July 22, 2016

July 22, 2016

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

Local annulment cases up after pope’s reforms 3 Deacon candidates installed as lectors; deacons affirm promise to serve 5

Prayer for aching hearts Police shootings are ‘wake-up call for all of us’

22-23

INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español............................18-19 Events calendar................. 4 Our Parishes................. 3-17 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies...................... 20 U.S. news..................... 22-23 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news................. 24-25 Year of Mercy..................... 2

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Lay Ministry graduates say ‘Here I am’ to God’s call 3

YEAR OF MERCY PROFILE

Lending a ‘helping hand’ in Ghana 11

Lap family ‘happy’ to be safe in U.S., pursuing the American dream 2

Year of Mercy 2

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Lap family ‘happy’ to be safe in U.S., pursuing American dream SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — The hope of a better life in America has attracted immigrants to our shores for generations. From the Pilgrims in 1620 to today, the pursuit of the “American dream” has meant religious freedom, refuge from violence or injustice, the ability to work and live freely, and the chance to give one’s children a better life.

Today, refugees fleeing persecution and hardship include the Lap family, who arrived in Charlotte last month after suffering years of persecution in their homeland of Myanmar.

Ram Lap, 33, and his 28-year-old wife Di Me escaped from Myanmar in 2009. With no other living relatives to leave behind, they fled a military-run forced labor camp and made their way to Malaysia. There, they applied for sanctuary in the United States and meanwhile earned United Nations work permits. Ram worked in a Chinese restaurant and Di Me worked as a waitress. The American government recently approved their resettlement request and in June, the Laps landed at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport.

There to welcome the Laps with open arms were staff from Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Refugee Resettlement office. With help from the staff, the Laps moved into a modestly furnished two-bedroom apartment in Charlotte, began taking English classes, and – importantly – received help in applying for and getting a job to help them settle into their new life here.

“When we got to the airport ... we felt freedom,” Di Me recalls.

“We are happy to be in the U.S.!”

The two-bedroom apartment feels uncomfortably luxurious, she adds, as they are not used to such spacious living quarters.

Refugee families receive a monthly stipend, $181-$349, depending on the number of people, but only for a limited time. Within three to four months, they are expected to be able to live on their own and have their own incomes.

Beyond just the basic necessities like a place to live, Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Office provides critical job training and counseling services to these refugees. Last fiscal year, they helped 258 refugees find jobs and start down the path to independence.

“The employment staff assists refugees obtain employment and become self-sufficient,” says Leon Shoats, employment specialist for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. “Upon arrival, refugees receive an orientation to the local work environment. Included in the orientation is an assessment of education, training and work experience. An employability plan is developed for each new arrival. Additionally, they receive an explanation of the hiring process and instruction in job seeking and keeping skills.”

Catholic Charities staff also provides ongoing job counseling and helps the refugees in their job search. They contact potential employers and help the refugees navigate the application and interview process.

“After they are hired, post-employment counseling and ongoing support services are provided to maximize their chances for success and integration into community life,” Shoats says. Refugees can get help for up to five years after arriving in the U.S., if needed.

Ram and Di Me went through the employment orientation a couple of weeks ago and are waiting for job opportunities to open up for them.

“It was a good orientation,” Di Me says, speaking in Burmese

Myanmar refugees Ram Lap, his wife Di Me and their 18-month-old daughter, Nu The Nge are setting up new lives in Charlotte thanks to Catholic Charities.

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

Refugee employment Catholic Charities Employment Staff works with Charlotte-area employers to provide workers from a diverse labor pool of skilled and unskilled applicants who are eager to work. Refugees are employed in commercial bakeries, food processing, woodworking, hospitality, manufacturing, retail, recycling, and warehouse distribution work.

All refugee assessment, screening, referral and placement services are free. Also, the employment staff assists with translation and interpretation services, transportation, new employee orientation and support services after the refugee is hired.

To learn more, contact Catholic Charities Employment Staff at 704-370-3285 or 704-370-3257, or email Leon Shoats at lxshoats@ charlottediocese.org. through Catholic Charities interpreter Naomi Leng. “We are still scared because of the language barrier.”

Leng finds great satisfaction in taking the Lap family and other refugees to their appointments and helping them navigate their new lives in Charlotte. “I come from Myanmar. I have been here four years. It is very hard to learn English,” Leng says. “This is kind of my dream job. I really love to do this job.”

Susan Jassan, acting Refugee Resettlement director, sees the dedication of the Catholic Charities staff firsthand.

“I know our employment teams work tirelessly to find appropriate placements for incoming refugees,” Jassan says. ”Our team is very selective in choosing employers for our clients, trying to create a match that will benefit the client and suit the needs of the employer.”

When asked what they hope for the future, Ram and Di Me are in agreement.

“We hope for our child to go to school, to get an education,” Di Me says. “We hope to buy a car soon, to get jobs, build good credit and buy a house in two to three years.”

Thanks to Catholic Charities, the American dream is now within reach for this immigrant family.

Marriage and education of children

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ccording to Church law (Canon 226), those who are married have the specific obligation to contribute, as spouses, to the building up of the People of God. The Second Vatican Council stated that the fundamental duty of married people is to give clear proof of their lives of the indissolubility and holiness of the marriage bond, to assert with vigor the right and duty as parents to give their children a Christian upbringing, and to defend the dignity and autonomy of the family.

This obligation to ensure a Christian education for their children is a moral, not legal, obligation for parents. Juridically, the religious dimension of the family is set in the freedom of partners to procreate and to educate their children. The education of children in the faith is of paramount importance to the future of the Church. Parents are free to determine the particular method of Catholic education with the support and recognition of such a right by the State (Canon 797). Parents are free to select schools where they will educate their children. Yet, it must be recognized that it is not always possible to do so.

At this point, it would be well to refer to the many Church laws on marriage and those on Catholic education. A summary canon would be 1055, Section 1: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring, has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament between the baptized.”

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: Civil Liberties

Your daily Scripture readings JULY 24-30

Sunday: Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13; Monday (St. James): 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 20:2028; Tuesday (Sts. Joachim and Anne): Jeremiah 14:17-22, Matthew 13:36-43; Wednesday: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21, Matthew 13:44-46; Thursday: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53; Friday (St. Martha): Jeremiah 26:1-9, John 11:19-27, Luke 10:38-42; Saturday (St. Peter Chrysologus): Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Matthew 14:1-12

JULY 31-AUG. 6

Sunday: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23, Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11, Luke 12:13-21; Monday (St. Alphonsus Liguori): Jeremiah 28:1-17, Matthew 14:13-21; Tuesday (St. Eusebius of Vercelli, St. Peter Julian Eymard): Jeremiah 30:1-2, 12-15, 18-22, Matthew 14:2236, 15:1-2, 10-14; Wednesday: Jeremiah 31:1-7, Jeremiah 31:10-13, Matthew 15:21-28; Thursday (St. John Vianney): Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 16:13-23; Friday: Deuteronomy 32:35-36, 39, 41, Matthew 16:24-28; Saturday (The Transfiguration of the Lord): Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 2 Peter 1:16-19, Luke 9:28-36

AUG. 7-13

Sunday: Wisdom 18:6-9, Hebrews 11:1-2, 8-19, Luke 12:32-48; Monday (St. Dominic): Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28, Matthew 17:2227; Tuesday (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross): Ezekiel 2:8-3:4, Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14; Wednesday (St. Lawrence): 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John 12:24-26; Thursday (St. Clare): Ezekiel 12:1-12, Matthew 18:21-19:1; Friday (St. Jane Frances de Chantal): Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63, Isaiah 12:2-6, Matthew 19:3-12; Saturday (Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus): Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 3032, Matthew 19:13-15

Our parishes

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Lay Ministry grads say ‘Here I am’ to God’s call Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

HICKORY — The call to follow God can often seem formidable, but for 60 men and women from across the Diocese of Charlotte, saying “yes” to God has changed their lives.

Their “yes” was taking part in the diocese’s Lay Ministry Formation Program, a journey that began in 2014 and reached a milestone July 9 with their graduation.

Through this two-year formation program, laypeople learn more about the faith so they may better fulfill their baptismal call to participate in the Church’s mission.

It focuses on four areas of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. The program is comprised of 150 hours of classes – everything from Scripture, Church history and Church councils, Christology, liturgy and the sacraments, to Catholic moral and social teachings, prayer and gift discernment.

For those who completed the program, July 9 was a day of celebration and anticipation about where God will lead them next. The past two years of study may have been challenging, graduates said, but well worth the effort.

“Lay Ministry has allowed me to take yet another step in my faith journey by opening my heart, nourishing my mind and soul so that I may continue walking the path as one of God’s humble servants,” said Hugh Holland of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.

“My knowledge of the history of the Catholic Church is deeper, as is my faith. I have also met a lot of new friends from across the diocese that I wouldn’t have otherwise,” said Bill Youngblood of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

“I have been overwhelmed with gratitude for all this program has poured into me,” said Carol Everhart of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville. “We know that by virtue of our baptism we are all called to serve, and we do, in many ways in our own vocations, but if you are ready to go deeper in your understanding

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Carol Everhart of Hendersonville was one of 60 people who received a Lay Ministry Formation certificate of completion from Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, July 9. and application of God’s call, I lovingly encourage you to explore this program.”

“For the Catholic who has always felt they need to know more about their faith, the Lay Ministry course is RCIA to the fourth power,” said Hank Kaczmarek of St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.

“The commitment was not easy, but I believe it was worth the effort,” said Patrick L. Roach of Our Lady of Fatima Mission in Winston-Salem. “I particularly feel blessed to have been introduced to the Divine Office, and I feel the whole experience has brought me closer to God. I now know that there is so much to learn about my Catholic

faith, and although I have just finished two years of study the journey is just beginning.”

During a Mass at the Catholic Conference Center to celebrate their graduation, graduates were encouraged to keep saying “yes” to God. In his homily Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, reflected on the day’s readings, including Isaiah 6:1-8, in which the prophet encounters God. When God sanctifies him and calls him, Isaiah responds, “Here I am, send me!”

Isaiah serves as a model of how we should respond to God’s similar call to us, Monsignor West said.

“Dear friends in Christ, the very same commitment is being asked of us this morning,” he said. “Christ is inviting you to work with Him to make His love and mercy a real experience for those whom you encounter on the journey of life.”

“I realize that in hearing this call, it is a daunting one,” he acknowledged. “Nevertheless, it is what is being asked of us as we formally embrace a life of Gospel ministry, side by side with the Lord Jesus.”

In his closing comments at the graduation ceremony, Frank Villaronga, diocesan director of the Lay Ministry program, also told the graduates to keep going on their spiritual journey.

“I’ve heard you say ‘yes’ several times today,” he said with a smile. “Hopefully, you’ll begin to realize what that ‘yes’ is and continue to say ‘yes,’ and figure out how to live that out.”

New classes starting The 2016-’18 Lay Ministry Formation Program begins Sept.

24, with classes scheduled in Arden, Bryson City, Charlotte, Greensboro and Lenoir. All Catholic adults are welcome to apply. For details, contact Frank Villaronga, director of the diocesan Evangelization and Adult Education Office, at 704-370-3274 or frankv@charlottediocese.org.

Local annulment cases up after Pope Francis’ reforms SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

Nancy Kopfle

Helping the hurting

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have been an advocate for the Tribunal for almost seven years, and I must say, nothing surprises me anymore! As an advocate, it is my job to lead someone through the process of seeking an annulment in the Catholic Church. It is a ministry that has taken me out of my “comfort zone,” and without sounding too dramatic, it has truly affected my life. It has helped me become less judgmental, more compassionate and understanding, and a better listener.

When I was first asked by a friend (Deacon Mark Diener) to consider becoming an advocate, I wasn’t really sure if that was something I wanted to do, or would even have the ability to do.

I read a little about what an advocate does, and I prayed a lot. I began to feel that God was calling me to this ministry, and when that happens, there’s no way to say no any longer!

As an advocate, I meet with people HELPING, SEE page 21

CHARLOTTE — More people are seeking marriage annulments in the Diocese of Charlotte following the reforms of Pope Francis last year, and diocesan staff are speeding up the review process in light of the pope’s instruction to “carry out justice and mercy” for those “who experienced the failure of marriage.”

An annulment – officially a “declaration of nullity” – is a judgment by the Church that a marriage was never valid. It is not a type of divorce, but a recognition that the marriage bond never existed in the first place. The annulment process is governed

by Church law and overseen by each diocese’s tribunal, or Church court.

Tribunal staff in the Charlotte diocese are seeing an increase in the number of people seeking an annulment over the 10 months since Pope Francis issued new rules aimed at simplifying and expediting the annulment process. While many of the reforms are aimed at small dioceses without a tribunal, some of the new rules have affected this diocese, diocesan staff say – even just in raising awareness during this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy as Catholics seek resolution with the Church over divorces or second marriages.

As of July 15, the diocesan tribunal is outpacing last year’s caseload – running three months ahead of this time last year, with a total of 225 active cases.

Tribunal staff have handled a total of 253

cases so far this year, and they anticipate the total being 400 cases before year’s end – an increase of approximately 37 percent over last year’s 292 cases. In comparison, the tribunal was handling around 270 cases per year just three years ago.

The pope’s reforms, which came in response to the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops, aim to make the Church’s marriage annulment process quicker, cheaper and more of a pastoral ministry.

The changes simplify procedures for determining whether a marriage is valid, doing away with the automatic appeal of tribunal decisions, establishing an abbreviated process when the nullity is clear and ordering a reduction in the cost to couples. The new rules replace canons 1671-1691 of the Code of Canon Law and canons 1357-1377 of the Eastern code.

Pope Francis urged tribunal staffs to accept and study the new procedures and the motives behind making them “in order to render a service of justice and charity to families.”

“For many people, who have lived through an unhappy marriage experience, the verification of whether or not it was valid represents an important possibility, and these people must be helped to follow this path as easily as possible,” he reiterated March 12 during a meeting with Vatican court officials. “The Church is mother and wants to show everyone the face of God, who is faithful to His love, merciful and always able to give strength and hope.”

The Charlotte diocese received the English translation of the new rules in December, then extensively trained staff and advocates on the new procedures as well as how to handle the anticipated rise in the number of annulment requests.

“The tribunal staff has worked diligently to implement the changes promulgated

by Pope Francis in the procedural laws concerning marriage,” said Father John Putnam, diocesan judicial vicar. “It’s clear from our experience thus far that his message is reaching people, since the number of cases coming to us has increased.”

Besides the increased caseload, tribunal staff say they are finding it easier to process cases for people who are not native to the U.S. Staff Advocate Joy Barnes, who has 50 cases right now on her desk, said the most noticeable change is no longer having to get permission to hear a case if a person lives outside the diocese – what’s known as establishing competency. “Which, for people who live in other countries, was an adventure all its own,” Barnes said.

Lisa Sarvis, head of the tribunal chancery, noted, “If (the other tribunal) wouldn’t give us permission, like in other countries, we might never hear back. The one thing that came from all this, which was incredibly helpful, was relaxing of some of those restrictions.”

“If the person lives here, if the proofs ANNULMENTS, SEE page 21

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: July 26 – 4:30 p.m.

Mass for Catholic Charities Board Pastoral Center Chapel, Charlotte

Aug. 2 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Mother of God Church, Sylva

July 29 – 7 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Americas Church, Biscoe

Aug. 4 - 4 p.m.

Mass of Thanksgiving for Priest Jubilarians St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events July 22, 2016

Entertainment

Volume 25 • Number 21

Concert pianists to perform: 2:30 p.m. Saturday, July 23, at Holy Cross Church , 616 South Cherry St. in Kernersville. Concert pianists from the Eastern Musical Festival will perform, showcasing the new 6-foot-2-inch Perzina grand piano. A reception with an opportunity to meet the pianists and enjoy light refreshments will follow. Admission is free, but donations to the parish’s music program will be gratefully accepted. Sponsored by the Greensboro-based Eastern Music Festival summer training program. For details, contact Marianne Schmitt, concert chair, at M.Griffin@allpoints.biz or 336-341-9995.

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

HIGH SCHOOL REUNIONS

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.

Notre Dame High School: In September at Emerald Isle for all alumni and spouses of Notre Dame High School in Greensboro. Located first in Southern Pines, the Catholic high school was moved to Greensboro in 1957 into the former location of St. Leo’s Hospital, which had closed in 1955. Notre Dame was a girls boarding school first, then changed to an integrated, co-ed day school, with teachers from the Sisters of Mercy. Students came from Burlington, High Point and Greensboro. It closed in 1968.

Contact kdowd01@att.net for details.

Lectures & Workshops What is Sacred Music?: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at St. Ann Church, Allen Center Cafeteria, 3635 Park Road in Charlotte. Explore the role of sacred music in the Latin Mass.

Presented by Stefano Monaco, St. Ann Church choir member, with introduction by Father Timothy Reid, pastor. Preceded by a 6 p.m. Latin Mass. While the event is free, an RSVP is greatly requested by July 25 to info@charlottelatinmass. org or through www.eventbrite.com (search “Latin Mass”).

Sponsored by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community.

Medicare Choices Made Easy: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 26, at Sacred Heart Church, Brevard. Catholic Charities Elder Ministry Program has arranged this through the Buncombe County Council on Aging. This program is unbiased and will provide accurate information for those who are on or plan to apply for Medicare on how to save money. Caregivers and others welcome. For details, contact Sandra at 704-370-3220 or email sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org, or call Kathleen Logsdon at 828-862-3275.

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING NFP Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, July 23, or Saturday, Aug. 20, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. 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.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

NFP CLASSES: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 20, at the Hack home in Huntersville. Contact Joe or Kathy Hack for details at 704-548-1834 or hackhouse@bellsouth.net.

“Protecting God’s Children” workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are:

PRAYER SERVICES & Groups

ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, St. Lawrence Basilica (parish office building basement), 97 Haywood St.

PROCESSION FOR LIFE: Saturday, July 23, starting at St. Ann Church (3635 Park Road, Charlotte) with Mass at 9 a.m. followed by a procession and prayer vigil in front of Family Reproductive Health (700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte) at 10 a.m. Park on the street adjacent to the facility and line up for the procession by the Our Lady of Guadalupe banner.

Organized by the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.

Silent No More Awareness Event: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 30. Featuring women and men who are silent no more about their abortion experiences and featuring those who have found healing from abortion. In the public right-of-way in front of Family Reproductive Health, 700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte. Come hear personal experiences or share your story. Contact Katherine Hearn (704-877-2551, katherinephearn@gmail.com) or Andrea Hines (704-996-4597, hinesal@gmail.com) if you’d like to share your story. For details about Silent No More, go to www.silentnomoreawareness.org.

Mass & Holy Hour of Reparation: Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville.

6:30 p.m. Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Reparation from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. to atone for the collective sins of man – particularly abortion, euthanasia, contraception and same-sex unions – and beg for God’s forgiveness. Organized

by St. Mark Church’s Respect Life Ministry. For details, email Mike FitzGerald at respect.life@stmarknc.org.

Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at 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.

POLISH MASS: 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. The fifth annual Polish Diocesan Mass in Honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. John Paul II will be celebrated

by Polish priest Father Jan Trela. The Mass will be said in Polish, with the homily given in both English and Polish. This Mass will fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation.

Confessions in Polish and English at 1 p.m. After Mass, venerate a first-class relic of St. John Paul II: a drop of his blood on a fragment of his cassock from the day he was shot in 1981. A dessert reception will follow. For details, call 704-290-6012.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKENDS: Nov. 4-6 in Atlantic Beach. For details go to www.

NCMarriageDiscovery.org or call 704-315-2144.

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

Thursday, July 28, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. For details, call the church office at 704-543-7677.

GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, or 6 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 11, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road HUNTERSVILLE: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road KANNAPOLIS: 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, St. Joseph Church (parish activity center), 108 Saint Joseph St. SALISBURY: 6 p.m. Monday, July 25, Sacred Heart School, 385 Lumen Christi Lane SUPPORT GROUPS MOTHERING WITH GRACE: Second Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. in the Assembly Room at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid, Charlotte. For details visit www. motheringwithgrace.org.

Shining Stars Adult day respite: Meets on Mondays and Wednesdays at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte. Shining Stars is a nonprofit adult day respite program for members of the community with early to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.

For details, call Suzanne Bach at 704-335-0253.

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 Holy Hour: Every first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m., in the Daily Mass Chapel at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

Everyone is welcome to attend and pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, venerate and be blessed by the parish’s first-class relic of St. Faustina Kowalska. Recite Divine Mercy prayers and read Scripture and excerpts from St. Faustina’s diary. Each month’s Holy Hour will be for the following intentions: Aug. 4, workers and volunteers of mercy; Sept. 1, catechists; Oct. 6, Marian Jubilee Dedicated to Mary; Nov. 3, prisoners; Dec. 1, healing of the family. Sponsored by the Cenacles of Divine Mercy.

Year of Mercy website: Keep up to date on all Jubilee Year of Mercy events, download catechetical resources on the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, watch videos on the theme of mercy, and much more, at the Diocese of Charlotte’s Year of Mercy website: www. yearofmercy.rcdoc.org.

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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NFP Awareness Week begins July 24

Photos by RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Above) Permanent deacons from around the Diocese of Charlotte had the opportunity to affirm their ordination promises with a resounding “I do” July 14 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte during a Mass in which 15 candidates to the permanent diaconate were also installed as lectors. (Below) Bishop Peter Jugis hands the Scriptures to deacon candidate Quang T. Nguyen during the lector installation ceremony.

Deacon candidates installed as lectors; deacons affirm promise to serve Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis installed 15 candidates to the permanent diaconate as lectors during a July 14 Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. At the same liturgy, approximately 50 permanent deacons from around the Diocese of Charlotte reaffirmed their promise to serve the Church with the words, “I do, with the help of God.” As lectors, the deacon candidates are now commissioned to proclaim the Word of God during Mass. This is the second of three steps on their path to eventual ordination as permanent deacons, anticipated for 2018.

During his homily, Bishop Jugis expressed gratitude to God for the Charlotte diocese’s deacons and future deacons.

“The Lord gives us the joy this day of witnessing our brother deacons affirm the promises of their ordination, and our deacon candidates being instituted into the ministry of lector. And it is a joy to see all of you offering yourselves for the ministry of the Church.”

“You men, who are about to be instituted in the ministry of lector, will now have a special office within the Church in the service of Jesus,” he told the deacon candidates.

Quoting the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, Bishop Jugis told them, “’When the Sacred Scriptures are read in the Church, God Himself speaks to His people.’” You, therefore, are placing yourselves and your voices at the service of God to proclaim His Word, His message of salvation to His people.”

The 15 candidates are: Paul C. Bruck, Ralph B. D’Agostino Jr., David M. Faunce, Steffen M. Fohn, Frank L. Moyer, Timothy J. Mueller, Matthew A. Newsome, Quang T. Nguyen, David M. Ramsey III, Martin M. Sheehan, Jr., Francis E. Skinner, Paul B. Sparrow, Peter B. Tonon, Donald J. Waugh Jr. and Jack A. Yarbrough.

Deacon Ron Steinkamp, director of the diocesan Office of Permanent Diaconate, praised the candidates’ commitment to the program and to serve the Church.

“We are very pleased with the engagement of these candidates

in the formation process. This is the ninth class for the Diocese of Charlotte, and the most rigorous. These men, with the support of their wives, have willingly embraced the challenge. They are an impressive group and, with the help of God, will one day be worthy servants of the Lord as ordained permanent deacons.”

In what is an annual tradition, deacons had the opportunity to affirm their ordination promises with a resounding “I do” following questions from Bishop Jugis like, “Do you resolve to conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are ministers at the altar?”

Before giving the final blessing, Bishop Jugis invoked a special blessing from God upon the deacons, and concluded with an integral prayer from an ordination ceremony: “May God, who has begun the good work in you, bring it to fulfillment.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – “Natural Family Planning. Love, Mercy, Life. Opening the Heart of Marriage” is the theme of this year’s Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, a national educational campaign of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to celebrate God’s design for married love and the gift of life and to raise awareness of Natural Family Planning methods.

Growing in popularity as a healthy, safe and moral alternative to contraception, Natural Family Planning methods represent a unique form of fertility education.

The Church supports NFP methods because they respect God’s design for married love and the gift of life. In fact, NFP represents the only authentic approach to family planning available to husbands and wives because these methods can be used to both attempt or avoid pregnancy. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.

The practice of NFP can help a couple open the heart of their marriage to all the gifts that God wishes to provide. It reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child.

By respecting the love-giving and lifegiving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife, providing them with the tools to help them live in harmony with God’s divine plan for human sexuality, marriage, conjugal love and responsible parenthood.

The slogan for this year’s NFP Awareness Week was inspired by the Holy Father’s call for a Jubilee Year of Mercy, a special time of grace in the Church in which everyone, including married couples and families, are invited to open their hearts more fully to the unconditional love, mercy and life Christ and the Church offer us.

The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week (July 24-30) highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical “Humanae Vitae” (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mother.

At Catholic Charities’ website, www. ccdoc.org/nfp, you can find information in English and Spanish about NFP under the Services/Family Enrichment tab on the home page. Included are: a schedule of free, one-day NFP courses around the diocese; video testimonies from couples, a physician and a diocesan priest about the many benefits of NFP; a list of NFP supportive physicians in North Carolina; plus detailed information about the various NFP methods and other basics.

For details, contact Batrice Adcock, MSN, Natural Family Planning Program Director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, at bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.

— USCCB

6

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Deacon Horai of OLA dies aged 88 CHARLOTTE — Deacon Stephen J. Horai Jr., 88, of Charlotte died Monday, July 11, 2016, at Levine & Dickson Hospice HouseSouthminster.

A local funeral Mass was celebrated July 15, 2016, at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte.

A funeral Mass was also celebrated July 19, 2016, at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Piscataway, N.J. Entombment was at Franklin Memorial Park in North Brunswick, N.J. A native of Staten Island, N.Y., Deacon Horai was born Oct. 11, 1927, to the late Cecilia Nadosky Horai and Stephen Joseph Horai.

He was a U.S. Navy veteran and was employed for more than 25 years as a lab technician with Proctor and Gamble in Staten Horai Island.

Deacon Horai was ordained on May 14, 1977, for the Diocese of Trenton, N.J. He relocated to North Carolina in 1986 after service in the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., and was assigned to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. He was an ordained deacon for 39 years.

Deacon Horai was preceded in death by a son, Stephen J. Horai III, and by a brother, Edward Horai.

He is survived by his wife, Anna M. Horai of Charlotte; children, Ellen Horai of Charlotte, Karen Hamilton of Piscataway, Jo Anne Hall (Dennis) of Piscataway, Michael Horai (Jan) of Charlotte, and Barbara Castiglione (Jimmy) of Edison, N.J.; and 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Sheenan Funeral Home of Dunellen is in charge of the arrangements.

— Catholic News Herald

Mercy Sister Mary Timothy Warren passes away Teacher, principal, counselor, Lay Ministry Program founder, Vicar for Women Religious among her service to the Church BELMONT — Mercy Sister Mary Timothy Warren, 90, died at Marian Center at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont on July 11, 2016. She was professed as a Sister of Mercy for 64 years.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, July 15, 2016, in the convent’s Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at Belmont Abbey Cemetery.

Her ministries included serving as a teacher and principal of Catholic elementary schools in Charlotte, Asheville and Long Warren Island, N.Y. Sister Mary Timothy also ministered at Mercy Hospital in Charlotte as a cytology technician, director of continuing education, and a counselor in the family surgical waiting room.

In addition, she served as pastoral associate at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, as well as developing and administering the Lay Ministry Formation Program in the Diocese of Charlotte and serving as diocesan Vicar for Women Religious.

Sister Mary Timothy also was active in the civic community, where she was family counselor at Open House Drug Rehabilitation in Charlotte. She also designed, initiated and facilitated a program for codependent families.

In her later years, she volunteered at Mercy Heritage Center, the archives of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, which is housed in Belmont.

Born on Jan. 5, 1926, in Asheville, Sister Mary

Timothy was the fourth of six daughters born to Ira and Ella Mae Donahue Warren. Her birth name was Barbara Jean Warren.

She earned an associate of arts degree at St. Genevieve-of-the-Pines Junior College in Asheville and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Belmont Abbey College. Her graduate-level studies included elementary school administration at Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and studies in individualized instruction at the International Graduate School of Education in Atlanta.

After college, she moved to Charlotte and began work in the histology department of what was then Charlotte Memorial Hospital, now known as Carolinas Medical Center. It was during those years that she first felt the inclination to enter religious life. Her good friend, Father John Manley, also an Asheville native, told her about the Sisters of Mercy.

He subsequently brought her to Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont to meet the sisters, and she entered the Sisters of Mercy on Feb. 1, 1951. She selected “Timothy” as her name to honor her maternal grandfather.

Sister Mary Timothy, known for her wonderful sense of humor, delightful laughter, attention to detail and abundant enthusiasm, truly enjoyed her life, ministry, community, family and friends.

She is survived by the Sisters of Mercy; her dear friend, Jenny Malatesta; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to the Sisters of Mercy, 500 Sacred Heart Circle, Belmont, N.C. 28012.

— Catholic News Herald

Construction Manager The Diocese is currently accepting resumes for a “Construction Manager” position within the Diocesan Properties & Risk Management Department. This position will report directly to the Diocesan Director of Properties & Risk Management, and will be involved in planning for and managing the ongoing construction objectives within the Diocese.

Requirements include: • Bachelor of Science degree or greater in associated field.

• Ten years minimum related experience.

• Computer skills and knowledge of relevant software including Word, Excel, Outlook, Microsoft Project, Adobe Acrobat Pro, & PowerPoint.

• Knowledge of various project delivery methods: GMP and Lump sum competitive bidding, Negotiated GMP, and CM@R methods.

It’s easy being green.

Get the Catholic News Herald delivered to your email inbox!

You’ll be able to read your newspaper earlier, and you’ll help save some trees.

It’s free, too – making it wonderfully easy to be green.

Contact us at catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3333 to sign up today!

• Strong knowledge of construction management principles and procedures (CCM / PMP designation a plus) • Strong knowledge of design standards, building codes and construction materials, means and methods.

• Strong written, verbal and inter-personal skills Please submit your professional resume and salary history by August 8, 2016 to: Diocesan Director of Properties & Risk Management Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 Or email to ajmorlando@charlottediocese.org.

The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

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7

Sisters of Mercy elect leadership team

sueann howell | catholic news herald

A couple places their candle on a special Teams of Our Lady table prior to Mass celebrated by Bishop Jugis July 12.

Celebrating the ‘love of Christ’ in holy matrimony SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Married couples from around the U.S. who participate in Teams of Our Lady, a lay movement in the Church which helps foster and support the sacrament of marriage, attended the Teams of Our Lady 2016 National Conference July 12-15.

On July 12, Bishop Peter Jugis welcomed the 175-plus participants and celebrated the opening Mass of the conference at St. Matthew Church. During his homily, he drew a link between the love of Christ present in the sacrament of Holy Communion and the sacrament of holy matrimony.

“Here we are celebrating the love of Christ, present of course at every Mass, but a love which is also so beautifully made present in the sacrament of holy matrimony and a love which you so beautifully celebrate in the Teams of Our Lady movement,” Bishop Jugis said.

“In our culture today, we are all so aware that we cannot talk enough about the love of Christ in our divided culture,” he continued. “The Church needs to proclaim and to witness to the love of Christ – especially through the sacrament of holy matrimony.”

The Eucharist is the source of life for the Church, he said. At every Mass, “the Eucharist nourishes us in holiness, nourishes us on the love of Christ. We keep returning to the Mass every day for that ongoing nourishment in His life, His love, His grace and His holiness.”

“It’s inspiring to me as the bishop of Charlotte to see the importance you place on the celebration of the holy sacrifice every day of the conference to continue drawing from the source, the inexhaustible source for all of your work,” he told the conference-goers.

With the help of the Eucharist, he said, “we stand on a very firm foundation of Christ’s love.”

Bishop Jugis added, “Your witness to the beauty of Jesus’ love and grace in married life and your witness to your celebration of Jesus’ love in Teams of Our Lady is so refreshing today, especially in a culture which is so confused about marriage, a culture which has in fact redefined marriage.”

“There is no way to change the sacrament of holy matrimony which Christ has instituted and which is preserved, safe and inviolable, in the Church. The sacrament of holy matrimony instituted by Christ will never be changed, never be redefined, will never go away,” he said.

In his closing comments, he prayed for the participants that “at this Mass the love of Christ will accompany you during these days of the conference, and that you will be blessed in carrying the love you celebrate here into your daily lives.”

The Teams of Our Lady 2016 National Conference included local and national speakers, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of reconciliation, training sessions, discussion and fellowship.

Local speakers included Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor of Belmont Abbey College in Belmont; and Deacon Tom and Teresa Sanctis of St. Ann Church in Charlotte. National speakers included Deacon Dominick Pastore and his wife Teresa Tomeo, EWTN Radio/TV host and author.

For more information about becoming a part of Teams of Our Lady, go to www.teamsofourlady.org.

BELMONT — The Sisters of Mercy-South Central Community has elected a five-member Community Leadership Team, comprising sisters currently serving in leadership. The election took place June 24 during the community’s assembly in Concord, with some 275 sisters from 18 states, Guam and Jamaica attending. Members of the leadership team, who will begin their next term Sept. 1, are (pictured at right): Mercy Sister Jane Hotstream, elected to a second term as president; Mercy Sister Mary Rose Bumpus, elected as the new vice president and currently serving as a team member; Mercy Sister Patricia Coward, team member; and Mercy Sister Linda Falquette and Mercy Sister Deborah Kern, team members.

Sister Mary Rose, Sister Patricia, Sister Linda, and Sister Deborah are currently on the leadership team. Before her election, Sister Mary Rose taught Christian spirituality at Seattle University. Sister Patricia is former assistant principal, coach and Holocaust educator at St. Vincent’s Academy in Savannah, Ga. Sister Linda, a former math teacher, served as tuition and payroll coordinator at Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio, before her election. And Sister Deborah, a social worker, was executive director of Day Spring Inc., which serves adults with intellectual disabilities in Louisville, Ky. At their assembly, the community also paid tribute to Mercy Sister Paulette Williams (pictured at right), whose term as vice president ends Aug. 31, concluding 24 years in elected leadership with the Sisters of Mercy. A native of Concord, Sister Paulette is former principal of Charlotte Catholic High School.

The Sisters of Mercy dedicate their lives to God through vows of poverty, chastity, obedience and service.

For more than 150 years, motivated by the Gospel of Jesus and inspired by the spirit of their founder, St. Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy have responded to the changing needs of the times. Through prayer and service, the sisters address the causes and effects of violence, racism, degradation of Earth and injustice to women and immigrants. The sisters serve in more than 200 organizations that work with those in need in the U.S., Central and South America, Jamaica, Guam and the Philippines.

Photos provided by Beth Thompson, Sisters of Mercy-South Central Community

Young women urged to look to St. Kateri for inspiration in combatting societal pressures SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

MONROE — St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, endured physical and emotional suffering during her young life. She survived a smallpox epidemic that killed her immediate family, but suffered terrible facial scars. Raised by her uncle, the chief of her tribe, she was ridiculed and ostracized for her conversion to Catholicism at 19. Named the first Native American saint, she has become known as a powerful intercessor for young women.

Her feast day of July 14 was selected for a special retreat for young women of the diocese. Held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, the one-day retreat was a chance for more than 80 young women to talk about their challenges in life, share their experiences, reaffirm their dignity as children of God, and deepen their faith. The parish ordered a special statue of the saint, and it arrived just in time for the event.

Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, said he felt it was important to celebrate St. Kateri’s feast day with this retreat because he is aware of the many problems that young women suffer from in today’s culture. Those issues range from eating disorders, hypersexualization and pressure to have premarital sex, physical or emotional abuse, cutting and selfinjury, and even attempted suicide.

More than 80 middle and high school aged girls from seven parishes came to the retreat, which featured talks by religious, clergy and laity, as well as

Mass and time for reflection and fellowship.

“God has determined your identity as a beloved daughter,” Father Roberts told them. “No one else gets that choice – not your parents, not your friends, not the nice people at school, not the mean people at school.

“Advertisers don’t get to determine your identity.

The world doesn’t get to determine your identity.

Almighty God from all eternity has determined your identity and made it present and real for you at a particular moment at your baptism. So what God had planned from all eternity, He gave to you at a particular time and called you by name.”

Catholic convert Katie Holder also spoke to the young women about their physical and spiritual wellbeing.

In her work as a dietician, Holder treats people with eating disorders and she herself struggled with anorexia in her teens and early 20s. She is now a mother of three, with her fourth child due soon.

A parishioner of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro, Holder and her family stay close to the sacraments, which she encouraged the young women to do – especially amid the pressure which society places on them to look perfect. She also encouraged them to stop comparing themselves to others.

“God designed you specifically how you are supposed to be,” she told them. “God doesn’t care what our outside looks like but what our inside, what our hearts look like.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Photos by Rachel McKimmon | Catholic News Herald

More than 50 youths at St. Thomas Aquinas Church had fun and learned more about their faith at the annual Totus Tuus summer camp. Totus Tuus camps have become more popular in the Diocese of Charlotte over the past six years, with 18 churches hosting the programs this summer.

Totus Tuus: Inspiring youth over the summer Rachel McKimmon Correspondent

Photo provided by Debra Lemmon

This chalk drawing wowed participants at the Totus Tuus camp at St. Patrick Cathedral last month.

CHARLOTTE — It’s summer, and that means lots of summer camps. In the Diocese of Charlotte, summer is also the season for Totus Tuus.

Now in its sixth year in the diocese, Totus Tuus summer camps are dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith to children in rising first grade through the 12th grade through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship. “Totus Tuus,� a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,� was the motto of St. John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,� it signifies the desire to give oneself entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.

One of the 18 parishes participating in Totus Tuus this summer has been St. Thomas Aquinas Church, which held its faith-filled summer camp for kids on July 10-15.

This year’s theme in all the parishes, including St. Thomas Aquinas, has been about “Prayer and the Our Father.� There has also been an emphasis on the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary.

As in other parishes, the program at St. Thomas Aquinas has grown in participants and volunteers since its first year.

Coordinated by Sister Edeva Jover, parish youth ministry director, this year’s summer camp included more than 50 children.

Totus Tuus inspires the parish youth, Sister Edeva said. “The kids want to go to Mass and experience Holy Hour.�

Sarah Booles, a Totus Tuus participant and rising 10th-grader, describes the program as a mixture of fun and growing in faith. “I look forward to our group discussions,� Booles said. “It’s enlightening.�

She and fellow participants Valentina Morales, Josie Peplinski and Katheryn Ryan agreed that Totus Tuus gave them a chance to learn more about Christ.

Totus Tuus also provides a unique opportunity for college students to become missionaries, of a sort. Catechists, grouped into teams of two young men and two young women, lead the week-long camp at each parish, teaching and inspiring the parish’s youth.

This year three teams of catechists traveled around the 18 parishes over the seven weeks when Totus Tuus camps have been offered.

One of those catechists was Mary Grace Bergen, a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. She describes Totus Tuus as a combination of Christian witness and one’s own experience in faith, mixing Bible stories, prayers, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, games, songs and more into interactive lessons that encourage kids to deepen their faith. “I want to provide a better understanding of what the Catholic Church is,� Bergen said, “the one Church Jesus established, that is continuously growing and thriving.�

The mission of the program is to inspire youth to make their faith “totally yours,� she said.

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July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Vacation Bible School fun at St. Gabriel Church CHARLOTTE — More than 130 children and 90 adults and teen volunteers celebrated a fun and faith-filled week of Vacation Bible School “Under the Stars” at St. Gabriel Church the week of June 13-17. Music, crafts, games, Bible stories and snacks were enjoyed each day, with Psalm 147:4, “He counts the stars and calls them all by name,” as the theme. The week also included a service project, with cards and snack bags created for those served by Crisis Assistance Ministry.

Photo provided by Darby McClatchy

Photo provided by Amy Burger

Having fun with Totus Tuus Photo provided by Amy Burger

Fidelis, Fraternus youth celebrate summer HUNTERSVILLE — Youths who participate in Fidelis and Fraternus at St. Mark Church celebrated their Summer Bash July 6. More than 125 youth in sixth-12th grades played games, ate and prayed while nearly 75 adults were on hand to grill, organize games and make sure that all of the kids were welcomed and involved. The evening ended with everybody gathering in the parish hall for prayers and a talk by Father John Putnam, pastor, on the importance of virtues and living a virtuous life – a cornerstone of the Fraternus and Fidelis youth program.

This is the first year of the Fraternus and Fidelis program at the parish. Young men and women from middle and high school are invited to the program, which meets during the school year on Wednesday evenings. Fraternus is for young men and Fidelis is for young women. The goal of both programs is to see the youth of the Church mentored and formed into mature, virtuous gentlemen and ladies, who seek a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Their fall kick-off event will be Wednesday, Aug. 31.

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HUNTERSVILLE — More than 80 children at St. Mark Church participated in Totus Tuus this summer, held the week of June 20-24. The children kicked off the week-long summer camp by attending morning Mass. Newly ordained Deacon Brian Becker delivered the homily directed to the children and their teachers to begin the week of faith, fun and fellowship. The fun began right after Mass with a skit about weather performed by the catechists who led the program for the week. The skit ended with it “snowing” white yarn – the first of a series of special string-bracelets that all of the children collected and wore for the week. After learning about the Catholic faith in the classrooms, the fun resumed outside with a game of sharks and minnows on the church lawn (pictured).

For the sixth straight year, parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte have been hosting Totus Tuus Catholic youth programs for grades 1-12, dedicated to sharing the Gospel and promoting the Catholic faith through catechesis, evangelization, Christian witness and Eucharistic worship. Totus Tuus, a Latin phrase meaning “totally yours,” was the motto of St. John Paul II. Taken from St. Louis de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary,” it signifies the desire to give oneself entirely to Jesus Christ through Mary.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

One million meals packed for the hungry CHARLOTTE — Approximately 1,400 volunteers came together at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte July 9 to pack 336,312 meals for the hungry, part of the parish’s annual World Hunger Drive.

The meal packing event was a collaboration with the local non-profit Servants With a Heart, which also worked with Elevation Church. Over the weekend, the two Charlotte churches packed a total of 1 million meals, which will be distributed to Haiti as well as to local organizations.

The packaged meals are made up of rice, soy, dehydrated vegetables and a flavoring mix which includes 21 essential vitamins and minerals. The food stores easily, has a shelf life of five years and transports easily. The meals are distributed through feeding programs in the schools and villages of developing countries, and given out quickly in crisis situations.

Photo provided by St. Matthew Church and Servants With a Heart

Photo provided by Amy Burger

St. Mark parishioners work to ‘Stop Hunger Now’ HUNTERSVILLE — Members of St. Mark Church raised more than $25,000 and packaged 84,000 meals by 900-plus volunteers during the parish’s annual partnership with Stop Hunger Now July 16. The Raleigh-based Stop Hunger Now (www.stophungernow.org) operates meal-packaging programs at 20 cities in the U.S. and elsewhere, providing more than 225 million meals for people in 73 countries since its founding in 1998. This year, it expects to package 45 million meals and ship more than $9 million in donated aid, mainly vitamins and medical supplies.

St. Mark’s meal-packing event included children, families, friends, Christ the King High School students and parents, seniors, clergy and staff. Each meal feeds six people, so that means the parish packed meals that will feed half a million hungry people throughout the world. Stop Hunger Now will distribute these meals through feeding programs operated by partner organizations in developing countries that promote education, encourage children to attend school, improve students’ health and nutrition, address gender inequalities, stimulate economic growth, fight child labor, and are part of the movement to address global issues.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See video highlights from the Stop Hunger Now event

Amber Mellon | Catholic News Herald

Youth at service BOONE — During the week of June 20, the youth of St. Elizabeth Church gathered for a service camp. During the course of the week, the youth provided service at the county library, FARM cafe, Hebron Colony thrift store, the Hunger and Health Coalition, and at the church. At the end of the week, the youth celebrated at Bo’s in Lenoir.

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Photos provided by Robin Fisher

People from Sacred Heart Church and School recently went on two mission trips to Butre, Ghana, to assist with setting up a computer lab in a primary school and treating more than 1,300 patients in temporary medical clinics. The 12 missionaries also brought medical and school supplies.

Lending a ‘helping hand’ in Ghana Robin Fisher Special to the Catholic News Herald

SALISBURY — Five thousand miles away, students in a village in western Ghana are using a new computer lab.

Patients suffering from malaria and skin infections are getting treatment. And everyone in town is grateful to the people of Sacred Heart Church and School, who reached across the miles with their hearts and their hands to help them.

Butre is a small fishing village nestled amid the sparkling white beaches of the Gulf of Guinea and the tropical rainforests that cover much of Africa’s west coast.

The Sacred Heart parish and school began serving this impoverished community several years ago and has developed a close relationship with the local pastor.

According to Sacred Heart’s Principal Frank Cardelle, this “Ghana Friendship Mission Project” is all about living the Gospel.

“One of the fundamentals of our mission statement at Sacred Heart Catholic School includes teaching the importance of community service to our students,” Cardelle said. “We stress the unselfish dedication of time, talent, resources and prayer to those who are less fortunate. Class work is not all ‘talk.’ Our students participate in many community service projects throughout the school year, with our Ghana mission project lasting over 10 months.”

In June, 12 people including Cardelle made the 5,300mile trek from Salisbury to Butre, bringing medical and school supplies collected over the past school year. The missionaries traveled in two mission trips June 4-10 and June 17-24. Father Noah Carter from Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro, the former parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Church, led the spiritual part of the mission team.

The first trip was led by Sacred Heart parent and hospitalist Dr. Matt Harrison and critical care nurse Jeffrey

Motes, both from Novant Health Rowan Regional Medical Center; and Harrison’s daughter Rachel, a rising junior at Christ the King High School and 2014 Sacred Heart alumnus.

Harrison and Motes have both served in Ghana before – Harrison has made seven medical mission trips, and Motes one trip last year. The trip was conducted in partnership with Helping Hands Medical Missions.

The medical team went door to door, visiting homes built from handmade bricks and mud, searching for the sick and offering prayer and support.

They diagnosed and treated many tropical diseases such as malaria, elephantiasis, parasitic intestinal infections and skin infections. They counseled on nutrition, healthy drinking water and other community health concerns.

They supplied medicines for pain, infection, allergy, hypertension and a host of other problems.

They traveled to three different villages – setting up temporary clinics in schools and even outdoors under pavilions – seeing more than 1,300 patients in five days.

“Every day was absolutely amazing and life changing,” said Harrison’s daughter Rachel. “We traveled to help serve and convert, promoting the Catholic faith through evangelization and assisting of the needy.”

The second group of Sacred Heart mission workers followed on June 17, bringing with them bookbags, school supplies, refurbished computers and iPads, and soccer uniforms and balls that had been collected by Sacred Heart students over the past school year.

The missionaries included Cardelle’s daughter Cecilia, a 2013 alumnus of Sacred Heart and a rising senior at Salisbury High School. She spent all last year raising money and collecting items for the mission trip, which she called “a privilege.”

“The experience was nothing short of life-changing,” she said.

“The people of Butre are truly like no other. To say that my father and I were welcomed with open arms is an

incredible understatement. From the very first day, the townspeople, the school children, the teachers and even city officials accepted us with great hospitality and kindness.”

They worked at the Butre primary school for five days donating book bags, school supplies and setting up a computer lab composed of 10 laptops, four iPads and a projector.

“Our primary role was to set up the lab and train the teachers on how to use the interactive learning applications, Microsoft applications on the laptops, and the interactive projector. Eventually, we trained the students to do the same,” Cecilia explained.

“The gratitude that my dad and I received after completing the lab was unparalleled,” she added. “On our last day in Butre, the town held a dedication to thank us for the work we did. The celebration was full of life and rich in culture – a truly extraordinary experience.

“During our stay, the Butre people were nothing short of grateful for our work, but by the end of our trip I felt like I should be thanking them. The things that we were able to donate to those students can be measured in dollars, but the things those students gave to me was priceless.”

Cecilia has made the Ghana Friendship Mission part of her senior project at Salisbury High School. And the missionaries aim to return next year as well as establish relationships in the area to ensure ongoing medical care for the Ghanaian people they felt so privileged to serve.

Robin Fisher is the communications director of Sacred Heart School.

Learn more At www.hhmm.org: Get more information on how to join or donate to these missions at the Helping Hands Medical Missions website.

Contact Sacred Heart School at 704-633-2841 or shcsnews@gmail. com to donate school supplies, book bags or computers in nice condition.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

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Catholic Heart Workcamp helps out at House of Mercy

His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte

BELMONT — Teen volunteers from Catholic Heart Workcamp recently volunteered at House of Mercy, a nonprofit residence caring for low-income persons living with AIDS. Youth representing Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina spruced up the residence by spreading mulch, cleaning windows and also enjoyed meeting House of Mercy residents. Pictured, Catholic Heart Workcamp volunteers are appreciated by House of Mercy resident Shelia Williams (right). Catholic HEART Workcamp started in 1993 in Orlando, Fla., with 100 participants and has grown to more than 13,000 serving annually. CHWC provides opportunities to restore homes and hearts, feed the hungry, lift the spirits of children, bring joy to the elderly and disabled and offer assistance while partnering with social agencies.

The Centers for Disease Control reports more than 1.2 million people living with HIV disease in the U.S., including more than 515,112 with AIDS. As of Dec. 31, 2014, there were 28,526 people diagnosed and living with HIV in North Carolina. In House of Mercy’s primary 10-county service area, 7,096 people were diagnosed and living with HIV (including 2,963 living with AIDS). All residents of North Carolina are eligible for admission to House of Mercy, although the primary service area includes Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union, Anson, Stanly, Rowan, Cabarrus, Iredell, Lincoln and Cleveland counties.

Over the past decade, the number of people living with HIV has increased, while the annual number of new HIV infections has remained relatively stable. Still, the pace of new infections continues at far too high a level, particularly among black Americans. Fortunately, the development of anti-viral medications has significantly improved the ability of infected people to live with HIV/AIDS, and this has increased the need for housing and care.

At www.thehouseofmercy.org: Learn more about local efforts to care for people living with AIDS, and what you can do to help.

invites all the faithful of the diocese to the Holy Mass honoring Priest Jubilarians on the occasion of their anniversaries of Priesthood Ordination 55 Years Reverend Joseph C. Ayathupadam Reverend James P. Cahill 50 Years Reverend Albert J. Gondek, O.S.F.S. 25 Years Reverend Monsignor Anthony J. Marcaccio August 4, 2016 4:00 p.m.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick Charlotte, North Carolina

Pro-life events being held this summer Be a witness for life! Several pro-life events are coming up in the Diocese of Charlotte over the next few weeks: PROCESSION FOR LIFE: Saturday, July 23, starting at St. Ann Church (3635 Park Road, Charlotte) with Mass at 9 a.m. followed by a procession and prayer vigil in front of Family Reproductive Health (700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte) at 10 a.m. Park on the street adjacent to the facility and line up for the procession by the Our Lady of Guadalupe banner. Organized by the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants.

SILENT NO MORE AWARENESS EVENT: 10 a.m.

Saturday, July 30. Featuring women and men who are silent no more about their abortion experiences and featuring those who have found healing from abortion. In the public right-of-way in front of Family Reproductive Health, 700 E. Hebron St., Charlotte. Come hear personal experiences or share your story. Contact Katherine Hearn (704-877-2551, katherinephearn@gmail.com) or Andrea Hines (704996-4597, hinesal@gmail.com) if you’d like to share your story. For details about Silent No More, go to www.silentnomoreawareness.org.

MASS & HOLY HOUR OF REPARATION: Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. 6:30 p.m. Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Reparation from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. to atone for the collective sins of man – particularly abortion, euthanasia, contraception and same-sex unions – and beg for God’s forgiveness. Organized by St. Mark Church’s Respect Life Ministry. For details, contact Mike FitzGerald at respect.life@stmarknc.org.

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, at 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.

FAMILY ROSARY RALLY: 3-4:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe. This second annual event will be held at Charlotte Catholic High School Stadium, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road in Charlotte. Bring your rosaries, water bottles and sun hats. Sponsored by the Catholic Pro-Life Action Network of Charlotte (C-PLAN). For details, go to www. prolifecharlotte.org/rally.

RESPECT LIFE CONFERENCE: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 27, at Christ the King High School, 2011 Crusader Way in Huntersville. Designed for all parish Respect Life coordinators and other advocates for life, this free inaugural conference aims to strengthen local efforts to promote a respect for human life, particularly at its most vulnerable stages. Mass will open the conference at 9 a.m. Keynote speaker and Mass celebrant will be Jesuit Father Joseph Koterski, a professor of philosophy at Fordham University. Lunch and workshops will follow. Organized by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP by July 31 to diocesan Respect Life Program Director Jennifer Ganser at jmganser@charlottediocese.org. Go to www. ccdoc.org for details.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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photo provided by Dr. Bernard Chinnasami

‘Humility is learning that in healing, God has His own plans for each one of us.’

Cancer doctor speaks of mission, faith

SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

HIGH POINT — Oncologist Dr. Bernard Chinnasami is a man on a mission. For more than 20 years he has been treating cancer patients, witnessing their struggles as they try to comprehend their diagnosis and treatment plan.

He has made it his life’s work to accompany people with cancer on their journey, helping them to become equipped with the knowledge they need to navigate their days ahead, but also to put things into a faith perspective.

To that end, Chinnasami, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, created Cancer Guide Posts of Strength, an interactive website that gives “directions for the journey” for newly diagnosed cancer patients, their friends and family. Information from trusted experts, cancer guides and volunteer mentors, as well as “Intersections,” a regular educational program, can all be found in one location on the Cancer GPS website, www. cancergps.org.

In addition to all of the free practical information, an integral part of the Cancer GPS mission is to address the importance that spirituality plays in a cancer patient’s journey.

“I’ve been doing this for over 20 years now, and what has always surprised me is how much people are not in touch with their faith and God Himself, and the questions they ask,” Chinnasami says. “I think doctors, especially, and other healthcare professionals are not well-trained to answer the questions. Once there is a diagnosis of cancer, somebody questions their mortality. I think this comes to the forefront very quickly for almost everybody.”

Chinnasami sees this moment as special. “When these questions suddenly come up, it became evident to me that this is an opportunity to explore our faith and to realize how amazing our faith is, in terms of helping us get through tough times.

“There’s nothing like a diagnosis of cancer to bring someone close to God quickly.”

Oblate Father Vince Smith, pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, is featured in a video for Cancer GPS, answering some of people’s typical questions about God and their faith when they are confronted with a cancer diagnosis.

“We’ve had many discussions and we’ve actually worked with many patients together,” Chinnasami says of his work with Father Smith, helping patients to navigate what is often a complicated physical and spiritual journey.

People have asked Chinnasami how he keeps such a good attitude while caring for the sick and sometimes dying.

“I’ve always realized that it is my faith that has gotten me through,” he replies. “We always say we need to do our part and place our trust in God. That is from a perspective of knowing that we are all human and this is what we can

Learn more Cancer Guide Posts of Strength Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is online at www.cancergps.org. All services are completely free, supported solely by private contributions. For more information about bringing Cancer GPS resources to your parish or to make a donation, go online, call 336-883-4483, or email nchinnasami@ cancergps.org. do. Also, we must have the humility to place our trust in Him. That gets us through the difficult questions when patients ask, ‘Why me’ or ‘Why my child’?”

Beyond the necessarily personal interactions between patient and doctor, or between parishioner and priest, Chinnasami sees the Cancer GPS website as filling a need.

“Sometimes these questions come up at 2 a.m., when you don’t have someone to go and talk to. So that is why we thought we would do the video, too, and place it online so it can be a friendly reminder as to how rich our faith is and how forgiving our God is,” he says.

And, he adds, “I think this also opens the door for them to realize that they can go back. I think it gives the people who get through this a much better understanding and value of their faith, rather than taking it for granted. I look at cancer as an opportunity to reintroduce people to their faith. During such a difficult time, that is what gets most of us through.

“That is how I envision it. Not to tell them what to do, but to reintroduce them to their God.” Spiritual health is just as important in a person’s overall well-being, Chinnasami says.

“Almost everybody feels good about talking to somebody who feels it’s not just medicine alone. I look at it as part of the overall care. Cancer care is so multidisciplinary – it takes so many physicians, dieticians, psychologists. But the very prime person is also your spiritual counselor.

“We want them to know we are not trying to split their bodies and spirits into two different components completely, but to treat them as a whole.”

Another goal of Cancer GPS is to help churches connect with these resources for parishioners who are facing a

cancer diagnosis. Many parishes already have cancer support groups or prayer groups dedicated to praying for those affected by the disease.

“Part of the goal is to try to dial up the churches who already have outreach, and we can come help set up and link in to the parishes. Cancer GPS speaks beautifully about our faith. It ties in everything else. This is a great way for us to reintroduce people, to show this is very much part of our faith in terms of how we take care of ourselves.”

Chinnasami says he has witnessed firsthand that patients who embrace their faith see a huge difference in how they approach their overall lives.

“First, it makes them realize who really is in charge.

More importantly, the peace they find with the end, whether they survive or whether they don’t survive, to realize it is all a part of the amazing journey for us to be able to give everything we can. I think it brings them a great sense of peace.”

Chinnasami hopes to help as many people and parishes as possible to connect with Cancer GPS resources so that he can help them put all the components of cancer care under one umbrella on the local level.

“I’d love for them to contact us directly. We can be a super resource for them. I think people will feel safer to have professionals helping them, but at the same time being able to provide it in a kind, great way at a local place.

“They don’t have to do things alone. There is plenty of expertise for all of us to share and help each other,” he says.

Chinnasami hopes the Cancer GPS outreach will also help people of all ages grow in their faith and see just how powerful prayer is.

“I think this is a way we can help share experiences to bridge the gap between the healthy and the sick, the young and old, the rich and poor. Cancer knows no boundaries, unfortunately. I think that this is a great way to help bring people together under adversity to explore all of these things together.”

His own faith journey has been impacted through his work treating cancer patients, Chinnasami notes.

“I have always grown up like this. I have always felt that I will do my part and do everything to the best of my ability and put all my trust in Him. Things have an amazing way of working out. Not always the way I want it to work out. But I can see how He meant it to work out as things unfolded. We always want everyone to be cured, obviously, but unfortunately this is not a disease where we have reached that stage yet. I can see the beauty of families coming together. I can see the transformation in people – how amazing that is!”

“What I have learned very nicely is that humility is learning that in healing, God has His own plans for each one of us. We have to have the humility to be able to accept it.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Director of Gift Planning The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time Director of Gift Planning. The candidate must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of 7 years’ experience in fundraising; experience in carrying out gift planning programs; extensive fundraising experience may be substituted for a completed undergraduate degree.

Responsibilities include organizing and directing efforts throughout the diocese to assist parishioners to develop and implement long range financial plans for their benefit, the benefit of their family, their parish and/or the diocese. Activities include making personal visits, developing educational materials, conducting estate planning seminars and maintaining contact with professional advisors.

Photo provided by Amy Burger

Please submit cover letter and resume by August 12, 2016 to Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@charlottediocese.org.

Do you have a car sitting in a driveway catching leaves? Maybe it will not start or needs a major repair. Catholic Charities benefits from the donation of your vehicle. Donate your vehicle and receive a tax benefit!

Call 1-855-930-GIVE today!

CCDOC.ORG

Making ‘survival kits’ for police officers HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church’s Alzheimer’s Respite Ministry recently made “Survival Kit” treat bags to give to the Huntersville Police Department. The bags contained items such as Life Savers candies and PayDay candy bars for a fun way to let local law enforcement officers know how much they are appreciated.

A new program at the parish, the Alzheimer’s Respite Ministry offers caregivers a place to leave their loved ones who have early to moderate Alzheimer’s for a few hours in a safe, prayerful and loving environment.

Each week, a team of inter-generational volunteers comes together to staff and oversee the ministry.

Weekly activities include fellowship, crafts and games, refreshments, physical activity and prayer. An important part is the craft segment, when guests are able to make something for other people.

“Often times, people with Alzheimer’s don’t feel like they have anything to offer anyone else. They are at a point in their lives where everybody has to do for them,” says Janet Urban, coordinator of the Respite Ministry.

“We try to create opportunities where they can give back.”

The Respite Ministry guests and volunteers created 60 “survival kits” that were delivered to the Huntersville Police Department July 11 by coordinators Urban and

Susan Liuzzo (pictured above).

Each kit contained candies and was packaged with a ribbon and tag in the shape of a badge, printed with the message: “Survival Kit for Law Enforcement Officers – Life Savers, to remind you of the many times you have been one / Smarties, to give you wisdom for those split second decisions / Starburst, for the burst of energy you need each day / Hershey Kisses, to show our love and gratitude for you; gum, to remind everyone to stick together / Tootsie Rolls, to help you to roll with the punches / Peppermint Patties, to help you keep your cool / Dum Dums, because you have to deal with a lot of them / PayDay, because you are not doing it for the money / Laffy Taffy, remember that laughter is a great stress reliever.”

Included in the gift was a large handmade card signed by all of the Respite Ministry guests and volunteers to let the police department know how much they love, pray for and appreciate their service.

Volunteers run the Respite Ministry, offered for free each Monday. Registration is required. To register or get details, contact Urban at jgraceart@yahoo.com or go to www.stmarknc.org.

“It is my dream that this ministry becomes a model for other churches to follow,” says Urban.

Knights on bikes receive blessing

Donate Your Car Make your car go the extra mile.

Donate your car to Catholic Charities to help fund programs for those in need. All vehicle makes, models and years welcome.

Truck, boat, RV and motorcycle donations accepted.

855.930.GIVE (4483) www.ccdoc.org/CARS Catholic Charities relies on your direct support to help fund its various ministries.

BELMONT — Nineteen members of the “Knights on Bikes” group of the Knights of Columbus had their motorcycles blessed July 3 after Mass at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, celebrated by Father Frank Cancro, pastor.

Members in attendance were from Charlotte, Columbia, S.C., and North Augusta, Ga. The event was organized by members of Council 11076 from Queen of the Apostles Parish.

Photos by Kevin Eagan | Catholic News Herald

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

Patrick Hession | Catholic News Herald

First Communion in Jefferson JEFFERSON — Seventeen children received first Holy Communion on the feast of Corpus Christi at St. Francis of Assisi Church. Pictured with them are Father James Stuhrenberg, pastor, and Father Camilo Cárdenas, the Hispanic Ministry coordinator for the Boone Vicariate.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Two renowned concert pianists to perform in Kernersville KERNERSVILLE — Concert pianists from the Eastern Musical Festival will perform Saturday, July 23, at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville.

The program includes two concert pianists, showcasing the new 6-foot-2-inch Perzina grand piano.

The one-hour concert, which begins at 2:30 p.m. in the church, will be followed by a reception with an opportunity to meet the pianists and enjoy light refreshments.

Admission is free, but donations to the parish’s music program will be gratefully accepted.

The Greensboro-based Eastern Music Festival summer training program is a non-profit agency that provides comprehensive musical training to young concert musicians from around the country and around the globe in conjunction with world renowned visiting professional musicians. With a very tight and rigorous practice and concert schedule during each student’s stay in North Carolina, the Eastern Music Festival is known internationally for its high caliber of music faculty, exhilarating musical repertoire and exceptional level of student musicianship. Aspiring talented young musicians are accepted through audition only.

Holy Cross Church is located at 616 South Cherry St. in Kernersville.

For details contact Marianne Schmitt, concert chair, at M.Griffin@allpoints.biz or 336-3419995.

St. Ann Church is located at 3635 Park Road in Charlotte.

Parish pays off debt on parish center, chapel CHARLOTTE — St. Vincent de Paul Church has paid off the remaining debt on its Ministry Center & Chapel, it was recently announced. The $3.2 million project included demolishing the old office, preparing the site, constructing the new, larger facility, and repaving sections of the church parking lot. It was completed in 2014.

“A great accomplishment! I must relate that it was with joy that I signed a letter a few days ago authorizing the final payment of our loan on the Ministry Center & Chapel,” Father Mark Lawlor, pastor, told parishioners in a bulletin announcement. “It has been quite a journey. When I arrived here in 2003, I learned that there was already a preliminary plan to add some classrooms and replace the poor office facility. For several years, we had many meetings with the pastoral council, the facilities commission, the finance council, diocesan officials and our pastoral plan committee prior to receiving diocesan permission to begin a capital campaign. I was humbled and inspired by the great commitment of so many in the parish that helped make the project a reality. I thought that we would pay the loan off early, but we did even better than I had hoped.”

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Assistant Principal Saint Pius X Catholic School is conducting a search for the position of Assistant Principal for the 2016-2017 school year. Duties will begin August 1, 2016.

Located in Greensboro, NC and founded in 1955, Saint Pius X Catholic School has built a rich history of academic excellence and strong tradition of Christian stewardship within the Greensboro community. Saint Pius X currently serves 430 Kindergarten through 8th Grade students with the addition of two new Pre-Kindergarten classes beginning with the 2016-2017 school year.

A successful candidate must: • Be a practicing Roman Catholic with a current understanding of issues in the Catholic Church.

• Have a minimum of five years teaching experience with a demonstrated progression of responsibilities, preferably in elementary education.

• Have attained at minimum a Master’s degree in educational leadership or its equivalent and possess or be eligible for a North Carolina State Administrative Certificate preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills in communicating with students, parents, administrators, faculty, staff, and local community partners.

Interested candidates should submit an electronic letter of interest along with a resume to Mrs. Ann Flynt, Principal, at: aflynt@spxschool.com

Full Time Guidance Counselor Saint Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro, NC is seeking a full-time professional school counselor to provide guidance and support for PK-8th grade students beginning with the 2016-2017 academic year.

The successful candidate must possess a master’s degree in counseling, maintain a counseling certificate and/or license, have experience in working with children, demonstrate excellent communication and organizational skills, display sound judgment and emotional intelligence, and possess the ability to balance administrative and support services efficiently.

Learn about sacred music CHARLOTTE — What is sacred music and how does it differ from religious music? How did Gregorian chant develop? What is the role of sacred music in the Sacrifice of the Mass?

Learn the answers to these questions and more during a free class exploring the role of sacred music in the Latin Mass, starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at St. Ann Church.

The class will be presented by Stefano Monaco, a choir member at St. Ann Parish, with introduction by Father Timothy Reid, pastor.

The class, held in the Allen Center cafeteria, is open to newcomers and regulars alike. It will be preceded by a Latin Mass at 6 p.m. A light dinner will be served by the Charlotte Latin Mass Community.

While the event is free, an RSVP is requested

by July 25 to info@charlottelatinmass.org or at www.eventbrite.com (search for “Latin Mass”).

OUR PARISHESI

Interested candidates should send an electronic letter of interest and resume to Mrs. Ann Flynt, Principal, at: aflynt@spxschool.com

All are welcome to upcoming Fine Arts Festival CHARLOTTE — Charlotte-area youth involved in the Summer Fine Arts Program invite everyone to their annual Fine Arts Festival July 29-31.

The festival, now in its third year, will be held at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, and will feature several samples of the fine arts, practiced and performed entirely by 95 children under the age of 18 for the glory of God and beautification of His Church. All proceeds this year will go to St. IN BRIEF, SEE page 16

Full-Time Spanish Teacher Saint Pius X Catholic School in Greensboro, NC is seeking an outstanding, certified 5th-8th grade Spanish teacher for the 2016-2017 academic year. Expertise of the language, strong command of pedagogy and classroom management, a collaborative personality, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic are among the requirements.

Interested candidates should send an electronic letter of interest and resume to Mrs. Ann Flynt, Principal, at: aflynt@spxschool.com

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talking.

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Let’s keep talking.

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 OUR PARISHES

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 15

MACS STUDENT BILLING ACCOUNTANT The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for a full-time accounting position for the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools located at the Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Charlotte. Responsibilities include a variety of activities related to student registrations, tuition and fees billings, cash receipts, database management and other accounting related duties.

Requirements include: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting • Minimum of three years’ accounting experience • Excellent computer skills – specifically w/Microsoft Excel and 10-key • Experience with Blackbaud software a plus.

Please send resume and salary history by July 29, 2016 to employment@charlottediocese.org The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Live Your Faith Be affirmed in your present ministry.

Upgrade your certification as a catechist and religion teacher.

Fulfill the prerequisite for the Permanent Diaconate.

Ann Parish as thanks for hosting the festival, and will be used to help pay for the completion of the final two sides of the church’s apse mural featuring St. Ann. The theme for the 2016 Festival is “Faces of Mercy,” in honor of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. Courses for this year have featured art, movement, sacred music and, the crown of the program, the production by the St. John Paul II Theatre Guild of one of Shakespeare’s plays.

The festival will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, July 29, with a sacred music concert in the church, followed by a light dessert reception. Choristers will perform under the direction of Dr. Gianfranco Deluca, a professional organist and choirmaster, formerly director of music at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and currently music director at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

Saturday’s events in the parish gym and cafeteria include a 10 a.m. dance recital featuring “Gabriel’s Oboe” from Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack for “The Mission”; a silent art auction featuring pieces depicting the theme “Faces of Mercy”; and a 6 p.m. performance of “The Merchant of Venice,” in the original Shakespearean English, by the St. John Paul II Theatre Guild.

A second performance of the play will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31.

As the culminating event of the festival, the play brings together all the arts which the youth have been immersed in. They build and paint the scenery, some create their own costumes, they perform group and individual dances (which have become a trademark of the guild), they sing and they act.

All events are free, but goodwill donations

are accepted. St. Ann Church is located at 3635 Park Road in Charlotte.

— A.J. Ohlhaut and Mary Ohlhaut

Mass of reparation to be offered Aug. 3 HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church will host its second annual Mass and Holy Hour of Reparation on Wednesday, Aug. 3, to atone for the collective sins of man and beg for God’s forgiveness. The Mass will be offered at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Holy Hour of Reparation from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. The event, organized by the parish’s Respect Life Ministry, is to offer reparation to God for the sins of abortion, euthanasia, contraception and same-sex unions.

For details, email Mike FitzGerald at respect. life@stmarknc.org.

Polish Mass to be celebrated in Charlotte Aug. 21 CHARLOTTE — The fifth annual Polish Diocesan Mass in Honor of Our Lady of Czestochowa and St. John Paul II will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 21, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

Polish priest Father Jan Trela will be the main celebrant and Deacon James Witulski will assist as deacon. The Mass will be said in Polish, with the homily given in both English and Polish. This Mass will fulfill the Sunday Mass obligation.

Confessions in Polish and English will be heard beginning at 1 p.m.

A Polish choir will provide music and singing during the Mass. Anyone owning traditional, native Polish attire is encouraged to wear it to the Mass.

After the Mass, the faithful will have the opportunity to venerate a first-class relic of St. IN BRIEF, SEE page 17

ATTENTION Charlotte Diocese Boy Scouts and Venturing Youth Interested in a once-in-a-lifetime vocation experience?

Grow in your faith.

The Diocesan Office of Lay Ministry offers a two-year program designed to help you understand more fully your baptismal call to minister to your family, to others in the Church, and to those in your daily life.

Sites include Arden, Bryson City, Charlotte, Greensboro and Lenoir.

We are currently accepting applications for the 2016-2018 program.

For more information:

Frank Villaronga Director, Evangelization and Adult Education Office

F O R M AT I O N P R O G R A M

704-370-3274 frankv@charlottediocese.org

The Saint George Trek is a biennial, high adventure, backpacking retreat for Catholic Scouts and Ventures organized by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting in cooperation with the Boy Scouts of America’s Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NH. This outdoor retreat program is dedicated to assisting youth (ages 15-18) in discerning their Christian vocation with an emphasis on the Priesthood and Religious Life. The next Trek will take place on July 6 – 20, 2017.

An application and selection process is required. Applications are due by August 30, 2106. In September the Charlotte Diocese Catholic Committee on Scouting will select 1 or 2 applicants to participate in this trek backpacking experience.

For more information or to apply visit: http://tinyurl.com/CD-SGT2017, or send an email to: CDCatholicScouting@gmail.com or call 704-756-8790.

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 16

John Paul II: a drop of his blood on a fragment of his cassock from the day he was shot in 1981.

There will also be a dessert reception with other light refreshments. Your donation of these refreshments is appreciated and can be dropped off before the Mass at Aquinas Hall, located across the courtyard from the church.

If you are of Polish heritage, or just love Our Lady and St. John Paul II, or if you would like to experience another culture, you are invited to attend.

St. Thomas Aquinas Church is located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. For details, call 704290-6012.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul grant will help people in need in Arden ARDEN — People in the Arden area will receive much-needed housing assistance thanks to a $5,000 grant from the National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul, part of its “Friends of the Poor” Grant Program, and will be disbursed by the society’s St. Barnabas Church Conference. Funds from the grant will be used to pay for rent, minor home repairs and moving expenses.

The St. Barnabas Conference was established in 1999 as part of the District Council of Asheville.

The conference currently has 13 active members and serves clients in the south Asheville regions of Buncombe and Henderson counties.

This grant was one of 18 distributed through the program around the U.S. Grant applications are evaluated and awarded quarterly on a regional basis by a Vincentian review committee. Funding is provided by the general public and the society’s 160,000 members in

the U.S., and is targeted to specific needs in each community.

“We are pleased to be able to assist local conferences as they work to help those in need,” said Dave Barringer, CEO of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. “Our local conferences are a great example of how a dedicated group of people can make a difference in alleviating suffering.”

One of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (www.svdpusa.org) is an international, nonprofit, Catholic lay organization of about 800,000 men and women who join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in 150 countries. With the U.S. headquarters in St. Louis, membership totals more than 160,000 in 4,400 communities across the U.S. The society offers a variety of programs and services, including home visits, housing assistance, disaster relief, education and mentoring, food pantries, dining halls, clothing, assistance with transportation, prescription medication, and rent and utility costs. The society also works to provide care for the sick, the incarcerated and the elderly.

Over the past year, it provided more than $955 million in tangible and in-kind services to those in need, made more than two million personal visits (homes, hospitals, prisons and eldercare facilities) and helped more than 14.1 million people regardless of race, religion or national origin.

Pennybyrn raises more than $1,600 for Alzheimer’s group HIGH POINT — Residents and staff of Pennybyrn at Maryfield teamed up for their first fundraiser in support of the 2016 High Point Alzheimer’s Association. Monday, June 20, was designated as “The Longest Day” by the Alzheimer’s Association. Teams were encouraged

PBYRN-023 ad Joe & Helen Rev BW 10x6.2_2_Layout 1 5/23/16 10:50 AM Page 1

to create their own experience as they raised funds and participated in an activity they love to honor someone facing the disease. “The Longest Day” is a team event to raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. Held annually on the summer solstice, the duration of this sunrise-to-sunset event symbolizes the challenging journey of those living with the disease and their caregivers.

The Pennybyrn at Maryfield community participated in this event and used “The Longest Day” as its kick-off fundraiser for the High Point Alzheimer’s Walk scheduled for Oct. 15.

Three activities were held throughout the Pennybyrn at Maryfield community: Rock-A-Thon, Bake-A-Thon and Taste-A-Thon. The Rock-A-Thon was held in all three areas of the campus. Each area had two rocking chairs that staff, residents and family members kept rocking from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. The Bake-A-Thon took place in Ilderton Hall. Participants submitted baked items and the winner was determined at the TasteA-Thon. Dollar bills were used to vote for the favorite baked good. The top baker was Kathy Faltynski with her blueberry rhubarb pie.

“Currently over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease with more than 160,000 right here in North Carolina. Every 66 seconds, someone in the United States develops this devastating disease,” said Caitlyn Haffey, the Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina Chapter development specialist. “The Western Carolina Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association covers the 49 counties on this side of the state. We provide programs and services to those impacted, advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves and work to end Alzheimer’s. Ultimately, our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.”

“The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

We are so grateful for Pennybyrn at Maryfield and their team and thank them for their

OUR PARISHESI

17

continued support of the High Point Walk to End Alzheimer’s,” Haffey continued. “We cannot do what we do alone, we need the support of those in the community in order to put an end to this disease. Alzheimer’s is relentless but so are we.

On behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association and the families that we serve, a huge thank you to the staff at Pennybyrn and their supporters for their efforts and contributions.”

The next community fundraisers will be two bake sales July 26 and Sept. 27. The bake sales will take place in Norcross Town Square at Maryfield Healthcare Households. Proceeds will also go to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Boone parish honored for supporting Girl Scouts BOONE — St. Elizabeth Church was recently presented with the “Helping Hands Award” from the Girl Scouts of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes counties in appreciation of their support for the local Girl Scouts. The Helping Hands award with introduced this year to thank the local businesses, civic groups and churches that support their local Girl Scout troops. Amber Mellon, Girl Scout Adult Recognition Specialist for the five counties, recently presented the award to Father Matthew Codd, pastor.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent We welcome your parish’s news! Please email news items to Editor Patricia L. Guilfoyle at catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org.

“Everything we needed in terms of our faith was right here.”

—Joe and Helen Drozd, Pennybyrn residents

This beautiful community captures the heart and soul of the Catholic faith.

“We looked at a number of communities,” says Helen Drozd, “and came to see Pennybyrn because it was Catholic. As soon as we arrived we realized it was where we wanted to be.”

The Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God founded what would later become Pennybyrn at Maryfield. Today, three chapels grace our community; our main chapel with Daily Mass, Adoration Chapel with 24 hour adoration and our Meditation Chapel for private reflection.

“We feel this is holy ground,” says Helen.

“We were also looking for a continuum of care,” noted Joe, “because my mother had been living with us, and she needed a higher level of care.” Pennybyrn allowed the three of them to move to the community together. “Joe’s mom had probably the best three years of her life here,” says Helen.

Pennybyrn’s location is ideal for the couple. They appreciate the amenities, and love the ambiance and beauty of the 71-acre campus, with its well-kept grounds and winding paths. “I attend swimming classes, and Joe uses the fitness center,” says Helen. “There are concerts and activities all the time, and at dinnertime we have our choice of venues, with a friendly wait staff and an expansive menu.”

“We chose to move to Pennybyrn because it simply felt unlike any other community we visited,” says Helen.

Call 336-821-4050 to receive the popular Planning Guide for Seniors or details about one of our Discover Pennybyrn events.

Where retirement living takes on a whole new spirit.

A Life Plan Community Sponsored by the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God

109 Penny Road • High Point, NC 27260 www.PennybyrnAtMaryfield.org Located less than a mile from downtown Jamestown and only 10 minutes from Greensboro. All faiths welcome.

CNH

facebook.com/ catholic news HERALD ESPAÑOL

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 18

Iglesia de San Gabriel a celebrar fiesta de la Virgen de Chiquinquirá CHARLOTTE — El Comité Colombiano de la Iglesia San Gabriel celebrará el próximo Domingo, 31 de Julio, a las 6:30 p.m., una noche de festejo en honor a la Virgen de Chiquinquirá, Patrona de Colombia, en la Iglesia de San Gabriel en Charlotte.

El evento comenzará con la Misa en Español a las 6:30 p.m., seguida de una consagración a la Virgen de Chiquinquirá. Después de la conclusión de la Misa, habrá un festejo en el centro parroquial de San Gabriel con comida típica colombiana y bailes folclóricos de ese país. La celebración se extenderá hasta las 9 p.m.

La Iglesia de San Gabriel está localizada en la 3016 Providence Road, esquina con la Sharon Amity Road.

Todos están invitados.

— Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter

Ministerio Hispano se prepara para Encuentro de Pastoral Familiar en Noviembre Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — El Ministerio Hispano de la Diocesis de Charlotte se está preparando para el “Dia de Encuentro Pastoral Familiar,” que se celebrará el Sabado, 5 de Noviembre, en la Iglesia de San Gabriel en Charlotte.

Este dia de encuentro es una iniciativa local del Ministerio Hispano diocesano como parte y preparación del V Encuentro Nacional, “Discípulos Misioneros: Testigos del Amor de Dios” El Encuentro Pastoral Familiar en la Iglesia de San Gabriel contará con la presencia de Equipos de Pre-cana, equipos de Pastoral Familiar, movimientos Apostólicos que tengan algún tipo de apostolado hacia la familia, o la vida de la pareja, servidores que estén interesados en servir en este apostolado, diáconos, religiosas y sacerdotes de los diferentes vicariatos del Ministerio Hispano de la Diocesis de Charlotte.

Monseñor Silvio Fonseca, Coordinador de la Pastoral Familiar de la Diócesis de Managua Nicaragua, actuará como facilitador del evento.

Eduardo Bernal, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Charlotte dijo que Monsenor Fonseca, “Tiene gran experiencia en esta pastoral además de participar en diferentes esfuerzos para la familia en centro y sur América. Además de ser el director espiritual del equipo de Pastoral Familiar de la Vicaria de Smoky Mountain por los pasados 4 años.” Bernal también agragó que Monsenor Fonseca impartirá una semana de formación e introducción en la Vicaria del Ministerio Hispano de Charlotte durante la semana del 31 de Octubre al 4 de Noviembre.

Bernal describió el V Encuentro como “Un proceso de reflexión y acción eclesial de 4 años que invita a todos los católicos en los Estados Unidos a una intensa actividad misionera, consulta, desarrollo de liderazgo e identificación de buenas prácticas ministeriales en el espíritu de la Nueva Evangelización.” El proceso ha sido propuesto como una actividad prioritaria del plan estratégico de la Conferencia de Obispos de los Estados

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Unidos (USCCB), del año 2017 al 2020. “El V Encuentro inicia al nivel de la base y promueve el desarrollo de recursos e iniciativas que mejor sirvan a la creciente población Hispana en las diócesis, parroquias, movimientos eclesiales, y otras organizaciones e instituciones católicas a la luz de su tema,” explicó Bernal.

Pastoral Familiar es la acción evangelizadora que realiza la iglesia orientada por sus pastores al servicio de la familia acompañándola en todas las etapas y situaciones de su existencia Cesar y Lizeth Colex, facilitadores del equipo de la Pastoral Familiar Hispano del Vicariato de Smoky Mountain, han servido en esa función ahí desde el 2012. El equipo de la Pastoral Familiar de ese vicariato está compuesto de cinco matrimonios, los cuales están siendo formados por sacerdotes, monjas, diáconos, doctores y terapeutas familiares, y que tienen como guía espiritual a Monsenor Fonseca.

“A traves de la formación obtenida, nuestro matrimonio y familia ha crecido espiritualmente. Logrando al mismo tiempo también, el compartir con familias evangelizadas y evangelizadoras del plan de Dios,” dijeron el matrimonio Colex.

La joven pareja agregó también que, “Los logros obtenidos hasta hoy se reflejan en la mejor evangelización de nuestras propias familias, y a las cuales se ha podido servir por medio de diversos talleres, retiros, seminarios y cursos de formación para las familias. Tambien hemos logrado hacer reuniones familiares a nivel parroquial en las cuales se ora, se aprende y se comparte creando un núcleo de amistad.”

Bernal concluyó también diciendo que una de las prioridades del V Encuentro Hispano a nivel nacional es la familia, la cual también es “una de las prioridades del Papa francisco como nos lo deja saber en la exhortación Apostólica la ‘Alegría del Amor.’ Como Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte vemos la necesidad y urgencia de responder a este llamado de hacer de la familia la iglesia casera, y así fortalecer la vida de la comunidad de fe que es bendición para la Iglesia y la sociedad.”

Experience Our Father’s Mercy

The Sacrament of Reconciliation 11:15 - 11:45 AM Monday — Friday Served by the Jesuits

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July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

19

Graduados del Ministerio de Laicos dicen ‘si’ a Dios Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editora

HICKORY — El llamado de seguir a Dios muchas veces parece ser algo formidable, pero para 60 hombres y mujeres de toda la Diócesis de Charlotte, el decir ‘si’ a Dios ha cambiado sus vidas.

El ‘si’ de ellos fue el haber tomado parte en el Programa de Formación Laical diocesano, una jornada que comenzó en el 2014 y llego a su culminación el pasado 9 de Julio con su graduación del programa.

Por medio de este programa de formación que abarca un periodo de dos años, los laicos católicos aprenden más acerca de la fe católica para que de esa manera ellos puedan cumplir con su llamado bautismal de participar en la misión de la Iglesia. El programa se concentra en cuatro áreas de formación: la formación humana, espiritual, intelectual y pastoral.

El programa abarca 150 horas de clases, e incluye todo desde las Sagradas Escrituras, historia de la Iglesia y los concilios, cristología, liturgia y los sacramentos, hasta las enseñanzas morales y sociales católicas, oración y discernimiento de dones.

Para aquellos que completaron el programa, el 9 de Julio fue un día de celebración y de anticipación acerca de donde Dios los guiará después. Los dos últimos años pueden haber sido un poco desafiantes, dijeron los graduados, pero definitivamente valieron la pena y el esfuerzo.

“El (Programa) de Ministerio Laical me ha permitido tomar una vez más, otro paso en mi camino de fe, y me ha abierto

el corazón, ha alimentado mi mente y mi alma, para que yo así continúe caminando mi camino como uno de los humildes servidores del Señor,” dijo Hugh Holland miembro de la Parroquia Reina de los Apóstoles en Belmont.

“Mi conocimiento de la historia de la Iglesia Católica ahora es más profundo, así como también mi fe. También he conocido a muchos nuevos amigos de todos los alrededores de la diócesis que no hubiera conocido de ninguna otra manera,” dijo Bill Youngblood de la Catedral de St. Patrick en Charlotte.

“Ha sido increíble la gratitud con la cual este programa me ha colmado,” dijo Carol Everhart de la Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción en Hendersonville. “Sabemos que por virtud de nuestro bautismo todos estamos llamados a servir, y si lo hacemos, de muchas maneras dentro de nuestra vocación, pero si una persona está lista para más al fondo en su entendimiento y aplicación del llamado de Dios, quiero invitar de una manera amorosa a que exploren este programa.”

“Para todo aquel católico que siempre ha sentido la necesidad de conocer mejor acerca de la fe, en el Ministerio Laical es el curso del RICA multiplicado por cuatro,” dijo Hank Kaczmarek de la Iglesia de St. Dorothy en Linconlnton.

“El compromiso no fue fácil, pero yo creo que valió la pena el esfuerzo,” dijo Patrick Roach de la Misión de Nuestra Señora de Fátima en Winston-Salem. “Me siento bendecido de una manera especial por haber sido expuesto a la Liturgia de las Horas, y yo pienso que la experiencia entera me ha acercado más a Dios. Ahora yo

sé que hay muchas cosas más que aprender acerca de mi fe católica, y a pesar de que acabo de terminar dos años de estudio, la jornada apenas está comenzando.”

Durante una Misa de graduación, celebrada en el Catholic Conference Center en Hickory, se les recomendó a los graduados que continuaran diciendo “si” a Dios.

Durante su homilía, Monseñor Mauricio West, vicario general y canciller de la diócesis, hablo acerca de las lecturas de ese día, incluyendo al profeta Isaías 6:1-8, en la cual el profeta encuentra a Dios. Cuando Dios lo santifica y lo llama, Isaías responde, “¡Aquí estoy Señor, mándame a mí!” Isaías sirve como un modelo de cómo debemos responder al llamado similar que Dios nos hace a nosotros dijo el Monseñor West.

“Queridos amigos en Cristo, ese mismo

compromiso con Dios se nos está pidiendo a nosotros esta mañana,” dijo él. “Cristo los está invitando a que se unan a Él para hacer de su amor y misericordia una verdadera experiencia para todas aquellas personas a las que ustedes se encuentran en el sendero de la vida.”

“Yo estoy consciente que el escuchar este llamado es un gran reto,” reconoció él. “Sin embargo, es lo que se nos está pidiendo a medida que acogemos formalmente una vida de ministerio del Evangelio, junto y al lado de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo.”

Frank Villaronga, director diocesano del Programa de Ministerio Laical, dijo durante sus comentarios al terminar la ceremonia de graduación a los nuevos graduados que continuaran en su jornada espiritual.

“Yo los he escuchado a ustedes decir que ‘si’ muchas veces,” dijo Villaronga con una sonrisa. “Esperamos que ustedes comenzaran a darse cuenta qué significado tiene ese ‘si’, y que ustedes van a continuar diciendo ‘si’ y verán la manera como vivirlo.”

Para mayor información acerca del Programa de formación Laical de la diócesis comuníquense con Frank Villaronga, director de la Oficina diocesana de Evangelización y Educación de Adultos al 704-370-3274 o por email frankv@ charlottediocese.org.

--- Articulo traducido al español por Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter

CCDOC.ORG

A private, Roman Catholic co-educational school

recognized and approved by and within the Diocese of Charleston

Director of Advancement Position Available Located on a beautiful 36-acre campus nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Upstate South Carolina, the school offers a college preparatory, liberal arts curriculum for students in grades 6-12. The Cardinal Newman Society included St. Joseph’s Catholic School on its most recent list of schools recognized nationally by the Catholic Education Honor Roll as a School of Excellence. Honor Roll schools are marked by the integration of Catholic identity throughout all aspects of their programs, as well as excellence in academics.

For more information about the school and this position, visit www.sjcatholicschool.org.

Curso Gratis, 28 de Julio, Iglesia Católica de Santa Maria, Sylva, de 5 pm a 9 pm, contacto Edith Jennings, (828)-421-4863.

Curso Gratis, 3 de Septiembre, Iglesia Católica de San Aloysius, Hickory, de 9 am a 1 pm, contacto Isabel Romero, (828)-327-2341.

Curso Gratis, 29 de Septiembre, Iglesia Católica de San Francisco de Asis, Franklin, de 5:30 pm a 9 pm, contacto Edith Jennings, (828)-421-4863.

Curso Gratis, 1 de Octubre, Iglesia Católica de San Barnabas, Arden, de 10 am a 2 pm, contacto Edith Jennings, (828)-421-4863.

Mix 20

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

On TV n Sunday, July 24, 1:30 p.m. (EWTN) “IN CONCERT: EUROPA KONZERT 2013 FROM PRAGUE.” The Berliner Philharmoniker performs Vaughan Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme” by Thomas Tallis, Dvorak’s “Biblical Songs” Op. 99, and Beethoven’s “Pastorale” Symphony No. 6 in F major.

From the historic Spanish Hall in Prague.

In theaters ‘Ghostbusters’ The tone is light and the emphasis on special effects heavy in this 3-D reboot of the franchise that began with the eponymous 1984 comedy. Director and co-writer Paul Feig shifts the gender balance of the original as three parapsychologists (Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon) band together to track the numerous ghosts that have suddenly started popping up around New York City, eventually being joined on their hunt by a no-nonsense transit worker (Leslie Jones) whose subway station has fallen victim to one of the hauntings. Chris Hemsworth in the role of the ladies’ ditzy hunk of a secretary provides some of the laughs. Occult themes, some strong but stylized violence, a suicide, brief irreverence, occasional sexual and scatological humor, at least one use each of profanity and crude language, several crass terms, a series of obscene gestures.

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

‘The Secret Life of Pets’ When a pampered terrier (voice of Louis C.K.) is forced to make room for the new dog (voice of Eric Stonestreet) his owner (voice of Ellie Kemper) has rescued from the pound, their rivalry leads to a series of comic misadventures over the course of which their mutual hostility begins to soften in the face of adversity. Romance also blossoms as one of the cossetted protagonist’s neighbors – a fluffy Pomeranian (voice of Jenny Slate) who harbors a secret crush on him – proves her mettle in his hour of need. Together with co-director Yarrow Cheney, Chris Renaud helms an entertaining free-for-all in which amusing characters and pleasing visuals of the Manhattan setting predominate over a serviceable but sketchy plot. Targeted tots will learn lessons about accepting the arrival of a younger sibling and about the value of self-sacrifice. Potentially frightening scenes of peril, considerable cartoon violence, numerous scatological jokes involving animals.

CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG

Other movies n ‘The Infiltrator’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R n ‘Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

n Monday, July 25, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “EL CAMINO – THE WAY OF ST. JAMES.” Young American men between the ages of 17-22 make a pilgrimage on the historic route in Spain known as the Way of St. James. The men explain their decision to take part and the crosses they bear along the way. n Tuesday, July 26, 11 a.m.

(EWTN) “WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 IN KRAKOW, POLAND – OPENING MASS.” Celebrated by Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz. n Wednesday, July 27, 9:30 p.m. (EWTN) “WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 IN KRAKOW, POLAND – WELCOMING CEREMONY.” Live from the John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice.

Pope Emoji offers World Youth Day update Just in time for World Youth Day in Poland, Pope Emoji has added new stickers! These are whimsical cartoon characters of Pope Francis designed to add a joyful message to your texts or tweets. This updated collection includes the pope eating pierogi, St. Faustina, the pope embracing St. John Paul II, the pope waving the Polish flag, and much more. There is a bit of setup to get this up and running if you don’t already have the app, but Pope Emoji includes a tutorial showing you how to incorporate the cute emojis on your device’s keyboard.

Go online to www.swyftmedia.com to download the free Pope Emoji keyboard, or find it in your favorite app store.

The new WYD emoji follow on the heels of the first Pope Emoji released in honor of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States last fall, part of a larger “Pope is Hope” social media campaign by the global Catholic network Aleteia.org which is being led by Kathleen Hessert, a parishioner of St. Gabriel Church and founder of Charlotte-based Sports Media Challenge. The campaign is active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, as well as Vine, Periscope and Snapchat.

“It’s remarkable the reception that Pope Emoji have received around the world. Since last September and with the backing of Aleteia, almost 1.3 million Pope Emoji have been sent, racking up 34.1 million impressions,” Hessert said.

The “Pope is Hope” campaign aims to engage millenials in the faith, especially as Pope Francis – who has more than 27 million people following him on Twitter @Pontifex – has challenged young people to integrate their faith with their use of social media.

— Jennifer Kane of Catholic Apptitude contributed.

n Thursday, July 28, 12 a.m.

(EWTN) “WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 IN KRAKOW, POLAND – MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT.” In the Hall of Birds of Wawal Palace. n Friday, July 29, 12 a.m.

(EWTN) “WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016 IN KRAKOW, POLAND – HOLY MASS AT THE SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA.” On the occasion of the 1050th anniversary of the baptism of Poland.

Thierfelder to appear on ‘EWTN Live’

Thierfelder

BELMONT — Dr. WIlliam Thierfelder will be featured on “EWTN Live” with Father Mitch Pacwa at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3. The president of Belmont Abbey College will discuss both Catholic higher education and his former work as a sports psychologist.

Thierfelder has served as president of Belmont Abbey College since 2004. The

liberal arts college, founded by Benedictine monks in 1876, is home to more than 1,500 students and ranks among one of the top Catholic colleges in America for faithfulness and affordability. Under his leadership enrollment has more than doubled and 20 facilities have been built or refurbished, including the addition of two off-site campuses.

A licensed sports psychologist, Thierfelder has helped more than 100 Olympic and professional athletes achieve dramatic improvements in performance.

He is also a former NCAA Division I coach, Olympian (did not compete due to injury), national champion (Ireland) and a twotime All-American from the University of Maryland. He is a member of the Sports

Faith International Hall of Fame.

Thierfelder has also campaigned for religious freedom and testified before Congress in matters related to religious liberty. He is the author of “Less Than A Minute To Go: The Secret to World-Class Performance in Sport, Business and Everyday Life.”

— Catholic News Herald

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

ANNULMENTS FROM PAGE 3

are here, or if the contract was here, we can now establish competency,” added Barnes. “That really simplified things.”

Besides fewer internal hurdles, the diocesan tribunal has worked to shorten the time it takes to review a case – to less than a year in most cases.

“Before the changes, we were averaging nine months for a formal case, and that’s very good,” Barnes said. “Father Putnam’s goal, when he started the advocate program, had been no longer than a year.”

Following the pope’s reforms, she noted, “We have decreased that. When everybody cooperates and everybody does things in a timely manner, then we can get them done a little bit sooner now.”

“We keep a spreadsheet of every formal case and every step that it goes through, and we give each step 30 days – but they usually don’t take 30 days each, and some steps run concurrently,” she said.

In keeping with the pope’s directive that annulments should be affordable, the diocese is also continuing its policy of not turning anyone away because of the cost, which ranges from $75 to $1,000 depending on the type of annulment case.

“No one is turned away because of an inability to pay,” Sarvis stressed. “All anybody has to do is write a letter stating the fee would be a hardship and request a waiver of the fee in part or in total.”

The increased caseload is also being managed smoothly thanks to 50 volunteer advocates serving in parishes across western North Carolina, and the tribunal is training another 10 future advocates through an online training program.

“Our tribunal ministry relies heavily on the assistance of parish advocates who do so much to accompany the petitioners during the process,” Father Putnam said, adding, “We are always looking for others who might be interested in this important work for the Church.”

Deacon Bill Shaw of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro has been an advocate for the tribunal in the Charlotte diocese for more than 13 years. Prior to that he served in his home diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., starting in 1975 assisting a Jesuit priest from Fordham University in the tribunal and then

as a deacon. The stories he hears from people who want an annulment are varied, he said, but the underlying reason always seems to be the same: “healing and wholeness in holiness.”

“Each of those seeking a decree of nullity are not coming because of a canon law, they come for mercy. And in light of those changes instituted by Pope Francis last Dec. 8, this has become the journey,” he explained.

Yes, the process is now somewhat simpler and takes less time, he said, but in the case of the Charlotte diocese, “we have worked zealously to reduce the overall time of the process to its lowest possible cumulative time and have been doing so for a number of years. This is in complete contradiction to other dioceses that have taken two to four years. Where was the mercy and charity in that?”

No matter what, he emphasized, each annulment case is unique and Church staff must serve the people involved with sensitivity and compassion, no matter whether the annulment is granted or not.

“Each requires a desire to close a very tender, sometimes painful portion of their lives, and yet to find in the mercy and love of God the joy of not judging themselves as being any less than a beautiful creation of God.” Deacon Shaw serves in the ministry as an advocate because, as paradoxical as it may seem, the work gives him joy.

“There is nothing greater than to see the face and hear the voice of someone who has been ‘freed’ from all the stress and pain of their past life, that they have carried believing there was no hope.

“There is nothing more damaging to a person’s soul than the loss of hope, and this process returns what for many has been lost. I have had those in the journey completely turn their personal lives around and over to our loving Lord.

“I have known those who had believed their life was not of any value to anyone and were ready to quit life. I have worked with some who have been victims of the most horrific abuse and believed they could never trust another individual on the level of interpersonal commitment to marriage again, and after this process have moved on and found someone to love and allow them to love in return.”

Deacon Shaw said that in those he assists he sees something special. “The face of Christ has many faces, but they are all the One Face...the Face of God.” — Catholic News Service contributed.

HURTING FROM PAGE 3

who are struggling. Some are recently divorced, while others have been divorced for many years. Some are Catholic and some are non-Catholic, and some have had more than one previous marriage. But it’s not my place to judge. I’m there to listen and to help. I’ve never met with someone who was happy that their marriage ended in divorce. No matter how it ended, they all went into their marriage expecting it to last forever. So I try to let them know that God is merciful. He’s ready to give forgiveness and healing. When I sit with someone and they share their story – their sufferings, their hurt and their disappointment – I’m always touched, and God is always there in the midst of it all.

Several of the cases I’ve dealt with have been particularly difficult. They’ve involved physical as well as extreme emotional abuse. As I’m listening to the client talk about the horrible ways in which they were treated (by someone who was supposed to love them), I ache for them. And yet I also can’t help but feel blessed. I have a strong marriage, a loving husband, and I never have to worry that those things would happen to me. I also feel blessed that I get to hear this person’s story. Many times they haven’t shared their “whole story” with anyone. I get to witness a new beginning for them, a lifting of a weight that they’ve carried for a while. I truly believe God has placed me there for a reason, and I’m glad I opened my heart and answered His call.

Nancy Kopfle is the wife of Deacon John Kopfle, who serves at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte.

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Our nation 22

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

July 5

July 6

Sandra Sterling reacts during a July 7 vigil in memory of her nephew, Alton Sterling, who was shot dead by police outside a market in Baton Rouge, La. Sterling, 37, was killed early July 5 in a shooting that was captured on cellphone video.

Flowers and handwritten messages adorn the site in Falcon Heights, Minn., a suburb of St. Paul, where Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer July 6.

CNS | Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit

CNS | Jeffrey Dubinsky, Reuters

Baton Rouge

st. paul

July 7

July 17

A Dallas police officer is comforted July 7 at Baylor University Hospital’s emergency room entrance after a shooting attack.

Snipers shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven more at a demonstration in Dallas to protest the police killing of black men in Baton Rouge and St. Paul.

Police officers attend a July 17 vigil at St. John the Baptist Church in Zachary, La., for the fatal attack on policemen in Baton Rouge, La. A former Marine dressed in black shot and killed three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers that day, less than two weeks after a black man was fatally shot by police here in a confrontation that sparked nightly protests nationwide.

CNS | Ting Shen, The Dallas Morning News handout via Reuters

Dallas

Baton Rouge

CNS | Jeffrey Dubinsky, Reuters

Bishop feels ‘deep ache in my heart’ after fatal shootings of police Catholic News Service

BATON ROUGE, La. — Baton Rouge Bishop Robert W. Muench renewed a call for a diocesan-wide week of prayer, fasting and reflection after the latest fatal shootings in the city, which this time took the lives of three law enforcement officers.

He urged all to “work toward a lasting peace in our communities.”

Early July 17, a former Marine fatally shot three police officers and wounded three more, one critically, less than a mile from the city’s police headquarters. The gunman, later identified as Gavin Long of Missouri, was killed at the scene, officials said.

Baton Rouge was still reeling from the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling, 37, by police during an altercation outside a convenience store July 5. The first week of July also saw the fatal shooting of Philando Castile, 32, in suburban St. Paul, Minn., by police officers July 6, followed by the sniper shooting in Dallas that killed five police

officers July 7.

“Words cannot express the emotions we feel for those who have lost loved ones in the tragic events of this day,” Bishop Muench said in a statement. “Their entire lives have been unexpectedly and terribly turned upside down.”

“Prayer is a powerful path to follow when tragedy happens, but even the most devout of us sometime question: ‘What good could come of this?’” the bishop said.

“Only the word of God has the answer to the questions that shake our faith: The answer is our Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus, hope ultimately triumphs over despair; love ultimately triumphs over hate; and resurrection ultimately triumphs over death.”

In a July 18 statement, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops offered his prayers for the officers and families “affected by the horrible shooting in Baton Rouge.”

“We find ourselves amid a prolonged prayer of lament as we join to console the grieving and support the suffering,” said Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky. “People are suffering because their uniform is blue, suffering because their skin is black and suffering simply because of their station in life.”

The “temptation to respond to violence with violence is strong,” he said, noting that even St. Peter himself lashed out about Christ’s arrest. “Jesus’ response was clear: ‘Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.’”

“As followers of Christ, let us always embrace love and ask ourselves how we can best invite all people of goodwill to live with us in peace,” Archbishop Kurtz said.

Against a backdrop of “complex and varied” reasons for so much suffering, he urged people to come together “to address the lingering evil of racism, the need to

safeguard our citizens from the present danger of extremism and the overall breakdown of civility.”

The Church “will seek out ways to foster this life-saving dialogue,” he said.

“Answers will not come easily nor as quickly as we need. We must continue searching and listening until they do.”

In addition to dialogue that “cultivates a true respect for every human being,” Archbishop Kurtz said, “we should also seek ways, large and small, to be a sign of hope in the everyday routines of life.”

“The next time you are pulled over by a police officer or walk past one on the street, thank him or her for their service,” he advised. To those who work in law enforcement, he said, “The next time you make a traffic stop, thank the person for their time.”

He added, “The task of building a society upon the strong foundation of love begins with each one of us every day.”

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

23

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com Worshippers hold hands after a July 17 vigil at St. John the Baptist Church in Zachary, La., for the fatal attack on policemen in Baton Rouge, La. A former Marine dressed in black shot and killed three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers that day, less than two weeks after a black man was fatally shot by police here in a confrontation that sparked nightly protests nationwide.

CNS | Jeffrey Dubinsky, Reuters

U.S. Church urged to turn attention to racism Police shootings are ‘wake-up call for all of us’ Carol Zimmerman and Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The threat of being pulled over by police and arrested for something that even “hinted of going beyond the status quo,” was very real to retired Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla., when he was growing up in segregated Baton Rouge.

The African-American bishop, president of the National Black Catholic Congress, said he and his friends “lived under constant threat of being arrested” during his teenage years.

Now decades later, he said that “like everyone else, I was very dismayed” by the recent fatal shootings in Baton Rouge July 5 and a day later in suburban St. Paul, Minn., by police officers, followed by the sniper shooting July 7 in Dallas which killed five police officers and a July 17 shooting in Baton Rouge which killed three more officers.

After this surge of shootings, he said, many people have been asking: “Where do we go from here and what does all this mean?”

Catholics are no exception.

The violent actions served as a “wake-up call for all of us, a jolt,” he said.

He thinks the Church has a lot to “bring to the table” to bridge racial divides, pointing out that it has a long history of speaking up for civil rights. But, he said, “we’ve got a lot of work to do” to combat racism.

For starters, people need to acknowledge that it exists.

Louisiana Bishop Shelton J. Fabre of Houma-Thibodaux similarly said the first step is recognizing there is a problem and a lot of “understandable fear, anger and hurt out there.”

The African-American bishop, chairman of the Subcommittee on African-American Affairs for the U.S. bishops, noted realistically that it is “going to take a lot of time to restore trust and bring healing.”

“As Catholics, we know reconciliation is a process. There are no magic pills, as much as we might want them.”

But he also said the Church, with its diversity, can play a unique role in bringing about healing because it can “remind all that racism is a sin.”

Other Catholic theologians and social justice leaders urged the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to openly and honestly confront the “original sin” of racism and acknowledge that a sense of white privilege is widespread and continues to harm communities of color. While Church teaching about racism has been clear, they said, Church practice has not always been forthright.

Some initiated a call for the bishops to develop a new pastoral letter on racism to address 21st-century concerns. The last, “Brothers and Sisters to Us,” issued in 1979, called racism a sin.

Twenty-five years later, a USCCB report found that while some progress in addressing racism had been made within the Church,

results had fallen short of expectations.

In ongoing efforts to address race relations, the USCCB established the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church in 2008 to coordinate the bishops’ outreach to African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, Native Americans and migrants, refugees and travelers.

Donna Grimes, assistant director, African American affairs, in the secretariat has led “intercultural competency” training sessions around the country for three years. The programs, lasting up to three days, focus on helping parishes to become welcoming places to newcomers in an increasingly diverse Church.

Priests and seminarians in particular, Grimes said, are interested in learning how to guide parishes to be more welcoming communities. Still, there are concerns, she said.

“Many seminarians seem to be out of touch with some of the communities I’m familiar with,” said Grimes, an AfricanAmerican. “I get a sense that they expect to be ordained and to go to perhaps a suburban parish like the one they grew up in.

But with the shortage of priests and the need for priests to be flexible, it’s very important that they pick up the skill, knowledge and attitudes, I would say, to be interculturally competent.”

Discussions among parish participants during the sessions – and afterward – have revealed a desire for the Church to more aggressively confront racism, Grimes said.

“People would really like to hear more from the bishops. This is what I keep hearing. They say, ‘Do they (the bishops) care? Is it really a church home for me?’” Grimes said.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges out in the community that people are frustrated about, black and white and other races as well,” she explained. “They are very frustrated about things happening in the community, from one city after another – tension, video recording, violence. It’s very upsetting and distressing.

“The Church is not immune to that. People, I find, they want this resolved ... and they want to raise the issue, their concerns, in the Church. They want them to be discussed. They want them to be heard,” Grimes said.

The answer to racism rests in understanding that human dignity is foremost in Church teaching, said theologian M. Shawn Copeland at Boston College.

Beyond the bishops, parishioners must take charge in the fight against racism, Copeland added.

“We are all responsible. It’s not about guilt. It’s about responsibility. Whether you came to the United States last week or came 300 years ago, we’re all responsible for the condition of our country.”

Copeland suggested that parishes assemble groups of people to “sit together ... and be quiet enough to surface what is happening in our country. That’s not asking people to spend money. It’s asking people to set aside some time. It’s asking people to think deeply and prayerfully about what’s happening to us.”

In Brief Injunction placed on Indiana abortion law INDIANAPOLIS — A federal judge has put on hold an Indiana law that makes it illegal for women in the state to have an abortion solely based on the race, gender or disability of a fetus.

Signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence March 24, the Dignity for the Unborn law was to have gone into effect July 1, but the day before U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Walton Pratt granted a preliminary injunction on enforcement of the law.

Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, or PPINK, had filed the request for the injunction.

According to the U.S. District Court of Southern Indiana’s document on the outcome, Pratt ruled in the petitioners’ favor to place a preliminary injunction on the law while the organization pursues litigation challenging the constitutionality of three of its provisions: forbidding abortion based solely on a fetus’ sex, race or disability; requiring abortion providers to inform clients of this law; and requiring the remains of an aborted fetus to be buried or cremated.

In the document, Pratt states that the stay was granted because “PPINK is likely to succeed on the merits of its challenge to the anti-discrimination provisions because they directly contravene the principal established in Roe v. Wade that a state may not prohibit a woman from making the ultimate decision to have an abortion prior to fetal viability.”

House passes Conscience Protection Act; CVNC issues alerts WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a 245-182 vote, House members July 13 passed the Conscience Protection Act, which would give legal protection to doctors, nurses, hospitals and all health care providers who choose not to provide abortions as part of their health care practice.

“We’re grateful to House Speaker Paul Ryan for bringing the Conscience Protection Act to a vote, to all the co-sponsors for their leadership, and to those members of both parties who support the civil right of conscience,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore.

Catholic Voice North Carolina, the public policy organization of Bishop Peter Jugis and Bishop Michael Burbidge, sent out several alerts to its 5,000 participants asking them to contact their representatives by by email and telephone urging them to support the bill.

University president defends hiring for Catholic identity NAPA, Calif. — A majority of a university’s faculty “must be Catholic” for a university to be Catholic, said the president of The Catholic University of America in a speech in Napa. “I want to make one point. Building a Catholic university is not a complicated thing,” John Garvey said July 7 during the Napa Institute’s annual conference.

“The plan was laid out in 1990 by St. John Paul in the apostolic constitution ‘Ex Corde Ecclesiae,’ a document that runs about 50 pages. “But the kernel of the argument is in four short lines near the end. St. John Paul says for a university to be Catholic a majority of its faculty must be Catholic,” he said. “He did not say he and the other bishops should superintend the Catholic character of a Catholic university,” he said. That was the pontiff’s “way of saying bishops are not academics. We don’t know how to build university faculties.

The only thing we insist on is that you choose Catholics to do it. This is, as I say, a fairly simple plan. If the university follows it, the university will be Catholic. If it doesn’t, it won’t.”

— Catholic News Service

Our world 24

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope offers to help, meet families following massacre in Nice Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis offered his help to the people of Nice in a surprise phone call following a deadly attack during Bastille Day celebrations, said the head of an association of Italians living in France.

Paolo Celi, president of the FranceItaly Friendship society, told Vatican Radio that he was shocked upon answering his phone and hearing, “Paolo, I am Pope Francis.”

“There was a moment of silence from my part. Then he asked me to impart to the entire city of Nice, to all the families of the victims, his message of solidarity and comfort, saying, ‘What can I do,’” Celi said in an interview published July 18.

Celi also said the pope expressed his desire to meet with the families of the victims of the July 14 massacre.

“We also spoke for quite some time over the phone about a meeting in Rome in the near future, without setting a date,” he said.

The pope also spoke on the phone with Christian Estrosi, former mayor of Nice and president of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, Celi said. The call, he said, gave Estrosi “the necessary strength in this situation.”

Celi, who had left the promenade shortly before the attack happened, also said he was “greatly comforted” by the pope’s gesture.

“With his words, with his comfort, the Holy Father can alleviate this awful memory to restore the vigor and desire for hope of all these people,” Celi said.

The July 14 attack took place when 31-year-old Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck through the crowds celebrating Bastille Day along Nice’s seaside promenade, leaving 84 dead and more than 100 wounded.

In his remarks following the recitation of the Angelus prayer July 17, the pope led pilgrims in a moment of silent prayer for the victims of the massacre “in which so many innocent lives, even many children, were mowed down.”

“May God, the good Father, receive all the victims in His peace, support the wounded and comfort the families; may He dispel every plan of terror and death so that no man dares to spill his brother’s blood ever again,” he said.

In a message following the attack signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, the pope condemned the Bastille Day attack as an “act of blind violence” and expressed his “deep sorrow” and “spiritual closeness” with the French people.

“I give a paternal and fraternal embrace to all the residents of Nice and to the whole French nation. And now, all together, let us pray thinking about this massacre, the victims and the families,” he said.

CNS | Stefano Rellandini, Reuters

Franciscan friars wait for the arrival of Pope Francis outside the Portiuncola, the small stone chapel inside the Basilica of Santa Maria deli Angeli in Assisi, Italy, in this Oct. 4, 2013, file photo. Pope Francis plans to make a “simple and private” visit to the Portiuncola Aug. 4. The stone chapel was rebuilt by St. Francis.

Visiting Assisi chapel, Pope Francis will highlight divine mercy Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — To mark the 800th anniversary of the “Pardon of Assisi,” an indulgence earned by visiting faithful who confess their sins and make a sincere promise of repentance, Pope Francis will visit a stone chapel rebuilt by St. Francis of Assisi.

The pope’s visit to the small Portiuncola chapel Aug. 4 is to be part of a “simple and private” pilgrimage during the Year of Mercy, according to Vatican Radio. The pope is expected to pray in the chapel and speak a few words, the radio said July 4.

The chapel, now contained inside the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, is where the saint founded the Franciscan order. Pope Francis previously visited the site on the feast day of the saint – his namesake – Oct. 4, 2013.

The August visit is meant to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the “Pardon of Assisi,” also called the Portiuncula Indulgence, which can be earned as part of a solemn annual

celebration each Aug. 2.

St. John Paul II once said the message of the Portiuncula Indulgence is one of “pardon and reconciliation, that is, of grace, which divine goodness pours out on us if we are well disposed because God is truly rich in mercy.’’

St. Francis was overwhelmed by the realization that God forgave all of his sins, the late pope had said in a letter in 1999. The saint wanted everyone to be able to share his experience of God’s mercy, so he asked for and obtained from the pope a plenary indulgence for pilgrims who would come to the Portiuncula prayerful and repentant, the late pope had said.

The small Portiuncula chapel was an abandoned Benedictine chapel that was then entrusted to St. Francis in the early 1200s; when St. Francis heard God tell him to rebuild the church, he first thought he meant the little chapel.

St. Francis restored the chapel in 1207. It was where he founded his religious order and where St. Clare publicly professed her vows.

July 22, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Church leaders gather before AIDS conference, focus on children, stigma CAPE TOWN, South Africa — One-third of HIV-positive children “die before their first birthday, and half before their second birthday,” so Catholic groups are advocating for changes in treatment, said Monsignor Robert Vitillo, Caritas Internationalis special adviser on HIV and health. In a telephone interview from Durban, where Catholic groups met before the July 18-22 International AIDS Conference, he also said groups were concerned about eliminating the stigma attached to AIDS. About 70 people from Catholic groups who provide diagnosis, care and prevention programs for people living with HIV attended the July 15-17 meeting, organized by Caritas Internationalis and other Catholic organizations. Archbishop Peter Wells, papal nuncio to South Africa, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban and Dominican Sister Alison Munro, director of the AIDS office for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, were among the speakers at the meeting that drew participants mostly from African countries, including Cameroon, Uganda and Swaziland.

Nuncio to U.N.: Create Palestinian state, use faith-based diplomacy UNITED NATIONS — Archbishop Bernardito Auza, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, told the U.N. Security Council in a July 12 debate that it was time to make peace between Israel and Palestine.

Archbishop Auza said the Security Council should accept the recommendations made July 1 by the Quartet on the Middle East, the foursome of the U.N., the United States, the Russian Federation and the European Union

founded in 2002 to work toward peace in the Middle East.

“The time is long overdue to put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has become increasingly unacceptable as it has become increasingly intractable,” the archbishop said.

He called for the full implementation of the U.N. General Assembly’s Resolution 181, which called for the creation of a Palestinian state almost 70 years ago and has not been fulfilled.

Archbishop Auza also echoed the pope’s denunciations of nations that simultaneously call for peace and supply weapons to parties involved in the conflict.

Vatican: No changes foreseen in direction priests face at Mass WASHINGTON, D.C. — Recent comments by a high-ranking Vatican official have sparked questions about the direction priests should face while celebrating Mass, but the Vatican spokesman said Pope Francis has made it clear no changes are foreseen.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, urged priests and bishops at the Sacra Liturgia conference in London July 5 to start celebrating Masses “ad orientem,” or facing the altar, beginning the first Sunday of Advent this year.

However, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, issued a statement July 11 indicating the Pope Francis met with Cardinal Sarah July 9 to indicate no liturgical directives will begin in Advent.

“Cardinal Sarah is always rightly concerned with the dignity of the celebration of Mass, that it might adequately express an attachment of respect and adoration for the Eucharistic mystery,” Father Lombardi’s statement said. “Some of his phrasing has been badly interpreted, as if he had announced new, different indications from those now given in liturgical norms and the words of the popes on celebration toward the people and the ordinary rite of the Mass,” the spokesman added.

Several liturgical experts said Cardinal Sarah does not have the authority to impose a change but is simply encouraging a practice that liturgical law already permits.

— Catholic News Service

Respect Life Program Director Catholic Charities Catholic Charities seeks a part-time (15 hours per week) Respect Life Program Director to implement projects, events, advocacy campaigns, communications, and training to raise awareness of the sanctity of human life, and to advocate for the protection and respect of human life and human dignity from conception to natural death. The individual will promote the Social Doctrine of the Church with a primary focus of raising awareness of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities.

O Holy St. Jude!

Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor for all who invoke your, special patronage in time of need; to you I have recourse from the depth of my heart, and humbly beg you, to whom God has given such great power, come to my assistance.

In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.

St. Jude pray for us who invoke your aid.

(Say 3 Our Fathers, 3 Hail Mary’s, 3 Glory Be) Publication must be promised.

The Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools presents...

hool c S o T Back f Kickof A Night k allpar at the B

When: Sunday, August 21st, 2016 Where: Charlotte Knights Ballpark Time: 5pm

Join us for a night of fireworks, baseball, fun, fellowship & service. We will be collecting school supplies for needy children.

Applicants should have a BA/BS degree, possess strong communications skills, be familiar with Church social doctrine, and have experience promoting the Church’s call for the protection and respect of human life. Requires weekend and evening work, travel within diocese, and occasional travel out-of-state.

Anticipated start date is October 1, 2016.

Cover letter and resume must be submitted electronically by 5 pm Tuesday, August,16, 2016. For a complete job description and application instructions, visit ccdoc.org/jobs.

**Discounted tickets are available** Visit ticketreturn.com, login to activate the discount username: catholicschools password: tickets Choose your seats and select your payment/delivery method Questions? Contact the Catholic Schools Office at 704.370.3265

25

ViewPoints 26

catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

April Parker

Barbara Case Speers

Raising priests W

hen I was 18, my grandmother introduced me to Proverbs 31, a scripture passage she has always tried to live her life by. In it, the “ideal wife” is described: “When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls...”

Since then, I too have tried to imitate the woman in this proverb. Yet, even after trying to live by the characteristics of charity, diligence, prudence and resourcefulness mentioned in the scripture, I still find myself pondering over the woman’s sons, who, the proverb states, “rise up and praise her.” Her sons are arrows in her husband’s quiver, and he is proud of them and her.

At first, I felt despair at not having sons of my own.

Yet, as I reflected more and more on this proverb, I came to a new realization. If the reader steps back from the literal view of Proverbs 31 and views it more as a symbolic representation of us, the Church – as the bride doing all we can to serve the bridegroom, Jesus Christ – we gain a better interpretation of the woman’s fidelity toward her family, her holy family.

As good Christians, we too practice keeping the light burning for Christ and use our industriousness to bring resources to the Church. But what about the sons?

When my grandmother realized she was going to have her first child, she immediately fell to her knees and prayed a prayer dedicating the child to God. Consequently, her firstborn, my father, became a Methodist minister.

In my classroom at school, I meet at least one student every few years in whom I feel the Holy Spirit is already at work, planting the seed of a religious vocation.

Through their attitude, their knowledge of the scriptures, and their inquiry into the faith, I already see within these boys a yearning to serve the Church.

As their teacher, I try to offer encouragement and answer questions.

And when I had my daughter, I too remembered my grandmother’s prayer and I gave her to God’s holy service. As I do for my students, I encourage her to consider the possibility that God has a special vocation in mind for her, perhaps as a wife and mother or as a religious sister.

Interestingly enough, the young students who are already contemplating a call to the priesthood are in families where a close relative is particularly active in the Church: an uncle who is a priest, a father who is a deacon, or a parent who leads faith formation classes.

These children’s lives are already intertwined with the Church. Discussions of Church teachings and vocational callings are already commonplace in their homes. Inquiries about the faith are encouraged and fostered.

But what about other children? Sure, most of my students are from strong Christian families, but how do they too become open to hearing God’s call?

How do we encourage our young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood?

In searching for an answer, let us consider Luke 2:41-51, which tells of Mary and Joseph finding the

12-year-old Jesus in the temple after a long and desperate search: “After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished, and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.’”

Their reaction was understandable, the same all parents would have. Mary’s question also reflects some parents’ reluctance to understand the call the Lord is sending to their children.

Before he became a Methodist minister, my father had a prominent job in marketing. One day he came to my grandmother in tears, telling her that he felt a strong desire to enter the ministry. The first thing she told him was to see a doctor. Remember, this is the same mother who gave her son to God before he was even born. But this sudden calling bewildered, even frightened her.

We all want to see our children succeed, graduating from college with high-paying jobs in topranking professions. However, to raise a priest, our thinking may need to shift. Remember Jesus’ rebuttal when His apostles were arguing about who was the greatest among them? “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

(Mark 9:35) In Luke’s account about finding the child Jesus in the temple, it goes on to tell us that the Holy Family returned home to Nazareth, but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Is pondering not unlike questioning? Questioning is fine. Questioning allows for understanding. Luke goes on to state that Jesus continued to live obediently with His parents until His time came. So they returned to a quiet life, but they kept an open dialogue with God. As in Luke 1:66 when John the Baptist was brought for circumcision, the family, witnessing many miraculous occurrences, asked, “What, then, will this child be?” Even through all their questions, Luke continues by saying, “The child grew and became strong in spirit...” (Luke 1:80) We are embarking on a momentous occasion in our diocese, with a new college seminary set to open in August. What a positive step of encouragement for the young men of our state, and especially of our diocese. As the laypeople of our diocese, it is now our duty to increase the dialogue, the pondering and the inquiry of our students, sons, grandsons and friends to explore this unique opportunity to embark on a journey of complete self-giving, becoming a servant of all. Let us follow the example of the Holy Family and make our homes a place of inquiry and prayer, with our hearts open to the working of the Holy Spirit, so that more of our sons can serve Christ.

“Young man I say to you, arise!” (Luke 7:14) April Parker is a member of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, where she teaches third grade at St. Pius X School. Parker is also an author and freelance writer.

Where do you stand?

“But early in the morning He arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to Him, and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.

So what do you say?’ They said this to test Him, so that they could have some charge to bring against Him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with His finger. But when they continued asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again He bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So He was left alone with the woman before Him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ She replied, ‘No one, sir.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more.’ “ (John 8:2-11)

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ommentators have written a lot about this scripture passage, giving us an understanding of how the scribes and Pharisees were envious and rebellious, plotting to accuse Jesus of religious, criminal and political misconduct. But how can I relate these words to my life?

Biblical scholars point out the obvious lesson about condemning others without first judging ourselves. But the curious will ask: what did Jesus write in the sand? I believe it doesn’t matter. Jesus stopped the “religious police” in their tracks by bringing them face to face with their own transgressions.

Their personal examination could have been induced by His words. Their self-audit could have been a result of what He penned in the dirt. Or it could have been a combination of both.

What we do know is that, one by one, they walked away and left Jesus with the sinful woman. It’s almost as if he drew a line in the sand, forcing a choice between Him or sin.

This scene is vivid in my imagination because I can place myself in that setting. Yes, the woman’s sin separated her from God, but let’s get real – all mortal sin separates us from God. We can all relate to the sinful woman. We have all been brought at one time or other to stand in front of Jesus.

When Jesus told the woman to go and sin no more, He said it with authority, love, mercy and compassion. Jesus gave her a second chance.

Recently while reading a prayer, my eyes lingered on the word “all.” “All” is a small word with a profound meaning. When we wash dishes, we wash all of them. When we go to the movies, we watch the whole show. When we read a book, we read every page. Unfortunately, when it comes to one’s spiritual life and our salvation, the word “all” may not be what we’re giving.

Audit your life: where do you stand? Are you giving all of yourself to Jesus, or are you giving Him an hour a week, maybe two considering the drive time and socializing? What about the other aspects of your life? Do you speak for Jesus, or would He look and say, “Go and sin no more”? Do you dress for Jesus, or would He look and say, “Go and sin no more”? When you choose how to spend money, would He look and say, “Go and sin no more”? When you watch TV or go on the internet, would He look and say, “Go and sin no more”? Is your life above reproach, or would Jesus write in the sand? Whom do you serve: yourself or your Lord?

Self-examination and conversion of heart aren’t done just once a year, once a week, or once a day. Yes, God’s grace and mercy are available to us, but we are held accountable, just as the sinful woman was. St. Thérèse of Lisieux said it this way: “You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint or no saint at all.”

An old hymn written by Judson W. Van De Venter back in 1896, says, “All to Jesus I surrender; all to Him I freely give. I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live.” It’s about time we draw a line in the sand, leaving sin on the other side.

Barbara Case Speers is a writer who lives in Hickory.

July 22, 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)

Suicidal conscience What we think is the right road

T

he idea of “conscience” is oppressive nonsense. To believe that there is a conscience which should govern our conduct implies that we should let others define our identity or tell us what to do. I believe in Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Whoso would be a man (or woman) must be a nonconformist.” I believe in doing your own thing. As Mama Cass once sang, “You gotta make your own kind of music.”

But it’s the wrong road We can kill our bodies by acts of omission or commission. That is, we can deny ourselves necessary food, water, or medicine – and die. We can commit an act of violence against ourselves – and die.

We can also kill our consciences by acts of omission or commission. That is, we can deny ourselves necessary wisdom, knowledge and learning – and spiritually die. And we can commit acts of moral and mental violence against ourselves – and spiritually die.

Among the most difficult Bible Leo Tolstoy passages for us is Our Lord’s command: “Let the dead bury the dead” (Mt 8:22/Lk 9:60). We know that the Bible can be read literally and “Lift Up Your literarily, meaning Heart,” by Archbishop that there may be Fulton J. Sheen moral, anagogical or allegorical senses of understanding of a certain passage.

When Our Lord tells us that the dead can bury the dead, He is not literally preaching against burial, which is a corporal work of mercy.

Rather, Our Lord is telling us, morally and allegorically, that following Christ is always our first duty, beyond all other duties.

This New Testament passage is often paired with the Old Testament reading from 1 Kings in which Elijah permits Elisha to return for a time to his parents before following him (19:20).

Christian discipleship, however, always puts Jesus first. The spiritually dead, or spiritually dying, always find ways and means of delaying or denying the call of Christ. This is the point of St. Paul: “Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11).

Elsewhere, in fact, St. Paul tells us that “you were dead, through the crimes and sins which used to make up your way of life when you were

‘Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.’

Suggested Reading

living by the principles of this world, obeying the ruler who dominates the air, the spirit who is at work in those who rebel” (Eph 2:1-2 NJB).

When Jesus tells us that He is the way and the truth, He also tells us that He is the life (Jn 14:6). This is the divine teaching we find in Deuteronomy: “Today I am offering you life and prosperity, death and disaster. If you ... keep his commandments..., you will live” (30:15-16 NJB).

If we keep God’s commandments, we live; if we reject His will and His way, we spiritually die. We commit suicide of conscience.

That means that we must keep Our Lord first and foremost. Of course, too often we rebel because we are sinners. Thank God we have the sacrament of confession to express contrition, establish a firm purpose of amendment and be absolved. Confession is not popular, though, for it requires that we examine ourselves against a standard beyond that of our own will and wishes. If I “gotta make (my) own kind of music,” then I reject the symphony of God’s wisdom and, in place of it, crown myself, as Napoleon once did, as king of my own conscience.

Conscience means “with knowledge.”

As Second Vatican Council taught us in “Gaudium et Spes”: “In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which he does not impose upon himself, but which holds him to obedience. Always summoning him to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience when necessary speaks to his heart: do this, shun that. For man has in his heart a law written by God; to obey it is the very dignity of man. ...Hence the more right conscience holds sway, the more persons and groups turn aside from blind choice and strive to be guided by the objective norms of morality” (16).

We are what we repeatedly do, Aristotle taught us. By insolently refusing to see and listen to what is good, true and beautiful, we are committing “suicide of conscience.” We are denying God, for which there are dreadful consequences (Lk 12:9; 2 Tm 2:12).

St. Paul seems to be speaking to us today, just as he spoke to the people of his own time (and as Isaiah had spoken to the people of his time): Much too often, the people “listen and listen but never understand! Look and look but never perceive! This people’s heart is torpid, their eyes dulled; they have shut their eyes tight to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, using their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed” (Acts 28:26-27 NJB).

“Conscience,” Venerable Fulton J. Sheen once wrote, “cannot come to us from the rulings of society; otherwise it would never reprove us when society approves us, nor console us when society condemns.”

Conscience is not about conforming to the latest fad or fashion, doing what pleases the crowd. Nor is it being a non-conformist, doing whatever pleases ourselves. Rather, conscience is about conforming our thoughts, words and deeds to the Truth of Christ, which leads to peace and eternal life.

Deacon James H. Toner is currently associated at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

Photo provided by Amy Burger

Where’s Pikachu?

HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church now has three “Pokémon GO “PokéStops.” The mobile game, which has taken the world by storm, hit gamers’ smartphones July 6. Players are now hitting the streets in droves in search for PokéStops, gyms and elusive Pokémon characters to catch. This spot is a gym, so everybody stops here and stays a bit. Hey, maybe the players will come back for Mass!

Most-read stories on the web

“ ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do’ to combat racism.”

Bishop John H. Ricard of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla.

From online story: “Healing racial divide starts with dialogue, black bishops say” Through press time on July 20, 6,206 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 16,880 pages. The top 10 headlines in July have been: n Stay tuned: Priest assignments coming ...............................................................................1,203 n First Confirmation Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated in the diocese.............571 n Jesuits leaving Mooresville parish in 2017 after more than 40 years of service....... 272 n Deacon assigned to Greensboro................................................................................................298 n St. Matthew parishioner admitted to candidacy for priesthood July 5..........................307 n Deacon candidates installed as lectors; deacons affirm promise to serve................... 290 n Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits Charlotte...............................................................................197 n Photo gallery: Receiving the sacrament of Holy Communion...........................................229 n Diocese hosts first discernment retreat for young women.................................................158 n How to make a pilgrimage for the Year of Mercy................................................................... 177

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 22, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

12th Annual

Eucharistic Congress

Be Merciful, just as your Father is Merciful Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress September 9 & 10, 2016, Charlotte Convention Center

Confession

Vendors of Sacred Art

K-12 Education Tracks for Students - Register online

Vocation and Catholic Education information

Sacred Music Concerts

Holy Mass – Concelebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis and the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte

Religious displays

- This is My Body

Brandon Vogt - Seven Steps to Help Young People Return to the Church Vinnie Flynn - Seven Secrets of Divine Mercy

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For more information please visit: GoEucharist.com

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CIFUL – L ER uk

Fr. Dr. Pawel Rytel-Andrianik, Holy Hour Homilist

Father Chris Alar - Understanding the Message and Devotion of Divine Mercy

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Father Matthew Kauth - Bible Study of Mercy

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PRESENTATIONS

C I FUL , J UST ER A

Holy Hour

English and Spanish Tracks for Adults

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Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Charlotte

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2016 Eucharistic Congress Diocese Of Charlotte

September 9 & 10 JUBILEE OF MERCY