Dec. 21, 2018

December 21, 2018

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

Signs of Christmas

2019 Eucharistic Congress theme refers to Emmaus 5 Jesuits who formerly served in Charlotte diocese named on list of clergy accused of sexual abuse

Celebrations of Advent, the feasts of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Nicholas, and preparations for Christmas signal the approach of Our Lord’s Nativity

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INDEX

Contact us.....................................4 Español....................................... 14-16 Events calendar............................4 Our Faith.....................................2-3 Our Parishes............................ 4-11 Scripture readings.......................3 TV & Movies................................. 17 U.S. news.................................18-19 Viewpoints.............................22-23 World news............................ 20-21

8-9, 14-15

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‘This building is here to serve’ Bishop Jugis blesses new addition to Christ the King High School

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Home for Christmas Airport chaplains help service members flying home

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Diocesan schools recognized for AP gains 9

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

There is a Light in this World Loving Jesus, In Your name, we mark this season: As we bring forth light to defy the claims of darkness, As we bring forth joy and song to defy the claims of sadness, As we bring forth a spirit of generosity to defy the claims of want, As we bring forth peace to defy the claims of war.

That in the darkest, saddest, most wanting, warring corner of the world, All may look to Bethlehem Where, in the humblest of circumstances, In a time of repression From the person of a poor refugee woman In the filth of a manger In the form of a most vulnerable child You came among us to say, “No, there is a light in this world.”

Let us be this light to others.

Let us be the fruit of the branch of Jesse’s tree.

Let us be the bearers of the indescribable gift that is Your grace.

And so defy all false claims on Your people and their dignity.

And so, may You be born anew, into every season Into every age Into every land and every human heart.

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Amen.

“Adoration of the Shepherds” by the Dutch painter Gerard van Honthorst (1622), on display at the Pomeranian State Museum in Greifswald, Western Pomerania, Germany.

‘Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.’

“Angels Announcing the Birth of Christ to the Shepherds,” by the Dutch painter Govert Flinck (1639), on display at The Louvre in Paris. ©2018 CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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‘For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.’

Pope Francis

God’s Christmas wish isn’t buying-frenzy, feast, but gift of self

PRAY Loving God, like Elizabeth, who recognized Jesus in Mary, we pray that we may recognize Jesus in others, especially in those who are suffering and most in need. Amen.

C

REFLECT Who in your life is most often left out? Why do you think that is? What can you do to include them?

ACT This week, try to recognize the presence of Jesus in people who are sick. Think of someone you know who is sick – and reach out to him or her today.

GIVE Buy a gift that supports people like Basu – and people who have been affected by natural disasters around the world.

Visit ethicaltrade.crs.org.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES

n LIGHT THE ADVENT WREATH In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit … Come Lord Jesus, be our light! Help us to recognize You in others.

n READ THE GOSPEL Fourth Sunday of Advent (Cycle C): Luke 1:39-45 “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

n REFLECT WITH A STORY In this Gospel reading, Mary travels to see her cousin Elizabeth, who is pregnant with John the Baptist. When Elizabeth sees Mary, John the Baptist leaps within her. Elizabeth immediately knows this is because Mary is carrying Jesus, the son of God, in her womb.

Nobody expected that Mary – a lowly Nazarene woman – would be the person to bring the Messiah into the world. And yet Elizabeth recognizes Jesus in her. We can still recognize Jesus in our world today. He tells us that whatever we do for those who are suffering and in need, we do for Him (Matthew 25:40). But it can be difficult to recognize Jesus in others – especially in those who are suffering or left out.

In Nepal, which suffered a devastating earthquake in April 2015, many people live in poor conditions. And many people like Basu

Dev Dahal struggle with infectious diseases like leprosy. Leprosy is a disease that can permanently leave people with discolored skin and deformed limbs. When Basu first developed leprosy, he wasn’t welcome in his family or community because of the stigma attached to the disease. He received treatment and was cured, but he was left with deformed fingers.

The Nepal Leprosy Trust is an organization that hires people with leprosy. Like Elizabeth recognized Jesus in Mary, the staff at the Nepal Leprosy Trust recognize Christ in people often rejected by society.

Despite his deformed fingers, Basu began working in the leather goods workshop of the trust – he even became the supervisor! He was soon able to buy a home and provide for his wife and three sons.

Your daily Scripture readings DEC. 23-29

Sunday: Micah 5:1-4, Hebrews 10:5-10, Luke 1:39-45; Monday: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Luke 1:67-79; Tuesday (The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas): Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-6, John 1:1-18; Wednesday (St. Stephen): Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Matthew 10:17-22; Thursday (St. John): 1 John 1:1-4, John 20:18; Friday (The Holy Innocents): 1 John 1:52:2, Matthew 2:13-18; Saturday (St. Thomas Becket): 1 John 2:3-11, Luke 2:22-35

DEC. 30-JAN. 5

Sunday (The Holy Family): Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:12-21, Luke 2:41-52; Monday (St. Sylvester I): 1 John 2:18-21, John 1:1-18; Tuesday (Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God): Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21; Wednesday (Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen): 1 John 2:22-28, John 1:19-28; Thursday (The Most Holy Name of Jesus): 1 John 2:29-3:6, John 1:29-34; Friday (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton): 1 John 3:7-10, John 1:35-42; Saturday (St. John Neumann): 1 John 3:11-21, John 1:43-51

JAN. 6-12

Sunday (The Epiphany of the Lord): Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12; Monday (St. Raymond of Penafort): 1 John 3:22-4:6, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25; Tuesday: 1 John 4:7-10, Mark 6:34-44; Wednesday: 1 John 4:11-18, Mark 6:45-52; Thursday: 1 John 4:19-5:4, Luke 4:14-22; Friday: 1 John 5:5-13, Luke 5:12-16; Saturday: 1 John 5:14-21, John 3:22-30

hristmas will not be authentic if people get caught up in a frenzy of shopping, presents and meals, all while ignoring the poor and forgetting who the celebration is really all about, Pope Francis said.

“If Christmas ends up as just a beautiful traditional holiday,” where everything revolves around “us and not Him, it will be a lost opportunity,” the pope said Dec. 19 during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI audience hall.

“Please, let us not make Christmas worldly!

Let us not put aside the one being celebrated” – which is what happened at Jesus’ birth when so many of “His own people did not accept Him,” he said.

With less than a week to go before Christmas, Pope Francis dedicated his audience talk to the true meaning of Christmas and the kind of “gifts” and surprises that are pleasing to God on that day.

“Trees, ornaments and lights are everywhere” to remind people of the coming holidays, the pope said, and the advertising and promotional “machine invites people to exchange more new gifts to surprise” others.

“But is this the holiday that God likes?

What kind of Christmas would He want, what gifts and surprises?” the pope asked.

The answer to figuring out what God wants, he said, is to look at the first Christmas.

The day of Jesus’ birth was a day “full of surprises” in which everybody’s life took totally unexpected turns, and customs and plans were turned upside down, he said: Mary, a virgin, was going to have a child; Joseph, her groom, faced scandal with her pregnancy, but listened to God and took her as his wife; and the divine Word came as an infant incapable of speech.

Those who welcomed the savior of the world were not the local authorities, leaders or ambassadors, the pope said. Instead they were “simple shepherds, who, surprised by an angel while they were working at night, rushed there without delay. Who would have expected that?”

God does the unexpected, since He “overturns our logic and our expectations.”

Christmas, therefore, “is welcoming on earth surprises from heaven,” the pope said.

Christmas ushers in a new era, in which “life is not planned, but is given, where one does not live anymore for oneself, according to one’s own preferences, but for God and with God because from Christmas onward, God is the God-withus, who lives with us and walks with us.”

It is a time to let oneself be “shaken by His surprising novelty” because Jesus offers not the “reassuring coziness from a fireplace, but the divine shiver which shakes history.”

People should likewise choose God’s silent voice over the “uproar of consumerism,” he said, inviting people to take time out to sit in silence before a Nativity scene and let themselves feel awe and be surprised by God. God asks people to be on guard against spreading themselves too thin, being overburdened with busyness and blaming it all on the world.

“It will be Christmas if, like Joseph, we make room for silence; if, like Mary, we tell God, ‘Here I am’; if, like Jesus, we are close to those who are alone; if, like the shepherds, we leave our sheepfolds in order to be with Jesus.”

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: DEC. 25 - MIDNIGHT Holy Mass for the Nativity of the Lord St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

JAN. 15 Presbyteral Council Meeting Pastoral Center

JAN. 2-8, 2019 Bishops’ Spiritual Retreat Mundelein Seminary, Ill.

JAN. 17-19 March for Life Washington, D.C.

JAN. 18 - 11:30 A.M. North Carolina Mass for Life Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Washington, D.C.

Diocesan calendar of events December 21, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 28 • NUMBER 6

ART EXHIBIT, ‘MOST HIGHLY FAVORED, THE LIFE OF THE VIRGIN MARY’: Nov. 8-Jan. 31, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 14542 Choate Circle, Charlotte.

This exhibition has been curated to help the viewer learn and explore more about this Most Highly Favored Lady and the rightful place she played in the life of Jesus and the life of the Church. If you are interested in learning more about the exhibit, including visiting hours, special events or to set up a personal tour, contact Michelle Littlejohn at 704-940-5814 or dlittlejohn@gordonconwell. edu.

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

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

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 HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@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.

NFP INTRODUCTION AND FULL COURSE: 1:30-5 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 12, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-3703230.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS ST. BASIL THE GREAT EASTERN CATHOLIC PARISH BYZANTINE RITE: Christmas Eve: 6 p.m. Christmas Eve Vespers & Divine Liturgy (Mass), followed by Christmas Holy Supper, Christmas Night Prayer (Great Compline).

Christmas Day: 9 a.m. Christmas Morning Prayer (Matins) and 11 a.m. Christmas Divine Liturgy (Mass) at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. For details, call 980-785-2764 or visit www.stbasil.weebly.com.

BYZANTINE RITE TYPICA WITH HOLY COMMUNION: 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 30, at Immaculate Conception Mission Church, 42 Newfound St., Canton. Join us for the Third and Sixth Hours, chanted by a reader, and Typica with Holy Communion. The entire service, the hours and Typica, takes about an hour. For details, go to www. ukrainiancatholicmissionofcantonnc.weebly.com.

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Come and help pray for the end of abortion, and feel free to invite anyone who would be morally supportive of this very important cause. The Pro-Life Rosary is held on the First Saturday morning of each month. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at AJHoyng@HotMail.com or Paul Klosterman at PaulJKlosterman@Aol.com.

CCWG MORNING REFLECTION: 9 a.m. Mass, Monday, Jan. 14, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Coffee and a reflection at 10:30 a.m. in the Assembly Room behind the chapel. To RSVP, visit www. charlottecatholicwomensgroup.org.

CCWG EVENING REFLECTION: 6:30 p.m. Rosary, Tuesday, Jan. 29, Holy Trinity Middle School Chapel, 3100 Park Road, Charlotte. Reflection by Father Matlak at 7 p.m. To RSVP, visit www.charlottecatholicwomensgroup.org.

ST. PEREGRINE HEALING PRAYER SERVICE: 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 20, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Solemn prayer service includes the blessing with the St. Peregrine relic. St. Peregrine has been called the wonder worker for his intercession on behalf of those living with serious illness.

He is the patron saint of all who are afflicted by cancer, leg ailments or any life-threatening disease. He is also the patron saint of youth at risk. For details, contact the parish office at 704-543-7677.

CHARLOTTE AIRPORT SUNDAY MASS: The Airport Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers Mass at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. each Sunday in the airport chapel. All travelers and visitors are welcome.

YOUNG ADULTS ASHEVILLE THEOLOGY ON TAP: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville region. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA: www.saintlawrencebasilica. org/young-adult-ministry CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH: on Facebook at “Our Lady of Consolation Young Adult Ministry” ST. GABRIEL CHURCH: https://stgabrielchurch. org/191

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: ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 5 and Saturday, Feb. 2, St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St. CHARLOTTE: 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy; 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH: call Meg VanGoethem, 815-545-2587 or visit www.4sjnc.org/faith-formation/ adult-ministry/young-adult-ministry ST. LUKE CHURCH: www.stlukechurch.net/youngadult-ministry ST. MARK CHURCH: on Facebook at “The Young Adult Ministry of St. Mark” ST. MATTHEW CHURCH: on Facebook at “Young Adult Life: A St. Matthew Ministry” or visit www. stmatthewcatholic.org/youngadultministries ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL: on Facebook at “The Cathedral of St. Patrick - Young Adult Ministry”

MOORESVILLE: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, St. Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Road

ST. PETER CHURCH: Look them up on Facebook: “St Peter 20s and 30s Ministry”

GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 and 9 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH: online at “Aquinas’ Finest,” www.stacharlotte.com/finest HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH IN DENVER: call Nicole Lehman, 704-607-5207

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS ‘MATTER OF BALANCE’ CLASS: 10 a.m.- noon, Friday, Jan. 11-March 8, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. Do you have concerns about falling?

Are you interested in improving your flexibility, balance and strength? A Matter of Balance can help reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity levels of older adults who have concerns about falling. Participants will learn to: View falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals for increasing activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, promote exercise to increase strength and balance. The class will be held once a week for eight weeks. Register by Monday, Jan. 7, by contacting Sandra Breakfield, Program Director of Elder Ministry, at 704-370-3220 or sabreakfield@ charlottediocese.org. Class is limited to the first 14 registrants. Hosted by Catholic Charities Elder Ministry and St. Matthew Church.

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/youngadult 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. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH IN WINSTON-SALEM: online at “Winston Salem Frassati,” www.wsfrassati.com.

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.

Our parishes

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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2019 Eucharistic Congress theme refers to Emmaus

(Right) Bishop Peter Jugis cuts the ribbon after offering Mass Dec. 6 at Christ the King High School to celebrate the school’s new 27,000-square-foot addition. (At top) After the ceremony he blessed the new wing of the building.

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CHARLOTTE — The theme for the 15th Eucharistic Congress of the Diocese of Charlotte has been announced by Bishop Peter Jugis: “Stay With Us, Lord.”

The 2019 theme is taken from the Gospel book of Luke (24:29), telling of two dejected disciples leaving Jerusalem after Christ was crucified and died. As Pope Benedict XVI wrote in 2008, “They LO R D – were joined U S, L on their way TH by the Risen Jesus but did not recognize Him. Realizing that they were downhearted, He explained, drawing on the Scriptures, that the Messiah had to suffer and die in Eucharistic Congress order to enter Diocese of Charlotte into His glory.

September 6 & 7 Then entering the house with them, He sat down to eat, blessed the bread and broke it; and at that instant they recognized Him but He vanished from their sight, leaving them marvelling before that broken bread, a new sign of His presence. And they both immediately headed back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples of the event.”

“The locality of Emmaus has not been identified with certainty. There are various hypotheses and this one is not without an evocativeness of its own for it allows us to think that Emmaus actually represents every place: the road that leads there is the road every Christian, every person, takes,” the pope wrote. “The Risen Jesus makes Himself our travelling companion as we go on our way, to rekindle the warmth of faith and hope in our hearts and to break the bread of eternal life. In the disciples’ conversation with the unknown wayfarer the words the evangelist Luke puts in the mouth of one of them are striking: ‘We had hoped...’ (Lk 24: 21). This verb in the past tense tells all: we believed, we followed, we hoped..., but now everything is over...

“This drama of the disciples of Emmaus appears like a reflection of the situation of many Christians of our time: it seems that the hope of faith has failed. Faith itself enters a crisis because of negative experiences that make us feel abandoned and betrayed even by the Lord. But this road to Emmaus on which we walk can become the way of a purification and maturation of our belief in God. Also today we can enter into dialogue with Jesus, listening to His Word. Today too He breaks bread for us and gives Himself as our Bread.

And so the meeting with the Risen Christ that is possible even today gives us a deeper and more authentic faith ... a faith that is robust because it is nourished not by human ideas but by the Word of God and by His Real Presence in the Eucharist.”

The Eucharistic Congress will be held Sept. 6-7 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

— Catholic News Herald

2019

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘This building is here to serve’ Bishop Jugis blesses new addition to Christ the King High School SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HUNTERSVILLE — Holding an oversized pair of ceremonial scissors, Bishop Peter Jugis snipped a bright red ribbon to mark the opening of Christ the King High School’s 27,000-square-foot expansion Dec. 6.

The bishop was flanked by Dr. Janice Ritter, superintendent of the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic schools, and Dr. Carl Semmler, principal of Christ the King High School. After he said a prayer of blessing and cut the ribbon, loud cheers erupted from the gathered crowd of students, teachers, parents and supporters.

The two-story building more than doubles the high school’s total square footage – making much-needed room for its growing enrollment of 300-plus students.

The new building includes a cafeteria, large multipurpose room for drama and band, a fabrication shop, three science classrooms and eight general purpose classrooms.

Among other things, the additional classrooms will be used for art, industrial design, theater, music, guitar, chemistry, biology, earth science, environmental science, information technology, cyber communications and liberal arts. The building also has several common areas for students to work collaboratively.

It also houses new administration offices, guidance offices and a conference room.

The bishop celebrated Mass for the occasion and then toured the new facility, blessing each room with holy water as he went.

In his homily at Mass, he noted, “This building is here to serve.

“This building exists to serve you young people” – to serve them in their academic growth, as well as in the growth of their relationship with God. “Generous service is a sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

That is a sign of the Holy Spirit – generosity and service to others. The service that is going on here – the giving of oneself to others – is a sign that the Holy Spirit is alive and well here

working in your lives,” he said.

“As this new building therefore serves you and is placed at your service, we pray that the formation that takes place in this building will form you in that same spirit of Christian service of God and Christian service of each other,” he concluded.

After Mass school leaders gave thanks for all those who helped make the $11 million building project a success, and they reminded students that this latest investment in Catholic education is a gift that must be shared.

“God has built this house… because God has a purpose for everybody in this room. You young people, you know that. You know that God has spoken a word over all of your lives and that word will not be frustrated. It will be fulfilled, whatever you need to do,” Semmler said.

Semmler encouraged his students to be holy, to repay the investment the diocese has made in their education by going out into the world to be a light into the darkness.

Ritter also shared congratulated the school community on the project’s completion.

“Christ the King is now a thriving community of Christcentered education,” she said. “I pray that God will continue to send His many blessings to each of you as you continue your journey to believe, to think and to serve.”

Students were all smiles for the special day.

“It is very exciting that our school is growing, and it’s great to see where it’s been and where it’s going,” said Jack Yordy, president of the student government.

Sarah Kocher, vice president, agreed. “It’s been growing in all aspects. To see a physical representation of that in the new building is exciting.”

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the dedication of Christ the King High School’s new building

Updates online At www.goeucharist.com: Get information about the upcoming Eucharistic Congress, in English and Spanish

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 OUR PARISHES

5 Jesuits who formerly served in Charlotte diocese named on list of clergy accused of sexual abuse CHARLOTTE — Five Jesuit priests who once served in the Diocese of Charlotte have been included on a list of clergy accused of child sexual abuse.

Louis A. Bonacci, Frances C. Bourbon, H. Cornell Bradley, C. Jeffries Burton and Robert B. Cullen are all named on the list released Dec. 17 by the Maryland Province of Jesuits, which oversees the Jesuits who serve in North Carolina and eight other states.

All five were assigned to the Charlotte diocese by the Maryland Province. Only one of the abuse allegations dates from ministry in the Charlotte diocese.

The list released by the Maryland Province includes 19 Jesuits from the province and 10 from other provinces who had served or studied in one of its schools or apostolates who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse of minors since 1950. “An allegation is deemed ‘credible’ if there is a preponderance of evidence that the allegation is more likely true than not,” as judged by an independent review board, the province explained in the statement posted on its website, www.mdsj.org.

Three of the priests are dead and the other two were removed from ministry and eventually left the Jesuits, the province reported.

The one incident that occurred in the Charlotte diocese involved Burton, dating from when he was co-director of youth ministry for the diocese at the Youth Ministry Center in Flat Rock.

In 1994, the Maryland Province received a report against Burton of a “single allegation of unwanted touching over clothing” involving an adolescent at Flat Rock in 1982.

According to the province’s policy at the time, Burton had “a brief period of therapy” and the allegation was reported to Charlotte diocese officials.

By that time, Burton no longer served in North Carolina.

The Charlotte diocese offered counseling to the victim.

After the U.S. bishops adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in 2002, the Maryland Province aligned its policy to the new child abuse prevention and reporting standards. In 2007, the allegation came to light during a review of Burton’s file.

When questioned, Burton acknowledged that the misconduct occurred, said Kate Pipkin, the province’s spokeswoman at the time.

He was removed from ministry in 2007 by the order and underwent additional counseling. The province also publicly reported the allegation for the first time.

Besides his time at the Youth Ministry Center from 1978 to 1982, Burton also served at Spring Creek Elementary and High Schools in Hot Springs (1969-1971), St. Teresa’s Church in Revere (1971-1972) and Hot Springs Boys Home (1972-1978). He died in 2011.

Bonacci served at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem from 1982 to 1988. The province’s statement reports “multiple accusations of

unwanted touching under and over clothes” from the 1970s to 1980s when he served in Columbia, Md. He was removed from ministry in 2011 and in 2014 left the Jesuits.

Bourbon served at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point from 1981 to 1982 and at St. Barnabas Church in Arden from 1982 to 1984.

The single abuse allegation against him, an “unwanted kiss,” dated from 1985 when he served at Nativity Parish in Buckingham, Va., according to the province’s report. He died in 2007.

Bradley served at St. Therese Church in Mooresville from 1988 to 1989 and again in 1998, as well as at St. Elizabeth Church in Boone from 1989 to 1993. He had “multiple allegations of sexual abuse” against him while serving in Ocean City, Md., and Washington, D.C., in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the province’s report. He was removed from ministry in 2006 and left the Jesuits a year later.

Cullen served from 1990 to 1991 at the Jesuit House of Prayer in Hot Springs.

“Multiple allegations of sexual abuse” were made against him from when he served in Maryland in the 1960s to 1980s, the province reported. He died in 2005.

“We are deeply sorry for the harm we have caused to victims and their families,” said an accompanying Dec. 17 statement from Jesuit Father Robert M. Hussey, provincial for the Maryland Province of Jesuits, published on the province’s website.

“We also apologize for participating in the harm that abuse has done to our Church, a Church that we love and that preaches God’s care for all, especially the most vulnerable among us. The People of God have suffered, and they rightly demand transparency and accountability. We hope that this disclosure of names will contribute to reconciliation and healing.”

In the statement, Father Hussey encouraged anyone who suspects abuse by any clergy or employee of the province to contact local civil authorities or the provincial’s office of the Maryland Province. (Their Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at 443-3706357, MARadvocacy@jesuits.org, or through writing to Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus, 8600 LaSalle Road, Suite 620, Towson, MD 21286.)

Any person who suspects, or has knowledge of, an incident of possible sexual misconduct by any Church personnel of the Diocese of Charlotte is urged to immediately report the incident to civil authorities or by calling the Chancery at 704-370-6299.

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the full list and statement from the Maryland Province of the Jesuits.

At www.charlottediocese.org/humanresources/safe-environment: Find out more about the Charlotte diocese’s child protection policies, sign up for “Protecting God’s Children” training, contact the Victim Assistance Coordinator, or report a claim of abuse.

A heart filled with gratitude Father Malacari celebrates 25 years of priestly ministry SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

importance of forgiveness from the heart, challenges, difficulties, ups and downs of ministering and dealing with parishioners has become the means of personal growth and insight,” he replies.

He has also learned the importance of building on what people are doing to change and transform themselves through the grace of God – “the fact that parents choose to have their children baptized, that desire (of couples) to have their marriage convalidated, who return to the sacraments in order to set a good example to their children in faith formation.”

He says he was blessed to be surrounded at his anniversary celebration by the people who were so instrumental in his faith journey.

“As I watched my dad being wheeled down

DENVER — “As I came down the ladder after having decorated the parish gym for my 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, I looked around the gym and said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy of this celebration,’” recalls Father Carmen Malacari, pastor of Holy Spirit Church.

What got him through the Mass of Thanksgiving and the reception that followed was looking at the occasion as a celebration of the people and ministries at the Denver parish.

Father Malacari grew up in a Catholic family in Utica, N.Y., and attended Catholic schools through college.

“My dad is a very religious man,” Father Malacari says. “When he took me to school or the Boys Club of America, Dad would talk often about the possibility that I would become a priest one day. Being a PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH typical kid, I would say that I didn’t know what I Carmen Malacari, center, celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving for 25 years of priestly wanted to do.” ministry Oct. 13 at Holy Spirit Church where he has served as pastor since 2006.

Retired Monsignor John McSweeney, right, concelebrated Mass. Father Malacari “In 1983 after several years at college and not served as parochial vicar at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte during a portion of sure what direction my Monsignor McSweeney’s tenure there. life was going in, my religious teacher, Father Anthony LaFache, reached out to me and the aisle along with my mom and younger posed the question: Have you ever considered sister Angela (at the 25th anniversary Mass), a vocation to the priesthood? I said, ‘Yes, my dad did his best to hold in his hands the my dad would often speak to me about hosts that eventually would become the Body considering the vocation, but I was so shy that of Jesus Christ,” he recalls.

I didn’t think I could stand up in front of folks “My parents, the religious sisters, brothers to preach or lead a congregation in worship.’” and diocesan priests are the ones who first “However, God blessed me with the grace to formed me in faith and love, as well as preach and lead His people in worship.” educated and nurtured that seed first planted Father Malacari attended seminary at in my heart by the Church and my parents.”

Wadhams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg, N.Y., His advice to a man discerning a vocation to earning a bachelor’s degree in philosophy the priesthood? before moving on to Washington Theological “Be a person of prayer, embrace your Union in Silver Springs, Md., for a master’s humanity and don’t be afraid to show it. Love, degree in theology. know and be compassionate towards those He was ordained to the priesthood on Oct. you minister to. Remember you can’t please 3, 1993, at Our Lady of Angels Church in everyone, and you can’t be all things to all Albany, N.Y., by Bishop Howard Hubbard. people – you will burn out,” he suggests.

His first assignment after ordination was at “Remember that we learn from one another.

St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte.

We are called to teach, preach and sanctify He has since served in three other parishes the people of God, and we are called to learn in the diocese: St. Patrick Cathedral and St. from those we minister to and with.”

Matthew Church in Charlotte, and his current “In many instances there have been lessons parish of Holy Spirit Church. learned which have enriched and shaped my Father Malacari says he enjoys many ministry tremendously by the parishioners aspects of his priestly ministry. in ways that the seminary could not have “I enjoy meeting new parishioners, helping prepared us,” he adds. them to feel welcome and get them involved in As he celebrates 25 years of service to the the life of our parish. I also enjoy celebrating Lord and the Church this year, he says, “My the Liturgy of the Eucharist, celebrating the heart is filled with gratitude and thanksgiving sacraments and journeying with parishioners for the many people who have allowed me into from birth to death. I consider it a privilege their hearts through priestly ministry. and blessing to be a part of their lives.”

“I give thanks to the good Lord, for blessing What are some of the most significant me with my family as well as each and every lessons he has learned over the past 25 years one of you who have touched and enriched in ministry? my priestly ministry over the past 25 years.”

“The Church is very human – the

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Living Waters hosts Advent retreat for women SUSIE BRYSON CORRESPONDENT

MAGGIE VALLEY — Approximately 30 women from different parts of North Carolina and Georgia recently gathered at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley, surrounded by the beautiful North Carolina mountains, for a silent retreat on the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola with Father Richard Sutter, parochial administrator at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville.

The three-day retreat Nov. 29-Dec. 2 was a first for the area, held at the newly-renovated reflection center.

Participants enjoyed ample time for reflection and prayer, daily Mass celebrated by Father Sutter, as well as mealtime readings by Deacon Bill Shaw, Living Waters’ new director.

“This was a beautiful way to start our Advent journey,” said one retreatant from St. Joseph Church in Bryson City.

“Enriching, down to earth, but heaven sent.”

Another retreatant from St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa was similarly inspired. “I go to the gym to work out regularly. This retreat helped me to understand I need to go to the ‘gym’ for my soul. Spiritual exercises are crucial to a life of faith.”

Barbara Veghte of St. John the Evangelist Church pointed out that the complicated spiritual exercises were simply explained so that her heart grew closer to the Trinity and Blessed Virgin Mary.

“Being in silence with other women in community at retreat was a beautiful gift as I carry Bethlehem back home in my heart,” said Rebecca Crowe Burch, a parishioner from St. Joseph in Bryson City.

“The last retreat I went on was my marriage encounter in 1985. This retreat was the perfect one to attend after so many years,” said Kim Mooney from St. Barnabas Church in Arden. “The silence gave time to reflect, listen and

PHOTO PROVIDED

An Advent Spiritual Exercises for Women was held at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley Nov. 29-Dec. 2. The group of retreatants is pictured after Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church, which is located near Living Waters. pray.”

“Here I found true reality – an encounter with Christ that I’ve never experienced before. My heart is on fire with the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God for the women’s Advent retreat,” said Kim Besel from St. Teresa of Avila Church in Augusta, Ga. Father Sutter said he plans to offer a similar retreat

for men next Lent, and repeat the women’s retreat next Advent. Each retreat will be limited to 40 people.

Sign up by contacting Living Waters at 828-926-3833, lwcrc@bellsouth.net or wsshaw@charlottediocese.org.

Learn more about the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center online at www.catholicretreat.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 OUR PARISHES

Celebrating Our Lady

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD PHOTO PROVIDED BY ADDY MULLIS

CHARLOTTE — St. Gabriel School has a tradition – now in its 13th year – of celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day Dec. 12 with a school Mass. The students read, responded and sung in English and in Spanish. A group of fourth-graders brought Hispanic flags to the altar and dressed up as Our Lady and St. Juan Diego. Another group of fifth-grade students did all the readings in English and Spanish. Father Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, a native of Mexico, was the celebrant.

MONROE — Parishioners at Our Lady of Lourdes Church celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12 with singing, traditional dances and a Mass that evening offered by Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor.

STATESVILLE — St. Philip the Apostle Church held its 10th annual celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12. Prayers and hymns were accompanied by the music of the mariachis at Mañanitas at 5 a.m. in the church. Afterwards refreshments were served in the social hall. Mass was celebrated at 6 p.m., followed by a procession and then a wonderful fiesta in the social hall.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CONNIE RIES

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER

HUNTERSVILLE — Parishioners and students at St. Mark Church and School got into the festive spirit with several celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father John Putnam, pastor, offered a bilingual Mass, wearing a new chasuble given to him by the Hispanic Ministry for his recent birthday. Students dressed up as Our Lady or St. Juan Diego and performed traditional Mexican dances as well as a play of the Miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe at the celebration that followed Mass. The children performed in both English and Spanish.

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of Hispanic Catholics from across the Charlotte region gathered at Bojangles’ Coliseum Dec. 12 for Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish’s large celebration of the feast day. An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was carried in procession before Mass, and traditional songs and dances were also performed. (See more photos on page 15.)

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from celebrations of Our Lady of Guadalupe around the diocese

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

Signs of Christmas spirit

OUR PARISHESI

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Diocesan schools recognized for AP gains Diocese among 373 school districts in U.S., Canada honored

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LINDSAY KOHL AND MARYANN LUEDTKE

GREENSBORO — Following the tradition started by St. John Paul II on the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, the parishioners at St. Pius X Church celebrated with a Bambinelli Blessing. Families were invited to bring their baby Jesus figurines from their home Nativity sets for a very special blessing, given at Mass by Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio. Assisted by Deacon Bob Morris, Monsignor Marcaccio blessed the images of Jesus and invited the children and families present to gather together at their Nativity scene in a spirit of prayer. Also, St. Nicholas paid a special visit to the parish Dec. 16. The Knights of Columbus and the parish faith formation office jointly hosted a pancake “Breakfast with St. Nicholas.” Families were invited to enjoy breakfast – complete with a pancake decoration station – make Christmas crafts, shop the Knights’ bake sale, and have their picture taken with St. Nick.

MIKE FITZGERALD AND MARKUS KUNCORO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CELIA DENLEA

CHARLOTTE — St. Vincent de Paul Parish recently held “Santa’s Bag,” inviting children aged 2-12 years of age to Christmas shop for their families.

This year’s shopping experience was a success – and with approximately 140 shoppers, and the assistance of parish staff, Santa Zita Circle members, parishioners, teen volunteers and community partners, this day would not have happened. Students from Charlotte Catholic High School’s Honor Society, South Mecklenburg High School, Collinsworth Middle School volunteered at the event, and local businesses Harris Teeter, Domino’s Pizza at Quail Corners, Starbucks at Harris Teeter, South Park and Costco also were there to assist.

CHARLOTTE — Hundreds of faithful braved an early morning rain in Charlotte to attend St. Ann Parish’s annual Rorate Mass at dawn Saturday, Dec. 15. This Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Latin) is an ancient Mass by candlelight offered during Advent and honoring the Blessed Mother. The name Rorate comes from the first word of the Introit (entrance antiphon) taken from Isaiah 45:8: “Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem” (“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Savior.”). The Mass is offered by candlelight to symbolize the coming of the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid, offered the Mass with Father Matthew Buettner, spiritual director of St. Joseph College Seminary, as deacon, and St. Ann Deacon Peter Tonon as subdeacon. St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon also offered a Rorate Mass – the parish’s very first – while the prior Saturday, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte continued its annual Rorate Mass tradition. For more information about the Latin Mass, contact Chris Lauer with the Charlotte Latin Mass Community at info@charlottelatinmass.org or visit www.charlottelatinmass.org.

WINSTON-SALEM — Students at Our Lady of Mercy School, particularly the pre-kindergarten students pictured at left, had fun learning about St. Nicholas during a celebration of his feast day Dec. 6.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY KATRINA CAPISTRANO

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Schools is one of 373 school districts in the U.S. and Canada honored by the College Board with placement on the ninth annual Advanced Placement District Honor Roll. To be included, the 19 Charlotte diocesan schools had to, since 2016, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher. Reaching these goals demonstrates that the district has been successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for AP classes.

National data from 2018 show that among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander students with a high degree of readiness for AP classes, only about half are participating. The first step to getting more of these students to participate is to give them access.

Courses must be made available, gatekeeping must stop, and doors must be equitably opened. The diocesan school district is committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.

“Success in Advanced Placement is a combination of students’ own motivation and the opportunities educators provide for them,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president of AP and Instruction at the College Board. “I’m inspired by the teachers and administrators in this district who have worked to clear a path for more students of all backgrounds to earn college credit during high school.”

Helping more students learn at a higher level and earn higher AP scores is an objective of all members of the AP community, from AP teachers to district and school administrators to college professors. Many districts are experimenting with initiatives and strategies to see how they can expand access and improve student performance at the same time.

In 2018, more than 4,000 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, or both, or consideration in the admissions process. Inclusion in the ninth annual AP District Honor Roll is based on a review of three years of AP data, from 2016 to 2018, looking across 38 AP exams, including world language and culture.

Districts must: n Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts; n Increased or maintained the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander students taking exams and increased or maintained the percentage of American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander students scoring 3 or higher on at least one AP exam; and n Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2018 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2016 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students earn a 3 or higher.

When these outcomes have been achieved among an AP student population in which 30 percent or more are underrepresented minority students (American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino and Native Hawaiian/ Other Pacific Islander), or 30 percent or more are low-income students (students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch), a symbol has been affixed to the district name to highlight this work.

— Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

Parishioners’ donations more than doubled from last year: totaling 1,229 diapers, 1,288 wipes and 43 other baby items.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent

in the parish hall. After lunch, Sister Gertrude continued her presentation sharing inspiring anecdotes and events related to Mary and the value of prayer and fasting. She concluded the program by encouraging participation from the group.

— Giuliana Polinari Riley, correspondent

In Brief

Knights in Mocksville meet to learn, give thanks St. Elizabeth youth make blankets BOONE — The youth of St. Elizabeth Parish recently made and donated 35 handmade blankets to Ebenezer Christian Children’s Home in North Wilkesboro.

St. Elizabeth parishioners also recently helped to make the AppState Students for Life’s third annual Diaper Drive a huge success.

MOCKSVILLE — Knights of Columbus Council 12610 at St. Francis of Assisi Church met Nov. 12 to learn more about local non-profits in Davie County and honor the council’s “Family of the Year” and “Knight of the Year.”

Non-profits that attended to explain their mission and needs included A Storehouse for Jesus, Davie Pregnancy Center, JustHope, The Dragonfly House, Special Olympics, Davie County Guardian, The Advocacy Center.

The Family of the Year Award was given to Ron and Peggy Kolbash for all they do for the parish, including work with the community garden and parish council Named Knight of the Year was veteran Gene Dickey, in gratitude for his support of Special Olympics in Davie County. He is pictured with the program coordinator of Davie County Special Olympics Katie Brewer, a Special Olympics athlete, and Grand Knight Steve Grimaldi.

The Italian-themed dinner meeting drew nearly 100 people from the community and parish to break bread and share the fellowship of the Knights of Columbus on a cold and rainy night.

— Tony Palozzolo

Pro-lifers sing Christmas carols outside abortion facility WINSTON-SALEM — Braving the cold December weather, over 40 Respect Life supporters from the Triad area gathered at the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in WinstonSalem to sing Christmas carols to provide hope for women contemplating abortion and a gift for the babies in the womb.

The event, in its 3rd year in WinstonSalem, was organized by Samantha Hogan, a parishioner at St. Leo parish in Winston-Salem, and also new regional coordinator for C-PLAN, the Carolina Pro-Life Action Network.

Attendees were joined by several protesters and members of D3, a pro-life singing group from St. Mark parish in Huntersville, who sung some of their original pro-life songs. The group concluded the event with cookies and hot cocoa at a nearby gathering point.

For more information about future pro-life events in the Triad, email Samantha Hogan at triadprolifecatholics@gmail.com — Mike FitzGerald, correspondent; Samantha Hogan

Jewell Award presented STATESVILLE — Ken and Donna Parker and their daughter, Samantha Milsaps, were recently presented with the Jewell Award for outstanding volunteer service at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville.

For years, the Parkers and Sam were responsible for the parish youth group as well as preparing confirmation candidates in their final year of formation. Ken also served as president of the parish council. Pictured are (from left) Donna, Samantha and Ken; youth from the parish, Lia Mendoza, Max Velasco and Abraham Medina; and Ken and Connie Jewell.

— Connie Ries

Ladies Guild hosts program about Mary FOREST CITY — A special “Day of Recollection,” sponsored by the Ladies Guild, was held Nov. 10 at Immaculate Conception Church.

The day started at 9:30 a.m. with Mass in the chapel, followed by a presentation by Benedictine Sister Gertrude Gillette, about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sister Gertrude offered a number of meditations on Mary as part of a preAdvent retreat. She touched on the centrality of Mary in salvation history, and showed Mary’s loving care for each of her children with stories that illustrated her points.

At noon, participants enjoyed lunch together

Angels named ‘Family of Month’ JEFFERSON — Knights of Columbus Council 16839​at St. Francis of Assisi Parish honored the Angel family as “Family​of the Month” for November.

Pictured​with their pastor, Father James Stuhrenberg, and Grand ​Knight Bob Breton are Antonio and​Isabel Angel with their daughters ​ Brenda, Briana and Bridget. The parents ​serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

Brenda and Briana are both​regular altar servers.

— Patrick Hession, correspondent

Asset Manager The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corporation seeks an Asset Manager in Charlotte, NC, who, among other duties, oversees the physical, financial and regulatory operations of our housing portfolio; assists with project/partnership closings through construction, lease-up and stabilization; and coordinates with local churches to aid in the delivery of services and activities for our residents.

For a full job description, please visit www.charlottediocese.org/housing.

Interested applicants please submit both a cover letter and resume by January 11, 2019 to cdchc@CharlotteDiocese.org (No phone calls, please).

Golf tournament held KERNERSVILLE — The Knights of Columbus at Holy Cross Parish recently held a golf tournament to benefit Operation L.A.M.B. The tournament at Pine Knolls Golf Club in Kernersville, an annual fundraiser for the council for 10-plus years, raised $3,700, of which $2,300 was for Operation L.A.M.B. and the balance going to the council for local charities. More than 20 companies sponsored the event, and a total of eight foursomes played with about 20 local knights involved in playing or volunteering. The winning team, with a score of 62, was Chuck Tierney, Jim Valentine, Neal Rowland and Greg Klenke.

— John Bunyea, correspondent

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Confirmed in the Spirit

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TRACY JEDD

ASHEVILLE — Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey recently celebrated Mass and administered the sacrament of confirmation to a large group of young people at St. Eugene Church. Also pictured with the confirmandi is Father Patrick Cahill, pastor.

BOONE — Twentyfour young people at St. Elizabeth Church also recently received the sacrament of confirmation.

AMBER MELLON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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iiiDecember 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

Home for Christma

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Douglas International Airport was a sea of camouflage and Christmas decorations Dec. 19 as more than 3,300 U.S. Army servicemen and women made their way home for the holidays.

Known as “Operation Exodus,” the annual USOsponsored event at the airport just before Christmas draws in nearly a hundred volunteers, assisted by airport chaplains – several of whom are permanent deacons for the Diocese of Charlotte.

The airport chaplains helped shuttle the thousands of young and tired service members through the airport on their way home to their families after participating in basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. The event is part of how the USO of North Carolina strengthens military members and their families through its annual Holidays for Heroes Campaign.

“Operation Exodus is one of our biggest efforts in the Charlotte area each year,” said John Falkenbury, president and CEO of the USO of North Carolina. “To see the smiles on the faces of our nation’s newest service members as they head home for the holidays is a gift to all of our staff and volunteers who help with this event.”

The tremendous number of servicemen and women passing through the airport on the day of “Operation Exodus” is deftly managed every step of the way, with 80 buses of troops arriving in waves from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m.

USO volunteers greeted the service members as they arrived in buses with gift packs, coffee, snacks and more.

Deacons were on hand to help the volunteers and lend a supportive ear to the troops as they waited for their flights, grabbed a bite to eat, or relaxed in rocking chairs located inside the terminal.

Welcoming the young men and women and offering words of encouragement, prayer or simply a listening ear is a privilege, the chaplains said. It’s all part of

their ongoing mission to serve as the presence of God to travelers in the Charlotte airport – the 10th largest in the United States in terms of passengers, with nearly 46 million last year.

Deacon George Szalony has worked for 10 years an airport chaplain, serving now as co-director of the chaplaincy in which he leads a team of 26 volunteer chaplains of various faiths. This is his 10th year working with the USO to assist soldiers heading home for the holidays.

“They’re fabulous men and women. We really are proud of them,” Deacon Szalony explained. “We are here to support and help them, welcoming them with food. Most of the young men and women have been up early, if they slept at all. We help also with ticketing, moving them to the secured side (of the airport) as quickly as possible.”

“We do our best to make it a good experience. Some have to go back to basic training after New Year’s Day, others will go to other posts,” he said.

HE COVER

as

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

Airport chaplains, USO help service members flying home

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Private Michael Demitro of the Bronx, N.Y., is looking forward to returning home and attending Mass with his family on Christmas. He entered the military to fulfill a promise he made to his late greatgrandmother.

“I have been wanting this (to serve in the military) since I was 8 years old,” he said.

“My great-grandfather served in World War I. When she passed away in my arms, she said that I reminded her of him. Ever since I was 8, it was something I had to do. I never gave up. Even though she is not here today, I still honor her.”

Demitro prayed the rosary and attended Mass throughout basic training.

“Every Sunday I would go and pray to her (his great-grandmother) because basic training was tough.”

He said he is looking forward to attending Mass at home and visiting his great-grandmother’s grave.

“I am going to visit her in my uniform and tell her I did it for her.”

Private Daniel Gonzalez of Riverside, Calif., is following in his brother’s footsteps in military service. He was grateful for the special hospitality he and the other service members received as they were making their way home for the holidays.

“It’s nice to see the appreciation. It’s great to have a lot of support, especially coming back from training,” he said. “It’s tough. It’s mentally and physically tough.”

Gonzalez is looking forward to going to church with his wife at Christmas.

“This will be the first church service I will go to since I joined the military,” he noted. “I am really excited to sing, worship and express my faith openly as both a Christian and a soldier.”

Chaplain Alice White, who co-directs the airport chaplaincy with Deacon Szalony, has served at the airport for 14 years. She said the airport chaplaincy has grown into a vital and much-appreciated service at the airport since its founding in 1988, and this USO-sponsored event each Christmastime is a great way to celebrate and serve at the same time.

“We are glad they are here. They’re glad they’re going home, so we always have a party,” she said. “It’s another way for the USO and America to let these young people know how important they are to our freedom, that they are honored, and we are glad they are here.”

Deacon Kevin Williams, who served in the U.S. Navy, assists Deacon Szalony in the airport chaplaincy. He believes it is important to encourage the soldiers as they come through their airport on their way home.

“For me it is important as a veteran – seeing these kids who were in boot camp, who are stressed and probably scared – whatever we can do to try to help them out, to ease that stress, I am glad to do it.”

For some of the soldiers, it is the first or second time they’ve ever flown, he noted, so the chaplains are there to ease their fears.

“They’re not used to this. You pick up on their nervousness. We just want to be here to help alleviate some of that stress,” he said.

Learn more PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL

“Operation Exodus,” an annual event hosted by the USO, helped more than 3,300 U.S. Army service members navigate the Charlotte Douglas International Airport Dec. 19. Permanent deacons of the Diocese of Charlotte who serve as airport chaplains assisted the young men and women as they headed home from boot camp for the holidays.

Online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See video highlights and interviews from “Operation Exodus”

At www.cltairportchapel.org: The non-profit Airport Chaplaincy works year-round to assist travelers and employees at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Learn more about how you can support their mission, either through volunteering or making a financial contribution.

At www.uso-nc.org: Find out more about the USO of North Carolina

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 14

Padre Fidel Melo

Q

Feliz Navidad

ueridos hermanos, el profeta Isaías en el capítulo 9, versos del 2 al 7, nos habla de cómo el pueblo que caminaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz que resplandecía sobre ellos, cómo la luz venció a la oscuridad anunciando la llegada del Mesías representando esa luz que derrotaría a las tinieblas, a la oscuridad.

También el Evangelio de Lucas nos dice que José y María subieron a Belén para empadronarse y sucedió que estando ahí María dio a luz a su primogénito, a Jesucristo el Redentor. Así toma lugar la Encarnación, la Navidad, el nacimiento de Jesús Nuestro Salvador.

Y esa es la invitación en Navidad para todos nosotros: entender que para Dios no hay imposibles, que las épocas de oscuridad, las épocas de depresión, de desgracia, de enfermedad o de calamidad, las épocas de crisis, las épocas difíciles que a veces se tornan tan oscuras que parece imposible que lleguen a un término, tienen un final porque para Dios no hay imposibles.

Uno de los mensajes navideños más hermosos, aparte de este mensaje de amor, de cariño, de afecto que nos trae siempre la espiritualidad navideña, es la enseñanza de que para Dios no hay imposibles, que para Dios nada se le resiste porque Él es el autor, el arquitecto, el padre de la creación y en sus manos está todo lo que existe.

Como dice San Pablo, en Él todo lo podemos vencer, “todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece” (Filipenses 4:13).

Así que la invitación es para que nosotros en esta Navidad nos empapemos de esa espiritualidad que viene de Jesucristo Nuestro Señor. Dirigidos por la luz de Cristo llegaremos siempre al final de esos túneles oscuros.

Nuestro reto es aceptar a Jesucristo, dejar que nazca en nuestros corazones. Si hay desesperación, que nazca como una luz de esperanza; si hay odio, resentimiento, coraje o animosidad, dejar que nazca como una suave brisa de paz en nuestro corazón. Si hay injusticia en nuestra sociedad, en nuestra familia o con otras personas, invoquemos a Cristo, justicia de Dios, justicia del necesitado.

Que en los muros, las barreras del odio, la división, la injusticia y la violencia se vean vencidos por la paz, la armonía, la unidad que encontramos en el amor de Jesucristo que recibimos en esta Navidad.

Hay que dejar que Él vaya renaciendo en nuestra vida, iluminando, sanando con su gracia y presencia todas esas dimensiones que pueden estar necesitando de esa luz y bendición de Jesucristo.

Que esta navidad nos brinde la oportunidad de vencer todos esos obstáculos que nos impiden llevarnos mejor como familia, como individuos, como sociedad. Que nos ayude a vencer el pesimismo, vencer el negativismo que a veces puede apoderarse de nosotros.

Dios bendiga, que tengan una maravillosa Navidad junto a la familia.

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

El sábado 15 se realizaron ‘Las Posadas’ en la parroquia San Gabriel de Charlotte. Cientos participaron en un maravilloso espectáculo bilingüe con representaciones, cantos y oraciones. ‘Las Posadas’ recuerdan la búsqueda de alojamiento de José y María a su llegada a Belén, a poco de alumbrar a Jesús.

FOTO CORTESÍA PARROQUIA SAN GABRIEL

Diciembre, mes de Velitas, novenas y posadas CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — La celebración de la Navidad es la fecha más esperada del año entre la mayoría de habitantes de los países latinoamericanos. Los intensos colores que nos regala la temporada decembrina, matizados con la colocación del nacimiento, el arbolito navideño, el canto de villancicos y la decoración de la casa, despiertan también el recuerdo de los sabores del chocolate caliente, tamales, pan dulce, panetón, ponche, turrones y otras delicias que solíamos compartir con la familia en nuestros países de orígen.

Gracias a esas tradiciones transmitidas por nuestros padres es que hoy aquí, en Estados Unidos, independientemente de dónde hayamos nacido, enriquecemos a la sociedad norteamericana con costumbres que llevan en el corazón al Niño Jesús, el Dios hecho hombre, la verdadera esencia de la Navidad.

VELITAS

En lo que se considera la primera fiesta de la temporada, Guatemala celebró el pasado sábado 8 a la Inmaculada Concepción de María. Los colombianos en la víspera festejaron ‘Las Noche de las Velitas’, una fecha especial en la que las familias se juntan y encienden velas afuera de sus casas o las cuelgan para trazar el camino por donde pasará la Virgen. En algunos hogares incluso se prepara una comida especial, se reza el Rosario y ofrecen novenas.

Lina Londoño, colombiana residente en Charlotte, dijo que celebrar la fiesta le trae recuerdos de su niñez, “cuando encendíamos las velitas en casa, en la calle con los amigos y nos quemábamos las manos con la cera”. Más allá de lo anecdótico, considera que en la fiesta, de profundo contenido religioso, se comparte la fe con la familia y los amigos.

POSADAS

En la segunda mitad del mes, pasada la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, nuestros hermanos mexicanos celebran las “posadas”, que recuerdan las dificultades de San José y la Virgen María para encontrar acogida en Belén y permitir que María alumbrara a Jesús.

La tradición dicta que Las Posadas comiencen el 16 de diciembre y terminen el día 24, en Nochebuena.

Las posadas forman parte del rico folklore mexicano, y por su alegría y belleza se han vuelto famosas en todo el mundo.

Según señala el SIAME, Sistema Informativo de la Arquidiócesis de México, Las Posadas comenzaron en 1587, con

el fraile agustino Diego de Soria, quien solicitó al Papa Sixto V un novenario previo a la Navidad que ayudara a desterrar algunas prácticas indígenas de tiempos prehispánicos.

El P. José de Jesús Aguilar, director de Arte Sacro de la Arquidiócesis Primada de México, recordó en un video publicado en su portal de YouTube que “el Evangelio llegó a estas tierras con la predicación de los primeros grupos misioneros: franciscanos, dominicos y agustinos”.

“Los agustinos descubrieron que los indígenas celebraban con cantos y luces el nacimiento del sol en las cercanías del solsticio de invierno, esto es del 20 al 23 de diciembre.

Entonces, ellos decidieron comparar a Cristo con el Sol y enseñar que Jesucristo es el verdadero Sol de Verdad y de Justicia”, señaló.

Según el historiador guatemalteco Horacio Cabezas Carcache, las posadas fueron introducidas en el siglo XVI por el Hermano Pedro de San José Betancur, quien recorría el 24 de diciembre las calles empedradas de la Antigua Guatemala llevando en sus brazos una figura del Niño Dios y, pidiendo alojamiento para el nacimiento del Redentor, iba cantando villancicos acompañado por otros cristianos al sonido de pitos de caña y barro, chinchines, tambores, conchas de tortuga y panderetas.

La parroquia San Gabriel presentó el pasado sábado 15 un programa bilingüe al que llamó ‘Las Posadas. El espectacular show audiovisual incluyó la representación de escenas estáticas, diferentes coros y oraciones. Sin ser una clásica celebración de Las Posadas, resultó muy impresionante la forma en la que se mostró al público de habla inglesa una tradición hispana, haciéndola atractiva, participativa y de fácil comprensión. Todo un éxito que los organizadores esperan repetir en los próximos años.

NOVENAS

Una costumbre muy arraigada en Colombia, Venezuela y Ecuador es la celebración de la Novena de Aguinaldos. Aunque se realiza en las mismas fechas que Las Posadas, su concepto y forma es muy diferente.

Fue creada por Fray Fernando de Jesús Larrea, franciscano quiteño que la publicó en 1743. Mucho después, la religiosa, poeta y escritora colombiana, Madre María Ignacia, la modificó y agregó los gozos.

La novena de aguinaldos es hoy un evento social en el que las familias, amigos, trabajadores y otras comunidades, se reúnen en torno a la oración, canto de villancicos y el compartir de viandas tradicionales navideñas, a la espera de la llegada el Niño Jesús.

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

15

Diácono Enedino Aquino

Estoy a la puerta y llamo

H

Diócesis de Charlotte celebró a ‘La Lupita’ FOTOS E HISTORIA DE CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE ­— Miles colmaron las instalaciones del Coliseo Bojangles’ de Charlotte para celebrar los 487 años de la aparición de la Virgen de Guadalupe ante San Juan Diego en el cerro Tepeyac en la Ciudad de México.

Los fieles presentaron sus ofrendas florales, la mayoría de ellas rosas, y llevaron objetos religiosos para su bendición.

Familias completas, hasta con niños en brazos, no dejaron de asistir para agradecer las bendiciones recibidas durante el año por la intercesión de la Morenita del Tepeyac.

Pasadas las siete de la noche se ofrecieron danzas indígenas y mestizas a La Lupita, para luego dar paso a las representaciones de los Misterios del Rosario y las apariciones Marianas de 1859.

Una procesión de la imagen de la Guadalupana, acompañada por cientos de participantes y un bosque de banderas latinoamericanas, precedió a la Misa Solemne celebrada por los padres Gregorio Gay y Hugo Medellín.

En su homilía, el Padre Hugo explicó la trascendencia de la presencia de la Virgen ante un hombre humilde

“un considerado nadie” como fue San Juan Diego.

Citando la lectura del evangelio, Lucas 1:26-38, señaló que la Virgen María se consideraba una “esclava del señor”, no una sierva. “Yo soy la esclava del Señor; cúmplase en mí lo que me has dicho”, una condición que probablemente le hizo escoger a San Juan Diego como el portavoz de su mensaje. Subrayó que “Dios ha escogido lo necio del mundo, para avergonzar a los sabios; y Dios ha escogido lo débil del mundo, para avergonzar a lo que es fuerte; y lo vil y despreciado del mundo ha escogido Dios; lo que no es, para anular lo que es; para que nadie se jacte delante de Dios” (1 Corintios 1:27-31).

Así como este evento, organizado por la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, decenas de otros se llevaron a cabo en la víspera y fecha central, 12 de diciembre, en la mayoría de parroquias que cuentan con Ministerio Hispano a lo largo y ancho de la región oeste y central de Carolina del Norte.

Más online En www.catholicnewsherald.com facebook.com/CNHespanol: Encontrará imágenes y videos sobre la festividad

oy es un tiempo muy especial.

Un tiempo en el cual la nostalgia nos llega siempre y el sentimiento aflora con respecto a nuestras relaciones interpersonales, relaciones familiares. Muchas veces la distancia en este tiempo de Navidad nos llama mucho la atención. Dentro de la Iglesia estamos viviendo un tiempo de adviento, un tiempo de preparación, un tiempo de esperanza. ¿Cómo está nuestro mundo?, el mundo que nosotros hemos formado, nuestra burbuja, aquello que está a nuestro alrededor, aquello que está muy cerca de nosotros. Nuestra esposa nuestros hijos, nuestros amigos, nuestra comunidad, ¿cómo estamos viviendo esto?

Las lecturas de la Santa Liturgia nos van a llevar en el camino de la preparación, de reconocer cómo estamos viviendo hoy en nuestros días en relación con Dios, en relación con los demás.

Adviento es prepararnos, ¿prepararnos para qué?

Muchas veces nos llena de angustia escuchar las lecturas que hoy están puestas en el Evangelio respecto a estar prevenidos porque el cielo va a temblar, las estrellas caerán, el mar entrará con un gran estruendo y nos llenaremos de temor y de miedo.

Yo te preguntaré algo, ¿cómo está tu pequeño mundo?, ¿cuáles son las estrellas que se bambolean, el cielo que se está cayendo? ¿Cómo está ese pequeño mundo que has estado fabricando?, tu propia vida alrededor de aquellos que te aman, te quieren, que están y caminan contigo.

Hoy es un día de sanar, un día de cambiar, un día de preparar la venida de alguien más grande, de alguien que puede darle sentido a nuestra vida.

Yo te diría, y esto es un pensamiento personal basado en algo que escuché, que pensamos en las venidas del Señor, que en la primera no te tomaron en cuenta. Para nada. El Señor nace en un pesebre sin tomarte en cuenta a ti ni a mí.

Hay otra tercera venida, la venida que hemos escuchado en esta preparación de Adviento, la preparación para la Navidad. El Señor va a venir y tampoco te van a tomar en cuenta. El Señor va a decidir qué día, qué hora, qué momento, porque ni tú ni yo ni el mismo Jesús lo sabe, pero Dios va a venir.

La pregunta aquí es la segunda venida que pongo en relieve. Apocalipsis 3:20, “Estoy a la puerta y llamo”, ¿le vas a abrir?

Hazte esta pregunta, ¿cómo está tu vida? El Señor está tocando a la puerta, quiere entrar, cenar, comer contigo, ¿tú qué quieres hacer? Realmente, ¿estás preparado para esa venida de la cual Apocalipsis nos habla? “Estoy a la puerta y llamo”. ¿Le vas a abrir?

Así como está tu vida, hoy es un momento de preparar esa venida, de abrirle el corazón a Dios para que esta Navidad, a pesar de la distancia, nos unamos más en el cuidado, en el respeto mutuo.

Que esa distancia se acorte a través de la oración, a través de mi preparación, de mi propio mundo. ¡Olvídate si el mundo se va a acabar!, Dios está hablando de tu propio mundo, de mi propio mundo.

En este tiempo tan formidable que es el tiempo de Navidad, amigo, hermano, yo te pediría que reflexionaras, no en el fin del mundo, que reflexionaras en tu propio mundo, en el mundo que te has fabricado.

Contéstale al Señor. ¿Le vas a abrir? Esa es, para mí, la venida de Dios. “Estoy a la puerta y llamo”, ¿le vas a abrir?

De ti depende hermano. Y si no, empieza a prepararte, empieza a quitar, sacar, cortar, expulsar, tirar, sacar fuera todo aquello que te de pena, que no te acomode, para que Dios entre hasta tu propia casa y se siente contigo, y que tenga un encuentro, un encuentro de Dios contigo.

Olvídate de los regalos, olvídate de las cosas. Tú, como persona, en tu corazón, ¿cómo me estoy preparando?, ¿cómo nos estamos preparando para recibir esa venida?

“Estoy a la puerta y llamo”. ¿Le vas a abrir?

Que Dios te bendiga.

EL DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO es el coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Greensboro.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Manos hispanas cultivan arbolitos de Navidad en Jefferson CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

JEFFERSON — ­ Baltazar y tres de sus amigos regresaron al calor de su tierra natal el pasado 6 de diciembre, dejando los fríos campos de Jefferson, Carolina del Norte, para pasar una temporada de tres a cuatro meses en compañía de sus seres queridos en México.

El próximo abril volverán, con un visado temporal de trabajo, dejando nuevamente a sus familias en Guanajuato, para pizcar tomate, recoger duraznos, cosechar cilantro, tabaco, fresas y naranjas en varios estados de la Unión Americana; y para podar y cortar arbolitos de navidad en los más de cuarenta mil acres dedicados a esta industria en las montañas de nuestro estado.

Baltazar es uno de los dos a tres millones de trabajadores agrícolas que, con o sin estatus migratorio regular, pero con gran esfuerzo y sacrificio, ponen verduras, frutas y toda clase de vegetales a un precio asequible en nuestras mesas.

Las condiciones laborales son duras.

Trabajan de sol a sol con lluvia, nieve, bajas o altas temperaturas, de lunes a domingo y con muy poco tiempo para su cuidado personal. Pese a ello, Baltazar y su grupo sonríen todo el tiempo, ponen amor en sus faenas y dedican el trabajo a sus familias en México, quienes dependen de ese ingreso para mantenerse y progresar.

Están felices de contar con empleo, una oportunidad que dicen, en México es escasa.

En Carolina del Norte, cientos de trabajadores, al igual que este grupo de hermanos guanajuatenses, desde mediados de octubre trabajan en la industria del pino, la de los hermosos arbolitos navideños que perfuman y adornan nuestros hogares en diciembre, o en las bellas coronas de adviento que nos recuerdan que la llegada de Nuestro Salvador, aquel que nos predicó el amor, la fraternidad y la justicia con el forastero, está cerca.

IMPORTANTE INDUSTRIA

FOTOS DE CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

En la industria del pino navideño se utilizan las ramas de los arbolitos que han crecido con defectos. Con ellas se elaboran fragantes coronas de adviento. Los trabajadores las podan con machete bajo duras condiciones climáticas.

Los aproximadamente 1.300 granjeros que desarrollan la industria de los árboles navideños producen casi en su totalidad la famosa variedad del abeto ‘fraser’, el más popular en el país y que se exporta a México, el Caribe, Canadá, Bermudas y Japón, entre otros países del mundo, después de atender el 20 por ciento de la demanda en todo Estados Unidos.

Contrariamente a lo que mucha gente cree, su venta no afecta el medioambiente.

Por el contrario, se trata de un producto natural, ecológico, degradable y renovable.

Los productores aseguran que por cada árbol cosechado se siembra al menos tres en su reemplazo.

Lecturas Diarias DIC. 23-29

Domingo: Miqueas 5:1-4, Hebreos 10:5-10, Lucas 1:39-45; Lunes: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Lucas 1:67-79; Martes (La Natividad del Señor, Navidad): Isaías 52:7-10, Hebreos 1:1-6, Juan 1:1-18; Miércoles (San Esteban): Hechos 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Mateo 10:17-22; Jueves (San Juan: 1 Juan 1:1-4, Juan 20:1-8; Viernes (Los Santos Inocentes: 1 Juan 1:5-2:2, Mateo 2:13-18; Sábado (Sto. Tomás Becket): 1 Juan 2:3-11, Lucas 2:22-35

DIC. 30-ENE. 5

Domingo (La Sagrada Familia): Eclesiastés 3:2-6, 12-14, Colosenses 3:12-21, Lucas 2:41-52; Lunes (San Silvestre I): 1 Juan 2:18-21, Juan 1:1-18; Martes (Solemnidad de María, Santa Madre de Dios): Números 6:22-27, Gálatas 4:4-7, Lucas 2:16-21; Miércoles (Santos Basilio el Grande y Gregorio Nacianzeno): 1 Juan 2:22-28, Juan 1:19-28; Jueves (Sagrado nombre de Jesús): 1 Juan 2:29-3:6, Juan 1:2934; Viernes (Sta. Elizabeth Ann Seton): 1 Juan 3:7-10, Juan 1:35-42; Sábado (San Juan Neumann): 1 Juan 3:11-21, Juan 1:43-51

ENE. 6-12

Domingo (La Epifanía del Señor): Isaías 60:1-6, Efesios 3:2-3, 5-6, Mateo 2:1-12; Lunes (San Raimundo de Penyafort): 1 Juan 3:224:6, Mateo 4:12-17, 23-25; Martes: 1 Juan 4:710, Marcos 6:34-44; Miércoles: 1 Juan 4:11-18, Marcos 6:45-52; Jueves: 1 Juan 4:19-5:4, Lucas 4:14-22; Viernes: 1 Juan 5:5-13, Lucas 5:12-16; Sábado: 1 Juan 5:14-21, Juan 3:22-30

A la izquierda, Baltazar y su grupo de compañeros que ya regresaron a Guanajuato. A la derecha, el Padre Camilo Cárdenas muestra una de las coronas de adviento que elabora Víctor Apolinar, a su lado, trabajador del campo que reside permanentemente en Jefferson, Carolina del Norte.

La mayoría de condados ofrecen, al término de la temporada navideña, servicio de reciclaje gratuito de arbolitos naturales, devolviéndolos a la tierra convertidos en mulch utilizado en residencias, parques y escuelas.

Por el contrario, los árboles artificiales tienen un uso promedio de 5 años, después de los cuales terminan en la basura, donde tardarán cientos de años en degradarse.

EXPERIMENTADO TRABAJADOR

Víctor Apolinar Gómez es también un trabajador agrícola. Llegó al estado en 1989, cuando contaba solo con 15 años de edad, proveniente de Texas, respondiendo al llamado de su hermano que se había instalado con su familia en estas tierras.

Sus casi treinta años en Jefferson le han dado una experiencia valiosa que hoy aplica en su trabajo de servicio a granjeros, faenas de construcción y, durante la temporada navideña, en la elaboración de hermosas coronas de adviento que vende a clientes conocidos, pero mayormente regala a sus hermanos de iglesia y amistades que valoran este arte.

“Cuando llegué trabajaba para otros, solo podía hacer dos coronas por hora y me lastimaba las manos con la máquina y las ramas”, relata. En la actualidad su producción sobrepasa las 20 unidades por hora, aunque no siempre libre de pequeños accidentes.

Conocido y apreciado por los granjeros y compañeros de trabajo del área, Víctor es una muestra viva de la alegría que el Señor regala a sus hijos. Pese a contratiempos de la vida, su casa está siempre abierta para recibir a quien guste visitarlo. En menos de media hora, atendió con café y pan dulce a siete personas, entre ellas el Padre Camilo Cárdenas y un servidor, que llegamos para conocerlo.

Víctor nos invita a promover la compra de arbolitos de navidad destacando que, además de adornar y aromatizar el hogar con un producto natural, renovable y no contaminante; con cada árbol que compremos estaremos colaborando con nuestros hermanos hispanos, con su trabajo honesto, con sus familias, valorando su esfuerzo, su sudor, sus lágrimas, su fe en que las promesas de Dios se harán realidad en ellos.

La Navidad está cerca y probablemente ya haya colocado el árbol de navidad. Para 2019 les pedimos que consideren contar con un árbol natural. Hagámoslo por el medio ambiente, por nosotros, por nuestros hijos pero, en especial, por nuestros hermanos agricultores temporales y sus familias.

Más online En facebook.com/CNH/espanol: Vea una galería de fotografías y videos que muestran el duro trabajo de nuestros hermanos del campo

Mix

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

‘Mortal Engines’ Visually impressive but dramatically sterile adventure set in a dystopian far future where huge mobile cities roam around battling one another for scarce resources.

Thrown together by chance, a previously contented citizen of locomotive London (Robert Sheehan) and a rebel warrior (Hera Hilmar) put aside their initial differences to fight the attempt of an influential archeologist (Hugo Weaving) to gain dominance for the British metropolis by reviving the doomsday armaments that long ago destroyed all civilization. The duo is eventually aided by a glamorous outlaw (Jihae) but stalked doggedly by an unstoppable human-android amalgam (Stephen Lang) unleashed by the villain. Serves as a cautionary tale about

the dangers of advanced weaponry with relatively few objectionable elements. Much combat and other violence with some gore.

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

‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ Innovative but noisy and frenetic animated take on the Marvel Comics superhero saga focuses on a Brooklyn teen (voice of Shameik Moore) who, like the original before him, acquires web-slinging abilities after being bitten by a radioactive arachnid. When a villain (voice of Liev Schreiber) opens a portal to other dimensions, a quintet of alternate versions of the title character (the most prominent voiced by Jake Johnson) arrives on Earth one by one and together with the New York novice they battle the black hat as well as his octopus-like sidekick (voice of Kathryn Hahn). A message about the importance of family bonds and a lesson in living up to your potential are conveyed amid stylized dustups and psychedelic imagery in this film from co-director and co-writer Rodney Rothman. Not an adventure for the easily jangled or the littlest tots but otherwise suitable for a wide audience.

Some harsh but bloodless violence, references to puberty, a single vaguely crass word.

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

Other movies: n ‘Bumblebee’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Mary Poppins Returns’: CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG n ‘Once Upon a Deadpool’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Schindler’s List’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R n ‘Stan & Ollie’: CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: PG n ‘The Mule’: A-III (adults); MPAA: R n ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R

On TV n Friday, Dec. 21, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Life of Christ: A Holy Land Pilgrimage.” The Gospels come to life in an epic journey through the towns, cities and sites of Christ’s history changing ministry. n Saturday, Dec. 22, 11:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “The Annunciation.” Father Patrick Peyton’s Family Theater ministry brings to life the first joyful mystery of the rosary. n Saturday, Dec. 22, 5 p.m.

(EWTN) “Path of the Messiah.”

Hosts Raymond Arroyo and Jeff Cavins travel through the Holy Land as they retrace the footsteps of Our Lord. Part One begins this dramatic and beautiful journey into Christ’s homeland and reflections on the Messiah’s mission and ministry. Part 1. n Monday, Dec. 24, 6:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “The Nativity.” Father Patrick Peyton’s Family Theater ministry brings to life the third joyful mystery of the rosary. n Monday, Dec. 24, 3:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve in Rome.” Pope Francis celebrates the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lord from St. Peter’s Basilica. n Tuesday, Dec. 25, 1 a.m. (EWTN) “Midnight Mass from the Holy land.”

Holy Mass celebrating the Feast of the Incarnation, live from the Holy

Land. n Tuesday, Dec. 25, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Urbi Et Orbi: Christmas Message and Blessing.” Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing to the city of Rome and the world. n Tuesday, Dec. 25, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Fowler Sisters: Christmas Gift.” The Fowler Sisters present a musical gift celebrating the birth of Christ. n Wednesday, Dec. 26, 4:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Martin the Cobbler.” Based on the classic children’s tale by the great Russian author Leo Tolstoy, a lonely shoemaker rediscovers his faith in God; narrated by Tolstoy’s daughter Alexandra Tolstoy. n Saturday, Dec. 29, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Mary of Elizabeth.” Film presentation on the Virgin Mary from her childhood through the Resurrection of Jesus, capturing the essence of her profound faith and trust in God. Part 1. n Tuesday, Jan. 1, 12 p.m. (EWTN) “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.” Pope Francis presides at Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. n Tuesday, Jan. 1, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Mary, Mother of all Believers.” A thorough documentary on how Mary’s role as the Mother of the Church draws us closer to God through her example.

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Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CUA scholars expect bishops’ retreat will lead to spiritual renewal

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Archbishop Nienstedt’s ministry restricted in Minnesota archdiocese ST. PAUL, Minn. — Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis said Dec. 14 that until “all open allegations are resolved,” his predecessor, Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, is not free to exercise public ministry in the archdiocese, effective Dec. 13.

The 11-member Archdiocesan Ministerial Review Board, which addresses allegations of clergy misconduct, was consulted and recommended that Archbishop Hebda publicly clarify that Archbishop Nienstedt, like any priest facing similar allegations, is not free to engage in public ministry in this archdiocese until pending allegations are resolved. Archbishop Hebda said he agrees with the recommendation. The action “is not intended to convey an indication or presumption of guilt,” Archbishop Hebda said.

The clarification of Archbishop Nienstedt’s IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 19

CHAZ MUTH CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A week of prayer and discernment on their role as Church shepherds may be exactly what the U.S. bishops need when they gather in retreat Jan. 2-8 near Chicago, two Catholic University of America scholars said.

The retreat at Mundelein Seminary, suggested by Pope Francis in September, comes as the bishops work to rebuild trust among the faithful as questions continue to revolve around their handling of clergy sex abuse.

“Prayer is essential to the work of the Church and prayer is essential to the vocation and mission of the bishop,” said Susan M. Timoney, professor of pastoral studies and spirituality at the university in Washington.

“Even more importantly, you see the mark of Pope Francis, who is a Jesuit by training for whom the work of discernment is absolutely integral and crucial to the way in which priests and bishops and laypeople are called to live out their vocation,” Timoney said.

Out of deep prayer should come spiritual renewal, said Joseph E. Capizzi, professor of moral theology and ethics at the university.

“We hope that that’s what it will do, (that) it’ll deepen each bishop’s commitment to his vocation, to the good of the Church that he serves as shepherd, to his own understanding of what all that involves,” Capizzi said.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, will lead the retreat, offering morning and afternoon reflections on the theme “the mission of the apostles and their successors.”

The retreat is among the steps the bishops are taking in response to the abuse scandal, which emerged anew in the summer. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops at its fall general assembly in November was prepared to consider proposals to strengthen oversight of bishops’ actions, but a formal vote on them was bypassed at the request of the Vatican’s Congregation for Bishops, which cited the upcoming gathering of presidents of worldwide bishops’ conference at the Vatican to discuss the Church’s response to clergy sex abuse.

More than 200 bishops were expected to attend the retreat, Monsignor Jeffrey D. Burrill, USCCB associate general secretary, said.

Timoney expressed hope that the bishops will leave the retreat with a better understanding of what God is asking of them.

“Discernment is in a sense the Christian way of exercising leadership and of discerning what it is that God is asking and responding to the will of God,” she said.

“The way they’ll come to understand that is in deeper prayer,” Timoney added. “And the beauty of them doing that as a body is really important because all of us know that sometimes prayer is the first thing we let go of when things get busy. It seems to me that if we want real reform and renewal and purification it has to begin in prayer.

“So I think this will be a very important moment for the bishops, for greater insight into that which the Lord is asking of them now.”

Capizzi said he expects that some skepticism remains among the faithful as the bishops begin their retreat. He advised that the bishops must not be perceived simply as “checking boxes” to show they are addressing deeply held concerns about their ability to lead the Church.

He also feared that “at least for some of (the bishops), there will not be a spiritual awakening, there will not be that deepening of their vocation.”

“Like most Catholics, I’ll be praying for them when they’re there.”

— Dennis Sadowski contributed to this story.

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December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 18

local public ministry restrictions refers to a 2014 investigation into allegations that he had engaged in sexual misconduct with adults as a priest in Detroit and Rome, and as a bishop of New Ulm. Archdiocesan leaders engaged two separate law firms in the investigation.

Archbishop Nienstedt denies the claims.

Speaker: Religious freedom laws meant to be ‘shield, not sword’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Religious freedom is widely misunderstood, prone to being used only for political purposes and is identified by the public mostly with the Republican politicians.

And its enshrinement in law requires constant vigilance on all sides. Those were some of the conclusions of a Dec. 13 panel sponsored by the Religious Freedom Center at the Newseum in Washington. The main topic was supposed to be the role of women as heads of religious freedom organizations. Instead, the discussion moved quickly onto the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in 1993, and the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Human Rights Commission, decided June 4 by the Supreme Court in favor of baker Jack Phillips, who had cited his Christian beliefs on traditional marriage in refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The court ruled 7-2 in favor of Phillips under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The baker said his religious views also prevented him from making Halloween-themed or satanicthemed items.

USCCB welcomes Treasury Department guidance on ‘parking lot tax’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — The chairmen of two U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees welcomed a new explanation from the Treasury Department that relaxed rules on the payment of taxes by churches and nonprofits that offer employee parking.

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., of the Committee for Religious Liberty, and Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, said the revisions, which will allow many nonprofit employers to retroactively reduce nondeductible parking expenses, were needed. In a Dec. 11 statement, the prelates also called for the full repeal of a provision in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that would tax houses of worship and other nonprofits for parking and transit benefits they provide to their employees. The USCCB joined other faithbased organizations in November in urging the repeal of what became known as the “parking lot tax.”

New law will provide relief to genocide victims in Iraq, Syria WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has signed into law the Iraq and Syria Genocide

Relief and Accountability Act of 2018, which will provide humanitarian relief to genocide victims in Iraq and Syria and hold accountable Islamic State perpetrators of genocide. “The legislation signed today again reminds us of America’s earlier efforts to aid victims of genocide – Christian communities targeted by Ottomans a century ago and Jewish survivors of Shoah,” Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said in a Dec. 11 statement. With the bill now law, “America speaks with bold moral clarity and political unanimity,” he added. Anderson and other officials of the Knights of Columbus took part in a signing ceremony at the White House.

The law enables financial and technical assistance for the humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs of former and current religious minority residents of Iraq and Syria.

The assistance may come through the federal government or other entities, including faithbased groups.

High court won’t hear states’ appeals over defunding Planned Parenthood WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pro-life leaders said they were disappointed the U.S. Supreme Court declined Dec. 10 to hear appeals from Kansas and Louisiana on lower court rulings that have stopped the states from defunding Planned Parenthood. “Complicated legal arguments don’t take away from the simple fact that a majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding of abortion,” said Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life. “America’s largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, is responsible for more than 300,000 abortions each year and was recently found to be involved with the harvesting and trafficking of body parts from aborted babies,” she said in a statement issued shortly after the high court declined to hear the states’ appeals.

“Abortion is not health care, it is a human rights abuse,” Mancini added. “Until Planned Parenthood ceases to perform abortions, they should not receive any money from taxpayers.”

Federal funds cannot be used to pay for abortion, but pro-life advocates say Planned Parenthood should not get Medicaid funding because its facilities primarily perform abortions; the organization argues that without Medicaid funds it could not provide health screenings and birth control to low-income women.

Ala. archbishop releases names of clergy accused of abuse MOBILE, Ala. — Saying that Jesus provides light for the Church to overcome darkness, Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile released the names of priests, deacons and religious brothers who had been credibly accused of sexual misconduct with minors. In releasing the list Dec. 6, Archbishop Rodi apologized to victims of child sexual abuse as well as to parishioners throughout the southern Alabama archdiocese in a statement posted on the archdiocesan website, www.mobarch.org. The lists show that allegations were received from the 1950s through 2012. In all, 10 archdiocesan priests and one deacon were named as were 15 religious order priests and two religious brothers.

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CRS marks 75th anniversary BALTIMORE — As Catholic Relief Services staffers and supporters spent an evening marking 75 years of service in the world, one word recurred: dignity. Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, who chaired the CRS board of directors from 2010 to 2013, spoke of it in his homily at a special Mass Dec. 5 in St. Stephen’s Chapel at the organization’s Baltimore headquarters. Every day, he said, Catholic Relief Services is “trying to bring the world that IS to the world that God intends.” In most cases, this means “giving some sense of dignity to people robbed of their dignity.” Bishop Kicanas, who often visited CRS projects when he was chairman of the board, spoke of all the places he saw this occur: in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, where children scrounge for food; in India’s Uttar Pradesh state, where CRS helps women fight infant mortality. In Peru, he said, he saw an indigenous woman speaking at a meeting in her newly learned Spanish, “and the men were listening. Amazing! CRS for 75 years has been hovering over the vulnerable,” he said, calling the international relief and development agency determined, resolved and patient. “CRS will not fail,” he said, urging staffers to continue their work for another 25 years.

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Catholic groups see major harm for immigrants in changing public benefits WASHINGTON, D.C. — A proposal by the Trump administration to deny green cards to legal immigrants using public assistance “will dramatically change the process of legal migration and make it increasingly difficult for low-income and working-class individuals to legally migrate to the United States.” That’s the view of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Charities USA according to comments they filed in response proposed revisions to what is called the “public charge” rule. They urged the Department of Homeland Security to abandon the proposed rule and return to “the current and long-standing interpretation of public charge” and laid out several reasons for opposing the rule change. It will “undermine family unity and stability,” will “harm low-income and workingclass families and “have a negative impact on the social safety net. The rule will have severe consequences for public health and is detrimental to larger families,” they said.

— Catholic News Service

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL Christ the King Catholic School , a K-8 Parish school located in Atlanta (Buckhead), Georgia, seeks a dynamic, experienced and visionary principal for the 2019-2020 school year; the position is available July 1, 2019. With a long-standing history of providing quality Catholic education in the Atlanta community, Christ the King School is a three-time recognized U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In addition, the parish and school recently completed a $30 million capital campaign which will add a new gymnasium and state-of-the art classrooms to house grades 6-8 for the upcoming school year. Christ the King School enrolls 555 students with a dedicated and professional staff of 75. The school is fully accredited through AdvancED’s District-Wide Accreditation of the Office of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church; applicants should be experienced Catholic elementary school instructional leaders who possess superior communication and collaboration skills.

Additional requirements include: hold a minimum of a Master’s degree (doctorate preferred) in Educational Leadership; possess a minimum of five years of Catholic school chief administrator experience; skilled in leading and managing a large campus facility; lead with a collaborative leadership style to engage others in the mission of Catholic education; demonstrate knowledge in current areas of pedagogy and professional development; and, exhibit excellent instructional leadership.

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience; a moving allowance is also available. The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Atlanta have been certified as Drug-Free Work Places.

Send resume, letter of interest and three professional references by January 15, 2019, to: Diane Starkovich, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools Archdiocese of Atlanta 2401 Lake Park Drive S.E. Smyrna, Georgia 30080-8862 dstarkovich@archatl.com No phone calls, please.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Cardinal Pell found guilty of sex abuse, expected to appeal, reports say CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian Cardinal George Pell reportedly has been found guilty on five charges related to serious sexual misconduct involving two boys at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s.

The trial, the specific charges, the testimony and almost all other details involving the accusations against the 77-year-old cardinal are covered by a courtissued “super injunction,” which forbids all media in Australia from reporting on it.

Cardinal Pell is expected to appeal the conviction.

Sources said Cardinal Pell pleaded not guilty to all charges but was found guilty Dec. 11 by a jury of 12 people, who delivered a unanimous verdict, as required

by Victoria state statutes; the jury had deliberated for more Pell than three days.

The trial took place before Judge Peter Kidd of the County Court of the State of Victoria; it was one of two trials Cardinal Pell is reportedly facing on accusations of abuse that allegedly occurred in the 1970s and in the 1990s.

Following a monthlong pretrial hearing in May, the court ordered Cardinal Pell to stand trial on multiple charges of sexual abuse of minors, charges the cardinal consistently denied. The trial was split in two: one for the events in Melbourne in 1990s and one for the events in Ballarat in 1970s.

The first trial, for the Melbourne events, began in August, but resulted in a hung jury, sources said.

One of the alleged survivors has died since the events and the other gave

evidence via video link to the court.

Neither has been named.

Lawyers for Cardinal Pell, led by Robert Richter, are understood to have indicated they will appeal, but that would take place after the cardinal is sentenced in February. The second trial, focusing on the alleged events in Ballarat, reportedly will begin in March.

CNS was told that Australian media organizations are petitioning the court to release details of the trial and verdict.

The court had issued the gag order to “prevent a real and substantial risk of prejudice to the proper administration of justice.”

Although some of the initial charges brought by prosecutors were dismissed, including what Cardinal Pell’s lawyer described as the most “vile,” Magistrate Belinda Wallington announced May 1 that she believed there was enough evidence presented in connection with about half the original charges to warrant a full trial.

Cardinal Pell was appointed head of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy

by Pope Francis in 2014 but took a leave of absence from his position in mid2017 to face the charges. His lawyer told the court May 1 that he had already surrendered his passport.

Before leaving Rome, Cardinal Pell had told reporters at a Vatican news conference, “I’m innocent of these charges. They are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.”

“These matters have been under investigation now for two years,” Cardinal Pell told the press. “There’s been relentless character assassination, a relentless character assassination.”

Following his time as archbishop of Melbourne, 1996-2001, Pell was named archbishop of Sydney in 2001. He was made a cardinal by St. John Paul II in 2003 and is, at present, the only Australian cardinal.

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Ignoring reality of abuse, resisting responsibility must end, says Jesuit CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Anyone who still believes the abuse crisis is an “American” or “Western” problem must become properly informed, face reality and realize problems may be hidden and explode in the future, said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi.

And those who think too much talk and attention about abuse only blows the situation out of proportion or that it is time to change the topic are following “a mistaken path,” he said in the Jesuit journal, La Civilta Cattolica.

“If the issue is not fully confronted in all of its various dimensions, the Church will continue to find itself facing one crisis after another, the credibility of (the Church) and all of her priests will remain seriously wounded and, above all, the essence of her mission will suffer – that of proclaiming the Gospel and its educational work for children and young people, which for centuries has been one of the most beautiful and precious aspects of her service for humanity,” he wrote.

The article, “In the Run-up to the Meeting of Bishops on the Protection of Minors,” was sent to journalists Dec. 13 ahead of the issue’s Dec. 15 publication date. The Rome-based biweekly magazine is reviewed by the Vatican Secretariat of State before publication.

Father Lombardi, who served as head of the Vatican press office from 2006 to 2016, is president of the board of directors of the Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Foundation and is a contributing writer to the Jesuit journal.

The article, which as of Dec. 13 was available only in Italian, looked at the aims and intentions of the summit Pope Francis convoked at the Vatican Feb. 21-24 for the presidents of bishops’ conferences, representatives of religious orders and heads of Vatican dicasteries.

A major focus, he wrote, will be on helping participants understand they are being encouraged to join together – not as representatives of their own people – but as leaders of the people of God on a journey that requires the input and collaboration of

lay experts so that there may be “a united response on the universal level.”

“The entire Church must feel in solidarity, above all with the victims, with their families and with their Church communities that have been wounded by the scandals,” he wrote.

Pope Francis, he added, has also widened the scope of abuse to include not just sexual abuse but the abuse of power and of conscience and the corruption of authority, which is no longer lived as service but as the wielding of power.

The February summit will give people a chance to share experiences and best practices, he said, and to strongly encourage everyone to make “new urgent steps forward.”

While many lessons already have been learned, “there are also many open questions” left to address, he said.

One is recognizing that even though a number of countries have done much in the area of prevention and formation, “it must be recognized that in many other countries, little, if anything, has been done.”

Every bishops’ conference, bishop and religious superior must recognize their responsibility before God, the Church and society, he said.

In many cases, the seriousness of the problem of abuse and the deep amount of suffering it causes still have not sunk in, Father Lombardi wrote.

People do not need a theoretical understanding, but actual concrete awareness of the damage caused, and that will push people to overcome “laziness, fears and very dangerous resistance” and to leap into action.

“Often one continues to delude oneself that it is mainly a ‘Western’ or else an ‘American’ or ‘Anglophone’ problem and with incredible naivete, thinks that (the problem) may be marginal in one’s own country,” he wrote.

People must look carefully and never avoid the presence of problems, which are “sometimes still hidden, but are such that future dramatic explosions are possible,” Father Lombardi wrote. “Facing reality is necessary and adequate information will help a lot in this regard.”

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December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Vatican names two reconciled bishops to head Chinese dioceses SYDNEY — As part of its ongoing efforts to reconcile China’s Catholic communities, the Vatican recognized two previously excommunicated Chinese bishops as heads of dioceses. The move came after an unprecedented Beijing meeting that included a group of Vatican officials led by Pope Francis’ chief China negotiator, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli; Chinese bishops jointly recognized by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, run by the ruling Chinese Communist Party; and a group of Vatican-appointed bishops from the so-called underground church, which only recognizes the authority of Rome and not the patriotic association.

“The latest trip of the delegation of the Holy See to China is especially important because, for the first time, it was concentrated on the life of the church in China, and no longer on formal diplomatic-political issues,” Francesco Sisci, a senior researcher at Beijing’s Renmin University and former correspondent for Italian media, said. “There was a cathartic climate in the meeting of the Vatican delegation and the

bishops of the nine dioceses recognized by the Vatican. Official and underground bishops wept, prayed together and reconciled one another and with the delegation from the Holy See,” Sisci said, adding he believed it was “a very important moment in the life of the Church in China.”

Pope: Death penalty is fruit of laws lacking humanity, mercy VATICAN CITY — The death penalty is an inhumane form of punishment that ignores the primacy of mercy in the name of justice, Pope Francis said. Meeting a delegation from the International Commission against the Death Penalty Dec. 17, the pope set aside his prepared remarks and spoke off the cuff, the Vatican said. In his prepared text, the pope said his recent revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s teaching against capital punishment was an important step in recognizing that the death penalty was “a consequence of a mentality of the time – more legalistic than Christian – that sanctified the value of laws lacking in humanity and mercy. The Church could not remain in a neutral position in the face of today’s demands to reaffirm personal dignity,” the pope said.

He ordered a revision of the catechism’s paragraph on capital punishment, 2267, in August to assert that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and to commit the Church to working toward its abolition worldwide.

School Principal Openings The Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Office of Catholic Schools, is seeking highly qualified and dynamic candidates for the position of principal beginning with the 2019-2020 school year.

The successful candidates: • will be committed to fostering and maintaining a Catholic environment that is an authentic expression of Catholic faith, with the goal of producing faithful graduates where everything done in and through the school expresses love for and obedience to Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church;

Shooting in Brazilian cathedral leaves five dead, four injured SAO PAULO — Just before the end of Mass, a gunman opened fire inside Our Lady of the Conception Cathedral in Campinas, near Sao Paulo, Dec. 11, killing four people and injuring four others before turning the gun on himself, police said. Police identified the gunman as Euler Fernando Grandolpho, 49, of Valinhos.

Police said the gunman fired more than 20 shots before being cornered by officers near the altar and killing himself.

In a Dec. 12 telegram to Father Jose Eduardo Meschiatti of the Archdiocese of Campinas by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, Pope Francis expressed his sadness after hearing the news and “assured his solidarity and spiritual comfort to the families who have lost their loved ones.”

— Catholic News Service

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• will have a working knowledge of the Church’s teachings regarding Catholic identity and the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools; and, • will possess a demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, with an emphasis on innovative learning skills, teaching methods, and curricula.

Interested candidates are directed to the diocesan/human resources website https://richmonddiocese.org Specific information is available for the following school locations: All Saints Regional Catholic School (PreK-8) send completed package to: allsaints.search@richmonddiocese.org Saint Edward-Epiphany Regional Catholic School (PreK-8) send completed package to: SEES.search@richmonddiocese.org Saint Mary’s Catholic School (PreK-8) send completed package to: st.mary.search@richmonddiocese.org Candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and a completed diocesan application (obtainable from the diocesan website) to the email address(es) listed above.

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ViewPoints 22

catholicnewsherald.com | December 21, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Robert Barron

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Aeneas or Jesus: A Christmas question

ike many other students of Latin over the past 2,000 years, I struggled as a young man to understand Virgil’s great epic poem, the Aeneid. I have vivid memories of my wonderful Latin teacher, Father John Cerf, 80 at the time he taught me, eloquently holding forth on the splendid rhythms and cadences of the poem and trying, with only mild success, to get me to translate it into passable English.

One of the four or five greatest masterpieces in the Western literary tradition, the Aeneid tells the story of Aeneas, a heroic Trojan warrior and son of the goddess Venus, who managed to escape with his family from the burning ruins of his native city. After many adventures, Aeneas arrived in Latium, the area around what would develop as the city of Rome, and established there the beginnings of a new civilization, grounded in the best of the Trojan virtues. Virgil, the author of this complex and deeply moving poem, was friend to the emperor Augustus, and the Aeneid is generally regarded as a sublime piece of political propaganda: what had begun under Aeneas’s aegis was coming to full flourishing under Augustus’s benign rule. We recall that Augustus was, like Aeneas, the son of a divinity, for Augustus’s adoptive father, Julius Caesar, had been declared a god after his death.

Now what precisely were the virtues that the pious (Virgil’s favorite adjective for him) Aeneas and Augustus both embodied? Intelligence, canniness, patriotism, loyalty, to be sure – but perhaps most of all, military prowess. The celebrated opening line of the poem gives away the game: “Arma virumque cano” (“I sing of weapons and of the man”).

Aeneas’s story, like Augustus’s, is above all a tale of how military might brought order to a disordered world. Indeed, Augustus managed to seize power and pacify the Roman Empire only after fighting terrible battles against Brutus and Cassius, the murderers of Caesar, and then against Marc Antony and his consort Cleopatra of Egypt. Roman rule, the Emperor’s rule, was by the sword.

The Aeneid was composed between 29 and 19 B.C. and became, within a very short time, a standard work, a classic of Roman literature. As such, it was appropriated by the literary elite of the Roman world, but also by school children across the empire. Saul of Tarsus, coming of age during the first decades of the first century would certainly have known it, as would a younger contemporary of Saul’s, a certain Luke. When Luke sat down to write his Gospel, sometime around the year 80, he was cognizant of the fact that he was proposing a different vision and defending the prerogatives of a different King. This is made clear in a number of places in Luke’s Gospel, but it is nowhere on plainer display than in the evangelist’s telling of the story of Christmas.

The narrative, which is read at midnight Masses all over the Catholic world, commences by invoking Virgil’s friend and hero: “In those days Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole world.” In calling for a census, of course, the emperor is doing a paradigmatically powerful thing. If you can count your people more accurately, you can tax them more efficiently and you can draft them into the military more expeditiously. Don’t think for a moment, too, that Roman census takers weren’t backed up by Roman legions. So far, so Virgilian: Luke seems to be singing of weapons and of the man.

But then he turns Virgil on his head, for Luke’s story isn’t really about Augustus Caesar at all, but rather about a couple of no notoriety whatsoever making their way to a dusty hamlet on the fringes of the Roman Empire. In a crude shelter on the outskirts of the nothing town of Bethlehem, Mary gives birth to a child, who is wrapped up in swaddling clothes and placed in the manger where the animals eat.

Charles D. Fraune

An Advent reflection

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pay absolutely no heed, is in fact the true Emperor: “I come to proclaim good news to you – tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people. This day in David’s city a savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord.” To say “Messiah” and “Lord” was to imply that a new David had arrived, a new King of the Jews. But as any careful reader of the Psalms and Prophets would know, to say King of the Jews was to imply King of the world – which is precisely why the angel said his message was for “the whole people.” This true king – simple, humble, vulnerable and non-violent – would establish an order, a kingdom of God, which stands athwart the order of Rome.

Lest we have any doubt as to which of these kings is more powerful, Luke tells us, “Suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in high heaven, peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.’” We should not be sentimental in regard to angels, for the typical reaction to one in the Bible is fear. And we are dealing here with a stratia of these fearsome creatures. That Greek word, translated usually as “host” or “multitude,” literally means army. The only reason that Augustus Caesar was able to dominate the world is that he had the biggest army, but Luke is saying that the baby king actually possesses a bigger army, though it is one that fights, not with the weapons (arma) of the world, but with those of heaven.

It is of these arms and of this man that Luke sings. The Christmas challenge remains as powerful today as then: which narrative do you accept? Which hero do you follow?

dvent is under way, but I am not sure what I am supposed to be doing. Everything is so joyful outside of the Church, with lights and singing and cookies and decorations. But inside the Church, there is a sense of hesitation, of deliberate waiting. I’m not sure what that is all about.

Even the readings seem out of place. The first Sunday of Advent mentioned somewhat terrifying scenes and warnings about being ready for the coming of Christ, and admonitions against being caught off guard when the Lord suddenly returns. Most people come to Mass these days to be consoled by a message of hope and love; but how do these readings fit?

What is the true purpose of Advent, if not to celebrate the coming of Christ? Why does the Church lay out these strong, and somewhat difficult to hear, readings? Why are there penance services, and an emphasis on preparation, when we are simply remembering the birth of the gentle Lord? Even the Gospel for the feast of St. Nicholas is tough: “not everyone who says to Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven”!

If my children were paying attention to the readings, I think they would be really confused.

After this focus during the Mass, we turn the radio on in the car and usually hear “Have a holly, jolly Christmas.” My question is, who is right? Why is the world the one with the message of joy, but the Church is the one with the message of warning?

But, now that I think of it, I remember seeing a lot of Christmas trees by the curb the day after Christmas. I’ll admit, that seems wrong. Why so fast to drop Christmas? And, yes, even the radio stations drop the Christmas music around the same time. I guess I should be fair and say the same thing here as I said above: I’m not sure what that’s all about.

I know what I would rather be doing, and that is not turning off the Christmas lights and music the very day after Christmas. And, on top of that, people then go rushing back to the stores for more sales. I am starting to see a connection: it seems that the world outside of the Church can’t sit still and wait. We start Christmas celebrations right after Thanksgiving, and end them as soon as Christmas Day passes. Then we run back to the same stores we were frantically running to before Christmas. Why can’t we sit still? Why no extended enjoyment of what is supposed to be the most glorious day in history?

I’ll admit, too, I am sort of tired of Christmas cookies by Christmas Day, maybe even Christmas Eve. I usually think, “OK, just a few more in honor of Christmas Day and then I’ve got to start cutting back, maybe even start my diet again.”

But the Church wants us to start our feasting on Christmas Day, not finish it.

I get it; now I think I know what I’m supposed to be doing: watching and waiting, looking ahead and preparing, getting things ready, slowing down. Jesus is born in the still quiet of that cold, dark night. I need to be listening, and then I will rejoice at His coming!

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. This commentary was originally published Dec. 23, 2013.

CHARLES D. FRAUNE is founder of TheRetreatBox.com and author of “Come Away By Yourselves,” spiritual reading designed to teach busy Catholics how to achieve meaningful prayer in whatever time they have.

The baby is visited, not by courtiers, but by shepherds, who had, at that time, something of the status that street people have today. Then an angel appears and announces that this destitute infant, to whom Caesar Augustus in Rome would

‘This true king – simple, humble, vulnerable and non-violent – would establish an order, a kingdom of God, which stands athwart the order of Rome. The Christmas challenge remains as powerful today as then: which narrative do you accept? Which hero do you follow?’

December 21, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Fred Gallagher

Christmas: Our sorrow and our joy

A

s Christians, one of our most celebrated events is the remembrance of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and all the miraculous sights and sounds surrounding it. There are the Nativity scenes that even our most dedicated atheists have not been able to keep off church lawns and in the parlors of believers.

There are the decorated Christmas trees of Germanic custom, the carols we sing, the midnight Masses, the gifts we give and the prayers we say. All of our representations (for at least those of us interested in the real meaning of Christmas) point to the joy of that most remarkable and most important event in human history.

And so we celebrate.

And yet, there are many who hide a great sorrow under their festive garb, behind the fruitcakes and the mulled wine or cider, closed off from the frivolity and the cheer among family and friends. Perhaps it is a lingering response to great loss during the year: the death of someone close, the loss of a job, having moved from one home to another, the severities of age, the sufferings on account of great love, for, of course, to love is to suffer. For some reason when all others are joyful, our sadness comes to the fore.

Holidays are when people who are close get a little closer and when one who was close has passed on, we are left with an open wound. Our culture is not one in which pain and suffering can coexist with joy. When anything hurts we take our pills and try our best to rid ourselves of the pain.

Of course, I do not wish suffering upon anyone but, as Catholics, we know that suffering can be redemptive. We know that the same Child who whimpered and cooed in Bethlehem’s manger amid the visiting shepherds, the beasts of the stable and Joseph and Mary, is the one who sidles up to us when we hurt, who is with us in our loneliness, in the sleepless nights of our grief; the very same one who, a few years later, died on a cross for us.

In seeking advice from a spiritual director, once I complained about not having balance in my life. He told me that the word “balance” often has the connotation of equal parts of something: a half cup of black and a half cup of white, reason and emotion in equal measures, happiness on one side, sadness on the other. He told me to use instead the word “harmony.” Harmony leaves it up to us to blend the ingredients of our recipe. It could be one part salt to three parts sugar; it could be “Chopsticks” blended in our own individual way with “The Moonlight Sonata.” Whatever the blend, it may not look like balance at all, but it may be the very harmony of our lives.

Loss is not something we experience and then shut up in a drawer. It is something that becomes a part of who we are, a part of our harmony.

There is no denying that, for more than one reason, an intensity of emotion revisits us during the holidays. But, as Catholics, just as we look upon the Baby in the manger of our Nativity set, so too do we gaze at the suffering Christ upon His cross. Somehow, in ways we’re unsure of, in some harmony of the soul, that image is beautiful. Perhaps it is in Christ and through Christ, from the beginning of His life on earth to the end of His life on earth, that we are able to experience suffering and joy simultaneously.

Though we do not wish pain upon anyone and though we take prudent measures to alleviate it, especially in our neighbor, we understand the connection between suffering and the love that fills our hearts. We understand that our losses form in us a powerful empathy for others. Knowing loss enables us to be there for someone else going through it. And there is no greater joy than to be able to reach a hand out to someone in need and truly be of help. That is to bring the Christ Child bundled up in our arms to another and to experience His birth again and again through our love.

The Psalmist says, “You will let me hear gladness and joy; the bones you have crushed (broken or humbled bones, as other translations say) will rejoice.” My prayer this Christmas is that all those with bones crushed by loss or the suffering our humanity brings with it, may feel in all the hidden places of the heart, the delightful and harmonious presence of the Christ Child…and rejoice.

FRED GALLAGHER is an author and editor-in-chief with Gastonia-based Good Will Publishers Inc.

Most-read stories on the web

‘Jesus is good, Jesus is tender, Jesus is humble. This is the real Christmas!’

Pope Francis

From online story: “True Christmas celebrates Jesus, who is tender, humble, pope says”

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