaw, 1 night Czestrochowa, 3 nights each in Krakow & Prague. Visit Wadowice, Divine.Mercy Shrine with Fr McGinnis from Huntington, WV

10 – 4 Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday 10 – 6 Friday

Conveniently located at 1200 South York Road (Rt. 321) Gastonia, NC 28052

704-271-4149

rockhilloratory.org

oratorycenter@gmail.com

Visions in Faith

3 nights each in Dublin and Galway, 2 nights Killarney, 1 night in Limerick with Fr Higgs from Elkins, WV.

Store Hours

Center for Spirituality

11Day Poland - Prague September 28-Oct 8 $3090 each

6 Days Mexico December 8-13, $1930 each Anniversary of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Fr Goldsmith from Harrisonburg, VA.

For brochures or information, contact John Tagnesi PH 1-888-544-4461 or jtag1964@ verizon.net

Sunday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Growing into Being … BE-Coming an Elder Letting go of the past. Reclaiming the wonder. Sharing the legacy.

This program is designed to offer adults a spiritual model of aging and support them in their desire to: • Revision / Revitalize the call of Baptism • Gain insights info life’s lessons • Develop an expanded perspective of healthy aging • Strengthen one’s ability to navigate changes • Become a spiritually transcendent elder Presented by: Sr. Susan Schorsten, HM who in addition to her work at the Oratory, she also gives presentations on “Eldering” and how we grow into BE-ing as we engage our own aging process.

Kate McCulloh has a Masters in Aging Studies from the University of South Florida. She has worked with elders for the past 30 years.

COST: $40 per day or $125 for all sessions / Optional Room & Board $200

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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On TV n Sunday, May 24, 12 p.m.

(EWTN) “Solemn Mass of Pentecost From Rome.”

Pope Francis celebrates the Eucharistic liturgy for Pentecost Sunday, followed by the Angelus. Broadcast live from Vatican City.

In Brief

n Sunday, May 24, 2:30 p.m. (EWTN) “In Search of Christendom: The Chartres Pilgrimage.” Thousands of young people prove that the spirit of Christianity is alive and well in Western Europe as they embark on a traditional threeday pilgrimage to Notre Dame de Chartres Cathedral.

Photo provided by Gail McMillan

‘Hot Pursuit’ Comedy in which a high-strung police officer (Reese Witherspoon) is assigned to protect the volatile wife (Sofia Vergara) of a drug runnerturned-government-witness. But the gangster is gunned down in a plot involving corrupt cops (most prominently Michael Mosley and Matthew Del Negro), forcing the ill-suited pair to go on the run together. Fleeting violence and gore, some earthy humor, occasional crude and crass terms.

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

‘Pitch Perfect 2’ The trials and tribulations of a college a cappella group continue in this sequel to the 2012 film. When the group is banned from national competition by virtue of a scandal, its leaders (Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow) seek redemption by going after the world title with the help of a new recruit. That means facing off against a German ensemble led by a menacing dominatrix. The attempt at humor by belittling women, foreigners and even religion is out of tune with what should be as wholesome anthem for self-improvement and achievement.

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

Pictured are (from left) Joey Chong, Jamie Lee, Beryl Bortey and Catherine McMillan, and their instructor Lou Ann Rives.

The four produced an award-winning documentary on the Armenian genocide, and now McMillan has produced another documentary on Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

St. Vincent de Paul teen produces two award-winning pro-life documentaries Kimberly Bender Online reporter

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte teen drew on family inspiration to create a documentary on Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics that took first place in North Carolina and that she hopes can win a national competition.

Catherine McMillan, 14, and her family are parishioners at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte. When she was in the eighth grade, she was encouraged to enter a documentary in a National History Day competition as an extracurricular activity, said her mother, Gail McMillan.

The 10-minute documentary on the Armenian genocide that Catherine and thenclassmates, Joey Chong, Jamie Lee and Beryl Bortey created for the junior division of the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest took first place in the region, then state and finally represented the state of North Carolina at the national competition held in Maryland.

“The theme for last year was ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ and they chose Armenian genocide. They didn’t win, but we’re told it was close,” Gail McMillan said. “It was a great experience.”

More than 600,000 students from around the world compete in National History Day contests, which entail conducting extensive primary and secondary research on topics of interest that are historically significant.

Catherine is completing her freshman year at Ardrey Kell High School, and the other students she created the Armenian genocide documentary with now attend another school, Gail McMillan said.

“She decided to participate again on the theme of ‘Leadership and Legacy’ and produce her own documentary,” Gail McMillan said.

This year, Catherine did extensive research of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics.

“My main inspiration was my Aunt Nora, who has Down Syndrome,” Catherine said.

“I grew up with her in the same house, and I didn’t understand the differences until I was in middle school. That’s when I started noticing

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Watch the documentaries on the Armenian genocide and Eunice Kennedy Shriver produced by Catherine McMillan and her classmates.

At www.nhd.org: Learn more about National History Day and its competitions

the way other people saw her. I wanted to explore that perspective.”

She said looked into the history of people with intellectual disabilities to see how they were treated in years past.

“I found out how awful they were treated and how it continued up until Eunice Kennedy Shriver took action. She really had an impact on how people look at people like my Aunt Nora.”

Catherine said it was “quite a process” to research for the documentary. After acquiring all the information, she had to write a script, find photos to illustrate the story and music for the soundtrack, and then write a detailed paper about the documentary.

That documentary took first place for senior individual documentary in the North Carolina state contest April 27. She can make some revisions if she likes before entering it in the national competition. She and her family will travel to Maryland again this year for the June 14-18 contest.

Catherine said she is looking forward to competing with some of her former classmates she created the Armenian genocide documentary with. They are also competing with a group project this year, too.

“I’m extremely proud, of course,” Gail McMillan said. “Catherine has a definite point of view. She likes to tell stories that need to be brought to our attention – of the underdog, things they aren’t learning in school or that aren’t getting enough attention.

“I am so happy that she has taken to heart the teaching of the Church: that all life is a gift from God and must be protected.”

n Sunday, May 24, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Saint Joan of Arc: Maid for God.” A docudrama on the life of the young peasant girl who extraordinarily was called to preserve the French throne, and whose actions on the battlefield led to the coronation of Charles VII at Reims. n Monday, May 25, 2 p.m.

(EWTN) “Archdiocese for the Military Services Memorial Mass.” Mass in honor of Memorial Day, from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C. n Monday, May 25, 2:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Never Far From Home.” A look at the life of Catholic military chaplains and their experiences as pastors, guides, friends, confidants and confessors. n Tuesday, May 26, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Valley of the Loire.”

Father William Breault, a Jesuit whose Sacramento Community is dedicated to the French Martyrs of North America, learns that one of the martyrs, René Goupil, was originally turned away by the Jesuit order but volunteered for the Canadian missions anyway. n Saturday, May 30, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Pope John Paul I: The Smile of God.” Pope John Paul I’s peasant origins, his years as a student and parish priest, and his sunny personality are some of the features in this movie.

He succeeded Paul VI in 1978, serving as pontiff for only 33 days before his death. n Sunday, May 31, 1 p.m. (EWTN) “Voices of the Persecuted: Nineveh’s Christians in Exile.”

Over 100,000 Christians are forced to flee their homeland to escape persecution for their beliefs. An EWTN original documentary. n Monday, June 1, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Lives of the Saints: Walk Softly with God.” A glimpse into the lives of pilgrims who travel to Lough Derg where St. Patrick’s Purgatory, a pilgrimage site on Station Island, sits on the lake.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

FR. HANSON: FROM PAGE 7

of Grace Church in Greensboro; St. Eugene Church in Asheville; St. Joan of Arc Church in Asheville; St. Elizabeth the Hill Country Church in Boone; St. Joseph Church in Newton; Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington; Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte; St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte; and St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, where he served for 10 years.

One of his favorite memories is of Father Frank O’Rourke, who was then rector of the cathedral, during a particularly crowded Mass there. They were running short of Hosts during Communion, but Father O’Rourke was unfazed: “If everyone just gets a little piece of Jesus, everything’s going to be all right!”

Father Hanson has also provided regular assistance to St. Ann Church in Charlotte, St. Luke Church in Mint Hill, Holy Spirit Church in Denver, and All Saints Church in Lake Wylie, S.C. Since 2004, Father Hanson has served in the nursing home and hospital ministry at St. Matthew Church, visiting the aged and infirm, bringing them the sacraments. According to records kept at the parish, he anointed 197 people just last month.

In addition to these duties, and caring for his mother, he also fills in at local parishes as needed and continues to celebrate Mass for professional sports teams when they reach out to him.

“I love the priesthood, there’s no doubt

about that,” Father Hanson says. “I love meeting so many different people in so many different situations. I love relating with the people.”

Father Hanson’s longtime friend, Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, has known him since he was in seminary.

“He’s been an inspiration to me over the many years of knowing him for his gentle care of the sick and the unknown opportunities that he has had as a confessor to many people. He has brought them the healing of the sacrament,” Monsignor McSweeney explains.

Father Hanson has some advice for fellow priests and for men discerning the priesthood: “Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to let people see you are human.

Be a person of prayer and just be yourself.”

“I think a good role model for all of us in the priesthood is the Holy Father (Pope Francis),” he adds. “I feel like he’s himself and that is why he is comfortable in any situation.”

And as for his vocation after 40 years?

Father Hanson smiles, “The Lord’s been good to me. It just gets better!”

Celebrating 40 years Father Richard Hanson will offer a Mass of thanksgiving on his 40th anniversary of ordination at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 3, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. A reception will follow in the New Life Center. Everyone is invited.

Join us for

FR. EARL:

WILDES:

FROM PAGE 7

FROM PAGE 8

heavier stone into place after the work of art was completed.

Fagan’s sculpture now adorns the meditation garden behind St. Peter Church, in the same area as the bronze statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. St. Alberto Hurtado is known for his work with the poor in his native Chile, where he opened several houses to care for the poor, calling them “Hogar de Cristo,” or “The Hearth of Christ.”

“That’s reflected here, I find,” Father Earl says. “This parish wants to be the warm home for the poor as much as we can.” This is illustrated in the wide range of parish ministries and the more than 80 volunteers who regularly help needy children in nearby inner-city schools, he says.

The stone sculpture features a quote by the saint: “I hold that every poor man, every vagrant, every beggar is Christ carrying His cross.”

Although Father Earl says he has greatly enjoyed his time at St. Peter Church, he is also looking forward to a sabbatical following his retirement as pastor. He plans on reconnecting with his family in Philadelphia, whom he has not seen in five years, and he is going to spend time at a Benedictine monastery near Santa Fe, N.M., before traveling on to New Zealand.

After his sabbatical, he will meet with his provincial and discuss his next assignment with the order.

“My six years here have been, as I reflect on my ministry, the sweetest years. I have really tasted the goodness of God and God’s love from the people of the parish.”

peace of the unknown,” Donielle says. “I told my oncologists that if I made it through my pregnancy, I would do anything they recommend once Sylvia Hope was born.

There was never a point that I felt fear.

“Often we need to step back and take a look at the situation we are facing with two sets of lenses, the natural and the spiritual. In my case, it was very easy to discern what to do when the other option was that of taking the life of my child. We need to remind ourselves that the devil wants us to be scared, fearful and in despair. We must rebuke those feelings by placing our trust in God. “The things my oncologists had predicted to happen, such as an aggressive continued spread of cancer due to the pregnancy producing hormones acting like fertilizer to a plant, didn’t happen, and no one knows why.”

She adds, “I’ve come to the realization in my own heart that God wants to perform miracles. We just need to allow Him to do so giving Him enough room to work and ridding ourselves of anything that is not of God, beginning with fear, anxiety and despair.

“God wants to restore order. We may not always understand His plan, but must trust and hope in difficult circumstances. Be at peace no matter what!”

St. John Neumann Catholic Church 8451 Idlewild Road | Charlotte, NC 28227 Friday, June 12, 5:00 PM-11:00 PM Saturday, June 13, 4:00 PM-11:00 PM

• Admission is free!

• Tickets available for purchase for food, rides and games.

• Purchase a wristband for unlimited rides on Friday night!

• Carnival rides!

• Try your skill at our midway games and win a prize!

Special appearance by Maney, LauRen and Roy of the Kiss Morning Show on Kiss 95.1 on Friday evening from 5:00-9:00 PM

Hamburger eating contests sponsored by American Burger Company all weekend long!

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• Great food! Hot Dogs, funnel cakes, cheese steak sandwiches, and more!

• Continuous live music!

• Silent auction and BINGO inside the Parish Hall.

• Fantastic laser light show on Saturday night!

For more information visit http://4sjnc.org/sonfest_2015

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more about Donielle’s story and watch a video interview with the Wildes

Get your raffle ticket with a chance to win $2,500!

Our nation 26

catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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In Brief Speakers at CLINIC’s annual convening optimistic on immigration reform

Reaction mixed to Tsarnaev death sentence in Bostom Marathon bombing

SALT LAKE CITY — Two federal officials told Catholic immigration advocates gathered in Salt Lake City that they are optimistic about the prospect of comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system. The officials espoused optimism despite a temporary injunction blocking President Barack Obama’s 2014 executive order to implement the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents program, or DAPA, and expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. Leon Rodriguez, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Juan Osuna, director of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review, were part of a plenary session during the annual convening of Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc. May 13-15. The third speaker was Donald Kerwin, executive director of the Center for Migration Studies and the past CLINIC executive director.

“I want you to know that I am not depressed,” Rodriguez said about the February injunction, stopping the programs while a lawsuit filed by 17 states works its way through the courts. “I want you to know that I am not frustrated, and I will tell you why. The goal here, the real justice, will come when we have reform ... that gives us a path to citizenship to those individuals.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reaction was mixed to the May 15 jury sentencing of death for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. Tsarnaev had been convicted April 8 of all 30 counts lodged against him in the bombing, which killed three people and injured hundreds.

Of those 30 counts, 17 carried the death penalty, and jurors imposed the death sentence on six of those – all in connection with placing a bomb on Boylston Street along the marathon route.

“Catholic Mobilizing Network prays for the victims of the Boston marathon bombing, their families, and all those whose lives have been touched by violence,” said a May 15 statement by the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of the Death Penalty. “We believe in the dignity of all human life. Our faith calls us to be hopeful for the salvation of all. We stand with our Church and with Pope Francis, who reminds us that ‘God is in everyone’s life. Even if the life of a person has been a disaster.’ We should never deny the opportunity for God to transform the lives of even those who have committed heinous acts. We cannot teach that killing is wrong by killing.”

The death sentence levied against Tsarnaev “perpetuates the use of an unfair, unjust practice that is disproportionately used on poor people and people of color,” said a May 15 statement from Diann RustTierney, executive director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.

“We had held out hope for a different punishment, given that the majority of people in Massachusetts, including many of the victims’ family members, oppose the death penalty and have outlawed it in their state. We express our sincerest condolences for the victims of the attack and their families.”

Canny named executive director of Migration and Refugee Services WASHINGTON, D.C. — A veteran of Catholic relief, development and charitable agencies with experience in some of the world’s most troubled countries is the new executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services. William Canny, who has worked for more than 25 years with Catholic Relief Services and the International Catholic Migration Commission, succeeds Johnny Young, who retired earlier this year.

Monsignor Ronny Jenkins, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, welcomed Canny in a May 15 statement, saying he brings a combination of experience, expertise and commitment to the position at a time when the world is seeing large numbers of refugees fleeing religious persecution and economic hardship.

Canny served as CRS director of emergency operations from 2010 to 2012. He directed the agency’s initial response to Haiti’s tumultuous 2010 earthquake. From 2006 to 2009, he had been the agency’s country representative in Haiti, leading a staff of 200 and overseeing programs in the areas of HIV and AIDS, health, education, agriculture, forced migration and human rights. He also worked with CRS from 1983 to 1997 in various positions in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. CRS is the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency.

Court reverses Oak Ridge sabotage conviction KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A divided 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the sabotage convictions of three Plowshares protesters, one of them a nun in her mid80s, and remanded the case to a lower court. The three-judge panel upheld one conviction against the trio on a charge of depredation of property May 8.

Sister Megan Rice, a member of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus from Washington, Michael Walli, also from Washington, and Greg Boertje-Obed from Duluth, Minn. – the men were Army veterans – were convicted in 2013 of the sabotage and depredation of property counts, and were sentenced in February 2014 to 35 months on each count, to be served concurrently.

All three were freed from prison late May 15 after defense attorneys in the case, filed documents with the court calling for the Plowshares activists’ immediate release. The court agreed after federal prosecutors did not object. The decision returns the case to U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Survey shows increase in Americans who aren’t part of any religion Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A major study of the religious landscape of the United States shows a continuing decline in the number of people who consider themselves part of any religion, with the largest shift occurring among the “millennial” generation.

The Pew Research Center survey of 35,000 people, conducted in 2014, found that the percentage of Americans who identify themselves as Christians declined by 8 percentage points since the last religious landscape survey in 2007. The first data from the survey, released May 12, dealt primarily with religious affiliation. Future reports will address other parts of the survey, such as religious beliefs and practices.

The phenomena of people changing religions also has become more pronounced, the survey found, and said that is especially true for people who were raised Catholic.

“Nearly one-third of American adults (31.7 percent) say they were raised Catholic,” the report said. “Among that group, fully 41 percent no longer identify with Catholicism.

This means that 12.9 percent of American adults are former Catholics, while just 2 percent of U.S. adults have converted to Catholicism from another religious tradition.

No other religious group in the survey has such a lopsided ratio of losses to gains.”

The report said the number of people who define themselves as religiously unaffiliated changed from 16 percent in 2007 to 23 percent in 2014.

Among those, the 51 million Catholics represents a decrease of about 3 million, or from 24 percent of the population to 21 percent. The study noted that the figure might be somewhat explained by the statistical margin of error, and could be as little as a decline of 1 million people.

It also added that Catholics’ percentage share of the population has remained relatively stable over decades, in comparison to Protestants, who have steadily declined.

A quibble with Pew’s numbers on Catholics was posted by Mark Gray, who studies Catholics for the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

Gray said Pew’s figures for Catholics don’t reflect what other polls by Gallup, Public Religion Research Institute and the General Social Survey have found. Those consistently find between 21 percent and 26 percent of the U.S. population is Catholic, Gray said in a post on CARA’s “1964” blog.

Catholics are represented strongly among immigrants, however, the survey said. About 15 percent of those surveyed were born outside the U.S., and two-thirds of those are Christians, including 39 percent who are Catholic. About 10 percent of immigrants said they belong to a non-Christian faith, including Islam or Hinduism.

However, among millennials, the survey showed sharp differences in the percentage of people who say they’re Catholic, in comparison to older generations. In the three older generations the survey considered, 2023 percent of adults said they are Catholics.

Among millennials, the percentage was 16 percent. Pew counted as millennials those who were born between the early 1980s and the mid-1990s.

Pew also considered how the people who

say they have no religious affiliation define their beliefs. Between the surveys in 2007 and 2014, the number of “unaffiliated” people who say they are atheist or agnostic grew from 25 percent to 31 percent. Those who said religion is unimportant their lives also increased slightly.

Religions are also becoming more ethnically and racially diverse, the survey said.

Minorities now account for 41 percent of Catholics, it found, up from 35 percent in 2007. Among evangelical Protestants the increase was 24 percent, up from 19 percent seven years earlier, and 14 percent for mainline Protestants, up from 9 percent in 2007.

Religious intermarriage was found to be more common. The survey said 39 percent of people who said they had married since 2010 are in religiously mixed marriages, compared to 19 percent of those who married before 1960.

Other findings of the survey: n The state with the highest percentage of Catholics is Rhode Island, with 42 percent.

Other states on the high end include: Massachusetts, New Jersey and New Mexico, each with 34 percent, and Connecticut, with 33 percent. These states each have 25 percent Catholics or more: California, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

On the low end, Mississippi has the fewest Catholics, at 4 percent, Utah has 5 percent and West Virginia has 6 percent. Each of these states has fewer than 10 percent Catholics: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and Oklahoma. n The age group with the most Catholics remained the same in the seven years between studies, but the percentages shifted a bit. The largest number of Catholics are still in the 30-49 age range, but now that age group makes up 33 percent of Catholics, compared to 41 percent in 2007. Now 20 percent of Catholics are over 65, compared with 16 percent seven years ago. The number of 18- to 29-year-old Catholics is about the same, 17 percent; it was 18 percent in 2007.

And the percentage between ages 50 and 60 increased to 29 percent, up from 24 percent. n Race and ethnic composition among Catholics changed most significantly in the percentages of whites and Latinos. In 2007, 65 percent were white and 29 percent Latino.

In 2014, 59 percent were white and 34 percent Latino. In 2007, 2 to 3 percent of Catholics were – and still are – Asian, black or “other/ mixed.” n A higher percentage of Catholics in 2014 were lower income. In 2007, 31 percent of Catholics earned less than $30,000 a year, and 30 percent earned between $50,000 and $99,999. In 2014, 36 percent of Catholics earned less than $30,000 and 26 percent earned between $50,000 and $99,999. The other income categories remained about the same, with 19 percent of Catholics earning more than $100,000 and a similar percentage earning between $30,000 and $49,999. n Fewer Catholic adults are married.

In 2007, 58 percent of Catholics said they were married; in 2014, 52 percent were married. Slightly more Catholics said they are divorced – 12 percent in 2014, up from 10 percent in 2007. The number of those never married was 21 percent, up from 17 percent.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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In Brief LCWR goes on ‘with our normal life’ after mandate ends, head says WASHINGTON, D.C. — The president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said the organization is pleased to be “going on with our normal life, so to speak,� now that the Vatican’s mandate to reform the group has concluded.

Sister Sharon Holland said leaders of the organization and Vatican officials reached agreement on several key issues under a mandate for reform issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in an atmosphere that promoted understanding and respect. The mandate emerged from a doctrinal assessment by congregation representatives that began in 2009. “The whole experience has allowed us to see the fruitfulness of a process that was carried out in a sort of contemplative way,� said Sister Sharon, vice president of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Monroe, Mich. “It takes time to be quiet, to pray and reflect. We’ve seen both the power and the potential of respectful honest dialogue. We hope that we’ve all learned a good deal about the importance of listening well. Hopefully we’ve both experienced and shown the possibility of dealing with tension or misunderstanding or difficulties in a way that helps resolve, rather than allowing them to develop into polarization,� she added.

Calif. bill targets abortionalternative pregnancy clinics

Help us ‘go back home,’ displaced Iraqi sister urges Congress

SAN FRANCISCO — California medical clinics offering pregnant women alternatives to abortion may be forced to inform their potential clients that publicly funded abortions are available to them. If a fast-moving bill becomes law, it will require the state’s 71 abortionalternative clinics to give out abortion and family planning information to pregnant women interested in the clinics’ own services.

The Reproductive Freedom, Accountability, Comprehensive Care and Transparency Act is needed to ensure all women have knowledge and access to a full range of publicly funded reproductive health care options, according to the bill’s authors, Democratic Assembly members David Chiu, of San Francisco, and Autumn Burke, of Los Angeles.

But Catholic pro-life leaders and the directors of pregnancy medical clinics and pregnancy resource centers in California, which offer free prenatal care to women but do not refer them to abortion services, said the bill specifically and unfairly targets them. “What this bill does in a nutshell is to force crisis pregnancy centers to publicize abortion,�

Vicki Evans, the archdiocese’s Respect Life coordinator, told Catholic San Francisco, the archdiocesan newspaper. Opponents of the measure, also known as A.B. 775, have set up a website, http://stopab775now.com, and a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ab775info.

On April 28, the Assembly Committee on Judiciary passed the bill 7-3. Also called the Reproductive FACT Act, A.B. 775 was referred to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

As of May 11, it had a second reading and a third reading scheduled for May 14 was canceled.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Speaking quietly and deliberately, Dominican Sister Diana Momeka from Iraq urged a congressional committee hearing May 13 to help the displaced Christian refugees in Iraq to “go back home. We want nothing more than to go back to our lives; we want nothing more than to go home,� Sister Diana, a Dominican Sister of St. Catherine of Siena of Mosul, Iraq, told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

During the hearing: “Ancient Communities Under Attack: ISIS’s War on Religious Minorities,� Sister Diana was one of four women who spoke of the urgent need to not only help and protect religious minorities but also to preserve and save religious sites. Recounting her own experience, Sister Diana said a bomb exploded at the sisters’ convent in Mosul in 2009. The sisters were unharmed but forced to move to Qaraqosh in Iraq’s Nineveh Plain. Last year the Islamic State, known as ISIS, invaded that region forcing the sisters to flee once again.

She said ISIS told Christians they either had to convert to Islam, pay a tribute to ISIS or leave with “nothing more than the clothes on their back.� In her case, she left only with her habit and her purse.

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to tremendous risks for profit from a secretive, taxpayer-funded, billion-dollar industry,�

Charmaine Yoest said in a statement. “It’s time to protect women from dangerous conditions and the unborn from a torturous death.�

In a 242-184 vote mostly along party lines, the House approved the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. It prohibits abortion after 20 weeks unless the life of the mother is in danger. The measure’s sponsors cited what they say is substantial medical and scientific evidence that unborn children can feel pain at 20 weeks gestation.

Let’s keep talking.

— Catholic News Service

Pro-lifers hail vote on Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. House passage May 13 of a measure that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks is “long overdue and one of the most common sense laws under consideration,� said the president and CEO of Americans United for Life. “There is a war on women in abortion clinics today, where they are exposed

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Our world 28

catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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In Brief Faith expressed in charity, unity, pope says at canonization Mass VATICAN CITY — Declaring four 19th-century women religious saints, Pope Francis said they are models for all Christians of how faith, nourished in prayer, is expressed concretely in acts of charity and the promotion of unity. The new saints, proclaimed during a Mass May 17 in St. Peter’s Square, included two Palestinians – Sts. Marie-Alphonsine, founder of the Rosary Sisters, and Mary of Jesus Crucified, a Melkite Carmelite – as well as French St. Jeanne Emilie de Villeneuve and Italian St. Maria Cristina Brando. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was present at the Mass, as were Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham and Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem.

Vatican-Palestine accord supports ‘two-state’ solution VATICAN CITY — Vatican and Palestinian representatives have finalized the text of a formal agreement recognizing freedom of religion in the “State of Palestine” and outlining the rights and obligations of the Catholic Church, its agencies and its personnel in the territory.

Without fanfare, the Vatican has been referring to the “State of Palestine” at least since January 2013. The “Annuario Pontificio,” the Vatican’s official yearbook, lists a diplomatic relationship with the “State of Palestine.”

The Vatican, which praised the United Nations’ recognition of Palestinian sovereignty in 2012, said May 13 that the bilateral commission working on the agreement had finalized the text. “The agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval” and a formal signing ceremony should be held soon, the statement said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had a 40-minute private meeting with Pope Francis May 16. The Vatican said the two expressed pleasure that their representatives had finalized the text of an agreement on “essential aspects of the life and the activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine, to be signed in the near future.”

Protecting people means protecting the planet, cardinal says ROME — Pride, greed and selfishness are destroying the planet just as they destroy human lives, said Cardinal Peter Turkson. However, with action inspired by good stewardship and solidarity, people can ensure that the earth is “a nurturing home for every man, woman and child in every country and in every generation,” said the cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Cardinal Turkson, who oversaw work on a first draft of Pope Francis’ upcoming encyclical on ecology, addressed the general assembly of Caritas Internationalis in Rome May 14.

Pope Francis is publishing the encyclical, he said, “not to enter into scientific and financial debates, but to remind the world that our choices are ultimately moral in nature,” including when it comes to safeguarding creation. “This is an all-embracing moral imperative: to protect and care both for creation – our garden home – and for the human person who dwells therein,” the cardinal said. “Without stewardship, the earth will be less and less habitable,” Cardinal Turkson said. And without solidarity, “greed

and rivalry will wreak ever greater havoc.”

The Caritas assembly, bringing together representatives from 165 national Catholic charities’ organizations, included several sessions devoted to environmental degradation and, particularly, its impact on the poor.

Helping the poor is always worth the risk, pope tells Caritas ROME — The work of Catholic charities in the world sometimes may run into trouble, but it is always better than having Catholics shut up in their churches doing nothing, Pope Francis said. After celebrating Mass May 12 with representatives of national Caritas organizations from around the world, the pope sent a video message May 13 to the opening session of the Caritas Internationalis general assembly.

Being out on the streets can lead to accidents, he said, but being sealed up in a room can make one ill. “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security,” he said in the message to delegates from 165 national Catholic charities. “You are the engine of the Church that organizes love – caritas – for all believers to work together to respond through the corporal works of mercy.

You set the pace for the Church to be in the world each day. You help others change the course of their own lives.”

Pope Francis said that in today’s culture many times it seems that even human beings are considered “consumer goods,” things to be used and then tossed aside. Exploitation and oppression have been around forever, he said, but discarding others is “something new.”

Pope: Holy Spirit strengthens martyrs, guides their witness VATICAN CITY — The Holy Spirit strengthens modern martyrs, giving them the force to proclaim their faith in Christ even as they are about to die, Pope Francis said. But the Holy Spirit also gives strength to every Christian facing even the tiny trials of everyday life, he said May 11 during his morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The pope’s homily centered on a telephone conversation he had May 10 with Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, as well as on Jesus’ promise in the day’s Gospel reading to send the Holy Spirit to strengthen the disciples. Jesus also tells His followers in the passage that “the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.”

Pope Francis told the small congregation at his Mass that something similar is going on today when some people “kill Christians in the name of God because, according to them, they are nonbelievers.” Jesus was “talking about the future, of the cross that awaits us and of the Holy Spirit who prepares us to give a Christian witness.” But he also is telling them, “This happened to me and will happen to you, too – persecution, tribulations – but please don’t be scandalized. The Spirit will guide you and help you understand.”

— Catholic News Service

CNS | Akintunde Akinleye, EPA

A painted cross is seen inscribed above the entrance of a room May 10 in a compound once occupied by Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria.

Report details damage to Nigerian diocese where Boko Haram operates Simon Caldwell Catholic News Service

MANCHESTER, England — A new report has revealed the scale of suffering of Nigerian Catholics at the hands of Boko Haram militants, with 5,000 Catholics killed in one diocese alone.

A further 100,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Maiduguri, in the northeast of the country, have been displaced by the six-year campaign of violence conducted by the Muslim militant group, according to the “Situation Report on the Activities of Boko Haram in the Catholic Diocese of Maiduguri.”

There are now about 7,000 widows in the diocese and nearly 10,000 orphaned children, said the report. Among the diocese’s displaced are 26 of 46 priests, 200 catechists and 20 religious sisters, the report found.

The diocese includes the entire states of Borno and Yobe and part of Adamawa state. More than 350 churches in the diocese have been the targets of terror attacks with “a good number of them destroyed more than once,” the report said.

Aid to the Church in Need said 22 of the Maiduguri Diocese’s 40 parish centers and chaplaincies have been deserted by Catholics. Many are occupied by Boko Haram militants, who control about three-quarters of the territory of the diocese, the report said.

It said 32 of the 40 church-run primary schools have been deserted, and four of the diocese’s five convents are closed.

The information was sent to the U.K. branch of Aid to the Church in Need, and a summary of its findings was issued in a May 11 statement by the charity, which was set up to help persecuted Christians.

Father Gideon Obasogie, the diocesan director of social communications, told the charity: “People are very scared, and those who are able to return home find there is nothing left. ... A life lived with much fear is terrible.”

But he added that the persecution had “purified” the faith of the suffering Catholics of the diocese.

“The good Lord has always been on our side,” he said. “He has seen us through thick and thin. Our faith has been purified through persecution.”

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Where are you going?

QUO VADIS DAYS III

June 15-19, 2015 * Belmont Abbey College A camp for Catholic men ages 15-25 to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call in their lives.

www.charlottediocese.org/vocations

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Poor Clares

Reflections on the Year for Consecrated Life:

The gift of community O

ne of the essential elements of consecrated religious life as defined by the Church is communal life.

As human beings, we are made for relationships. Our hearts are designed for communion, mutual love and acceptance.

When one embraces a religious vocation, the goods of human love found in marriage and family are sacrificed for the sake of a more radical love.

However, this does not mean that a religious turns their back on loving others and lives an intimacy with Christ that exists in isolation. Rather, the consecrated soul chooses to love without limits, to love all with the intimacy of God’s own love.

The chaste love of religious, in Christ, bursts the boundaries which restrict the exclusive love proper to matrimony. To religious men and women, every person on earth is a family member, for they are called to make present to every human being the reality of God’s personal love for each of us. By their life of self-sacrificing witness, the torrents of love which flow from Our Lord’s Sacred Heart are continually unleashed in this day and age.

The concept of family, of a communal bond, of being one in the Mystical Body of Christ, is a central hallmark of our faith. It is fitting then that the idea of “communio” is fundamental to the religious vocation. “Communio” is Latin for a sharing of common gifts. In the context of a religious community, this involves an intimate sharing not only in the heritage of baptism and sacramental grace as members of the Church, but also a common striving for the ideal of the particular charism of that particular religious order.

Living with fellow men or women who have committed themselves to the same calling and witness as one’s own is an incredible gift. Communal life provides support and encouragement along the difficult path of “striving for perfection,” the aim of all consecrated persons. Yet, the perfection as the Church refers to it in a document of Vatican II is “the perfection of charity.”

Without living within the framework of a religious community, one’s charity is not tested, refined, strengthened and achieved. Religious have espoused themselves to a hidden Lover, one whose repeated commands in the pages of Scripture plead for true love of neighbor.

How do we show our love for Him, who has ascended to the right hand of the Father? He is present with us certainly in the Eucharist, yet He wishes us to seek His face in those around us, to love one another as He has loved us.

Thus, the love language of the religious soul with the Divine Bridegroom is a pouring out of love

for others – firstly for those in one’s community. This is not always easy. The religious does not choose the members of his or her religious family as one chooses a spouse. The convent or monastery is filled with people of all different ages, temperaments, backgrounds, gifts, wounds, weaknesses and strengths.

St. Benedict saw communal life as a powerful force for sanctification.

He compared the realities involved in community living with the waters of a river which, over time, wear down the jagged edges of the rocks in its path.

Slowly but surely, the waters soften and refine the sharp edges which each soul has. Community life is a chisel that helps conform each soul to the image of Christ.

A religious community, that melding of minds and hearts and individual calls into one united whole, is a living reality that encompasses each member. The community is not a static, completed object. It is alive, and it grows and develops with each new member and the flowering of each soul within it. It takes building, and this requires the efforts of each member. It demands flexibility on the part of the whole to the ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit in its life and apostolate. Yet is also calls forth, of one who enters this life, a radical identification with the core of the order’s charism.

How is this accomplished? It is only possible when the heart of the community is centered in Jesus in the Eucharist. The sacrament of love is the truest, deepest bond of the community.

Their common life is rooted in prayer, in mutual adoration of Christ. Together, these consecrated souls dedicate themselves to a life of union with Him, and in Him, they are made one.

Together, they pray the Liturgy of the Hours, assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and receive His Body and Blood.

In the communal celebration of the Eucharist, all are, in that moment, truly one in mind and heart – one flesh with Christ, and in Him, with each other.

The perfect community will only exist in heaven. We human beings are frail and selfish. We only slowly surrender the jagged edges to the healing waters of His love. Yet community life has a cleansing, purifying power of authentic love and acceptance. In living communal life to the full, consecrated religious strive to fulfill the prayer of Jesus “…that they may be one…” (John 17:22).

Sister Marie Thérèse of the Divine Child Jesus is professed with the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration St. Joseph Monastery in Charlotte. This is the latest of her commentaries on the Year for Consecrated Life, which is being celebrated by the universal Church until Feb. 2, 2016.

Joseph Purello

M

The virtue of attention: ‘To encounter another person in love’

odern technologies allow us to shift our attention quickly. We are confident that we can pay attention to multiple things and people at any given time and we value dearly our devices that allow us to stay so accessible, and so flexible to choose what or whom gets our attention at any given moment. Few gatherings (in theaters, churches, classes, meetings) begin these days without the announcement to turn off, or at least silence, our cell phones.

From religious journals to financial magazines to daily newspapers, there seems to be a growing interest in the value of being attentive to the task at hand or to the person in our presence. The underlying message in these varied media is the same: modern distractions and technological advances draw our attention away. Away from what?

Depending on the particular concern of the writer, it might be our work, our driving, our learning, our family, our friends, and yes, even God. What all these articles seem to be recognizing is that we – humanity – are losing something very important when we do not give (pardon the use of an overused phrase) some “quality time” to a book, a creative project, a family member, a neighbor, and God. Why share these thoughts on the issue of attention on a Catholic Charities blog?

Because at the essence of a Catholic Charities agency is “caritas” (Latin for “charity” or “selfless love”), and caritas demands that we see the face of God in each and every person, and give each and every person the full attention to which he/she is entitled. To do otherwise at a Catholic Charities agency would mean that the quality of service is diminished, that human dignity is not respected, and most importantly that a wonderful opportunity is missed to give “quality time” to Jesus Himself (as He promised in Matthew 25).

Pope Francis, in his encyclical “Evangelii Gaudium,” states, “Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God. Whenever our eyes are

opened to acknowledge the other, we grow in the light of faith and knowledge of God.” Last year’s Catholic Charities consumer feedback surveys reported that 96 percent of Catholic Charities’ clients stated affirmatively that they were treated with kindness and respect. Catholic Charities’ staff seek to make a connection with clients.

Perhaps a smile is acknowledged with a smile in return. Perhaps there are periods of silence, which serve to quietly lay roots of connectivity. Staff listen, and do not rush a response. In the Bible we learn of God sending His message in the softest of breezes. Only one who remains attentive will receive a message sent in soft voices, in subtle facial expressions, and in the slightest of hand gestures. For Catholic Charities’ clients, weighed down by life’s struggles and economic fears, or recently arriving from refugee camps overseas, or facing an emotional crisis or mental illness, what is needed, first of all and more than anything else, is being acknowledged fully as a human being entitled to be recognized and heard.

It has been said that the most successful politicians are those who make someone with whom they are meeting feel like they are the only other person in the room.

Feedback from Catholic Charities’ clients seems to indicate that that’s exactly the way our staff make our clients feel. It was refreshing to read a recent essay in America magazine that noted paying attention as a “supreme act and virtue of the mind.” So let’s take the time to listen to the Lord. Let’s go and meet Him and spend time with Him – perhaps in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, perhaps in the presence of someone who is poor, hungry, sick, lonely, in prison. And perhaps we should all add to our prayers, a prayer for the virtue to pay attention.

Joseph Purello is the director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy. This commentary originally appeared on Catholic Charities’ blog at www.ccdoc.org.

May 22, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Parish spotlight

St. Ann altar servers honor patron saint, give thanks for ministry Deacon James H. Toner

What we know that ain’t so:

“What you think is the right road may lead to death” (Prv 14:12)

What’s wrong?

What we think is the right road

I

n his great sci-fi novel “A Canticle for Leibowitz,” author Walter Miller Jr. has one of his characters ask in exasperation, “What is the fundamental irritant?” Why are things just wrong?

What is at the heart of the moral and political mess all around us? Easy!

We need more money. We need a better or fairer distribution of it. We need more government – or less, depending upon your politics. We need more entertainment, better computers, or an end to the designated hitter. Things are disordered, scarce or inadequate, and need repair. Then all will be well.

‘The Lord said to His people: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths and where the best road is. Walk in it, and you will live in peace.” ‘

But it’s the wrong road

The problem isn’t things; it’s we who make and use things.

Answering a question posed by his English newspaper about what was wrong in the world, author “Rebuilding G.K. Chesterton Catholic Culture,” replied, “I am.”

by Ryan N.S. Topping.

That is exactly Manchester, N.H.: Sophia right. He was.

Institute Press, 2012 And you are.

St. Paul pointed this out a long time ago: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do” (Romans 7:19). The fundamental irritant is sin and, except for Our Lord and Our Lady, we are all sinners.

Famous Russian writer Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, having spent years in a concentration camp, observed, “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either – but right through the human heart – and through all human hearts ... And even in the best of all hearts, there remains ... an unuprooted small corner of evil.” And asked in 1983 what was the fundamental irritant, Solzhenitsyn’s response was like St. Paul’s: “Men, he said, “have forgotten God.” Right there is the key problem. When we make idols of ourselves, we create Hell for

— Jeremiah 6:16 (GNB)

Suggested reading

ourselves.

Furthermore, when we finally recognize that God exists and that we aren’t God, we must worship Him. We have too often abandoned proper worship, the worship that Christ Himself gave us: the Holy Mass.

As Cardinal Raymond Burke recently said, “If the Sacred Liturgy is celebrated in an anthropocentric way, in a horizontal way in which it is no longer evident that it is a divine action, it simply becomes a social activity that can be relativized along with everything else – it doesn’t have any lasting impact on one’s life.” When we no longer know how to pray, we no longer know how to live. And, what is worse, we become apathetic about the faith which comes to us from the Apostles.

Spiritual apathy, or acedia, is one of the deadly sins. Pope St. Pius V had it exactly right in saying that “All the evils of the world are due to lukewarm Catholics.”

There are, in fact, problems with global distribution of goods and services, more must be done to fight poverty and disease, and hunger is a wretched problem. Still, these are symptoms of the fundamental irritant, the disorder of the human soul.

This disorder – this sin – will not be remedied by more or better things and, in fact, it will never be completely remedied until the Savior’s return. “It is impossible,” wrote Solzhenitsyn, “to expel evil from the world in its entirety, but it is possible to constrict it within each person.”

In the novel “The Harbinger,” now making the rounds, we read that the destruction of America is imminent because we have turned from God. The solution is for us to turn back to Him. That is necessary advice, but insufficient.

How do we return to God? The Methodist, the Mormon and the Muslim choose strikingly different paths. The Catholic faith, however, offers profound wisdom in the ancient words “lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi” (“The law of prayer, the law of belief, the law of living”). We return to the Will of God, principally, through the Holy Mass, which calls us to the standard of holiness (1 Peter 1:115).

We rebuild a Catholic culture, first, by ensuring or restoring proper liturgical worship. Before we can act well, we must think well (see Phil 4:8 and 2 Cor 10:5). Before we can think well, we must know the source of all righteousness and worship Him as He commands. Once again, we must view the liturgy as being not about us, but about, as Ryan Topping puts it, “enchantment.” “Good liturgy,” Topping notes, “is enchanted,” meaning that it teaches that the world “is alive by design.”

We have an eternal destiny. We are neither mere accidents nor mere atoms. The Mass teaches us that we are God’s, and there is our peace. But often we think we are gods, and there is our affliction.

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

CHARLOTTE — More than 60 altar servers celebrated the feast of St. Dominic Savio, the patron of altar boys and choir boys, with a Mass in the Extraordinary Form May 6 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. The servers also raised money to buy a statue of the young saint, which was blessed before the Mass and then led in an outdoor procession of the servers and clergy after Mass. The gift to the parish was in thanksgiving for the blessings that the servers have received from being part of the ministry. St. Dominic Savio (1842-1857) had a great love for our Eucharistic Lord and loved to serve the Mass, beginning at the age of 5.

— Stefano Monaco. Photos provided by John Cosmas At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more about St. Dominic Savio and see more photos from the Mass at St. Ann Church

Most-read stories on the web

‘Marriage is an act of faith between a man and woman courageous enough to follow Christ and seek to love each other as He loves them.’

Pope Francis

From the online story ‘Marriage is brave promise to love like Jesus, not showy ceremony’ Through press time on May 20, 7,049 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 13,930 pages. The top five headlines in May so far have been: n Catholics must be active in politics, no matter how ‘dirty,’ pope says..................................... 548 n Priests’ anniversaries highlight diversity of experiences, faithful ministry............................ 380 n Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits mission in Charlotte................................................................... 384 n Men’s Conference challenges men to personal conversion, leading by example...................223 n Altar servers honored at St. Ann Church during annual Mass.....................................................148

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 22, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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For more information please visit: GoEucharist.com

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Holy Hour Homilist: His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan

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Join us for the Eleventh Eucharistic Congress September 11 – 12, 2015 Charlotte Convention Center

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2015 Eucharistic Congress Diocese Of Charlotte

September 11 & 12