June 9, 2017

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

J u ne 9 , 2 0 1 7

CCHS Class of 2017 donates $5,000 to help poor 5

Byzantine Catholic mission opens in Canton 5 INDEX

Contact us.......................... 4 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes................. 3-15 Schools..........................17-19 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies...................... 20 U.S. news..................... 22-23 Viewpoints.................. 26-27 World news................. 24-25

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Armed for the future Bishop Jugis tells grads ‘take Jesus with you’

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Peace and justice come from God alone, Bishop Jugis preaches at Memorial Day Mass

Six seminarians graduate from the Pontifical College Josephinum

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Boniface Feast day: June 5

Pope Francis

The mystery of God’s fatherly love is a great revolution, pope says

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he mystery of God’s relationship with humankind is revolutionary in that Christians can look to him without fear as children to a loving father, Pope Francis said.

In teaching the Lord’s prayer, Jesus invites all Christians “to have the courage of calling God with the name ‘father,’” the pope said June 7 at his general audience.

“This is the great revolution that Christianity ingrains into the religious psychology of man. The mystery of God who always fascinates us and makes us feel small but no longer frightens us, he doesn’t crush us, he doesn’t distress us,” he said.

With temperatures in Rome hovering slightly above 80 degrees, the hot and humid weather did little to keep the estimated 15,000 pilgrims from singing and waving as Pope Francis greeted them on his popemobile.

In his talk, the pope reflected on the theme of God’s fatherhood as a source of hope for Christians as conveyed in the prayer of the “Our Father.”

While some may be more inclined to refer to God with a title that is “more respectful of his transcendence,” he said, the word “father” implies a trustful relationship “like a child to a father, knowing that we are loved and cared for by him.”

Referring to the parable of the prodigal son, the pope said God loves his children “not in a human way because there is no father in this world who would behave like the protagonist in this parable.”

“God is a father in his own way: good, defenseless in the face of man’s free will, capable only of conjugating the verb, ‘love,’” the pope said. “What an unfathomable mystery is a God that nourishes this kind of love towards his children!”

It is for this reason, he added, that St. Paul chose not to translate the word “father” into Greek and instead uses the Aramaic word, “’Abba,’ a term that is even more intimate than ‘father’ and that someone may translate as ‘pop, dad.’”

The pope said that although men and women “can be far away, hostile or even profess ourselves as being ‘without God,’” God is never far from humankind.

“When we need help, Jesus doesn’t tell us to give up and close in on ourselves, but rather to turn to the father and ask him with confidence,” he said.

St. Boniface was very bold in his faith, and he was well known for being very good at using the local customs and culture of the day to bring people to Christ.

St. Boniface was born as Wynfrid – also written as Wynfrith, Winfrid or Winfrith – sometime around the year 675 in Wessex (present-day Devon), England. Overcoming the initial disapproval of his Anglo-Saxon family, he was able to pursue a career in the Church. He was educated at Benedictine monasteries (first Exeter, then Nursling), and became an ordained priest at the approximate age of 30.

Instead of remaining in England, Wynfrid decided to became a missionary. In 716, he traveled to Frisia (now part of The Netherlands), following in the footsteps of other Anglo-Saxon missionaries. However, he found the local ruler unwelcoming and soon left the area.

After his return to England, Wynfrid was chosen to be the abbot of his monastery. Still wishing to evangelize, he turned down the position and proceeded to Rome in 718. There, he met with Pope Gregory II, who gave him the name Boniface.

On May 15, 719, the pope sanctioned Boniface’s desire to spread the Gospel.

Boniface once again visited Frisia, where the political climate had changed. This allowed him to gain valuable experience as a missionary, which he then put to use in Hesse.

In 722, Boniface was made a bishop.

He soon received the protection of Charles Martel, the Carolingian ruler of the Franks. His path made easier by this protection, Boniface returned to missionary work.

One story about St. Boniface tells about when he met a tribe in Saxony that was worshipping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. Boniface walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took an ax, and without a word, chopped it down. Then he stood on the trunk, and asked: “How stands your mighty god? My God is stronger than he.” Conversions followed when its worshipers saw that Boniface was not immediately punished for his actions.

Boniface focused on Thuringia (part of present-day Germany) from 725 to 735. He received the pallium in 732, which made him an archbishop and gave him the ability “to consecrate bishops wherever the faithful have increased.” As his proselytizing took effect, Boniface also did his best to stem any heresies he encountered. He applied the same zeal to his next task, that of organizing the Church in Bavaria.

After their father’s death, Boniface coordinated with Carloman and Pepin, Martel’s sons, over Church reforms. This resulted in Frankish clergy growing closer to Rome. Boniface, whom Pope Zachary had named the archbishop of Mainz, also may have crowned Pepin III as king in 751. Whether or not Boniface oversaw the coronation, he had laid the groundwork for papal authority to influence religious and political development in a large swath of Europe in the coming years.

After returning to missionary work, he was martyred on June 5, 754, while on mission in Holland, where a group of pagans attacked and killed him and his 52 companions. His body was taken to the monastery at Fulda, which he had founded in 744.

St. Boniface, deemed the “apostle to the Germans,” is regarded as the patron saint of brewers and tailors, as well as of Germany.

— Biography.com, Catholic News Agency

Your daily Scripture readings JUNE 11-17

Sunday (The Most Holy Trinity): Exodus 34:4-6, 8-9, Daniel 3:52-55, 2 Corinthians 13:11-13, John 3:16-18; Monday: 2 Corinthians 1:1-7, Matthew 5:1-12; Tuesday (St. Anthony of Padua): 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Matthew 5:13-16; Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday: 2 Corinthians 3:15—4:1, 3-6, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 5:27-32; Saturday: 2 Corinthians 5:1421, Matthew 5:33-37

JUNE 18-24

Sunday (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ): Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16, 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, John 6:51-58; Monday (St. Romuald): 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Matthew 5:38-42; Tuesday: 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Matthew 5:43-48; Wednesday (St. Aloysius Gonzaga): 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday (St. Paulinus of Nola, Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More): 2 Corinthians 11:1-11, Matthew 6:7-15; Friday (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus): Deuteronomy 7:6-11, 1 John 4:7-16, Matthew 11:25-30; Saturday (The Nativity of St. John the Baptist): Isaiah 49:16, Acts 13:22-26, Luke 1:57-66, 80

JUNE 25-JULY 1

Sunday: Jeremiah 20:10-13, Romans 5:12-15, Matthew 10:26-33; Monday: Genesis 12:1-9, Matthew 7:1-5; Tuesday (St. Cyril of Alexandria): Genesis 13:2, 5-18, Matthew 7:6, 1214; Wednesday (St. Irenaeus): Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18, Matthew 7:15-20; Thursday (Sts. Peter and Paul): Acts 12:1-11, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, Matthew 16:13-19; Friday (The First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church): Genesis 17: 9-10, 15-22, Matthew 8:1-4; Saturday: Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-55, Matthew 8:5-17

Our parishes

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Five men to be ordained priests June 17

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

Faithful from across Charlotte joined Bishop Peter Jugis May 29 for a Memorial Day Mass and celebration at St. Patrick Cathedral.

Peace and justice come from God alone, Bishop Jugis preaches at Memorial Day Mass Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

CHARLOTTE — The end to war and conflict in this world can come only from following God’s ways, Bishop Peter Jugis preached during a Mass offered on Memorial Day. The May 29 Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral was offered for those currently serving in the military, families and friends of those currently serving in the military, veterans, and especially for service men and women who have died serving the United States.

“The mission of these men and women,” Bishop Jugis said, “has always been to protect freedom. Their mission has always been to safeguard human dignity and to establish peace.”

In his homily, Bishop Jugis reflected on the fourth chapter of the Letter of James, which poses the eternal question: “Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from?”

That question “is just as relevant today as when he first wrote it so many centuries ago,” Bishop Jugis said.

James’ answer is that “wars and conflict among people ultimately come from the wars and the conflicts that are within the human heart,” he said.

“It comes from the fact that people do not know God. They may know about God, they may know there is a God, but how many people have converted their hearts to follow God’s ways?”

In his letter, James decries some of the sinful behaviors that cause conflict: envy, jealousy, pride and selfishness. He entreats Christians to practice the contrasting virtuous traits of humility, purity of heart, and submission to God’s will: “So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

… Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.”

(James 4:7-8, 10) “The remedy for all this war and conflict is God,” Bishop Jugis emphasized. Peace and justice can come from God alone.

Because “so many people in the world have not yet come to know God and follow His commandments and converted their hearts to Him,” he said, “the Church never ceases to proclaim God’s Gospel in every country, in every community of the world – calling people to conversion to Jesus, to forsake the ways of envy, jealousy, pride and selfishness, and everything that is separating us from God.” Christians must spread the Gospel just as Jesus taught in the Beatitudes: to be peacemakers, to be merciful, to be pure of heart, to be meek.

“Jesus is the Prince of Peace. His message is the path to harmony, concord, understanding, reconciliation, and peace and justice among all nations,” Bishop Jugis said.

“During this year of the Immaculate Heart, as we honor the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima 100 years ago, we even hear her echo Jesus’ message, pleading for peace,” he said. “If we pray for peace, nations will be converted. They will embrace the Gospel message that God has delivered through His Son Jesus.”

“Let us pray that God continue to convert our own hearts to His Son’s Gospel, and that the grace of Christ will lead us into the way of peace,” he prayed.

Online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See highlights from the Mass for the Military

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte will welcome five new priests this summer as Bishop Peter Jugis will ordain five seminarians to the priesthood during the Liturgy of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, June 17 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Transitional Deacons Peter Ascik, Matthew Bean, Brian Becker, Christopher Bond and Christian Cook will all receive the sacrament of Ascik Holy Orders during the two-hour Mass which will be live-streamed.

Deacon Peter Ascik, a parishioner of St. Barnabas Church in Arden, studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He is the son of Thomas and Karen Ascik.

Deacon Matthew Bean, Bean a parishioner of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia, studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is the son of Patrick and Megan Bean.

Deacon Brian Becker, a parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, studied at the Pontifical College Becker Josephinum. He is the son of Joseph and Tammy Becker.

Deacon Christopher Bond, a parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is the son of Allen and Virginia Bond.

Bond Deacon Christian Cook, a parishioner of St. Eugene Church in Asheville, studied at the Pontifical College Josephinum. He is the son of William and (the late) Ursula Cook.

A light reception following the ordination Mass will be held in the Monsignor Kerin Family Cook Life Center adjacent to the church located at 14740 Stumptown Road.

The faithful are also invited to attend a Holy Hour prior to the actual ordination date. The Holy Hour for the five men will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 15, at St. Patrick Cathedral, located at 1621 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte.

-SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: June 9 – 6 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Divine Redeemer Church, Boonville

June 15 – 5 p.m.

Holy Hour of Prayer for Priesthood Candidates St. Patrick Cathedral

June 21 – 5:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Aloysius Church, Hickory

June 13 – 6 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Joseph Church, Newton

June 17 – 9:30 a.m.

Ordination to the Sacred Priesthood St. Mark Church, Huntersville

June 26-28 Province Meeting of Bishops Charleston, S.C.

June 14 – 1:30 p.m.

Holy Mass at Quo Vadis Days Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Belmont

June 19 – 5:30 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Church, Greensboro

July 1-4 National Convocation of Catholic Leaders Orlando, Fla.

Father Christopher Roux, rector and pastor, and other area Catholic men for Sunday Gospel meditations, the rosary and fellowship. For details, call the parish office at 704-334-2283.

For details, email Janet Urban at jgraceart@yahoo.com.

Diocesan calendar of events June 9, 2017

Lectures

Volume 26 • Number 18

FREE Medicare Choices Made Easy Classes: 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, June 13, at St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden, and 6-8 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7th Avenue West, Hendersonville.

Presented by the Council on Aging of Buncombe County.

To register, call Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or email sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org. Hosted by Catholic Charities Elder Ministry.

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

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.

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

Saturday, June 10, at St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored

by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-370-3230.

PRAYER SERVICES & Groups RELIGIOUS LIBERTY MARCH: Join a march for religious liberty Friday, June 23 (the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). Starts at 11:30 a.m. from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, proceeding to the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse, 401 W. Trade St. Pro-Life Rosary: 9 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Everyone welcome to come and help pray for the end of abortion.

For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835. Parking is available nearby. Outdoors, rain or shine.

Centennial Anniversary of Fatima: 7:30 p.m.

Meets the 13th of each month from May to October, at St. Michael the Archangel Church, 708 St. Michael’s Lane, Gastonia. All are invited to the recitation of the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, outdoor candlelight procession and small reception. For details, call the parish office at 704-867-6212.

CHARLOTTE Maronite Mission: Masses are offered every Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Church’s Waxhaw Campus, 4116 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw. The Maronite Mission of Charlotte is an Eastern rite Catholic Church in full communion with the pope.

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 parish 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 parish at 336-883-0244.

Men’s Prayer Group: 7:30-8 a.m. Thursdays at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Join

YOUNG ADULTS Retreats ‘I Have Called You Friends’: A spring retreat hosted by St. Peter Church Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: 11-4:30 p.m., Saturday, June 17, in Benedict Hall, at St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte. Retreat director will be Jesuit Father John Michalowski. This mini-retreat will include lunch and the opportunity to attend Mass at St. Peter Church at 5 p.m.

The program is free and all are welcome. To RSVP, email mrcipolletti@hotmail.com.

Rachel’s vineyard weekend retreat: Oct. 20-22 in the Greensboro area. Rachel’s Vineyard can help men and women who have experienced abortion begin their healing journey. It creates a healing environment of prayer and forgiveness. The retreat works to reconnect people to themselves, their friends and family after having an abortion. For details, contact Jackie Childers at Jack-ie.childers1@gmail.com.

East Meets West Retreat – The Medicine of Words, St. John Chrysostom’s ‘On the Providence of God’: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Aug. 17-18, Immaculate Conception Mission, 42 New Found St., Canton. Everyone welcome to join for talks that will provide insight into St. John’s treatise, and how it may help us endure in the faith and evangelize others during our own perilous times. For details, call the church office at 828-456-6707.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING “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: High point: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 10, Christ the King Church, 1505 East Kivett Dr., and at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St. Huntersville: 9 a.m. Saturday, June 10, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road

SUPPORT GROUPS

Scripture Study “Word & wisdom”: 7-9 p.m.

Sundays, June 4- Aug. 6, in the Family Life Center at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road, Charlotte. All College age and young adults are welcome to attend. For details, email youngadult@stpatricks.org.

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 on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry, and at: Our Lady of Consolation Church: contact Denise Duliepre, 917-575-0871 St. Gabriel Church: on Facebook at “St. Gabriel Young Adult Ministry” St. John Neumann Church: call Meg VanGoethem, 815-545-2587.

St. Matthew Church: on Facebook at “Young Adult Life: A St. Matthew Ministry” St. Patrick Cathedral: on Facebook at “The Cathedral of St. Patrick - 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.

St. Mark Church in Huntersville: online at www. meetup.com/St-Mark-Catholic-Church-Youth-AdultMinistry/ Holy Spirit Church in Denver: call Nicole Lehman, 704-607-5207.

ST. LEO The great church in Winston-Salem: online at “Winston Salem Frassati,” www.wsfrassati.com 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 or email Dan McCool at wocgreensboro@gmail.com St. Michael Church in Gastonia: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Gastonia area. Meets once a month.

Online at www.stmichaelsgastonia.org/young-adults.

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, Huntersville. Organized with the Alzheimer’s Association, the monthly meetings are for the caregivers and family members of people with Alzheimer’s.

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.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Byzantine mission opens in Canton Kimberly Bender Online reporter

CANTON — A Byzantine mission is forming in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina, just west of Asheville, with plans for monthly services.

Deacon Kevin Bezner, who spent years at St. Basil the Great Mission in Charlotte, will be traveling to Immaculate Conception Church in Canton monthly to host Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion services. The services at the new mission start June 17.

“What we hope will occur is we build up a community,” Deacon Bezner said. “That we foster a Byzantine, Ukrainian Catholic community and we give them a place to worship.

“It’s answering a call of interest.

There’s people in the mountains from Sylva to Asheville to Fletcher who have been asking for a mission in the mountains. Our goal is to become a real center for Byzantine, Eastern Catholic liturgy and spirituality in the mountain region.”

The Ukrainian Catholic mission is a Byzantine-Slavic Eastern Christian mission in full communion with the pope and is open to people of all backgrounds. All of the services and liturgies are chanted in English.

Vespers is the first service of the liturgical day in the daily cycle of prayer. Typica with Holy Communion is a Communion service.

Occasionally, a priest will visit to celebrate Divine Liturgy (Mass) at the

new mission.

The process to create this mission started when Father Mark Shuey was invited by a group outside of Asheville to celebrate Vespers and a Divine Liturgy in 2014.

Father Joshua Voitus, outgoing pastor at St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva, attended the initial 2014 liturgy and invited Father Shuey and Deacon Bezner to celebrate in Sylva as well, Deacon Bezner said.

“The ball just kept rolling from there,” he said. They celebrated more liturgies and talks over the past few years at locations in western North Carolina including Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton.

“We felt there are enough Ukrainian and Eastern Catholics in the area that we could form at least a seed parish so those Eastern Catholics could go to the liturgies they are used to,” Father Shuey said. “After prayerful discernment and searching for the best location in the mountains, they decided on the Canton location.

“We’re going to start and see how it goes. It may not be there permanently, but we have to start somewhere,” Father Shuey said.

In August, the mission will host an “East Meets West” retreat with the theme “The Medicine of Words,” on St. John Chrysostom’s last work, “On the Providence of God.” The Aug. 1718 retreat is the fourth annual event.

Starting in September, the mission will host catechism classes as well.

CANTON, SEE page 21

SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald

CCHS Class of 2017 donates $5,000 to help poor CHARLOTTE — Monsignor John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, accepts a $5,000 check from the Charlotte Catholic High School Class of 2017 on May 31 during the CCHS Senior Awards presentation held at the parish. The senior class gave the donation to Monsignor McSweeney to help further his outreach to the poor. He is the first priest ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte and will retire this July after nearly 43 years of priestly ministry.

Live ordination coverage starting at

9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17

Watch live coverage of the ordination to the holy priesthood of Peter Ascik, Matthew Bean, Brian Becker, Chris Bond and Christian Cook, from St. Mark Church in Huntersville

www.catholicnewsherald.com or on the catholic News herald’s Facebook page

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 OUR PARISHES

Six seminarians graduate from the Pontifical College Josephinum Carolyn A. Dinovo Special to the Catholic News Herald

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It was a day of great joy at the Pontifical College Josephinum, as the seminary celebrated its 118th commencement exercises on May 13. Members of the graduating class – 44 seminarians from 17 dioceses in the United States and abroad – were awarded degrees from the College of Liberal Arts, Pre-Theology Program or School of Theology, and thereby became alumni of the only pontifical seminary outside of Italy.

Graduates from the Diocese of Charlotte (pictured, from the left) are seminarian Miguel Sanchez, Deacon Brian Becker, Deacon Christopher Bond, Deacon Matthew Bean, Deacon Christian Cook and seminarian Joseph Wasswa. The deacons are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood June 17, the seminarians will continue their priestly formation.

The day’s festivities began with a baccalaureate Mass celebrated by Monsignor Christopher J. Schreck, the Josephinum’s rector and president. He was joined at the altar by many concelebrating priest faculty and visiting clergy.

Father Dan Schmitmeyer, vcoations director for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, in his homily defined the day as one “of joy and happiness. Joy for our graduates as they finish their (studies), move on to the next step in their lives, and continue to discern who God wants them to be.

And joy and happiness for all of their friends and family gathered here today to congratulate them on all of their hard work.”

Baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises were held in the restored and renovated St. Turibius Chapel, rededicated on April 24, 2017, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States and chancellor of the Josephinum.

Monsignor Schreck’s commencement remarks referenced the profound impact the renovation has on the lives of seminarians at the Josephinum.

“Today, we confer degrees for the first time in this

newly restored St. Turibius Chapel,” he said. “The new outpouring of spiritual energy which the Holy Spirit will infuse into the future liturgical and prayer life of this seminary, through this uplifting and edifying art and architecture of this sacred place, will make the chapel’s rededication and these 118th commencement exercises one of the great historical markers in Josephinum history.”

At commencement, degree candidates were presented by Dr. Perry J. Cahall, dean of the School of Theology, and Dr. David J. De Leonardis, dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Degrees were conferred by Monsignor Schreck, in the presence of Bishop Frederick F. Campbell of Columbus, vice chancellor of the Josephinum.

A Bachelor of Arts in philosophy or humanities was awarded to 13 graduates of the College of Liberal Arts.

Twelve Pre-Theology graduates earned a Bachelor of Philosophy or Certificate of Completion in Philosophical and Theological Studies. The Master of Divinity degree, which signifies fulfillment of the requirements for priestly ordination, was awarded to 19 graduates of the School of Theology, 10 of whom completed the additional academic requirements of a Master of Arts in dogmatic theology, moral theology, biblical studies or evangelization. The Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), a pontifical degree conferred by the Josephinum in affiliation with the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome, was awarded to 10 of the deacons.

College Senior Class Representative Daniel Rice, a seminarian from the Diocese of Arlington, Va., was invited to offer the valedictory address.

As alumni of the Josephinum, “we take with us a depth of inquiry, a sense of wonder, continuing to ask the most important questions about God, the world, and human nature,” he said. A graduate “leaves (the Josephinum) a better man, formed in the heart of the Church, more in love with Jesus Christ, and ready to pursue Him in another life.”

The 118th commencement exercises marked a defining moment in the vocational journey of the seminarians who received degrees. A majority of College and Pre-Theology

graduates will continue their priestly discernment as they undertake graduate theological study. Graduates of the School of Theology return to their respective dioceses for priestly ordination. The Ordination Class of 2017 will join nearly 1,200 ordained alumni who currently serve the universal Church in nearly every U.S. state and in 18 different countries.

“We give thanks for the great events of this day,” Monsignor Schreck said. “In our bittersweet sense of loss and gain, of happiness at achievement and sorrow at departure, we proudly send our graduates forth into the world and into the vineyard of priestly ordination.”

Carolyn A. Dinovo is the director of communications for the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

The seminarian program is funded in part by contributions to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

Learn more about the DSA and donate online at www. charlottediocese.org/dsa.

PILGRIMAGE TO

LOURDES & PARIS with Fr. Benjamin Roberts, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe

Nov. 11-18, 2017 $2,995 from Charlotte Spend several days in Lourdes – praying at the Grotto where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous, taking in the healing waters, participating in the Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessing of the Sick, and attending Mass at the Basilica. Also visit Nevers and the convent of St. Gildard, where St. Bernadette’s incorrupt body is enshrined. See the famous cathedrals of Notre Dame, Chartres and Sacre Coeur, and see the sights of Paris. Most meals and all tips included. selectinternationaltours.com Kristine@select-intl.com

800-842-4842

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

Join us for St. John Neumann Catholic Church 8451 Idlewild Road | Charlotte, NC 28227 Friday, June 9, 5:00 PM-11:00 PM Saturday, June 10, 4:00 PM-11:00 PM

Admission is free!

Photo provided by Father Martin Schratz

Public art celebrates history

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

• Purchase a wristband for unlimited rides on Friday night!

HENDERSONVILLE — Friends of Immaculata Catholic School and Immaculate Conception Church recently sponsored a bear sculpture in Downtown Hendersonville’s annual “Bearfootin’ Public Art Walk” that was entitled “Our Past, Present and Future.” The sculpture contains the names of all the staff, students, parents and grandparents at Immaculata School. The longtime public art project features unique bear (or other animal) sculptures painted by local artists and placed along the 16 blocks that comprise Main Street in downtown Hendersonville. Funds raised from the art walk and auction organized by Historic Downtown Hendersonville raises money for local charities.

• Carnival rides!

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

• Great food! Hot Dogs, funnel cakes, cheese steak sandwiches, and INTERNATIONAL FOOD! • Continuous live music!

• Silent auction and BINGO inside the Parish Hall.

• Fantastic FIRE WORKS show on Saturday night!

Hamburger eating contests sponsored by American Burger Company all www.4SjNC.org/sonfest weekend long!

Photo provided by Dr. Jim Taylor

Crowning Mary at the Grotto on Taylors Peak DEEP GAP — A statue of Mary in a grotto atop Taylors Peak was recently crowned for the 18th year by Samantha Lang, a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Church in Boone. Also pictured are Dr. Jim Taylor, Fourth Degree past Grand Knight; Matt Bagley, Grand Knight at St. Elizabeth Church; and Mike Ihnet, Deputy Grand Knight. The grotto is on the site of KAMPN’s Camp Cogger, which is approaching its sixth anniversary. Each summer the non-profit KAMPN (Kids with Autism Making Progress in Nature) runs Camp Cogger, a nature-based, free summer camping program for children on the autism spectrum and their families. Learn more at www.kampn4autism.appstate.edu or call 828-264-0054 to find out more about their programs.

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Joyful celebrations of the sacraments Photos by Doreen Sugierski | Catholic News Herald

DENVER — Youth at Holy Spirit Church recently received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation, during Masses offered May 6 by Father Carmen Malacari, pastor, and May 11 by Bishop Peter Jugis.

Photos provided by Maria Cruz

WINSTON-SALEM — Seventy children received their first Holy Communion May 13 at Our Lady of Mercy Church. They also participated in a May Crowning to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, crowning a statue of Mary and placing flowers at her feet.

Travis Burton | Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Children at Our Lady of Consolation Church celebrated their first Holy Communion May 20.

Giuliana Polinari Riley | Catholic News Herald

FOREST CITY — Nine children at Immaculate Conception Church celebrated their first Holy Communion May 28. They are pictured with Father Herbert Burke, pastor, Father José Antonio Juya and Deacon Sigfrido Della Valle.

Photos provided by Rachel Yarbrough and Melinda Stovall

GREENSBORO — Fifty-one children at Our Lady of Grace Church recently received their first Holy Communion in May, during Masses celebrated by Father Eric Kowalski, pastor.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Photos provided by Joan Guthrie

CHARLOTTE — Young people at St. Peter Church were confirmed

by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari during Mass May 20.

Photos provided by Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz

HENDERSONVILLE — Children at Immaculate Conception Church recently celebrated their first Holy Communion.

Photos provided by Liz Pendergrass and MaryAnn Luedtke

GREENSBORO — Youth at St. Pius X Church recently received the sacraments of first Holy Communion and confirmation, during Masses celebrated May 13 by Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor, and May 20 by Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte.

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief New priests’ first Masses scheduled

It’s easy being green.

Get the Catholic News Herald delivered to your email inbox!

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

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

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

CHARLOTTE — Following their expected ordination to the priesthood, the Diocese of Charlotte’s newest priests will offer their first Masses as follows: n Father Peter Ascik: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, with homilist Father Adrian Porras n Father Matthew Bean: 10 a.m. Sunday, June 18, at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia, with homilist Father Frederick Edlefsen n Father Brian Becker: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, with homilist: Father John Eckert n Father Chris Bond: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, with homilist Dominican Father W. Becket Soule n Father W. Christian Cook: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, with homilist Father Soule All are welcome to attend.

Complete coverage of the June 17 ordination will be online at www.catholicnewsherald.com and in the June 23 edition of the Catholic News Herald.

Diocesan awards honor those who evangelize, work with youth

His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte invites all the faithful of the diocese to the

CHARLOTTE — Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, was recently honored with the St. John Paul II Award from the Diocese of Charlotte Youth Ministry Office, for his work in teaching and guiding youth at his parish and Sacred Heart School, and in the diocese.

His “commitment and love for the youth is something to be recognized,” wrote one person who nominated him for the award. Another wrote in support of his nomination, “He helps the youth grow in their faith while being a fun, sometimes competitive, presence at our events, even after a long Sunday full of doing multiple Masses.”

In addition, the Bishop Michael J. Begley Award was given to Noé Sifuentes of Salisbury. The award recognizes, from the diocesan level, outstanding teens who exemplify Christian service, Catholic leadership and good moral standards. The 2017 Jesse C. Carson High School graduate is active at Sacred Heart Parish in the youth group, as an altar server, and as a faith formation teacher. “Noé is an amazing individual who is an essential part of the Sacred Heart community ... and has an incredibly deep faith,” stated one nominating letter.

Dominican Sister Edeva Jover, who serves at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, was given the Bishop William G. Curlin Award for her commitment to youth ministry and active service – not only at her parish but at the diocesan level. “She is amazing at leading teens and always creates a joyful and peaceful atmosphere around her,” stated one nominating letter. “Sister Edeva is an amazing youth minister and I admire the hard work she puts into her ministry.”

Joseph Spillane of St. Pius X Church, a 2017 graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, also received the Bishop William G. Curlin Award. Said one nominating letter, “He has served as an example to his peers (and his teachers) of grace in the face of adversity.” Another wrote, “From volunteering at faith formation, his excellent service at the altar, helping with confirmation retreats and preparation, being a peer minister at his high school, Joseph appears ready to give of himself, share our faith and live the love of Jesus in a very vibrant way.”

Grace Rybak, Christopher Silvestri and Carlos Mata received the St. Timothy Award for outstanding youth discipleship.

Religious liberty march set for June 23 CHARLOTTE — Join a march for religious liberty Friday, June 23 (the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus) starting at 11:30 a.m. from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, proceeding to the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building and Courthouse, 401 W. Trade St. For details, go online to www.marchforlifecharlotte.org.

Holy Hour of Prayer for the priesthood

Volunteers needed for Eucharistic Congress

ordination candidates and their families.

CHARLOTTE — More than 300 volunteers are needed for the Diocese of Charlotte’s 2017 Eucharistic Congress Sept. 8-9 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Volunteer jobs are only for a few hours, and the rest of the time they are free to enjoy the Congress.

All volunteers receive free parking, a thank you luncheon on Friday, and volunteers for the youth tracks and ushers receive a shirt, not to mention the abundance of grace in giving of their time.

Specific volunteer needs are: n Children’s Track Volunteer: 11:45 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday n Procession Volunteer: 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday n Greeter: 6-9 p.m. Friday; 8-10 a.m., 10a.m.-noon, noon-2 p.m., or 2-4 p.m. Saturday n Book Sales: 6-9 p.m. Friday; 10a.m.-noon, noon-2 p.m., or 2-4 p.m. Saturday n Usher: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday; 9-11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. or 4-6 p.m. Saturday It takes one minute to sign up as a volunteer. Go to www.goeucharist.com, and click on “volunteer.” All volunteers are required to have a current background check on file with the diocese, and most positions also require “Protecting God’s Children” certification.

Reverend Mr. Peter Nicholas Ascik Reverend Mr. Matthew Patrick Bean Reverend Mr. Brian Joseph Becker Reverend Mr. Christopher Allen Bond Reverend Mr. William Christian Cook Thursday, June 15, 2017 5:00 p.m.

Cathedral of Saint Patrick Charlotte, North Carolina

Carolina Catholic Family Day set for July 30 CHARLOTTE — All Catholic families are welcome to enjoy a day of faith and fun at Carowinds Theme Park on Sunday, July 30. The event will include Mass, an allyou-can-eat meal and fun in the theme park. The cost is only $55, which includes free parking (a $20 per vehicle savings). Go online to www.catholicnewsherald.com to sign up.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Faithful Servant Catholic Leadership Institute coming up CHARLOTTE — This year marks the 36th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte providing leadership formation for high school aged youth and the adults who work with them. This program focuses on proven life skills (communication, decision-making, group dynamics, negotiation, etc.) from a Catholic perspective (evangelization, missionary discipleship, Scripture, grace, sacraments, etc.). Youth who are interested in attending this year’s leadership institute June 18-23 at Belmont Abbey College should go online to www.charlottediocese.org/ev/youth/events/faithful-servant. For more information, contact Paul Kotlowski at 828-228-1692 or pjkotlowski@charlottediocese.org.

Parish hosts pilgrimage to Fatima for people with limited mobility ARDEN — St. Barnabas Church’s Peace and Social Justice Commission is sponsoring a unique “relaxed pace” pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes Nov. 6-15, especially designed for anyone with limited mobility due to injury or illness, or for people who want to enjoy more time walking to and from the various sites at a leisurely pace. Spiritual director will be Father Adrian Porras, pastor.

The deadline to register is July 28. For more information, go online to www. selectinternationaltours.com, or contact Select International Tours at 800-842-4842 or kristine@ select-intl.com.

His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte requests the honor of your presence at the Liturgy of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood John Bunyea | Catholic News Herald

Kernersville parishioners pray rosary KERNERSVILLE — N.J. Clausen recently led a group of Holy Cross Church members in praying the rosary in the Marian garden on the church grounds, in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the month of May.

Reverend Mr. Peter Nicholas Ascik Reverend Mr. Matthew Patrick Bean Reverend Mr. Brian Joseph Becker Reverend Mr. Christopher Allen Bond

St. Ignatius statue donated MOORESVILLE — Parishioners at St. Thérèse Church attended the blessing of a statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola May 14. It was donated by a grateful parishioner in honor and memory of each of the Jesuits who have served at the Mooresville parish.

— Lisa Cash

Reverend Mr. William Christian Cook Saturday, the seventeenth of June two thousand and seventeen nine-thirty in the morning

Studying the Reformation ASHEVILLE — Father Pat Cahill of St. Eugene Church and Pastor Chris Webb of St. Mark Lutheran Church recently taught a class in Asheville commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The text used was, “One Hope: Re-Membering the Body of Christ.” Several people from both congregations signed up to participate in the six-session course.

Saint Mark Catholic Church 14740 Stumptown Road Huntersville, North Carolina Reception immediately following in the Parish Hall

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

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 OUR PARISHES

CCDOC.ORG

Catholic Charities Regional Office Director (Asheville, NC)

Catholic Charities seeks forward-thinking innovator with an undergraduate degree and strong development and communication skills, including ability to organize fundraisers, cultivate donor relationships, and partner with Catholic parishes. Direct supervision of 5-7 staff members.

Cover letter and resume must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 30, 2017 to ahloesch@charlottediocese.org. No telephone calls, please.

Job description at ccdoc.org/jobs.

CCDOC.ORG

Craig Murphy | Catholic News Herald

Fellowship and shawarma MURPHY — Parishioners of St. William Church in Murphy recently enjoyed a traditional Lebanese dinner after Mass, organized by Gail and Ferris Maloof and the St. William Men’s Club. The Maloof family, descendants of some of the earliest Christians in Lebanon, are very active in the St. William and Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission communities and Gail Maloof serves as the parish secretary. The menu drew on Ferris Maloof’s Lebanese heritage: tabouleh (a parsley salad with bulgur, tomatoes, cucumbers and tomatoes) served with hummus and pita bread; eggplant casserole; rice and chicken shawarma. Proceeds from the dinner will go to various charitable needs in the community. This is the second anniversary of the Lebanese dinner, and judging by the spontaneous applause from grateful diners, it is sure to return.

Discover Natural Family Planning Modern Natural Family Planning (NFP) provides a practical and empowering alternative used to achieve or avoid pregnancy. It upholds the dignity of the person within the context of marriage and family and promotes openness to life by respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage.

What will you learn?

• • • • •

Effectiveness of modern NFP methods.

Health, relational, and spiritual benefits.

Health risks of popular contraceptives.

Church teaching on marital sexuality.

How to use Natural Family Planning.

June 24th - St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte | One Day Class June 24th - Charlotte | Three Class Series July 14th - Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe | Spanish Class July 22nd - Charlotte | Postpartum Class For more information visit our website or contact Batrice Adcock, MSN at 704.370.3230 or bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.

Stand out.

Get the Catholic News Herald delivered to your email inbox!

You’ll be able to read your newspaper earlier, and you’ll help save some trees. It’s free, too – making this a pretty outstanding deal.

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

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

SPEND TIME IN THE PRESENCE OF

OUR LORD My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Luke 1:46

Mark your calendar for the 13th Eucharistic Congress September 8 & 9, 2017 Charlotte Convention Center For information, to volunteer or K-12 Track Registration:

www.GoEucharist.com

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Saint Benedict Press authors featured among 2017 winners of ACP ‘Excellence in Publishing Awards’ Katie DeMoss Special to the Catholic News Herald

Anxiety / Depression Acid Reflux / Sleep Hormones / Fatigue Cholesterol / Acne

BELMONT — The Association of Catholic Publishers recently announced the winners of the 2017 Excellence in Publishing Awards, which recognize the best in Catholic publishing.

Among the winners were three Saint Benedict Press/ TAN Books titles: First place in the biography category: “The Lion of Münster: The Bishop Who Roared Against the Nazis” by Father Daniel Utrecht. It tells the true story of Cardinal Clemens August von Galen, the bishop of the diocese of Münster in Germany from 1933 to 1946, who risked his life by speaking out against the Nazi regime.

First place in the Resources for MinistryPrograms category: “Doors of Mercy: Exploring God’s Covenant with You” by Father Jeffrey Kirby. This is an eightweek study that was created in response to the Jubilee Year of Mercy and is intended to lead participants into a deeper understanding and experience of God’s love and mercy.

Third place in the Resources for Ministry-Programs category: “Luke: The Gospel of Mercy” by Father Kirby and Dr. Paul Thigpen. It is an 18-week Bible study program from Catholic Scripture Study International that explores the parables of mercy found in the Gospel of Luke and brings Luke to life with world-class video shot on location in Rome and Assisi.

Each work was recognized for its exceptional portrayals of grace, mercy and faith in their respective categories.

“We’re honored to be included among the outstanding winners in the 2017 ‘Excellence in Publishing Awards,’” said Conor Gallagher, publisher of Saint Benedict Press and TAN Books.

“Father Utrecht, Father Kirby and Dr. Thigpen are each very deserving of this recognition,” Gallagher said. “Themes of mercy and faith are woven intricately throughout these works, as is a commitment to presenting Catholic teaching in a way that is beautiful, informative and inspirational.”

Katie DeMoss is the senior publicist for Saint Benedict Press.

Christ the King Catholic High School Class of 2017 I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; Wonderful are your works! My very self you know.

-Psalm 139:14

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

Nicholas Ackerman, Ella Allen-Bolton, Jack Arnold, Maxwell Aydelette, Benjamin Babcock, Jin Woo Bae, Kennedy Barber, Zachary Becker, Brian Beckham, Evan Bermudez, Molly Bernard, Gabriel Bisti, Breona Bland, Erica Boyle, Amanda Brechko, Emma Bristol, Amy Byrd, Geng Chen, Adam Chinnasami, Azuka Chukwudebe, Jacob Clewis, Patrick Coxwell, Matias Crespo, Wenhan Cui, Mia Dascenzo, Samira Davis, Juan Carlos Diaz, Alexander Dioli, Olivia Dittrich, Rose Draeger, Jean Egan, Reid Featherngill, Samuel Fohn, Olivia Forish, Emma Fritts, Elaina Garner, Molly Garner, Sergio Gonzalez, Jacob Goodman, Cecilia Haggas, Hanna Hall, Natalie Hamlet, Nicole Harrison, Alexander Heck, Matthew Herndon, Lillian Hiser, Peter Ingle, MaKenna Johnston, Kyeoung-Min Jung, Cecilia Kammire, Kelly King, Andrew Knight, Elizabeth Knorr, Natalie Kolosieke, Cassidy Kreber, Jose Labra Escudero, William Ladka, Haley LaJeunesse, Patrick Lancaster, Marie Lawson, Evelyn Leon, Tyler Lininger, Jiashan Liu, Valerie Lopez, Jack Lorenz, James Lucas, Anne Malinda, Casey Martin, Kate McBane, Claire McDonough, Matthew Muller, Mary Mulqueen, Kyeongjun Na, Daniel Naveira, Ashley Niles, Devon O’Brien, Rachael Ormond, Joseph Otteson, Trevor Patrick, Drachel Pereira,Belen Perez-Fernandez, Austin Peters, Jeanette Pfei r, Alexander Pinder, William Quinn, Carlos Rodriguez, Isabelle Role, Jared Russell, Justin Russell, Kayley Scannell, Cassidy Shaw, Matthew Shields, Daegan Shigo, Logan Smith, Lauren Soltis, Joseph Spillane, Shannon Statler, Candyce Sturgeon, Mia Tanyag, Alice Tovar, Carolyn Tso-Kuhl, Alexis Tubby, CatTuong Vo, Emily Waite, Jonathan Weaver, Spencer Webster, Leonidas Wells, Nathan Woelfel, Emily Wolverton, ZhongXing Xu, YuXuan Yan, Jerome Young, Zhao Yu, Jack Yurko, Xin Zhong, Anna Zoretich

The University of Alabamain Huntsville The University of Alabama American University Appalachian State University University of Ar kansas Auburn University Austin College Averett University Barton College Baylor University Bellarmine University Belmont Abbey College Belmont University Boston College Boston University Br evard College University of California, Davis University of California, Ir vine University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego (John Muir College) University of California, SantaBarbara University of California, Santa Cr uz Campbell University Catawba College The Catholic University of America Charleston Southern University

College of Charleston University of Chicago The Citadel, The Mi litary Collegeof SC Cl ark University Cl emson University Coastal Carolina University Concordia University Chicago Davidson College University of Dayton University of Denver DePaul University Dickinson College Dr exel University Duke University East Carolina University East Tennessee State University Eckerd College Elon University Embry-R iddle Aeronautical University Fashion In stitute of Technology Ferru m College Florida In stitute of Technology University of Florida Fordham University Forsyth TechCommunity College Furman University Gardner-Webb University

GeorgeMason University The GeorgeWashington University Georgia In stitute of Technology Greensboro College Guilford College Guilford Tech Community College Hampden-Sydney College Hampton University UniversityofHartford(HartfordArtSchool) Haverford College Hi gh Point University Hollins University Hood College University of Il linois at Chicago UniversityofIllinoisatUrbana-Champaign Il linois In stitute of Technology In diana University at Bloomington University of In dianapolis Iowa State University University of Kentucky Ki ng’s College La Salle University Lees McRae Lehigh University Lenoir-Rhyne University Louisburg College Louisiana State University

Lynchburg College Marietta College Maritime College University of Mary Washington Universityof Maryland,BaltimoreCounty Marymount California University University of Massachusetts McGill University Mi ami University, Oxford University of Mi nnesota,Twin Ci ties University of Mi ssissippi University of Mi ssouri, Kansas Ci ty Mount Ida College New York In stitute of Technology New York University University of NC at Asheville The University of NC at Chapel Hi ll University of NC at Charlotte University of NC at Greensboro University of NC at Wi lmington North Carolina State University North Carolina Wesleyan College NortheastOhio Medical University Northeastern University University of Notre Dame Ohio State University The University of Oklahoma

Old Dominion University Otis College of Ar t and Design Pace University, New York Ci ty Pacific Lutheran University Pennsylvania State University University of Pennsylvania Pfeiffer University University of Pittsburgh Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Radford University Randolph College Randolph-Macon College Rensselaer Polytechnic In stitute Roanoke College Rochester In stitute of Technology Rockingham Community College Rutgers University-NewBr unswick University of San Diego University of San Fr ancisco Santa Cl ara University Savannah College of Ar t and Design School of the Ar t In stitute of Chicago The School of Vi sual Ar ts SeattleUniversity Seton Hall University University of South Carolina

University of Southern California Spring Hi ll College St. John’s University - Queens Campus Stony Br ook University SUNY Buffalo SUNY Maritime College SyracuseUniversity The University of Tampa Temple University University of Tennessee, Kn oxville Texas A&M University The University of Texas, Austin The New School University of Mount Olive Vi llanova University Vi rginia Tech Wake Forest University Warren Wi lson College Washington State University University of Washington West Vi rginia Wesleyan College Western Carolina University Wi ngate University Wi nston-Salem State University University of Wi sconsin, Madison Worcester Polytechnic In stitute Xi an Jiaotong Li verpool University

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Charlotte Catholic High School Class of 2017

Turner, Jeremy

University of AlabamaBirmingham Stockley, Christopher

Clemson University Anderson, Sarah Brandt, John Garcia, Jacqueline Gennett, Stephen Girshovich, Drew Lagaly, Thomas Rock, Amanda

University of AlabamaTuscaloosa Ariza, Daniela Epperson, Charlton Little, Jonathan Stuckey, Grant American University Butters, Nicole American University of Antigua Ramesh, Naveena American University of Paris VanderWaerden, Valentina Appalachian State University Bertolina, Isabella Collins, Tatum Cox, Audrey Dumser, Robert Gatton, Eric Gorman, Caroline Grubbs, Spencer Mulligan, Catherine Normile, Lindsay Osborne, Jacob Seaborn, John Snoke, Alexis Svetik, Stephen Turley, Stephen Arizona State University Liu, Xingzhou Auburn University Ferraro, Max Foley, Emma Kelligrew, Isabel Kirby, Bradford Kloiber, Jackson Aurora University Dey, Joseph Berklee College of Music Borders, Bryan Boston College Kelter, Kelsey Bucknell University Iwaoka, Benjamin Butler University Brodowicz, Benjamin Macuga, Brian Caldwell Community College Sim, Julianne Cape Fear Community College Broadnax, John Hogan, Travis Noch, Connor Catawba College Hurney, James The Catholic University of America Berger, Brady

Keiser University Helm, Christopher University of Kentucky Li, Zixuan Christina Lenoir-Rhyne University Neal, William Louisiana State University Manning, Emily

Colorado State University Hedrick, Rachel Smith, Cole

University of Maryland, College Park Malave, Jacqueline

Columbia University Akhere, Uwade

Methodist University Stewart, Austin

Cornell University Kern, Madeline

Miami University, Oxford Applegate, Meredith Slater, Julia

University of Denver O’Shields, Gregory DePaul University McBride, Brenna Duke University Sheridan, Jacob East Carolina University Allen, Andrew Boswell, Elizabeth Burnett, Ethan Cabrera, Justin Correll, Morgan Elsass, Hannah Fiato, Megan Garner, Isabella Gresser, Kiley Hallsten, Zachary Horsey, Andrew Johnson, Katharine Jones, Christina Kostmayer, David Michaels, Caitlin Nestor, Sean Pagani, Keaton Ruesch, Charlotte Shalosky, Christopher Shukes, Jerry Sweatt, Douglas Winiger, Joseph Yarbrough, Kaleb Elon University Principi, Jackson Fashion Institute of Technology Leeke, Hannah Florida State University Carmichael, Katia Denton, Jack Hughes, William University of Florida Fitzpatrick, Anna Gap Year in Australia Fiato, Morgan

Central Piedmont Community College Fernandez, Cesar Pastor, Ignacio Shropshire, Aaron Webb, Andrew College of Charleston Byrnes, Rosemary Myers, Thomas Pace, Allyson Swaney, Gabrielle

Coastal Carolina University Byrnes, Sean Fry, Thomas Gerber, Grayson

Johnson & Wales University Burg, April Serna, Lizbeth

Hampton-Sydney College White, Jack University of Hawaii Manoa VonHolle, Allison James Madison University Brigham, John Newman, Jonathan Johns Hopkins University Shallal, Christopher

University of Miami Borkowski, Jacob Bulone, Joseph Michigan State University Greenwald, Sarah University of Mississippi Centanni, Abby Damm, George Eckert, William Norfolk State University Womack, Alsander University of North Carolina at Asheville Keller, Tyler Overcash, Shawn University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Altman, Mary Bennett Arenas, Rachel Armah, Michael Bendezu, Liam Brockmann, Maxwell Brosnan, Abigail Buck, Taylor Burud, Grace Clawson, Savannah Cruz, Nicole Davies, Cole Deering, John Demaine, Connor Dorcy, Claire Dudick, Julia Eby, Mirabelle Gibbons, Michael Haller, Laura Hintze, Kathryn Huber, Madison Krisa, Declan Levin, John Mahn, Lindsey Mai, Linh Miller, Aidan Murlless, Megan Noonan, Mackenzie Packard, Olivia Roper, Kelsie Ruller, Kayleigh Sheridan, Matthew Speidel, Matthew Teves, Emily Vu, Christina Workley, Luke Young, Brendan

University of North Carolina at Charlotte Arboleda, Josue Baer, Mary Box, Kyle Bradshaw, Olivia Duffy, Jonathan Fagan, Tori Kasongo, Johnson Kloiber, Joseph Louis, Patrick Mai, Jessica Marrero, Angel Osborne, Leah Plumides, Caroline Reynolds, Requel Ritz, Kelsey Rubinich, Daniella Ruder, Miles Shaver, Anne Shelton, Spencer Stapleton, Abigail Thomas, Alvin Vermillion, Alice University of North Carolina at Greensboro Conley, Kari Dudley, John Fambrough, Britney Kenkel, Keri Porter, Aniah Udeagbala, Zikora University of North Carolina at Wilmington Chambers, Caroline D’Aprile, Taylor DiCarlo, Chesney Eisert, Rachel Gruender, Mallory Leland, Chelsea Lord, Drew Marthinsen, Rachel Miechkowski, Eleanore Miller, Katherine Marie Niemer, Jack Pean, Alexis Toal, Grayson University of North Carolina School of the Arts Smith, Chelsea North Carolina State University Descalzi, Franccezka Dorante, Armando Edwards, Mary Edwardsen, Grace Fioretti, Arianna Fontana, Robert Ford, Emily Hnatczuk-Escobal, Sofia James, Kendyl Kaczmarski, Katie Kloiber, David Kreidler, Robert McElravey, Daniel McQuarrie, Charles Milovic, Emily Pacious, Zachary Pringle, Isabelle Quigley, Kendall Rodriquez- Garcia, Paulina Roosa, Erin Santucci, Rachel Sheridan, Julia Smith, Katherine Story, Emma Thomas, Ann Carmen Thornton, Andrew Tully, Emily Valenti, Elizabeth Vandenberg, Melanie

Vogel, Abigail Waterbury, Michael Y, Zina University of Notre Dame Borda, Henry MacQuarrie, Cade Ngo, Devon

The Ohio State University Kazmierczak, Andrew University of Toronto Shkut, Sera-Marie Trinity University Becker, Erin

Palm Beach Atlantic University Jackson, Grant

Tulane University Williams, Grace

Pennsylvania State University Schwartz, Austin

United States Air Force Academy Tarbet, Alexander

University of Pittsburgh Miller, Katherine Anne Singui-Tanyi, Darlene

United States Merchant Marine Academy Santschi, Luke

Point Park University Dugan, Madeline

United States Naval Academy Derrico, Nicholas McCullagh, Erin

University of Portland Lynch, Erin Purdue University Mahoney, Kieran Queens University of Charlotte Stirling, Chad Radford University Siczek, Patrick Regent’s University London Jackson, Margo University of Richmond Abate, James Roanoke College Mainsah, Kristal Savannah College of Art and Design Rivet, Jessica University of Scranton Gallagher, Caitlin Seton Hall University Gallucci, Michael Sewanee: The University of the South Fox, Charles Spratt, Cece University of South Carolina Cancian, Olivia Eagle, Angela Ecuyer, Aimee Hackett, Adam Kellogg, Sara Knips, Stephen Nye, Elizabeth Roche, Samantha Sullivan, Elyse Susi, Madison South Piedmont Community College Cripe, Sarah Perry, Austin University of Southern California Kelley, Spencer

Universiteit van Amsterdam Heer, Patrick Villanova University Alvino, Peyton Virginia Military Institute Baker, Ian Smith, Troy Virginia Institute of Technology Bohaty, Samuel Herman, Nicholas Hogg, Caitlyn Killian, Marc Lowe, Jack McArdle, John Scanlon, Ellie Weldegebriel, Kumel Wake Forest University Alexander, Ralph Finegan, John Flores, Kelsey Harty, Chloe Kuhn, Maggie Murlless, Kelsey Washington and Lee University Huth, Jonathan West Virginia University Davis, Matthew Strassner, Noah Western Carolina University Ballard, Jonathan Cash, Tara Dowd, Matthew Keating, Hannah Rodriquez, Adriana Westminster College Stevens, Catherine Wheaton College Christensen, Jeffrey Wingate University Cramer, Lindsay Forst, Jacelyn Wofford College Leonard, Megan

Surry Community College Mitchell, Aaron University of Tennessee Beltrondo, Matthew Curde, Sterling Durgin, Trevor Weaver, Isabel

The Senior Class of 2017 has earned a total of $21,231,383 in scholarships.

We congratulate these seniors, as well as the entire senior class, for their many outstanding accomplishments

Our schools

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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The Class of 2017 of Charlotte Catholic High School celebrated the end of one chapter in their lives and the start of another with a baccalaurate Mass May 30 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte offered

by Bishop Peter Jugis before their graduation June 2.

Tara Heilingoetter | Catholic News Herald

‘What kind of impact will you have on the lives of others as you move forward?’

Bishop Jugis addresses the Class of 2017 SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — The months of May and June herald high school graduation season and with it the opportunity for Bishop Peter Jugis to address hundreds of Catholic school graduates in western North Carolina. This year, a total of 470 students graduated from three Catholic high schools – Charlotte Catholic High School in Charlotte, Christ the King Cathollic High School in Huntersville and Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville.

On May 30, Bishop Jugis celebrated the annual baccalaureate Mass at St. Matthew Church for the Charlotte Catholic Class of 2017. During his homily, he encouraged the graduates to contemplate their futures in light of the Catholic education they have received.

“Now, it is true that every one of us impacts the lives of others in some way,” Bishop Jugis said to the graduates. “It can’t fail to happen, so it is worth asking, ‘What kind of impact will you have on the lives of others as you move forward?’

“As you are pondering that, there is one thing I would like for you to keep in mind; to remember the excellence of charity and mercy, and make sure that you practice these,” he said.

Bishop Jugis then spoke of how mercy has a longlasting impact on the lives of others. “We just heard (in the Gospel reading) Jesus in this Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, highly commend the practice

of mercy to His followers, even including it in His list of the Beatitudes. ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.’

“If they weren’t important to Jesus, He would not have included it in His list, His Beatitudes,” Bishop Jugis explained. “An excellent virtue. An excellent way of life that I would like you, as graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School, to remember as you go your way and represent to all the world your Catholic education. Be merciful.”

Bishop Jugis cited many examples of charity and mercy in the life of St. John Paul II, who ordained him to the priesthood June 12, 1983 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The saint also appointed him Bishop of Charlotte in August 2003.

“I give those examples of charity and mercy from the life of Pope St. John Paul II just to get you thinking,” Bishop Jugis said. “You have a choice to make. It starts as soon as you graduate, and has already been planted in you by your formation in your Christian faith.

“You stand on the threshold of a great lifetime adventure. Take the love of Christ with you wherever you go. Jesus asks that you do what you can do. That’s all He asks. That you do what you can do for His kingdom of mercy, for His kingdom of justice, truth and holiness,” Bishop Jugis explained.

He asked the Class of 2017 to keep in their hearts the promise that Jesus makes to His disciples, ‘Behold, I am with you always.’

“Never forget those words of Jesus as you go in your life’s direction, in your life’s way,” Bishop Jugis said. “When Jesus makes a promise, He fulfils it. He is with you to guide you. He is with you now to bless you on your way. He is with you to inspire you.

“As you continue living your faith, He is with you to help you,” Bishop Jugis said.

Photo provided by Amy Burger

Graduates of Christ the King High School attended a baccalaureate Mass June 1 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, celebrated by Bishop Jugis.

Photo provided by Katie Williams

Graduates of Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville gathered May 25 for a baccalaureate Mass at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro celebrated by Bishop Jugis.

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

2 families, 6 children, 3 graduations Alexander, McArdle families have a lot to celebrate this year Kimberly Bender Online reporter

CHARLOTTE — This graduation season is especially busy for two families who are celebrating three levels of graduations from Catholic schools.

The Alexander and the McArdle families each have students graduating from Charlotte Catholic High School, Holy Trinity Middle School and St. Gabriel School in Charlotte this month.

“It’s not the first time it’s happened, I’m sure.

We’re probably not the only ones, but it’s unique that our families are celebrating these milestones together,” says Sally McArdle.

Their youngest children, Sean Alexander and Kate McArdle, started at St. Gabriel’s Cradle Preschool together and both are “bridging” to Holy Trinity Middle School together from St. Gabriel School.

“They’re good friends. We’ve already kind of warned the school to look out for them,” Sally McArdle jokes.

Austin Alexander and Kevin McArdle are graduating from Holy Trinity Middle School and are both headed to Charlotte Catholic High School.

Wesley Alexander and Jack McArdle graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School June 2.

Wesley plans to attend Wake Forest University.

Jack is headed to Virginia Tech to major in engineering.

Molly McArdle is a rising junior at Charlotte

Catholic, and while she’s not graduating like her brothers and sister, she’ll receive her own celebration when she completes Charlotte Catholic High School next year.

Sally McArdle and her husband Pete are both graduates of Charlotte Catholic High School, and so too are Ralph Alexander Jr. and his wife Tanita.

Ralph Alexander was inducted into Charlotte Catholic High School Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame in 2016. Pete McArdle was part of the soccer team previously inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Giving their children a Catholic education, like they received, is important to the families.

“I came up in the MACS system,” Ralph Alexander says. “I felt it was a good system for me, so I felt it was good system for the kids. It was an easy decision for me. Our children have received a great education so far. Wesley’s done well in the system. He’s taken a lot of Honors and AP classes and has done well.”

Sally McArdle, who is also director of advancement at the high school, said it’s the sense of family and community that has been fostered through attending the high school that is also significant.

“We’re all products of Catholic education,” Sally McArdle said. “Charlotte Catholic’s sense of community is special. It’s like a family, and our family is part of the legacy.”

Having three graduation celebrations in a short amount of time means lots of dinners with family, plus cake and a party for the high school graduates. Both families say it’s a really exciting time to have the siblings achieving these milestones in life together.

“Having three kids move schools at the same time, it’s a busy time,” Ralph Alexander says.

“Award ceremonies, baccalaureate Masses, middle school celebrations, graduation ceremonies, and bridging ceremony from the elementary school...

“It’s a busy time. But it’s fun to celebrate them all at once.”

Photo submitted by Sally McArdle

The McArdle family at Charlotte Catholic High School graduation (from left) Kevin, Sally, Jack, Molly and Kate.

Photo submitted by Tanita Alexander

The Alexander family at Charlotte Catholic High School’s graduation.

Sacred Heart School names new principal Robin Fisher Special to the Catholic News Herald

SALISBURY — Tyler Kulp has been hired as the principal of Sacred Heart School, the school announced May 24.

Kulp has served Sacred Heart School since 2015 as its middle school dean of students and middle school math teacher, and succeeds former principal Frank Cardelle.

His first day as principal was May 9.

“Sacred Heart is a fantastic school. It is Kulp such an honor for me to be named their new principal. I am ready to lead this school into a new chapter,” Kulp said.

Kulp was chosen after an extensive search led by Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, and a search committee comprised of representatives from the parish, diocese, diocesan schools, faculty and parents. Their decision to hire Kulp was unanimous, the school said in its statement.

“Sacred Heart has educated students in Rowan County for over 135 years. We take

education very seriously, and the principal position is key to a healthy learning environment for our faculty and students,” said Father Eckert.

Kulp is originally from Ephrata, Pa., and was recruited by Catawba College to play men’s soccer. While at Catawba College, he was named an All-Star center midfielder and a member of their All Conference Team. In 2006, he graduated from Catawba College, earning a bachelor’s degree in education with a specialization in mathematics.

In 2015, he graduated from Western Carolina University with a master’s degree in school administration with honors distinction. Also in 2015, he became a licensed North Carolina principal.

“I loved my time at Catawba College – loved Salisbury and this community – and didn’t want to leave upon graduation. So I took a middle school math position at Corriher Lipe Middle School,” Kulp said.

“I spent nine years at CLMS teaching and coaching and really enjoyed it.”

While at Corriher Lipe Middle School, he served on numerous committees, such as School Improvement Team, Human Relations Council and Data/Testing Team.

“I had a tremendous learning experience at CLMS, from academics to administration

to athletics. As a former college athlete, they made sure that I coached many team sports – basketball, tennis, soccer and track and field,” he said.

Since coming to Sacred Heart School, Kulp has also served as Sacred Heart School’s athletic director and learning support coordinator.

“He even coached our varsity girls basketball team to a conference championship this year with a 14-0 conference record. I am very excited about the energy and leadership that Mr. Kulp brings to SHCS,” said Lisa Clark, school board chairperson, parishioner and school parent for more than 14 years.

Kulp has already hired a new middle school math teacher to take his place: Curt Morgan, who was a RSS Teacher of the Year in 2015-’16. He has also hired a new athletic director: former college and pro basketball standout Bradford Spencer.

Kulp brings to Sacred Heart School experience with curriculum standards, technology in the classroom and 21st century lesson planning. He said he is excited about the school’s future, especially with its new STREAM curriculum and integrated classroom learning environments.

“STREAM is like STEM but with

religion and agriculture/arts added,” he said. “We have a thriving master gardening and conservationist program, and a strong relationship with The Land Trust of Central North Carolina. Outdoor learning makes inside learning fun. They complement each other extremely well.”

But Kulp said he will not forget the basics.

“We are a Catholic school. Our purpose is to educate the mind and the body, but most importantly, the Spirit. One hundred and thirty-five years of history and excellence in education is important, and it shows all over Salisbury. It’s amazing!

We have educated many students that now have children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren enrolled at SHCS. Keeping up with new trends in education is crucial, but ignoring 135 years of success is foolish.

“My goal is to continue to lead SHCS in raising students who, upon graduating, know the teachings of Jesus Christ and are prepared to live and serve in a changing society as self-respecting and responsible citizens.”

And he smiles when he says, ”but they need to know a little soccer and mathematics, too!”

Robin Fisher is the marketing and communications person at Sacred Heart School.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

renowned conductor and composer Dr. Jack Stamp, retired professor and director of bands from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Three of the band students – Charlotte Catholic High School students Emma Joseph, John Roselli and Sophie Roper (pictured) – also were selected to perform with the North Carolina All-State Band in Chapel Hill May 6-7.

The three were chosen for this prestigious honor through a competitive audition process held in February. They all study with private instructors and play at Charlotte Catholic under the direction of Timothy Cook, a member of the N.C. Music Educators’ Association.

High school students selected to perform in the All-State concerts have competed through several levels of auditions beginning in January.

All-State is the highest honor a North Carolina music student can receive. Fewer than 200 students are selected through a process that begins with more than 800 students. The All-State students participate in two days of rehearsals directed by nationally recognized conductors.

— Carolyn Kramer Tillman

St. Michael student helps homeless families MACS bands end year on a high note CHARLOTTE — Twenty-one students from three area band programs recently performed in the All-District Band Clinic at Stewart Cramer High School in Belmont, sponsored by the South Central District Bandmasters Association.

MACS students joined more than 400 other students selected from area band programs.

Along with rehearsing with the top musicians in the district, the students worked with

GASTONIA — Emma Hughlett, an eighthgrader at St. Michael School, recently recruited the assistance of her fellow students in collecting cleaning and household items to make “graduation baskets” for Family Promise of Gaston County, the only organization in the county providing services specifically for homeless families using an interfaith network.

It assists families with emergency housing, food and transportation and when the family seeks permanent stabilization, its program provides job skills training, money management training, as well as assistance with their housing and employment searches. Upon graduation with

Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator

employment and housing, each family receives a “graduation basket” for their home. Hughlett is using this project to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award.

— Tammy Eason

Sheridan wins Robertson Scholarship CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School graduate Jake Sheridan has been named to the prestigious Robertson Scholars Leadership Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University. As a Robertson Scholar, he has won a four-year scholarship that gives him unique access to the academic and Sheridan extracurricular offerings at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill.

His academic achievements, extracurricular

activities, remarkable character and serviceoriented personality recommend him as the type of scholar the Robertson program seeks.

He was elected to the school’s Honor Council during his freshman year, and has served on the council each year since then. He is a successful participant on the Debate and Speech Team, and plays basketball. He is known for selecting the most challenging courses offered at the high school, and took seven Advanced Placement classes his senior year. He has participated in Mecklenburg County Teen Court, a program of the Assistance League of Charlotte, which provides a second chance for juvenile offenders with no prior convictions when they admit guilt to a misdemeanor offense, agree to be tried by a jury of their peers, and take responsibility for their actions. Teen volunteers such as Sheridan are trained in the legal process as jurors, clerks of court, bailiffs and attorneys.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program was created in 2000 by the Robertson family, inspired by their sons, one of whom graduated from Duke in 1998, and the other from UNC in 2001. The Robertsons believed that each institution offered a distinct undergraduate experience, and that the combination of the two would provide a depth and breadth of resources that no other university could match. The program provides students from each university with full four-year scholarships, access to the academic and extracurricular offerings at both universities, three summers of experiences in the U.S. and abroad, and opportunities for professional development and interaction.

Approximately 36 Robertson scholarships are awarded each year to 18 incoming UNC freshmen and 18 incoming Duke freshmen.

— Carolyn Kramer Tillman We welcome your school’s news! Please email news items and photos to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.

CCDOC.ORG

St. James the Greater in Concord, a 2,600+ household parish, is looking for a full-time Children’s Faith Formation Coordinator (PK-5th grade).

This dynamic individual will help manage children’s faith formation, SPRED (Special Needs Religious Education), non-traditional student faith formation and sacramental preparation, homeschooling faith formation, parent education and First Communion preparation.

As part of a team, this individual will work with other religious education staff under the direction of the Pastoral Associate for Religious Education to deliver a comprehensive religious education program.

This position does require some evening and weekend hours along with office hours.

Organization, planning and communication skills are a definite requirement and expected. We prefer individual to have a BA degree in Religious Education or Theology or related field with at least 2 years experience.

For job description please contact: Dan Ward at 704-720-0600 x27 or danw@saintjamescatholic.org

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Join Catholic Charities as an AmeriCorps member.

Positions available for Fall 2017 Employment Case Aides – one full-time and two part-time The Employment Case Aide will work closely with employment program staff and case management staff to provide direct services to refugee individuals seeking employment. Program activities include providing outreach to newly arrived refugees and secondary migrants, coordination of services through home visits and appointments with local service providers, and assistance finding employment, arranging transportation, and enrolling in English as a Second Language classes to aid overall adjustment and achievement of employment and self-sufficiency goals.

Program Assistant – one full-time and one part-time The Program Assistant will work closely with the volunteer coordinator, case managers, employment, and youth program staff to recruit, train, supervise, and retain volunteers and mentors. Additionally, the Program Assistant will provide direct services to refugees participating in the youth program and citizenship class, as needed.

For complete job descriptions, visit ccdoc.org/jobs. Submit resume and cover letter to ksotten@charlottediocese.org. For any questions, please feel free to contact Kailey Otten, Program Director, at the email address above, or by phone at 704-370-3240.

Mix 20

catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic radio network looks to expand in the Carolinas Rowan County station launched in April seeing success Kimberly Bender Online reporter

SALISBURY — The new Carolina Catholic Radio Network launched its first full-power commercial Catholic radio station in April and the newly formed group could be adding three more stations as soon as next month.

Launched Holy Thursday, people along the I-85 corridor from Concord to Lexington can tune in to Catholic talk radio programming on 1490 AM WSTP. The radio station reaches Rowan County, including the areas covered by Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury, St. Joseph Parish in Kannapolis, St. James the Greater Parish in Concord and Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Lexington.

Masses have been broadcast on the new station since Easter Sunday, and the area’s Prison Ministry reports that inmates

are listening to the Masses and EWTN broadcasting throughout the week, said David Papandrea, who serves as a “media missionary” for EWTN in the area.

Sacred Heart Church’s pastor Father John Eckert will be developing a local program for debut in July.

“We’ve had a really good response so far,” Papandrea said. “People are enjoying the broadcasts, as well as we’ve been approached by groups in other parishes that want to help get a station going in their area.”

The Carolina Catholic Radio Network hopes to string together existing or dormant AM radio stations in the Charlotte and Greensboro regions to form North Carolina’s first fullpower commercial Catholic radio network.

In order to expand with three more local AM stations and to broadcast more local content produced by the parishes, the network is in need of financial support, Papandrea said.

“It is also our vision to build and archive a vast library of local content and make it available on our new website, CarolinaCatholicRadio.org,” he said.

The network’s organizers have been in negotiations since November with a group of stations in the diocese that will allow Catholic programming to be heard along the I-85/485 corridor from the North and South Carolina

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

state line to Greensboro, Papandrea said.

“We estimate that 80 percent of the Charlottedesignated media market and 50 percent of the Triad (I-40 South) would have free access to EWTN/CCRN local Catholic radio,” he said.

In order to expand, though, the network needs to know if ongoing underwriting support is available.

“If we find the necessary support, we could flip the switch in July. We’d like to do it all at once for the next three stations. One to the west, one to the south and one to the east.”

That would expand the network, which includes Belmont Abbey College’s WBACLPFM 101.5, to five stations. Belmont Abbey launched an FM station in February.

How you can help fund a new Catholic radio network Donations can be made online to www.

CarolinaCatholicRadio.org or by mail to Carolina Catholic Radio Network, P.O. Box 1148, Clemmons, NC 27012-1148.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact David Papandrea at 704-8800260 or David.Papandrea@CarolinaCatholicRadio. org.

into her native realm, an event she takes as a signal that her race is being called to bring peace to humanity. Since her mother (Connie Nielsen), who is also the queen of the warrior women, disagrees, she undertakes the mission on her own. Guided by the agent, and with the support of a high-ranking government official in London (David Thewlis), she uses her military training to take on real-life German commander Gen. Ludendorff (Danny Huston) and the fictional, sinister scientist (Elena Anaya) who runs his chemical weapons program. Though director Patty Jenkins keeps the mayhem mostly free of gore, and the dialogue in Allan Heinberg’s script is unspotted by vulgarity, the sexuality that tinges the central romance, though restrained, makes the film best for grownups. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Frequent stylized violence with minimal blood, nonscriptural religious ideas, a scene of immodest behavior, at least one mild oath, a single crass term.

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

‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ Flashy but unsatisfying fifth installment in the theme park ride-based franchise that first set sail in 2003. This time out, series stalwart Johnny Depp, once again playing eccentric buccaneer Capt. Jack Sparrow, joins forces with a young science scholar (Kaya Scodelario) whose learning has led her to be charged with witchcraft and an equally youthful sailor. All three are seeking the same magical artifact, each for a different reason. They’re pursued by the British navy, by the ghost of one of Sparrow’s old adversaries (Javier Bardem) and by a living but one-legged freebooter. Directors Joachim Ronning and Espen Sandberg’s special effects-driven adventure is long on spectacle but short on human interest. Parents willing to overlook some adult punning may give mature teens the go-ahead to board; however, much action violence with little blood, a single gruesome image, occasional mature wordplay, at least one crass term.

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

‘Baywatch’

‘Wonder Woman’ Enjoyable adventure for the DC Comics superhero (Gal Gadot) takes her from her home environment, an island of Amazons isolated from the rest of the world, into the thick of World War I. Her involvement in the conflict follows the accidental intrusion of an American (Chris Pine) who’s spying for the British

When a disgraced Olympic swimmer (Zac Efron) joins the lifeguarding, and amateur sleuthing, team of the title, his selfish ways bring him into conflict with its longtime leader (Dwayne Johnson). Director Seth Gordon’s action comedy, adapted from the television series that began on NBC but had a longer life in syndication, succeeds neither as a pop-culture spoof nor as a crime-solving adventure. Though the film’s self-conscious flesh peddling is mostly just tiresome, its surfeit of low-minded humor eventually registers as degrading.

Some gunplay and physical violence with momentary but extreme gore, several profanities and a few milder oaths, pervasive rough and crude language.

CNS: O (morally offensive); MPPA: R

On TV n Friday, June 9, 6:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Iraq: Land of Saints and Martyrs.” Ironically, a country rich in Christian history where Sts. Thomas and Thaddeus brought the faith to the Assyrians and spawned thousands of churches and monasteries, the persecuted Church in Iraq pleads for support to survive. n Friday, June 9, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Saint of Molokai.” Father Nathan Cromly, CSJ, and several young Catholic pilgrims travel to Hawaii and learn about St. Damien’s heroic ministry to those suffering with leprosy on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. n Saturday, June 10, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Saint Philip Neri.” A two-part film on St. Philip Neri’s mission to catechize the poor and abandoned youth of Rome, and how they helped him grow in the virtues that eventually made him a saint. Part 2. n Tuesday, June 13, 8:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Fatima.” St. John PauI II travels to Fatima to thank Our Lady for sparing his life from the assassin’s bullets. Produced

by Centro Televisivo Vaticano. n Friday, June 16, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Fatima: Altar of World 1916-2000.” Featuring previously unpublished scenes of the beatifications of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, this documentary tells the story of the Fatima shepherds and the apparitions of Our Lady at the Cova da Iria. n Saturday, June 17, 9 a.m.

(EWTN) “The Message of Fatima: The Second Apparition of Our Lady.” On June 13, 1917, Lucia and her cousins returned to the Cova da Iria to witness Our Lady’s second apparition and hear her call for mankind to make reparation for sins against the Immaculate Heart. n Saturday, June 17, 8 p.m.

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

He succeeded Paul VI in 1978, serving as pontiff for only 33 days before his death. n Sunday, June 18, 4 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Father Effect.”

John Finch takes a deeper look at the profound effect fathers have on the lives of their children, and how children with absent fathers can find healing and forgiveness. n Friday, June 23, 1:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “And a Child Shall Lead Them.” An insightful glimpse into the power and beauty of the Divine Mercy Devotion: through interviews with those involved in the canonization of St. Faustina, and members of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

CANTON

ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC CHURCH & THE HENRI NOUWEN SOCIETY present

FROM PAGE 5

The hope is that mission could grow to a parish with its own church eventually, Deacon Bezner said. St. Basil started as a mission in 2006 and has grown sizably in Charlotte, now using the chapel at St. Thomas Aquinas Church.

When they started offering liturgies in the mountains, Deacon Bezner said, they received good attendance. And the numbers grew with the talks from 20 or so to more than 100 people.

This is the 11th mission Father Shuey, who has worked to start missions over the past 15 years, is starting. He said the growth in people of Ukrainian descent is the reason for the expansion.

“Since we’ve been doing work in Charlotte, the next step is the Asheville area for us,” Father Shuey said. “If you go from Raleigh, we’ll have a church every three hours to near Nashville, Tenn.

“People are moving down to our area because of jobs. We have an increase in internal immigration, and also an increase in immigrants moving from Ukraine. Those are the driving forces. We have to gather the people, and right now there’s people to gather.”

Father Shuey said they are also working on starting missions in Augusta, Ga., and Columbia, S.C.

LIVING A COMPASSIONATE LIFE: Reflections on the Writings and Teachings of

Henri Nouwen

More online Learn more about the Ukrainian Catholic Mission of Canton at www. ukrainiancatholicmissionofcantonnc.weebly. com. For more information, email ucmcanton@ gmail.com.

n

DATES: Friday, August 18, 7:30 - 9:00 PM Saturday, August 19, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

Interested in attending?

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COST: Friday Lecture - $20 / Saturday Workshop - $50 (includes lunch) / Friday & Saturday - $60

June 17: Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion, 5 p.m.

July 15: Vespers and Divine Liturgy, 5 p.m.

Aug. 17-18: East Meets West Retreat Sept. 16: Catechism, “The Personal Prayer of the Christian, ” 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion, 5 p.m.

Oct. 14: Catechism, “Foundations of the Spiritual Life” and “The Spirituality of the Heart, ” 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion, 5 p.m.

Nov. 18: Catechism, “An Ascesis which Purifies, ” 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion, 5 p.m.

Dec. 16: Catechism, “Spiritual Combat in the Life of the Christian” and “Prayer in the Spiritual Life, ” 3:30-4:30 p.m.; Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion, 5 p.m.

n

LOCATION: St. Matthew Catholic Church - 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway, Charlotte, NC

FEATURING: Fr. Ron Rolheiser (Friday Keynote Address) Author of The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire

F

or caregivers of all kinds, parents and family members, priests and religious, parish staffs, ministers, ministry leaders, health care professionals, hospital chaplains, counselors, teachers, family members of persons with special needs, and for all gathered in our pews each Sunday who wish to live the fullness of the Christian life.

Saturday Sessions Feature These Outstanding Speakers/Leaders: Fr. Ron Rolheiser Gabrielle Earnshaw Joe Abby-Colborne

Sr. Sue Mosteller Marjorie Thompson

To register online: www.stmatthewcatholic.org/summerforum

EVENT SPONSORED BY

St. Matthew Catholic Church

Carla D’Rozario

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Our nation 22

catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Immigration, religious liberty and synod on agenda for bishops’ meeting opportunity and every reason to stay in Iraq.”

Another archbishop had access to a small plot of land, and there, he built a church, he built an elementary school and a university.

“It’s amazing, just absolutely amazing, what they’ve done in such short time and to keep their people together and to give them a sense of identity and of support,” he said.

Bishop Cantu also met with Church members in dangerous zones to talk about what Americans have been advocating, particularly for establishing safe zones for Christians in Syria and Iraq, on their behalf.

“They said they don’t like that idea, they don’t think it’s a good idea to have a specifically Christian zone because that would make them a target for their enemies,” he said. “They want to live in an integrated society with proper security and full citizenship … that’s what they believe will give them the greatest security, so we wanted to clarify that, as a point for safety for them, a clarification for their voice.”

The bishops also will discuss the 2018 Synod of Bishops, in which the pope wants discussion about “young people, faith and vocational discernment,” as the theme of the gathering.

The bishops also will discuss and vote on whether to establish the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty as a permanent USCCB committee. They also will consider for discussion and votes revised Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments With Persons With Disabilities; a collection of blessings in Spanish; and a new translation of the Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism.

The public sessions of the bishops’ assembly will be all day June 14 and half a day June 15. An executive session may include “the inroads we have made into having a relationship with the new administration” in the White House, as well as the challenges, said Bishop Cantu, who also may give an update on his March meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

“We certainly expressed our concern last November about the attitude and the plight of immigrants,” he said.

The bishops also may receive an update on President Donald Trump’s executive orders dealing with his travel ban, which is tied up in the courts, yet is affecting refugees coming into the country.

The bishops have issued statements opposing the original order and its revision.

Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The proverbial plate is full of issues for U.S. bishops to tackle at their upcoming spring assembly June 14-15 in Indianapolis.

They will discuss issues ranging from immigration to religious freedom, as well as the Synod of Bishops on youth and the Fifth National Encuentro gathering, both coming up in 2018.

“We’re certainly going to talk about the upcoming convocation in Orlando, some of the specific plans,” said Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico, referring to the “Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America” July 1-4 in Orlando, Fla. “Other topics of interest for all of the bishops have been the fifth Encuentro, coming up in 2018, how things are developing in that.”

Bishop Cantu, chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, will address the persecution of Christians abroad.

“With regard to our bishops’ meeting, there is the concern of the plight of Christians in parts of the world where they’ve been persecuted, whether it’s in Africa or Syria or in any other part of the world,” he said.

Bishop Cantu said he will give updates about the work of his committee, which has taken him to see some of the hardships Christians face in places like Asia and the Middle East. After making his annual trip to the Holy Land in January, Bishop Cantu said he traveled to Iraq and Kurdistan. He witnessed some of the work by church members, which included the building of schools, churches and universities for displaced communities of Christians forced to leave their homelands.

“The archbishops have done heroic work,” he said.

For example, Archbishop Bashar Warda of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Irbil, Iraq, built a university so that young people who were displaced from Mosul could continue to study, said Bishop Cantu.

“He did that in very short order. He talked to me about that two years ago, that he wanted to create a university and so when I was there in January, I asked him how those plans were going. He said, ‘Oh, we’ve been up and running for a year and half.’ I was just absolutely astounded. He’s got this, a vision, this ‘do it’ mentality. They’ve just been working constantly to give Christians every

High court sides with church-run hospitals, upholds retirement plans

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court June 5 unanimously overturned decisions by three separate federal appellate courts and ruled that the retirement plans of three church-affiliated hospital systems, two of them Catholic, are indeed “church plans” as defined

by Congress under a 1980 statute. The 8-0 decision allows the hospital systems to continue to maintain their retirement plans as nonprofit entities instead of having to put them on the same footing as those established by for-profit companies.

The two Catholic hospital systems in the case were St. Peter’s Healthcare System, a teaching hospital and several other medical facilities sponsored by the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, and Dignity Health, which runs a network of community hospitals throughout the country and maintains ties to the Catholic religious orders that initially sponsored some of its facilities.

The case, Advocate Healthcare Network v. Stapleton, also involved Advocate Health Care Network, which operates 12 hospitals and about 250 other health care facilities in Illinois, and is associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ. While the original definition of “church plan” meant “one ‘established and maintained ... by a church’ -- not by a church-affiliated nonprofit,” the amended Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1980 “expands that definition to include any plan maintained by a principal-purpose organization, regardless of whether a church initially established the plan,” said Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who wrote the court’s opinion. In the high court’s interpretation, “under the best reading of the statute,” she said, “a plan maintained by a principal-purpose organization therefore qualifies as a ‘church plan,’ regardless of who established it.”

“The Supreme Court got it right,” said a statement by Eric Rassbach, deputy general counsel at the religious liberty law firm Becket, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the hospitals.

“Churches, not government bureaucrats and certainly not ambulance chasers,” as Rassbach derisively described the defendants’ attorneys, “should decide whether hospitals are part of the church. It is simple common sense that nuns, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, seminaries, nursing homes, and orphanages are a core part of the church and not an afterthought.”

“I am persuaded that it correctly interprets the relevant statutory text. But I am nonetheless troubled by the outcome of these cases,” Sotomayor said. “As the majority acknowledges ... the available legislative history does not clearly endorse this result.

“That silence gives me pause: The decision to exempt plans neither established nor maintained by a church could have the kind of broad effect that is usually thoroughly debated during the legislative process and thus recorded in the legislative record,” she added.

“And to the extent that Congress acted to exempt plans established by orders of Catholic sisters ... it is not at all clear that Congress would take the same action today with respect to some of the largest health care providers in the country. Despite their relationship to churches, organizations such as petitioners operate for-profit subsidiaries,” Sotomayor said, pointing specifically to those run by Dignity Health.

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In Brief Pence addresses religious freedom at National Catholic Prayer Breakfast WASHINGTON, D.C. — Vice President Mike Pence and other speakers addressed securing religious liberty and protecting the sanctity of human life both in the United States and worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, at the 13th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington June 6.

Pence spoke about President Donald Trump’s commitment to the securing of all religious freedoms to over 1,200 attendees, following speeches by keynote speaker Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, and special guest Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart.

Pence expressed his sorrow over the recent terrorist attacks in Europe, reassuring those in attendance that the president is committed to ending attacks on religious liberty around the world, as well as in America.

“Catholicism has made an indelible mark on the American spirit,” Pence said. “Your faith has moved mountains and the Catholic Church, and its millions of parishioners have been a force for good in our communities large and small throughout our land throughout our history. All the great American Catholics gathered here, let me assure you this morning, bright and early, at this prayer breakfast: American Catholics have an ally in President Donald Trump.”

The vice president, an evangelical, shared fond memories of growing up in a Catholic family, saying that he was honored to speak at the breakfast and that his mother would be proud.

President takes travel ban battle to U.S. Supreme Court — and Twitter WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a series of tweets June 5, U.S. President Donald Trump seemed to express frustration with his own lawyers’ efforts to push forward with a revised version of a plan that seeks to temporarily ban travelers and refugees from certain majority Muslim countries, and said the lawyers “should have stayed with the original travel ban.” On June 1, the U.S. Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn decisions by lower courts blocking the travel ban. The Justice Department is seeking a way to implement the president’s troubled executive order, which the other lower courts have blocked saying it unfairly targets Muslims, despite a revision -- one that the president criticized as “watered down” on Twitter. The Supreme Court of the United States has given opponents of the travel ban until June 12 to respond to the government’s request to allow immediate implementation of the executive order. It’s hard to say what impact the president’s words -- and tweets -- will have on any decision by the high court, but he vented his frustrations against the courts calling them in tweets “slow and political.”

Newman Connection grants help students connect with campus ministry CHARLESTON, S.C. —The college years are an exciting and rewarding time, but they also can be difficult when it comes to young adults and their faith. Statistics show that up to 80 percent of Catholic students stop going to Mass while they are at college. A new initiative in the

Diocese of Charleston aims to stop that trend.

Thanks to a grant from the Catholic Extension Society, the diocese is partnering with the Newman Connection, an Illinois-based nonprofit that offers support to Catholic campus ministry and Newman Centers nationwide. Catholic campus ministry is currently active at 21 colleges and universities in South Carolina, and strong programs are available at plenty of schools outside the state. The challenge is to connect incoming freshmen with the ministry programs. The Newman Connection collects information from Catholic high schools and parishes around the country and helps link seniors with programs at their school of choice.

In the past two years, it has put more than 100,000 students directly in touch with campus ministry, according to Matthew Zerrusen, cofounder of Newman Connection.

Catholic organizations decry U.S. decision to abandon climate accord WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic leaders said President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate change agreement snubs the needs of impoverished people around the world and eschews responsibility to begin addressing the causes of global warming. They joined a broad cross section of U.S. society and world leaders and organizations in decrying the June 1 announcement. Trump’s decision sets in motion a long formal process for withdrawal from the agreement, which entered into force Nov. 4.

Under rules of the agreement, no nation can withdraw until November 2019 and mandate a one-year notice period. The earlier total withdrawal can be accomplished is in November 2020. The leaders focused their concerns on the needs of communities around the world that they say contribute least to climate change but suffer the most from it. They pointed to impoverished people who have been forced to migrate to other lands to make a living because of drought, changing weather patterns or rising sea levels. Many organizations pointed to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” in which he called all people to respect God’s creation and remember that the welfare of each person is integral to human life and future of the planet.

Hispanic students express fear, uncertainty amid immigration clampdown PORTLAND, Ore. — Countless immigrants across the country live in a climate of fear sparked by actions in the new administration, including President Donald Trump’s plan to build a U.S.-Mexico wall, his executive order on immigration enforcement and several highly public raids. Alongside the concerns of adult immigrants are the worries of their children.

At dinner tables and in classrooms, young Latinos are trying to make sense of overheard conversations, the onslaught of immigrationrelated stories disseminated by news outlets and activists, and -- foremost -- the instability in their families. “Students are on edge, often distracted, occasionally distraught because they fear for their family’s well-being,” said Tim Joy, principal of De La Salle North Catholic High School in Portland, which is nearly 40 percent Latino. “We’ve had many students in tears.” He said some parents are too fearful to leave the house to shop for food, “so students are the ones running family errands.” Over the past several months, Joy and fellow Catholic school administrators in the Archdiocese of Portland have been trying to find ways to support Latino students and their parents. “Our teachers and counselors do what they can to comfort, forbear with missed assignments -- helping in any way possible,” Joy told the Catholic Sentinel, newspaper of the Portland Archdiocese.

— Catholic News Service

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Pentecost is celebration of unity in diversity, pope says Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The Holy Spirit continues to give Christians different gifts and to call them to share those gifts with each other in a community marked by forgiveness and “unity in diversity,” Pope Francis said on Pentecost.

“In a way both creative and unexpected,” the pope said, the Holy Spirit “generates diversity, for in every age He causes new and varied charisms to blossom. Then He brings about unity: He joins together, gathers and restores harmony.”

With tens of thousands of Catholic charismatics from around the world and with dozens of Pentecostal and evangelical leaders present, Pope Francis celebrated Pentecost Mass June 4 in St. Peter’s Square and concluded a five-day celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Catholic charismatic renewal.

In his homily at the Mass, the pope said Christians can block the unity in diversity desired by the Holy Spirit by focusing on their differences rather than on what they share.

“This happens when we want to separate, when we take sides and form parties, when we adopt rigid and airtight positions, when we become locked into our own ideas and ways of doing things, perhaps even thinking that we are better than others,” he said.

“When this happens,” the pope said, “we choose the part over the whole, belonging to this or that group before belonging to the Church” and taking pride in being “Christians of the ‘right’ or the ‘left’ before being on the side of Jesus.”

The other temptation, he said, is to seek unity without tolerating diversity. “Here, unity becomes uniformity, where everyone has to do everything together and in the same way, always thinking alike.”

When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples at Pentecost, he said, the first gift the Spirit brought was forgiveness for their sins and the grace to forgive others.

“Here we see the beginning of the Church, the glue that holds us together, the cement that binds the bricks of the house: forgiveness,” he said.

Forgiveness “preserves unity despite everything, prevents collapse and consolidates and strengthens,” he said.

“Forgiveness sets our hearts free and enables us to start afresh.”

Pope Francis began his Pentecost celebrations at an ecumenical vigil June 3 with some 50,000 Catholic charismatics and Pentecostals from more than 125 countries gathered for praise and worship at the site of the ancient Roman Circus Maximus.

Although less exuberantly, the pope, too, sang with his hands cupped open or with his hands raised. He stood between Michelle Moran, president of the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services, and Patti Mansfield, who was present when the Catholic charismatic renewal was born. In February 1967 Mansfield was one of the Duquesne University students who experienced an outpouring of the Holy Spirit during a retreat.

The charismatic renewal is “a current of grace,” Pope Francis told the crowd at the Circus Maximus. “It is a work that was born – Catholic? No. It was born

CNS | Paul Haring

Pope Francis greets the crowd after celebrating Mass marking the feast of Pentecost in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican June 4. In attendance were thousands of people celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Catholic charismatic renewal. ecumenical,” with similar results in many denominations and with Pentecostals providing support and education to new Catholic charismatics.

“It was born ecumenical because it is the Holy Spirit who creates unity,” the pope said. The Holy Spirit drew Catholics and Pentecostals together to profess that Jesus is Lord and “to proclaim together the Father’s love for all His children.”

In ancient Rome, Pope Francis said, Christians were martyred in the Circus Maximus “for the entertainment of those watching.” He urged the crowd to remember how many Christians are being killed for their faith today and to recognize that their murderers are not asking them their denomination, just whether or not they are Christian.

If those who want to kill Christians believe they are one, he said, it is urgent that Christians be “united by the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer and in action on behalf of those who are weaker.”

“Walk together. Work together. Love each other,” Pope Francis told them.

Being baptized in the Spirit and knowing how to praise God, he said, “are not enough” if Christians don’t also help those in need.

An Italian Pentecostal pastor, Giovanni Traettino, a friend of Pope Francis’ since they met at an ecumenical charismatic gathering in Buenos Aires in 2006, told the crowd that as Christians grow in their love for God, they should simultaneously grow in love for one another.

“The movement of the Holy Spirit, also

known as the Pentecostal movement, has in its DNA – its life in the Holy Spirit – the vocation to build Christian unity,” he said.

Pentecostals and Catholic charismatics have not always gotten along, Traettino said. But “the election of Pope Francis clearly opened a new season, especially in relations with us.”

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, offered a reflection also focusing on the ecumenical vocation of the charismatic renewal.

How many of the divisions among Christians “have been due to the desire to make a name for ourselves or for our own church more than for God,” he asked.

“A renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit will not be possible without a collective movement of repentance on the part of all Christians.”

Tens of thousands of people gathered for hours of song and prayer before the pope arrived. As Rome’s summer sun beat down on the pilgrims, Elaine Pollard and Sandra Mobley from Holy Cross parish in Brooklyn, N.Y., found space in the shade under one of the few trees on the edge of the crowd. They had traveled to Rome with group of 88 people.

Both women are lifelong Catholics who discovered the charismatic renewal in 1989. Pollard said she has stayed with it “because my whole life changed. The first night I went I wasn’t impressed.” That was a Saturday and when she went to work on Monday, “I started to hum one of the songs and my heart just broke open, like living water” flowing forth. “It changed my whole

life.”

As she spoke to Catholic News Service, the choir on stage started singing, “10,000 Reasons,” a song of praise. Pollard started to cry.

“We were singing this song when my husband died” 15 months ago, she said. He was in the hospital, dying, and her adopted daughter started singing it. Other relatives, who couldn’t be there in person, were connected by Skype and they were singing it, too, as he passed away.

It is still difficult, she said, but “he wanted me to come and be here.”

Kaye and George Balsam and Terry Mroz from St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in McKinney, Texas, were at the Circus Maximus as part of a 130-person pilgrimage that visited the Holy Land before arriving in Rome for the Pentecost celebrations.

The trip was George’s first with charismatics and he was enthused. “This is what we need to reinvent the Church,” he said. Getting people excited about the faith is what is needed if “we want the Church to get straightened out and stop losing people,” he said.

Mroz said, “We receive baptism as babies and then we’re confirmed,” but so many people experience the sacraments only as “ritual” and are unaware of the power the sacraments hold. The charismatic renewal “reawakens those gifts you received at baptism and confirmation. Until you get the Holy Spirit, you don’t get this reawakening.

That’s what it is – a reawakening of the gifts given you before.”

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In Brief Pope calls for month of prayer to renew passion for missionary outreach VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called for an “extraordinary month of prayer and reflection” to reinvigorate and renew the missionary spirit and action of the Catholic Church. Welcoming a proposal from the pontifical mission societies and the Vatican Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the pope said the special concentration on mission during the month of October 2019 would help “renew the love and passion” of proclaiming the Gospel to everyone. The announcement came in the text of a speech the pope wrote, but did not read, June 3 when he met Cardinal Fernando Filoni, congregation prefect, and people taking part in the pontifical mission societies’ annual meeting in Rome. Coordinated under the jurisdiction of the congregation, the four agencies -- the Holy Childhood Association, Missionary Union of Priests and Religious, Society for the Propagation of the Faith and the Society of St. Peter the Apostle -- promote missionary awareness and raise funds for the work of the church in mission territories around the globe.

Mercy toward others implies taking risks, suffering, pope says VATICAN CITY — Works of mercy are not a way of easing one’s conscience but are acts of suffering with those who suffer, Pope Francis said. Being merciful toward others means not only sharing in their pain but also taking risks for them, the pope said June 5 in his homily during morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. “Think about here in Rome in the midst of war. How many, beginning with Pius XII, took risks to hide Jews so that they wouldn’t be killed, so that they wouldn’t be deported!

They risked their skin! But it was a work of mercy to save the lives of those people!” he said. The pope’s homily focused on the day’s first reading, from the Book of Tobit, which tells how the author, one of many Israelites in exile, mourns the death of an unknown kinsman who was murdered and buries him, an act forbidden at the time in Assyria. A work of mercy, like the one performed by Tobit, isn’t just a “good deed so that I can be calmer, so that I can take a weight off,” but it is a way of “sympathizing with the pain of others,” the pope said.

Pastors must be humble, love their people, pope says VATICAN CITY — Pastors must remember that Jesus entrusted the flock of his church to a sinner, yet one he charged with loving the people as he loved the Lord, Pope Francis said.

Celebrating an early morning Mass June 2, pope focused on the day’s Gospel reading, John 21:15-19, which recounts Jesus’ conversation with Peter after the resurrection and Jesus asking Peter three times, “Do you love me?”

Peter replies, “Yes,” three times, and Jesus tells him, “Feed my sheep.” Even without Judas, who betrayed Jesus, the disciples were not exactly a band of saints. “The others ran, and this one (Peter) denied him,” the pope said. Of the 11 disciples remaining after the resurrection, he said, “Jesus chose the most sinful” to “shepherd the people of God. This should make us think.”

Not only that, the pope said, but Jesus ties the mission of being a shepherd to love for the Lord.

In summary, he said, Jesus was telling Peter and all pastors to come: “Don’t shepherd with your head up in the air like a great dominator. No, shepherd with humility, with love like Jesus did.”

Safeguarding creation is religious obligation VATICAN CITY — Christians and Muslims, believers in one God, have an obligation to safeguard the world God created, said the Vatican’s annual message to Muslims for the end of Ramadan. “Our vocation to be guardians of God’s handiwork is not optional, nor is it tangential to our religious commitment as Christians and Muslims: It is an essential part of it,” said Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran and Bishop Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, respectively president and secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Dated May 19, the message was released at the Vatican June 2, the day after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing the United States from the international Paris accords, which are designed to lessen the human impact on climate change. Each year, the council for interreligious dialogue publishes a message to the world’s Muslims in preparation for the celebration of the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting. This year Ramadan ends June 24. The pontifical council chooses a theme annually to promote dialogue by “offering insights on current and pressing issues.” The theme chosen for 2017 was “Caring for Our Common Home,” which echoes Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si.’”

Philippine religious superiors call for end to martial law in Mindanao MANILA, Philippines — The Association of Major Religious Superiors in the Philippines called for an end to martial law in Mindanao, saying that it is “not the proper response to terrorist attacks in just one city on a vast island.

The declaration of martial law is an extreme measure, and based on the reports we have received ... is a reaction disproportionate to the situation,” said the statement issued June 6 by the influential organization. The association encompasses the superiors and heads of religious congregations that run most of the country’s top universities and institutions.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial across the southern part of the country after gunmen claiming to have links with the Islamic State group stormed the city of Marawi May 23. The gunmen took several hostages, including Father Teresito Suganob, vicar of the Prelature of Marawi.

English archbishop offers prayers, sympathy for victims of London attack MANCHESTER, England — Archbishop Peter Smith of Southwark, the archdiocese that covers London south of the River Thames, where a terrorist attack June 3 claimed 7 lives and injured 48 people, offered prayers for the victims and survivors. “Following the tragic attack on innocent people last Saturday evening in the Borough, we pray for those who have been killed and those who were injured, some critically, and I offer our sympathy to their families, friends and colleagues,” Archbishop Smith said in a June 6 statement. The incident unfolded, authorities said, when three men in a van mowed down people on the London Bridge and then left the vehicle to go on a killing spree in Borough Market, a popular restaurant and bar district located south of the river. Some people in the market area attempted to stop the attackers by throwing chairs and bottles at them, police said.

Hypocrisy kills the Christian community, pope says VATICAN CITY — The diabolical language of hypocrisy, which ensnares others through

flattery, has the power to destroy Christian communities, Pope Francis said. Like the Pharisees who spoke to Jesus with soothing words of adulation, Christians who engage in hypocrisy speak gently yet “brutally judge a person,” the pope said June 6 at his early morning Mass. “Hypocrisy is not the language of Jesus. Hypocrisy is not the language of Christians. A Christian cannot be a hypocrite and a hypocrite cannot be a Christian. This

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is very clear,” he said. “Hypocrisy can kill a community.” In his homily during the Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the pope focused on the day’s Gospel reading from St. Mark, which recounts the Pharisees’ attempts to trick Jesus into answering a question on the legality of paying a census tax.

Their attempt to trap Jesus with flattery, the pope said, is the first sign of their hypocrisy.

— Catholic News Service

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ViewPoints 26

catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Robert Barron

O

A word to those being confirmed

ne of the greatest privileges I have as a bishop is the opportunity to preside at the sacrament of confirmation. A drawback, however, is that I am obligated to conduct over 40 confirmations in roughly a two-month period – which means that I become tired, rather quickly, of my own homily! As a result, I’m frequently shifting gears, trying out new ideas, looking at the complex phenomenon of confirmation from a variety of angles. I want to share with you in this article some of the key ideas in the latest iteration of my confirmation sermon.

Immediately prior to the prayer, which calls down the Spirit on the candidates, the bishop leads them in a reaffirmation of their baptismal promises. I tell the young people that parents and godparents made these promises for them when they were babies, but that now they will have the responsibility of making them in their own name and while they stand on their own two feet. The first promise is negative in form, which is only natural, for to set one’s face is necessarily to set one’s back. And so the confirmandi declare that they renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises.

These empty promises, I tell them, can be heard everywhere in the popular culture. They are in practically every movie they watch, every song they listen to, every casual conversation in which they engage: “you will be happy if you just get enough wealth, enough pleasure, enough power, and enough honor; if you fill up the empty heart with a sufficient amount of these worldly goods, you will find satisfaction.”

At this point, I usually ask them to consider the image of the crucified Jesus, prominently displayed in the church.

Notice, I say, that we don’t have an image of Bill Gates or Donald Trump or Beyonce on the central axis of the room, but rather that of a man being tortured to death – someone devoid of all wealth, pleasure, power, or honor.

The remaining promises assert what the confirmandi are for. The first of these positive formulations is the simple assertion of belief in God. This is much more than

a statement of intellectual conviction. It is, instead, an affirmation of the meaning and direction of one’s life. To believe in God is to know, I tell the young people, that your life is not about you. A baby’s life is all about himself, the meeting of his immediate needs. But as the child matures, he realizes, increasingly, that he has obligations and connections beyond himself – to his family, his community, his culture, his country and finally to God. The central narrative of the Bible –repeated again and again – is that people find who they are precisely in the measure that they hear and follow the voice of God inviting them on mission.

To say, therefore, that you believe in God is to break out of the shell of a self-regarding egotism and to launch out into the deep, to go on a spiritual adventure.

Next, the confirmandi are invited to announce their belief in “Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.” I ask them to concentrate on the word “Lord.” The Lord is the one who has mastery, who controls, who literally dominates, (from the Latin word “dominus”). Everyone in the world has a Lord. It might be a person, a country, an ideology, a political party or an institution, but everyone is beholden to something or someone. As Bob Dylan memorably put it: “You gotta serve somebody/ It may be the devil or it may be the Lord/ But you’re gonna have to serve somebody.”

To claim the Lordship of Jesus is to acknowledge that every aspect of one’s life belongs to Him and comes under His sway. It is to be branded as Jesus’ own. I remind the confirmandi that confirmation, along with baptism and holy orders, is a “character” sacrament, meaning that it permanently marks the one who receives it, and that, appropriately enough, the word “character” is derived from a Greek term meaning “brand.”

After declaring their belief in the Son, the confirmandi are invited to affirm their belief in the “Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life.” The Holy Spirit, I explain, is the love that obtains from all eternity between the Father and the Son. Gazing at one another, the first two divine Persons breathe forth their mutual love, and this holy breath is the Spiritus Sanctus. Therefore, the Spirit is the love that God

is. In the first promise, the confirmandi announce what they are against, namely, the claim that wealth, power, pleasure or honor will make they happy. In this promise, they unambiguously declare what alone is sufficient to satisfy the infinite longing of their heart: the infinite love that God is.

Don’t worry, I tell them, about whether you are rich or poor, famous or forgotten, powerful or powerless. Worry, instead, about whether you are growing in your capacity to love. For love is what your heart finally cares about, and love is what you will carry with you into heaven, when you leave all the rest behind.

Finally, the young people are invited to affirm their belief in “the holy Catholic Church.” In an anti-institutional, anti-authority time such as ours, this is a hard promise to make, but they have to remember, I tell them, what the Church is. The Church of Jesus Christ is not an organization or a club. From such a voluntary society, one can legitimately withdraw. But as St. Paul told us long ago, the Church is not an organization, but an organism, a living body, of which Christ is the head and all of the baptized are cells, molecules and organs.

The Church is the mystical body that the Logos has taken to Himself, just as surely as He took to Himself a physical body in Palestine 2,000 years ago. Accordingly, it is the vehicle by which He continues to do His work in the world. To withdraw from it, therefore, is to block the flow of grace. Many of the confirmandi, at least here in Los Angeles, wear red gowns that look very much like graduation robes. I emphatically tell them that these are not graduation gowns, but gowns of initiation, for confirmation is not an end but a beginning. Renouncing Satan, believing in God, the Lordship of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit, fully initiated in the Church, they are now ready to start. Just a few months ago, Pope Francis made the same point when speaking to a group of Italian students approaching confirmation. Remember, he said, confirmation is not the “sacramento di arrivaderci” (the sacrament of “see ya later”).

I always assure those I confirm that I will remember them in prayer. Could I invite anyone who reads these words to pray for the army of fully-initiated members of Christ’s mystical body who have been confirmed this year?

‘Confirmation, along with baptism and holy orders, is a “character” sacrament, meaning that it permanently marks the one who receives it.’

Bishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He is also the host of “Catholicism,” an award-winning documentary about the Catholic faith.

June 9, 2017 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Parish spotlight

Barbara Case Speers

This is My Father’s world

T

here is an old hymn written by Maltbie D. Babcock, published after he died in 1901, entitled “This is My Father’s World.” The words to this hymn epitomize the seven themes of Catholic social teaching. The first verse of the hymn is: “This is my Father’s world, and to my list’ning ears all nature sings, and round me rings, the music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought of rocks and trees, of skies and seas – His hand the wonders wrought.”

It’s not just any world, it’s Our Father’s world. When we care for Our Father’s world, we show our love for Our Father.

The songwriter went on to say with simplistic words, “This is my Father’s world; oh, let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.” Sometimes we forget, and think the world should revolve around us.

Genesis 1: 27-31 tells us: “God created mankind in His image; in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that crawl on the earth. God also said: See, I give you every seed-bearing plant on all the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the wild animals, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the earth, I give all the green plants for food. And so it happened. God looked at everything He had made, and found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed – the sixth day.”

Here is where God told Adam and Eve, I put everything in motion. I have freely given you all the necessary resources such as animals, seeds, soil, sunlight and water, but it is your responsibility to care for what I have given you. Not only are you responsible and accountable, but so are all the generations that follow.

Brothers and sisters, that includes us – we are not exempt. Even Pope Francis has addressed this in his encyclical “On Care for Our Common Home (Laudato Si’).”

Pope Francis wrote, “I do not want to write this encyclical without turning to that attractive and compelling figure, whose name I took as my guide and inspiration when I was elected Bishop of Rome. I believe that St. Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically. He is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology, and he is also much loved by non-Christians. He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.”

There are seven themes to Catholic social teaching: dignity of the human person, call

to family, community and participation, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and vulnerable, dignity of work and the rights of workers, solidarity, and care for God’s creation. How can we personally commit to all of these things? Easy, and here are three suggestions: n Give to your local parish’s and the diocese’s ministries, which know the needs of those in the local Church, and donate your time, talent and money to not-for-

‘We must remember that we live in Our Father’s world.

When we care for Our Father’s world, we show our love for Our Father.’ profit organizations that work on behalf of the themes of Catholic social teaching. By doing so, you will make your community a better place to live. n Give to the Diocesan Support Appeal.

The Diocese of Charlotte’s website (www. charlottediocese.org) points out: “The purpose of the Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) is to help provide the annual funding necessary to carry out the mission of our diocese – namely, to fulfill our call to “grow ever more perfectly into a community of praise, worship and witness, and to become a leaven of service and sign of peace through love in the Piedmont and Western North Carolina.’ The DSA provides funding for the ministerial arm of the diocese.” n The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website (www.usccb.org) states; “The bishops of the United States established the national collections to support the Church’s works of social justice, evangelization, and education, both domestically and around the globe.

Jesus reminds us that the two greatest commandments are to love God with our whole heart, our whole mind, and our whole soul; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The national collections offer us an opportunity to help our neighbors in the light of the Gospel. In doing so, we act as faithful stewards of the gifts God has given us.”

We must remember that we live in Our Father’s world – “let me ne’er forget.”

Barbara Case Speers is a writer who lives in Hickory.

Mike FitzGerald | Catholic News Herald

The tradition of St. Peter Martyr palms CHARLOTTE — Chris Hall with the Charlotte Latin Mass Community at St. Ann Parish passes out blessed St. Peter Martyr palms after a Mass in the Extraordinary Form celebrated April 30. April 29 was the feast of St. Peter Martyr, a Dominican friar, and in the Extraordinary Form, there is an ancient custom to honor St. Peter by having palm leaves blessed in his honor. Tradition holds that when buried on one’s property, these blessed palms guard against natural disasters. This is the third year that St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid, has blessed St. Peter palms for the faithful.

For more information about the Latin Mass community in Charlotte, go online to www.charlottelatinmass.org.

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From online story: Don’t be overly harsh on youth; they have much to give, pope says Through press time on June 7, 2,601 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 5,435 pages. The top six headlines in June were: n Priest assignments for 2017 ...............................................................................................................1,725 n A tribute to Monsignor John McSweeney .........................................................................................196 n Charlotte girl battling leukemia to receive first Communion........................................................193 n 2017: The Year of the Immaculate Heart of Mary ............................................................................169 n St. Francis Springs Prayer Center dedicates 2 new cottages........................................................ 117 n Five seminarians graduate from the Pontifical College Josephinum..........................................114

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catholicnewsherald.com | June 9, 2017 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“Do not be afraid. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity.

Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” — St. John Paul II

DUC IN ALTUM June 26 - 30, 2017 * Belmont Abbey College

Retreat for women, freshman in high school to freshman in college Register by June 16, 2017 www.charlottevocations.org