April 1, 2016
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Reconcile with God, resurrect hope in others, pope urges at Easter 21 INDEX
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EASTER JOY
Washed clean by His love 10-17
Celebrating the feast of St. Patrick 6
Lenten Youth Pilgrimage draws record crowd 3
Year of Mercy 2
catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
A one-day Door of Mercy BELMONT — The main entrance of the historic Mary, Help of Christians Basilica at Belmont Abbey became a Door of Mercy for a day, March 19, for the Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari blessed and opened the holy door on March 18, in advance of the day-long youth pilgrimage. Hundreds of young people had the opportunity that Saturday to seek the plenary indulgence offered by the Church during this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy by making a pilgrimage there. At the conclusion of the day’s activities, Bishop Peter Jugis welcomed the young people to enter through the Door of Mercy.
Pope Francis
God is greater than our sins
T
he power of God’s forgiveness “is greater than our sins,” Pope Francis said. Christians have “the certainty that He will never abandon us,” the pope said at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 30. “If you fall into sin, stand up! When a child falls, what does he do? He raises his hand to his mother or father to help him up,” the pope said. “Raise your hand and God will help you; this is the dignity of God’s forgiveness.” With tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square, the pope reflected on Psalm 51, King David’s hymn of repentance after committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband, Uriah the Hittite. The psalm often is called the “Miserere” from the Latin opening of David’s plea, “Have mercy on me, O God.” Those who pray the psalm, Pope Francis said, are called to be like David who, despite the gravity of his sins, was genuinely repentant and confident in God’s mercy. “In this prayer, humankind’s true need is manifested: The only thing we really need in our lives is to be forgiven, freed from evil and its deadly consequences,” the pope said. While everyone has experiences of sin and hopelessness, the pope encouraged Christians to never forget that “God is greater than our sin.” “God is greater than all the sins that we can commit and His love is an ocean in which we immerse ourselves without fear of being overwhelmed,” he said. “God’s forgiveness means giving us the assurance that He will never abandon us.” In recognizing their sins, the pope said, Christians not only seek forgiveness but also celebrate God’s justice and holiness. God does not simply wipe away sins like a dry cleaner taking out a stain but completely destroys it “right from the root without leaving any trace.” The pope told the people in the square that through the grace of God’s forgiveness “we become new creatures” with a “new heart, a new spirit and a new life.” As forgiven sinners, he added, Christians are called to share this gift with those in need of God’s mercy. “It is beautiful to be forgiven, but in order to be forgiven, one must first forgive,” the pope said. “May the Lord grant us, through the intercession of Mary, the mother of mercy, to be witnesses of His forgiveness, which purifies the heart and transforms life.”
Photo provided by Rolando Rivas, Belmont Abbey College
Don’t miss this!
Photo provided by Lynn Cabrera
OLM hosts relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe WINSTON-SALEM — Our Lady of Mercy Church in Winston-Salem was honored to be a part of sharing a relic of St. Maximilian Kolbe with the local community. About 200 people came to venerate the third-class relic of the saint, on display March 16-17. Conventual Franciscan Father Carl Zdancewicz, pastor, also held a prayer service March 16 for people dealing with addiction or family members and friends of those with addictions.. Approximately 100 people attended the service.
The Diocese of Charlotte’s Year of Mercy website has lots of educational resources for families, including monthly catechesis on the virtues and corporal and spiritual works of mercy. April’s virtue is “Prudence,” as modeled by St. Thomas Aquinas. The Spiritual Work of Mercy for the month is “Bear Wrongs Patiently” with information about St. Isaac Jogues; and the Corporal Work of Mercy is “Shelter the Homeless,” with information about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Learn more at www.yearofmercy. rcdoc.org/catechesis.
Associations
I
n Church law (specifically, Canon 215) the Christian faithful are free to found associations for the purpose of charity, piety or the promotion of Christian vocations. This canon is derived from the documents of Vatican II. Canon 298 expands these purposes to include the promotion of a more perfect life, public worship and works of the apostolate. Associations are not an end in themselves, but serve the mission of the Church, and Church authority has a legitimate role in guiding its use. Canon 300 requires consent by a competent authority for an association to use the name “Catholic.” A right of an association is that of promoting apostolic enterprises, such as publishers, clinics, educational centers, radio or television stations, etc. The right includes that of founding them, of participating in those that already exist, and of statutory and administrative independence. Canon 215 also states the right to have meetings of the association, but the canon does not specifically include the right to use parish or diocesan property to hold meetings. Without specific policies, prudence is required in each case. Editor’s note: This series about the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, as set forth in canon (Church) law, has been written especially for the Catholic News Herald by Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally. Sister Jeanne-Margaret is a distinguished authority on canon law, author of the reference guide “Canon Law for the Laity,” and frequent lecturer at universities and dioceses. A graduate of The Catholic University of America with multiple degrees including a doctorate in psychology and a licentiate of canon law (JCL), she is a psychologist for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Charlotte and a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami. COMING NEXT: Christian Education
Your daily Scripture readings APRIL 3-9
Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday): Acts 5:12-16, Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19, John 20:19-31; Monday (The Annunciation of the Lord): Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10, Hebrews 10:4-10, Luke 1:26-38; Tuesday (St. Vincent Ferrer): Acts 4:32-37, John 3:715; Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26, John 3:16-21; Thursday (St. John Baptist de la Salle): Acts 5:27-33, John 3:31-36; Friday: Acts 5:34-42, John 6:1-15; Saturday: Acts 6:1-17, John 6:16-21
APRIL 10-16
Sunday: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41, Revelation 5:1114, John 21:1-19; Monday (St. Stanislaus): Acts 6:8-15, John 6:22-29; Tuesday: Acts 7:51-8:1, John 6:30-35; Wednesday (St. Martin I): Acts 8:1-8, John 6:35-40; Thursday: Acts 8:26-40, John 6:44-51; Friday: Acts 9:1-20, John 6:5259; Saturday: Acts 9:31-42, John 6:60-69
APRIL 17-23
Sunday: Acts 13:14, 43-52, Revelation 7:9, 14-17, John 10:27-30; Monday: Acts 11:1-18, John 10:1-10; Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26, John 10:22-30; Wednesday: Acts 12:24-13:5, John 12:44-50; Thursday (St. Anselm): Acts 13:13-25, John 13:16-20; Friday: Acts 13:26-33, John 14:1-6; Saturday (St. George, St. Adalbert); Acts 13:44-52, John 14:7-14
Our parishes
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage draws record crowd ‘When Jesus says, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,” it is a command that He gives to us,’ Bishop Jugis preaches SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
BELMONT — More than 1,000 young people from across the Diocese of Charlotte – the largest attendance ever – gathered on the campus of Belmont Abbey College March 19 for the annual Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage. This year’s celebration focused on the Year of Mercy and the diocesan theme “Be merciful as your Father is merciful.” For the day, Bishop Peter Jugis designated the main door of historic Mary, Help of Christians Basilica as a Door of Mercy, and many youths took part in a pilgrimage through the holy door. Bishop Jugis also shared an historic announcement with the young More online people during At www. the event: catholicnewsherald. announcing the com: See more creation of St. photos and video Joseph College highlights from the Seminary for 2016 Bishop’s Lenten undergraduate Youth Pilgrimage men who will at Belmont Abbey be studying at College Belmont Abbey College starting this fall. During the day, the youths also attended Mass, celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey, and they enjoyed entertainment, education programs, games and fellowship. There was also the opportunity for the sacrament of confession with several priests who had accompanied their youth groups to the event, including Father Benjamin Roberts of Monroe and Father John Eckert and Father Lucas Rossi of Salisbury. Father Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, attended the pilgrimage for the first time with a busload of youths from his parish. “I hope they take away an experience of the mercy of God under the patronage of St. Joseph today, as we gather to celebrate this great man of faith, this man of prayer, this man of silence,” he said. “I hope they find and experience a sense of communion with other youth of the diocese, and a true and profound communion with Christ the High Priest.” Father Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, and Father Rossi, parochial vicar, also had 20 young people from their parish attending the day-long pilgrimage. “We really want the youth to establish a foundation of prayer and continue to love the sacraments of the Church – confession and Mass, especially – because that is where they encounter Jesus,” Father Rossi said. Nicole Osmera, a sophomore at Belmont Abbey College and parishioner of St. Ann Church in Charlotte, helped coordinate the efforts of the more than 80 college students who volunteered on March 19. “The Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage has provided an integral part of my faith journey during my middle, high school, and now college years,” Osmera said. “As it takes place during Lent, this event has
Bishop Peter Jugis led Benediction March 19 in front of the basilica at Belmont Abbey during the annual Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage. More than 1,000 young people and chaperones attended the daylong retreat. SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
strengthened my prayer life in preparation for Easter and my commitment to seeking God in all that I do. “Moreover, the break-out sessions for the high school girls have given me hope for future relationships and guidance in living as a Catholic woman in today’s society. The BLYP is one of the amazing events that drew me to the Abbey, which I now call home.” Aaron Huber, a Belmont Abbey sophomore who grew up at St. Barnabas Parish in Arden and now attends St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia, also served as student coordinator for this year’s pilgrimage. “It’s been so wonderful for me, as a student of Belmont Abbey as well as a member of the Diocese of Charlotte – and, as you know, being able to go into the college seminary where those two come together – it’s been a great segue for me,” Huber said. “Even if we bring one person closer to Christ, it’s all worth it.” Getting closer to God during this jubilee year was the theme of Bishop Jugis’ reflection during Adoration towards the close of the day-long event. “Each one of us makes a journey with Jesus in this life, from the day we are born until the day Our Lord calls us into the
next life,” he said. “We carry Jesus in procession with us to remind us that Jesus walks with us during our entire life journey, our pilgrimage through life. And to tie in the important theme of this year, which is the Jubilee of Mercy, we should remember that during our life’s journey while we are walking with Jesus – processing with Jesus from the day we are born until we are baptized, until our final moments here on earth – we are receiving God’s mercy a countless number of times.” He emphasized that God’s mercy is constantly accompanying us. We see it especially when we are asking for His mercy in the sacrament of confession. Bishop Jugis reminded the youth that on our journey through life we will meet countless people who ask us to be merciful to them. “When Jesus says, ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful,’ it is a command that He gives to us,” he said. God’s final act of mercy to us comes at the end of our lives when God welcomes us after a time of purification, especially when we have received and given mercy in our lives, Bishop Jugis noted. Adoration and the events at the start of the day, were held in the gymnasium
because of the threat of inclement weather, but conditions cleared in the afternoon and the young people went outside for lunch and were able to attend educational sessions around the campus. Father Jason Barone, vocations promoter for the diocese, and Sister Mary Raphael spoke to the young people about considering a religious vocation. Kara Klein provided the keynote address, middle school talk and musical entertainment throughout the day. Belmont Abbey College alumnus Adam Trufant served as emcee and also accompanied Klein on the guitar. Thanks to those clearing skies, the Eucharistic procession led by Bishop Jugis and Abbot Placid traveled around the campus of Belmont Abbey College in a different and poignant route this year – passing by the cemetery where Abbot Leo Haid, founder of Belmont Abbey, as well as other Benedictine monks, Sisters of Mercy, Deacon Richard Kauth, priests of the diocese, and seminarian Michael Kitson are buried. The Eucharistic procession was a highlight for many of the youths, as well as the Door of Mercy, through which many of them made a pilgrimage to obtain the Jubilee Year of Mercy’s plenary indulgence. Father James Byer, pastor of Holy Trinity Mission in Taylorsville, attended the youth pilgrimage for the first time with seven young people from his parish. “It’s been a good experience to start the day with the Holy Mass and then to have priests offering the sacrament of confession, that’s a good thing. And to have so many people from the diocese coming together for the purpose of learning about the holy year,” Father Byer said. He added that he hopes his young parishioners take away a deeper experience of the presence of the Lord in their lives, and that their small church community is part of the wider Church in the diocese. “At gatherings like this, they can feel a greater part of the whole Church,” he said. Holy Trinity members Oscar Olivas, 16, Cristal Alanis, 19, and Stephanie Romero, 17, said this was their first time attending the Lenten Youth Pilgrimage, and they did so as a way of commemorating the Year of Mercy. The event allowed them to reflect and feel closer to God, they said. At the end of the procession, the Blessed Sacrament was placed on an altar in front of the abbey basilica for Benediction. The young people and everyone else gathered there knelt on the lawn in front of the basilica to end the day’s activities. “In a very beautiful way, what we are doing at the end of our pilgrimage is representative of our entire journey of life,” Bishop Jugis noted. “The goal of our journey is (being in) the presence of the Lamb of God in heaven, who is seated on the throne, and we will be adoring Him there and blessing Him there in Adoration and Benediction, singing His praises.” After they received a final blessing from the bishop, the youth groups had the perfect ending to the day as they processed through the abbey basilica’s Door of Mercy. — Rachel McKimmon, Belmont Abbey College intern, contributed.
UPcoming events 4
catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: April 4 – 5:30 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation Holy Angels Church, Mount Airy
April 9 – 5 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Paul the Apostle Church, Greensboro
April 15 – 10 a.m. Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte
April 5 – 10:30 a.m. St. Benedict Day Mass Belmont Abbey, Belmont
April 11 – 7 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation Holy Cross Church, Kernersville
April 16 – 5:30 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Highways Church, Thomasville
April 7 – 7 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Benedict Church, Winston-Salem
April 13 – 7 p.m. Sacrament of Confirmation Queen of the Apostles Church at Sisters of Mercy Chapel Belmont
April 18-20 Priests Colloquium Hickory
Diocesan calendar of events April 1, 2016
Lectures & Workshops
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
Volume 25 • Number 13
‘Missionary of MErcy’: 6:45 p.m. Saturday, April 2, at Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, 238 W Main Ave., Gastonia. Special presentation by Father Patrick Winslow. Part of St. Michael Church’s Holy Happy Hour ministry for young adults.
NFP Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, April 9, at Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Road, Clemmons. 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 704-370-3230.
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
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.
‘Young at Heart Health and Wellness Lunch & Learn’: 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 4, in the Family Center Hall at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. Presented with pharmacist Erin Rogers, who will answer questions about medications in general, medication safety, economical ways to fill prescriptions, etc. She is also willing to review your personal medication lists. There will be an opportunity to review and receive immunizations. Pneumonia, Shingles, Tetanus and Whooping Cough vaccines will be available. The event is free, but RSVP is requested. For details, call the Young at Heart Ministry Coordinator Leanne Vaccaro at 704-948-0231, ext. 107. ‘Bringing ‘Laudato Si’ Alive Over Dinner & Dessert’: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 8, at St. Thérèse Church, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville. A lively talk and discussion of the practical application of Pope Francis’ papal encyclical, “Laudato Si’” (“On Care for Our Common Home”) in our homes, parishes and businesses. Speaker Dr. Catherine Wright will give dinner-goers lots of food for thought concerning the content and importance of this encyclical, and discuss how we are all being invited to ecological conversion. Q&A following dinner presentation. For details, call JoAnn Horan at 704-929-4282. ‘prevention of elder investment fraud and financial exploitation’: 10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at St. Aloysius Church, 921 Second St. N.E., Hickory, and 3-4 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 728 West Union St., Morganton. Presented by Lauren Benbow, N.C. Secretary of State Securities Division. Topics will include: the warning signs of scams and exploitation, what schemes are used and who commits them, consequences of elder financial abuse, and resources available to victims. For details and reservations, contact Sandra Breakfield at sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org. Hosted by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. estate planning seminar: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, at the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte. The focus will be on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate and bequests. Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues will also be included. Christian Cherry, estate planning attorney with Grier, Furr & Crisp, will present legal information focusing on wills, estates, trusts and probate. His presentation will also include a Q&A session. Judy Smith, gift planning director for the diocese, will provide information on planned giving and bequests. Registration required to reserve a take-home packet of materials. To register, contact Judy Smith at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org.
PRAYER SERVICES & Groups Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Outdoors, rain or shine. Parking available nearby. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835. CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC WOMEN’S GROUP Evening Reflection: 7-9 p.m. Monday, April 18, at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte. Guest speaker will be Father Jason Barone. For details and to register, go to www.charlottecatholicwomensgroup.org.
Retreats ‘Coming closer to god,’ A Retreat for Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday, April 2, in Benedict Hall at St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte. An afternoon of reflection, prayer and sharing for Catholics and Christians with a homosexual inclination. Retreat will be led by Jesuit Father John Michalowski, parochial vicar. Retreat will include lunch and is followed by Mass at 5 p.m. To register, email Marco Cipolleti at mrcipolleti@hotmail. com. 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. Salisbury: 6 p.m. Monday, April 4, Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane COncord: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 9, St. James Church, 139 Manor Ave. Huntersville: 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road SUPPORT GROUPS Called to be a mom: 10 a.m.-noon every other Thursday until May 19 at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Supports the vocation of motherhood by strengthening faith through reading and discussion. For details, email Kerry Long at klong003@carolina.rr.com.
Seasons of Hope MInistry: 2-4 p.m. meets for 5 consecutive weeks April 3-May 1 at St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Any parishioner mourning the loss of a loved one is encouraged to attend. To register, call the parish office at 336-272-4681. Alzheimer’s Caregiver and Family Support Group: Meets the first Monday of the month, 6:30-8 p.m., in Family Center Room 203 at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. Organized with the Alzheimer’s Association, the monthly meetings are for the caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s. For details, email Janet Urban at jgraceart@yahoo.com. YEAR OF MERCY DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY at St. Patrick Cathedral: Sunday, April 3: 7 a.m.-3 p.m. confessions; 2-3 p.m. Adoration and Holy Hour; 3 p.m. Sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Benediction. 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Divine Mercy Sunday at St. Lawrence Basilica: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, 97 Haywood St., Asheville. Eucharistic Adoration, recitation of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, litanies and Benediction. Divine Mercy Sunday at Maryfield Chapel: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, Pennybyrn at Maryfield, 1315 Greensboro Road, High Point. Veneration of Mercy Icon, Adoration, Prayers to Divine Mercy and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. Sponsored by the Divine Mercy Cenacle. Hour of Great Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. For the first time at St. Matthew, venerate the relic of St. Faustina Kowalska. A complimentary Divine Mercy hospitality will follow in the NLC Banquet Room. Divine Mercy Devotion: 5 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 1730 Link Road, Winston-Salem Divine MErcy HOly Hour: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 3, at Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Road, WinstonSalem. Adoration from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be sung at 3 p.m. For details, call Ceil Gentile at 336-766-7832. Divine Mercy Sunday Reception, Movie and Prayer: 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3, in the Family Center Hall at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. All are invited to learn more about the Divine Mercy Novena and Chaplet. Light refreshments at 1 p.m., followed by a special screening of the documentary film, “The Original Image of Divine Mercy,” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. After the movie, the group will move to the church to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
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.
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com
OUR PARISHESI
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Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald
Mass on feast of St. Joseph to give thanks for new college seminary CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church offered a Solemn High Mass in the Extraordinary Form on the feast of St. Joseph March 19. This special Mass was offered not just to commemorate the foster father of Our Lord, but to also give thanks for the establishment of the new minor seminary in Charlotte which bears his name: St. Joseph College Seminary. The new rector, Father Matthew Kauth, offered the Mass with Father Jason Barone, parochial vicar at St. Patrick Cathedral, and Father Jason Christian, parochial vicar at St. Thomas Aquinas, serving as deacon and subdeacon, respectively.
DIOCESAN YEAR OF MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO
Poland
with Fr. Christopher Roux OCTOBER 30-NOVEMBER 6, 2016
Join Fr. Christopher Roux on an 8 day pilgrimage to Poland. Walk in the footsteps of the Saints of Mercy John Paul II & St. Faustina. Visit the concentration camp at Auschwitz, our Lady’s miraculous image at Czestochowa, the famous Salt Mines of faith and much more including the rich history and culture of the Polish people. There will also be an opportunity for an extension to Rome led by Fr. Roux if there is interest in continuing the journey!
Photo provided by Kara Thorpe
Women’s retreat held NEWTON — More than two dozen parishioners at St. Joseph Church in Newton gathered March 12 for a women’s retreat entitled “God’s Crown of Creation.”
Pricing starts $3699 for reservations received by March 11, 2016. Call Corporate Travel at 1-800-727-1999 ext 121 or 150 or visit us online at www.ctscentral.net.
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catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 OUR PARISHES
Celebrating the feast of St. Patrick AOH hosts dinner to support Catholic education HUNTERSVILLE — The St. Brendan the Navigator Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted its sixth annual St. Patrick’s Celebration Dinner and Show March 12 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Approximately 200 people attended the event that featured music by Banna, a Celtic band playing lively Irish music; followed by dancing by the Rince na h’Eireann School of Traditional Irish Step Dancers of Charlotte, and capped off with several Irish songs sung by the priests of St. Mark, Father John Putnam and Father Paul McNulty. The net proceeds from the event go to support local Catholic education. Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald
At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See a video clip of Father Putnam and Father McNulty singing a traditional Irish song
CCDOC.ORG
SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald
Honoring their patron saint CHARLOTTE— Celebrating Mass on the patronal feast of St. Patrick Cathedral on March 17, Bishop Peter Jugis spoke of how God’s mercy was present in the life of St. Patrick and how the saint was grateful for God’s mercy and then shared that mercy with the people of Ireland in his service to them. After Mass the parish celebrated its feast day with corned beef, Irish dancing by students from Rince na h’Eireann School of Irish Dance in Charlotte, and music from Irish bagpiper Mark Adamson. At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See video highlights from the St. Patrick’s Day Mass and celebration at St. Patrick Cathedral
30th Annual Spring Fling Catholic Charities invites senior adults from across the diocese to join us for fun and fellowship at the 30th Annual Spring Fling. Come reconnect with friends, while meeting new ones, in a daylong experience where you can learn about health information that could transform your life. Build upon your faith while enjoying exciting activities and performances, create wonderful memories and friendships. Wednesday, April 27 – Catholic Conference Center 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory, NC 28602 $15 per person (includes lunch) Registration deadline: April 14 Tuesday, May 17 – St. Matthew Catholic Church 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277 $15 per person (includes lunch) Registration deadline: May 5 Visit www.ccdoc.org for a complete schedule of events and registration forms. For more information contact Sandra Breakfield at: 704-370-3220 or email: sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org
Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald
St. Patrick’s Day Mass celebrated at Old St. Joseph Church MOUNT HOLLY — With more than 50 members and guests in attendance, the Charlotte area Ancient Order of Hibernians hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day Mass at Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly March 17. This historic wooden church, formally called St. Joseph and Mary Church, was built 1843 by Irish gold miners. The Mass was offered by Father Paul McNulty, parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville and chaplain of the St. Brendan the Navigator Division of the AOH in Huntersville, with a homily offered by Father James Ebright, priest in residence at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia. Father McNulty was assisted by AOH member Deacon Robert Murphy of St. Mark Church. Before the Mass, Father McNulty blessed the grave of Father T.J. Cronin, the founding pastor who died shortly before the church was completed. St. Joseph and Mary Church is one of the two oldest standing Catholic churches in North Carolina. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization that is open to practicing Catholics and of Irish decent. Their goals are to foster the history, culture and traditions of the Irish people, support the Catholic Church, its clergy, and to defend all life. For details, go online to www. aohmeck2.org.
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com
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Dive into the ‘Ocean of Mercy’ at DYC retreat April 29-May 1 CHARLOTTE — High school youth in the Diocese of Charlotte are invited to attend the 39th annual Diocesan Youth Retreat April 29-May 1 at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain. The DYC brings together high school youth from around the diocese for a weekend of workshops – led by youth and adults alike – keynote speakers, entertainment, daily Mass, Adoration and confession. The retreat workshops address a variety of issues, from moral decision making, Theology of the Body, virtues education, prayer, maintaining faith going off to college, and everything in between. This year’s keynote speaker is Father Jason Barone, parochial vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral and promoter of vocations for the diocese. Father Matthew Kauth, chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School and rector of the new St. Joseph College Seminary, will also speak at the retreat. Musical guests will be Lee Roessler and Belmont Abbey College alumnus Adam Trufant, who recently emceed the Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage at the abbey. Paul Kotlowski, diocesan director of youth ministry, is hoping hundreds of youth will take advantage of this retreat in the Jubilee Year of Mercy. “Mercy is the very heart of God,” Kotlowski said. “God longs to be reconciled with His fallen creation. His works of salvation, the founding of His Church, each and every sacrament, all are His acts of Divine Mercy for us. In turn, we are called to be a people of mercy for our broken world. We look forward to seeing how God uses this event to challenge and transform His young Church to be agents of the Gospel of Mercy.” The cost of the retreat is $120 per participant (plus transportation costs) if reservations are made before April 15. After April 15, the late registration fee is $130. There is a non-refundable deposit fee
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of $50 per participant. Registration forms are available online at www.education.charlottediocese.net/ youth-ministry/youth-services/conferencedyc. Registrations can be emailed to Kotlowski at pjkym@ymail.com. You can also mail registrations to the Office for Youth Ministry, Attn: DYC Registration, Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203. Questions? Call 704370-3291.
DYC ‘Ocean of Mercy’ mission statement We the youth of the Charlotte Diocese, gather now during this Jubilee Year, to immerse ourselves into God’s infinite ocean of mercy. By His will, through this conference, we strive to willingly relinquish our pride, grow in humility, and dive into the Father’s mercy. Just as water is necessary for life, God’s mercy is necessary for our spiritual life. Therefore, by the end of this weekend, we aim to have a better understanding of mercy, imitate God’s mercy through love, have a deeper gratitude for it, and lead others to its never-ending shore.
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St. Matthew Church to host Merton expert April 14 Conference focuses on ‘contemplative approaches to spiritual healing’ CHARLOTTE — James Finley, Ph.D., who lived as a monk at the cloistered Trappist monastery of the Abbey of Gethsemani in Kentucky, where the world-renowned monk and author Thomas Merton was his spiritual director, will lead a morning conference Thursday, April 14, at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte. Finley Finley will speak about “Contemplative Approaches to Spiritual Healing” in the New Life Center Banquet Room from 9:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Cary chapter of the International Thomas Merton Society. Finley leads retreats and workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada, attracting men and women from all religious traditions who seek to live a contemplative way of life in the midst of today’s busy
world. He is also a clinical psychologist in private practice with his wife in Santa C Monica, Calif. M On April 14, he will guide retreatants Y in exploring the seven steps one can undertake to experience God’s healing CM presence in life. He will present methods of meditation to help experience God’s MY healing presence and suggest ways to apply CY the seven steps practically in everyday life. He will also present ways to pass on God’sCMY healing presence to others. K James Finley is the author of “Merton’s Palace of Nowhere,” “The Contemplative Heart” and “Christian Meditation: Experiencing the Presence of God.” Registration for the morning conference is open. Go to www.stmatthewcatholic. org/smu to register online with credit card payment of $35 for the conference. Contact Michael Burck, the parish’s director of adult faith formation, at mburck@ stmatthewcatholic.org or call 704-543-7677, ext. 1020, for details. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter
Extraordinary Memory ExtraordinaryGift I wanted to make a donation in honor of my parents with some money I inherited from them. The Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte appealed to me because I was able to establish an endowment with their name on it, and it will benefit the parish they loved so much. To receive the free brochure, “A Simple Guide to Gift Planning” contact Judy Smith, Director of Planned Giving at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org
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catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 OUR PARISHES
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Foundation of North Carolina, recently donated money to two local charities as a result of the Foundation’s “Tootsie Roll Drive.” Individual checks of $1,000 each were presented to Richard Griggs of Iredell County Special Olympics, and to Statesville High School Assistant Principal, Dr. Beth Bradley, and special education teacher Tyana Bailey-Hancock. A third check of $374 was given to Special Olympics of Watauga County.
In Brief Food drive nets over 1,000 pounds
— Connie Ries
STATESVILLE — St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville runs a twice monthly food closet which serves 200 local needy families. During the weekend of March 12-13, the church had a food drive, coordinated by the parish’s Family Life Committee. Parishioners generously donated a total of more than 1,000 pounds of food, collected at each of the four weekend Masses. — Connie Ries
Brevard helps charity during Lent BREVARD — Fridays of Lent provide the opportunity to practice the three pillars of prayer, fasting and alms giving. However, one Friday during Lent for the past 20 years is special in Brevard. That’s when the parish hosts an ecumenical service at noon, and the collection taken up during the service benefits a local charity. This year that charity was Bread of Life Community Kitchen, which provides hot meals to all who come through the front door six days a week. In addition to the donations collected during this Lenten service, Sacred Heart Church donates extra food from its community Christmas dinner, funeral receptions and the Lenten soup suppers (pictured above). Weekly Lenten Stations of the Cross and reflections on the Stations provide the opportunity to increase one’s prayer life while soup suppers provide the opportunity to fast and support Operation Rice Bowl. Together these Lenten services give those who are able the opportunity to support local charities, and diocesan and international charities through Operation Rice Bowl. — Dorice Narins, correspondent
Consignment sale wins honor GREENSBORO — St. Paul the Apostle Church’s kids consignment sale has been recognized as the 2016 Favorite Seasonal Children’s Consignment Sale for the Greensboro and Burlington area by readers of TriadMomsonMain.com. Each year, the parenting resource website for the Triad area surveys thousands of readers for their favorites in various categories. The bi-annual consignment sale helps support St. Paul the Apostle Parish’s ministries, as well as local charities. — Colleen Assal
Knights donate to local charities STATESVILLE — At St. Philip the Apostle Church, Philip Klvana of the Knights of Columbus and local chairman of the LAMB
Color Run aids L.A.M.B. Foundation WINSTON-SALEM — On March 19, more than 200 volunteers from the five Knights of Columbus councils in Forsyth County gathered to raise money for the L.A.M.B. Foundation, which aids people with special needs, through the annual “Color Run.” More than 6,500 runners participated in the fun event despite the cold, wet and windy weather on the race day, but all had a great time anyway. Volunteers manned stations tossing colors at all the runners. — Brian Sternecker
A new CD by John Brincefield to benefit the capital campaign fund at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
CD’s are $17 each (includes mailing cost). Payment can be made at: PayPal: cris@carolina.rr.com Send check payable to: John Brincefield, PO Box 265, Salisbury, NC 28145-0265 For more information please contact John at: jbrincefield@carolina.rr.com
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com
sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Sons of Erin. The award recognizes the Boy Scout Troop in the Charlotte Diocese that best demonstrates Duty to God, Community Service and Scouting Skills. Pictured (from left) are: Alex Flores, Senior Patrol Leader; Sean O’Daly, vice president, Sons of Erin Division; and Mitch Cox, Troop 8 Scout Master. — Seán O’Daly
OUR PARISHESI
GLENMARY HOME MISSIONERS: One of the best kept secrets of the Catholic Church in America Glenmary Home Missioners welcomes those new to the faith
all across the Diocese of Charlotte at the 2016 Easter Vigil, catechumens were baptized and candidates were received into the Church. We at Glenmary Home Missioners congratulate each catechumen candidate and their families as well as their sponsors, instructors and RCIA teams.
SPX Knights raises funds for local community GREENSBORO — Representatives of several organizations supported by the L.A.M.B. Foundation recently gathered at St. Pius X Church to accept their donations from Greensboro area Knights of Columbus. This year the local Knights gave out more than $4,200 to assist the groups in their efforts to serve people with intellectual disabilities. Pictured are (from left) Don Hawkes, Peacehaven Farms; Diane Schroeder, principal of Reedy Fork Elementary School; Alex Nadeau, Sunshine Club; Jan Clifford, Horsepower Therapeutic; Joshua Walker, Sunshine Club; John Joyce, Grand Knight, St. Pius X Knights of Columbus; Linda Yurko, ARC Challenger Sports League; and Sheran Bailey, director of Life Skills with Emilee Christley of Reedy Fork Elementary. — John Russell
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Deacons assigned to Mount Airy, Swannanoa CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces the appointment of two deacons for the Diocese of Charlotte: Deacon Wayne J. Nacey has been granted faculties for the Diocese of Charlotte and an assignment to the parish of Holy Angels Church in Mount Airy. Deacon Nacey and his wife Kathleen (Kay) relocated with his work in October 2015. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Atlanta on Feb. 6, 2010 Deacon Daniel J. Hoffert, who recently moved to Alexander with his wife Linda from Durham, has been granted faculties and an assignment to St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa effective March 14. He was ordained for the Diocese of Raleigh on Nov. 12, 2004.
Let’s keep talking.
— Deacon Ron Steinkamp
Like you, we know that the best gift we cherish is the precious gift of our Catholic Faith, and we need to celebrate this special privilege that we share. Our Glenmary Home Missioners share this gift of our faith in the mission fields of our nation, where the Catholic population is frequently less than 1% and the poverty rate is nearly twice the national average. Our Glenmary Home Missioners stand as a corrective to the notion that all missions are outside of the United States. Glenmary is the only Catholic Missionary Organization working exclusively in rural America. When Glenmary was founded in 1939 there were over 1,000 counties in the United States without a Catholic Church. Today this number stands at over 300. There remains a challenging amount of ministry to do in 2016 and beyond as Glenmary continues to establish, develop and transfer back to the pastoral care of a diocese, mission parishes (like the 12 counties and 17 parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte alone between 1954-2002) so we can in turn, take on new counties lacking a Catholic Church...a Catholic presence.
Scout troop wins award CHARLOTTE — Boy Scout Troop 8, chartered at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, recently received the Bishop Michael Begley Award,
It is said that the Glenmary Home Missioners remain one of the best kept secrets in the Church. We, for our part, pledge to continue our unique and crucial ministry to the mission fields of our nation. If you wish to join our team by becoming a CoMissioner, we welcome you! Learn more about Glenmary and how you may assist our mission ministry by visiting our website at www.glenmary.org, calling our toll free number at (800) 935-0975 or emailing Father Don Tranel at dtranel@glenmary.org. Contact us today to receive your free DVD mission movie and unique mission map.
Let’s Talk About Your Financial Future For the past 19 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 Kenneth Altman Financial Planner, Financial Services Representative 704-839-3755 Kaltman1@metlife.com www.kenaltman.metlife.com Member: National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) St. Mark Catholic Church Parishioner – Huntersville MetLife Premier Client Group is the distribution channel name for the offices of MLIC.Metropolitan Life Insurance Company _MLIC_, New York, NY 10166. Securities and investment advisory services offered by MetLife Securities, Inc. _MSI_ _FINRA/SIPC_, a registered investment adviser. Auto and home insurance is offered by Metropolitan Property and Casualty Ins. Co. _Met P&C_ and affiliates, Warwick, RI 02866. . Some health insurance products offered by unaffiliated insurers through the Enterprise General Insurance Agency, Inc., _EGA_ Somerset, NJ 08873. EGA,MLIC and MSI are MetLife companies. MetLife, and its representatives, do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax or legal professional for such guidance. L0216455883[exp0717][AZ,CA,FL,NC,SC,VA]
P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, OH 45246 800.935.0975 • www.glenmary.org
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Parroquia de Nuestra Sra. de Lourdes conmemora el Viernes Santo con Via Crucis en vivo
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE CHARLOTTE — Vean este conmovedor video-corto en el canal de YouTube diocesano de la produccion del Via Crucis en vivo celebrado el pasado Viernes Santo en la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe. Cerca de unas 600 personas asistieron a esta gran producción que se ha convertido en una tradición anual en esa parroquia. El Padre Santiago Mariani, vicario parroquial, celebró el Servicio de Viernes Santo en español inmediatamente después del final del Via Crucis. RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Romy Machicao | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — La Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe congregó a sus fieles el Viernes Santo para reflexionar sobre la Pasión de Cristo con una producción del Vía Crucis en vivo. (Derecha) Miembros de la Parroquia de San Francisco de Asís en Lenoir, y de la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús en Salisbury también reflexionaron acerca de la Pasión de Cristo con Via Crucis en vivo. Jeanine Russell y Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI 3_18_StMatt.pdf
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In Observance of the Year of Mercy Divine Mercy Sunday Second Sunday of Easter April 3, 2016
Jeanine Russell | Catholic News Herald
LENOIR — Padre Julio Domínguez, pastor, eleva la Hostia durante la Misa de Vigilia de Pascua en la Iglesia San Francisco de Asís en Lenoir el 26 de Marzo.
Sergio López | Catholic News Herald
BOONVILLE — Padre Enrique Gonzalez-Gaytán bautiza a un bebé durante la Misa de Vigilia Pascual en la Iglesia del Divino Redentor.
3 pm Hour of Great Mercy Saint Matthew Catholic Church Prayers, Exposition, Singing of Chaplet and Benediction
For the first time, venerate a relic of Saint Faustina Kowalska Divine Mercy Hospitality with light refreshments and free materials
Saint Matthew Catholic Church 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. Charlotte NC 28277
704-543-7677
Jose Sanchez | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — El Padre Ed Sheridan, párroco de la Iglesia San Gabriel, lavó los pies de un diverso grupo de feligreses durante la Misa del Jueves Santo el 24 de Marzo.
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EASTER JOY: Was
(Right) HICKORY — Father Larry LoMonaco, pastor, administers the sacrament of confirmation to several RCIA candidates during St. Aloysius Church’s Easter vigil Mass. Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald
(Below) SALISBURY — Father John Eckert, pastor, baptizes Clarence Brownell during the Easter vigil Mass at Sacred Heart Church March 26. Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald
‘Live joyfully our Easter faith’ Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
CHARLOTTE — “Let us all resolve to live joyfully our Easter faith in the Church.” This was the message proclaimed by Bishop Peter Jugis as he celebrated the Easter vigil Mass the evening of March 26 at St. Patrick Cathedral, which was filled with young and old there at dusk to greet the Light of the World. The liturgy began with the blessing of the Paschal fire and lighting of the Paschal candle at the Marian grotto outside the cathedral. Then the hundreds of faithful processed behind Bishop Jugis – candles in hand – through the cathedral’s flowerfestooned Door of Mercy into the darkened cathedral to hear the Exsultet chanted by Deacon Brian McNulty. After the Scripture readings and psalms, the cathedral’s lights were turned on and bells were rung as the faithful sang the Gloria. “I wish each of you God’s blessings and peace, and especially that you will have Easter joy this day as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily, “and that this Easter joy, I pray, remain with you always.” The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is the essential point of Christian joyfulness, he noted. “Christianity is a joyful religion, because Jesus is risen from the dead. He is the source of our joy. He is our joy – by defeating
sin, by defeating death, and rising from the dead.” Not At the Diocese of Charlotte’s only that, he said, but Christ YouTube channel: See video “is our joy because we have a highlights from the Easter vigil relationship with Him.” Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral Repeating a theme from his Holy Thursday homily, Bishop At www.catholicnewsherald. Jugis reminded those present com: See more photos from that Christianity is not about a Easter celebrations across the concept or an idea. Diocese of Charlotte “It’s that we have a relationship, through the family of the Church, with a living Person, the living Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Risen Savior,” he emphasized. That gives us reason to be joyful, not only at Easter but always, he said. Easter joy is particularly evident among the Church’s newest Catholics during this Easter season, Bishop Jugis noted, who “are beginning their new life in Christ.” He welcomed four catechumens at the vigil Mass, giving them the sacraments of initiation – baptism, confirmation and Holy Communion. Smiles among the four people and their sponsors and families, as well as among all of the parishioners, were evident as the Mass ended with everyone jubilantly singing the traditional Easter hymn: “Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!”
More online
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(Top row, pages 12-13) Scenes from Holy Week and Easter celebrations across the Diocese of Charlotte: St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Holy Spirit Church in Denver, St. Elizabeth Church in Boone, Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville and St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Doreen Sugierski, Amber Mellon, Gretchen Filz and John Cosmas | Catholic News Herald
Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald
Gretchen Filz | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — Catechumens and candidates stand during the start of the Easter vigil Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, about to receive the sacraments and be welcomed into the Church.
CHARLOTTE — Candle in hand, Bishop Peter Jugis processes into St. Patrick Cathedral March 26 during the start of the Easter vigil Mass. Deacon Brian McNulty holds the Paschal candle, representing the Light of Christ. John Cosmas | Catholic News Herald
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catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 FROM THE COVER
EASTER JOY: Washed clean by His love
Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald
SALISBURY — Approximately 300 Spanish-speaking parishioners at Sacred Heart Church attended a Living Stations of the Cross, or Via Crucis, on the church campus last week.
‘Here we are at the foot of the cross, looking into the face of our Redeemer’ Bishop Jugis venerates cross, offers Good Friday liturgy SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
Photo provided by Amy Burger
HUNTERSVILLE — Jacob Angell, a student at St. Mark School, portrayed Jesus during a Living Stations of the Cross at St. Mark Church organized by the students, teachers and parents. Faith formation students at the parish also presented a Living Stations of the Cross last week.
CHARLOTTE — In a somber, reflective Good Friday liturgy, Bishop Peter Jugis entered St. Patrick Cathedral and lay prostrate before the sanctuary steps, humbling himself before God and in the presence of the faithful. The 3 p.m. service, held at the hour Jesus Christ died on the cross, recalled the sacrifice of God’s only begotten Son for the salvation of souls. The liturgy began with the reading of the Passion narrative by Deacon Brian McNulty, with Deacon Carlos Medina as the voice, Bishop Jugis as Jesus and the congregation responding as the crowd. They took those gathered on the tortuous journey Christ suffered from the Garden of Gethsemane through His crucifixion on Golgatha. “The reading of the Passion stirs up mixed emotions in our hearts,” Bishop Jugis said in his homily. “For one thing, our hearts are filled with sorrow as we participate in the
More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from Good Friday services across the diocese reading of the Passion of Jesus, because we realize it is our sins which Jesus is taking upon Himself – taking upon Himself also all of the sorrow and all of the suffering that our sins cause.” Our Lord does that to redeem us, to remove the obstacle which stands between our relationship with us and almighty God, he said. “He is there in His passion, His suffering, His crucifixion – He’s there standing in our place. Standing there for us, taking upon Himself what really should be happening to us, because we, by our own sinfulness, really are the ones who should be suffering all of this. “But Jesus in His mercy takes this all upon Himself, the sins of the entire human race, of all time – past, present and into the future.” “Yet we go on sinning, knowing that He has taken all of our sin upon Himself, along with its sorrow and suffering,” he continued, asking the faithful, “Do we make a real effort to change our ways, or are we content to continue to heap the burdens upon Jesus?” He also asked those gathered if they sought
forgiveness of their sins as they knelt during the reading of the Passion, at the moment where Jesus dies on the cross. “Here we are at the foot of the cross, looking into the face of our Redeemer – knowing that all of this was because of us, and all of this is for us and our salvation.” As our hearts are filled with sorrow, they are also filled with sentiments of thanksgiving for Jesus’ mercy and love, Bishop Jugis added. “God has been merciful in not giving us what we deserve,” he explained. “Jesus is the mercy of the Father.” He encouraged people to focus their attention on Jesus in a spirit of thanksgiving, rather than on their sins and miseries. The faithful came forward twice during the Good Friday liturgy, first to venerate the cross and then to receive Communion. Even the smallest of children kissed the cross when held out to them for veneration. Bishop Jugis noted in his closing remarks that as the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross, it was the Blessed Mother who received Him in her arms. “Now, like Mary, let us also receive Jesus with deep love, devotion and gratitude for His mercy.”
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI
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Charlotte parishioners make Holy Thursday ‘Seven Churches’ pilgrimage CHARLOTTE — Watch on the Diocese of Charlote’s YouTube channel, this short video from Holy Thursday night: The Catholic News Herald’s cameras followed correspondent Brandon Berryhill and a group of pilgrims as they made their way to seven churches around the city of Charlotte on Holy Thursday evening, “keeping watch” with Jesus before His coming Passion and death on the Cross. Berryhill said, “Why do we pilgrimage as Catholics? A Russian Orthodox novel ‘The Pilgrim’s Way’ captures it beautifully. As we journey we experience God’s love, providence and mercy to our eventual destination in this life and the next. Hopefully as we journey we discover the truth and fullness of eternity and Our Lord.” The “Seven Churches pilgrimage” was first made popular by St. Philip Neri in Rome during the late 1500s. The pilgrimage consisted of visiting seven churches and their altar of repose, reflecting on the seven stops Jesus makes before picking up His cross and making His way to Calvary. The seven stops were: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk 22:39-46); Jesus bound and taken before Annas (John 18:19-22); Jesus taken before the High Priest, Caiaphas (Mt 26:63-65); Jesus taken before Pilate (John 18:35-37); Jesus taken before Herod (Luke 23:8-9, 11); Jesus taken before Pilate again (Mt 27:22-26); Jesus given the crown of thorns and led to His crucifixion (Mt 27:27-31). “It was a joyful night as we began with the liturgy of Our Lord’s Supper at
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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE St. Matthew’s in south Charlotte. From there we processed into the gymnasium and began our prayerful journey with Our Lord and Mary as our guide,” Berryhill remembered. The pilgrimage then continued to St. Vincent de Paul Church on Park Road, where they were joined by the rest of the pilgrims, including Father Casey Coleman, parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul. All 14 pilgrims then went to St. Ann Church, St. Gabriel Church, St. Patrick Cathedral and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. The seventh and final stop on the pilgrimage was St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, “where we made it exactly at midnight (closing time),” Berryhill said. “Thanks to a kind parishioner who was closing up, he gave us an additional 20 minutes, fulfilling the expectations I have of the great people of that parish and our diocese as all along our journey the people were a blessing – including others who were enjoying this same pilgrimage from different parishes.”
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John Cosmas | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — On the evening of Good Friday, people gathered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte for a Tenebrae service. The ancient prayer service, which had dropped in popularity following liturgical reforms of Holy Week in the 1950s, is being revived in churches in recent years. From the Latin word for “shadows” or “darkness,” a Tenebrae service includes a series of readings and psalms by candlelight. As the service proceeds, the candles are gradually extinguished, and the service ends in total darkness and silence in commemoration of Christ’s death and burial.
For more information visit our website or contact Batrice Adcock, MSN at 704.370.3230 or bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.
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catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 FROM THE COVER
EASTER JOY: Washed clean by His love Bishop Peter Jugis celebrates the Chrism Mass March 22 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. More than 90 priests of the Diocese of Charlotte were in attendance to renew their priestly vows and concelebrate Mass. sueann howell | catholic news herald
More online At www. catholicnewsherald. com: See more photos and a video of Bishop Jugis’ homily from the Chrism Mass At the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: Watch video highlights from the Chrism Mass
‘You are all brothers’ Bishop Jugis preaches unity, forgiveness at Chrism Mass as priests renew promises SueAnn Howell Senior reporter
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis took special care during this Jubilee Year of Mercy in the Church to emphasize unity during his homily at the annual Chrism Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral. More than 90 priests from around the Diocese of Charlotte attended the Mass on a fine spring day, renewing their priestly promises to Holy Mother Church and their bishop. Bishop Jugis addressed his brother priests during his remarks, reminding them that there is unity in Christ. “This coming together as brother priests at the Chrism Mass especially demonstrates in a very visible way the unity of the priesthood in Christ. No matter where we serve in the diocese, wherever we exercise our priestly ministry in many different locations, when we come to this Chrism Mass, we see again what we knew all along – even though we may be separated geographically by the distance of miles – we see once again made manifest that we are all brothers in one priesthood and are united as one,” he reminded them. Bishop Jugis stressed to them, as Jesus did to His disciples, that, “‘You are all brothers!’ How true this is of the priesthood…What is it that unites us as brothers? The
grace of the sacrament of holy orders. There are nearly 100 men here today who go by the same name, ‘alter Christus.’ We all have the same name. How’s that for unity? “Our love for Jesus Christ unites us as brothers, our love for the priesthood unites us as brothers. Our love for the Church unites us as brothers. Our love for the work of salvation unites us as brothers. Our love for each other unites us as brothers. ‘You are all brothers,’ Jesus tells us.” Bishop Jugis addressed how “our old enemy” original sin has left divisive tendencies in the human heart, a tendency to separate from one another. “The remedy we know, for all of those tendencies that original sin has left behind in us, is love. There can be no true unity without unconditional mutual love, and the readiness to serve each other generously and an ability to forgive up to ‘seventy times seven.’” He explained that priests are all brothers in the priesthood because they are all brothers of Christ first and foremost. “What a great name for a religious order: Brothers of Christ. And, in fact, it is the name of a religious order. It is a description of the order of the priesthood.” Bishop Jugis emphasized that every day priests pray to remain deeply united to Jesus when they celebrate Mass, and especially before they receive Holy Communion, praying to be always faithful to the commandments and to never be separated from Christ. “He is the source of our unity, our brother Christ. It is a very special relationship we have with the Lord to not only call Him Master and Teacher, Savior and Redeemer, but our brother in the priesthood.” Before renewing their priestly promises, Bishop Jugis recalled that he and the priests gathered exercise their ministry in a divided American society, but the Chrism Mass manifests what is always present among them – that
although our society is quarrelsome and divisive, they experience unity in Christ the High Priest as His brother priests. Concelebrating the Chrism Mass were Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey; Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese; Father John Putnam, judicial vicar of the diocese; and 97 more diocesan and religious order priests who gathered around the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. All the priests also stood during the blessing of the sacred chrism with hands outstretched, joining with Bishop Jugis in prayer as he performed the blessing rite. The oils blessed during the chrism Mass are used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, as well as for ordination of priests and the consecration of churches. Bishop Jugis stirred balsam into the chrism to give it a sweet perfume and breathed the “breath of the Holy Spirit” over the chrism. In his final remarks before the conclusion of the Chrism Mass, Bishop Jugis shared that there is growing interest among young people in the diocese for the priesthood and religious life, and he encouraged the priests and all gathered to promote vocations. “The college seminary is our response to increased interest in that age group. I ask you to please continue to talk about the priesthood and the consecrated life to the young people in your faith formation classes and in your youth ministry programs, because that personal contact makes all the difference when a young person is considering special service to the Church,” he concluded. After Mass, deacons divided the blessed oils into smaller oil stocks that were distributed to all 92 parishes and missions across the diocese for use in sacramental celebrations throughout the year.
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI
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Jesus washes us clean with His grace and love Bishop Jugis preaches at Holy Thursday Mass: Jesus tells us to love one another because His love dwells in us Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor
CHARLOTTE — St. Patrick Cathedral was filled nearly to capacity Thursday evening as Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The liturgy marked the start of the Triduum, the three holy days preceding the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter. The Mass of the Lord’s Supper recalls Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, His washing the feet of His disciples, His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, and His betrayal and arrest. When Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles, it was more than a physical act of humble service, Bishop Jugis noted during his homily. “More importantly,” he said, it was “about an interior washing.” His disciples were focused on the earthly act, but Jesus was speaking on a heavenly level, he explained. When Jesus told His disciples that they had been washed, He meant that “they had been cleansed by Jesus’ grace and His love – through the three years that they had been spending with Him, listening to His teaching and observing His miracles. Their hearts were now filled with Christ’s grace and love, which has acted as a purification of them – (it) has washed them clean. “He and His teaching have penetrated right into their hearts, and they have been transformed, become true disciples, through this interior washing.” Bishop Jugis also reflected on Jesus’ words to His disciples to “love one another as I have loved you.” “Why does He say it’s a new commandment? What’s so new about it? After all, you can find that phrase even in
the Old Testament law,” he said. “It’s new because you have been washed interiorly with Christ’s love and grace, and Christ is living within you. That’s what’s new!” “It’s no longer just words: ‘love one another.’ But now, having been washed,” Bishop Jugis continued, Jesus is saying, “‘I am living within you.’ That makes it a new commandment, a new mandate.” Jesus is instructing us to demonstrate Christian love, not simply human love, to others, he explained. “That’s the essence of Christianity. It’s not just a religion of words. It’s a religion of a Person. A Person comes to live in your soul. You come to love a Person. You have a relationship with Him – not just with words or commandments, but with Jesus. “That’s the newness of the new commandment: to love because He is within you.” Bishop Jugis also reflected on the Holy Thursday liturgy as the institution of the Eucharist and of the priesthood. Priests perpetuate Jesus’ ministry through the ages, he said, “to continue His interior cleansing of souls that takes place through the apostolic ministry of preaching His Word, teaching His commandments, celebrating the sacraments and shepherding the flock.” “You can’t have a Church without the priesthood and the Eucharist. They are two essential elements that Jesus instituted to make up His Church.” In conclusion, Bishop Jugis touched on the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John: “He loves them to the end.” Jesus loves us even to the cross, the end, “because that is where the totality of Jesus’ self-giving love is going to be shown,” he said. Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross is “the exclamation point” of His love for us, a love which was shown earlier at the Last Supper, when He instituted the priesthood and the Eucharist, Bishop Jugis said. Those words encapsulate “a beautiful teaching in a few short lines from St. John’s Gospel, chapter 13, but so full of grace and meaning and love for each one of us now as we enter into the sacred Triduum.”
Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald
SHELBY — Members of St. Mary Help of Christians Church wave palm branches at the start of the Palm Sunday liturgy March 20. Parishioners processed to the church behind Father Michael Kottar, pastor.
HAYESVILLE — At Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission during Holy Week, teenagers in the religious education program dressed the parts of Roman soldiers, Veronica, Simon, the Weeping Women, Jesus and Mary in going through all 14 Stations of the Cross. The Living Way of the Cross immersed everyone in the suffering Jesus bore for us. Notre Dame Sister Margarita Castaneda directed the event. Craig Allen | Catholic News Herald
STATESVILLE — The littlest members of St. Philip the Apostle Church enjoyed an Easter egg hunt and other games March 20, in an event put on by the parish’s Family Life Committee, the local Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and the parish’s confirmation candidates. There were more than 2,000 eggs to find! Photo provided by Connie Ries
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE St. Matthew Church celebrates Polish Palm Sunday Mass CHARLOTTE — Watch on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel, this short video about a Palm Sunday Polish Mass celebrated March 20 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. Father Andrzej Jaczewski from the Diocese of Siedlce, Poland, offered the Mass. The event was a culmination of a Polish Lenten retreat led by Father Jaczewski and held at that parish March 16-18. Children from the Polish community wearing their national Polish custom dress led the procession carrying the palms. Close to 300 members from the Polish community in the Charlotte region attended the liturgy. RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
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In Brief MACS students join N.C. All-State Band CHARLOTTE — Four student musicians will represent the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Band Program as members of the 2016 North Carolina All-State Band Festival in three days of intense rehearsals at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The rehearsals will culminate in performances by the middle school and high school bands May 1. Austin Munn, trumpet, will represent St. Mark Middle School; Sophie Roper and Emma Joseph will represent Holy Trinity Middle School; and John Roselli will represent Charlotte Catholic High School. They gained membership as a result of their chair placement in the District Band held recently at Stewart W. Cramer High School. Membership in the District Band was determined by auditions, as was the membership in the All-State Band. The musical assessment standards consisted of sight-reading, solo preparation and scale proficiency. — Stanley F. Michalski
IHM students earn national science competition honor HIGH POINT — Student groups at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, under the direction of STEM teacher Gabrielle Mirand, recently participated in the 20152016 National Toshiba/NSTA (National Science Teachers Association) ExploraVision competition. Pictured with Mirand is the design team of The Ever Changing and Fascinating Future of Cars – Mason Drabik, Robert Hays, Joseph Specht, and Brady Turner – which received an honorable mention in the national competition. Their project was designing a car that runs off of magnetic forces, which prevents noise and air pollution and benefits the environment and the economy. The car also prevents accidents by stopping drivers from texting while driving. IHM was one of only seven schools in North Carolina to receive such an honor in the national science competition. In ExploraVision, K-12 students imagine what the world might look in 20 years through a combination of STEM concepts, project-based learning and critical thinking. — Carrie Vest
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Photo provided by Nanine Hartzenbusch Fox
Charlotte Catholic varsity men’s basketball team wins 4A title CHAPEL HILL — The Charlotte Catholic boys varsity basketball team beat Cary 49-46 to win the North Carolina State 4A championship game at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill March 12. The Cougars made history with their first state championship in basketball. Charlotte Catholic also became the first North Carolina 4A school to win both football and basketball championships in the same year since Rocky Mount did 53 years ago. In a dramatic comeback, Charlotte Catholic, with a 32-1 record, came from behind to win the championship. The Cougars trailed Cary 25-12 at the half and 40-26 at the end of the third quarter, but made a remarkable comeback by outscoring Cary 23-6 in the fourth quarter to win the game. Seniors Josh Brodowicz and Bailey McKee received special recognition for their game performance. Brodowicz was named Most Valuable Player and Bailey McKee won Most Outstanding Player. “This season was a season that will obviously not be forgotten. This group of young men made sacrifice after sacrifice for one another and for this team. These young men refused to give up on our goal of winning the state championship and met each challenge with confidence and togetherness. They truly embraced our moto of ‘make ’em believe,’” said head coach Michael King.
Help to end hunger Catholic Charities has food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem. Each pantry provides walk-in assistance on a first-come, first-served basis during scheduled hours. At the pantries, clients can help choose their food items – because providing food and assistance with dignity is what we believe in.
Drop off a food donation today and make a difference in a neighbor’s life. Asheville: 828-255-0146 Charlotte: 704-370-3232 Winston-Salem: 336-727-0705
Photo provided by Nancy Fallon and Denise Reis
St. Mark Lions are 2016 Shamrock Tournament winners HUNTERSVILLE — The St. Mark seventh-grade boys’ basketball team won the 2016 Shamrock Tournament (Flight 2) at Holy Trinity Middle School. The 34-team tournament featured seventh- and eighth-grade teams from across the Southeast, including North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia. The Lions went 6-0 in the three-day tournament, battling back from eight points down in the second half to defeat St. John Neumann (from Georgia) 44-43 for the championship. The boys won more games this season than any seventh-grade team in St. Mark history. “This seventh-grade basketball team is made up of a special group of players, and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” coach Phillip Harrington said. “The way they move the ball around, work together and play for each other, it’s everything a coach could ask for, and it’s fun to watch.” Pictured are: (back row, from left) Assistant Coach Mike Hendershott, Jack Fallon, Drew Stanley, Drew Hendershott, Charlie Edmiston, JT Harper, Nick Desimone, Bryce Lagueux and Coach Phillip Harrington; (front row, from left) Drew Gugino, Steven LeBeau, Brandon Spinks, Joseph Flynn, Callahan Reed and Team Manager John Whelan.
Mix
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In theaters ‘Miracles From Heaven’ Remarkable fact-based story of a 10-year-old Texas girl (Kylie Rogers) who develops a rare, painful and incurable disease that prevents her body from digesting food. Though her parents (Jennifer Garner and Martin Henderson) are both churchgoers, persistent Mom, after struggling to obtain a correct diagnosis and access to the care of a kindly specialist, loses her faith in the face of her daughter’s current torment and impending death. Yet a startling, almost inexplicable, turnaround awaits her. While it’s clearly designed for believers, and sometimes feels padded, the drama minimizes neither its protagonist’s crisis of doubt nor the larger mystery of innocent suffering. Mature themes, potentially upsetting incidents and medical procedures. CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA:
‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ The titans of the DC Comics universe battle it out in this follow-up to 2013’s Superman reboot, “Man of Steel”. The Dark Knight (Ben Affleck) grows to resent the death and destruction wrought as collateral damage in the clash
between Krypton’s favorite son and his archenemy, Gen. Zod. So he joins in a rising chorus of voices questioning the mighty alien’s true intentions. From the sidelines, megalomaniac Lex Luthor aggravates the conflict for his own purposes. All of this threatens the shacked-up domestic bliss shared by Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, and his Daily Planet newspaper colleague, Lois Lane. But help is on the way with the unexpected appearance of 5,000-year-old Amazon princess Wonder Woman. Snyder’s film is at once thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking, even if its operatic scale comes at the cost of endless mayhem and an ear-splitting score. The roller-coaster ride into which he straps viewers is often exhilarating and ultimately exhausting and much too intense for the younger set. Intense action violence and crude language. CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13
‘The Divergent Series: Allegiant’ Third time’s not a charm with this ponderous adaptation of the final book of the futuristic trilogy by Veronica Roth, the sequel to “The Divergent Series: Insurgent”. Having brought down the wicked faction system that divided families in postapocalyptic Chicago, our heroine (Shailene Woodley) and her mentor-lover venture beyond the city wall to discover who is really behind the city’s troubles. There in a gleaming city a charismatic leader who oversees the Windy City experiment gone wrong, but his true intentions are unclear. While the film is not nearly as violent as its predecessor, it does contain several scenes which may be too strong for younger viewers. Intense violence and action. CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13
‘Other movies’ n ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘The Perfect Match’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R
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On TV n Friday, April 1, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Mercy Wanted Today.” Father Bala Udumala relates that the message of Divine Mercy is needed today in a violent and godless world, in which mercy is redemptive. n Saturday, April 2, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor.” The story of St. Giuseppe Moscati, and the plight and struggles of the poor and homeless of Naples in the early 20th century during a time of great inequality and poverty. Part 1. n Sunday, April 3, 12 p.m. (EWTN) “Divine Mercy Preview Show.” A preparation for the celebration of Divine Mercy, hosted by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy. n Monday, April 4, 9:30 a.m. (EWTN) “The Feast of the Annunciation.” Father Lawrence Lew, O.P., vocations promoter of the English Dominicans, delves into the meaning of the Feast of the Annunciation both for our individual interior life as well as the society of our day. n Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The King in our Midst.” Host Charles Molineaux explores the powerful devotion of Eucharistic Adoration and how it has become more common throughout the U.S. n Thursday, April 7, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The Crown of the Aventine.” A tour of Santa Sabina Basilica and its connection, as Dominican Mother House in Rome, to St. Dominic. n Saturday, April 9, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor of the Poor.” The second in a two-part series about the life of St. Giuseppe, who dedicated himself to caring for the sick and forsaken, ultimately dedicating all of his possessions and sacrificing his life in their service. Part 2. n Saturday, April 9, 11 p.m. (EWTN) “Gladsome Light.” An introspective look at the monastic work and prayer life of the monks of Holy Transfiguration Skete as they go about their day-to-day work. n Sunday, April 10, 10 p.m. (EWTN) “Father Joe Walijewski: A Pencil in Our Lord’s Hand.” The life and mission of Father Joseph Walijewski, a priest from Wisconsin who served the poor in South America.
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Lady of Angels Monastery in Hanceville, where she “was surrounded by the prayers and love of her spiritual daughters, sons and dear friends,” said a statement from the Poor Clares.
In Brief
Court seeks details on alternative contraceptive coverage
Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN, dies after long illness
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Less than a week after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive requirement, the court released an order requesting that additional briefs be submitted showing if and how contraceptive insurance coverage could be obtained by employees through their insurance companies without directly involving the religious employers objecting to this coverage. The order was released the afternoon of March 29, just six days after the justices heard oral arguments in Zubik v. Burwell, a consolidated case involving the Little Sisters of the Poor, Priests for Life, the Pennsylvania dioceses of Pittsburgh and Erie, and the Archdiocese of Washington. The groups are challenging the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that most religious and other employers must cover contraceptives, sterilization and abortifacients through employer-provided health insurance. Religious groups who did not fit the narrow exemption to the contraceptive mandate given to churches and religious groups argue that they cannot participate in providing contraceptives without violating their beliefs and that the Obama administration’s “work-around” allowing them to acknowledge their opposition and thereby trigger an arrangement for a third party to provide the coverage is still objectionable. The
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mother Angelica, who founded the Eternal Word Television Network and turned it into one of the world’s largest religious media operations, died March 27 at age 92. Feisty and outspoken, she was a major controversial figure in the U.S. Church in the closing decades of the 20th century. At the same time, the international scope of EWTN’s media operations gave her a ready calling card at the Vatican. She built the venture into a network that transmits programs 24 hours a day to more than 230 million homes in 144 countries via cable and other technologies. It broadcasts in in English and several other languages. Mother Angelica had been ill for years. She was operated on Dec. 24, 2001, in a Birmingham hospital to remove a blood clot in her brain after she suffered her second major stroke. It left her with partial paralysis and a speech impediment. Last November, she was placed on a feeding tube as she continued to battle lingering effects of the strokes. In February, members of her religious order, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, said she was in delicate condition and asked for prayers for her. Mother Angelica died at her order’s Our
court’s March 29 order specifically outlined the procedures that objecting religious employers must follow if they do not want to provide insurance coverage of contraceptives and went on to suggest that the groups could contract a third party to provide health insurance for their employees, but they would need to inform the insurance company that they did not want the plan to include contraceptive coverage that they find objectionable.
Rally outside White House Easter Egg Roll seeks end of family detention WASHINGTON, D.C. — Addressing about 100 people standing outside the White House March 28, Beatriz Mejia, a native of El Salvador, called on the United States to recognize that the thousands of mothers and children like her who have fled Central America in search of safety pose no threat to America. “We have come here from an unjust situation,” said Mejia, the mother of a 7-year-old son, who spent months in one of the family detention centers open since mid2014 in the Southwest U.S. but now lives in the Washington area awaiting a hearing on her case. “Many of us have lost our loved ones because of the violence we are experiencing.” Mejia’s testimony came at a rally planned by the CARA Family Detention Pro Bono Representation and Advocacy Project as President Barack Obama hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll for hundreds of children. Rally organizers said they chose the day and the site to highlight how children being held in the detention centers did not have the freedom to participate in any Easter celebration. — Catholic News Service
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In Brief Pope asks Pakistan government to ensure safety of Christians VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis appealed to the government of Pakistan to take steps to ensure the safety of the country’s Christians and other minorities the day after a terrorist bombing killed at least 70 people and injured more than 300 who were spending Easter afternoon in a public park. In Lahore, Pakistan, the pope said, “Easter was bloodied by a hideous attack, which massacred many innocent people, mostly families belonging to the Christian minority – especially women and children – who were in a public park joyfully celebrating the Easter holiday.” After reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square March 28, the pope condemned the Lahore attack as a “cowardly and senseless crime.” Jamaatul-Ahrar, a splinter group of the Taliban, said it carried out the attack and specifically targeted Christians celebrating Easter.
Mideast patriarchs plead for peace BEIRUT — Catholic patriarchs of the Middle East, in their Easter messages, pleaded for peace and urged their faithful to regard the risen Christ as a sign of hope. Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, Maronite Catholic patriarch, said the world – particularly the “political community and the rulers of nations” – badly needs “witnesses to the resurrection.” He called for the resurrection of “humanity, justice and peace” in his Easter message. Pointing to the turmoil in the region, Cardinal Rai said that “regional and international political powers are imposing devastating wars” in the Middle East, particularly in the Palestinian territories, Iraq and Syria. These powers, he said, “kindle the fire” and fund and supply the wars in the Middle East with weapons “and send them terrorists and mercenaries ... for political purposes, economic interests and strategic objectives.” Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Sako of Baghdad said “the situation in this part of the world is exceptionally tense, the country is divided, parts of it are still occupied by the Islamic State and the most painful thing is seeing that every coalition is divided due to conflicts over interest and leadership.”
Pope condemns ‘cruel abominations’ of Belgium attacks VATICAN CITY — Assuring his prayers for the victims and families of the terrorist attack in Brussels, Pope Francis condemned the “cruel abominations” and prayed for the conversion of those who adhere to violent fundamentalism, at the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 23. Saying he followed the tragic news of the bombings with a “sorrowful heart,” the pope expressed his closeness to “the dear people of Belgium, to all the families of the victims and to all the wounded. I renew an appeal to all people of good will to unite in the unanimous condemnation of these cruel abominations that have caused only death, terror and horror,” he said. — Catholic News Service
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Reconcile with God, resurrect hope in others, pope urges at Easter Cindy Wooden and Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Easter is a feast of hope, a celebration of God’s mercy and a call to pray for and assist all who suffer, Pope Francis said before giving his solemn blessing “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”). The risen Jesus “makes us sharers of His immortal life and enables us to see with His eyes of love and compassion those who hunger and thirst, strangers and prisoners, the marginalized and the outcast, the victims of oppression and violence,” the pope said March 27 after celebrating Easter morning Mass. Easter in Rome dawned bright and sunny; in St. Peter’s Square, the steps leading up to the basilica were turned into an abundant garden with thousands of tulips, daffodils and flowering bushes. On Easter morning, the pope does not give a homily. Instead, with hands clasped in prayer and head bowed, he led the tens of thousands of people in the square in silent reflection. After Mass, before giving his solemn blessing, Pope Francis said Easter should give people the courage to “blaze trails of reconciliation with God and with all our brothers and sisters.” Speaking about Christ’s power over death and sin, the pope prayed that the Lord would touch places in the globe scarred by war, terrorism, poverty and environmental destruction. “The risen Christ points out paths of hope to beloved Syria, a country torn by a lengthy conflict, with its sad wake of destruction, death, contempt for humanitarian law and the breakdown of civil concord,” the pope said. “To the power of the risen Lord we entrust the talks now in course.” He prayed that the power of the Resurrection would “overcome hardened hearts and promote a fruitful encounter of peoples and cultures,” particularly in Iraq, Yemen, Libya and the Holy Land. “May the Lord of life also accompany efforts to attain a definitive solution to the war in Ukraine, inspiring and sustaining initiatives of humanitarian aid, including the liberation of those who are detained,” he prayed. On Easter and throughout the Holy Week liturgies that preceded it, Pope Francis showed special concern for the fate of refugees and migrants fleeing violence and poverty and for Christians facing persecution in the Middle East and other parts of the world. At Rome’s Colosseum on Good Friday, after presiding over the Stations of the Cross, the pope offered a long meditation on how Christ continues to be scorned, tortured and crucified in suffering people around the world. “O Cross of Christ,” he said March 25, “today too we see you raised up in our sisters and brothers killed, burned alive, throats slit and decapitated by barbarous blades amid cowardly silence.” “O Cross of Christ, today too we see you in the faces of children, of women and people, worn out and fearful, who flee from war and violence and who often only find death and
CNS | L’Osservatore Romano, handout
Pope Francis delivers his Easter message “urbi et orbi” (“to the city and the world”) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican March 27. many Pilates who wash their hands,” he said. Two days later, celebrating the Resurrection, Pope Francis said the Easter message “invites us not to forget those men and women seeking a better future, an ever more numerous throng of migrants and refugees – including many children – fleeing from war, hunger, poverty and social injustice. All too often, these brothers and sisters of ours meet along the way death or, in any event, rejection by those who could offer them welcome and assistance.” Celebrating the Easter vigil March 26, Pope Francis said Easter is a celebration of hope, one that must begin within the hearts of each Christian. “Christ wants to come and take us by the hand to bring us out of our anguish,” he said in his homily. “This is the first stone to be moved aside this night: the lack of hope which imprisons us within ourselves. May the Lord free us from this trap, from being Christians without hope, who live as if the Lord were not risen, as if our problems were the center of our lives. “Today is the celebration of our hope, the celebration of this truth: nothing and no one will ever be able to separate us from His love,” the pope said. “The Lord is alive and wants to be sought among the living. After having found Him, each person is sent out by Him to announce the Easter message, to awaken and resurrect hope in hearts burdened by sadness, in those who struggle to find meaning in life. This is so necessary today.” During the Easter vigil, Pope Francis baptized eight women and four men, including Yong-joon Lee, the South Korean ambassador to Italy, who took the baptismal name, Stephen. The ambassador’s wife, taking the name Stella, was also baptized. The other catechumens came from Italy, Albania, Cameroon, India and China.
At the beginning of the vigil, after blessing the Easter fire, Pope Francis entered a darkened basilica, gently illuminated by the light of the Easter candle. In his homily, reflecting on the Easter account from the Gospel of St. Luke, the pope noted how the disciples doubted the testimony of the women returning from the empty tomb. Peter, he said, was the first of the men to rise and run to the tomb, choosing not to “succumb to the somber atmosphere of those days, nor was he overwhelmed by his doubts.” “This marked the beginning of Peter’s resurrection, the resurrection of his heart. Without giving in to sadness or darkness, he made room for hope; he allowed the light of God to enter into his heart, without smothering it,” the pope said. Like Peter and the women, he added, Christians cannot discover life by being “bereft of hope” and “imprisoned within ourselves” but, instead, must allow Christ to bring life and break open their tombs, sealed by “the stones of our rancor and the boulders of our past.” While problems will always remain, he said, Jesus’ resurrection is a sure foundation of Christian hope and not “mere optimism, nor a psychological attitude or desire to be courageous.” The Holy Spirit “does not remove evil with a magic wand. But He pours into us the vitality of life, which is not the absence of problems, but the certainty of being loved and always forgiven by Christ, who for us has conquered sin, death and fear,” he said. Christians are called to awaken the same hope in the hearts of others, Pope Francis said. Without such witness the Church risks becoming “an international organization full of followers and good rules, yet incapable of offering the hope for which the world longs.”
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Barbara Case Speers
Are we tipping God? W
ith the Diocesan Support Appeal underway, many people can’t help but ponder: Where is my benefit in this mission work? My husband and I have enough money for a home, car, personal necessities, food, medical care and entertainment. We don’t need any services from the diocese. We attend the Eucharistic Congress, and I do want to support the work of seminarians and deacons. But since the DSA doesn’t serve me, I’ll just tip a couple of bucks. As Christians, do we rob God by thinking this way? Are we dropping tips into the collection plate? Does it always have to be about us and what we are getting? Sometimes we need to step back and look at the big picture, removing ourselves from the equation. Almsgiving is taught in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7: “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” The Bible even references cheerful givers. Right after Pentecost, when 3,000 souls were baptized, then 5,000 were added to the Body of Christ, in Acts 4, the community of believers had financial needs. This issue was quickly resolved by the equivalent of a Diocesan Support Appeal: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all. There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale, and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.” (Acts 4:32-35). Just as Satan journeyed with Jesus in the wilderness for 40 days, the devil soon entered the picture here. Lo and behold, the Bible mentions two not-socheerful givers: “A man named Ananias, however, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. He retained for himself, with his wife’s knowledge, some of the purchase price, took the remainder, and put it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart so that you lied to the Holy Spirit and retained part of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain yours? And when it was sold, was it not still under your control? Why did you contrive this deed? You have lied not to human beings, but to God.’ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last, and great
fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, unaware of what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me, did you sell the land for this amount?’ She answered, ‘Yes, for that amount.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen, the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ At once, she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men entered they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things” (Acts 5:1-11). Jesus said in Luke 3:9-11, “‘Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.’ And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ He said to them in reply, ‘Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.’” The Lord goes into more detail. In Matthew 25:33-40: “He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” And in 1 Timothy 6:17-19, we read: “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.” If the Holy Spirit tells me to add another zero on my pledge, making my tip a sacrifice, I think I’ll listen and I will do it with a cheerful heart! For when I give to others, I am helping Jesus. Barbara Case Speers is a writer in Hickory.
Fred Berretta
L
ast week as we commemorated Good Friday and focused attention on the Passion of Jesus before His Resurrection on Easter Sunday, we heard a pivotal verbal exchange: “Jesus said to Pilate, ‘For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’” (Jn 18:37-38) With the proliferation of ideas, images and information, never has there been an age where Pilate’s question is more relevant. The din of this world offers a plethora of enticing, conflicting and bizarre ideologies. Moral relativism, the belief that multiple and contradicting “truths” can exist and all be right, may tempt us to a kind of vapid political correctness. Yet everything we observe in the universe conveys an inviolable aspect of existence, a principle demonstrating that there is a governed cosmic reality, and we are part of it. The principle of gravity affects us all, whether we choose to believe in it or not. It is entirely logical to deduce that if there is an incontrovertible certainty for observable reality, there must be one for the part we cannot observe. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). And, “if you abide in my word ... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32). He did not present His truth to us as one option among many “life choices.” Christ’s immutable truth – which satiates our unique, innermost needs now in part, and completely to perfection in eternity – presents a choice: light or darkness, love or hate, embrace God or reject God, heaven or hell. Both realms are reality: we must choose one or the other. Jesus taught us how to choose a perfectly fulfilled, eternal life with God. Furthermore, He promised there is a way to live now that makes our temporal lives truly free. It was the freedom of the desert hermits and the
What is truth? saints. The testimony of Scripture and the witness of the saints tell us that the truthfilled life is the optimal one, and the risk of a non-truth-filled life is that we might ultimately reject God and heaven. Like all great things, there is a price. We must “abide” in Jesus’ word by striving to obey His teachings, authentically. Rationalizing actions which conflict with these cannot get us there. Sin blinds us spiritually and we lose the way, and over time we may come to disdain the truth. We need God’s grace and mercy every day to root out sin, but we must also cooperate with His grace. Ironically, over time, we discover that the “price” of adhering to the truth seems less costly. Like the man in Scripture who found the pearl of great price, he sold everything to acquire it. To sell all he owned for a pearl seems to us a large price to pay, but to him it was as nothing. To find the freedom that truth offers, we must set out on the right path. Like Pilate, we will find Jesus in front of us, waiting for our decision. Worn down by fatigue, the crowd, or other pressures, we may be tempted to be like Pilate. We may struggle with whether to let Jesus live or die in our own lives. Not allowing Jesus to answer his question, Pilate relented to popular pressure and his own lack of resolve and sent Jesus to death, killing Truth incarnate. If we are honest with ourselves, have we not at times acted like Pilate? It is not easy to embrace truth and all its implications, and there will be difficult moments. In fact, it is those defining moments which ultimately form our “life choice.” Only with the aid of the sacraments and daily prayer – especially for humility, mercy and understanding – do we find renewed healing and strength to be faithful, avoid the sin of Pilate, and allow Truth to live in our own lives. Fred Berretta is a member of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.
April 1, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI
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Parish spotlight
Deacon James H. Toner
What we know that ain’t so:
“What you think is the right road may lead to death” (Prv 14:12)
Socialism What we think is the right road
T
he Church has no right to tell me how to vote, so if I want to be a Catholic socialist, it’s up to me to decide. Socialism was also the practice of the early Church, and it was promoted by Vatican II. And, under socialism, we would get a lot of free stuff !
But it’s the wrong road That the Church and the State are separated by an impermeable wall is a grave misunderstanding of both political theory and of Catholic social doctrine. The Vatican II document “Gaudium et Spes” teaches that the Church must have the liberty to “preach the faith, to proclaim its teaching about society ... and to pass moral judgment even in matters relating to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it” (76). Every serious political judgment and every law play out against a moral horizon, and the Church not only can, but must, call us to obey God before men (Acts 5:29). The Church – and all its homilists and teachers – must teach wise citizenship, meaning that Catholics are called upon to support and obey just laws and to challenge and resist unjust laws (for reference, see Romans 13:1-7, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1903, 2239 and 2242). “Without the light the Gospel sheds on God and man, societies easily become totalitarian” (CCC 2257). Confusion is rampant Winston Churchill in this area. A number of faithful Catholics have been taught – incorrectly – that homilies must not cross the line into “politics.” To be sure, the priest should not endorse a “Quas Primas,” particular candidate by Pope Pius XI (1925) from the ambo. But we Catholics must hear, and we have the right to hear, about state power and whether the exercise of political authority is being accomplished “within the limits of the moral order” (CCC 1923). If it were otherwise, the Church would stand mute and impotent before such matters as abortion, the destruction of marriage, and the
‘The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.’ Suggested reading
critical bioethical issues of our day. Pope Pius XI said in 1931, “Socialism, like all errors, contains some truth ...; it is based, nevertheless, on a theory of human society peculiar to itself and irreconcilable with true Christianity. Religious socialism (and) Christian socialism are contradictory terms; no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist.” St. John XXIII similarly pointed out, 30 years later, that “no Catholic could subscribe even to moderate Socialism. The reason is that Socialism is founded on a doctrine of human society which is bounded by time and takes no account of any objective other than that of material well-being. Since, therefore, it proposes a form of social organization which aims solely at production, it places too severe a restraint on human liberty, at the same time flouting the true notion of social authority.” State Socialism is a collective system of economic organization in which the major means of production and distribution are owned, managed and controlled by the government. The government becomes a monster, a leviathan (see Job, Ch. 41). When we think of the fountain of justice and of salvation as a benevolent governmental leviathan, we violate the First Commandment. “Power tends to corrupt,” as Catholic writer Lord Acton told us, “and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Beware the leviathan! In the liturgical year, we have the beautiful Feast of Christ the King to remind us that it is to Our Lord, not any government, that we always owe first and true allegiance. This is the key reason Pope Pius XI taught us that “no one can be at the same time a good Catholic and a true socialist” (“Quadragesimo Anno,” 120). The leviathan – government – has no money of its own; it must expropriate every dollar it chooses to redistribute, reminding us of St. Augustine’s compelling admonition: “Without justice what are kingdoms but great bands of robbers?” According to the enduring Catholic social teaching principle of subsidiarity, the central political organs of a state should not unduly interfere with local and smaller government – even, perhaps especially, in financial matters. The Apostles did, in fact, collect and distribute goods in a small communities, but that is hardly an endorsement of a socialism which implicitly promises perfect justice once it has consolidated and monopolized power. The former Soviet Union was the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, where “socialism” meant an imperfect and transitional phase on the way to perfect and eternal communism. The name of the Nazi party in Germany was the Nationalist Socialist German Workers’ Party. Both leviathan ideologies sought to replace Christ the King. Vatican II, of course, did not endorse socialism. Rather, it called us “to cultivate a properly informed conscience and to impress the divine law on affairs of the earthly city” (“Gaudium et Spes,” 43). We are wise to heed the ancient counsel that “it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Ps 118:9), even if those princes, or candidates, are offering lots of ostensibly “free stuff.” Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.
Joe Thornton | Catholic News Herald
Ladies gather at Our Lady of the Highways for annual Tea Party THOMASVILLE — Started more than 10 years ago as a social gathering for the women of the parish, Our Lady of the Highways Parish’s spring Ladies Tea remains a very popular event for ladies young and old. This year once again parishioners dressed up in their favorite hats, brought their special tea cups and china, and shared covered dish food items. Each year a special guest has provided interesting topics and programs for the group. This year the ladies were treated to piano music.
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‘Let us allow ourselves to be enveloped by this mercy that comes to meet us.’ Pope Francis
From online story: “Holy Week is memorial of God’s infinite mercy, pope says at audience” Through press time on March 30, 14,575 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald. com have viewed a total of 26,158 pages. The top 10 headlines in March were: n Diocese announces college seminary for future priests......................................1,917 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald.................................462 n Irish dance champ Ciaran Traynor steps off to international competition....... 413 n CCHS studentMatthew Salvino named Park Scholar..............................................412 n Bishop’s Lenten Youth Pilgrimage draws record crowd..........................................371 n How to make a pilgrimage for the Year of Mercy.................................................... 323 n Through Campus Ministry, WCU student discovers a new life of faith..............292 n Take a ‘Seven Churches’ pilgrimage in Charlotte....................................................260 n ‘You are all brothers’........................................................................................................255 n Men take opportunity to find strength in God’s mercy........................................... 217
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catholicnewsherald.com | April 1, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Where are you going? QUO VADIS DAYS 2016
June 13-17, 2016 * Belmont Abbey College Rising high school freshmen through college A camp for Catholic men to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern God’s call in their lives.
www.charlottevocations.org