July 8, 2016

July 8, 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

Jesuits leaving Mooresville parish in 2017 after more than 40 years 3

Charlotte to host national conference of Teams of Our Lady, 7 INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Español.................................15 Events calendar................. 4 Our Parishes................. 3-14 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.......................16 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints.................. 22-23 World news.................. 20-21 Year of Mercy..................... 2

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‘Keep moving forward with the Lord’ More than 50 attend Duc In Altum, the diocese’s first discernment retreat for young women, 3

Receiving the sacraments First confirmation in the Extraordinary Form celebrated in the diocese

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Camp with Heart Teens kick off summer vacation helping others

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Year of Mercy 2

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Don’t miss this!

The Diocese of Charlotte’s Year of Mercy website has lots of educational resources for families, including monthly catechesis on the virtues and corporal and spiritual works of mercy. July’s virtue is “Temperance,” as modeled by St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The Spiritual Work of Mercy for the month is “Pray for the Living and the Dead” with information about St. Faustina Kowalska, and the Corporal Work of Mercy is “Bury the Dead,” with information about St. Catherine of Siena.

Learn more at www. yearofmercy.rcdoc.org/ catechesis.

Photos provided by Connie Ries

Year of Mercy-themed VBS STATESVILLE — St. Philip the Apostle Church held its annual Vacation Bible School June 20-23 with 45-50 children attending each day. The theme of this summer’s VBS was the Year of Mercy, celebrated with lessons about St. Faustina, St. Junipero Serra, St. Cecilia and the parish’s very own St. Philip. Each evening the children learned about a saint, sang songs, made crafts, and had a supper loosely based on the saints’ local food. The final day culminated with fun-filled water activities, as well as cake and and ice cream.

‘Mercy Moments’ series online Just what does it mean to be merciful? The Diocese of Charlotte has produced a video series on the topic presented by Father Patrick Winslow, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Charlotte, and one of Pope Francis’ “Missionaries of Mercy.” Each of the seven videos explores the topics of mercy, justice and forgiveness within the Christian context. The series is just one of the resources from the diocese during the Church’s Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Watch them all on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel.

The common good and individual rights

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n exercising their rights individually and in associations, the Christian faithful must take into account the common good of the Church as well as the rights of others, says Church law.

In exercising their rights, individuals and groups are bound by moral law to respect the rights of others.

The Second Vatican Council spelled out the situations when individual rights may be limited: (1) for the common good of the Church, not the broader common good of all; (2) avoiding unnecessary conflicts with the rights of others; and (3) the duties of Christ’s faithful towards others.

Ecclesiastical authority can regulate the exercise of individual rights in view of the

common good. This should not be understood as an arbitrary use of authority, but as a protection against possible abuses arising from alleged rights. The Vatican II Council’s teaching is that “man’s freedom should be given the fullest possible recognition and should not be curtailed except when and insofar as it is necessary.”

According to “Guadium et spes,” also known as the “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World”: “Modern man is on the road to a more thorough development of his own personality, and to a growing discovery and vindication of his own rights. Since it has been entrusted to the Church to reveal the mystery of God, Who is the ultimate goal of man, she opens up

to man at the same time the meaning of his own existence, that is, the innermost truth about himself. The Church truly knows that only God, Whom she serves, meets the deepest longings of the human heart, which is never fully satisfied by what this world has to offer.

“She also knows that man is constantly worked upon by God’s spirit, and hence can never be altogether indifferent to the problems of religion. The experience of past ages proves this, as do numerous indications in our own times. For man will always yearn to know, at least in an obscure way, what is the meaning of his life, of his activity, of his death. The very presence of the Church recalls rights, SEE page 17

Your daily Scripture readings JULY 10-16

Sunday: Deuteronomy 30: 10-14, Colossians 1:15-20, John 6:63, 68, Luke 10:25-37; Monday (St. Benedict): Isaiah 1:10-17, Matthew 5:10, Matthew 10:34-11:1; Tuesday: Isaiah 7:1-9, Matthew 11:20-24; Wednesday: Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16, Matthew 11:25-27; Thursday (St. Kateri Tekakwitha): Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Matthew 11:28-30; Friday (St. Bonaventure): Isaiah 38:1-6, 2122, Isaiah 38:10, 11, 12, 16, John, 10:27, Matthew 12:1-8; Saturday (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel): Micah 2:1-5, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Matthew 12:14-21,

JULY 17-23

Sunday: Genesis 18:1-10, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:38-42; Monday: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Matthew 12:38-42; Tuesday: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Matthew 12:46-50; Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10, Matthew 13:1-9; Thursday: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, Matthew 13:1017; Friday (St. Mary Magdalene): Jeremiah 3:14-17, Jeremiah 31:10-13, John 20:1-2, 11-18; Saturday: Jeremiah 7:1-11, Matthew 13:24-30

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: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Matthew 14:1-12

Our parishes

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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‘Keep moving forward with the Lord’

Diocese hosts first discernment retreat for young women SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

BELMONT — The Diocese of Charlotte’s first vocations retreat for young women, Duc In Altum, concluded July 1 with the celebration of Mass at Belmont Abbey.

More than 50 teenagers attended the week-long retreat, which included prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass, confessions, as well as vocation discernment talks by women religious, priests and laity. Throughout the retreat, they were encouraged to cultivate silence in their prayer life as well as in their daily life, so as to be able to listen to God’s voice above all others.

Bishop Peter Jugis was the main celebrant for the closing Mass, offered on the first feast of St. Junipero Serra, and he drew from the newly canonized saint’s words as inspiration for his homily. Bishop Jugis encouraged them, like the Franciscan missionary traversing the American West, to “keep moving forward” with the Lord.

“He is canonized as a saint because he was known for his personal holiness and his spirit of self-denial, sacrifice and his absolute trust in God and all his work for the Lord,” Bishop Jugis said, noting the many missions the saint had founded in the western United States.

“Everything he did, probably daily, he repeated that saying to himself as he said his daily prayers: ‘Keep moving forward.’

It’s a message from the saint that you can take to heart as you move forward from this Duc In Altum. Keep moving forward.

Keep making progress. Never turn back, and never remain stationary or stagnant,” Bishop Jugis said.

He then drew a connection between St. Junipero Serra’s words and the words of the Gospel of the day from Matthew 9:9-13, in which Jesus tells St. Matthew, “Follow Me.” “Those words, ‘Follow Me,’ we can understand in two ways,” Bishop Jugis explained. “In the first way, St. Matthew physically follows Jesus – literally walking behind Jesus, following in His footsteps. It reminds us that Jesus always walks before us, as the Good Shepherd walked before His flock, and we follow Him. He walks before each one of you and says, ‘Follow Me.’ He is

More than 50 people attended the diocese’s first discernment retreat for young women June 27-July 1, “Duc In Altum” (“Put out into the deep.”).

Pictured (clockwise, from top left): retreat participants enjoyed a game of “Saint Scavenger Hunt”; Kara Klein and Christine Simpson from the band His Own performed a concert; everyone each spent an hour in Eucharistic Adoration throughout the course of one night at Belmont Abbey’s St. Joseph Adoration Chapel; and retreat participants gathered with Bishop Peter Jugis after the closing Mass for the retreat at Mary Help of Christians Basilica.

Photos provided by Megan Whiteside and SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

leading you in your walk with Him.” The second way, Bishop Jugis continued, is in how to follow Jesus in our hearts: “Heeding His voice, which you have been doing this week. Listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Responding with a ‘yes’ to the movements of His grace in your life, wherever the Lord happens to be moving you. Being directed by His Holy

Spirit.”

Jesus Himself was always moving forward, Bishop Jugis also noted. “The Gospel tells us that He set His sights specifically on Jerusalem and He never stopped pursuing His goal, which was our salvation, there in Jerusalem. He never stopped following that course.

“So as you leave this Duc In Altum,

inspired by today’s Scripture readings and the feast of our wonderful saint who labored on our own continent, our own soil for Christ, dedicate yourself again to pursuing your walk with the Lord. In your personal life, continue to move forward with Him, with God as your goal, and with God with you on your journey, always growing in holiness.”

Jesuits leaving Mooresville parish in 2017 after more than 40 years of service SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

St. Thérèse Church, with more than 3,600 registered families and a new church in Mooresville, will revert to the care of diocesan priests in 2017 after 46 years of being staffed by the Jesuits.

MOORESVILLE — Parishioners at St. Thérèse Church are reacting with sadness following the news that the Jesuits, who have staffed the Mooresville parish since 1970, will be leaving next summer.

Starting July 11, 2017, the parish will revert to the care of priests of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Jesuit Father Vincent Curtin, pastor, shared the decision from the order’s Maryland Province with parishioners at weekend Masses June 4-5.

The parish’s explosive growth is one reason the order is turning the parish back over to the diocese.

Established in 1956, St. Thérèse has been among the fastest-growing parishes in the Charlotte diocese in recent years. It now ranks as the diocese’s thirdlargest parish with 3,662 registered families, behind St. Matthew Church in Charlotte (10,000-plus families) and St. Mark Church in Huntersville (5,468 families), according to diocesan statistics.

In a June 4 letter to parishioners, Father Robert JESUITS, SEE page 17

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: July 8 – 5:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Church, Greensboro

July 26 – 4:30 p.m.

Mass for Catholic Charities Board Pastoral Center Chapel, Charlotte

July 14 – 6:30 p.m.

Mass for Conferral of Ministry of Lector for Deacon Candidates and Affirmation of Ordination Promises for Permanent Deacons St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

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

Aug. 2 – 7 p.m.

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

Diocesan calendar of events July 8, 2016

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

Volume 25 • Number 20

NFP CLASSES: 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, July 23 and 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 listed here:

PRAYER SERVICES & Groups

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

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

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.

CHARLOTTE Maronite Mission: Masses are offered weekly at 12:30 p.m. Sundays, at St. Matthew South Campus, 4116 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw. The mission’s pastor is Father Elie Mikhael, who can be reached at 704-543-7677, ext. 1043. The Maronite Mission of Charlotte is an Eastern rite Catholic Church in full communion with the pope.

PROCESSION FOR LIFE: Saturday, July 23, starting at St. Ann Church (3635 Park Road, Charlotte) with Mass at 9 am. 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.

Healing Mass and Anointing of the Sick: 2 p.m. every third Sunday of the month, St. Margaret of Scotland Church, 37 Murphy Dr., Maggie Valley. Individual prayers over people after Mass by Charismatic Prayer Group members. For details, call the church office at 828-926-0106.

Evening Novenas: Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Church, 1505 East Kivett Dr., High Point. All are invited to pray the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Join them in praying for the needs of your families and for our hurting world. For details, call the church office at 336-883-0244.

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

NCMarriageDiscovery.org or call 704-315-2144.

STRENGTHS MINISTRIES: Learning and exploring your God-given talents shine a light of insight on the gift that is you. Join us this summer for Strengths Exploration, beginning on July 11 at 10 a.m. or Juy 14 at 7 p.m., for six weekly small-group sessions. For details visit www. stmatthewcatholic.org/strengths or call 980-349-8015.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

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, July 9, or 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 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.

YOUNG AT HEART ALZHEIMER’S RESPITE MINISTRY: Meets every Monday except holidays, 1-4 p.m., in Kerin Family Center Room 200 at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stmptown Road, Huntersville. For details, email jgraceart@yahoo.com or 704-948-3558.

THE CROSSROADS SUPPORT GROUP: Meets on Monday, 6-7 p.m. at 910 Mill Avenue, High Point. To register please contact Alimah Bangura at 336-822-2825 or abangura@ mha-triad.org.

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.

YOUNG ADULTS ASHEVILLE THEOLOGY ON TAP: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville region. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp. CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active in Charlotte at: St. Gabriel Church: on Facebook at “St. Gabriel Young Adult Ministry” St. John Neumann Church: call Meg VanGoethem, 815-545-2587 St. Patrick Cathedral: on Facebook at “St. Patrick Cathedral Frassati Fellowship-Young Adult Ministry” St. Peter Church: look them up on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/St-Peters-Catholic-Young-Adult-MinistryCharlotte-NC St. Thomas Aquinas Church: online at “Aquinas’ Finest,” www.stacharlotte.com/finest Our Lady of Consolation Church: contact Denise Duliepre, 917-575-0871 Holy Spirit Church in Denver: call Nicole Lehman, 704-607-5207 GREENSBORO WAY OF CHRIST: The young adult ministry at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro: at www.stpiusxnc. com/woc, on Facebook at “wayofchrist” and Twitter @ wocgreensboro St. Mark Church in Huntersville: Look them up on MeetUp at www.meetup.com/St-Mark-Catholic-ChurchYoung-Adult-Ministry or on Facebook IMMACULATE CONCEPTION FRASSATI SOCIETY: For young adults aged 20-39, single or married, in the Hendersonville area. Look them up on Facebook at “ImmaculateConceptionFrassatiSociety.”

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

Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Peter Hayes, the son of Kyle and Amanda Hayes, receives Holy Communion from Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bohdan Danylo during a Divine Liturgy July 3 at St. Basil the Great Mission in Charlotte.

Ukrainian Catholic bishop visits Charlotte Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

Photos provided by Daibeliz Escobar

Teens kick off summer vacation by helping others CHARLOTTE — Catholic HEART (Helping Everyone Attain Relief Today) volunteers participated in a five-day service event last week to assist in Charlotte-area home improvement projects.

More than 400 teenagers and adult sponsors helped revitalize communities and beautify homes for the elderly, disabled and for those who could not afford repairs. The Catholic HEART Workcamp projects ranged from painting and yard work to rehabilitating the interior and exterior of homes at housing locations recommended by the city.

The CHWC came to Charlotte as a result of a collaborative effort initiated by the City of Charlotte’s Neighborhood and Business Services Department. Volunteers served in the following projects and organizations in the Charlotte area: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, City of Charlotte’s Neighborhood and Business Services Department, Holy Angels, House of Mercy, Love Inc., and a few nursing homes. The effort encompassed more than 150 homes, the largest number of homes assisted in Charlotte as part of the CHWC. Neighborhood residents had an opportunity to mingle and give thanks to the CHWC volunteers June 30 during a closing ceremony at Charlotte Catholic High School.

The Orlando, Fla.-based CHWC was started more than two decades ago by a husband and wife youth ministry team in search of service trip opportunities. The Workcamp has grown to 13,000 volunteers in 50 cities this summer.

CHARLOTTE — Work to build a Christian community and seek the face of Christ in others: That was the message of Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bohdan Danylo during his July 3 visit to Charlotte.

The bishop was in town to visit the growing St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Mission Parish, which will welcome its first full-time priest this fall, and to erect a second mission for Ukrainianspeaking Catholics in south Charlotte.

Bishop Danylo leads St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy, which is based in Parma, Ohio, and whose territory encompasses North Carolina. He celebrated two Divine Liturgies, or Masses – one in English at St. Basil Mission, which meets at the chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, and one in Ukrainian at the chapel of Charlotte Catholic High School.

Too numerous to gather in St. Thomas Aquinas’ chapel as usual, the faithful instead gathered in Aquinas Hall for the liturgy – “a little bit extended chapel,” Bishop Danylo quipped.

In his homily Bishop Danylo encouraged everyone to seek out Christ and to look for the face of Christ in others, just as His original disciples did.

“Whatever needs you have, whatever God is calling each and every one of us to do, if you come to this church this summer, and every day of your life, with the same faith” as the blind man who was healed by Jesus, “trust me, God will hear,” he said.

Recalling the Gospel account of the two disciples who encountered Christ on their way to Emmaus, Bishop Danylo pointed out how Christ questioned them about what was bothering them, He listened to them and He taught them. And during their encounter with Christ, they recognized Him in the breaking of the bread.

Christ is also concerned about what is bothering us, Bishop Danylo said, and He desires to listen to us and to teach us. But are we receptive to Him? “The question is, would we have the same joy as those two disciples on their way to Emmaus, to proclaim the Good News? Would we have the same faith that Mary Magdalene had when … she saw the risen Lord? That’s what God’s calling each and every one of us to do this Sunday, and every other Sunday,” he said.

Encountering Christ and growing in our Christian faith is something we do in relationship with each other, he also noted.

As the Second Vatican Council taught, he said, “God in His wisdom desires to save us not as individuals, but as community.” And we can better serve those among us who are less fortunate, as Christ calls us to do, when we build up our Christian communities, he said.

To aid in building up the community of St. Basil Mission, he said, he has assigned Father Joseph Matlak as full-time administrator effective Sept. 1.

Father Matlak comes to Charlotte from Parma, where he served as assistant to the administrator of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral.

Father Matlak will also serve as administrator of the newly established St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Pineville, which will serve a community of about 70 Ukrainianspeaking Catholics in the area.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Bishops meet in Savannah SAVANNAH — The bishops of the Atlanta Province gathered for their annual meeting June 27-29, this year held in Savannah, Ga. The Atlanta Province encompasses the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the four dioceses of Charlotte and Raleigh, Charleston, S.C., and Savannah. “It’s part of an identity of a province to periodically come together, to have an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and for a little business that strengthens each of the local Churches,” explained Archbishop Wilton Gregory.

“All of us, obviously, face many of the same pastoral challenges, and we need to support and affirm and encourage one another. Also, I think it’s another indication that, as Pope Francis has said to the whole Church, we need to accompany each other. We need to move forward in faith together.”

Their meeting was held at the Savannah diocese’s new Catholic Pastoral Center, a former children’s home opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1938.

Pictured after Mass are (from left) Bishop Robert Guglielmone, Bishop of Charleston; Bishop Luis Zarama, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta; Bishop David Talley, Auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta; Bishop J. Kevin Boland, Bishop Emeritus of Savannah; Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Atlanta; Bishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Bishop of Savannah; Bishop Michael Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh; and Bishop Peter Jugis.

Photo provided by Michael J. Johnson, The Southern Cross

General Chapter of Benedictine monasteries meets in Belmont BELMONT — Belmont Abbey recently hosted for the first time the General Chapter of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries. Meeting every three years, the General Chapter is the governing body for the 19 abbeys of the American-Cassinese Congregation of Benedictine Monasteries – most of which, including Belmont Abbey, trace their histories back to the first permanent Benedictine monastery in the United States, St. Vincent Archabbey in Pennsylvania.

Although Benedictine abbeys are self-governing and largely autonomous, most of them are members of congregations, which enable them to offer each other mutual assistance and safeguard the integrity of their monastic life. Among other things, the General Chapter is responsible for drawing up the constitutions for the member monasteries; electing the president of the congregation and his council, who coordinate the mutual support among the member monasteries; and discussing other matters which strengthen their monastic communities.

The superiors and one elected delegate from each monastery, a total of 47 people, attended the June 19-24 meeting, as did the president of the congregation and his council; and the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine Confederation from Rome, Benedictine Abbot Notker Wolf.

At the meeting, Benedictine Father Elias Lorenzo of St. Mary’s Abbey in Morristown, N.J., who had served as prior of the international Benedictine Collegio Sant’Anselmo in Rome, was elected president of the congregation. He succeeds Abbot Hugh Anderson of St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, Ill. Photo provided by Rolando Rivas, Belmont Abbey College

Mlakar admitted to candidacy for holy orders CHARLOTTE — Seminarian Jacob Mlakar, a parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, has been admitted to candidacy for holy orders, during a July 5 Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Peter Jugis. In the Rite of Admission to Candidacy, the man who aspires to holy orders first publicly manifests his will to offer himself to God and to the Church for sacred ministry.

“Our brother, Jacob Mlakar, comes today to this Mass requesting to be admitted as a candidate for holy orders,” Bishop Jugis said. “His pastors and those in charge of his formation have spoken favorably of him and recommended that he be received as a candidate.”

“Jacob, the Lord gives you special graces now as a candidate pursuing your vocation to the priesthood,” he told Mlakar. “You are crossing a threshold into a period of more intense formation and preparation for the holy priesthood. Jesus, in His love for you, has brought you this far along your path already and He will continue to lead you. Trust Him. Give yourself to Him. Spend time with the Lord in prayer.

He will give you the graces to grow in your vocation.”

Mlakar recently earned a Bachelor of Philosophy from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, indicating successful completion of the pre-theology program. As a candidate for holy orders, he now begins a more focused period of formation. The next steps in formation are ministry of lector, ministry of acolyte, ordination to the transitional diaconate, and ultimately ordination to the priesthood.

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

Charlotte to host national conference of Teams of Our Lady July 12-15 CHARLOTTE — Married couples from across the U.S. who are members of Teams of Our Lady, a movement of Christian couples committed to growing in love and holiness through the sacrament of marriage, will gather for their national conference next week in Charlotte.

St. Matthew Church is hosting the conference July 12-15 – the first time the event has been held in the Southeast.

Founded by Father Henri Caffarel in France in 1947 to support married couples, Teams of Our Lady has spread to more than 10,000 teams worldwide in more than 50 countries. The lay movement came to the United States in 1958, where there are now more than 700 teams including more than 50 in the Diocese of Charlotte.

A “team” is a group of five to seven couples and a spiritual advisor who meet once a month to share, pray and discuss challenges of living a Christian marriage and life. Couples use a time-tested format to meet their needs and desires of growing closer in love and faith through Teams of Our Lady, and in the process they discover support for one another and for their marriage.

Mary Pat and Vince Arostegui piloted the first Teams of Our Lady groups at St. Matthew Church more than 15 years ago.

Teams of Our Lady is now active in Huntersville, as well.

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

Local speakers include 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 include Deacon Dominick Pastore and his wife Teresa Tomeo, EWTN Radio/TV host and author.

The event is generally aimed at Teams of Our Lady couples and their spiritual advisors.

Guests are welcome to register online to either attend the entire conference or hear keynote speakers, and have lunch. Guests may also attend any of the daily Masses.

For more information about the conference or to register, go to www.toolevent.org.

To learn more about Teams of Our Lady, go to www. teamsofourlady.org.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Former Sacred Heart Church property rezoned as wedding venue Amanda Raymond Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — The Salisbury City Council recently approved a rezoning request for a wedding venue to be operated at the former Sacred Heart Church property.

The city council approved a plan June 21 to rezone the 1.5-acre property at 128 N. Fulton St. for a wedding venue called The Abbey.

The vote was the second approval by the city council, which OK’d the rezoning June 7 only after city planners and the property owner modified the plans in response to neighbors’ concerns.

Lori and Michael Dienfenbach requested the rezoning so they could convert the property into a wedding venue. Along with furnishing the former church and other buildings on the property to serve as a wedding venue, they plan for a support services building that could include related businesses such as a florist or tuxedo rental store. Another of the buildings could be converted into a bed and breakfast in the future, they said.

The Salisbury-Rowan Convention and

Visitors Bureau estimated that the 1,800 square feet of retail space could have an impact of $1.8 million on the local economy, Lori Dienfenbach said. The venue would also bring many out-of-town visitors into Salisbury.

But some neighbors and the Historic Salisbury Foundation had voiced worries about the noise, parking congestion, and businesses that might move into the support services building if the wedding venue were to fail.

The Dienfenbachs’ proposal went through two council committee meetings and a Planning Board committee meeting, during which changes were made to the plans, including removal of a rooftop terrace.

The Refuge, a church that currently rents a building on the property, will also have to move before the plans for the wedding venue can move forward.

The Fulton Street property was the home of Sacred Heart Church from when it was built in 1940 until 2009, when Sacred Heart Church moved to its current 40-acre campus on Lumen Christi Lane, just off Jake Alexander Boulevard.

CDA forms new court in Waynesville, Canton WAYNESVILLE — Two more faith communities in the Diocese of Charlotte have inaugurated a Catholic Daughters of the Americas chapter.

On June 5, St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton instituted the Court Immaculate Heart of Mary 2715 with a total of 28 charter members.

It is the 18th and newest local CDA chapter in North Carolina.

The CDA is the oldest and the largest Catholic women’s group in the Americas. Formed in 1903 in Utica, N.Y., today it numbers 70,000 members in 1,250 courts in 45 states across the country, and in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Members are dedicated to the principles of “Unity and Charity,” the order’s motto. CDA tools of the trade are considered the Circle of Love, including Spiritual Enhancement, Education, Family, Leadership, Legislation and Quality of Life.

The chartering ceremony in Waynesville was the culmination of months of work by parishioners and CDA leaders from elsewhere in the diocese, including State Regent Essie Walker of Charlotte; District Deputy Diane Clark-Hawkins; Jo MacWilliams, Regent of the Court St. Joan of Arc 2471 in Candler; and State Secretary Gwendolen Parris of the Court St. Mary of God in Sylva.

Officers for the new court are: Regent Jean Burton, Vice Regent Christine Ryan, Recording Secretary Mary Harrah, Financial Secretary Gail Webb, and Treasurer Norma Waring. Father Christopher Riehl, pastor, wll serve as court chaplain.

National Director Sheila Storey of Durham swore in the new officers.

Attending and serving at the ceremony were Brend Spizo and Vice Regent Sue

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For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Bishops speak out on Supreme Court’s abortion ruling North Carolina’s two bishops have commented on the recent Supreme Court ruling on abortion access. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte and Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh sent a brief email this week to the 5,000 participants in Catholic Voice North Carolina about the June 27 ruling.

In a 5-3 vote, the high court struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that required them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical centers and required their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals. The court said these parts of the Texas law were an unconstitutional restriction to abortion access.

The case, Whole Woman’s Health v.

Hellerstedt, challenged a 2013 state law, H.B. 2, placing the requirements on the state’s abortion clinics. Opponents of the law claimed the requirements were aimed at closing abortion clinics. But the state and many pro-life advocates maintained that the law protected women’s health.

The ruling is seen as a setback for the pro-life movement.

(Editor’s note: Read more about the Supreme Court’s ruling on page 18.)

In their email, the bishops reaffirmed their commitment to prayer and the protection of the unborn, saying “our unwavering resistance through prayer and demonstration to the awful reality of abortion will continue.”

Catholic Voice North Carolina is the nonpartisan public policy voice of the state’s bishops.

— David Hains, diocesan director of communication

‘Choose Life’ license plates ready to order

Photos provided by Christine Ryan

Harris, both of Court Durham 1576 in Durham; Teresa Cornett, State Treasurer and Regent, of Court St. Bernadette 2629 in Fuquay Varina; and Janet Rapiey, Vice Regent, Court St. Philip the Apostle 2593 of Statesville.

District Deputy Diane Clark-Hawkins organized the court and and the event was hosted by the Court St. Joan of Arc 2471.

The Knights of Columbus Father Bernard McDevitt Council 15085 helped with the reception that followed.

— Catholic News Herald

North Carolina’s new “Choose Life” license plates are close to production. Once the state has received 300 applications for the plates, it will begin manufacturing them according to the design above.

Applications to obtain the plate are online at www.ncchoose-life.org. The fee is $25.

Funds from the plate will provide muchneeded funding to assist pro-life pregnancy centers across the state. For every license plate sold, $15 will go to support these pregnancy centers. North Carolina has about 70 such lifeaffirming pregnancy centers that will be able to apply for funds generated by the plate sales.

After centers have met the state’s eligibility requirements, funds generated from the plate sales will be distributed equally among them.

Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship has been designated by the state as the agent through which funds generated from the plates are distributed.

To learn more, go online to www.ncchoose-life. org.

— Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 OUR PARISHES

Photos by Juan Zambrano | Catholic News Herald

Healing Mass at St. Mark Church HUNTERSVILLE — A large crowd filled St. Mark Church June 20 for a special healing Mass offered by Father Jose Maniyangat of the Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla. The Indian-born missionary Father Maniyangat, who has been a priest for more than 40 years, has experience in parish ministry, prison ministry and charismatic healing. On the feast of the Divine Mercy in 1985, he was in a motorcycle accident and had a life after death experience. Father Maniyangat reports visiting

hell, purgatory and heaven with his guardian angel, and receiving the gift of healing from God. With his bishop’s approval, he now travels the world conducting Eucharistic healing services to help those in need of spiritual, mental or physical healing.

Ad3_mock.pdf 1 7/13/12 4:42 PM

Spend time with Our Lord The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed to have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament offered in five locations. All of the faithful, of any age, are invited to participate!

Stop by anytime or sign up for a regular Holy Hour:

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BELMONT

Belmont Abbey College’s St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road Margaret Fox (704) 648-8947 www.belmontabbeycollege.edu/about/ community

CHArLOTTE

HIgH pOINT

Pennybyrn at Maryfield Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel 1315 Greensboro Road Edna Corrigan (336) 324-4366 www.maryfieldeucharistic.org

HUNTErSVILLE

St. Mark Church’s Monsignor Bellow St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road Perpetual Adoration Chapel Estelle Wisneski (704) 364-9568 (located in the Monsignor Joseph A. Kerin Family Center) 14740 Stumptown Road HICKOrY St. Aloysius Church’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Sink (704) 892-5107 or email eucharistic.adoration@stmarknc.org Mary Perpetual Adoration Chapel www.stmarknc.org/adoration 921 Second Street N.E. Melanie & Dave King (828) 638-0462 www.staloysiushickory.org/perpetualadoration

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A Life Celebrated Forever By naming our parish in our will, we celebrate and recognize how important this place has been to our family. And, as new members of the Catholic Heritage Society, we invite you to join us with a simple bequest in your will to benefit your parish, school or other Catholic agency.

To receive the free brochure, “A Simple Guide to Gift Planning” contact Judy Smith, Director of Planned Giving at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

Sister of Providence celebrates golden jubilee ASHEVILLE — A total of 34 Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-theWoods, Indiana, are celebrating jubilees this year – one of whom has ties to the Diocese of Charlotte.

Sister Linda Thompson, who ministers as a registered nurse supervisor and community nurse at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community in Asheville, is celebrating her 50th anniversary. She also served as the RN supervisor for Grace Health Care and Rehabilitation Center of Asheville in 2008.

A native of Orange, Calif., Sister Linda entered the congregation on Sept. 12, 1966, from St. Joachim, Costa

Mesa, Calif. She professed perpetual vows on Oct. 22, 1978.

She graduated from Saint Mary-of-theWoods College with a bachelor’s degree in special education. She earned her registered nursing degree from Northeastern University.

Sister Linda has also ministered in Thompson Massachusetts and Indiana.

The Sisters of Providence, a congregation of nearly 320 women

religious, with more than 200 Providence Associates, collaborate with others to create a more just and hopefilled world through prayer, education, service and advocacy.

The Sisters of Providence have their motherhouse at Saint Mary-ofthe-Woods, located just northwest of downtown Terre Haute, Ind. St. Mother Theodore Guerin founded the Sisters of Providence at Saint Maryof-the-Woods in 1840. Today, Sisters of Providence minister in 17 states, the District of Columbia and Asia.

— Jason Moon, media relations manager for the Sisters of Providence

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Deacon assigned to Greensboro CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis announces that Deacon Marcos Mejias has been assigned to Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro effective July 1.

Mejias Deacon Mejias was ordained in 2014 and has been serving at Holy Family Church in Clemmons since then. He has been trained to serve as a deacon of the Mass in the Extraordinary Form by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius of the Chicago Archdiocese, and he hopes to be of assistance in the regular celebration of this form of the Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church. He and his wife Yvonne also hope to be helpful in ministry to the Hispanic community at the parish as well, given their fluency in Spanish.

— Deacon Ron Steinkamp

Diocese hires new attorney CHARLOTTE — Joe Dodge has been hired as the general counsel for the Diocese of Charlotte, effective June 1.

Dodge succeeds Richard Lucey, who retired earlier this year after more than 30 years of service to the diocese. He has more than 28 years in private practice, concentrating on civil trial law.

He and his wife Sherry, married for 30 years,

are members of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. They have three children and two grandchildren. Their oldest son Joe Jr., his wife April and thier two sons, Oliver and Nathaniel, live in Charlotte.

Nick and his wife Jackie live in Raleigh, and their youngest son Tyler lives in Dodge Seattle.

Dodge said he feels “very grateful to be able to serve the bishop and the people of the diocese.”

— Catholic News Herald

He worked for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte since 2014 and before that served as director of the Office of Justice and Peace for the Diocese of Richmond, Va., and as regional coordinator for Commonwealth Catholic Charities in southwestern Virginia.

A 2015 graduate of the Catholic Charities USA Leadership Institute, he served on the Catholic Charities USA Parish Social Ministry Section Leadership Team and the Regional Gathering Planning Team.

— Catholic Relief Services

Rosary rally held FOREST CITY — A Rosary Rally for Marriage was held June 25 at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City.

— Giuliana Polinari Riley, correspondent

Reilly joins CRS ASHEVILLE — Justin Reilly, the regional director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte in western North Carolina, will join Catholic Relief Services Aug. 1.

Reilly will be CRS’ Southeast Relationship Manager, representing CRS with the seven dioceses in North Carolina, South Carolina and Kentucky.

Holy Angels receives grant from Community Foundation BELMONT — The Community Foundation of Gaston County has awarded Holy Angels a $10,000 grant to support its programs and services, Regina Moody, President/CEO, recently announced.

Holy Angels requested the grant from the Community Foundation to help fund a new box truck or “cube van” to assist Holy Angels in taking adaptive equipment to Camp Hope for the residents when they are participating in camp activities, picking up in-kind donations

from donors, and transporting supplies to fundraising events.

CFGC Executive Director Ernest Sumner said, “The Board of Directors of the Community Foundation was pleased to fund a transportation truck for Holy Angels Inc. The unique services and care provided by Holy Angels are critical to an important group of our citizens and the truck will address the daily need to transport various types of equipment, especially medical equipment. It will also make the work of Holy Angels much more effective.”

Holy Angels was founded in 1955 by the Sisters of Mercy – beginning a much-needed specialized service for children and adults with delicate medical conditions from throughout North Carolina. The private, nonprofit corporation in Belmont provides residential services and innovative programs for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions. Holy Angels relies heavily on fundraising dollars to meet the needs of the 94 children and adults served.

Pictured are (from left): From Holy Angels, Kerri Massey, chief program officer; Anne Bogen, chief development officer, and Regina Moody, president/CEO; from the Community Foundation, Elizabeth Patton, grants and scholarships coordinator.

Polish Mass to be offered 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 IN BRIEF, SEE page 11

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.

SAVE THE DATE:

Thursday, October 13 at 6pm

Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons

Room At The Inn ~ 17 Annual Benefit Banquet~ th

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.

We are SUPER excited that our speaker for our banquet during this Year of Mercy will be

IMMACULEE ILIBAGIZA

• 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 July 15, 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

If you would like to sponsor the event or host a table, please contact Marianne at 336.391.6299 or by email mdonadio@roominn.org For more info about our wonderful speaker or our program, please visit www.roominn.org

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 10

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. 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.

Knights recognize OLG student with patriotism award

of the Bishop Haley Council 4507, sponsor of the awards; and Marybeth Behringer, IHM Respect Life Committee event coordinator.

This annual event seeks to draw early student awareness to Culture of Life Issues as they transition from a middle to high school experience and continue preparation for their future and the future of the Church. Winning topics for 2016 addressed capital punishment, human trafficking and abortion.

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

GREENSBORO — The Abbot Vincent G. Taylor Assembly 779 of Greensboro recently presented its 2016 Patriotism Award to Our Lady of Grace eighth-grade student Marion Amy Sloyan.

The selection criteria, as evaluated by school leaders, are a student’s obvious patriotic dedication, their personal interpretation of what patriotism means and their academic grades and character. The award is sponsored each year by the Knights of Columbus Assembly 779, and this year was presented by Past Faithful Navigator John Marsicano.

Also present at the award presentation were Father Eric Kowalski, pastor; Father Noah Carter, parochial vicar; Our Lady of Grace Principal Amy Pagano; Lisa Saintsing, faculty selection chair; parents; relatives; friends and fellow students.

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

— Dan Camia

Respect Life essay winner announced

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.

HIGH POINT — Winners of the 2016 Respect Life Essay Contest at Immaculate Heart of Mary School were recently recognized. Pictured are winners Philip Pfeiffer, Charmaine Pereira and Noah Sorrell; presenter Tim Knorr, Grand Knight

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

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iiiJuly 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

Receiving the sacraments of in

Photos by John Cosmas | Catholic News Herald

First Confirmation Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated in the diocese CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis administered the sacrament of confirmation to eight young people during a Mass in the Extraordinary Form June 25 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte – a first for the 44-year-old Diocese of Charlotte. St. Ann Church hosts the Charlotte Latin Mass Community, which supports and promotes awareness of the Traditional Latin Mass in the diocese.

The Solemn High Mass was offered by Father Jason Barone, parochial vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, with Father Jason Christian of St. Thomas Aquinas Church serving as deacon and Deacon Matthew Bean serving as subdeacon.

Confirmandi were: Kyle James Derscheid, Daniel Dean Dierking, Benjamin Joseph Jakubek, Cristhian Rodriquez, Kevin Francisco Romero, Isaiah James Rosamond, Mary Imelda Ohlhaut and

Sebastian Adriano.

During the rite of confirmation in the Extraordinary Form, which is celebrated according to the 1962 Missal, the candidates knelt before the bishop, who anointed their foreheads with sacred chrism, made the sign of the cross over them three times, and then lightly slapped them on the left cheek as he told them, “Pax tecum” (“Peace”).

After they were anointed, Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church and spiritual advisor to the Charlotte Latin Mass Community, wiped their foreheads clean with a mixture of bread and lemons.

To learn more about the Latin Mass in the Charlotte diocese, go to www.charlottelatinmass.org or www.nctlmmef.com.

HE COVER

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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Hundreds of young people from across the Diocese of Charlotte have recently received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation. Deo gratias!

MURPHY — Young people from St. William Church in Murphy and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Peter Jugis June 10. Saying “Jesus needs you,” Bishop Jugis urged them to continue the mission of the Church, now that they have been sealed with the same Holy Spirit that came upon the Apostles during Pentecost. Trust in the Holy Spirit, he said.

Craig Allen | Catholic News Herald

Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald

TRYON — Sixteen young people from St. John the Baptist Church received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Peter Jugis June 6. Confirmandi were: Luke Bennett (pictured), Mario Borja, Jesus Bravo, Manuel Bravo, Caitlin Caudle, Amanda Dimond, Cristina Leon, Samuel Nelson, Karla Olguin, Fermin Oviedo Jr., Nichole Ragsdale, Alan Roman, Israel Roman, Maira Roman, Brittany Sanchez-Gutierrez and Daniela Santabañez.

Della Sue Bryson | Catholic News Herald

WAYNESVILLE — Youths at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Peter Jugis June 23.

Raymond Taber | Catholic News Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — During a Mass June 8 celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, 75 youths and one adult received the sacrament of confirmation at Our Lady of Mercy Church.

Jeanine Russell | Catholic News Herald

LENOIR — Bishop Peter Jugis confirmed two dozen youths at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir May 29. Pictured with him and Father Julio Dominguez, pastor, are confirmandi: Bjorn Brinkley, Kevin Aman Cantarero, Paige Merissa Dooley, Erika Jasmin Lara-Flores, Christopher Patrick Lopez Franco, Joel Secundino Franquiz, Natalie Garcia, Eric Giometti, Elwin Salvador Hernandez, Karla Ruisanchez Hernandez, Alan David Ibarra, Amayrani Jantes Rodriguez, Angel Lopez, Scottie Martinez Francisco Martinez, Rosa Pena, Kevin Pineda, Ivy Rose Posadas, Joshua Ramiro Ramirez, Crystal Janette Rivera, Melanie Ruiz, Ava Alexandra Russell, Raquel Aguilar Sanchez, David Ernesto Urbina and Anabel Alexis Zayas.

Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald

SHELBY — Nineteen youths at St. Mary Help of Christians Church received the sacrament of confirmation June 12 during a Mass celebrated by Father Michael Kottar, pastor. Confirmandi were: John Collins, Keana Dover, Evelin Figueroa-Soto, Daniel Gibson, Timothy Learn, Beatriz Martinez-Martinez, Cassandra Martinez-Perez, Christopher Martinez-Perez, Wendy Mendez, Rafael Miranda-Perez, Yocelyn Montanez-Licona, Adas Mystkowski, David Ramírez-Hernandez, America RivasReyes, Benjamin Rodríguez, Aileen Salinas, Valente Valdovinos-Sánchez, Orlando Vazquez-Sánchez and Xanat ZaragozaGonzalez.

Bill Washington | Catholic News Herald

GREENSBORO — Bishop Peter Jugis administered the sacrament of confirmation to more than 40 young people at Our Lady of Grace Church May 11.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 FROM THE COVER

Receiving the sacraments of initiation

Sergio Lopez | Catholic News Herald

BOONVILLE — Approximately 95 children recently received first Holy Communion at Divine Redeemer Church. In an emotional gesture, Father Jose Enrique Gonzalez-Gaytan asked godparents individually if they were willing to guide their godchildren in faith, and they happily accepted.

Photos by Raymond Taber | Catholic News Herald

WINSTON-SALEM — During Masses May 7 and 14, 150 children received first Holy Communion at Our Lady of Mercy Church.

Della Sue Bryson | Catholic News Herald

BRYSON CITY — Katie Carpenter from St. Joseph Church in Bryson City received first Communion on Trinity Sunday during Mass celebrated by Father Peter Shaw, pastor. Katie wore the same veil and first Communion dress that her mother, Erin Carpenter, did when she received her first Communion as a child.

facebook.com/ catholic news HERALD ESPAÑOL

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Rico De Silva

Sacerdotes diocesanos Anglos hablan español, y son pastores que hablan el idioma del Buen Pastor

“

Es abundante la cosecha – les dijo – pero son pocos los obreros. Pídanle, por tanto, al Señor de la cosecha que mande obreros a su campo” Lucas (10:2).

De acuerdo a las estadísticas más recientes de la diócesis, actualmente hay 400,000 católicos en la Diócesis de Charlotte. Prácticamente, la mitad de estos católicos somos Hispanos. Y el número de Latinos, no solo aquí en las Carolinas, pero alrededor de los Estados Unidos continúa creciendo. Se calcula que en los próximos 20 años nosotros los Latinos ya no seremos una minoría sino mas de la mitad de la poblacion, tanto en la Iglesia como en el país.

Como reportero bilingüe del Catholic News Herald, recientemente tuve el privilegio de conversar con cuatro sacerdotes de habla-inglesa de la Diocesis de Charlotte --- todos ellos párrocos de sus respectivas parroquias. Algunos con hasta casi 40 años de ser sacerdote, y el más joven ya con cinco años de experiencia como cura. Sin embargo, todos tenían algo en común: Todos aprendieron a hablar español para poder decir Misa, escuchar confesiones, bautizar y celebrar matrimonios en la lengua natal de sus rebaños Hispanos. Aunque esto es algo lógicamente admirable, lo que más me impresionó de estos hombres fue el sincero amor por nuestra raza y cultura Latina.

Al mismo tiempo, la calurosa acogida de nuestra gente para cada uno de ellos fue un factor clave en el amor que cada uno de estos dedicados sacerdotes continua mostrando por cada uno de sus feligreses LatinoAmericanos.

También cabe destacar que estos cuatro sacerdotes no son los únicos Anglo-parlantes en nuestra diócesis que han aprendido el español para compenetrarse más con nuestras comunidades aquí en el oeste de Carolina del Norte. Desde Taylorsville hasta Lincolnton, Jefferson, y Franklin son solo algunos ejemplos de sacerdotes que han aprendido el español y continuan bautizando a nuestros hijos e hijas, escuchando nuestras confesiones y alimentándonos con el Pan de Vida en nuestra propia lengua. ¡ Que gran regalo de Nuestro Padre Celestial! Demos gracias a Dios todos los días por estos y todos nuestros sacerdotes, y pidámosle al Señor que los llene de su Espíritu, fortaleza y perseverancia en sus respectivos ministerios.

Ahora, a medida que nuestros hijos crecen aquí en los Estados Unidos, y aprenden no solo a hablar español, pero al mismo tiempo hablan inglés y se acoplan a este gran país, pidámosle al Señor de la Cosecha, nuestro Padre Celestial, que nos mande más pastores de entre nuestros rebaños Latinos para que ellos sean nuestros futuros párrocos, en inglés y en español.

Que Dios los bendiga.

Rico De Silva es el Especialista de Noticias Hispanas del Catholic News Herald. De Silva es miembro de la Iglesia de San Gabriel en Charlotte.

Foto proporcionada por la Iglesia de San Pedro

El Padre Jesuita John Michalowski (izquierda), vicario de la Iglesia de San Pedro en Charlotte, acompañado de tres miembros de esa parroquia, Bob Macpherson, Dave Zablotny y Martha Schmitt, hicieron un viaje misionero de tres días a principios de Mayo a la Iniciativa Fronteriza de Kino, localizada en la frontera de Arizona con Mexico.

Parroquia de San Pedro envía misión a la Iniciativa Kino en la frontera con México Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — El Padre Jesuita John Michalowski, vicario de la Iglesia de San Pedro en el centro de Charlotte, en conjunto con tres miembros de esa parroquia, Bob Macpherson, Martha Schmitt y Dave Zablotny, hicieron un viaje misionero a la Iniciativa Fronteriza Kino, localizada en la frontera de Arizona y México el pasado mes de Mayo.

La Iniciativa Fronteriza Kino es una organización binacional que asiste a los inmigrantes en Nogales, Arizona y en Nogales, México. La Iniciativa Kino es auspiciada en parte por el Jesuit Refuge Service (Servicio de Refugiados Jesuita), y su misión es la de promover políticas de inmigración que afirmen la dignidad de la persona humana.

El pequeño grupo de San Pedro pasó tres días en Nogales para experimentar la triste realidad de tantas personas sin techo y que buscan asilo en los Estados Unidos, y que son deportadas. Algo que es una rutina diaria en la frontera con México.

El Padre Michalowski dijo, “Como miembros del Comité de Justicia Social de la Iglesia de San Pedro, conocíamos la preocupación de los obispos de los Estados Unidos acerca de la política del gobierno de los Estados Unidos que están separando a las familias, en la cual uno u otro de los padres está aquí legalmente, y algunos o todos los hijos han nacido en los Estados Unidos y son ciudadanos americanos.

También estábamos conscientes de que a causa del impase en el Congreso, a causa de no estar dispuestos a ceder, ninguna reforma migratoria significativa ha sido pasada en años.”

“Lo que vimos y escuchamos en ambos lados de la frontera en Nogales no hizo más que confirmar lo que los obispos y otras personas han manifestado,” agregó el Padre Michalowski.

Los peregrinos del Kino compartieron sus experiencias con los demás miembros de San Pedro el 5 de Junio en el Bliss Hall de la parroquia después de la Misa del Domingo.

“No importa cuál sea su opinión concerniente a la política de inmigración, las caras de estos inmigrantes y sus historias les romperá el corazón, los entristecerá, los

abochornará y les dará ira,” Schmitt dijo.

La primera visita de los peregrinos fue al Comedor del Kino en Nogales, Estado de Sonora, México. Schmitt dijo que en el Comedor ella conoció a un hombre que había sido deportado a México recientemente después de haber vivido en Nashville, Tennessee por 19 años, “Él dejo atrás a su esposa y tres hijas, dos de las cuales habían nacido en los Estados Unidos. Cuando le pregunte que si iba a tratar de reunirse otra vez con su familia él me dijo, ‘Por supuesto, yo voy a volver lo más pronto que pueda. Tengo que confiar en Dios,’” agregó Schmitt.

Al día siguiente, el grupo visito el refugio para mujeres y niños sin techo y que están en proceso de ser deportados.

De acuerdo a Schmitt, estas mujeres y sus niños generalmente son víctimas de violencia doméstica en sus países de origen y vienen a buscar asilo en los Estados Unidos.

El humilde hogar generalmente tiene capacidad para ocho mujeres, las cuales comparten una pequeña cocina y sala, un baño y dos recamaras con camas camarote.

Durante su visita, el grupo conoció a una mujer de Honduras que estaba ahí con sus cuatros hijos.

“Los niños habían pasado un año escondidos en pequeños pueblos en México, comiendo y durmiendo en las calles por mucho tiempo,” Schmitt dijo. La mama de los niños les dijo que los niños “pensaban que estaban en un tipo de maravillosa vacación ahora que estaban en ese apartamento.”

La pequeña misión de San Pedro espera continuar dando a conocer los problemas de inmigración, y también quieren viajar de vuelta al Kino con otro grupo de esa parroquia.

“Como una persona que tuvo la oportunidad de ver esas caras y escuchar sus historias con mis propios ojos y oídos, yo quiero asegurarme que las demás personas escuchen estas historias para que así se hagan cambios a estas pautas (de inmigración), y para ayudar a que toda esta situación de inmigración sea algo más humano,” Schmitt agregó.

“No es mi papel el de cuestionar su sendero, sino el solo estar consciente de que todos ellos son el pueblo de Dios andando en su camino, y tratando de hacer lo mejor posible por ellos y por sus familias.”

Mix 16

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

Local parishioner working to make movie about the rosary Kimberly Bender Online reporter

‘The BFG’ Lovingly directed by Steven Spielberg, this adaptation of Roald Dahl’s eponymous 1982 children’s book combines live actors with motion-capture animation to create superior entertainment for the discerning child who reads – and who enjoys fairy tales with a slightly skewed perspective.

The plot centers on the relationship between a 10-year-old London orphan (Ruby Barnhill) and the Big Friendly Giant (Mark Rylance) who’s responsible for magically collecting, then distributing dreams to sleeping kids. Admittedly, the film lacks some of the interactive whimsy and silliness of the long-running children’s theater versions. But Spielberg is unmatched in his ability to visualize those colorful fancies the behemoth doles out.

Since genuinely objectionable material is entirely absent, parents’ only task will be to assess whether the peril in which the spunky waif finds herself, together with the delight the movie takes in the occasional gaseous gag, makes this unsuitable for the smallest viewers. Potentially frightening situations and some mild bathroom humor.

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

‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ Reprise of the hit alien-fighting epic of 20 years ago, in which the nations of the world united to fight a common foe, led by an inspirational United States president and a swaggering fighter pilot, hasn’t aged well with its premise. Viewers who enjoy alien-invasion epics are unlikely to care so much once the shooting begins. Action violence, fleeting rough and profane language.

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

More reviews n ‘Free State of Jones’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R n ‘The Shallows’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘The Purge: Election Year’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R n ‘The Legend of Tarzan’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

CHARLOTTE — What started as a way for Brian Kennelly to share his thoughts on the Catholic classic “True Devotion to Mary” has turned into a script for a powerful, short film and aspirations of challenging millions of people to pray the rosary.

Kennelly, a parishioner of St. Ann Church in Charlotte and author of several Catholic novels (“Two Statues,” “To the Heights”), has co-written a script and teamed up with Catholic filmmakers in Hollywood to make a short film titled “Eyes of Mercy.”

It will take audiences inside the soul of a man struggling through a crisis of faith, and show what happens within his soul when someone prays the rosary for him, Kennelly said.

“Eyes of Mercy” will be put out by the non-profit Vox Dei Productions and will be released for free online so that millions around the world can have easy access to it.

Kennelly read the St. Louis de Montfort book about two years ago, and like many books about faith, he wanted to pass it along to his friends and family. But since it’s a “big, heavy book” he wasn’t sure that many would read it all the way through.

Instead, he said he created some notes to pass along to his friends. From that he wrote a parable, an allegorical novella entitled “The Parable of the Lady in Blue: A Tale of Marian Apology,” then turned that into an audio drama. After meeting a Catholic movie director, Kennelly said, he sent him the audio drama.

“From there, it spiraled out of control in a good way,” he said. “We hope that this film will be unlike anything anyone’s ever seen in the faith-based market.”

Kennelly has teamed up with fellow Catholic filmmakers Dennis Crow, Roberto Girault and Paul Hertel. The film will have a unique style, with little dialogue and a powerful musical score, to appeal to a global audience. The script has also changed a bit from his parable.

“It will be a very mystical film that shows us how God’s grace comes to us through Mary – it will give a very powerful visual to something that is otherwise unseen by our eyes,” Kennelly said.

The character is seen as a young child traveling through a dark, wintry forest. With only the light from his virtues to protect him, the child is hunted by ravenous wolves.

There is a spiritual battle at play within each of us, and through this film millions of people will see this battle in a whole new light and be reminded of how God sees us as one of His children, he said. They will discover the power of the rosary and the effect it has on the people who pray it, and those for whom they pray.

“The film brings the viewer into a ‘mystical reality.’ People will actually see what happens within a lost soul when someone prays the rosary for him,” said Girault, the director. “With state-of-the-art CGI and an international cast, we are presenting a quality, faithaffirming film that will challenge and inspire the audience.”

But in order to produce the movie, they need to raise about $300,000. So they have launched a Kickstarter campaign and are searching for small donations. After about a week, the project has raised more than $50,000 with donations from all over the world.

The project is dependent on a grassroots campaign and use of social media, for awareness as well as fundraising. A short promotional video on their Facebook page has already been viewed more than 240,000 times in just the first week.

“We want this to be an apostolic thing that people can use to evangelize,” Kennelly said.

“We want millions of people around the world to have easy access to it. But in order to take this route, and not go through a studio and eventually have DVD sales, we need the people to help get it done. It’s tough to get films like this made in Hollywood... we need the help of good Catholics,” he said.

Kennelly said he hopes people in his home diocese can provide a starting point for helping generate the funds needed for production. The online fundraising campaign runs through Aug. 4.

If the fundraising campaign is successful, Kennelly said, they hope to start filming in October and release the movie on Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

How you can help To donate to the making of “Eyes of Mercy,” go to www.kickstarter.com and search for “Eyes of Mercy,” or Google “Eyes of Mercy Kickstarter” You can also e-mail Brian Kennelly at brian@ voxdeiproductions.com.

Go to Facebook and search “Eyes of Mercy” to see a short video and learn more.

On TV n Sunday, June 26, 1:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “In Concert: Church Sonatas.” Filmed at the Music and Beyond festival in Ottawa, Canada, famous pieces from Arcangelo Corelli and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are performed by the London Handel Players and the Chamber Players of Canada. n Sunday, July 10, 2:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “Catholic Beginnings: Maryland - St. Ignatius Church in Chapel Point.” Father Clifford meets up with Father Charles Connor for more insight on St. Ignatius Church and how it relates to the Catholic heritage of Southern Maryland. n Sunday, July 10, 1:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “In Concert: J. S. Bach, Organ Concerts in St. Thomas.”

A performance by Ullrich Böhme on the new Bach-organ of St Thomas Church, Leipzig, which was played for the first time at on Pentecost Sunday 2000. This historical model corresponds to the organ on which Bach played for 27 years. n Monday, July 11, 2:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “Catholic Beginnings: Maryland – Carmel at Port Tobacco.” In conclusion of his historical tour of Maryland’s Catholic origins, Fr. Charles Connor visits the monastery established at Port Tobacco in 1790, Carmel. n Monday, July 11, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Kateri: All for Christ, The Path of Jogues.” After a truce between French forces and the Mohawks arises, Father Jacques Frémin bravely leads French missionaries into a village where a former peace emissary had been killed in the hopes of spreading the Gospel. n Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Kateri: All for Christ, Lamberville.” Left in charge of the mission, Father Jacques de Lamberville preaches about Christianity while learning to adjust to life in a Mohawk village. n Wednesday, July 13, 4 a.m.

(EWTN) “Revoluiton in Rio.” A documentary reliving the incredible World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 23-28, 2013. Witness the three million faithful who attended the concluding Sunday Mass and how many who came to the event as pilgrims left as missionaries. n Wednesday, July 13, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Kateri: All for Christ, Degakoutia’s Choice.”

After being baptized, Kateri, the niece of a chieftain, is forced to choose between her family and new faith. n Thursday, July 14, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Kateri: All for Christ, A Life Ever After.” Inspired by the courageous faith of Kateri, Father de Lamberville details her incredible life and cause for sainthood when he is reunited with Father Frémin.

July 8, 2016 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

JESUITS FROM PAGE 3

M. Hussey, provincial of the Maryland Province, congratulated the parish for its rapid growth and vitality, as well as the dedication last year of a new 21,000-squarefoot church. But he noted that the province’s aging Jesuit community cannot meet the increasing demands of such a large parish.

Father Hussey wrote, “In the forty-six years that the Jesuits of Maryland Province have served St. ThĂŠrèse, the parish has grown dramatically and flourished beyond expectations. I am grateful for the many Jesuits who have served with you and helped lead St. ThĂŠrèse to its current thriving. Your beautiful new church, joyful liturgies, active lay leadership in Ignatian Spirituality, stewardship, outreach to the poor, and faith formation all speak of a vibrant faith community. “Yet, in the midst of your blessings, I cannot overlook the fact that the average age of this Jesuit community is 80 years old. The parish

RIGHTS FROM PAGE 2

these problems to his mind. But only God, Who created man to His own image and ransomed him from sin, provides the most adequate answer to the questions, and this He does through what He has revealed in Christ His Son, Who became man. Whoever follows after Christ, the perfect man, becomes himself more of a man. For by His incarnation the Father’s Word assumed, and sanctified through His cross and resurrection, the whole of man, body and soul, and through that totality the whole of nature created by God for man’s use. “Thanks to this belief, the Church can anchor the dignity of human nature against all tides of opinion, for example those which undervalue the human body or idolize it. By no human law can the personal dignity and liberty of man be so aptly safeguarded as by the Gospel of Christ which has been entrusted to the Church. For this Gospel announces and proclaims the freedom of the sons of God, and repudiates all the bondage which ultimately results from sin; it has a sacred reverence for the dignity of conscience and its freedom of choice, constantly advises that all human talents be employed in God’s service and men’s, and, finally, commends all to the charity of all. ... “The Church, therefore, by virtue of the Gospel committed to her, proclaims the rights of man; she acknowledges and greatly esteems the dynamic movements of today by which these rights are everywhere fostered. Yet these movements must be penetrated by the spirit of the Gospel and protected against any kind of false autonomy. For we are tempted to think that our personal rights are fully ensured only when we are exempt from every requirement of divine law. But this way lies not the maintenance of the dignity of the human person, but its annihilation.�

In addition to outlining the basic obligations and rights of all the Christian faithful, Church law also focuses on the rights specific to lay people. By reason of their baptism, the laity are to engage in the Church’s mission to promote the Gospel and the knowledge of Christ in their daily lives and work, “so that the divine message of salvation is made known and accepted by all persons everywhere in the world� (canons 224-225).

They may do so as individuals or in groups. The Church hierarchy is to support

needs younger priests to accompany the larger community into the future. In truth, with the shrinking number of available Jesuits, we cannot provide these younger priests.�

He acknowledged that the leadership change would be difficult for some to accept. “I realize that for many of you this is a surprising and unwelcome announcement.

You have formed bonds of affection for the Jesuits serving your community, as they have for you. This is a wonderful sign of the presence of God and part of the reason for your strong community.�

The Jesuits have led St. ThÊrèse Parish for most of its 60-year history.

Redemptorist priests from St. Joseph Church in Kannapolis staffed the faith community in its early years as a mission, followed by diocesan priests from 1954 to 1970, according to the parish’s history.

Parishioners have been expressing sadness, concern and hope in response to the news that Father Curtin, Father Donald Ward, Father Dominic Totaro and Father Frank Reese would be leaving within a year. “The Jesuits have been my parish priests since I moved to North Carolina almost 44 years ago. They baptized all my children and

and assist such actions while seeing that Church doctrine is observed.

Lay persons have the right, as described by the Second Vatican Council, to form associations for different apostolates. These may be run at their own discretion with various forms of canonical status.

Furthermore, the laity have the moral obligation, not a legal one, to seek the Kingdom of God in temporal affairs and give witness to Christ and the spirit of the Gospel. As is stated in “Lumen gentium�, Vatican II’s “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church�: “They live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of family and social life, from which the very web of their existence is woven. They are called there by God that by exercising their proper function and led by the spirit of the Gospel they may work for the sanctification of the world from within as a leaven. In this way they may make Christ known to others, especially by the testimony of a life resplendent in faith, hope and charity� (31).

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 JeanneMargaret McNally. Sister Jeanne-Margaret is a distinguished authority on canon law, author of the reference guide “Canon Law for the

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17

administered their sacraments, they presided at my mother’s funeral and, more recently, at my husband’s,� said Rosemary Hyman, parish liturgy coordinator. “The Jesuits I have known through these years have exemplified Jesus’ teaching to live our lives as men and women for others, and it shows in their joyful demeanor. I will miss them terribly.� “This news is so upsetting. Yes, I know that God will put great priests in place to help guide us. However, I have never experienced the warmth, the joyfulness, the fun, and the absolute human-ness of our Jesuit priests before. They truly embody Pope Francis and his teachings. Losing them makes me feel very sad,� wrote Valerie Holland-Snyder on the parish RCIA group’s Facebook page.

Bill Streiff, outgoing pastoral council chairman, said, “There are many, many people in the parish who are disappointed they are leaving. We are trying to put together a transition team, so we have a smooth transition.�

Parishioners say they are praying that the leadership change will go well. “We will grieve for our loss, but a great opportunity is in front of our community,� wrote Jeff Wagner on the parish RCIA group’s

Facebook page. “Let’s take this year as a reminder that, although our goal is eternal life with God, we should live our life on Earth joyfully and filled with the spirit of love for our ‘fellow planetary travelers.’ Let us not forget to share this love with the time we have left with our priests, our faith community, and our wider community at every opportunity, for we are not promised tomorrow.�

Father Hussey noted in his letter to parishioners, “I hope you can support our efforts to discern where, with our limited resources, we can best serve those in need.

I am confident that God will continue to guide and bless the community of St. ThĂŠrèse in the years to come. “My great hope is that in the months ahead that all of you and the Jesuits now missioned to the parish, and others who have served in the past, can celebrate the many warm years of shared faith, service, and friendship.

I thank you for understanding this difficult decision as together we hold in prayer the mission of both the Society of Jesus and the parish community of St. ThÊrèse.�

Jesuits staff two other parishes in North Carolina: St. Peter Church in Charlotte and St. Raphael the Archangel Church in Raleigh.

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: Marriage and Education of Children

CCDOC.ORG

Bridging the Gap for Young Refugees Hundreds of refugees arrive in North Carolina each year. Children living in refugee camps and war-torn countries have limited access to education and often arrive years behind literacy and communication standards.

Catholic Charities summer programs for refugee youth and adolescents help to continue the process of cultural and academic adjustment, bridging the June-September gap.

The program includes two-week camps for elementary/ middle school children and high school teens in July, as well as a month long Newcomers ESL class, available to all recently resettled refugee youth.

Campers experience fun in the sun, with enriching ďŹ eld trips to local parks, pools and museums, while building upon academic and social skills acquired during the school year.

If you are interested in learning more or volunteering with refugee youth, visit ccdoc.org/volunteer.

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Supreme Court tie vote blocks temporary plan to stop deportations Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a tie vote June 23, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Obama administration’s plan to temporarily protect more than 4 million unauthorized immigrants from deportation.

The court’s 4-4 vote leaves in place a lower court injunction blocking the administration’s immigration policy.

Legal experts have called it an ambiguous and confusing political and legal decision that leaves many in a state of limbo. It also puts a lot of attention on the vacant Supreme Court seat that may determine how the case is decided in an appeal.

Religious leaders were quick to denounce the court’s action as a setback for immigrant families and stressed the urgency of comprehensive immigration reform.

Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Eusebio L. Elizondo, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration, said the court’s decision was a “huge disappointment” and a setback, but he said the focus now needs to be on how to fix the current immigration system.

Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, N.M., called the court’s decision “a sad ruling” and said the president’s immigration plan had been “the result of years of painstaking work and committed efforts by migrant advocates, grass-roots organizations, some legislators and the faith community.”

The bishop was joined in the statement by Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, and the Hope Border Institute, a community organization on the U.S.Mexico border. The statement also said the court’s decision exposes how the current immigration policy in the U.S. “criminalizes and scapegoats immigrants who fight for a better life for their children and families that contribute every day to our economy and communities.”

In a news briefing, President Barack Obama said the country’s immigration system is broken and the Supreme Court’s inability to reach a decision set it back even further.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin praised the court’s decision for making clear that “the president is not permitted to write laws – only Congress is,” which he said was a “major victory in our fight to restore the separation of powers.”

At issue in the United States v. Texas case are Obama’s executive actions on immigration policy that were challenged by 26 states.

The case involved Obama’s 2014 expansion of a 2012 program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, and creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, known as DAPA. The programs had been put on hold last November by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, upholding a Texas-based federal judge’s injunction against the executive actions. The original DACA program is not affected by the injunction.

The states suing the federal government claimed the president went too far and was not just putting a temporary block on deportations, but giving immigrants in the country without legal permission a “lawful presence” that enabled them to qualify for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

U.S. Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr., who defended the government, said the “pressing human concern” was to avoid breaking up families of U.S. citizen children, something echoed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, CLINIC, and at least three Catholic colleges, which joined in a brief with more than 75 education and children’s advocacy organizations.

U.S. Supreme Court strikes down regulations on Texas abortion clinics Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a 5-3 vote June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down restrictions on Texas abortion clinics that required them to comply with standards of ambulatory surgical centers and required their doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals.

The case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, challenged a 2013 state law, H.B. 2, placing the requirements on the state’s abortion clinics. Opponents of the law claimed the requirements were aimed at closing abortion clinics.

But the state and many pro-life advocates maintained that the law protected women’s health.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and other religious groups submitted a joint friend of the court brief in the case supporting the Texas law, which was similar to other state laws regulating abortion clinics across the country.

Justice Stephen Breyer, who wrote the majority opinion, said the restrictions on the clinics “provide few if any health benefits for women, pose a substantial obstacle to women seeking abortions and constitute an ‘undue burden’ on their constitutional right to do so.” Breyer was joined by Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Reaction to the court’s ruling was immediate. Those in favor of the regulations said the court’s opinion put women at risk and those opposed to the state law called it a major victory.

“The court has rejected a common-sense law protecting women from abortion facilities that put profits above patient safety,” said Deirdre McQuade, assistant director for pro-life communications at the USCCB’s Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities.

She said the Texas law “simply required abortion facilities to meet the same health and safety standards as other ambulatory surgical centers.”

McQuade, in a statement issued after the ruling, also said: “Abortion claims the lives of unborn children, and too often endangers their mothers as well. This ruling contradicts the consensus among medical groups that such measures protect women’s lives.”

The Texas bishops similarly said the ruling “puts women at grave risk” and said the purpose of the state regulations was to ensure women’s safety, noting: “their lives are just as precious as those of their children.”

Dissenting votes in the case were from Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito Jr. Thomas wrote that the court’s decision “simultaneously transformed judicially created rights like the right to abortion into preferred constitutional rights, while disfavoring many of the rights actually enumerated in the Constitution.” He added that the Constitution “renounces the notion that some constitutional rights are more equal than others. ... A law either infringes a constitutional right, or not; there is no room for the judiciary to invent tolerable degrees of encroachment.”

The U.S. Supreme Court’s use of the words “undue burden” echoes a phrase used in 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, in which it upheld provisions in Pennsylvania law requiring parental consent for minors, a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion, filing of detailed reports about each abortion and distribution of information about alternatives to abortion. It struck down a requirement that married women need to notify their husbands before having an abortion.

In essence, the court said a state may enact abortion regulations that do not pose an “undue burden’’ on pregnant women.

In the March 2 oral arguments in the Texas abortion clinics case the phrase was used to promote women’s access to available clinics.

Opponents of the state regulations said the restrictions were aimed at stopping abortions, because they forced clinics to close, which in turn, they said, would put an undue burden on women seeking abortions who would have

to travel farther to find an available clinic.

In the years since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, the court has shown “extreme hostility to regulation of abortion as a medical procedure,” said Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life committee, which submitted a friend of the court brief in the Texas case. She said the court turned a corner with its 1992 Casey decision by rejecting the idea of being “the country’s ex officio medical board” but it “reversed course” with the Texas decision by deciding it knew “better than representatives duly elected by the people of the United States.”

Jocelyn Floyd, an attorney with the Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm based in Chicago that also filed a friend of the court brief in this case, disagreed with the court’s view that the clinic regulations were “unnecessary.”

Here in Illinois, she said: “We’ve seen all too well what disastrous consequences come from holding abortion providers to lower standards than other medical providers – contamination, dirty facilities, patient injury, and even death.”

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a co-chairman of the congressional Pro-Life Caucus, similarly said the court’s decision “shields the abortion industry from accountability and minimal medical standards.” He said abortion providers “should not get a free pass on commonsense safety standards.”

The Texas law requiring compliance by clinics and abortion providers had forced many of the state’s abortion clinics to close leaving seven clinics opened, primarily in major cities. After the June 27 ruling many of them are expected to reopen.

American Life League president Judie Brown said: “This Supreme Court decision serves as a blaring wake-up call to the ‘mainstream’ pro-life movement that dinking and dithering over regulating the killing can never serve as a replacement for the fundamental battle that is not being fought -- the battle for the recognition that every innocent pre-born human being is a unique person from the moment of his biological beginning.

“This case was about sensible laws designed to protect women in the wake of the Gosnell horrors; it should have been common ground for both sides of the issue,” said Maureen Ferguson, senior policy adviser for the Catholic Association Dr. Kermit Gosnell in May 2013 was found guilty of murder in the deaths of three babies born alive during abortions in his Philadelphia clinic.

“This ruling won’t stop us from continuing to work to protect all American lives, and we won’t stop until we’ve won,” Ferguson said.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports legal abortion, 25 states have laws or policies that regulate abortion providers and clinics that perform surgical abortions that it claims “go beyond what is necessary to ensure patients’ safety.”

Five states currently require providers of either medication-induced abortion or surgical abortion to have admitting privileges at a local hospital and another 10 require the provider to have either admitting privileges or another type of relationship with a hospital.

In 2015, Arkansas adopted a new restriction that requires only providers of medication-induced abortions to have an agreement with a physician who has admitting privileges at a hospital; the law does not include a similar requirement for providers whose doctors do surgical abortions.

The day after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling, it rejected an appeal to reinstate laws in Mississippi and Wisconsin that would place similar requirements on abortion doctors. Federal appeals courts in Chicago and New Orleans had previously ruled against the states.

The court also denied an appeal of a Washington state rule requiring pharmacists to dispense Plan B or other emergency contraceptives despite their religious objections to doing so.

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In Brief At closing Mass, people encouraged to pray, act for religious freedom WASHINGTON, D.C. — The theme for the 2016 Fortnight for Freedom, “Witnesses to Freedom,” unfolded as 1,500 people spent part of their July 4 holiday in Washington attending the observance’s closing Mass and venerating the relics of two English saints martyred in 1535 for their Catholic faith. The Mass and veneration took place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. After the Mass, people waited in a long line to kneel and pray before the relics of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More displayed near the altar.

Welcoming the congregation, Monsignor Walter Rossi, the shrine’s rector, said those filling what is the largest Catholic church in North America offered “testimony that the freedom to live our lives according to our faith is fundamental to the life of believers.”

The U.S. Church’s fifth annual Fortnight for Freedom closing Mass included the participation of three of the petitioners in a recent Supreme Court case challenging the federal contraceptive mandate. They contended that the requirement violated their religious freedom by forcing Catholic institutions to provide employee health insurance coverage for abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization procedures, which are prohibited

by Church teaching. Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, whose archdiocese and affiliated agencies challenged the mandate, was the main celebrant at the Mass. The homilist was Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik, whose diocese also opposed the Health and Human Services contraceptive coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act.

Cardinal: Church has right to be heard in public square WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Catholic Church’s teachings on morals and social justice not only have a right to be heard in the public square, but add to creating a better society for all, Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl said during an address at the American Enterprise Institute.

“There are fundamental truths against which our judgments and our legislative decisions should be measured, and to which we are all called to conform,” Cardinal Wuerl said. “This is not an imposition of narrow moral judgments, but a recognition of right and wrong, of basic fundamental human values.”

Cardinal Wuerl made his remarks June 23, when he gave a keynote address at the institute’s daylong conference, “Catholic Thought and Human Flourishing: Culture and Policy.” The American Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based think tank that examines government, political, economic and social welfare issues, hosted the gathering to explore what it called “the intersection of Roman Catholic thought and U.S. public policy and culture.”

Cardinal Wuerl, during his talk, lamented what he called an “assertion of the primacy of the secular” in today’s society, which “tempts us to transfer authorship and ownership of all human life to ourselves.”

Bishops seek assault weapons ban, say civilians have no need for them WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two U.S. church leaders

called for a ban on the sale of military-style assault weapons, saying they have no place in the hands of civilians. Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago and Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas issued their appeals in response to recent incidents in which people have been killed by attackers armed with semi-automatic rifles.

“There’s no reason in the world why these guns are available. There’s no logic,” Bishop Farrell told Catholic News Service June 22.

The bishops’ stance puts them in opposition to gun rights advocates, who say that any effort to limit the sale and acquisition of firearms would violate the Second Amendment of the Constitution.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was weighing a statement June 23 as the national debate on the need for action on gun control rose in intensity. Since the mid-1990s, the bishops have called for “sensible regulation” and “reasonable restrictions” on firearms.

Bishop Farrell’s appeal came in a June 13 blog, a day after a gunman killed 49 revelers in an Orlando, Fla., nightclub.

Sainthood cause of Kansas priest who was chaplain takes a step forward WICHITA, Kan. — The sainthood cause of Father Emil Kapaun, a priest of the Wichita Diocese who was a military chaplain during the Korean War and died in a prison camp, is one step closer to consideration by the pope. Six historical consultants of the Vatican Congregation for Saints’ Causes met in Rome recently and approved the historical documents submitted by the Diocese of Wichita on behalf of Father Kapaun’s cause.

The documents were originally presented to the congregation as part of the “positio,” or position paper, for Father Kapaun and were prepared by the postulator, Andrea Ambrosi, who has visited Wichita several times. The Vatican’s consultants approved the documentation June 21 after evaluating it for completeness and accuracy.

The “positio” is the official document that will be used to determine if Father Kapaun lived a life of heroic virtue and sanctity. If such a determination is made, the priest will be declared “venerable,” the first of three major steps for sainthood.

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HHS says California can require that all health plans cover elective abortions WASHINGTON, D.C. — A federal agency has determined that California can continue to demand that all health plans under the jurisdiction of the state’s Department of Managed Health Care – “even those purchased by churches and other religious organizations” – cover elective abortions for any reason. The coverage includes late-term abortions and “those performed for reasons of ‘sex selection.’”

The chairmen of two U.S. Catholic bishops’ committees June 22 said the administrative ruling issued a day earlier by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services fails to respect the right to life and religious freedom.

“It is shocking that HHS has allowed the state of California to force all employers – even churches – to fund and facilitate elective abortions in their health insurance plans,” said Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore. The cardinal is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Archbishop Lori chairs the USCCB’s Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty. “Even those who disagree on the issue of life should be able to respect the conscience rights of those who wish not to be involved in supporting abortion,” they said in a statement.

— Catholic News Service

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Christians should apologize for helping to marginalize gays, pope says Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM ARMENIA — Catholics and other Christians not only must apologize to the gay community, they must ask forgiveness of God for ways they have discriminated against homosexual persons or fostered hostility toward them, Pope Francis said.

“I think the Church not only must say it is sorry to the gay person it has offended, but also to the poor, to exploited women” and anyone whom the Church did not defend when it could, he told reporters June 26.

Spending close to an hour answering questions from reporters traveling with him, Pope Francis was asked to comment on remarks reportedly made a few days previously by Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the German bishops’ conference, that the Church must apologize to gay people for contributing to their marginalization.

At the mention of the massacre in early June at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Pope Francis closed his eyes as if in pain and shook his head in dismay.

“The Church must say it is sorry for not having behaved as it should many times, many times – when I say the ‘Church,’ I mean we Christians because the Church is holy; we are the sinners,” the pope said. “We Christians must say we are sorry.”

Changing what he had said in the past to the plural “we,” Pope Francis said that a gay person, “who has good will and is seeking God, who are we to judge him?”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear, he said. “They must not be discriminated against. They must be respected, pastorally accompanied.”

The pope said people have a right to complain about certain gay-pride demonstrations that purposefully offend the faith or sensitivities of others, but that is not what Cardinal Marx was talking about, he said.

Pope Francis said when he was growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, part of a “closed Catholic culture,” good Catholics would not even enter the house of a person who was divorced. “The culture has changed and thanks be to God!” “We Christians have much to apologize for, and not just in this area,” he said, referring again to its treatment of homosexual persons. “Ask forgiveness and not just say we’re sorry. Forgive us, Lord.”

Too often, he said, priests act as lords rather than fathers, “a priest who clubs people rather than embraces them and is good, consoles.”

Pope Francis insisted there are many good priests in the world and “many Mother Teresas,” but people often do not see them because “holiness is modest.”

Like any other community of human beings, the Catholic Church is made up of “good people and bad people,” he said. “The grain and the weeds – Jesus says the kingdom is that way. We should not be scandalized by that,” but pray that God makes the wheat grow more and the weeds less.

Pope Francis also was asked about his agreeing to a request by the women’s International Union of Superiors General to set up a commission to study the historic role of female deacons with a view toward considering the possibility of instituting such a ministry today.

Both Sister Carmen Sammut, president of the sisters’ group, and Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, have sent him lists of names of people to serve on the commission, the pope said. But he has not yet chosen the members.

As he did at the meeting with the superiors, Pope Francis told the reporters that his understanding was that women deacons in the early Church assisted bishops with the baptism and anointing of women, but did not have a role like Catholic deacons do today.

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In Brief Mercy isn’t an abstract word, it’s a way of life, pope says VATICAN CITY — Mercy is not an abstract concept but a lifestyle that invites Christians to make an examination of conscience and ask themselves if they place the spiritual and material needs of others before their own, Pope Francis said.

A Christian who chooses to be merciful experiences true life and has “eyes to see, ears to listen, and hands to comfort,” the pope said June 30 during a Year of Mercy audience in St. Peter’s Square.

“That which makes mercy alive is its constant dynamism to go out searching for the needy and the needs of those who are in spiritual or material hardship,” he said. By being indifferent to the plight of the poor and suffering, the pope said, Christians turn into “hypocrites” and move toward a “spiritual lethargy that numbs the mind and makes life barren.”

Pope says critics won’t stop him from pursuing vision for Church VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis said he will continue pressing for a Church that is open and understanding despite opposition from some clerics who “say no to everything. They do their work and I do mine,” the pope said when asked, “What is your relationship with ultraconservatives in the Church?” The question was posed

by Joaquin Morales Sola, a journalist for the Argentine newspaper La Nacion, in an interview published July 3. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, published a translation of the interview July 5.

Most of the interview focused on issues related to Pope Francis’ home country and his relationship with Argentine President Mauricio Macri – “I have no problem with President Macri,” the pope said in the interview. But Morales also asked about internal Church matters, including criticisms of the pope.

“I want a Church that is open, understanding, that accompanies families who are hurting,” Pope Francis said.

Syria needs political, not military, solution to crisis, pope says VATICAN CITY — The world community needs to get serious about ending the conflict in Syria and call out those who claim to support peace while making money off of arms sales, Pope Francis said. “While the people suffer, incredible quantities of money are being spent to supply weapons to fighters. And some of the countries supplying these arms are also among those that talk of peace,” the pope said in a video message. “How can you believe in someone who caresses you with the right hand and strikes you with the left hand?”

The pope’s message was part of a “Peace Is Possible” campaign for Syria

launched July 5 by Caritas Internationalis – the Church’s worldwide aid and development organization. The same day, Caritas unveiled a new website – syria. caritas.org – to highlight the lives of some of those caught up in the conflict and give people ideas for how they can help.

In his video message, the pope invited everyone to help in building a more just world. He encouraged everyone “to live the Holy Year of Mercy enthusiastically, to overcome indifference and proclaim with strength that peace in Syria is possible!”

Patriarch urges refugee repatriation as long-term solution in Middle East NEW YORK — Poor, destitute refugees now comprise half the people living in Lebanon, according to Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church. They are attractive targets for terrorist recruiting, and their continued presence threatens to drown Lebanon’s identity, he said. A permanent solution to the refugee crises throughout the Middle East requires lasting peace and the repatriation of refugees, not resettlement to third countries, he added. Cardinal Rai spoke June 27 at Catholic Near East Welfare Association headquarters in New York while in the United States for a pastoral visit.

“A political solution to the conflicts ought to be the top priority, and a just, global and permanent peace should be established as soon as possible,” the Lebanese cardinal said. “We would ask nations to help refugees where they are; but it’s not enough to help, they should also stop wars, because every day we are at war, we’re creating new refugees,” Cardinal Rai said.

“We must find a just, global and lasting peace for refugees, repatriate them and help them rebuild their lives and businesses.”

Civic vision: Pope asks Christians to let their faith shape society VATICAN CITY — Christians in Europe must ask themselves if their faith is vibrant enough to influence society and forge a unity that respects differences of culture and race, Pope Francis said. In a video message July 2 to participants at the “Together for Europe” gathering in Munich, the pope insisted that “invisible walls” are being strengthened and dividing people from one another. “These walls are being built in people’s hearts,” the pope said. “They are walls made of fear and aggression, a failure to understand people of different backgrounds or faith. They are walls of political and economic selfishness, without respect for the life and dignity of every person.”

Pope Francis told representatives of some 300 European Christian organizations, movements and communities from different Churches that they and their fellow Christians need to find new, more vibrant ways to offer Christian values to European society and to the world.

“Europe is called to reflect and to ask itself whether its immense heritage, so permeated with Christianity, belongs in a museum or is still able to inspire culture and to offer its treasures to the whole of humankind,” he said.

English bishops condemn rise in xenophobic attacks after Brexit vote MANCHESTER, England — Catholic bishops condemned a sharp rise in xenophobic and racist attacks following Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.

Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster said the “upsurge of racism, of hatred toward others is something we must not tolerate. We have to say this is simply not acceptable in a humane society, and it should never be provoked or promoted,” he said.

The June 28 statement from Cardinal Nichols, president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, came a day after the National Police Chiefs’ Council revealed that of 85 complaints of hate crime were received between June 23, the day of the referendum on United Kingdom membership in the EU, and June 26. The figure represented a 57 percent increase in such offenses in a similar period just a month earlier.

Fear closes, prayer opens believers to God’s surprises, pope says VATICAN CITY — Prayer is a key that opens the door to God, unlocks selfish, fearful hearts and leads people from sadness to joy and from division to unity, Pope Francis said on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Prayer is “the main way out: the way out for the community that risks closing up inside itself because of persecution and fear,” he said during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica June 29. Prayer – entrusting oneself humbly to God and His will – “is always the way out of our personal and community’s closures,” he said.

Twenty-five archbishops appointed over the course of the past year were invited to come to Rome to concelebrate the feast day Mass with Pope Francis. Of the new archbishops, 11 were from the Americas, 10 from Europe and one each from Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Middle East.

Catholic, Orthodox must show each other mercy, pope says VATICAN CITY — Professing the same faith in the mercy of God, Catholics and Orthodox must do more to ensure mercy marks the way they treat each other, Pope Francis told a delegation from the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. “If, as Catholics and Orthodox, we wish to proclaim together the marvels of God’s mercy to the whole world, we cannot continue to harbor sentiments and attitudes of rivalry, mistrust and rancor,” the pope said June 28.

The delegation, led by Greek Orthodox Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, was in Rome to represent Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the pope’s celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the patron saints of the Church of Rome. Since 1969, the patriarchs have sent delegations to the Vatican for the June 29 feast and the popes have sent a delegation to Turkey each year for the feast of St. Andrew, patron of the patriarchate.

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Shared faith should lead to joint action, pope and patriarch say YEREVAN, Armenia — Applying the common faith they professed publicly earlier in the day, Pope Francis and Armenian Apostolic Catholicos Karekin II urged common action on behalf of persecuted Christians, welcome for refugees and defense of the family. The pope and the Oriental Orthodox patriarch signed their joint declaration at the end of Pope Francis’ June 24-26 visit to Armenia. Earlier in the day, at an Armenian Divine Liturgy, both had spoken of their unity as believers in Christ and of their conviction that Christians are called by God to assist the poor, the persecuted and the needy.

While their joint declaration mentioned the progress made in the official Catholic-Oriental Orthodox theological dialogue and their hopes for its continuation, the heart of the text focused on common Christian action to relieve suffering. “We are witnessing an immense tragedy unfolding before our eyes,” the two leaders said. “Countless innocent people” are “being killed, displaced or forced into a painful and uncertain exile by continuing conflicts on ethnic, economic, political and religious grounds in the Middle East and other parts of the world.”

Never again: Pope prays for Armenian genocide victims, future peace YEREVAN, Armenia — In silence and in prayer while a mournful hymn was sung, Pope Francis formally paid tribute to the estimated 1.5 million Armenians killed by Ottoman Turks in 1915-’18. Visiting the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, a monument to the martyrs, Pope Francis wrote in the guestbook, “May God preserve the memory of the Armenian people.

Memories should not be watered down or forgotten; memory is a source of peace and of the future.” The words were in addition to those the pope had planned to write June 25, praying that humanity would never again know the large-scale massacre of a people and that by remembering such tragedies of the past, people would learn to vanquish evil with good.

Accompanied by the Armenian Orthodox patriarch, Catholicos Karekin II, and by bishops and clergy from both the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches, Pope Francis blessed a wreath of yellow and white flowers placed before the towering stone shards that protect the eternal flame at Tsitsernakaberd.

CRS, other agencies helping Iraqis fleeing Fallujah fighting LONDON — Catholic Relief Services and other international aid agencies are working with local Christian and Muslim charities to help about 70,000 people fleeing Fallujah, Iraq, as conflict deepens between Islamic State militants and Iraqi forces seeking to regain the beleaguered town in Anbar province. “They have escaped active fighting and at least are in some safety now,” Hani El-Mahdi, Iraq country director of Catholic Relief Services, told Catholic News Service from Iraq. “They are awaiting permission to enter Baghdad, but in the meanwhile the majority are sheltering in decrepit tents with few latrines available.”

“These people desperately need food and water,” Nikki Gamer, a CRS communications officer, said. “There is little infrastructure in place to address the needs of so many people at once.”

Gamer said CRS was working with Caritas Iraq to provide “food, emergency living supplies and hygiene items, like soap.”

El-Mahdi told CNS that an urgent priority is to get more water, portable latrine and other

wash facilities in place to meet growing needs of the displaced as numbers increase. He said that an initial 1,000 families have been helped as part of an immediate response undertaken in conjunction with Islamic charities operating in the area.

Mexican Supreme Court rules on abortion, but issue remains unsettled MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Supreme Court has discarded a proposal by one of the justices to declare unconstitutional parts of the country’s criminal code on abortion. Legal observers say, however, the issue is still unsettled and will be revisited by the high court at a later date. The court’s first bench voted 3-1 against a proposal that would have invalidated laws effectively outlawing abortion and making it punishable by up to five years in prison. The issue will now be studied by the court.

The case before the court involved a 41-yearold woman named Margarita, who requested an abortion in 2013 due to her deteriorating health condition. Her request at a hospital for federal government employees was refused on three occasions, though she obtained an abortion at a private clinic. Her fetus also had been diagnosed with Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic condition.

Abortion is legal in Mexico City, though not done in federally operated hospitals unless certain criteria are met.

New book with retired Pope Benedict due in early September VATICAN CITY — Retired Pope Benedict XVI has given another interview to the journalist and author Peter Seewald, and a German publisher announced it would be released worldwide Sept. 9. Titled “Letzte Gesprache,” (which translates as “last conversations”), the book includes an in-depth conversation with the retired pope about the background of his resignation in 2013, said the German publisher, Droemer Knaur. Information about an English translation and publisher was not immediately available.

The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, which has the rights to an Italian newsstand edition of the book, reported July 1 that Pope Benedict admits to Seewald that he knew of “the presence of a ‘gay lobby’ in the Vatican composed of four or five people and he says he was able to remove their power.”

Pope Benedict also says he kept a diary during his pontificate, but he plans to destroy it, even though he knows that historians could find it valuable, Corriere reported.

On its website, Droemer said Pope Benedict speaks about the priorities of his pontificate, the VatiLeaks scandal, which saw the conviction and jailing of his butler, and about Pope Francis and the “controversial issues” of his papacy.

— Catholic News Service

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Dr. Kamila Valenta

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‘Brexit,’ EU identity crisis are signs of decline of Christianity in Europe

ast month the citizens of Great Britain voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, and initiated a process known as Brexit that will release the United Kingdom from its obligations and privileges towards the old continent over the next several years. The effects of this historic event have already been felt, and will undoubtedly shape the economic and political future of Europe and beyond.

The value of the British pound and the U.S. stock market immediately dropped, political unrest in Great Britain is on the rise and threatening a possible break-up of the country, the entire European Union is weakened, and the outcome of the U.S. presidential election this year might be affected. “Brexit” came as a surprise to many, because the European Union has been largely evaluated in economic terms and benefits, and it was assumed that people would not vote for an action that might bring them economic decline, uncertainty and immediate hardship. However, the deep ideological and spiritual problems of this international institution have been largely overlooked.

Although the European Union has always been officially portrayed as a primarily economic institution, its Catholic origins and symbolism cannot be denied.

The two primary founding fathers, Robert Schuman and Konrad Adenauer, were both devoted Catholics and studied theology. They negotiated the Coal and Steel Community between Germany and France in 1951, which gave rise to the European Economic Community in 1956 and eventually the European Union in 1993. They were associated with the European Christian democratic political parties which focused on the promotion and implementation of Catholic social teachings. The flag of the United Europe, a circle of 12 golden stars on a dark blue background was inspired by the crown of Our Lady (as its author Arsène Heitz revealed 30 years later), and it was officially adopted on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Dec. 8, 1955. Thus, the idea of a common Europe had a distinctly Catholic identity from the beginning, even though it was not publicly emphasized by the mainstream media.

During the Cold War this identity was implicitly present, because the European Economic Community provided not only great benefits of international cooperation, economic specialization, cost reduction and security, but was also safeguarding the Christian democratic ideals in contrast to the atheistic reign of Communism behind the Iron Curtain in the eastern part of the continent. St. John Paul II, who came from that part of Europe and who played an important role in the fall of Communism there, envisioned a united and integrated Europe of both east and west under Christian ideals, in which the former Communist countries would find a Christian home and spiritual renewal.

However, by the time Communism and the Iron Curtain fell in 1989 and the European Union began to expand to the east, Christianity was already in decline as many Western

Europeans gradually drifted away from their churches.

According to the Eurobarometer Poll, only 51 percent of Europeans believed in God by 2010, and weekly church attendance fell below 15 percent in the majority of EU countries. It is, therefore, no surprise that Christianity has not provided the kind of unifying force that was once envisioned, and European political institutions are not tied to the system of Christian values. Although some EU policies, such as non-discrimination laws, protection of minorities, and social programs for the disadvantaged, have retained the spirit of Catholic social teaching, others are in stark contrast to it, such as the EU pressure on national governments to facilitate abortions on demand.

This lack of ideological unity has been revealed in the EU’s inability to craft a unified strategy regarding the reception and integration of Muslim immigrants – but as German Chancellor Angela Merkel pointed out, Europe suffered not from too much Islam, but too little Christianity. The Muslim population in Europe has been steadily rising for several decades, triggering various extremist reactions.

In one case, France adopted a controversial law barring people from wearing religious symbols, including scarfs for women, in public buildings.

In another case, the bishop of the Protestant Church of Sweden proposed removing all crosses from church buildings to help Muslim refugees feel more welcome. The ultimate challenge came last year, when more than one million refugees from the Middle East crossed Europe’s borders, creating the most serious humanitarian crisis on the continent since World War II. The lack of a unified policy and consensus on how to manage the immigration crisis spurred by violence in the Middle East has remained an unresolved point of contention in the European Union ever since. Polls show that immigration politics was one of the main deciding factors for those Britons who voted to leave the European Union.

For economic analysts, the Brexit referendum seems irrational, because even in areas where people receive more subsidies from the EU than they contribute (such as in Wales), the majority voted to leave. However, the Brexit vote also reveals a deep ideological and spiritual crisis within the European Union, and shows that even if political integration is pursued for economic reasons, it is impossible to achieve without a shared ideology and system of values, especially on a multi-ethnic continent with a history of conflict and divisions. The decline of Christianity, and the failure to develop an overarching identity that could transcend these ethnic, national and religious differences, will make it very difficult for Europe to remain unified.

Dr. Kamila Valenta is a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and a part-time professor at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, where she teaches ethnic conflict.

David Hains

We aren’t going away

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ews articles and editorials in the wake of the latest Supreme Court decision on abortion try to foist a patina of inevitability and the seal of finality on the issue of “abortion rights.” The court ruled in a Texas case, among other things, that abortion clinics don’t have to be as well equipped as surgical centers that don’t perform abortions. The ruling is a setback for the pro-life movement.

But take heart, this crusade isn’t over. The ruling from the high court won’t deter the very substantial pro-life movement in this country. It won’t stop the marches for life that take place in cities across the country, including Charlotte, and it will probably enliven what is always Washington’s largest annual demonstration, the March for Life.

January is without a doubt the worst month of the year to plan an outdoor event. Yet every year, often in snow and biting cold, hundreds of thousands take to the streets of the capitol to defend innocent life. Most news organizations dodge coverage of the event and twiddle the day away in the warmth of their studios and offices. But thanks to news outlets like EWTN and even Periscope, the march is well covered.

Over the past few years there has been an interesting linguistic development for abortion supporters, or “pro-choice” as they prefer to be called. The words “reproductive freedom” and “abortion rights” have been added to everyday language, presumably to avoid using phrases like “taking innocent life” or “killing the unborn.” You can thank a destructive conspiracy of editorial writers and commentators for this.

The 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized this slaughter looked into the shadow of the Ninth Amendment of the Constitution and saw a new right: the right to privacy. Nowhere in the ruling can you find the phrases “abortion rights,” “right to abortion” or the oddly contradictory “reproductive freedom.”

For more than 40 years, elected officials around the country have been trying to curb abortions via regulations in state law. Without them we get people like Kermit Gosnell, whose abortion clinic in Philadelphia was a slaughterhouse for mother and child alike and not quite the doctor/patient relationship envisioned by the justices who voted in favor of Roe v. Wade.

The group-speak of the “pro-choice” side doesn’t end with the questionable use of the word “freedom” in discussing reproduction. It apparently feels compelled to belittle the pro-life side by referring to us inaccurately and inelegantly as “abortion rights opponents.”

We are pro-life Americans. There are millions of us.

We can be found in thousands of churches engaged in the always triumphal act of prayer. Hundreds of thousands of us can be found in marches, picket lines and voting booths, advocating for the innocent and for common sense among judges who misunderstand the fundamental right to life. The Supreme Court has been wrong before; think of the Dred Scott decision that gave a green light to slavery and made the Civil War inevitable. This time, the justices are on the wrong side of life.

We are not going to go away. Our prayers, our marches, our advocacy and our votes will cascade like a flowing stream that will inevitably wear down the marble columns that prop up the Supreme Court.

Keep the faith.

David Hains is the director of communication for the Diocese of Charlotte.

July 8, 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)

Spiritual reading What we think is the right road

M

y life is very busy and I don’t have time for “spiritual reading.” Even the Bible warns us that “there is no end to the writing of books, and too much study will wear you out” (Ecclesiastes 12:12).

But it’s the wrong road Some wag once said, “When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.” Reading of itself thus guarantees neither success nor salvation, for we can abandon or ignore reading when it challenges us, or we can read worthless or trashy material. Reading widely and well offers, we realize, no certainty of personal character and courage. Being well versed in the classics – in what is called the “great books” – cannot ensure that readers will be wise and noble and kind. Great readers can be fools and knaves.

One may resolve to read the Bible from front to back and then back to front; one may read all the books recommended in Father John McCloskey’s “Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan”; or tackle the list offered to priests and seminarians Heinrich Mann

by Father Gary Coulter; or consult Bill Bennett’s shorter list of “Books Everyone Should Read” – and still, after all that, remain a dolt.

One philosopher “Classic Catholic who used to teach at Meditations,” by Notre Dame pointed Dominican Father Bede out that many Jarrett (Manchester, students in personal N.H.: Sophia Institute crisis (a death in the Press, 2004) family, a shattered romance, etc.) turned for guidance to the janitor in the academic building housing the philosophy department. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: “The Holy Spirit can use the humblest to enlighten the learned and those in the highest positions” (2038).

Wisdom is the ability to discern the timeless in the temporal and the changeless amid change.

I think that remarkable quality – wisdom – is invariably accompanied by humility, which was a characteristic of the truly wise janitor at Notre Dame, and humility may not be a quality of academically accomplished people.

Sometimes the “sage on the stage” is, in fact, a person whose knowledge and discernment we should prize. Other times, those who speak and write (gently clearing my throat as I type these words!) can and should be safely ignored. That is true of all authors, teachers, coaches and homilists.

‘A house without books is like a room without windows.’

Suggested Reading

Consider that the lessons taught by Our Lord were, in fact, widely ignored. The arguments advanced by many demagogues, however, have often been embraced over the centuries. How do we ensure that we listen to God’s Word and reject what is contrary to the Gospel?

The answer is simple: Find the right advisors; listen to the best lectures; read the right books; examine yourself in the light of what is good and true and beautiful (Ps 1:1, Prv 12:15).

But we know we are inclined to sin (CCC 407, 408, 409 and 418). Sometimes, we can’t see the moral forest for the trees – and sometimes we don’t want to. It is exactly here that good reading can help us, if we let it. Reading widely and well must be complemented by reading wisely, meaning that there are morally healthful books, for all ages, that may help us to see things, and to think thoughts, and to examine our actions in the light of virtue (defined by the Catechism as “a habitual and firm disposition to do the good” which we develop by our own effort “aided by God’s grace.”)

A vicious refusal to grow in virtue cannot be overcome by good plays and poems. God has given us a yearning, though, for what is right, and good reading nourishes that desire. Reading about faith, responsibility, friendship, courage, industry and compassion – especially accompanied by earnest discussion under the direction of serious and seasoned mentors – helps us to be worthy of our Christian calling (refer to Eph 4:1, Phil 1:27).

All that said, I can’t agree with the idea that we do not have time for spiritual reading. All of us tend to make time for the things that are important to us. There are, to be sure, many pressures on today’s families, but is there no way to obtain even 20 minutes a day for the kind of reading which helps us distinguish right from wrong and good from evil? More than 20 years ago, “The Book of Virtues” was published; it contained great moral stories, many of them short and many of them seminal, meaning influential and able to stimulate thought about what we should do and what we should aspire to.

I understand “spiritual reading” in a broad sense. Three men, for example, have inspired me over the years, although I have too often let them down: Atticus Finch (“To Kill a Mockingbird”), Philip Rhayader (“The Snow Goose”), and Frank Skeffington (“The Last Hurrah”). These fictional men are certainly not Jesus, Aristotle, St. Paul or G.K. Chesterton – but they are, and have been, important to me in many ways over the years.

These characters are not my parents or my best teachers and priests; they share my mental “stage” with many others, including certain sports figures and even some movie heroes, but I repeatedly come back to Atticus, Philip and Frank.

If good reading is no insurance against failure (and it isn’t), good reading – spiritual reading – always offers us at least the golden opportunity to nourish our moral lives. As Father Bede Jarrett once put it: “I cannot hope to keep my soul alive unless I continually give it the food that it needs”: a comment he makes in an essay entitled “Make Time for Spiritual Reading.” St. Augustine heard the words “Tolle lege!” (“Take up and read!”), inspiring his subsequent conversion. “Tolle lege!” is good advice for us, too.

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

Photos by Brandon Berryhill | Catholic News Herald

Camping out, having fun and learning about their faith CHARLOTTE — Members of the youth group at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church recently camped out on the campus of the church and had a weekend filled with fun, fellowship, Mass and educational programs. Above, they participated in a representation of the Wedding Feast. Jesus would’ve been impressed with the great Vietnamese food! The teens slept in tents on the side of the rectory grounds, while St. Joseph kept an eye on them.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2016 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD