Sept. 25, 2015

September 25, 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

Pope: ‘God Bless America’

Poor Clares announce merger, departure, 3

‘Laudato Si’ highlighted in series of talks around the diocese, 5 INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español............................ 10-11 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes.................. 3-9 Schools..............................16 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................17 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints.................. 22-23 World news.................. 20-21

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Pope Francis addresses crowd on White House lawn during landmark visit to U.S., 18-19

‘Intentional Catholicism’: Going forth with joy Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Jugis praise local Catholics’ devotion to the Eucharist,

10-15

Catholic Charities expects to welcome Syrian refugees next year, 3

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Q&A Why can’t non-Catholics receive Communion?

Q: I have a friend who is joining the Church this Easter. She believes in the Real Presence and accepts that her non-Catholic family and friends who come to the Easter Vigil will not be able to receive Communion. But this weekend she shared with me her uneasiness with not being able to fully explain to them “why” they are not permitted to receive. I have searched on several websites that I often frequent and much to my surprise was only able to come across a few Q & A’s or forum postings that minimally addressed this issue from the perspective that, basically, if you are not Catholic and you don’t follow the Church teachings (especially that on the Eucharist) then why would you expect to be allowed to receive Communion. What I was hoping to find is a more theological explanation – hopefully with some Scriptural support. For example, does 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 come into play here?

A: The Holy Father, John Paul II, taught in his encyclical “Ecclesia de Eucharistia”: “The Eucharist, as the supreme sacramental manifestation of communion in the Church, demands to be celebrated in a context where the outward bonds of communion are also intact.” I suggest that your friend read chapter four (why not read the entire document?), “The Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion.”

On Nov. 14, 1996, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the following guidelines on the reception of Communion.

These guidelines can be found printed on the inside cover of many missals. While any message should be geared towards the hearer, this has the essentials: the Catholic belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the value of the Eucharist as a sign of the unity that exists in the Church, and an invitation to pray for the unity of all Christians. Non-Catholics may feel less slighted at the practice of closed Communion if told that Catholics must be mindful of the necessity of proper disposal to receive Holy Communion and those separated by mortal sin should not receive.

For Catholics: “As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.”

For our fellow Christians: “We welcome our fellow Christians to this celebration of the Eucharist as our brothers and sisters. We pray that our common baptism and the action of the Holy Spirit in this Eucharist will draw us closer to one another and begin to dispel the sad divisions which separate us. We pray that these will lessen and finally disappear, in keeping with Christ’s prayer for us ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21).”

“Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not admitted to Holy Communion. Eucharistic sharing in exceptional circumstances by other Christians requires permission according to the directives of the diocesan bishop and the provisions of canon law (canon 844 § 4). Members of the Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Polish National Catholic Church are urged to respect the discipline of their own Churches. According to Roman Catholic discipline, the Code of Canon Law does not object to the reception of communion by Christians of these Churches (canon 844 § 3).”

“For those not receiving Holy Communion: “All who are not receiving Holy Communion are encouraged to express in their hearts a prayerful desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.”

For non-Christians: “We also welcome to this celebration those who do not share our faith in Jesus Christ. While we cannot admit them to Holy Communion, we ask them to offer their prayers for the peace and the unity of the human family.”

— Catholics United for the Faith

“Sts. Cosmas and Damian graft the leg of a black person onto the stump of deacon Justinian,” by English painter Jaume Huguet, depicts the saints’ most famous exploit: grafting the leg of a recently deceased Ethiopian to replace a patient’s ulcered or cancerous leg.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian Feast day: Sept. 26 Sts. Cosmas and Damian were twins born to Christian parents in Arabia during the third century. They lived in the region around the border between modern-day Turkey and Syria. Cosmas was a physician and Damian an apothecary, and they both were renowned for their skill, as well as their refusal to charge for their services.

Their charity and Christian witness won many converts to the faith and earned them a place of prominence in the Christian communities of Asia Minor. Therefore, when the persecutions under Roman Emperor Diocletian began in the latter half of the third century, they were some of the first to be sought out for execution.

In 287, they were captured and ordered to deny their faith in Christ. They refused and underwent a series of tortures, including crucifixion, from which,

miraculously, they remained unscathed. The torturers, weary of what they realized was the impossible task of forcing apostasy from their mouths, finally beheaded them both. Anthimus, Leontius and Euprepius, their younger brothers, who were inseparable from them throughout life, shared in their martyrdom.

As early as the 4th century, churches dedicated to the twin saints were established at Jerusalem, in Egypt and in Mesopotamia. Devotion to the two saints spread rapidly in both East and West.

They are invoked in the Canon of the Mass and the Litany of Saints. They are regarded as the patrons of physicians and surgeons and are sometimes represented with medical emblems.

— Catholic News Agency, Wikipedia

Your daily Scripture readings SEPT. 27-OCT. 3

Sunday: Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48; Monday (St. Wenceslaus, St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions): Zechariah 8:1-8, Luke 9:46-50; Tuesday (Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael): Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51; Wednesday (St. Jerome): Nehemiah 2:1-18, Luke 9:5762; Thursday (St. Therese of the Child Jesus): Nehemiah 8:1-12, Luke 10:1-12; Friday (The Holy Guardian Angels): Baruch 1:15-22, Matthew 18:1-15, 10; Saturday: Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29, Luke 10:17-24

OCT. 4-10

Sunday: Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 2:9-11, Mark 10:2-16; Monday: Jonah 1:1-2:2, 11, Jonah 2:3-5, 8, Luke 10:25-37; Tuesday (St. Bruno, BI. Marie-Rose Durocher): Jonah 3:1-10, Luke 10:38-42; Wednesday (Our Lady of the Rosary): Jonah 4:1-11, Luke 11:1-4; Thursday: Malachi 3:13-20, Luke 11:5-3; Friday (St. Denis and Companions, St. John Leonardi): Joel 1:13-15, 2:1-2, Luke 11:1526; Saturday: Joel 4:12-21, Luke 11:27-28

OCT. 11-17

Sunday: Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30; Monday: Romans 1:1-7, Luke 11:29-32; Tuesday: Romans 1:16-25, Luke 11:37-41; Wednesday (St. Callistus I): Romans 2:1-11, Luke 11:4246; Thursday (St. Teresa of Jesus): Romans 3:21-30, Luke 11:47-54; Friday (St. Hedwig, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque): Romans 4:1-8, Luke 12:1-7; Saturday (St. Ignatius of Antioch): Romans 4:13, 16-18, Luke 12:8-12

Our parishes

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration announce merger

Migrant children look through a fence as they wait permission to cross the border between Greece and Macedonia Sept. 15. “Do not abandon victims” of conflicts in Syria and Iraq who are facing poverty and even death, Pope Francis said Sept. 17. Neighboring countries are bearing more than their fair share of the burden of helping refugees, arms dealers are getting richer and the international community seems helpless, Pope Francis said. The “atrocities and unspeakable human rights violations, which characterize these conflicts, are transmitted live by the media. No one can pretend not to know!” Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte expects to start welcoming Syrian refugees, but not until early next year after the U.S. State Department has approved their applications.

CNS | Georgi Licovski, EPA

Catholic Charities expects to welcome Syrian refugees next year David Hains Director of Communication

CHARLOTTE — Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte are responding to the Holy Father’s call to aid Syrian refugees, though refugees from the civil war in Syria are not expected to arrive for some time.

Tens of thousands of refugees are trying to escape the Syrian civil war that has raged over the past five years, with an estimated 5,000 people leaving daily. So far, 4 million Syrians have fled and about half of Syria’s population of 23 million before the war has been displaced from their homes.

Many of these refugees are facing hardships as they make their way to safety in Europe, and Pope Francis called on dioceses, religious institutes and churches in Europe to respond by taking in refugee families.

Although the pope’s call was directed to European churches, the phone at Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has also been ringing with questions and offers of help.

Cira Ponce, director of Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Office, said they have received a growing number of calls from local churches and individuals, both Catholic and non-Catholic, wanting to know how they can help the Syrian refugees.

Ponce’s office resettles about 360 refugees, who come from all over the world, to the Charlotte area each year. The resettlement work is a partnership between Catholic Charities, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. State Department.

The Obama administration recently announced that it plans to accept 10,000 Syrian refugees in the coming fiscal year. However, an AP story said they are “already in the pipeline” waiting to be admitted to the U.S., not part of the flood of people currently entering Europe. And over the past weekend, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced the administration would take in another 30,000 additional refugees over the next two years, in addition to 70,000 per year it already accepts from around the world. Many of those could come from war-torn Syria.

Through the USCCB, dioceses around the country may resettle up to 25 percent of the new refugees from Syria, Ponce said.

The Charlotte diocese has not received any Syrian refugees yet, but expects to begin receiving families by the end of the year, she noted.

Richard Hogan, associate director of Diocesan Development

3

and Support for the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services, said refugees from the Middle East generally have the longest wait to be admitted to the United States, up to a couple of years. That More information long process is usually the result about the needs of Catholic of requirements for enhanced Charities and opportunities security checks or difficulty in for volunteering is online reaching refugee populations in at www.ccdoc.org. Click on host countries, he said. the “Donate” or “Volunteer” Once people are cleared for tab to see all the ways you admission, the State Department can assist and welcome allocates them among the various refugees. resettlement agencies it works with.

Monetary donations According to Ponce, Catholic can also be sent to Catholic Charities staff pick up the new Charities, 1123 S. Church St., families at the Charlotte airport, Charlotte, NC 28203. set them up in an apartment and help them adjust to life in a new For inquiries about how country with employment and you can volunteer or how critical services. your parish can sponsor Ponce is often asked what kind a refugee family, contact of aid her office needs in resettling Catholic Charities at 704the refugees. Financial support 370-3262. gives Catholic Charities the greatest flexibility, she noted. “It covers everything, from going to the airport, to setting up an apartment, to training volunteers.”

Beyond that, Ponce said, gently-used furniture and household items are needed. “We always need kitchen tables and chairs.”

During the 1980s, Catholic Charities settled hundreds of Montagnards from Vietnam and is currently settling large groups of people from Bhutan and Burma, as well as Russians, Cubans, Eritreans, Congolese, Moldovans, Ukrainians, Ethiopians, Afghanis and Iraqis. Over the past 40 years, Catholic Charities has resettled approximately 15,000 refugees from 27 different countries.

Said Ponce, “The scale of this (Syrian) resettlement is much larger. But their needs and the horrific situation they are going through is, sadly, a typical story.”

How you can help

REFUGEES, SEE page 21

CHARLOTTE — By the mandate of the Holy See, the nuns of St. Joseph Adoration Monastery, currently based at St. Ann Parish in Charlotte, will merge with the community of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Ala., under the leadership of Mother Dolores Marie. Both communities are part of the same religious order, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, founded in 1854.

The merger is expected to take place this fall.

Our Lady of the Angels Monastery is known for its founding abbess, Mother Mary Angelica, who was also the foundress of the Eternal Word Television Network, EWTN. Mother Angelica has been in declining health since suffering a stroke in 2001. She was named Abbess Emerita for Life in 2009 by the Holy See and will continue to reside at the monastery in Hanceville.

The six members of the Charlotte community will increase the membership of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery to 11 solemnly professed members, including Mother Angelica, in addition to those in formation.

In 2010, the community of St. Joseph Monastery, then located in Portsmouth, Ohio, was invited to the Diocese of Charlotte by Bishop Peter Jugis.

Over the past five years, the Poor Clares, in conjunction with the Te Deum Foundation, have acquired more than 500 acres in Cleveland County.

A future monastery for the Poor Clares and a regional seminary have been planned for the site.

The monastery building project will be placed on hold for now, but the Poor Clares will maintain their ownership of the property.

According to Mother Dolores, “The Holy See hopes that this decision to merge the two communities will lead to a flourishing of vocations, that one day we may be able to send sisters back to build St. Joseph Adoration Monastery.”

The nuns of St. Joseph Adoration Monastery find it difficult to leave this diocese which they have called their home, Mother Dolores said.

They have found the Diocese of Charlotte to be a place where their cloistered, contemplative vocation could flourish and which was well supported by priests and laity alike, she said.

She also said that they are very thankful for the many blessings they have received during their past five years in Charlotte.

“Even though we will be separated by distance, we will continue to hold in our hearts and prayers all those we have had the privilege of meeting during our time here. We especially wish to thank Bishop Jugis, who so warmly invited us to the diocese and has been a tremendous support, along with the priests who have provided for our sacramental and spiritual life, our seminarians, as well as the many families and individuals who have prayed and provided for us in so many ways.”

Bishop Jugis expressed his heartfelt wishes for God’s continued blessings upon the Poor Clares.

“The presence of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the joyful witness of their life of contemplative prayer for the Church and for the world, have been great blessings for all of us in the Diocese of Charlotte,” he said. “The nuns have found a very special place in the hearts of the faithful of the diocese. We offer our humble prayers for God’s continued blessings upon the sisters, and we beg the Good Lord for a flourishing of religious vocations to this beautiful monastic community.”

— Catholic News Herald

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: SEPT. 27 – 11 a.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Elizabeth Church, Boone

Oct. 4-9 Priests’ Retreat Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, Maggie Valley

Oct. 16 – 10 A.M. Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

SEPT. 30 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Sacred Heart Church, Brevard

Oct. 11 – 2:30 P.M. Mass for Catholic Heritage Society St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Oct. 17 – 7 A.M. Mass for Missionaries of Charity Missionaries of Charity Convent, Charlotte

Oct. 3 – 5 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Basilica of St. Lawrence, Asheville

Oct. 14 – 7 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

Oct. 18 – 2 P.M. Mass for Wedding Anniversaries St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events September 25, 2015

Blessing of the animals

Volume 23 • Number 26

Belmont: 8 a.m. Following Mass, Sunday, Oct. 4 at Queen of the Apostles, 503 North Main St.

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

Entertainment Jason Moon Concert, “PTSD SHOW”: 7 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7, at St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte. Support and healing for veterans, families and communities suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). For details, visit www. jasonmoon.org.

LECTURES & REFLECTIONS

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.

Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ and Catholic teaching on the environment: 7-9 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5, St. Peter Church, 507 South Tryon St., presentations by Michael Burkhart of Catholic Relief Services and Sam Perkins of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation; 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Curtin Hall, on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont, presentations by Father Frank Cancro, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont and Mercy Sister Rose Marie Tresp, director of justice for the Sisters of Mercy South Central Community.

Alzheimer’s awareness: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the Parish Hall at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. Topics will include: Alzheimer’s what it is, what it is not; 10 warning signs; communication tips; caregiver strategies; and Q&A session. Huntersville CARE’s members will provide the resources and education needed to help those affected by Alzheimer’s.

For details, call Janet Urban at 704-948-3558.

Miravia Annual fundraiser: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Charlotte Convention Center. MiraVia provides material and emotional assistance to pregnant mothers and children in need. Guest speaker will be Austin Ruse, president of C-Fam (Center for Family and Human Rights). To reserve your seat, contact banquet reservations at 704-525-4673, ext. 10.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS 40 hours devotion for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel: Friday, Sept. 25- Sunday, Sept. 27, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia.

Bilingual Mass for the Feast Day of St. Michael the archangel: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia.

There will also be a special blessing of law enforcement and military personnel.

Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Outdoors, rain or shine. Parking available nearby. Come to pray for the end of abortion. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.

Holy Happy Hour, ‘Sister Mary Raphael on Her Vocation Story’: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Tequila’s Mexican Restaurant, 238 W. Main St., Gastonia. Everyone welcome.

Living Rosary to Stop Abortion: 10:15 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the cloister area of St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. We are asking all would-be mothers, especially if you’re having doubts, to come and let us pray with you.

Day OF Reflection on “Pope Francis’ encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ (‘CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME’): 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Road, Winston-Salem.

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.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Rosary for the unborn: 7 p.m. every Monday at St. Thérèse Church, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville

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

Saturday, Oct. 17, 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 International Dinner & Trade Show: 3 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 27, in the gym at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia. For the first time the Hispanic community will be participating. There will be food, beverages and lots of entertainment. Plan to represent your heritage by helping decorate your country’s table and by bringing your favorite dish. For details, email Margaret Vogt at mvogtcmkbd@gmail.com.

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.

St. Joseph intercessory prayer group: 7:30 p.m. every Monday, choir room at St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. For details, call 336-272-4681.

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.

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.

ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St. Belmont: 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, Queen of the Apostles Church, 503 North Main St. CHARLOTTE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, St. Peter Church, 507 South Tryon St.; 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road CONCORD: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, St. James the Greater Church, 139 Manor Ave. Hickory: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, St. Aloysius Church, 921 Second St. N.E. HUNTERSVILLE: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road SUPPORT GROUPS 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.

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.

YOUNG ADULTS AQUINAS’ FINEST: A social group for Charlotte-area Catholics in their 20s and 30s, under the patronage of the Angelic Doctor. Go to www.stacharlotte.com/finest for details about upcoming events.

Asheville Theology on Tap: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville area. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp.

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.

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be”)

Resources available on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ Laudato Si’ is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to “every person living on this planet” for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.

Two upcoming events in the Charlotte area offer opportunities to learn more about this encyclical and Church teaching on the environment: n 7-9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, Bill Hall at St. Peter Church: “From Stewardship of Our Local Catawba River to a Justice Vision of Global Fresh Water Usage,” presentations

by Michael Burkhart of Catholic Relief Services and Sam Perkins of the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation This workshop will address various issues regarding “water,” a most critical natural resource. Poor land stewardship and pollution directly affect our water systems – whether local or global. The Catawba River System, a relatively small basin serving a large and dense population, will provide a focus for attendee attention on local water use concerns, while Catholic Relief Services’ work addressing the effects of climate change on water systems overseas will highlight how our environmental footprint directly impacts the world’s most vulnerable people. n 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, Curtin Hall, on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont: “A New Encyclical! Now What to Do? Ideas and Resources for Engaging Your Parish “in Praise” of Creation,” presentations by Father Frank Cancro, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, and Mercy Sister Rose Marie Tresp, director of justice for the Sisters of Mercy South Central Community This presentation and workshop will provide participants with the foundation they need to develop a plan for engaging their parish in understanding Laudato Si’. Ideas and resources will be offered to assist individuals and parishes to implement the call to faithful stewardship of the earth.

Candler event planned CANDLER — A program on Laudato Si’ will also be held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Candler from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.

Event in King rescheduled KING — The Catholic Charities sponsored event “Being Good Stewards of God’s Creation – Pope Francis’ Call to Global Solidarity,” originally scheduled on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Good Shepherd Mission in King, has been rescheduled. The new date and time is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. The program will follow the 6 p.m. Mass. It is free, but RSVPs are requested to 704-370-3225 or jtpurello@charlottediocese.org.

More online

— Catholic News Herald

At www.ccdoc.org: Find resources and a link to the full text of Laudato Si’, and more details about the Charlotte, Candler and King events listed above

Dan Misleh gave a presentation on Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ Sept. 16 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte – the first of several talks that Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is organizing to help educate people about the encyclical and Catholic teaching on environmental stewardship.

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

U.S. bishops’ climate change advisor shares insights on Laudato Si,’ encourages activism SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Dan Misleh, former policy advisor to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and founder of Catholic Climate Covenant, gave an interactive presentation to more than 60 people Sept.

16 at St. Matthew Church on the topic of climate change and Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ (“Praise Be”).

The presentation was the first of five being offered this fall by the Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Funding for the events was raised through paper shredding fundraisers throughout the year and is a partnership with the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont. “(Pope) Francis is incredibly creative about the things he does to make us think about who we are and where we want to be. Just a few weeks ago he declared a ‘Season of Creation,’ an annual time to reflect on creation,” said Michael Burke, director of adult education at St. Matthew Church, as he addressed those gathered for the presentation and introduced Misleh.

Besides Misleh’s experience in working with the USCCB, Burke noted, he also served as director of diocesan relations for the Department of Justice and Peace and Human Development. “As leader of the Catholic Climate Covenant, he now engages the Catholic community at a national, state and diocesan level in a serious and sustained conversation in a Catholic approach to climate change.”

“About a year and a half ago, Pope Francis announced he was going to write an encyclical on the environment and there was great rejoicing in our office,” Misleh said. “Because that is something that is going to take us a lot further on the environmental issues of the day.”

After giving the participants an overview of Catholic Climate Covenant’s development over the past nine years, he introduced the Feast of St. Francis Program that CCC runs every fall around Sept. 1.

Misleh asked then questions and called up volunteers to read information about climate change, energy consumption and the ramifications of both.

Bruce Mlakar, volunteer and chair of St. Matthew

Parish’s peace and justice committee, appreciated Misleh’s presentation and interactive, multimedia approach.

“I wish, however, that the room had been filled to standing-room capacity,” Mlakar said. “I am thrilled that the leader of the Catholic Church has spoken out about the care of our world. In fact, as I was preparing to send out a reminder email to our Peace and Justice ministry this week, I was struggling with a way to communicate just how important this presentation was to us as Catholics.

“What I finally settled on was asking people: ‘As Catholics we call ourselves pro-life, but what good are our efforts to protect life if we destroy the very environment God created to sustain life?’ As I sat in the presentation on Wednesday evening, I reflected on my invite and became more and more motivated to drive change at St. Matthew - and using that very question as a way to pull people into the discussion.”

Joe Purello, director of Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy, helped organize the event.

“Pope Francis’ encyclical sends the message that how we care for creation has immediate moral implications, affecting the wellbeing of all human life, both here in our country and abroad,” Purello said later. “The exercise that Dan Misleh used to show the disparity in resource usage between the wealthy and less wealthy regions of the world highlights a key message of Laudato Si’ – that our lives and the lives of our brothers and sisters around the world are interdependent.”

Misleh reminded those gathered that the Church’s teaching on environmental justice is not something new, but began with the Book of Genesis, Purello noted. “This teaching has developed as part of the Church’s social doctrine over the years (especially emphasized over the past several decades). In writing Laudato Si’, Pope Francis quoted extensively from Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.” Mlakar summarized his thoughts after attending the presentation, stating, “We have a long way to go as a society and as a Catholic faith community before we can truly call ourselves environmentally-friendly,” he said. “But it is refreshing to see a clear path laid out in front of us by our Holy Father; the rest is up to us!”

OUR PARISHESI

5

‘On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si’) is the new appeal from Pope Francis addressed to “every person living on this planet” for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. Pope Francis calls the Church and the world to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges and to join him in embarking on a new path. This encyclical is written with both hope and resolve, looking to our common future with candor and humility.’

— USCCB

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Begley Conference focuses on needs of the elderly, honors Catholic Charities grant recipients Kathleen Healy Schmieder Correspondent

BREVARD — The elderly face many difficulties, but life is especially hard for

the 10 percent of seniors living in poverty, and the challenges of caring for the elderly poor are especially acute in western North Carolina.

That was one of the messages from

CCDOC.ORG

Upcoming Days of Reflection Join Catholic Charities for an opportunity to gather with other seniors from around the diocese to deepen and share one’s faith. Days of Reflection provide the chance to experience the inspiring power of God’s love and be nourished by His word as one continues a life-long journey of faith.

• Thursday, October 8 – St. Eugene Catholic Church, Asheville Presenter: Fr. Ed Sheridan Deadline for Registration: Thursday, October 1 $10 per person includes lunch • Thursday, October 15 – St. Gabriel Catholic Church, Charlotte Presenter: Fr. Frank O’Rourke Deadline for Registration: Friday, October 9 $12 per person includes morning snack and lunch

leaders of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte during the 2015 Bishop Begley Conference on Appalachia hosted Sept. 19 at Sacred Heart Church in Brevard. The conference, entitled “Connecting Elders to Resources in Western North Carolina,” focused on the needs of the senior population in western North Carolina. The event also honored this year’s winners of Catholic Charities’ Growing Opportunities Grants in the far western region of Cherokee, Clay, Graham and Swain counties.

In a keynote address, Catholic Charities’ executive director Dr. Gerard Carter called the elderly “treasures of our society” who should be cared for and valued.

While watching the TV program “The Antiques Road Show,” Carter said he would note “when people were shocked that things we think of as very common are actually treasures.

“Some, even when they were given a high-dollar value for their item, would realize the emotional value was greater than the financial.” Similarly, he continued, we must honor the inherent dignity and worth of our elders. “We need to see the human value, (the) emotional value, not only the monetary.”

The past three popes provide lessons for us all in appreciating the elderly, Carter added.

St. John Paul II was 58 when he was elected pope, and his long and visible papacy taught us the grace of aging, he said. “The lesson we are given is the beauty of aging.”

The elderly Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign offers a lesson in humility and generosity, he continued. “Giving, rather than possessing, is the mark of old age.”

Pope Francis,” he said, “is known for speaking the truth. People of age lose filters and are not bound by protocol. He is also willing to continue doing the work, even though he was prepared to retire and give it up.”

Carter also noted that a rising number of senior citizens are living in the Charlotte

diocese, with people aged 65 and older in this region rising from 4.1 percent in 1900 to 13 percent in 2010, according to U.S. Census data. Projected figures for 2050 expect 20.9 percent of the region’s population will be aged 65 and older, and the need for services directed to the elderly will continue to increase accordingly, he said.

Services must include health care, financial assistance and other aid that is not so obvious, he said.

Catholic Charities seeks to provide programs and partnerships to meet these growing needs. However, we must also “view seniors as part of the solution, not a problem to be solved,” he cautioned.

Workshops at the Begley Conference focused on avoiding scams and identity theft, preventing falls, parenting extended family members, and Medicare.

The conference also recognized the recipients of Catholic Charities’ Growing Opportunities Grants, which this year focused on services to the elderly in western North Carolina: n The Church Mouse Ministries Inc. of Robbinsville for its project “Graham United,” which will be used to help those 65 and older with medical, heating, food and in-home health care costs, n Gifts of Kindness/Samaritan’s Promise of Andrews to add a “traveling store,” an effort to provide basic needs such as paper goods, soap and other necessities to the poor through a mobile store which will travel to the different towns in the area, n Cherokee/Clay Counties Senior Games/Silver Arts of Murphy for “Seniors in Motion,” a program designed to encourage seniors to remain active through recreation, sports and arts and crafts, and n St. Vincent de Paul – St. William Conference of Murphy for its ongoing social outreach for the community.

“Today’s grants benefitting the elderly are in amounts up to $4,000,” said Joseph Purello, director of Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy.

“Since 2001, $292,000 has been awarded through these grants.”

• Wednesday, October 21 – Catholic Conference Center, Hickory Presenter: Msgr. Mo West Deadline for Registration: Monday, October 12 $15 per person includes morning snack and lunch • Thursday, October 22 – Saint William Catholic Church, Murphy Presenter: Msgr. Mo West Deadline for Registration: Monday, October 19 Program & Lunch are FREE, but registration required • Tuesday, November 3 – Saint James Catholic Church, Hamlet Presenter: Sr. Mary Hugh Mauldin, RSM, MA Deadline for Registration: Monday, October 26 $7 per person includes morning snack and lunch • Wednesday, November 11 – Holy Family Catholic Church, Winston-Salem Presenter: Msgr. Richard Bellow Deadline for Registration: Monday, November 2 $15 per person includes hors d’oeuvres and lunch Visit the website for more information or contact Sandra Breakfield at 704.370.3220 or sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org or call 704.370.3228.

Kathleen Healy Schmieder | Catholic News Herald

Pictured with Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, Joseph Purello, director of Catholic Charities’ Social Concerns and Advocacy Office, and Netta McFaddin, Catholic Charities’ Far West Families First Coordinator are representatives from winners of Catholic Charities’ Growing Opportunities Grants: Kit Meeker and Fred Meeker of Gifts of Kindness-Samaritan’s Promise of Andrews; Brenda Quinn and Anne Hager of Church Mouse Ministries Inc. of Robbinsville; Larry Leturmy of St. William Church St. Vincent de Paul Conference of Murphy; and Kay Cameron and Dennis Gray of Cherokee/Clay Counties Senior Games/Silver Arts of Hayesville and Murphy.

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

Respect Life Month: Every Life is Worth Living The Respect Life Program begins anew each year on Respect Life Sunday, the first Sunday in October.

The program is highlighted in liturgies and marked by special events. The USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities publishes new materials each year to call attention to numerous human life issues.

The theme for the 2015’16 Respect Life Program is “Every Life is Worth Living.” It is meant to remind us of this basic truth of our existence. It is especially timely in light of the renewed push for legalizing assisted suicide in many states, but is also applicable to the wide spectrum of life issues.

“One of the deepest desires of the human heart is to discover our identity,” said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities. “So often, as a society and as individuals, we identify ourselves by what we do. We base our worth on how productive we are at work or at home, and we determine our lives to be more or less good depending on the degree of independence or pleasure. We may even begin to believe that if our lives, or those of others, don’t “measure up” to a certain standard, they are somehow less valuable or less worth living.

“Respect Life Month is a fitting time to reflect on the truth of who we are.”

More online At www.usccb.org: Get more information about Respect Life Month, including prayer cards, study guides for individuals and parish groups, the “9 Days for Life” novena, articles in English and Spanish on various pro-life issues, and much more.

Join hands and pray for life Faithful across the Diocese of Charlotte are encouraged to gather on Sunday, Oct. 4, to kick off Respect Life Month and form “Life Chains” as a public witness for the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.

Life Chains are being organized in the following communities, either on Oct. 4 or another date as noted:

BELMONT North Main Street at North Central Avenue, 1:30-3 p.m.; Clint Phillips, 704-589-6758 and Jan Bodnar 704-616-8629.

BREVARD Broad Street at Main Street, 2-3 p.m.; Janice Castevens, 828-273-0275

CHARLOTTE 8451 Idlewild Road at St. John Neumann Church, 2-3 p.m.; David DeBrosse, 704-6496163 Arboretum-Providence Road at Windbluff Drive, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Susan Lerch, 704-9073076 Ballantyne Commons Parkway at Rea Road, 2-3 p.m.; Liliana Salas, 704-293-5001 East Boulevard at Scott Avenue, 2-3 p.m.; Tina Witt, 704-846-7361 Pineville-Matthews Road (Hwy. 51) at Rea Road, 2-4 p.m.; Deborah Ware, 704-650-6095 Hillside Avenue at Park Road, 2-3 p.m.; Andy Zorichak, 980-233-9168 Park Road at Old Reid Road at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 12:45-1:45 p.m.; Susan Collis, 704554-7088

FRANKLIN Meet at the Greenway’s Big Bear Shelter, Wesley’s Playground by 2:30 p.m. for signs and location, Sunday, Oct. 25, 3-4 p.m.; Julie Tastinger 828-421-2473

GASTONIA

HECHT REALTY

Selling Lake Norman Since 1971

HICKORY

hechtrealty.com

Hwy. 70 at 16th Street South East, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Bob Hall, 828-322-9570

885 N. NC 16 Business - Denver, NC 28037

HUNTERSVILLE

David Fuller, Realtor david@hechtrealty.com

Stumptown Road at Ranson Road, 2-3 p.m.; Dexter and Mary Louise Koehl, 704-894-9420

KANNAPOLIS Cannon Boulevard (Hwy. 29) at First Street, near the overpass, 2-4 p.m.; Timothy Brennan, 704-938-7393

KERNERSVILLE 600 Main St. at Cherry Street, 9:30-10:30 a.m.; Melanie Feeney Lewis, 336-996-5109

MINT HILL 13700 Lawyers Road at I-485, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; Joe Vrendenberg, 704-545-1224

C: 704-530-2632

O: 704-489-1183

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

(803) 327-2097

F: 704-625-1250

Center for Spirituality rockhilloratory.org

rockhilloratory@gmail.com

MOORESVILLE Hwy. 150 at Williamson Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; Terri Geraci, 704-493-8439

MURPHY Peachtree Street, in front of the courthouse, 2-3 p.m.; Nancy Lorie, 305-978-0724

SALISBURY Main Street at Innes Street, 2-3 p.m.; Barbara Franklin, 704-636-2117

SPARTA Main Street at Hwy. 21, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Marie Carlson, 336-657-8013

STATESVILLE Glenway Drive at Crossroads, 2-3:30 p.m.; Geraldine Houston, 704-902-7018

SYLVA/JACKSON COUNTY Main Street at the Library, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 25; David and Allene Ramsey, 828586-8822

Garrison Boulevard from Union Road to New Hope Road, 2-3 p.m.; Linda Mooney 704-5893930

THOMASVILLE

GREENSBORO

WAYNESVILLE/HAYWOOD COUNTY

Battleground Avenue, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Bernie and Elaine McHale, 336-292-1118

Walnut Street at Russ Avenue, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Cynthia Hall, 828-926-9706

HENDERSONVILLE

WINSTON-SALEM

U.S. 25 (Asheville Highway) at Patton Park (Clairmont Drive), 2-3 p.m.; Sharon Asbury, 828697-6188 Hwy. 64 at Howard Gap Road, 2-3 p.m.; Sue Kuchler, 828-692-0170

Hanes Mall Boulevard west of Stratford Road, 2-3:30 p.m.; Lori Bowser, 336-655-9479

Southgate Shopping Center, 2:30-3:30 p.m.; Yvonne Ford, 336-301-9891

For details about the Life Chain events, go online to www.lifechain.net.

Thomas Merton at 100 Celebrating the Legacy of an American Spiritual Master Friday, October 16 from 7:00 – 9:00 pm Saturday, October 17 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm Presented by: Carl McColman

FRIDAY EVENING Climbing the Seven Storey Mountain with Thomas Merton This program will introduce (or re-introduce) you to Merton, his most important writings, and how the silent world of the monastery formed his mind and heart. We will begin to reflect on how his spirituality can nourish our own.

SATURDAY The Three Epiphanies of Thomas Merton This day will combine reflections, time for silence / journaling and optional group discussion as we reflect on how the legacy of Thomas Merton can illuminate and inspire our spiritual journeys today. As we reflect on Merton’s three epiphanies, we can find invitations to deepen our own life of faith.

Carl McColman is a Catholic layperson and Lay Cistercian, an associate of the Trappist monastery in Conyers, GA. He is a popular retreat leader and author of numerous books.

$10 Friday Evening Only $40 Saturday Only (lunch included) $45 Both Events Commuter (lunch included) $80 Both Events Overnight (lunch included)

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 OUR PARISHES

Pope Francis inspires efforts to increase organ donation Charlotte family gives others hope amid grief CHARLOTTE — Pope Francis’ visit to the United States has generated tremendous excitement and the momentum continues to build in anticipation of the arrival of His Holiness. From every corner of the country, including the Carolinas, Catholics and people of all faiths are inspired by the visit of Pope Francis and his support of organ, eye and tissue donation.

As he met with the Transplant Committee for the Council of Europe in Rome last year, the pope described the act of organ donation as a “testimony of love for our neighbor.” In fact, all major religions support organ donation as an act of charity and love, the major tenets of Christianity.

Faith and hope also play an important role in the donation and transplantation process. Whether someone awaits a lifesaving transplant or has donated a loved one’s organs – all have faith in something greater than themselves.

Ed Maciejewski of Charlotte found this to be true when he honored his wife Marcy’s wishes to donate her organs six years ago.

Marcy, a registered nurse, sustained a critical brain injury in a car accident in 2009. She had been an advocate of organ donation since her youth.

“Marcy inherited the value of organ donation from her mom,” Maciejewski explains. “When Marcy was a little girl, her mom suffered a serious eye injury.

During her recovery in the ward, she saw several children who had lost their vision.

From that point she never wanted to take

anything with her that anyone else could use, especially her eyes. For as long as I knew Marcy, she was always adamant about being a donor and made her wishes clear to me time and time again.”

Two years after Marcy’s passing, Maciejewski met the two women who received Marcy’s kidneys, who as Divine Providence would have it, had been receiving treatment in the same medical facility at the time. Marcy had been helping patients just like them at the clinic where she worked.

“They fondly call Marcy their ‘kidney sister,’ and for me it adds some closure in a tragedy that ended with sudden death...

Seeing Abbie and Jeunita – eating with their families, reading their Facebook posts – is seeing Marcy continuing to live and literally making a difference in people’s lives.

“I see Marcy continuing to reach people due to her tenets of being a donor. I also find comfort in opportunities I’ve had to share her message, hoping more families will understand the gift and importance of donation. For these reasons I will continue to be a mouthpiece for her and pick up where she left off.”

Maciejewski now organizes an annual golf tournament to support the Marsha Nash Maciejewski Scholarship Foundation.

He also dedicated an eagle observation shelter at the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville and adopted a highway in front of Marcy’s former workplace in Monroe.

Joan & Dave Maroney, Founders of Mother of Mercy Messengers, join Msgr.

John J. McSweeney and Deacon Gary Schrieber at St. Matthew Catholic Church’s 6th Annual Divine Mercy Day of Healing:

Jubilee Year of Mercy – Call to be Witness Our Response to Pope Francis October 3, 2015 9 am – 3 pm Register/Pay by credit card online at stmatthewcatholic.org/smu

St. Matthew CC 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway Charlotte NC 28277 704-543-7677

Today, there are more than 122,000 people nationwide whose lives depend on the kindness of strangers to make the choice to Donate Life. Sadly, 22 of these individuals die on average each day because the organs they need are not donated in time.

That is exactly why organ donation is so important.

A recent poll stated that nine out of 10 Catholics are in favor of Pope Francis and his teachings. In honor of the pope’s powerful message of charity and love, LifeShare Of The Carolinas urges Catholics who have not yet registered as an organ, eye and tissue donor to do so.

“I told LifeShare that she did the hard part of being a donor, so now I’m holding up my end by telling her story and advocating such a noble, sensible and responsible cause,” Maciejewski says.

— LifeShare Of The Carolinas.

SueAnn Howell, senior reporter, contributed.

About Lifeshare

LifeShare Of The Carolinas is the regional organ procurement organization that serves a 23-county region throughout southwestern North Carolina. The organization is the bridge between people who need transplants and the donors who make those transplants possible.

In addition to facilitating organ transplants, LifeShare also operates an eye bank and recovers tissue for transplants.

LifeShare will join the rest of the country in

Photo provided by Ed maciejewski

Ed Maciejewski of Charlotte honored his wife Marcy’s wishes to donate her organs six years ago after she died following a car accident. She was a registered nurse and had been an advocate of organ donation since her youth. observing the National Donor Sabbath on Nov. 15, 2015. It is an annual interfaith celebration designed to dispel the misconception that donation is not consistent with religious beliefs. Parishes that would like to learn more information or to receive materials can contact LifeShare at 704-512-3303.

Registering as an organ donor is easy: sign up at the DMV or visit www.loveforneighbor.org. For more information about organ donation, visit www.LifeshareCarolinas.org.

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

St. Aloysius teens earn Eagle rank

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

HICKORY — Five members of St. Aloysius Church’s Boy Scout Troop 351 in Hickory – Camdyn Neuwirth, Dylan Tashjian, Luke Kessel, Nick Hovis and Andrew Gaither – recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

In Brief

— Jennifer Dufour

Youth invited to D.C. March for Life

Goretti relics coming to diocese

CHARLOTTE — It’s not too early to start planning for the 2016 March for Life in Washington, D.C., set for Jan. 22, 2016. All groups from the diocese are encouraged to take part in the Mass celebrated by North Carolina’s two bishops, Bishop Peter Jugis and Bishop Michael Burbidge. For those who wish to take part in the youth rally sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington, tickets must be requested through the diocesan Youth Ministry office before Oct. 1. For details, contact the diocesan Youth Ministry office at 704-370-3211 or email Director Paul Kotlowski at pjkotlowski@ charlottediocese.org.

CHARLOTTE — The major relics of St. Maria Goretti will come to Charlotte and Greensboro in late October as part of a three-month U.S. pilgrimage for the Year of Mercy, organized by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and Treasures of the Church.

Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro will host the relics Friday, Oct. 23. Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m., with veneration set for 9

CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant applications now available CHARLOTTE — Does your parish help run a food pantry, operate a thrift store, or sponsor an emergency services program? If so, consider applying for a CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant for up to $1,000 in grant funds. Grants will be accepted through the postmark deadline of Oct. 15. Information about this upcoming round of grants (including application, guidelines and eligibility) is available at www.ccdoc.org/cchdcrs.

Only one grant can be submitted per Catholic entity and grant applications must be reviewed and signed by the pastor of the parish, principal of the school, or director of the diocesan office applying for the grant. Questions? Please contact jtpurello@charlottediocese.org.

CDA presents photography award SALISBURY — The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 1759, of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, presented Rebecca Malloy with the CDA’s National Education Contest First Place Award for Division 3 Photography Aug. 30.

The picture of a small baby being held by her brother Connor while on Sacred Heart’s annual mission trip to Kingston, Jamaica, to assist the Missionaries of the Poor in 2014, won her the local, state and national CDA first-place award in Photography. Pictured are (from left) Rebecca Malloy, Conner Malloy, education coordinator for Court 1759 Colette Miller, Court 1759 Regent Vickie Kotlarz and State CDA Regent Essie Walker.

Girl Scout earns Gold Award CHARLOTTE — Nicole Van Lanen, a parishioner at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte and freshman at Appalachian State University, has earned the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting.

Lanen built outdoor classrooms at Alexander Children’s Network, The Fletcher School and John Crosland School which included a weather station, leaf identification posts, butterfly garden and a bench. She also provided them with worksheets to support the classrooms and multi-sensory learning.

OUR PARISHESI

a.m. to midnight.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte will host the relics Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 24-25. A Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Oct. 24, and additional Masses in English will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24 and 7:30 a.m. Oct. 25. Veneration will take place from 11 a.m. Oct. 24 until 8:30 a.m. Oct. 25.

Admission is free. Details about the local pilgrimage will be published in the Oct. 9 edition of the Catholic News Herald.

For more about the “Pilgrimage of Mercy: Tour of the Major Relics of St. Maria Goretti,” go to www.mariagoretti.com.

— Catholic News Herald We welcome your parish’s news! Please email news items to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org.

Wills and Trusts Probate PLANNING TODAY FOR YOUR FAMILY’S TOMORROW St. Matthew’s Parishioner

704.843.1446 | www.ncestateplanninginfo.com

15720 Brixham Hill Ave, Suite 300

|

Charlotte/Ballantyne

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools

Visit Our Fall Open Houses ›› Faith ›› Tradition ›› Academic Excellence

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Sunday, October 11th – 1:30pm to 3:30pm Tuesday, October 13th – 9:00am to 12:00pm Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School (PK-8) 4225 Shamrock Drive • Charlotte St. Ann Catholic School (TK,PK-5) 600 Hillside Avenue • Charlotte St. Gabriel Catholic School (K-5) 3028 Providence Road • Charlotte

St. Mark Catholic School (K-8) 14750 Stumptown Road • Huntersville St. Matthew Catholic School (TK-5) 11525 Elm Lane • Charlotte St. Patrick Catholic School (K-5) 1125 Buchanan Street • Charlotte

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

HIGH SCHOOLS

Sunday, October 18th – 1:30pm to 3:30pm Tuesday, October 20th – 9:00am to 11:00am

Sunday, October 25th – 2:00pm to 4:00pm

Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School (6-8) 3100 Park Road • Charlotte

Charlotte Catholic High School 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road • Charlotte

Sunday, October 11th – 2:00pm to 4:00pm Christ the King Catholic High School 2011 Crusader Way • Huntersville

MACS admits students of any race, color, sex, religion and national or ethnic origin.

For more information visit: www.MACS-OpenHouse.com or call Admissions: 704-370-3273

facebook.com/ catholic news HERALD ESPAÑOL

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 10

Padre Fidel Melo

XI Congreso Eucarístico Diocesano, ¡Una Fiesta con Jesús!

Después de once años de haberse iniciado un congreso eucarístico anual, ha sido muy grato ver como el número de participantes ha crecido. Me recuerda un encuentro que en una única ocasión tuvimos y que le llamamos “Fiesta con Jesús” donde por primera vez se convocó a la comunidad hispana a un gran encuentro de fe, y que tuvo como resultado una numerosa y entusiasta participación.

Lo cual, sin proponérselo, fue un buen termómetro para medir la disposición y entusiasmo de la comunidad hispana para participar en un evento de fe de grandes dimensiones.

Providencialmente, por ese tiempo, tuvo lugar el primer congreso eucarístico de nuestra diócesis, el cual ha respondido a esta sed de Dios de los católicos hispanos en nuestra diócesis. Este año 2015 no ha sido la excepción, las familias siguen participando. Platicando con un hermano hispano, Peter Floyd en la Iglesia de San Gabriel, me expresaba su satisfacción al participar en la parte en español y como encontró muy completo el programa en el que pudo celebrar, aprender y vivir la Eucaristía. Y es que en realidad la Eucaristía es nuestro encuentro con Jesús lo cual es siempre motivo de alegría y celebración porque encontrarse con Jesucristo es encontrarse con la esperanza de la redención y de la eternidad futura que en Él nos aguarda.

Por eso el Dr. Timothy Matovina, durante su charla en español durante el Congreso Eucarístico, explicaba que la Eucaristía es una “Fiesta Profética” porque es en la Misa en donde nos encontramos con Cristo en la Palabra que nos ilumina y orienta. Es en la Misa en donde nos encontramos con Cristo en los hermanos y la comunidad, en donde Cristo dijo que estaría presente, “Porque donde están dos o tres reunidos en mi nombre, allí estoy yo…” (Mt. 18,20-21).

También nos encontramos con Cristo en la Eucaristía, Pan de Vida eterna.

“No lo merezco pero lo necesito porque soy pecador” nos decía Matovina, enseñándonos como la salvación y la gracia no son un mérito nuestro sino de Jesucristo en la Cruz, un regalo que Él nos ofrece, por eso es motivo de fiesta, una fiesta profética. Una fiesta profética donde como sucedió a los discípulos de Emaús quienes se encontraron con Jesús en el camino, y les explicó la Palabra a la vez que caminaba con ellos para luego reconocerlo en la fracción del pan. Así también nosotros nos encontramos con Cristo en el camino de la vida, y Él camina también con nosotros y nos llama a reconocerlo en la fracción del pan dejando arder nuestros corazones de alegría por sentir su Presencia salvífica entre nosotros.

Que nuestra fe no desfallezca nunca y que siempre se vea alimentada, fortalecida y guiada por Jesús en la Eucaristía, en especial como pueblo hispano aquí en los Estados Unidos, donde como los peregrinos de Emaús, caminamos muchas veces un tanto afligidos por la lejanía de nuestra tierra, familiares y amigos. Y que Jesús, Nuestro Amigo, sea nuestro compañero en el sendero de nuestra vida.

Saludos y bendiciones a todos mis hermanos y hermanas hispanos de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

EL PADRE FIDEL MELO es el Vicario del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Foto SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

El Obispo Peter Jugis carga el relicario con el Santísimo Sacramento durante la procesión por el Centro de Charlotte el 12 de Septiembre que dio comienzo a la sesión del Sábado del Undécimo Congreso Eucarístico de la Diócesis de Charlotte celebrado el 11 y 12 de Septiembre del corriente.

La Eucaristía nos da fortaleza, bendiciones a todos los que creen en la verdadera Presencia de Cristo, predica el Obispo Jugis Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — “Tienen que estar listos a continuar la labor de llevar a Cristo a los demás, y de evangelizar a esta cultura.”

Durante su homilía en la Misa de culminación del Undécimo Congreso Eucarístico de la Diócesis de Charlotte, el Obispo Peter Jugis se dirigió a más de 14,000 personas en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte – la asistencia más numerosa en la historia de este evento anual – que la fe en la Eucaristía les puede dar sustento en lo que el obispo llamó estos tiempos “difíciles.”

“Existe tanta división y conflicto,” dijo el Obispo Jugis.

“La sociedad en la vivimos está fracturada por el pecado, y nosotros experimentamos esa ruptura todos los días.

Pero, sin embargo, el Señor depende de nosotros para que llevemos su mensaje a esta cultura. ¿Cómo haremos esto?”

“Lo haremos recibiendo la fortaleza y el alimento de la Santa Eucaristía.”

El Obispo continuó, “Hermanos, gracias a todos ustedes por la reverencia y devoción que han demostrado al Santísimo Sacramento durante este Congreso Eucarístico.” Dijo él a miles de católicos de 92 parroquias y misiones de la Diócesis de Charlotte que asistieron a la Misa de conclusión después de dos días de Adoración Eucarística, una procesión Eucarística por las calles del Centro de Charlotte, conciertos y charlas educacionales.

“Hemos llegado al momento culminante del Congreso Eucarístico. La celebración del sagrado sacrificio de la Misa. Todos los eventos del Congreso nos han llevado a este punto,” dijo el Obispo Jugis.

Después el obispo preguntó, “¿Que bendiciones espirituales se están llevando con ustedes de este Congreso

Eucarístico? ¿Se están yendo con un corazón alegre?”

Católicos deben seguir adelante con un “corazón renovado,” un mejor entendimiento de su fe y una más profunda gratitud con el Señor por todas las bendiciones que reciben, dijo el Obispo Jugis. Con esa renovada fortaleza, alegría y fe, los católicos pueden evangelizar con confianza a la cultura, enfatizó él.

En la mañana del Sábado, una multitud de bote en bote, le dio la bienvenida al Cardenal Timothy Dolan de la Arquidiócesis de Nueva York en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte, durante la cual el Cardenal predicó la homilía durante la Hora Santa de Adoración al Santísimo. La charla fue el punto final de la procesión Eucarística, la cual incluyó, al Cardenal Dolan, el Obispo Jugis, clero, religiosos y más de 9,000 mil personas de la diócesis a través de las calles del Centro de Charlotte. La procesión duró más de hora y media.

La procesión Eucarística el Sábado en la mañana que comenzó al frente de la Iglesia de San Pedro coincidió con un evento en memoria de las víctimas del 11 de Septiembre, atrajo a cientos de personas y creó una mezcla festiva de estandartes y banderas de los Estados Unidos.

Durante su homilía, el Cardenal Dolan habló acerca de la Eucaristía como un sacrificio, una comida y la verdadera Presencia de Jesucristo. Con un estilo muy efusivo, el cardenal inyectó su charla con humor y chistes que hizo reír a los presentes.

Antes de su charla, el Cardenal Dolan dio las gracias a la Diócesis de Charlotte por invitarlo al Congreso, y recibió un caloroso aplauso de regreso.

“Yo vine aquí por mi particular aprecio y estima por su buen obispo, el Obispo Peter Jugis, y por mi afecto por La Eucaristía, SEE page 11

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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LA EUCARISTÍA: FROM PAGE 10

Fotos por SueAnn Howell, SERGIO LOPEZ y Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

(De izquierda a derecha) Algunos de los muchos Hispanos de diferentes parroquias de la Diocesis de Charlotte que participaron en la procesión Eucaristica del Sabado, 12 de Septiembre, por las calles del Centro de Charlotte durante el Undecimo Congreso Eucaristico Diocesano.

(Izquierda) Uno de los miles de Hispanos presente durante la Misa de conclusión del Congreso Eucaristico 2015, el 12 de Septiembre. (Arriba) El Padre Julio Domínguez, Párroco de la Iglesia de San Francisco en Lenoir, bendiciendo a los presentes con el Santísimo durante la sesión del Sábado del Congreso Eucarístico.

su obispo anterior, el Obispo (William) Curlin,” dijo el Cardenal Dolan. El cardenal pidió a los presentes a que rezaran por el Obispo Emérito Curlin, el cual no pudo asistir al Congreso este año por motivos de salud. El Obispo Curlin está recibiendo tratamiento por cáncer y problemas del corazón, pero todavía continúa visitando a los enfermos en los hospitales del área de Charlotte. (El Obispo Curlin dio las gracias al Cardenal Dolan después del Congreso por sus palabras y pidió que continuaran orando por él.)

La Iglesia está creciendo en el Sur (de los Estados Unidos),” agregó él. “Especialmente con tanta gente mudándose aquí de Nueva York.”

El Cardenal Dolan agregó que la procesión Eucarística es una manera de como los católicos expresan su fe intencionalmente, de una manera publica y visible. ¿Qué significa la frase “católico intencional”? pregunto el cardenal.

“Una persona que ha dicho libremente si a Jesús” “Eso es catolicismo intencional,” enfatizó él. “Y hermanos y hermanas, y yo vi eso esta mañana. Eso es catolicismo intencional en esteroides.”

“Ustedes están profesando la realidad de que Él está verdaderamente presente el Santísimo Sacramento. Y ustedes están profesando su fe en Él y en la Eucaristía reciben el sustento y fortaleza y el alimento por ser miembros de su Cuerpo, el cual llamamos Iglesia que es una, santa, católica y apostólica.” “¿Es la Sagrada Eucaristía un signo? Sí, pero no es solo un signo. ¿Es la Sagrada Eucaristía un símbolo? Sí, pero no solo un símbolo. ¿Es la Sagrada Eucaristía un sacrificio? Sí, pero no solo un sacrificio. ¿Es la Sagrada Eucaristía una comida? Sí, pero no solo una comida. Es la verdad misma,” dijo él con convicción.

Después de la Hora Santa, el Cardenal Dolan dio una conferencia de prensa, y elogió los “fenomenales” congresos Eucarísticos que se están haciendo tan populares en el Sur de los Estados Unidos.

“Tenemos que ejercitar nuestro musculo de fe.

La fe no es algo pasivo. No es algo que tomamos por hecho. Me gusta cuando el Obispo Jugis dice la palabra de un ‘catolicismo intencional.’ Si no somos intencionales en nuestra fe, entusiastas al respecto, y sinceros acerca de ella, entonces nos encogemos (espiritualmente). Y estos congresos nos brindan la oportunidad de expresar nuestra fe públicamente. Nos dan un bello sentido de solidaridad de que no estamos solos en esto.”

Después de la Hora Santa, los asistentes de habla-hispana, tuvieron la oportunidad de participar en charlas en español. El primer expositor fue el Dr. Hosffman Ospino, colombiano y profesor de la Pastoral Hispana en la Universidad de Boston College. Durante su charla titulada, “Hacia una cultura de Encuentro con Cristo a la luz de la experiencia eucarística”, Ospina recordó a los presentes que existen tres características principales para este encuentro con Dios.

Primero, el encuentro con Dios nos da vida.

Este encuentro no es una amenaza, no es un encuentro de miedo o de muerte. Dios nos da la vida y renueva nuestra existencia. Segundo, el encuentro con Dios es misericordioso. Dios conoce el interior de las personas y a pesar de nuestros pecados y faltas, Dios nos ama. Dios se acerca a nosotros de manera misericordiosa, nos abraza como padre y nos restaura. Tercero, el encuentro con Dios nos llena de alegría. Dios mueve nuestros corazones, nos hace participes de la familia del amor.

“Estas tres características se presentan en la Eucaristía”, dijo Ospina. “En la Eucaristía nos encontramos con Dios vivo, no es un símbolo, sino es real, Dios está presente en la Eucaristía y nos invita a participar de la celebración del amor”.

— Traducido al español por Rico De Silva, Catholic News Herald. Romy Machicao, corresponsal, contribuyó a este artículo.

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iiiSeptember 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com

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‘Intentional Catholicism’: Going forth with joy Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Jugis praise local Catholics’ devotion to the Eucharist Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — “You need to be ready to continue your work of bringing Christ to others, of evangelizing this culture.”

In his homily for the closing Mass of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 11th Eucharistic Congress, Bishop Peter Jugis entreated more than 14,000 people in the Charlotte Convention Center – the largest crowd ever recorded at the annual event – that their faith in the Eucharist can sustain them in what he called these “challenging” times.

“There is so much division and conflict,” Bishop Jugis said. “The society in which we live is broken by sin, and we experience this brokenness every day. And yet the Lord is depending on us to bring His message to this culture. How do we do this?”

Catholics must proclaim the Gospel with joy, and to do that they must be nourished with the Eucharist, he said. Jesus, he reminded everyone, “is always with us in the Eucharist.”

“Your reverence and devotion for the Blessed Sacrament shows how deep your faith is in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist,” he told the thousands of Catholics from across the Charlotte diocese’s 92 parishes and missions who were attending the closing Mass after two days of Eucharistic Adoration, a Eucharistic procession through uptown Charlotte, concerts and educational talks.

“We have come to the high point of the Eucharistic Congress,” he noted, “the celebration of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. All of the events of the Congress lead up to this point.”

He then asked, “What spiritual blessings are you taking with you from this Eucharistic Congress? Are you going forth with a joyful heart?”

Catholics must go forth with “renewed hearts,”

More online

a stronger understanding of At www.catholicnewsherald. their faith, and com: See lots of photo galleries, deeper gratitude read more about Cardinal to the Lord for Timothy Dolan’s Holy Hour the blessings they homily, and check out what receive, he said.

Cardinal Dolan thinks about With that renewed Pope Francis strength, joy and faith, Catholics can At goeucharist.tumblr.com: confidently evangelize Relive the 2015 Eucharistic the culture, he Congress or see what you emphasized. missed in our live blog Earlier in the day, On the Diocese of Charlotte’s a standing-room YouTube channel: Watch only crowd greeted live video of the Eucharistic New York Cardinal Procession and highlights from Timothy Dolan in the the closing Mass convention center where he delivered a homily for a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration. The keynote address capped a Eucharistic procession which included Cardinal Dolan, Bishop Jugis, clergy, religious and more than 9,000 people of the diocese through the streets of uptown Charlotte that lasted more than an hour and a half.

The Eucharistic procession Saturday morning from St. Peter Church to the convention center coincided with a Sept. 11 memorial event on Tryon Street that drew hundreds of people, creating a festive display of parish banners mixed with American flags.

In his homily for the Holy Hour, Cardinal Dolan spoke of the Eucharist as a sacrifice, a meal and as the real presence of Jesus Christ. He peppered his remarks with jokes and anecdotes in his usual effusive style, garnering repeated applause and laughter from the enthusiastic crowd.

First, he thanked the Charlotte diocese for inviting him to the Congress, and he received warm applause in return.

“I came because of my particular affection and esteem for your good bishop, Bishop Peter Jugis, and affection for your former bishop, Bishop (William) Curlin,” Cardinal Dolan said.

He asked for prayers for Bishop Emeritus Curlin, who was unable to attend this year’s Congress because of ill health.

He is undergoing regular chemotherapy and treatment for a heart condition, but continues ministering to the sick in Charlotte area hospitals.

(After the Congress, Bishop Curlin thanked Cardinal Dolan for his words and asked for continued prayers.)

Photos

Bishop Peter Jugis, followed by New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, carried the Blessed Sacrame uptown Charlotte Sept. 12 at the start of the 11th annual Eucharistic Congress. The two-day di record crowd of 9,000 for the Eucharistic procession.

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With a smile, Cardinal Dolan also described the Eucharistic procession he had just participated in next to Bishop Jugis as “quite a workout.” Then, he added more seriously, “We see this tremendous upsurge in devotion and public expression of our deep faith in the real presence of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.”

“The Church is growing” in the South, he also noted, especially as so many people from New York are moving here.

“You see how many people are here from New York?” he said, gesturing widely as the New Yorkers who were present clapped. “So I hope the rest of you have locked your cars.”

He continued, the Eucharistic procession is one way Catholics intentionally express their faith, in a visible and public way.

What does the phrase “intentional Catholic” mean? the cardinal asked. “One who has freely said yes to Jesus.”

“That’s intentional Catholicism,” he emphasized.

“And, my brothers and sisters, I saw that this morning.

That’s intentional Catholicism on steroids.”

“You are professing the fact that He is really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. And you are professing that your faith in Him and in the Eucharist is sustained and fortified and nourished by membership in His Body, which we call the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”

“Is the Holy Eucharist a sign? Yes, but not just a sign. Is the Holy Eucharist a symbol? Yes, but not just a symbol. Is the Holy Eucharist a sacrifice? Yes, but not only a sacrifice. Is the Holy Eucharist a meal? Yes, but not just a meal. It’s the real thing,” he said with a flourish.

That is why we sing with praise and thanksgiving, he quoted from the familiar hymn as the audience chimed in: “O sacrament most holy, o sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.”

In a press conference following his Holy Hour talk, Cardinal Dolan praised the “phenomenal” Eucharistic congresses becoming so popular throughout the South.

“What we have to do is exercise our faith muscle.

Faith is not passive. It’s not something we take for granted. I like Bishop Jugis’ word when he says (to) speak about an ‘intentional Catholicism.’ If we’re not intentional about it, enthusiastic about, sincere about it, we’re going to shrivel up. And these Congresses give us a chance to publicly express our faith. They give us a beautiful sense of solidarity, that we’re not in this ourselves.”

Congress attendees echoed Cardinal Dolan’s sentiments.

Consuelo Adams wrote on the Catholic News Herald’s Facebook page, “One powerful message … about Jesus’ teaching that He is the Way and the Truth and the Life becomes real for us in an amazing way in the Eucharist.”

“I think it’s wonderful to see the Church in motion,” added Sister Margaret with the Daughters of St. Paul, which was among nearly 100 Catholic vendors and exhibitors at this year’s Congress. “It’s just beautiful.

You see the future.”

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ent in procession with clergy and laity through the streets of iocesan event attracted more than 14,000 people overall, and a

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(Clockwise, from top left) Invited by Bishop Jugis, this year’s First Communicants including Lauralee Nunn help lead the Eucharistic procession at the 2015 Congress.

Father Deacon Matthew Hanes of St. Basil Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission in Charlotte, chants during Vespers at the start of the Congress Sept. 11. More than 80 vendors offered lots of Catholic merchandise for sale, including Pope Francis bobble head dolls. Bishop Jugis is happily mobbed by children in the Grade K-5 program at the Congress. People sang and prayed the rosary during the Eucharistic procession, which included Catholics from all 92 parishes and missions throughout the diocese.

Ryan Ma, a member of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, participates in the Eucharistic procession. Mary Jane Okafor, a parishioner of St. Mary Church in Greensboro, joins the Eucharistic procession.

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(Above) Parishioners from St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte take part in the Eucharistic procession Sept.

12. (Left) Cardinal Timothy Dolan made time to greet people after delivering the homily for the Holy Hour at the Eucharistic Congress Sept. 12.

Richard and Margaret Kennedy and their family bring up the offertory gifts to Bishop Peter Jugis during the closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress.

(Far left) “Selfies” with Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis were a hit during this year’s Congress.

(Left) Deacons from throughout the diocese participate in the Eucharistic procession through Charlotte.

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Hall A of the Charlotte Convention Center was filled to capacity – more than 13,000 people – for the closing Mass Sept. 12 celebrated by Bishop Jugis.

A Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer kneels before the Blessed Sacrament during overnight Eucharistic Adoration at St. Peter Church Sept. 11-12.

Bishop Jugis (center), Father Santiago Mariani (right) and Deacon Casey Coleman (left) kneel in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the start of a Holy Hour for the Congress Sept. 12.

This year’s Congress offered something for everyone: talks by such noted Catholic speakers as Cardinal Dolan, Teresa Tomeo, Father Tad Pacholczyk and Dr. Hosffman Ospino; confessions in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean; educational programs for children, teens and adults; and Eucharistic Adoration.

Our schools 16

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

In Brief

CCHS announces five National Merit Scholarship semifinalists CHARLOTTE — Five Charlotte Catholic High School seniors – AnneMarie Bryson, Caroline Anderson, Pennington Conrad, Jacob Winters and Colin Schilly (pictured above with Principal Kurt Telford) – have been selected as semifinalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Competition based on last year’s PSAT scores.

The students are among about 16,000 of this year’s National Merit Scholarship semifinalists nationwide. The 2015-’16 academic year marks the 61st year of the prestigious National Merit program, which honors academically talented high school seniors. About 15,000 of the semifinalists are expected to advance to the finals, and about half of those will be named National Merit Scholars eligible for scholarship awards.

Nearly 1.5 million high school juniors from more than 22,000 high schools nationwide entered this year’s contest by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The pool of semifinalists comprises less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest scoring entrants in each state.

The 2015-’16 Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between April and July 2016. They will join more than 315,000 other distinguished students who have earned the National Merit Scholar title.

Photo provided by Nanine Hartzenbusch Fox

Charlotte Catholic High School students commemorate 9-11 with flag display CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School students placed a display of flags at the entrance to Charlotte Catholic High School Sept. 10 honoring almost 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Shenksville, Pa. This is the second year that students have placed a display of flags honoring victims of the tragic events. The tradition was started last year by the student group, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, led by CCHS Athletic Director Kevin Christmas, and repeated on the eve of the anniversary of 9-11.

— Nanine Hartzenbusch Fox

CCHS debate team members compete CHARLOTTE — Eight members of the Charlotte Catholic High School Debate and Speech Team team were selected by Head Coach Mary A. Morales to compete in the Forensics Early Bird at Wake Forest University Tournament Sept. 11-13.

The national competition was tough, with students coming from 105 schools across 23 states. The CCHS team took home three awards: Uwa Akhere, thirdplace finalist, Dramatic Interpretation; Ryan Kennedy, sixth-place finalist, Student Congress Debate; and Darlene Singui-Tanyi, 11th-place semi-finalist, Dramatic Interpretation.

— Mary A. Morales

OLG seventh-grader wins national song contest GREENSBORO — Jessica Taylor, a seventh-grade student at Our Lady of Grace School, was awarded first place in the music category in the 2015 National Education Contest, sponsored by the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Taylor was selected as the top entrant in Division 2 for her original song, “Highlight of their Life.” Her prizes include a ribbon, check and engraved plaque. She is pictured above with her parents, Andrew and Julie Taylor of Jamestown, and OLG’s Principal Amy Pagano.

Remembering 9-11 in Salisbury SALISBURY — Sacred Heart School’s middle school yearbook team (pictured above) helped the school prepare for the remembrance of 9-11. Pictured from left are: Theresa Holland, William Chaney, Brody Dillon, Juan Salazar and John Harrison. Pictured at left are other students at Sacred Heart School who also took part in commemorating 9-11.

— Lori Eanes PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ROBIN FISHER

Mix

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

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whole, moreover, its evangelical viewpoint on prayer and the promise of eternal life is mostly consonant with Catholic doctrine. Disturbing images, some mature themes.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: PG-13

‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’

‘90 Minutes in Heaven’ Writer-director Michael Polish’s adaptation of the 2004 bestseller by Don Piper (Hayden Christensen) tells the true story of the Baptist minister’s near-death experience following a devastating car crash. After a brief vision of heaven, he endures a torturous recovery marked by unbearable pain. Yet the emotional toll for his family, in particular his wife (Kate Bosworth), is even greater. Though the film’s celestial journey is overshadowed by its medical narrative, it remains an inspiring tale about faith, hope and persistence. Considered as a

Based on the second novel in James Dashner’s sci-fi trilogy, this ponderous sequel to 2014’s “The Maze Runner” follows the further exploits of a band of intrepid teens (led by Dylan O’Brien) navigating a dystopian world. The challenges they face include the machinations of evil adults (typified by Patricia Clarkson) and the consequences of a solar flare that has devastated the Earth and infected vast numbers with a virus that transforms its victims into flesh-eating zombies. It features some purely incidental Christian symbolism.

But the mayhem quotient is high while the rewards of this wearying slog through a dusty, terror-ridden future are questionable at best.

Relentless, often intense violence, gory images, some profane and crude language.

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

Other movies n ‘Captive’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘The Perfect Guy’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘The Transporter Refueled’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘The Visit’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

Have You Had A Financial Check Up Lately?

For the past 18 years it has been my pleasure to help the employees of the Diocese of Charlotte plan for a secure retirement.

I would be happy to do the same for you!

Retirement planning – Life – LTC – Auto & Home Insurance 704-839-3755 kaltman1@metlife.com www.kenaltman.metlife.com Member: National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) St. Mark Catholic Church – Huntersville

On TV n Sunday, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m. (EWTN) “Hound of Heaven.” A visual presentation of Francis Thompson’s famous poem. With actress Rosalind Russell. n Sunday, Sept. 27, 12:15 p.m. (EWTN) “Voice of the Pastor.” EWTN’s exclusive interview with Cardinal-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, now Pope Francis. n Sunday, Sept. 27, 3 p.m. (EWTN) “November Song.” After witnessing an old woman pray by a gravestone, a young girl is challenged of her careless ignorance of faith, life and death. n Sunday, Sept. 27, 3:15 p.m. (EWTN) “Pope Francis in America: Motorcade.” Live coverage of the Holy Father’s motorcade. n Sunday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “Pope Francis in America: Holy Mass concluding the World Meeting of Families.” Pope Francis presides over the concluding Mass for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, Pa. n Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Monks of Moyross.” The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal witness to the residents of Moyross, Ireland, a poverty stricken and crime-ridden housing project in Limerick.

n Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Monastic Voice.” A look at the Benedictine monks at Pluscarden Abbey. Abandoned after the Reformation but revived in the 1940s, it is the oldest monastery of men in use in the United Kingdom. n Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Saint Francis and Brother Bernard.” A close look at the life and spirituality of St. Francis’ first follower Brother Bernard and their way of life.

Filmed on location in Assisi, Italy. n Friday, Oct. 2, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Lives of the Saints: St. Francis of Assisi.” A docudrama on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced everything for God. n Saturday, Oct. 3, 8 p.m. (EWTN)” Thérèse.”

The mesmerizing story of a young girl’s romance with God. Her faith and sacrifices reveal a way of life based on love and simplicity.

A contemplative film based on the true story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the most popular saint of modern times.

L0213304211(exp1215) NC

Ken Altman

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Junipero Serra described as missionary ‘on fire’ heeding Christ’s call

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Pope Francis Emergency Care Center dedicated at Washington hospital WASHINGTON — In preparation for Pope Francis’ historic Sept. 22-24 visit to Washington, Providence Health System has dedicated and named its hospital’s emergency care center in honor of the pontiff. Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, in blessing the Pope Francis Emergency Care Center Sept. 18, noted that it was fitting to name the emergency facility after the pope because “Pope Francis reminds us to be present, especially to those in need. Just as Pope Francis sees the inherent dignity in every person, Providence is here to serve those same individuals,” the cardinal said.

The emergency care center is at the Providence Health System’s hospital in northeast Washington. The 408-bed hospital was founded in 1861 by the Daughters of Charity and is a part of Ascension, this country’s largest nonprofit health system.

Pope ‘a powerful catalyst’ to spur action to cut poverty WASHINGTON — Pope Francis “serves as a powerful catalyst” for the change American society needs in its regard and treatment of the poor and vulnerable, said Dominican Sister Donna Markham, the head of Catholic Charities USA and the first woman to lead the organization. At a news conference at the National Press Club Sept. 17, less than one week before the pope was scheduled to arrive in the United States, Sister Donna said Pope Francis will visit “what he calls field hospitals” – sites in Washington and New York City that look after the poor and marginalized in society.

Sister Donna’s remarks came one day after the Census Bureau issued its annual assessment of U.S. poverty. The number of U.S. poor for 2014, according to the Census Bureau, is 46.7 million, up from the previous year’s figure of 45 million – which Catholic Charities used for its “#End45” anti-poverty campaign. The 2014 number includes 15.5 million children.

— Catholic News Service

Nancy Wiechec Catholic News Service

CNS photo/Joshua Roberts

U.S. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Pope Francis wave from the south portico of the White House in Washington Sept. 23.

Pope, ‘son of immigrant family,’ tells Obama he’s ready to learn in U.S. Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis introduced himself to President Barack Obama and all people of the United States as a “son of an immigrant family” arriving in the United States for the first time to learn from others and to share from his own experience.

In a country the pope said he knows was “largely built” by immigrant families, he made his debut speech to Americans Sept.

23 on the South Lawn of the White House with some 20,000 people in attendance.

Obama told him, “Our backyard is not typically this crowded,” but the attendance on a bright, sunny morning was a reflection of the devotion of U.S. Catholics “and the way your message of love and hope has inspired so many people, across

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our nation and around the world.”

While obviously honored by the welcome, Pope Francis was clear in issuing several challenges, including by publicly voicing his support for the U.S. bishops’ defense of religious freedom. The bishops have objected to the Obama Administration’s efforts to force almost all employers, including many Catholic institutions, to fund contraception coverage in health insurance policies.

“Mr. President,” the pope told him, American Catholics want “a society which is truly tolerant and inclusive,” one that safeguards individual rights and rejects “every form of unjust discrimination,” but also respects the deeply held religious beliefs of citizens and the moral and ethical obligations that flow from them.

Obama, in his remarks, spoke about religious freedom as well, but referred only to the defense of Christians being persecuted and even killed for their beliefs around the world.

The pope arrived in the United States from Cuba, and both he and the president spoke about efforts to normalize relations between the two countries after more than five decades of tension and estrangement.

“The efforts which were recently made to mend broken relationships and to open new doors to cooperation within our human family represent positive steps along the path of reconciliation, justice and freedom,” Pope Francis told the president.

Although Pope Francis consistently has downplayed his role in encouraging and supporting Obama and Raul Castro’s talks, the president told him, “Holy Father, we are grateful for your invaluable support of our new beginning with the Cuban people, which holds out the promise of better relations between our countries, greater cooperation across our hemisphere and a better life for the Cuban people.”

SAN FRANCISCO — To Andrew Galvan, Junipero Serra is a stalwart of faith and mission worthy of the title “saint.”

“He was all wood and nails. He was a tough dude. He fought, he defended, he wrangled, he was frustrated and he was frustrating,” Galvan said of the 18thcentury Franciscan who founded nine California missions.

Pope Francis canonized Serra Sept. 23 during Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. Serra was the first American saint to be canonized on American soil, and as the first pope from the Americas, Pope Francis’ actions were seen as particularly significant.

Galvan, the curator of Dolores Mission in San Francisco, the sixth-oldest of California’s 21 historical missions, carried a reliquary containing a first-class relic of Serra to a prominent place next to the altar during the Mass.

Galvan said Serra was “on fire” to heed Christ’s call to witness, like Jesus’s apostles and St. Francis of Assisi.

“His goal in life, from the time he was a novice ... was to be a missionary to Indians in the Americas, to bring the Gospel message where it had never gone before.”

Galvan said the friar, beatified in 1988

by St. John Paul II, never veered from that objective and went about it tirelessly, foregoing any convenience for himself.

According to his biographers, he slept little, traveled thousands of miles by foot, quietly endured injury and pain, ate modestly and spent long hours in prayer.

When Serra thought he was failing in his efforts to evangelize, he blamed such defeat on his own sins.

Miquel Joseph Serra took the Franciscan habit at age 17. He chose the name Junipero, after a companion of St. Francis known for his holy simplicity.

He became an adept student of philosophy and theology and was inspired by the stories of saints and missionaries.

Always looking outward, the friar left a successful and comfortable life as a professor to embark on a missionary journey to America, knowing he would never return to Spain. In Mexico, he spent 17 years building up Indian missions and preaching popular missions. In fervent sermons, he called on those who had fallen from faith to return to God’s mercy.

Galvan, though, does not look back with rose-colored glasses. He is acutely aware of the toll upon the California native peoples by the missions, the colonial era and the times that followed. He called the encounter between Europeans and Indians an “unmitigated disaster.”

In an address last May, Pope Francis dismissed critics who claimed that Serra was part of a system that destroyed native cultures and that he abused Native MISSIONARY, SEE page 19

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

MISSIONARY: FROM PAGE 18

Americans at his missions. Pope Francis said Serra, like other Catholic missionaries in the Americas, “defended the indigenous peoples against abuses by the colonizers.”

Referring to the Franciscan missionary as “Fra

Junipero,” Pope Francis said Serra was motivated by a desire to share the Gospel with the indigenous peoples of the Americas.

“He was filled with joy and the Holy Spirit in spreading the word of the Lord,” the pope said. “Such zeal excites us, it challenges us!”

People study the lives and works of the missionaries, he said. They look at their strengths and, unfortunately, especially “their weaknesses and their shortcomings.”

“But I wonder if today we are able to respond with

the same generosity and courage to the call of God, who invites us to leave everything in order to worship Him, to follow Him, to rediscover Him in the face of the poor, to proclaim Him to those who have not known Christ and, therefore, have not experienced the embrace of His mercy,” the pope said.

The witness of Serra, he said, is a call for all Catholics to get personally involved in missionary activity across the Americas, motivated by “the joy of the Gospel.”

Mercy Sisters have St. Junipero Serra connection Junipero Serra, BELMONT — When who died in 1784, eight Sisters of Mercy left was canonized by Kinsale, Ireland, in 1854 and Pope Francis Sept. set out for San Francisco 23 at the Basilica of via their monastery in the National Shrine Belmont, they did not know of the Immaculate that they would someday be Conception in connected to a future saint.

Washington, D.C. Their leader, Mother This was the first Mary Baptist Russell, canonization on U.S. led the pioneering group soil. into health care and they Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald The tiles from the nursed the citizens of This is one of 12 terra-cotta roof tiles in the Sisters of Mercy’s collection in Belmont, acquired California missions San Francisco through a from one of Franciscan Friar Junipero Serra’s mission churches in California. are now housed at the cholera epidemic the next Mercy Heritage Center year. They also ministered in Belmont where the to young women and central archives for the Sisters of Mercy after his death so that their history would the elderly as well as worked in prison congregation are located. not be lost to the future. ministry and education.

For information about the Mercy When she returned to Belmont, Mother During her travels around California Heritage Center, go to www.sistersofmercy.

Mary Baptist asked the Sisters to paint in the early 1890s, Mother Mary Baptist org/about-us/mercy-heritage-center images of the specific mission church of visited the nine mission churches set up or email the Heritage Center staff at origin on each tile. She died in 1898. A full

by Franciscan Friar Junipero Serra Ferrer ejohnson@sistersofmercy.org. set of tiles collected by the Mercy Sisters in the 1700s. At each mission she collected — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter was lost when the earthquake of 1906 hit a terra-cotta roof tile. She also had tiles San Francisco. collected from many other missions set up

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Serve people, not ideology, pope tells Cubans at Havana Mass Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

CNS | Paul Haring

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to celebrate Mass in Revolution Square in Havana Sept. 20.

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HAVANA — As Cubans finally face the prospects of calmer relationships and greater ease of communication and commerce with the United States, Pope Francis told the Cuban people that love and service, not anyone’s ideology, are the keys to their happiness.

“We do not serve ideas, we serve people,” the pope told hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Havana’s Revolution Square for Mass Sept. 20.

For decades the square has been the site of major communist government rallies and is dominated by a huge image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara, an Argentine Marxist who became a leader in the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s.

The image of Che was prominent at the pope’s Mass, but so was a banner proclaiming Pope Francis a “missionary of mercy” and an even bigger image of the merciful Jesus.

After decades of communism, Mass attendance in Cuba is low; even the Vatican reports that only 60 percent of the population is baptized Pope Francis Catholic. But as a sign of the pope’s hopes for the growth of the Church in Cuba, he granted an exception to his normal practice of personally giving Communion only to the altar servers and other ministers at his public Masses. Five Cuban children received their first Holy Communion from the pope at the Mass.

In his homily, Pope Francis focused on an aspect of Jesus’ ministry that he tries to imitate: First of all, identify the good in a person, then help or challenge him or her to build on that good instinct or behavior.

Using the normal Sunday Mass readings, the pope’s homily was a reflection on the Gospel passage from St. Mark in which the disciples are arguing about who among them is the greatest, and Jesus asks what they were discussing.

“We, too, can be caught up in these same arguments: Who is the most important?” the pope said.

“I remember more than once, at family gatherings, children being asked: ‘Who do you love more, Mommy or Daddy?’” he said. “It’s like asking them: ‘Who is the most important for you?’”

In the lives of individuals and nations, he said, the question of who is most important can take on historic importance because it motivates action and choices. “The history of humanity has been marked by the answer we give to this question,” he said.

“Jesus is not afraid of people’s questions;

He is not afraid of our humanity or the different things we are looking for,” Pope Francis told the crowd, which had filled the square before the sun came up. “He knows the ‘twists and turns’ of the human heart, and, as a good teacher, He is always ready to encourage and support us.”

Jesus takes “our searching, our aspirations, and He gives them a new horizon” and challenges people, he said.

Jesus sets aside the “right answers” and replaces them with the standard of love as the measure of all.

Love, he said, is lived in a concrete commitment to caring for others – especially the most vulnerable. It does not see superiority, or the best jobs with the best benefits and it is not about helping just “my people” or “our people,” he said. Such an attitude always leads to judging and excluding some people as outsiders.

“Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it,” he said.

Pope Francis said he knows the Cuban people and the Catholic Church in Cuba have suffered. Yet, he said, they still know how to celebrate, to praise God and to serve others.

The greatness of a people and a nation, he said, is how it serves the vulnerable.

Cardinal Jaime Ortega Alamino of Havana addressed the pope at the end of the Mass “in the name of the Cuban people – the Catholics and many other believers, as well as nonbelievers. Thank you for coming to visit our land, our beloved Cuba; thank you for sowing with your pontificate, good and necessary questions in our consciences, which had been sleeping and accustomed to mediocrity.”

He particularly thanked the pope “for promoting the process of renewing relations between Cuba and the United States, which will bring such benefit to our people.”

Normal, friendly and cooperative relations, the cardinal said, should reach not just the highest political levels in both countries, but also promote reconciliation between people in Cuba and Cubans who emigrated.

“Only love and forgiveness among us will be a valid means for a true and peaceful renewal of our Cuban nation,” the cardinal said.

‘Being a Christian entails promoting the dignity of our brothers and sisters, fighting for it, living for it.’

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more and see more photos and videos from Pope Francis’ visit to Cuba earlier this week

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

for Migrants and Travelers. “It is troubling to see the increasing number of young girls and women forced to earn a living on the street by selling their own bodies, victims of exploitation by criminal organizations and at times by parents and family members,” he said.

Vatican greets first refugee family

Pope appoints 18 couples to attend Synod of Bishops on family VATICAN CITY — More than 360 participants, including 18 married couples from around the world, were expected to attend October’s Synod of Bishops on the family. In addition to the 166 synod members elected by their national bishops’ conferences, 22 heads of Eastern Catholic churches, 25 heads of Vatican congregations and councils and 10 heads of men’s religious orders, the pope appointed an additional 45 synod fathers to the Oct. 4-25 gathering.

The ordinary synod will include many more people than last year’s extraordinary synod. The pope also named 45 voting members of the synod – up from 26 last year – and he appointed 51 observers and 23 experts, including a total of 18 married couples. At the extraordinary synod, there were 38 observers and 16 experts, which included a total of 14 couples.

Pope: It’s disgraceful people forced onto streets, exploited VATICAN CITY — It’s a disgrace that children live on the streets and young girls and women are forced into prostitution, especially in societies that claim to be highly developed and cultured, Pope Francis said. “Every child abandoned or forced to live on the streets, at the mercy of criminal organizations, is a cry rising up to God,” he said. It is a cry of accusation “against a social system that we have criticized for decades but that we struggle to change,” he said Sept. 17 to participants of an international symposium on the pastoral care of people on the street sponsored by the Pontifical Council

VATICAN CITY — Embracing Pope Francis’ request to sponsor a refugee family, the Vatican’s St. Anne Parish has welcomed a family of four from Damascus, Syria. In an appeal Sept. 6, the pope called on every parish, religious community, monastery and shrine in Europe to take in a family of refugees, given the ongoing migration crisis.

The papal Almoner’s Office, which responds to individual requests for assistance and helps coordinate Pope Francis’ direct requests for assisting the homeless in Rome, said the family – a mother, father and two children who belong to the Melkite Catholic Church – has been offered a Vatican apartment near St. Peter’s Square, as requested by the pope.

Pope: Plunder, waste mean rich nations have ‘ecological debt’ VATICAN CITY — Wealthier nations have an “ecological debt” they must pay back to poorer countries by ending food waste, cutting back on nonrenewable energy consumption and investing in sustainable development, Pope Francis said. “The environment is a collective good” that everyone has the duty to protect – a duty that “demands an effective collaboration within the entire international community,” he told a group of environment ministers from European Union countries Sept. 16. When it comes to formulating environmental policy and goals, leaders must take into account justice, solidarity and participation, he said. Greater justice means addressing “ecological debt,” that is, the debt richer countries owe poorer countries because of the huge trade imbalances and “disproportionate use” of natural resources wealthier countries have created.

— Catholic News Service

REFUGEES: FROM PAGE 3

The tens of thousands of would-be Syrian refugees who have flooded European countries this summer have prompted U.S. and international Catholic agencies to respond with both on-the-ground support and longer-term preparations to host them in the United States.

The U.S. Catholic Church “stands ready to help” in efforts to assist refugees fleeing war-torn countries in the Middle East, said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Sept. 10.

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., also stated that Catholics in the U.S. and “all people of good will should express openness and welcome to refugees fleeing Syria and elsewhere in order to survive.”

Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, and its affiliates such as Caritas Internationalis are providing aid to refugees in the Middle East and Europe including food, water, sanitation, medical care and legal services.

At points where refugees are in transit or are awaiting next steps, CRS offers “essential living supplies” that include sleeping bags and mats, hygiene materials, food and water.

Domestically, the U.S. bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services has been fielding offers from parishes that are willing to take up Pope Francis on his call for parishes,

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religious houses and colleges to welcome refugees.

Locally, parishes can assist Catholic Charities by adopting refugee families, similar to what’s been recently done by St. Gabriel Parish, St. John Neumann Parish and Christ the King High School, Ponce noted.

Refugee Council USA, a coalition of religious and other nonprofit entities that work with refugees, in a Sept.

9 letter to President Barack Obama pleaded for the U.S. to increase its annual ceiling for refugee admissions to 200,000, with half of those slots going to Syrians.

The letter said “the vast majority of European countries have the capacity to welcome and provide protection for the refugees who are now risking their lives to find safety in Europe. However, the United States must show solidarity with its close allies in Europe and resettle a small number of refugees from Europe.”

The letter acknowledged U.S. support to date – $4 billion in funding for the humanitarian crisis – but noted that only 37 percent of the United Nations’ appeal for the crisis has been funded and encouraged the U.S. to donate more and to urge greater contribution from other countries.

“It is abundantly clear that the Syrian crisis is nowhere close to ending, and even when it does, the needs of those displaced by the crisis will take years, if not generations, to resolve,” the letter said.

— Catholic News Service contributed.

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Featured Speaker ~ Austin Ruse

Since 1997, Austin Ruse has taken the defense of life and family into the international arena through his work as president of C-Fam, Center for Family & Human Rights.

Dedicated to reestablishing a proper understanding of international law, protecting national sovereignty, and the dignity of the human person, Mr. Ruse and his staff regularly meet with diplomats, policymakers, academics, activists, and office holders from around the world and have participated in every major UN social policy debate since the organization’s founding.

In addition to his work with C-Fam, Mr. Ruse is a well-known speaker, and contributor to publications such as Crisis Magazine, Legatus Magazine, the Washington Times, and National Review Online. As an ardent defender of life, Mr. Ruse stated, “the abortion culture tells young women they are free to make their own choice and what they find is they are almost totally alone. The institutions that used to protect them in their time of need — family, church, school, friends — are often those that have deserted them. Up steps MiraVia, dedicated to serving these young women in their hour of greatest need. It is heroic work that receives little attention but deserves great adulation and our full support”.

Charlotte Convention Center  Crown Ballroom Thursday, October 22, 2015 Registration/Reception, 5:30 pm – Seating for Dinner, 6:15 pm

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by October 10, 2015 MiraVia, Inc. is a Catholic non-profit maternity and after-care program serving women and their children in the Charlotte, N.C. region. All material support and services are offered free of charge to clients. Please visit our website, www.mira-via.org, for more information.

ViewPoints 22

catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Sister Mary Raphael

The beauty of family O

ver many Easter holidays, I have had the great joy of being reunited with my family out of town. With five kids grown and out of the house and five still at home, it’s amazing how beautiful and precious little things like Legos scattered around the house or tennis shoes lying in the hallway can become when they belong to younger brothers and sisters.

As the oldest I certainly used to help divvy out the candy stash. Now on these visits I go into the pantry to get some sweets, just to find that little “mice” have discovered it first and neatly put the container back in its place – empty. I can only shake my head and grin.

At night I easily give into the temptation to extend bedtime by fooling around with the younger boys or sit up talking with the older kids – to the point where Mom comes in to see where all the laughter and noise is coming from. After proven guilty, I sleepily, but happily go to my own bed, thankful for such joys in life.

Maybe because I am now an adult or perhaps because I don’t get to see my family very often due to distance, I have grown to appreciate the beauties of family life even more than I did before. I love to watch families, to observe the love and sacrifice that mothers and fathers pour into their marriage and into the lives of their children. It inspires me and warms my heart.

Even the frustrations and challenges within family life encourage me and bolster my patience with life in general. If family members can pull together in spite of each others’ quirks, faults and even major mistakes, isn’t that a cause for hope?

My parents’ sacrifices and generosity have been the impetus behind my own desire to give myself wholeheartedly to God’s will. There are often times when selfishness, fear or fatigue weigh me down and tempt me to give up, give in and bow out. However, then I look at Mom and Dad; raising 10 children they daily found themselves climbing Calvary, embracing the Cross and dying to self. No one is perfect and, of course, they made mistakes as everyone does, but they persevered. With their witness before me, I bring my “pity party” to a quick close and find the inspiration to try again.

That is the way it should be. Within the home, children learn sacrifice. Yes, it hurts and there are many sacrifices to make in communal living. However, just as Good Friday eventually rolled into Holy Saturday which turned into Easter Sunday, the joys of a family’s sacrificial love are abundant and fruitful!

Our beloved St. John Paul II canonized many lay men and women so that families in the world could find inspiration and encouragement to pursue heroic virtue and holiness of life. One of these, whose feast we celebrate on April 28 and who with St. John Paul II is co-patron of this month’s World Meeting of Families, was St. Gianna Molla, a wife, mother and physician. She chose to sacrifice her own life in a serious medical situation instead of aborting her unborn baby. Her mother’s heart and love nurtured that child with every ounce of her being and ultimately with her very life.

However, she was not alone in that difficult decision. No, she and her husband Pietro discussed this together, doubtless shedding many tears over the heavy cross that had been presented before them and laid upon their shoulders.

Together they chose to turn their marriage over to God in a radical way, thus giving their children and the world a heroic example of Christian family life.

Their daughter Gianna Emanuela was born on Holy Saturday, 1962. One week later the brave mother died, leaving Pietro a widower and father of four young children.

Gianna had offered her life in a heroic and selfless way for her daughter.

Pietro completed the sacrifice by experiencing the loneliness of his loss for 48 years and by lovingly and selflessly raising and nurturing his children.

The Molla family is one concrete and contemporary example of how the family is called to reflect the love of the Trinity and the sacrificial love of Christ for His Bride, the Church. However, Gianna and Pietro’s decision was not an isolated judgment made during that final pregnancy. Instead, it was a choice they could make because they had built their marriage and family life on the firm foundation of their Catholic faith.

St. Gianna once wrote in a letter to her husband, “With God’s help and blessing, we will do all we can to make our new family a little cenacle where Jesus will reign over all our affections, desires, and actions… We will be working with God in His creation; in this way, we can give Him children who will love and serve Him.” Every family is unique in how they feel called to raise their children, but every single family must keep the faith at the heart of their home.

Sister Mary Raphael, DVM, is a member of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, a community dedicated to serving the spiritual and practical needs of the priesthood and of seminarians in the Diocese of Charlotte.

Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit

I

t has been a rough few months for the Church. We are told that disagreeing with the dominant culture by affirming age-old truths is discriminatory and bigoted. Are this summer’s legal decisions harbingers of dark days ahead for those committed to expressing their religious convictions in their daily lives?

Yes, storm clouds seem to be gathering on the horizon – but there are still reasons for hope. This week, thousands are gathered in Philadelphia to celebrate traditional marriage and family. Pope Francis is also among us. At year’s end, we begin celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy.

The following words of St. Augustine come to mind: “Bad times, hard times – this is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and times shall be good. We are the times: Such as we are, such are the times.”

How are we to live well in these tough times?

Our foundress, St. Jeanne Jugan, can help answer this question. Like us, Jeanne Jugan lived in harsh times for the Church. Born at the height of the French Revolution, our future saint faced challenges on many levels.

She was catechized clandestinely by a group of consecrated laywomen euphemistically known as “trotting sisters.”

Jeanne’s father, a fisherman, was lost at sea when she was 4, leaving her mother alone to provide for her young family. Life was austere, but neighbor helped neighbor and Jeanne learned firsthand about the corporal works of mercy. A woman of few words, she would let these works of mercy define her life.

After opening her heart and her home to an elderly woman in need, Jeanne quickly gained a reputation as someone who would never turn a needy person away. Many of her early residents had led unfortunate lives; some were quite unsavory characters. Nevertheless, Jeanne saw Christ in each of them and treated them with such love and respect that they were transformed – so much so that the townspeople no longer recognized them!

A visitor from England, later identified as Charles Dickens, wrote the following after witnessing Jeanne in action: “There is

Live well and times will be good something so calm, so holy about this woman that, seeing her, I felt as though I were in the presence of a higher being, and her words went so much to my heart that my eyes – I do not know why – filled with tears.”

I think that St. Jeanne Jugan would have agreed with St. Francis of Assisi’s famous counsel, “Preach the Gospel at all times; when necessary use words.” And I think this is the advice she would give us today: “Respect others, no matter how they treat you …

Show everyone, especially the poor, the same kindness and compassion you would show Christ Himself … Lead others to the Truth not through the eloquence of your words, but through the beauty of your example … Let the charity of Christ work through you – for only Love can melt hardened hearts and bring them back to God.” St. Jeanne Jugan would likely give us one more piece of advice on how to live well in tough times. If she were with us today, I think she would beg us not to give in to discouragement. She often told the young Little Sisters that they were grafted into the cross and must carry it joyfully unto death … not mournfully or grudgingly, but joyfully!

As Catholics living in what has been called a “dictatorship of relativism,” we have been given a heavy cross. But this cross is not insurmountable, for nothing is impossible with God. We follow a God who assured us that the first shall be last, that strength is found in weakness, that those who are persecuted will be blessed and that the meek will inherit the earth!

We believe that St. Jeanne Jugan is still living among us, obtaining for us the graces we need to continue her charism. I am confident that she is standing with the Church as we strive to stand up for religious liberty and Christian values, repeating something she often said to her young community: “If God is with us, it will be accomplished.”

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

September 25, 2015 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Parish spotlight Join the prayer for life in High Point

Deacon James H. Toner

Falling skies?

What we think is the right road

W

e need to “chill out.” Just relax! The Supreme Court decision legalizing homosexual marriage hasn’t made the sky fall, has it? The moral doomsayers were wrong, weren’t they? The republic still stands, and no bolts of lightning have struck any high-ranking political or judicial figure. Just stay cool – and be tolerant!

But it’s the wrong road

Daniel Patrick Moynihan was a scholar and senator. In 1993, he wrote an article called “Defining Deviancy Down” in which he discussed growing public tolerance of and permissiveness toward what formerly had been intolerable behavior. Consider, for example, “public language.” Things are said now in public – with contemptible language – which would never have been heard in the locker rooms of the 1950s. Movies and television offer “entertainment” which is hard to distinguish from a sewer. Social codes have changed, for the worse. And this is not even to mention appalling problems with regard to drugs, sexual ethics and rampant violence.

Recent polls indicate that the American public is much more inclined to accept conduct on a number of moral issues which, we would have rejected as immoral not long ago. As one source put it: “On a list of 19 major moral issues of the day, Americans express levels of moral acceptance that are as high (as) or higher than in the past on 12 of them, a group that also encompasses social mores such as polygamy, having a child out of wedlock, and divorce.”

There are two possibilities here.

One is that we have “evolved” and are willing to permit, even to commend, behavior that would have Mark 1:12 astonished and ashamed our grandparents. We have finally stopped being “judgmental,” and we’re willing to let people enjoy themselves. Welcome to the 21st century!

The second is that, worn down by the tsunami of moral evil swirling around us for the last 42 years (I begin with the date of Roe v. Wade), we have accepted, step by evil step, greater and graver evil.

We have too often ignored the reality of mortal sin.

“Jesus-Shock,” Welcome to Dante’s Inferno!

by Peter Kreeft. South We would be mistaken to confuse correlation Bend: St. Augustine’s with causation; that is, just because two things Press, 2008. happen together doesn’t mean that one of them has caused the other. Still, we must ask: Is there a broad societal contempt for Gospel truth that has led to legalized abortion, to increasing acceptance of euthanasia, to decreasing moral standards, and, almost inevitably, to homosexual marriage? Have liberalized codes of speech and conduct in movies led to an increasingly coarse and vulgar society? Is the moral sky falling?

Have we defined deviancy down? Have we too often compromised with evil?

Have we apathetically accepted behavior and speech which are contrary to the Gospel? There is a Catholic answer to these questions.

The Church teaches that evil has a first cause: our fallen nature. “Ignorance of the fact that man has a wounded nature inclined to evil gives rise to serious errors in the areas of education, politics, social action, and morals,” the Catechism teaches (407; also see 418 and 1783). Vatican II said that the whole of human history “has been the story of dour combat with the powers of evil” (“Gaudium et Spes,” 37), and St. Paul instructed the Ephesians and us that our combat is against “the cosmic powers of this dark age” (6:12 GNB).

When we tell ourselves that certain decayed moral standards won’t cause the skies to fall, we deceive ourselves. We are playing the devil’s game. Unrepented venial sin can, and often does, lead to mortal sin, for we are what we repeatedly do (CCC 1863). “If we do not behave the way we believe,” observed Bishop Fulton Sheen, “we will begin believing the way we behave.” That is why it is so important for us Catholics to hear sound preaching and to have holy, reverent Masses. St. Paul, learning of bad teaching in Ephesus, warned, “Some people there are teaching false doctrines, and you must order them to stop” (1 Tim 1:3).

God graciously gives us time to repent (2 Peter 3:9, Rev 2:21), but repentance must not be delayed (Acts 17:30). The sky hasn’t fallen because of sin and evil.

Not quite yet.

‘Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’

Suggested reading

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

HIGH POINT — On the first Saturday of each month, people in the High Point area gather to pray the rosary for an end to abortion next to High Point’s abortion mill, Carolina WomanCare, located at the corner of Main Street and Sunset Drive. For Respect Life Month in October, the group calls for even more people to join them in prayer. The First Saturday Pro-Life Rosary will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, rain or shine.

Parking is available nearby. Anyone who would have difficulty standing for 15-20 minutes is welcomed to bring a folding chair. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-8486835.

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“I am certain I have never said anything more than what is in the social doctrine of the church. I follow the church and in this, I do not think I am wrong.”

Pope Francis

From online story: Meeting reporters on plane, pope defends his teaching on social issues Through press time on Sept. 23, 10,356 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 22,387 pages. The top 10 headlines in September were: n Prayers requested for Bishop Curlin..........................................................................................................................1,538 n 11th Eucharistic Congress Blog.....................................................................................................................................1,487 n Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration announce merger of two communities.................................................. 1,199 n Former Charlotte Catholic principal pleads guilty to mishandling funds.......................................................... 689 n Photo Gallery: Cardinal Dolan in Charlotte for Eucharistic Congress................................................................. 493 n Catholic schools in diocese see facility improvements over the summer .......................................................308 n Eucharistic Congress ‘chance to publicly express faith’ as Pope Francis urges................................................219 n Homilies should be interesting, funny and short........................................................................................................212 n New endowment fund memorializes late seminarian Michael Kitson..................................................................169 n Go forth with ‘renewed’ hearts, joy to evangelize the culture.................................................................................141

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 25, 2015 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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A JourneY oF

FAMILY, FAITH & MISSION

More than 60 pilgrims from the Diocese of Charlotte will travel to Philadelphia Sept. 23-27 to attend the World Meeting of Families and to witness the historic first visit of Pope Francis to the United States.

Join husband-and-wife journalists Patricia and Stephen Guilfoyle, parishioners of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, as they follow the journey of these pilgrims and bring you a first-hand look into the sights and sounds of this faith-filled pilgrimage. Follow their blog on Tumblr, and go online to www.catholicnewsherald.com for the latest news about Pope Francis’ apostolic visit. Prayer requests are welcome!

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