April 27, 2018

April 27, 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

N.C. bishops speak on immigration issues 3 ‘Phishing’ scam targets pastors, parishioners

‘Servants of the Risen Lord’ 15 men ordained permanent deacons 14-17

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INDEX

Contact us.....................................4 Español.......................................10-12 Events calendar............................4 Our Faith........................................2 Our Parishes............................. 3-7 Schools....................................19-21 Scripture readings.......................2 TV & Movies................................. 18 U.S. news................................22-23 Viewpoints.............................26-27 World news............................ 24-25

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St. Matthew faith formation initiative yields many blessings 3

Se ofrecen jornadas de extensión de Identificaciones Comunitarias 12

Celebrating Catholic Charities Week 8-9

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. George Feast day: April 23

Pope Francis

In baptism, Holy Spirit, not magic, protects people from evil

T

he sacrament of baptism isn’t a good luck charm but a gift from God that enables Christians to overcome evil, Pope Francis said.

Those who receive the sacrament are given the strength to overcome “the temptation to separate from God, from His will, from communion with Him (and) fall into the snares of worldly seductions,” the pope said April 25 during his weekly general audience.

“Baptism is not a magic spell but a gift of the Holy Spirit that allows those who receive it to fight against the spirit of evil, believing that God sent His Son into the world to destroy the power of Satan and bring men and women from the darkness to His kingdom of infinite light,” he said.

Thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the general audience despite the day being a national holiday commemorating Italy’s liberation from Nazi occupation.

Pope Francis, however, chose to reflect on the spiritual liberation from evil offered to men and women who receive the sacrament of baptism.

Continuing his series of Easterseason talks on baptism, the pope said that the litany of the saints and the prayers of exorcism that are part of the baptismal rite are gestures meant to reassure catechumens “that the prayer of the Church assists them in the fight against evil and accompanies them on the path of good.”

“At the baptismal font, no one ever goes alone, but is accompanied by the prayer of the whole Church,” the pope said.

Another important and symbolic gesture, he explained, is anointing with oil the chest of the person about to be baptized.

Like the ancient gladiators who used oil to tone their muscles and slip through the clutches of their adversary, Christians are anointed as a sign of Christ’s power “that strengthens us to fight against evil and overcome it,” the pope said.

Although the fight against evil is a “lifelong struggle,” he said, Christians can rest assured that the Church “prays so that her children do not succumb to the snares of evil.”

“Strengthened by the risen Christ, who conquered the prince of this world, we too can say with faith like St. Paul: ‘I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,’” he said.

St. George was a soldier of the Roman army who was tortured and beheaded for his Christian faith in the year 303, in Lydda (in modern-day Palestine). He was likely born in Cappadocia, of a Cappadocian father and a Palestinian mother of noble rank. At the death of his father (possibly martyrdom) he and his mother moved to Palestine, where he joined the military and apparently served with some distinction, meriting several promotions in rank.

One account of the martyrdom of St. George is Eusebius´ “Ecclesiastical History,” which relates that when the emperor Diocletian issued an edict “to tear down the churches to the foundations and to destroy the Sacred Scriptures by fire…a certain man, of no mean origin, but highly esteemed for his temporal dignities, stimulated by a divine zeal, and excited by an ardent faith, took it as it was openly placed and posted up for public inspection, and tore it to shreds as a most profane and wicked act.” This act of intransigence and holy audacity enraged the emperor, who had the man tortured and killed. This man “of no mean origin,” i.e. of nobility, has been identified by more than one ancient source, including Eusebius, as St. George, though most modern historians of the period state that this is unlikely.

St. George is usually depicted in Christian art as a soldier on horseback, killing a dragon with a lance. This image is a representation of a popular legend of St. George which first appears in 1265 in a romance titled “The Golden Legend,” in which he saved a town terrorized by a dragon with one blow of his lance.

The image, however, is also, and more significantly, a powerful symbol of the victory of Christian faith over evil (sometimes interpreted more contextually in the early Church as “paganism”), personified by the devil, who is symbolized by the dragon according to the imagery in Revelation.

St. George is invoked as a patron of military causes, not only because he was a soldier, but also, and primarily, due to his appearance to the Christian armies before the battle of Antioch, in which they were victorious, and to King Richard the Lionheart of England during his crusade against the Saracens.

The cult of St. George, while universal, remains strongest in the Eastern Church where he is venerated as “The Great Martyr.” Accounts of early pilgrims identify the seat of the cult of St. George at his burial site in Lydda. The cult has been

“Saint-Georges et le dragon,” by Gustave Moreau (c. 1889-’90), on display at the National Gallery in London in existence since the 4th century, soon after his death.

St. George is the patron of soldiers and the patron of many nations, including Palestine, Lebanon, England, Georgia and

Malta. He is also the patron of Palestinian Christians and of Boy Scouts. He is invoked by sufferers of herpes, skin diseases, skin rashes, syphilis and snakebites.

— Catholic News Agency

Your daily Scripture readings APRIL 29-MAY 5

Sunday: Acts 9:26-31, 1 John 3:18-24, John 15:1-8; Monday (St. Pius V): Acts 14:5-18, John 14:21-26; Tuesday (St. Joseph the Worker): Acts 14:19-28, John 14:27-31; Wednesday (St. Athanasius): Acts 15:1-6, John 15:1-8; Thursday (Sts. Philip and James): 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, John 14:6-14; Friday: Acts 15:22-31, John 15:1217; Saturday: Acts 16:1-10, John 15:18-21

MAY 6-12

Sunday: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48, 1 John 4:7-10, John 15:9-17; Monday: Acts 16:11-15, John 15:26-16:4; Tuesday: Act 16:22-34, John 16:5-11; Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1, John 16:12-15; Thursday (The Ascension of the Lord): Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 4:1-13, Mark 16:15-20; Friday: Acts 18:9-18, John 16:20-23; Saturday (Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, St. Pancras): Acts 18:23-28, John 16:23-28

MAY 13-19

Sunday: Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, 1 John 4:11-16, John 7:11-19; Monday (St. Mathias): Acts 1:15-17, 20-26, John 15:9-17; Tuesday (St. Isidore): Acts 20:17-27, John 17:1-11; Wednesday : Acts 20:28-38, John 17:11-19; Thursday: Acts 22:30, 23:6-11, John 17:20-26; Friday (St. John I): Acts 25:13-21, John 21:15-19; Saturday: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31, John 21:20-25

Our parishes

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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NC’s bishops speak on immigration issues

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KELLY MATSEY

Children in St. Matthew Church’s faith formation program assembled 300 “blessing bags” and 90 “blessing buckets” to distribute to people in need, praying as they filled each one with cleaning supplies and personal care supplies.

St. Matthew faith formation initiative ‘Love Your Neighbor’ yields many blessings SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Nearly 3,000 children in St. Matthew Church faith formation programs recently participated in “Love Your Neighbor,” an outreach initiative in partnership with Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Young people in preschool through the eighth grade donated thousands of items to fill “blessing bags” and “blessing buckets” to aid people in need in Charlotte and those affected by a recent tornado in Greensboro.

Each of the 300 blessing bags was filled with a toothbrush, toothpaste, bar of soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, deodorant and a washcloth.

Ninety blessing buckets containing laundry detergent, household spray cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, sponges, paper towels and dish soap were also assembled.

“The items were collected as part of our Lenten prayer time,” explained Diane Kiradjieff, the parish’s religious education director. “The children were all asked to bring in the various items (which) we assigned by grade to ensure we had enough of each item.”

When it was time to put the blessing bags and buckets together, the preschool children rolled the washcloths and made “Thumbody Loves You” fingerprint cards. The other classes,

Learn more At www.ccdoc.org: Get information about available services from Catholic Charities or help support their work

Bishop Peter Jugis and Bishop Rafael Zarama, the new Bishop of Raleigh, are issuing a joint letter on immigration to the Catholics of North Carolina.

Their letter restates positions on immigration that have long been supported by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, but it comes at a time when federal courts are reviewing issues regarding the Dreamers, immigrants who were brought to this country as children; the federal ban on immigration from six majority-Muslim countries; and a steep decline in the number of immigrants being admitted to the United States.

Quoting Pope Francis, the letter emphasizes that fixing America’s dysfunctional immigration system is a moral imperative as well as a political policy issue.

This is the first joint letter by Bishops Jugis and Zarama. Bishop Jugis and Bishop Michael Burbidge, the former Bishop of Raleigh, had a long history of collaboration on public policy issues before Bishop Burbidge was transferred to the Diocese of Arlington, Va. — David Hains, Diocese of Charlotte communication director

D

divided into grades K-3, 4-6 and 7-8, then rotated through the gym to assemble the blessing bags and buckets.

After a brief introduction from Catholic Charities staff on who they are and who they serve, there was a prayer “service” time. Each class made a prayer circle, and within the circle were enough items to build two to three blessing bags or a blessing bucket. A modern-day parable based upon the Good Samaritan was read, describing a family displaced from their home by violence or a natural disaster. The passersby in the parable were different towns who either ignored or made the family feel unwanted, until in a third town the family was recognized as God’s children and received help from the community.

Following the parable, different scripture verses were read alluding to the items that would fill the bags and buckets. The children decided which item was needed and began filling the bags and buckets. Before they finished, the children placed their hands on the bags and buckets and prayed for the families that would be receiving them.

In total, 2,969 young people collected more than 6,000 items to fill the blessing bags and blessing buckets.

“In a faith formation program, it is too easy to get so focused on the learning that we sometimes forget about the doing,” Kiradjieff said. “One of the biggest challenges for catechists is to make sure what we are teaching is relevant to the students’ life – that they are able to take their Catholic faith into their daily life and live it to the fullest.”

She explained that the three goals with the project were: to

ear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, While it is clear that the immigration process is in dire need of reform, the issue of immigration policy and enforcement is both complicated and emotional. While we agree that there is room for disagreement and discussion with respect to immigration policy, we wish to remind our more than 1 million Catholic faithful in North Carolina of the stated positions of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) formed

by Catholic social teaching and encourage personal reflection and formation on these issues.

The issue of immigration is not merely about policy, it is a moral concern impacting the human dignity and human rights of every person. While we must certainly respect our borders and our laws, we are particularly supportive of immigration policy reforms. Every day we see firsthand the consequences of a system that creates fear and anxiety amongst individuals who have become a vital part of our parishes and make substantial contributions to the economic and social fabric of our communities.

As Catholics, we advocate for the recognition that immigrants, as members of God’s human family, are deserving of and must be granted the appropriate dignity as our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus himself was a refugee and taught us to welcome the stranger and to realize that in welcoming the stranger, we are welcoming Christ Himself.

Our Catholic Charities offices stand ready to help with food and other household necessities for all families that find

CHARITY, SEE PAGE 21

IMMIGRATION, SEE PAGE 23

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: APRIL 27 – 5 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Ann Church, Charlotte

MAY 2 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

APRIL 30 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem

Diocesan calendar of events April 27, 2018

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 27 • NUMBER 15

CAROLINA PRO MUSICA IN CONCERT: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 5, Gaston County Public Library’s main branch, 1555 East Garrison Blvd., Gastonia. Featuring Baroque music with vocal and instrumental works by Handel, Bach, Telemann and others. Part of the free Gaston Early Music Series.

1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

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

STAFF EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org 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.

LECTURES & WORKSHOPS A DRUG EPIDEMIC, ‘FAMILY IN CRISIS’: 7 p.m. Sunday, April 29, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. Program will take an inside look at the drug problem in the Charlotte area. Experts in the legal and medical fields will share their insight into the drug epidemic and how it’s ravaging the community. Also hear from local families who have lost children to drugs and are now sharing what they learned from their experience. For details, call Antoinette Usher at 704-5437677, ext. 1025.

THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PORTRAYED IN SCRIPTURE: 7 p.m. every Monday in May, in the Assembly Room at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Bring your Bible, questions and a friend to this free four-week course and explore the beauty of Mary shining so brilliantly in the Scriptures we venerate.

Father Santiago Mariani will host the workshop. For details, call the parish office at 704-554-7088.

‘WORDS FOR A WOUNDED WORLD, COME HOLY SPIRIT, COME & ENERGIZE US’: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 19, Our Lady of Consolation Church’s Parish Life Center, 2301 Statesville Ave., Charlotte. Spiritual Day of Reflection led by Father Maurice Emelu, founder and chair of Gratia Vobis Ministries, Inc., and a priest of the Diocese of Orlu in southeast Nigeria. He is a renowned Catholic speaker and retreat preacher. Register online before May 12 at www.ourladyofconsolation.org/day-of-reflection or email Chanele Jackson at olcladiesguild@gmail.com.

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

Saturday, May 19, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, 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 704-370-3230.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS PARISH MISSION ON DIVINE MERCY: 6:30 p.m. April 2930 and May 1, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Father Chris M. Alar, MIC, a nationallyknown speaker who has regularly appeared on EWTN, will lead the mission. Topics include: the message of Divine Mercy, the meaning of the Holy Mass, the sacraments, the reason for suffering, and much more. A relic of St. Faustina will also be available for veneration. All are welcome. For details, contact the parish office at 704334-2283.

HELPERS OF GOD’S PRECIOUS INFANTS PROCESSION FOR LIFE: 9 a.m. Mass, Saturday, April 28, at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte.

Procession for life and prayer following Mass to A Preferred Women’s Health abortion mill on Latrobe Drive.

Father Christopher Bond will lead peaceful prayers. For details, visit www.charlottehelpers.com.

RACHEL’S VINEYARD RETREATS: Rachel’s Vineyard can help men and women who have experienced abortion begin their healing journey. It creates a healing environment of prayer and forgiveness. The retreat works to reconnect people to themselves, their friends and family after having an abortion. For details, email Jackie Childers at jackie.childers1@gmail.com.

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at 901 North Main St., and Sunset Drive, High Point. Come and help us pray for the end of abortion. For details, call Jim Hoyng 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman 336-848-6835.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

MINI-RETREAT ON REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS: Monday-Tuesday, May 7-8, mini-retreat at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville, led by Deacon Guillermo Anzola of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe.

English retreat at 6-6:45 p.m.; Spanish retreat at 7-7:45 p.m. Monday’s topic: Repentance. Tuesday’s topic: Forgiveness.

MASS FOR THE INTENTION OF THE MENTALLY ILL: 6 p.m. May 9, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. Patients and families dealing with mental illness are invited. After Benediction, the Friends of St. Dymphna, patron saint of the mentally ill, will meet at the church for prayer and support. For details, call Barbara Edwards at 828-654-0228.

UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC DIVINE LITURGY AND UPCOMING TALK: 11 a.m. Sunday, May 13, at Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton, 42 Newfound St., Canton, offered by Father. Mark Shuey. The mission will also have its usual talk, Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion on Saturday, May 19. The talk, “A Patristic View of Mary, the Mother of God,” will be at 3:30 p.m. Vespers and Typica with Holy Communion will be celebrated at 5 p.m. For details, go to www. ukrainiancatholicmissionofcantonnc.weebly.com.

MASS TO HONOR MILITARY PERSONNEL: 10:30 a.m. rosary, 11 a.m. Mass, Monday, May 28, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Offered for all military personnel who have died, retired and for those who are now serving. All military personnel are invited and encouraged to come in uniform.

SPECIAL MASS FOR ‘CORPUS CHRISTI’: 10:30 a.m.

Sunday, June 3, in the Maryfield Chapel, at Pennybyrn at Maryfield, 1315 Greensboro Road, High Point. All First Communicants are invited, in their First Communion attire, to join in the procession honoring Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist and also help commemorate the 24th anniversary of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Maryfield. Father James Solari will be the principal celebrant. Refreshments will be served in Norcross Square following Mass.

‘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: CHARLOTTE: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

CONCORD: 8 a.m. Saturday, May 5, St. James the Greater Church, 139 Manor Ave. YOUNG ADULTS CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry, and at: OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH: contact Denise Duliepre, 917-575-0871 ST. GABRIEL CHURCH: Meet up on “Charlotte Catholic Young Adult Ministry” ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH: call Meg VanGoethem, 815-545-2587.

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH: on Facebook at “Young Adult Life: A St. Matthew Ministry” ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL: on Facebook at “The Cathedral of St. Patrick - Young Adult Ministry” ST. PETER CHURCH: look them up on Facebook “St Peter CC Charlotte YAM” ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH: online at “Aquinas’ Finest,” www.stacharlotte.com/finest ST. MARK CHURCH IN HUNTERSVILLE: online at www. meetup.com/St-Mark-Catholic-Church-Youth-AdultMinistry/ HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH IN DENVER: call Nicole Lehman, 704-607-5207 ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH IN WINSTON-SALEM: online at “Winston Salem Frassati, “www.wsfrassati.com

SUPPORT GROUPS & RETREATS CHRONIC PAIN SUPPORT GROUP: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. third Tuesday of each month at St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr., Arden. To make an appointment, call the Council on Aging of Buncombe County at 828-277-8288.

Sponsored by Arthritis Services in conjunction with Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Elder Ministry.

For details, call Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220.

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

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Padre Pio’s relics and spirit visit St. Pius X Church GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — St. Pius X Church welcomed the spirit and relics of St. Pio of Pietrelcina the weekend of April 14.

“It was a beautiful weekend,” said Lindsay Kohl, the parish’s director of formational studies. Kohl, along with parishioners Rita and Mario Pugliese, planned and coordinated Padre Fortunato Grottola’s visit to the Greensboro parish.

A Capuchin friar, Padre Fortunato helps to oversee the Shrine of St. Padre Pio in southern Italy and has most recently been assigned the superior guardian in Pietrelcina, where St. Pio once lived.

With four weekend Masses, an Italian dinner celebration, time with the youth and a seniors luncheon, the people of the parish felt truly blessed by Padre Fortunato’s visit.

The friar also visited the sick who reside at Maryfield in High Point, which was very important to him.

“He visited one of our very sick parishioners between Masses,” Kohl added.

St. Pio of Pietrelcina, known simply as Padre Pio, is dearly loved by many, especially in Italy.

During his time in Greensboro, Padre Fortunato shared many stories of the great saint, stigmatist and mystic who died in 1968. As a child, Fortunato even met Padre Pio, when a school trip afforded him the opportunity to shake Padre Pio’s hand which bore the wounds of Christ.

Padre Fortunato brought several relics with him which were used during the blessings after each Mass: Padre Pio’s habit from 1918, the one he wore shortly after having received the stigmata. A wool scarf he used to cover his head and shoulders, as he is so often pictured. A wool glove which he used to cover his hand so the stigmata would not always be visible to people. Blood that flowed from his wounded side, wrapped by a linen he used for this purpose.

Frances Giaimo and her husband Sal were among three families who hosted an Italian celebration at the parish to welcome Padre Fortunato. Sharing recipes and expertise, the Giaimos, Errichiellos and Puglieses created a “labor of love” Italian feast for the parish and their Italian guest.

St. Pio is a saint of many gifts: family, vocations, hope and healing, parishioners described.

“What’s amazing is that there are so many parishioners here at St. Pius X who have had personal encounters with St. Pio and his many blessings,” noted St. Pius X staff member Carolyn Painley.

During an interview at the seniors’ luncheon, parishioner Janet Corrigan shared her son’s story of hope and answered prayers. Sean and Elaine Corrigan traveled to Medjugorje many years ago for the purpose of praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary to have a child. They had tried for years, but had been unable to conceive.

While there, they met pro-life speaker Molly Kelly. When the Corrigans shared their reason for traveling to Medjugorje, Kelly enthusiastically told them that a priest accompanying her carried a glove of Padre Pio’s. The Corrigans arranged for a blessing, and the priest placed the glove over Elaine Corrigan’s womb and prayed.

The Corrigans now have four children.

“Pray big,” Pattie Murray told her sister Joan Hennessey, who was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma in 2005. Murray, a Secular Franciscan and St. Pius X parishioner, said everyone in her family prayed to St. Pio for her sister to be healed, even taking her to the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto, Pa., and to the St. Padre Pio Shrine in

PHOTOS BY GEORGIANNA PENN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Above) Parishioners at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro were blessed by a relic of St. Pio of Pietrelcina during a recent visit from Capuchin Friar Fortunato Grottol, now the superior guardian in Pietrelcino, where the saint once lived. (Top right) Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor, and Rita and Mario Pugliese and their daughter Sara are pictured with a scarf that once belonged to St. Pio. Sara said she felt drawn to the scarf all weekend, and Padre Fortunato even gave it to her to sleep with one night when she was feeling scared. (Right) Dr. Juan Fernandez brought a statue of St. Pio to be blessed by Padre Fortunato. His devotion to the saint led him to his vocation of becoming a physician, and he has delivered almost 10,000 babies over his medical career.

Landisville, N.J. After extensive surgeries and clinical trials, her sister’s cancer was declared in remission a year later.

“She had prayed to St. Pio – he was it,” Murray said.

Unfortunately, she continued, her sister’s cancer came back.

“Her prayer at that point was that she could see both of her daughters graduate from high school,” Murray said.

Her sister’s prayer was answered, living long enough to see them both graduate before passing away on the sixth anniversary of St. Pio’s canonization, on June 16, 2008. “That’s something many people may not see as significant, but I do,” Murray said.

“It was 1968, in Catholic grade school in Miami,” Dr. Juan Fernandez shared in an interview after the Italian feast celebration.

“A group of people was going around the country talking about Padre Pio. They were trying to get signatures for his beatification and they showed a lot of pictures and talked about the miracles and the stigmata,” he said.

Young Fernandez, an eighth-grader at the school, became really impressed with Padre Pio, who had died earlier that year, and he signed the petition. “It’s hard to believe – I get choked up 50 years later – that I was able to get his blessing from the gloves that he wore,” he said.

After learning about Padre Pio, Fernandez felt called to discern the priesthood and spent time at St. John Vianney Minor Seminary in Miami.

“My high school would allow me to go and spend time there to see if I really had the vocation,” he recalled. “But God showed me a different path, to become a physician.”

Now an obstetrician and gynecologist, Fernandez has delivered approximately 10,000 babies over his 35-year medical career.

After he retires in August, he and his wife will be going on the Camino de Santiago (Way of St. James) pilgrimage, he said.

After Padre Fortunato’s visit, Fernandez said he feels he is being called once again.

“I don’t know what it is, but He knows my mind, my heart and my soul are open to whatever it is He wants me to do next.”

From vocations, to family to hope and healing, St. Pio shares a wide range of gifts with God’s people.

“Every time I talked to Padre Fortunato, I was overcome with emotion,” Kohl said.

“Saints are funny. They find a way to help people.”

Rita and Mario Pugliese hosted Padre Fortunato during his visit to Greensboro.

“I feel very full,” said Rita Pugliese. “He left a peace in my house. Each time he entered my home, he would say, ‘Pace a questa casa,’” she said.

The Puglieses have a personal connection to St. Pio. Originally from Monte di Procida, a small town near Naples, Italy, Mario Pugliese’s mother met St. Pio more than 50 years ago when she was having trouble getting pregnant. She wrote him a letter and he wrote back, inviting her to a special Mass. She went to the Mass and

even though it was extremely crowded, she got close enough to him to receive his blessing. He pointed to her and said, “You will have kids.” She soon had her first child, then Mario, and later a third child.

Rita Pugliese said Padre Fortunato feels part of the St. Pius X family now. He could really feel the faith and love of the parishioners and see it in their eyes, she said.

“Padre Pio in a singular way manifested so many spiritual gifts. It was a great privilege to welcome Father Fortunato to St. Pius and have him bring the spiritual legacy of this great saint to life for us,” said Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor.

“Padre Pio was a powerful intercessor in life, and we know this to be even more true since he has joined the company of saints. Many people at St. Pius felt that intercession in a very poignant and personal way.”

DELLA SUE BRYSON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

WCU altar dedicated CULLOWHEE — The feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated April 9 in a very special way by Western Carolina University’s Catholic Campus Ministry, for which their chapel is named. Father Casey Coleman, pastor of St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva and Campus Ministry chaplain, assisted by Father Peter Shaw, pastor of St. Joseph Church in Bryson City, consecrated a new altar built by Joe Conway, father-in-law to Deacon Matthew Newsome, WCU’s campus minister.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 OUR PARISHES

A Gift for the Ages Many consider their parish or mission family like a “loved one” to be remembered, once family has been taken care of in their will.

Please, consider remembering your parish in your will, or making a tax-deductible contribution to an endowment that already exists for your parish.

Establish a legacy that responds to the gifts God has given to you. Support the future Catholic presence of your parish in ways that provide benefits to you, and that are probably easier to accomplish than you think.

For information on how to leave a legacy at your parish, please contact Ray-Eric Correia, Director of Planned Giving at 704-370-3364 or recorreia@charlottediocese.org.

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

Call 1-855-930-GIVE today!

CCDOC.ORG

‘Phishing’ scam targets Charlotte-area pastors, parishioners KIMBERLY BENDER ONLINE REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Scammers posing as Charlotte-area pastors have been soliciting parishioners for money, and pastors are warning their parishioners to be vigilant about electronic communications.

Criminals recently sent emails impersonating Father Frank O’Rourke to parishioners of St. Gabriel Church asking for iTunes gift cards to help a sick friend in the hospital. Several parishioners did in fact trust that the email was actually from their pastor and sent the impostor gift cards worth about a thousand dollars.

The gift cards were used immediately, and none of that money has been recovered, said Claudia Goppold, St. Gabriel Church business manager.

A similar incident happened at St. Peter Church in Charlotte in late March, when some ministry leaders received emails and tweets on Twitter falsely claiming to be Jesuit Father James Shea.

“This is effectively a real old email ‘phishing’ scam technique,” said David Hains, director of communications for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Just because it’s one of the oldest email scams in the book doesn’t mean criminals won’t use it, Hains said. “It’s important to remember while we’re protecting ourselves from all the new ways scam artists try to trick people, it doesn’t mean criminals aren’t still going to use the old ways.”

Neither Father O’Rourke’s email accounts nor the parish’s communication system was compromised, said Scott Long, director of information technology for

the diocese. Somehow someone received a list of some of the parishioners’ email information. The impostor created a new account using Gmail and pretended to be Father O’Rourke.“Someone actually just impersonated him. They created a new email account and used his authority as pastor under the new account. People trusted that it was legitimate,” Long said.

“It’s a really good scam. Impersonating the identity of a trusted authority can be very effective.”

If you receive an email asking for information or money – whether from your bank, a vendor or even your pastor – it’s good to verify the information by calling using a contact number not in the email message, Long said.

That’s how St. Gabriel Church learned of the scam. Someone called the parish office and asked about the email. The next day, Father O’Rourke warned of the scam during daily Mass and asked parishioners to raise their hands if they had received a similar fraudulent email. Most raised their hands, Hains said.

All of the 3,400 families at St. Gabriel Church did receive an email – a legitimate one – from the parish following the incident to warn about what had happened. Since then, several other parishes in the diocese have sent emails to their parishioners warning them about phishing scams and not to follow instructions on suspicious emails.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Police has received information about these incidents, and no arrests have been made as of April 24.

SCAM, SEE PAGE 21

Donate Your Car Make your car go the extra mile.

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

Truck, boat, RV and motorcycle donations accepted.

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

MARKUS KUNCORO AND MIKE FITZGERALD | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Dominican rite Mass offered CHARLOTTE — More than 100 faithful including several lay Dominicans attended a rare Dominican rite Latin Mass at St. Ann Church April 18. The Mass was offered by Dominican Father Raymund Snyder from Washington, D.C., and the Mass was possibly the first Dominican rite Mass offered in the Diocese of Charlotte’s history. Prior to the Second Vatican Council, certain religious orders including the Dominicans retained their own liturgical customs including a distinct Mass, which reflected the charism of the order. After Vatican II, most orders including the Dominicans adopted the Mass of Pope Paul VI, now called the Ordinary Form Mass. The Dominican rite liturgy, which dates back to the 13th century, is similar to the Traditional Latin Mass (Extraordinary Form Mass), but with a few variations. Mass begins with a priest preparing the chalice (which normally occurs during the offertory), and after the consecration the priest extends his hands in a cruciform gesture. After Mass, Father Snyder provided a talk on cultivating a God-centered spiritual life through the indwelling of the Holy Trinity; and how God works deeper in a person’s soul, beyond an emotional level. He also introduced the attendees to St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, who cultivated within herself the dwelling place of God amidst the busyness of life. The event was sponsored by St. Ann Parish.

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief

OUR PARISHESI

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have pressured African governments to accept population control programs and abortion while simultaneously ignoring critically funding needs for water access, infrastructure development and education.

Ekeocha’s talk concluded by highlighting the successful effort of the Ugandan government to reduce AIDS by promoting virtue including abstinence outside marriage. The talk was sponsored by Our Lady of Grace Church in Indian Land, S.C., and supported by members of Crusaders for Life, Belmont Abbey College’s student pro-life organization.

— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

CDA hosts state workshop

International pro-life speaker visits Belmont Abbey College BELMONT — Noted international and African pro-life activist Obianuju Ekeocha provided a lively talk about pro-life efforts in Africa to Belmont Abbey College students April 17.

Ekeocha, an author and scientist from Nigeria, is the founder of Culture of Life Africa, which seeks to evangelize the pro-life message throughout Africa and has appeared on numerous media programs including EWTN and recently wrote “Target Africa: Ideological Neo-colonialism of the Twenty-first Century,” published by Ignatius Press.

Her talk focused on the economic pressures African countries face by western nations to accept contraception and abortion in their countries despite overwhelming local opposition. Specifically, Ekeocha highlighted western non-profits and government agencies, including those from the United States, which

STATESVILLE — Court St. Philip the Apostle 2593 hosted the Catholic Daughters of the Americas North Carolina Workshop April 14 at St. Philip the Apostle Church.

It was attended by 86 members from North Carolina, as well as National Regent Helene Shepard. Dawn McGinn, regent of Court St. Philip the Apostle, welcomed the women.

Belinda Swager, state regent, introduced the head table which included: Father Thomas Tully of New Bern, who was officially installed as state chaplain; National Regent Helene Shepard; Essie Walker, national director from Charlotte; state officers Bonnie Fox, Gwen Parris, Teresa Cornett and Brenda Spizzo; and guest speaker Deacon Chuck Zlamal, chaplain of Court St. Bernadette.

The theme of the Spiritual Reflection Workshop was “How our works, especially the ones that benefit those who are facing challenges, can better bind us together as one family in Christ.” Breakfast and lunch were served, and awards were given out to Circle of Love, Education Contest and Newsletter Contest award winners.

— Connie Ries

GIULIANA POLINARI RILEY | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Improvements at Mary Queen of Peace Monastery RUTHERFORDTON — The Benedictine Sisters of Mary Queen of Peace Monastery are in the process of adding a chapel wing to their residence. The new addition will also provide space for a classroom. Also, using leftover rock from a project at their parish (Immaculate Conception in Forest City), the sisters made a stone pathway on the side of their house, linking the driveway to the stairs going up to the front porch. The project should be completed sometime in June. Learn more about the community at www.qopbenedictines.com.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 OUR PARISHES

Celebrating Catholic Charities Week Directors get hands-on at CCUSA annual gathering Each year, employees from Catholic Charities agencies from across the country come together to learn from each other in fellowship. This year, the host city of Houston, Texas, was decimated

by Hurricane Harvey days before the event was scheduled to take place. Instead of canceling, the gathering became a mission of service. Partnering with the local Houston Catholic Charities, nine staff from our Catholic Charities agency rolled up their sleeves to assist with recovery efforts, including the distribution of food, water, cleaning supplies, and providing information and referral to case management services. They joined a team of more than 500 others to provide help and hope to the local survivors. Executive Director and CEO Dr. Gerard Carter observed, “It was truly amazing to see the gratitude expressed to us for even the smallest help by people living in the midst of widespread devastation. The truism was really true here – we received much more than we gave.”

Winston-Salem office relocates to better serve the Triad

Social Concerns and Advocacy ‘Share the Journey’

Asheville expands services to those most vulnerable

Last summer, the Piedmont Triad Office relocated to a newly renovated 10,000-square-foot facility. “Our new location is in the midst of a neighborhood consisting of many more families. We have already experienced an increase of new people from the neighborhood coming to the food pantry and for baby clothes,” said Office Director Becky DuBois. The building offers program participants a larger, more comfortable waiting room, a spacious food pantry, and a multipurpose room for events and gatherings.

The space enabling all staff to work together under one roof has already proven beneficial. The Translation and Interpretation Enterprise (TIE) program has already trained more than 70 participants to become community interpreters since the program began two years ago. The larger food pantry has been able to serve more people on a weekly basis. At a glance, in March of this year, 1,219 people were provided with 23,410 pounds of food, compared to 521 people and 12,956 pounds of food in March 2017. DuBois added, “We are grateful to our donors and supporters for their dedication and ongoing commitment to the mission and work of Catholic Charities from this new location.“

Spearheaded by the Social Concerns and Advocacy program, Catholic Charities staff are supporting Pope Francis’ launch of the Caritas “Share the Journey” campaign from St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 27, 2017, in support of migrants and refugees. Director of Social Concerns and Advocacy Joseph Purello said, “I believe he has sent two clear messages. One is to all migrants and refugees that they are not forgotten – the Church is aware of their struggles and fears. And the second is to all Catholics – that we must pray for migrants and refugees, love them as our neighbor, and help alleviate their suffering.” Catholic Charities sponsored a rally and prayer service with the Asheville vicariate for “Dreamers” to promote social awareness. “Before the hundreds in attendance and observing at the sidelines, the Church gave public witness to the plight of migrants in our communities. The Aztec dancers from St. Lawrence Basilica showed the rich culture that the Hispanic community brings to our church and community,” said Nicholas Haskell, Catholic Charities’ Poverty and Justice Education Coordinator for Western North Carolina.

New leadership roles and an expansion of services have highlighted this past year in the Asheville area. Deacon Mark Nash joined Catholic Charities as the western regional office director. Deacon Nash brought to the role a unique combination of pastoral ministry and significant corporate management experience to benefit the western area of the diocese.

Efforts are being made to establish the Burial Assistance Program throughout the western region of the diocese.

“We are working to finalize an agreement with local funeral homes and cemeteries to make this program a reality for the poor and underserved in our region,” said Deacon Nash. Once in place, this program will be the only one of its kind in the western region, allowing those in need to be buried with dignity.

Case Management services have been added to the list of services offered in the Asheville office. Christy Rhodes was hired to bring her experience and skill as the office looks to expand the Transitions Out of Poverty program to Asheville.

— Kathleen Durkin, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte

Annual Report

OUR PARISHESI

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

2017

April 29-May 5 54 23 46 34 7 6 3

Refugees Resettled Refugees Assisted

Natural Family Planning participants

Refugees Employed

94

Apartments Set Up

dignified Burials

2,470 Counseling sessions to 334 people Immigration participants

2,071

Social Concerns Education & Respect Life

17

Food Pantry individuals provided with 523,385 pounds of food and pounds of non-food supplies

19,026 people served

in Transition Out of Poverty

Parenting

230

people received Financial Assistance

152 services to 40

1,880 bags of Clothing to 710 households

Elder Ministry 1,068 participants

Holiday Assistance provided to households

17 students in

501

Stay the Course

Get Involved

Go to ccdoc.org to learn more about the impact of Catholic Charities and how you can help a neighbor in need by volunteering or making a donation today. Every gift of time, talent, and treasure helps strengthen families, build communities, and reduce poverty across the 46 counties served by our local offices.

ccdoc.org

360 volunteers contributed 26,317 hours of service

46

Services for young mothers and fathers

Youths in Crisis

event participants

65 participants

13,067

40

298

families & individuals received Adoption Services 19 Pregnancy Support participants

12,702

379

Far West Families First served households

784

Marriage Preparation participants

hours

9

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 10

Padre Fidel Melo

La Pascua: Justificación en Jesucristo

F

elices Pascuas La Pascua es la festividad central de los cristianos en la cual celebramos la Resurreción de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo.

Debido a su importancia se prolonga durante cincuenta días, pues es la conmemoración del regreso de Jesucristo de entre los muertos y, por lo tanto, el acontecimiento que marca la esperanza, para quienes creemos en Él, de una nueva vida después de esta vida.

“Al que venga a mi no lo echare afuera, porque he bajado del cielo no para hacer mi voluntad, sino la voluntad del que me ha enviado. Esta es la voluntad del que me ha enviado: que no pierda nada de lo que me dio, sino que lo resucite en el último día. Esta es la voluntad de mi Padre: que todo el que ve al Hijo y cree en Él tenga vida eterna, y yo lo resucitaré en el ultimo día” (Jn. 6, 35-40).

La Pascua es la celebración de la victoria de Jesucristo sobre la muerte. La muerte no tendrá más dominio, no será más un final oscuro y tenebroso sino el principio de una nueva forma de vida en Jesucristo. “Vi un cielo nuevo y una tierra nueva, porque el primer cielo y la primera tierra pasaron, y el mar ya no existía más” (Ap. 21, 1).

La Pascua es el paso de la muerte a la vida que ocurre en Cristo después de su Pasión y muerte. Él resucita para ofrecernos la misma posibilidad, es decir, resucitar con Él por la fuerza y gracia recibidas de Él, ya que, si bien somos frágiles ante la tentación, en Cristo recibimos la gracia de la justificación.

Como lo expresan las Sagradas Escrituras, “Justificados pues por la fe, tenemos paz para con Dios por medio de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Porque Cristo cuando aún éramos débiles, a su tiempo murió por los pecadores (Rom. 5, 1-6), “pues por nuestra fe, Dios nos acepta como justos también a nosotros, los que creemos en aquel que resucitó a Jesús, Nuestro Señor, quien fue entregado por nuestros pecados y fue resucitado para nuestra justificación” (Rom. 4, 24-25).

Estas palabras de San Pablo en su carta a los Romanos son muy reconfortantes para nosotros porque ofrecen el consuelo y la alegría de la esperanza del perdón o justificación en Cristo Jesús por la fe.

Con frecuencia las personas suelen pensar que después de una falta o pecado todo está perdido y que no hay justificación o perdón de Dios. Sin embargo, no hay que olvidar que en Cristo encontramos la justificación y el perdón. Solo es necesario el arrepentimiento y la reconciliación con Jesucristo.

De modo que la Pascua es un tiempo litúrgico de alegría y celebración porque Cristo Resucitado es nuestra justificación.

Por eso San Pedro, cabeza de la Iglesia, dice: “Él mismo (Jesucristo) llevó nuestros pecados en su cuerpo sobre la cruz, a fin de que muramos al pecado y vivamos a la justicia, porque por sus heridas fueron ustedes sanados” (1Pe. 2, 24).

Así que en la Pascua celebramos que Cristo Resucitado abre las puertas del Reino de los Cielos para nosotros si le aceptamos como nuestro Redentor.

Y para aceptarle como Redentor basta que le recibamos en el corazón y en nuestra vida, día a día, luchando por ser mejores seres humanos y mejores cristianos, haciendo todo el bien que podamos, al igual que pidiéndolo y deseándolo a quienes lo necesiten.

Felices Pascuas de Resurreción y que Cristo sea luz y guía en nuestro diario caminar.

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

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

El Obispo Peter J. Jugis ordenó quince hombres como diáconos permanentes el 21 de abril en la Iglesia San Marcos de Huntersville. Los recién ordenados diáconos podrán asistir en el altar, proclamar el Evangelio y dar homilías en la Misa, además de administrar el sacramento del bautismo y oficiar bodas. Los diáconos permanentes sirven en parroquias y áreas pastorales especializadas como el Ministerio Hispano, RICA, la capellanía del aeropuerto y el ministerio de prisiones.

‘Ustedes son servidores del Señor resucitado’ Quince diáconos permanentes fueron ordenados para la Diócesis de Charlotte SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA PRINCIPAL

CHARLOTTE — “La Diócesis de Charlotte está creciendo, y la Iglesia aguarda ansiosamente su servicio al Pueblo de Dios”.

Ese fue el mensaje del Obispo Peter Jugis mientras ordenaba a 15 hombres como diáconos permanentes durante una Misa de dos horas, realizada el pasado 14 de abril en la Iglesia San Marcos de Huntersville.

El Obispo Jugis dirigió su homilía a los quince hombres, señalando, “Nuestra lectura del libro de Los Hechos de los Apóstoles (6, 1-7) esta mañana nos dijo: ‘Mientras el número de discípulos continuaba creciendo, los apóstoles vieron la necesidad de ordenar a ciertos hombres para que atiendan a diversas diaconías dentro de la comunidad cristiana’. Y nosotros, en la Diócesis de Charlotte, nos encontramos en una situación similar. Mientras el número de discípulos continúa creciendo en la Diócesis de Charlotte, vemos la necesidad de ordenar a ciertos hombres para atender las diversas diaconías del Ministerio de la Palabra, el Ministerio del Altar y el Ministerio de la Caridad dentro de la comunidad cristiana”.

Con esta promoción de ordenados, la diócesis tiene ahora 135 diáconos permanentes – el mayor número en su historia – sirviendo en todo el oeste de Carolina del Norte, donde el número de católicos asciende a más de 450,000.

Los diáconos recién ordenados ahora podrán asistir en el altar durante la Misa, proclamar el Evangelio en Misa, dar homilías, administrar el sacramento del bautismo y oficiar bodas. Los diáconos permanentes sirven en parroquias y áreas pastorales especializadas como el Ministerio Hispano, RICA, la capellanía del aeropuerto y el Ministerio de prisiones.

Durante la homilía, el obispo dirigió su mirada a los candidatos a diáconos sentados ante él, en la base de los escalones del santuario. Sus familiares y amigos se sentaron detrás de ellos.

“Sus esposas y familiares, sus amigos, sus pastores, los diáconos y los fieles de la diócesis están aquí para orar por ustedes mientras reciben los dones del Espíritu Santo”, dijo.

El Obispo Jugis se maravilló de la manera como el Señor resucitado no solo nos da alegría en este tiempo de Pascua, sino también con el regalo de quince nuevos diáconos para la Iglesia. Explicó que a medida que son ordenados reciben el carácter espiritual indeleble que los configura como diáconos de la Iglesia.

“Jesús dijo que no vino para ser servido, sino para servir”, señaló el obispo. “Nuestros diáconos son ordenados para servir. Ese es su ministerio especial.

A través del sacramento de las sagradas órdenes reciben la gracia santificante que los prepara para este ministerio”.

Llamándolos “hijos queridos”, el Obispo Jugis los alentó a “mantener una relación cercana con Jesús, el Señor Resucitado. Él es a quien ustedes sirven. Los fieles deben poder ver a Cristo en ustedes. El Maestro debe ser reconocido en el discípulo”.

“Es en el nombre de Jesús que ustedes son enviados”, les recordó. “Todo lo que puedan lograr debe ser realizado en el nombre de Jesucristo. Si no mantienen una relación vital con Jesús, su ministerio SERVIDORES, PASA A LA PÁGINA 11

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

11

Durante el rito de ordenación, los hombres se arrodillaron uno a uno ante el Obispo Jugis prometiendo lealtad a la Iglesia en su ministerio como diáconos. También recibieron los Evangelios. Luego el obispo impuso sus manos sobre la cabeza de cada uno de los candidatos, invocando al Espíritu Santo.

SUEANN HOWELL Y JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

El Diácono Carlos Medina (izquierda) abraza a cada uno de los nuevos diáconos en signo de paz al término del rito de ordenación. Cada uno de los diáconos presentes saludó a sus nuevos hermanos diáconos de la misma manera, felicitándolos por su nuevo ministerio para la Iglesia.

SERVIDORES VIENE DE PÁGINA 10

se convertirá en algo opaco, aburrido, superficial, incapaz de inspirar. Jesús, trabajando en ustedes y su ministerio, a través del Espíritu Santo, lo mantendrá fresco”.

Un diácono de la Iglesia debe hacer muchos malabares en su vida, reconoció el obispo.

“Es una invitación desafiante de Dios la que han escogido responder – ser diácono, integrar su vida de casado, de familia, carrera y ministerio diaconal. Ello puede lograrse y de manera muy efectiva, y tus hermanos diáconos te lo pueden demostrar con el ejemplo de sus propias vidas”, dijo.

El principio unificador de todos estos deberes, continuó, “es vuestro amor por Jesús y deseo de servirlo. Después de todo, cuando vemos el triple ministerio que están a punto de asumir como diáconos, Jesús es una vez más el principio unificador de esos tres ministerios”, Ministerio de la Palabra, del Altar y el de la Caridad.

“El ministerio del Altar y los sacramentos es la renovación del sacrificio de Jesús que servirán en el Sacrificio de la Misa”, dijo. “Él es autor y actor siempre presente en la Eucaristía y los sacramentos”.

“El ministerio de la Palabra es la Palabra hecha carne, la que proclaman y enseñan a través de sus palabras y testimonio”.

“El ministerio de la Caridad es Su atención a los pobres, a los que sufren, a los enfermos y a todos aquellos en necesidad que ustedes continuarán atendiendo en sus ministerios”.

Durante el rito de ordenación los hombres se arrodillaron uno a uno ante el Obispo Jugis para jurar lealtad a la Iglesia en su ministerio como diáconos.

“Ustedes no se ordenan a sí mismos”, les dijo. “Es el Cristo Resucitado quien los ha llamado. Y es un sucesor de los Apóstoles quien los ordena. La Iglesia certifica su

ministerio y los envía adelante. Ustedes están asociados al obispo y los sacerdotes para ayudarlos. Su ministerio será efectivo en la medida en que sean obedientes a la fe y a la Iglesia”.

Los diáconos recién ordenados proclamarán el Evangelio en Misa, prepararán el altar en la Misa y distribuirán el Cuerpo y la Sangre del Señor a los fieles. Administrarán el sacramento del bautismo, asistirán y bendecirán matrimonios, llevarán la comunión a los enfermos, conducirán ritos funerarios y presidirán oraciones públicas.

También darán una homilía por invitación de su pastor e instruirán a los fieles en las enseñanzas de la Iglesia.

“Por su ordenación, el Espíritu Santo los configura a Cristo el Siervo”, les dijo el Obispo Jugis. “El Señor Resucitado les da una fortaleza especial para servirlo y representarlo en su ministerio. Esa alegría de Pascua que marcó a los primeros discípulos continúa viviendo en la Iglesia, no solo durante el tiempo de Pascua, sino en todo momento. La alegría de Pascua impregna la vida de la Iglesia. Esa alegría de Pascua debe en todo momento dar vida a su ministerio”.

En sus palabras de despedida, el Obispo Jugis recordó a los hombres, “Ustedes son los siervos del Señor Resucitado, que resucitó en cuerpo de entre los muertos, que está vivo y con ustedes, quien llegó a los discípulos y regocijó. A los ojos del Señor, los discípulos se regocijaron, nos dicen los Evangelios”.

“Que la alegría de Pascua, impartida por el Señor Resucitado, siempre los acompañe como Sus diáconos. Y que en el último día, cuando salgan al encuentro del Señor, tengan la bendición de escucharlo decir: ‘Bien hecho, buen y fiel siervo. Entra en la alegría de tu Señor’”.

Los quince nuevos diáconos se unen a un estimado de 18,500 diáconos permanentes activos en los Estados Unidos en la actualidad.

El Diácono Steffen Fohn de la Iglesia Sagrada Familia en Clemmons se une a su

padre, el Padre Kurt Fohn, en el servicio a la Iglesia. “Mi padre, antes de ser ordenado al sacerdocio en 2001, era un diácono permanente”, explicó el Diácono Fohn. “De hecho, comenzó su formación de diaconado en la Diócesis de Charlotte como miembro de la promoción inaugural de la diócesis”.

“Viendo al pasado, veo la mano guía de Dios inspirando la dirección de nuestras vidas. Mi padre, a lo largo de su vida, ha sido honrado con la sabiduría y el coraje para responder ‘sí’ cuando escuchó el llamado del Señor; él vive esa respuesta a diario. Él ha establecido un ‘alto nivel’, al que aspiro en mi propia vocación”.

El Padre Fohn comentó: “Cuando Dios infunde Su propia santidad y amor en nosotros, se vuelve natural vivir vidas sobrenaturales. La principal herejía de todos los tiempos es creer que la santidad es creada por nuestros propios esfuerzos.

La santidad es un regalo para ser usado de acuerdo con el plan de Dios. Los santos son la creación de Dios. Su santidad es la misma que la nuestra, la santidad de Dios”.

El Diácono Quang Nguyen de la Iglesia San José en Charlotte es el primer diácono vietnamita ordenado para la Diócesis de Charlotte. “La mayoría de los vietnamitas que viven en la Diócesis de Charlotte son refugiados de Vietnam”, señaló. “Salimos de nuestro país, emigramos a los Estados Unidos después de la caída de Vietnam del Sur en 1975. Cuando llegamos, trajimos con nosotros no solo a nuestra familia, sino también el idioma y cultura vietnamita, que incluye nuestras creencias como católicos”.

“El papel de un diácono permanente es nuevo para nosotros (vietnamitas) aquí en este país. El diácono permanente todavía no es aceptado en Vietnam. Como sé, me convertiré en el primer diácono vietnamita en la Diócesis de Charlotte. Eso también significa que he recibido muchas oraciones de la comunidad vietnamita para que esto ocurra. Espero que después de mi ordenación haya más hombres en mi parroquia que estén interesados en responder al llamado de convertirse en

diáconos permanentes“, dijo el Diácono Nguyen.

El Diácono David Ramsey, de la Iglesia Santa María Madre de Dios en Sylva, es un doctor especializado en medicina familiar.

“La medicina y el diaconado tienen muchas similitudes”, dijo. “Cuidamos a las personas desde el nacimiento hasta su muerte. De hecho, fueron los problemas sobre la defensa de la verdad de la vida por la Iglesia Católica, manteniendo la dignidad de los seres humanos desde el nacimiento hasta la muerte, una de las cosas que me acercaron a ella”.

“Como médico he ayudado a 600 mujeres en el parto de sus bebés y siempre me ha maravillado el regalo milagroso de la vida que Dios nos da. En el bautismo será la bendición del regalo de la vida eterna. En medicina he tenido el privilegio de estar presente en momentos íntimos en la vida de las personas; en el nacimiento, durante las pruebas de la vida y en la muerte. Esas relaciones me han ayudado a comprender mejor la vida. Espero con interés mis relaciones con los demás en sus vidas de fe y las suyas en mi propia vida en Cristo como diácono”, dijo.

“Como un todo, este es un grupo de hombres bien educados y profesionalmente logrados”, dijo el Diácono Scott Gilfillan, director diocesano de formación diaconal.

“Realmente me han mantenido atento en el conocimiento y la práctica de mi fe”.

“Ha sido muy gratificante para mí ver lo que Dios está haciendo con todos ellos.

Aunque cada uno ingresó al programa con una fe fuerte, una familia maravillosa y una carrera establecida, durante todo el proceso de formación han profundizado su fe, se han convertido en mejores padres y maridos, han ensanchado su corazón para el servicio y aumentado su amor por la Iglesia”, dijo el Diácono Gilfillan.

Más en línea En www.catholicnewsherald.com: Vea más fotos y un resúmen de la Misa de ordenación de los diáconos permanentes.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Diócesis de Charlotte previene el abuso infantil Capacitando al clero, empleados y voluntarios CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — El 4 de abril de 1983 el presidente Ronald Reagan proclamó el mes de abril como el ‘Mes Nacional de Prevención del Abuso Infantil’, denunciando que el abuso y abandono infantil “siguen amenazando la vida y la salud” de los niños de nuestra nación.

“Su sufrimiento físico y angustia emocional nos desafía, como padres, vecinos y ciudadanos, a aumentar nuestra atención a su protección e intensificar nuestros esfuerzos para prevenir su maltrato”, señaló en esa oportunidad.

La organización ‘Prevent Child Abuse’ de Carolina del Norte, presenta cifras escalofriantes: más de 300,000 niños son abusados en los Estados Unidos cada año; aproximadamente una de cada tres mujeres adultas y uno de cada seis hombres fueron abusados sexualmente cuando eran niños; el 73% de los niños víctimas no le cuentan a nadie sobre el abuso durante al menos un año. Y un punto muy triste, la estructura familiar es el factor de riesgo más importante en el abuso sexual infantil, donde los niños que viven con un padre soltero que tiene un compañero tienen 20 veces más probabilidades de ser víctimas de abuso sexual infantil que los niños que viven con ambos padres biológicos.

Además, advierten que “el abuso sexual infantil puede llevar a conductas antisociales, depresión, confusión de identidad, pérdida de autoestima y otros problemas emocionales serios.

Ante esta realidad, nos preguntamos qué medidas está tomando nuestra Iglesia Católica para prevenir la presencia del abuso infantil en su interior.

PROTEGIENDO A LOS NIÑOS DE DIOS

Terry Wilhelm, directora de Recursos Humanos y coordinadora del programa de Ambiente Seguro de la Diócesis de Charlotte, asegura que desde 2002 la diócesis acoge el programa educativo ‘Protegiendo a los niños de Dios’, el mismo que tiene como objeto prevenir -con la participación de la feligresía, el clero y los administradores- la presencia del abuso infantil en todas las actividades de iglesia.

Este programa ayuda a los adultos a reconocer el abuso infantil, sus señales y manifestaciones, preparándolos para tomar una respuesta activa, denunciar los hechos y evitar el daño a las posibles víctimas, sus familias, parroquias y comunidades.

Wilhelm afirma que la capacitación inicialmente fue dirigida hacia los sacerdotes y directores de escuelas católicas, para luego enfocarse en la capacitación de facilitadores que pudieran extender el alcance del entrenamiento.

“La Iglesia es muy dinámica en este tema y ha tomado la iniciativa

para eliminar el problema”, dijo la directora, aunque reconoce que regularmente solo se conocen las noticias ‘malas’ y poco se informa sobre los avances logrados.

Desde su puesta en marcha, el programa ha entrenado aproximadamente a cincuenta mil adultos. Solo en 2017, 3.517 empleados de la diócesis atendieron las sesiones y se procesaron más de cuatro mil revisiones de antecedentes criminales.

Si bien la capacitación es obligatoria para empleados y voluntarios, los organizadores abren las puertas a todas las personas, católicos o no, que deseen involucrarse activamente en la prevención del abuso infantil.

El objetivo para ellos es que la comunidad en pleno se comprometa y participe en el bienestar de nuestros niños.

Es importante anotar que la financiación de estas actividades de capacitación, que representaron una obligación financiera de más de 112 mil dólares durante el año fiscal 2017, no proviene de fondos donados por los fieles a través de las colectas de Apoyo Diocesano o de las cuentas de ahorros de las parroquias La efectividad de la Iglesia Católica para enfrentar este problema ha hecho, según Wilhelm, que otras organizaciones de servicio y grupos religiosos “vuelvan la mirada hacia nuestra Iglesia como líderes en la solución de este conflictivo tema”.

PARTICIPACIÓN HISPANA

Antonio García, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano y facilitador del programa en el Vicariato de Asheville, afirmó que la participación latina es “entusiasta y mayoritaria” en su área, donde se ofrece cada mes la capacitación en español.

“Tenemos un grupo de 15 personas que están dando los talleres y personalmente me sorprendo de que, después de realizar un taller en una parroquia y volver a los dos meses, siempre está lleno. Y en cada taller están llegando muchas más personas, incluyendo aquellas que lo vuelven a tomar para actualizarse”.

Respecto a la inscripción, aunque reconoce que la registración al curso se puede realizar ‘online’ a través de una computadora con acceso a internet, García ha encontrado que es mucho más fácil y sencillo efectuar las inscripciones de manera manual entre los interesados, quienes se acercan por informes al término de las misas dominicales.

“Ya después de haber realizado el taller, llenado el formato de inscripción, firmado y constatado su presencia, nosotros mismos enviamos los documentos a las oficinas de la diócesis, donde actualizan la información en el sistema”.

Terry Wilhelm opina que va a tomar algo de tiempo el poder apreciar los resultados de la aplicación del programa. “Siempre digo que si al menos se previene que un solo niño sea víctima de abuso eso es un avance”, subrayó.

GRACIAS A LA COALICIÓN LATINOAMERICANA

Ofrecen jornadas de extensión de identificaciones comunitarias CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Alrededor de medio centenar de personas acudieron el pasado 14 de abril al llamado de la Coalición Latinoamericana de Charlotte (LAC), que convocó a la primera jornada de extensión de identificaciones comunitarias del presente año.

El documento comenzó a emitirse en abril de 2016 como respuesta a la urgente necesidad de contar con una identificación dirigida a quienes no pueden acceder a un ID oficial del estado.

Al igual que cualquier ciudadano, los inmigrantes indocumentados deben mostrar una identificación en caso de ser intervenidos por un oficial de policía. Al no contar con ella, sin poder demostrar su identidad, los inmigrantes pueden ser detenidos por los agentes del orden y trasladados a la cárcel del condado, donde se aplica el programa 287(g) en acuerdo con la Agencia de Inmigración y Aduanas (ICE), lo que puede significar una deportación y el alejamiento de sus familiares en territorio norteamericano.

La identificación que ofrece LAC, que sigue el modelo creado por la organización sin fines de lucro FaithAction Internacional House de Greensboro, sirve como un documento no oficial que provee a quien la porta la oportunidad de llevar la información personal básica en el momento de interactuar con la Policía, lo que podría prevenir el temido arresto.

“La extensión del documento ha tomado mucha fuerza desde el inicio de la actual administración”, afirma Carolina Díaz, coordinadora de comunicaciones de LAC, ante los drásticos cambios en la política migratoria del gobierno del presidente Trump. “Ahora la gente se ve más en la necesidad de tener este documento que ofrecemos”.

Como aclara Díaz, la aceptación de la identificación comunitaria es “a discreción del policía”, “Ahora, ¿puede disminuir el riesgo? Claro, porque si la persona solo tiene un pasaporte de su país, muchas veces hecho a mano, y el policía no está familiarizado con este documento, hay un riesgo grande pues el oficial no sabe si ese documento es real”, algo que no sucede con la identificación que emiten, “que los policías ya reconocen y saben de su existencia”.

En anteriores oportunidades los directivos de LAC, incluyendo a su director ejecutivo, José Hernández París, han precisado que, como asegura el Departamento de Policía de Charlotte Mecklenburg (CMPD), el mejor documento de identificación es el pasaporte del país de origen, al que se le pueden añadir otras formas alternativas.

Pese a la aclaración, oficiales CMPD bilingües regularmente participan en estas jornadas proporcionando información, respondiendo preguntas, mostrando apoyo y promoviendo la seguridad ciudadana al mantener una relación estrecha en beneficio de toda la comunidad.

TEMIDO 287(G)

Según detalla ICE, el programa 287(g) “permite que una entidad de aplicación de la ley estatal o local establezca una asociación con ICE”, y a través de un Memorando de Acuerdo Conjunto (MOA), “reciba autorización de ejercer la autoridad de inmigración en sus jurisdicciones”. En todo el país son 60 las agencias del orden que participan del programa.

En Carolina del Norte, cinco condados, Mecklenburg, Gaston, Cabarrus, Wake y

FOTO CORTESÍA HOLA NEWS

Las identificaciones comunitarias que ofrece La Coalición Latinoamericana son parte de una membresía que adicionalmente ofrece otros beneficios a sus portadores.

Henderson han firmado acuerdos con ICE. En Mecklenburg, la autoridad se ejerce a través de la Oficina del Sheriff, quien estableció el acuerdo de cooperación en 2006. Desde esa fecha y hasta enero de 2018, según un reporte de esa misma oficina, más de quince mil personas han sido procesadas a través del programa, siendo cerca de cuatro mil las arrestadas bajo cargos de DWI. Según ICE, en 2017 1.307 personas pasaron por el 287(g) en la cárcel del condado Mecklenburg. De ellas 406, es decir el 31 por ciento, no tenían antecedentes criminales.

De un total de 288 deportaciones ejecutadas por ICE en Mecklenburg durante el pasado año fiscal, 155 fueron dirigidas a criminales convictos, mientras que 133 involucraron a no criminales. Es decir, el 46 por ciento de deportados no tenía antecedentes penales de ningún tipo.

PREPÁRESE

Debido a que las identificaciones solo se emitirán durante cuatro jornadas en 2018, quienes no obtuvieron el carné deben esperar hasta la próxima fecha, que probablemente se programe para el mes de julio, según precisó Díaz.

El valor de la membresía anual básica para jóvenes y adultos empieza en diez dólares.

Para emitir el ID, LAC solicita dos documentos originales de información. El primero debe ser una prueba de identificación gubernamental, tal como pasaporte, tarjeta nacional de identificación extranjera, matrícula consular, licencia o identificación vigente o vencida de Carolina del Norte u otro Estado.

El segundo documento es una prueba de domicilio actual de los últimos 3 meses, algo que puede comprobar con recibos de servicios, contrato de arrendamiento, estados de cuenta bancarios o incluso archivos médicos.

La información personal es confidencial, se mantiene en una base de datos segura y accesible solamente por personal calificado de LAC. Además no es compartida con ninguna agencia privada o gubernamental.

Para mayores informes visite latinamericancoalition.org, llame al (704)5313848 o visítelos en la Coalición en 4938 Central Ave. Suite 101. Charlotte, NC 28205.

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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

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

DUC IN ALTUM June 25 - 29, 2018 * Belmont Abbey College

Retreat open to young women 15 thru 19 years old Register by June 16, 2018 www.charlottevocations.org

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iiiApril 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

Bishop Peter J. Jugis ordained 15 men to the permanent diaconate April 14 during a two-hour Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Pictured at right, the men lie prostrate before the altar during the ordination rite.

The newly ordained deacons will now be able to assist at the altar during Mass, proclaim the Gospel at Mass, give homilies, administer the sacrament of baptism and officiate at weddings.

Permanent deacons serve in parishes as well as in specialized pastoral areas such as Hispanic Ministry, RCIA, the airport chaplaincy and prison ministry.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL AND JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘You are servants of the Risen Lord’ 15 permanent deacons ordained for the Diocese of Charlotte SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — “The Diocese of Charlotte is growing, and Church eagerly awaits your service to the People of God.” That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis as he ordained 15 men as permanent deacons during a two-hour Mass April 14 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Bishop Jugis directed his homily to the 15 men, noting, “Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7) this morning tells us: ‘As the number of disciples continued to grow, the apostles saw the need to ordain certain men to tend to various diakonia within the Christian community.

And we, in the Diocese of Charlotte, find ourselves in a similar situation. As the number of disciples continues to grow in the Diocese of Charlotte, we see the need to ordain certain men to tend to the various diakonia of the Ministry of the Word, the Ministry of the Altar, and the Ministry of Charity within the Christian community.”

With this ordination class, the diocese now has 135 permanent deacons – the most in its history – serving throughout western North Carolina, where the Catholic population numbers more than 450,000.

The newly ordained deacons will now be able to assist at the altar during Mass, proclaim the Gospel at Mass, give homilies, administer the sacrament of baptism and officiate at weddings. Permanent deacons serve in parishes as well as in specialized pastoral areas such as Hispanic Ministry, RCIA, the airport chaplaincy and prison ministry.

During his homily, the bishop looked out at the deacon candidates seated before him at the base of the sanctuary steps, their families and friends seated behind them.

“Your spouses and families, your friends, your pastors, the deacons of the diocese and the faithful of the diocese are here to pray for you as you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

Bishop Jugis marveled at how the risen Lord not only gives us joy this Easter season, but the gift of 15 new deacons for the Church. He explained that as they are ordained, they receive the indelible spiritual character which configures them as deacons to Christ.

“Jesus said that He came not to be served, but to serve,” the bishop noted. “Our deacons are ordained to serve. That is their special ministry. Through the sacrament of holy orders, More online they receive the sanctifying grace to equip them for this ministry.”

At www.

Calling them “dear sons,” catholicnewsherald.

Bishop Jugis encouraged the com: See more 15 men to “maintain a close photos and video friendship with Jesus the Risen highlights from the Lord. It is He whom you are permanent deacons’ serving. The faithful must be able ordination Mass, and to see Christ in you. The Master read reflections from must be recognized in the disciple. some of the new “It is in the name of Jesus that deacons and their you are sent out,” he reminded wives about their them. “Everything that you are spiritual journey able to accomplish will be done in the name of Jesus Christ. If you do not maintain a vital relationship with Jesus, your ministry will become dull, boring, perfunctory, unable to inspire. Jesus working in you and in your ministry through the Holy Spirit will keep your ministry fresh.”

A deacon of the Church must juggle a lot in his life, the bishop acknowledged.

“It is a challenging invitation from God that you have chosen to answer – to be a deacon, to integrate your married life, your family life, your career and your diaconal ministry.

It can be done and it can be done very effectively, as your brother deacons can show you by the example of their lives,”

he said.

The one uniting principle of all these duties, he continued, “is your love for Jesus and your desire to serve Him. After all, when we look at the three-fold ministry that you are about to take on as deacons, Jesus is once again the uniting principle of those three-fold ministries” of the Ministry of the Word, the Ministry of the Altar, and the Ministry of Charity.

“The ministry of the Altar and the sacraments: it is the renewal of Jesus’ sacrifice that you will serve in the Sacrifice of the Mass,” he said. “He is the author and the ever-present actor in the Eucharist and the sacraments.”

“The ministry of the Word: it is the Word made flesh, Whom you are proclaiming and teaching by your word and witness.”

“The ministry of Charity: it is His attention to the poor, the suffering and sick, and all those in need which you will continue in your ministry.”

During the ordination rite, the men knelt one by one before Bishop Jugis to pledge their obedience to the Church in their ministry as deacons.

“You do not ordain yourself,” he told them. “It is the Risen Christ who has called you. But it is a successor of the Apostles who ordains you. The Church authenticates your ministry and sends you forth. You are associates of the bishop and the priests, to assist the bishop and the priests.

Your ministry will be effective to the extent that you are obedient to the faith and obedient to the Church.”

The newly ordained deacons will now proclaim the Gospel at Mass, prepare the altar at Mass and distribute the Lord’s Body and Blood to the faithful. They will administer the sacrament of baptism, assist at and bless marriages, bring viaticum to the dying, conduct funeral rites and preside over public prayers. They will also deliver a homily at the invitation of their pastor and instruct the faithful in the teachings of the Church.

“By your ordination, the Holy Spirit configures you to SERVANTS, SEE PAGE 16

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PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL AND JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis performed the ordination rite for 15 men ordained to the permanent diaconate April 14. During the ordination rite, the men knelt one by one before Bishop Jugis to pledge their obedience to the Church in their ministry as deacons. They also received the Book of the Gospels, being instructed to “believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.” The bishop then laid his hands upon each candidate’s head, invoking the Holy Spirit. Each new deacon was then vested with a deacon’s stole and dalmatic.

Among the new deacons is Deacon Quang Nguyen, the first Vietnamese deacon from St. Joseph Church in Charlotte. He was vested by his pastor, Father Tri Truong.

JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Pictured, from far left) Peter Tonon, Frank Moyer, and David Ramsey are ordained deacons during the two-hour Mass April 14.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL AND JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Pictured from far left) Deacon Paul Bruck assists the bishop during the Liturgy of the Eucharist; Deacons Ralph D’Agostino, Steffen Fohn, Tim Mueller and Quang Nguyen receive the sign of peace from their fellow deacons.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 FROM THE COVER

SERVANTS FROM PAGE 14

SUEANN HOWELL AND JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Deacon David Ramsey receives the Book of the Gospels from the bishop during the diaconate ordination Mass. At right, Deacon Matthew Newsome assists at the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Christ the Servant,” Bishop Jugis told them.

“The Risen Lord gives you a special strength to serve Him and represent Him in your ministry.

That Easter joy which marked the first disciples continues to live on in the Church, not only during the Easter season, but at all times. Easter joy permeates the life of the Church. That Easter joy must at all times give life to your ministry.”

In his closing remarks, Bishop Jugis reminded the men, “You are servants of the Risen Lord who bodily rose from the dead, is alive and is with you, who came to the disciples and caused them to rejoice. At the sight of the Lord the disciples rejoiced, the Gospels tell us.

“May the Easter joy imparted by the Risen Lord always accompany you as His deacons.

And on the last day, when you go out to meet the Lord, may you be blessed to hear Him say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’”

The 15 new deacons join an estimated 18,500 active permanent deacons in the United States today.

Deacon Steffen Fohn of Holy Family Church in Clemmons joins his dad, Father Kurt Fohn, in service to the Church. “My father, before being ordained into the priesthood in 2001, was a permanent deacon,” Deacon Fohn explained. “He actually began his diaconate formation in the Diocese of Charlotte as a member of the diocese’s inaugural formation class.

“Looking back, I see God’s guiding hand in our lives, inspiring the direction of our lives. My father, throughout his life, has been graced with the wisdom and courage to respond ‘yes’ when he heard the Lord’s calls; he lives that response daily. He’s set a high bar, one to which I aspire in my own vocation.”

Father Fohn commented, “When God infuses His own holiness and love in us, it becomes natural for us to live supernatural lives. The prime heresy of all times is that holiness is created by our own efforts. Holiness is a gift to us to be used according to God’s plan. Saints are God’s creation. Their holiness is the same as ours, God’s holiness.”

Deacon Quang Nguyen of St. Joseph Church in Charlotte is the first Vietnamese deacon ordained for the Charlotte diocese. “Most of the Vietnamese who live in the Diocese of Charlotte are refugees from Vietnam,” he noted. “We left our country and immigrated to the United States after the fall of South Vietnam in 1975. When we came here, we brought with us not only our family, but also the language and the Vietnamese culture, which includes our beliefs as Catholics.

“The role of a permanent deacon is new to us (Vietnamese) here in this country. (The) permanent deacon is still not being accepted in Vietnam yet. As I know, I will become the first Vietnamese deacon in the Diocese of Charlotte. That also means that I have been receiving prayers from the Vietnamese community tremendously to have this happen.

I hope after my ordination, there will be more men in my parish to be interested in answering the call to become a permanent deacon,” Deacon Nguyen said.

Deacon David Ramsey of St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Sylva is a doctor who specializes SERVANTS, SEE PAGE 17

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM THE COVERI

SERVANTS FROM PAGE 16

in family medicine. “Medicine and the diaconate have many similarities,” he said. “We care for people from birth to death. In fact, it was the life issues in the Catholic Church’s upholding of the truth in the dignity of human beings from birth to death that was one of the things that attracted me to Her.” “I have assisted 600 women in the delivery of their babies as a physician and in every one of them marveled at the miraculous gift of life God gives us.

In baptism it will be the blessing of the gift of eternal life. In medicine I have had the privilege of being there at intimate moments in people’s lives; at birth, throughout life’s trials and at death. Those relationships have helped me to better understand life. I look forward to my relationships with others in their lives of faith and theirs in mine in my own life in Christ as a deacon,” he said.

“As a whole, this is a well-educated and professionally accomplished group of men,” said Deacon Scott Gilfillan, diocesan director of diaconal formation. “They have really kept me on my toes in the knowledge and practice of my faith.”

“It has been very rewarding for me to watch what God is doing with each. Even though each entered the program with a strong faith, wonderful family, and established career, throughout the formation process they have deepened their faith, became even better fathers and husbands, expanded their heart for service and increased their love for the Church,” Deacon Gilfillan said.

JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis lays hands on Tim Mueller to ordain him a permanent deacon.

Congratulations to Deacon Francis E. Skinner as he begins his diaconate ministry at Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point.

Did you know?

The permanent diaconate ministry is primarily funded by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more online at www. charlottediocese.org/development/diocesansupport-appeal.

May he always “Live Jesus.”

Congratulations on your ordination to the Diaconate, Rev. Mr. David Faunce!

Best wishes to your wife, Terri, and daughters, Mary Alice and Lauren. Many thanks to your family for all the support they have given you and the parish during the years of preparation.

Your parish family of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City wishes to thank you so much for your many years of study and training. We look forward to your future of preaching, teaching, and service to our parish.

May God bless your ministry abundantly!

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters ‘The Devil and Father Amorth’ William Friedkin, director of 1973’s “The Exorcist,” helmed and narrates this brief, mostly straightforward documentary about demonic possession.

He follows the case of an Italian woman who was ministered to by Pauline Father Gabriele Amorth, chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome from 1986 until his death in 2016, aged 91. The film’s selling point is the fact that Friedkin obtained permission to tape the rite itself, with predictably unsettling results. Though there’s an intrusive feeling about this apparently unique footage, it will certainly fascinate at least some viewers. What surrounds it is a look back at William Peter Blatty’s fact-based 1971 novel, the source of Friedkin’s famous feature, interviews with, among others, Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron, neurosurgeons and psychiatrists and a sketchy portrait of Father Amorth that asserts but does not explore his sanctity. At times, Friedkin appears slightly breathless with enthusiasm for his own material, and Christopher Rouse’s churning score also hints at sensationalism. But overall the tone is respectful and sober minded. Mature themes, potentially disturbing images, a rude gesture.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: Not rated

‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Towering, richly complex Marvel Comicsbased adventure pitting both the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy against a slaughter-loving tyrant (Josh Brolin) whose maniacal scheme to bring his version of harmony to the universe by wiping out half its population will be within reach if he can collect a set of supernatural gems called the Infinity Stones. As the array of superheroes – too numerous to name but perhaps most prominently Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Dr. Strange and Chris Pratt’s Star-Lord – try to thwart the villain, co-directors (and brothers) Anthony and Joe Russo create a mesmerizing saga that repeatedly drives home the message that the common good is not to be achieved at the price of any individual’s innocent life. An outstanding cast in top form, clever self-parodying dialogue in Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely’s script and a shockingly daring wrap-up are further bonuses. Much harsh but mostly bloodless violence, a couple of mild oaths, several crude and numerous crass terms.

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

Other movies: n ‘Beirut’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R n ‘Isle of Dogs’: CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero’: CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: PG n ‘The Heart of Nuba’: CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents); MPAA: Not rated n ‘Blumhouse’s Truth or Dare’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘I Feel Pretty’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Rampage’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Super Troopers 2’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

On TV n Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Mary of Nazareth.” 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 Saturday, April 28, 1 p.m. (EWTN) “Pontifical Solemn High Mass.” Live from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. n Sunday, April 29, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “St. Catherine of Siena.”

Reenactments and dramatized recitations of St. Catherine of Siena’s most influential works and writings. n Wednesday, May 2, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Extraordinary Faith: Windsor.”

Visit historic churches and people who are revitalizing and restoring old traditions and classic forms of sacred art, architecture, and music for new generations of the faithful and the growth of vocations inspired by the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. n Saturday, May 5, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Mary of Nazareth.” Film presentation on the Virgin Mary. Part 2. n Thursday, May 10, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “Discovering Damien: Saint of Molokai.” Father Nathan Cromly, CSJ, and several young Catholic pilgrims travel to Hawaii and learn about St. Damien’s heroic ministry to those suffering with leprosy on the island of Molokai.

The Parish community of St. Leo the Great Winston-Salem offers its prayerful best wishes to Deacon Ralph D’Agostino on the occasion of his Ordination to the Permanent Diaconate. May he always be “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24).

St. Leo the Great Catholic Church

335 Springdale Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27104 336.724.0561 www.stleocatholic.org

Our schools

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

New principal named at OLG ANNIE FERGUSON CORRESPONDENT

In Brief Charlotte Catholic grad earns Naval Academy appointment CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School graduate Josh Brodowicz has achieved his lifelong goal of receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy.

Brodowicz is a point guard for the Queens University Royals, who on March 22 lost to Northern State in double overtime during the NCAA Division II national semifinals.

His father graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1984, and his older brother graduated last year.

“After failing to receive a nomination for the second consecutive year in 2016, I was devastated. I truly thought that my chances of going to the Naval Academy were over. I did not think I would apply again because I would be forced to restart my undergraduate degree and forego two years of college education,” Brodowicz said. “However, this summer I decided to reapply for two reasons. The first is my burning desire to join the camaraderie and brotherhood within the halls of Bancroft. The second reason for reapplying is the Naval Academy will prepare me to become an officer and give me the best opportunity to pursue my lifelong goal of becoming a naval aviator.”

Brodowicz graduated from Charlotte Catholic in 2016 and is the son of Mark and Carla Brodowicz.

“What incredible, remarkable perseverance,” said Congressman Robert Pittenger, who announced Brodowicz’s appointment. “Life is hard, and often unfair.

Some get knocked down and give up.

Those who truly succeed get knocked down multiple times but keep trying. Josh is an inspiration.”

Brodowicz is one of eleven local students to receive a U.S. Service Academy appointment for the 2017-’18 academic year.

Playground being built in late student’s honor HENDERSONVILLE — Immaculata School is planning to build a playground on the school grounds that will be named in honor of former student Malachi Siltzer.

Eight-year-old Malachi Siltzer passed away in 2016 from a brain tumor, but his teachers and fellow students at Immaculata School in Hendersonville smile at the memory of the rambunctious little guy bursting through the classroom door every morning with a huge grin, breathlessly proclaiming, “I’m here!”

IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 21

19

GREENSBORO — Love abounds at Our Lady of Grace School. Days before Our Lady of Grace Parish welcomed longtime parishioner Jack Yarbrough as a newly ordained permanent deacon, it was announced that veteran middle school teacher Catherine Rusch would be the school’s new principal.

Joy filled the campus – Rusch and Rusch’s inbox.

Rusch has taught at the school in a variety of roles since 2003 and has worked

continually to uphold and enhance the school’s quality of education by serving as the school’s accreditation leader, training and mentoring other teachers, continuing her own learning, and serving as a founding member of the Grace Committee, which supports families in living out the Catholic faith. Rusch, who holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a bachelor’s degree in philosophy of law from North Carolina State University, also serves on the Diocesan Writing Committee, helping improve the writing skills of students across the diocese.

As principal, Rusch succeeds Kathleen Miller, who is retiring after nearly 40 years as an educator, during which she served as assistant superintendent of schools for

the Diocese of Charlotte. She will continue to mentor Rusch in her first year as an administrator.

With the support of the OLG family, Miller added the word “love” to the school’s mission statement this year. Rusch, as the leader of the original drafting of the statement, took the addition to heart. “For me, accepting this position is an act of gratitude. I’ve grown so much as a person and as a teacher at Our Lady of Grace. My children have grown here, too,” she said. “I see it as a chance for me to give back.”

Miller recently reflected on why the hiring committee chose Rusch: “As principal, she is the spiritual leader of the school, and she practices the faith in so PRINCIPAL, SEE PAGE 21

Diocesan School Board meets students, faculty and staff during site visits ANNIE FERGUSON CORRESPONDENT

Members of the Diocesan School Board are gaining first-hand knowledge of each school in the Diocese of Charlotte by visiting them during operating hours. The initiative began with the last meeting of the 2014-’15 school year, and the practice will continue going forward.

Their most recent site visits took board members to Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro and Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point last week.

“Years ago, when I was principal at St. Patrick Catholic School and the principal representative on the Diocesan Board, we met at different schools across the diocese,” explained Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan schools superintendent. “Even though our evening meetings at the schools provided the opportunity for board members to see a school building, it didn’t allow them to see the school in action. This is important, not to mention enjoyable.”

Jim Loftin, president of the Diocesan School Board and member of St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville, added, “I like the hands-on experience. It’s one thing to sit in an office and discuss the school or students. It’s much more personal to meet the faculty and students face to face. Because of these meetings, I have formed relationships with many of the school principals and staffs. They love to share their passion for their schools, and they all have great stories to tell.”

Ritter also noted that the board is looking for ways to enhance its work as part of the accreditation process, and visits during school hours support those efforts. They are learning of school efforts to increase enrollment, a challenge for Catholic schools across the country. Three members of the board are serving on a separate committee dedicated to marketing and enrollment.

“We’re also hearing about the strength of our schools,” Ritter said. “Board members often hear that our school communities are a close-knit, family-like community where members support each other, especially in time of need. The understanding board members gain from the visits will serve them well as they talk about and promote our schools within their parishes and communities. They also obtain a better understanding of how their work – specifically, policy development – will impact the various school communities.”

Board member Cindy Bratton of St. Paul the Apostle Church in Greensboro agreed.

“It helps us make sure what we’re evaluating can be fairly applied to all schools, whether it’s a metropolitan school or a small, rural school. Visiting the schools and seeing how diverse they are – the possible wealth of some versus the lack of financial assistance at others – gives us a better perspective on how we can help all the students and schools in our diocese,” Bratton said.

For example, the board decided not to mandate salary scale increases that could burden schools without many financial resources. Instead, pastors can decide if it is in the budget to

ANNIE FERGUSON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Diocesan School Board member Michael Binda of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte talks with Our Lady of Grace third-grader Santiago Mendoza about what he’s learning. increase salaries or give bonuses. Ritter said this has worked well and proved to be the right decision.

Board member Karen Dyer of St. Paul the Apostle Church said, “It’s very affirming to see what little resources are producing outstanding results. It’s supportive of all our efforts for a Catholic education.”

Michael Binda, a board member and parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, said he enjoys meeting the faculty and local families associated with the schools. “Seeing the dedication that the faculty, families and children lead in a life of Christ is exciting and makes the job all the more meaningful and exciting to be a part of.”

One might think schools would view a visit from the Diocesan School Board with some trepidation, but Loftin says this isn’t so.

“Dr. Ritter handles a huge workload and still finds time to be so personal with much of each school’s staff,” he said. “You see it when she visits the school. She’s no stranger; they embrace her visit!”

20

catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Charlotte Catholic students remember Columbine, other school shooting victims CHARLOTTE — Students at Charlotte Catholic High School organized a school-wide prayer service April 20 to commemorate the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting, as well as to honor all the lives lost in school shootings.

The prayer service at Keffer Stadium featured a procession of students and teachers – all dressed in black – representing 172 students, 33 teachers, 8 administrators, and 2 security officers who have lost their lives in school shootings.

After they lined up on the field in front of the student body, student organizers of the prayer service read the names of the schools affected and the number of students and teachers killed at each school.

The prayer service was organized as thousands of schools across the country staged a Walkout Day to mark the shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999, in which 13 people were killed.

The prayer service was the second such effort organized at Charlotte Catholic High School this year in response to gun violence in schools.

During a National Student Walkout Day on March 14, students at several Catholic schools in the Diocese of Charlotte chose to pray rather than walk out of class.

The action was organized on the one-month anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. At Charlotte Catholic, student council members led the school in prayer over the loudspeakers before several classes, remembering each of the victims of the Parkland high school shooting on Feb. 14.

— Catholic News Herald. Carolyn Tillman contributed.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY MEREDITH Y. CANNING AND YVONNE KROWKA

National History Day at Immaculata School HENDERSONVILLE — McCarthyism, the Lusitania, Executive Order #9066 and Diane Nash – what do all these have in common? They are all topics related to the 2018 National History Day theme: “Conflicts & Compromises in History.”

Furthermore, they are all research projects that qualified for state competition at the March 17 Western North Carolina regional event held at Western Carolina University and completed by students under the guidance of National History Day Teacher Ambassador Yvonne Krowka at Immaculata School. Patrick Jones, a freshman at Hendersonville High School, took first place in Senior Division Individual Performance; seventh-graders Emma Sevier, Emma Slebonick and Johanna Montano won third place in Junior Division Group Website; seventh-graders Blakely Morgan and Noah Pavao won second place in Junior Division Group Documentary; and eighth-grader Jane Maddock won first place in Junior Division Individual Website. These students are among the top out of 500,000-plus students who did National History Day projects across the nation. This challenging program guides students in analytical and critical thinking, research writing, and technological presentations preparing them for advanced opportunities in academics and careers. Pictured are (from left): Jane Maddock, Blakely Morgan, Noah Pavao, Johanna Montano, Emma Slebonick and Emma Sevier. (Not pictured is Patrick Jones.)

PHOTO PROVIDED

St. Matthew students take action against poverty CHARLOTTE — Students at St. Matthew School learned the lesson of giving during Poverty Action Week, the week leading up to Easter break. All week long the school took the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching they studied throughout Lent and provided an opportunity for students to put those principles into practice themselves. The central point for the Lenten lessons was Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus’ instructions to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Students collected items for St. Matthew Church’s food pantry, listened to talks from volunteers at the parish who work for justice and peace, and prayed a Living Rosary for the needs of their brothers and sisters throughout the world who are suffering.

They also welcomed Bishop Peter Jugis to the school to celebrate Mass and visit the classrooms. The week culminated in working with the organization Servants with A Heart to fill an entire semi-truck with packets of pre-mixed and measured nutritious food to send to the poor in Haiti. “In doing all of these things, we hope that our students will learn that we are called to be generous, kind and to put our faith into action,” noted Principal Kevin O’Herron in his letter to parents.

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

PRINCIPAL FROM PAGE 19

many ways with her church family and her own family. Mrs. Rusch is also a very reflective leader. She considers all options and how they impact individuals and then makes the decision. She conducts research to gather more information as she puts different practices into place.”

OLG’s pastor, Father Paul Buchanan, added, “I am delighted to be able to entrust the leadership of our parish’s school to someone who has been so active and involved. I know that Mrs. Rusch’s commitment to Catholic identity, mission and service is a vital part of her vision for our school, and I look forward to working with her to help continue our tradition of excellence.”

Rusch plans a bright future for the school, one where the entire community shares her vision. She said she’d like

to see the school nationally recognized for its academic excellence as well as its inclusion program. During the past 11 of Rusch’s 15 years as a middle school teacher, 12 of the school’s graduates have become valedictorian or salutatorians at local high schools. Students participate in experiential learning through field trips and the Model UN, and teachers undergo consistent professional development through weekly learning communities. The opportunity for accelerated math starts in first grade, students in middle school can take math at three levels (including geometry), and Spanish is taught as a core subject – all of which sets graduates ahead in high school.

Rusch and her husband Corbin have three of their own children at the school and one recent graduate. “Now that I’ve had a child graduate from OLG, I see from an even closer range that it’s not just the strong academic foundation we’re providing; it’s the confidence, leadership, involvement in the community and the desire to give back that prepares students

for success in school and life,” she said.

“The entire joy of Christ is present in our children and teachers.”

School parents agree. Two of Donielle Wilde’s children have been Rusch’s students. “Through the years, I’ve found that she has this remarkable way about her method of teaching. She is extremely compassionate toward the needs of each individual student, making each one feel like they’re the only one there, helping them become the best version of themselves, not only academically but spiritually. She lives out the faith through teaching. The families, parents and kids can feel her love,” Wilde said.

Three of Jeannie Hall’s children have been taught by Rusch. Her daughter Katie is studying to become an English teacher at Appalachian State University due in part to her days in Rusch’s English class. “She has the school’s interests at heart, knows our history and what the people sacrificing to send their kids there are looking for in a school,” Hall said. “I think she’ll do a great job!”

CHARITY

SCAM

IN BRIEF

FROM PAGE 3

FROM PAGE 6

FROM PAGE 19

do as Jesus asked in loving one’s neighbor and helping people in need, remembering that one’s “neighbor” is all of God’s children and not just those within a particular community; to help the children understand that they can make a difference, and it is their responsibility as Catholics to do so; and to spread peace and love through their actions, especially in bringing together the individual classes as one faith formation community.

“Our faith formation team is intentional about making the connection between faith and works of mercy for our students and their families,” noted Father Pat Hoare, pastor of St. Matthew Church. “Our faith is a living faith. The Lord is not only someone to “learn about.” He sends the Holy Spirit, allowing us to make the love of God present in the world.”

“I encourage the children to not only bring in toiletries or make sandwiches, but to remember in prayer the people they are serving, because God loves each of them very much,” he said.

“This service project at St. Matthew Church was a tremendous success in connecting the faith formation of our young people with the charitable works of mercy,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, executive director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

“Many of the items collected by the children were able to be transported to Greensboro to help those impacted by the recent tornadoes. This reinforces that we are one community of the faithful helping out those in need across many miles.”

“It is our hope that similar opportunities will be taken up by parishes across the diocese,” he added.

Kiradjieff said the Catholic Charities project “gave us the chance to be His hands and His feet, and truly be able to live out what we learn in our faith formation classrooms and from the Church.”

“We always have to be on our toes,” Hains said. “If it seems suspicious, delete it. If someone really wants something from you, they’ll ask again.”

Requests for money or some sort of payment is often a red flag, Long said.

Even if you know the sender, it’s good to call to verify the request.

The top tool hackers use to gain information is people, Long said. And email is a way to reach those people.

When opening an email, you should evaluate its legitimacy, Long said. Key things to look for are misspelled words, poor grammar, bad punctuation and an urgent call to action.

“If anything about a message raises your suspicion, you are better off without that message in your mailbox, so just delete it,” he said.

“Criminals are getting better at spelling, though,” he added. “These emails are full of gimmicks intended to be time-sensitive, play on people’s emotions and inspire people to act quickly. It’s hard to tell what’s legitimate or not unless you’re looking for it.”

Look carefully at the email address and website link to see if they are familiar addresses. Hover over the sender name and any links in the email with your cursor – but don’t click on them – to see the actual sender’s email address and where the links go, he suggested.

That won’t be as easy to do on a mobile device or tablet, however. Use caution before following links on your device as well.

Long cautioned there are two things people should do online in general: assume you are being attacked – from SPAM emails to cyberattacks and scams – and assume any information you post or send is public because once it goes out there, it no longer belongs to you.

Another way to protect yourself is to change your passwords to a strong word, number character combination or longer pass phrase relevant to the website you’re logging into that you will remember easily but is hard for an outsider to crack, Long said.

None of the challenges Malachi experienced in his short life ever threatened his joy or his faith. Barely a year after he was born in Ethiopia, his mother died, and he was adopted by Jay and Kelly Siltzer in Asheville. Just a few short years later, Kelly Siltzer lost her three-year battle with leukemia, and Malachi himself was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Through it all, Malachi’s love for life and God, and his plan to become a priest, never wavered. His gap-toothed smile and lilting laughter brightened everyone’s heart. At his memorial service, a 14-yearold boy who befriended Malachi shared a lunchtime conversation that affected him profoundly. Malachi suddenly looked up from his sandwich with a big smile and announced, “I am excited that I will see my mommy soon!”

Malachi’s family and friends want his memory to continue to inspire people forever.

Go online to www.tmcfunding.com/search/ campaign/2237?layout=single to learn more about the playground equipment campaign and about Malachi. For details, contact Immaculata School at 828-693-3277.

21

As an active member of the parish since she first joined in 1999, Rusch hopes to strengthen the relationship between the church and school – something the hiring committee was confident she could do.

“I see it as a mutual relationship of service and fellowship,” Rusch said.

Inspired by Father Buchanan’s Holy Thursday homily, she reflected on this pivotal point in her life and the life of the parish: “At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. He showed through this humble task that no one is above serving their neighbor. I am not an experienced administrator; in fact, I am indeed an amateur. But the Latin root of amateur is “amare,” meaning love. This is where my heart is. I enter into this position humbly. I am here to serve, not to be served, and I will do so with love – love of our strong parish, love of our mission as Catholic educators, love of our faculty and staff, our families, and especially our children.”

CCHS hosts STEM Career Fair

CHARLOTTE — Students of St. Matthew School in Charlotte won third place for Division 1/Problem 4 at the N.C. Odyssey of the Mind State Tournament March 24 at Wingate University. The students created an original performance, which included designing and building a 15-gram balsa wood structure that withstood more than 300 lbs. of weight. The team also won first place for Division 1/Problem 4 at the N.C. Central Region tournament March 3, also at Wingate University. Pictured presenting their state trophy to St. Matthew’s principal, Kevin O’Herron, are: (front row) Meg Tebben, Noah Bernardez and Nikolas Trapani; and (second row) Mickey Hilley, Justin Tavares, Zac Cutler and Jack Smanda.

CHARLOTTE — More than 30 professionals from science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields came to Charlotte Catholic High School March 9 for the school’s annual STEM Career Fair for students.

The STEM professionals came from banks such as Bank of America and US Bank, hospital corporations including Novant Health and Atrium Health, and other local organizations such as Duke Energy and Charlotte Water. Participants included a neonatal healthcare specialist, a nuclear engineer, nurse anesthetists, and a news crew from WCNC-TV who brought cameras and equipment so students could try their hands at filming, producing and broadcasting the news.

Students enjoyed learning about careers they hadn’t considered or weren’t aware of, besides careers they are contemplating. “There are a lot of STEM jobs out there that are not only relevant now, but also in the future,” said sophomore Oliver Nazarian.

The STEM professionals were impressed with the students as well. Tyler Andrews, a nuclear engineer with Duke Energy’s North American Young Generation in Nuclear program, said, “The event is a wonderful opportunity for these students to get an outlook on STEM. I studied engineering in college, and I am passionate about STEM. CCHS students are smart, and have a good knowledge about STEM and how to study it in the future.”

CCHS science instructors know that opportunities such as the STEM Career Fair have a positive impact on young people. “We are eager to support our students as they find their chosen career paths,” said Ivana O’Kelly, chemistry teacher and career fair organizer.

“Think of when you were a teenager and you were faced with the decision about what career path you would take,” she said. “Parents often approach me and say that their children know what they want to be when they grow up as a result of attending the career fair. I want to express my gratitude to all the wonderful STEM professionals who came to share with and inspire our students.”

Pictured is Susan Neel, CRNA, showing junior Sophia Lefaivre how to intubate a patient.

­— Stephanie Gulla Hilley

— Carolyn Kramer Tillman

— Julie Wojcik

Odyssey of the Mind winners

Our nation 22

catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Fewer refugees accepted into U.S. impacts Catholic resettlement programs CHAZ MUTH CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — War, famine and gang violence have created the largest global refugee population since World War II, yet the U.S. has drastically cut the numbers of refugees it will accept, causing the reduction and closure of Catholic resettlement programs nationwide.

Nearly 20 U.S. Catholic refugee resettlement programs have closed in the past two years and dozens of others have scaled back their efforts because there are fewer refugees being admitted into the country, said Richard Hogan, director of resettlement services for Migration and Refugee Services, an arm of the U.S.

Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The U.S. State Department authorized the resettlement of 85,000 refugees in fiscal year 2016. In fiscal 2017, it authorized 110,000, which began during the last year of the Obama administration. However, the State Department ended up permitting only 53,716 refugees to enter the country by the end of the fiscal year.

President Donald Trump took office three months into the 2017 fiscal year and his administration made it clear it wanted to reduce the number of refugees the country would take in.

The number of refugees authorized for admission to the U.S. in fiscal year 2018, which began Oct. 1, 2017, was cut to 45,000, but the State Department has admitted

CCDOC.ORG

32nd Annual Spring Fling Catholic Charities invites senior adults from across the diocese to join us for fun and fellowship at the 32nd Annual Spring Fling. Come reconnect with friends, while meeting new ones, in a daylong experience where you can learn about health information that could transform your life. Build upon your faith while enjoying exciting activities and performances, create wonderful memories and friendships.

Wednesday, May 9 – Catholic Conference Center 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory, NC 28602 $15 per person (includes lunch) Registration deadline: April 30 Tuesday, May 22 – St. Matthew Catholic Church 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28277 $15 per person (includes lunch) Registration deadline: May 14 Visit www.ccdoc.org for a complete schedule of events and registration forms.

For more information contact Sandra Breakfield at: 704-370-3220 or email: sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org

only 10,548 in the first six months.

Catholic Charities agencies traditionally resettle roughly 25 percent of all refugees admitted into the U.S. each year and the decreases in numbers have been felt, said Jim Kuh, senior director of immigration and refugee services for Catholic Charities USA. “There is not a Catholic Charities program that has not been impacted in some way,” Kuh said, adding that the “picture is not a pretty one.”

Catholic organizations charged with resettling refugees have laid off or transferred as many as 300 employees as a direct result of the reduced numbers, Hogan said, adding that his department hasn’t received updated data since November, meaning that figure may be higher.

The cause for alarm isn’t as much about the layoffs as it is about the humanitarian impact, said Donald Kerwin, director of the Center for Migration Studies in New York. The international migration think tank was established in 1964 by the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles, Scalabrinians, a community of Catholic priests, nuns and laypeople dedicated to serving migrants and refugees throughout the world.

There are currently 66 million forcibly displaced people in world, many of them living in refugee camps, often waiting several years to either return to their homeland or to be accepted into countries that have agreed to resettle them, in order to re-establish a dignified life, Kerwin said.

The U.S. was only accepting a small fraction of these people each year under the best circumstances and the drastic cuts are making more of the world’s refugees continue to live in temporary conditions where they can’t work, they are often separated from their families and unable to rebuild a semblance of a normal, productive life, he said.

Trump administration policies involving refugees is a rejection “of a hierarchy of issues of concern to the church,” Kerwin said. “These issues involve life, they involve human dignity, they involve flourishing.

People are being killed by gangs, they’re being persecuted.”

Administration officials have reasoned that the lower numbers of refugees will allow more extreme vetting to ensure they don’t pose a terrorism threat. They also have maintained that accepting more refugees is too costly and becomes a drain on American resources.

Several officials at Catholic Charities agencies throughout the U.S. told CNS they know of no serious crimes committed by the refugees resettled by their organizations and the $1,125 in federal funding they receive for each person helps with food and shelter while they are getting settled into the country.

Besides providing economic relief to refugees, Catholic Charities programs assist them with navigating health and school systems, receiving temporary cash assistance, tutoring for the youth, English as a second language for adults, orientations to help with cultural adjustment and even clinical counseling, said Shalaina HarlanYuya, director of refugee services for Catholic Charities Fort Worth.

“More than 90 percent of refugee families become self-sufficient within 6 months of

arriving in this country,” Harlan-Yuya said.

“Refugees are eager to work, and our staff are able to place them into jobs, usually within their first 90 to 120 days in the country.”

The refugees end up filling a void in the job market, especially when there is low unemployment, said Marjean A. Perhot, director of refugee and immigration services for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Boston, whose organization has only received 12 refugees so far this fiscal year, causing them to lay off one employee and lose three others through attrition.

“It’s not like they are taking jobs away from U.S. citizens,” Perhot said. “They are often taking jobs that employers are having a hard time filling.”

The refugee resettlement program is a practical avenue for welcoming the stranger, a tenant of Catholic social teaching, Harlan-Yuya said.

“Because these individuals have been persecuted or fear persecution due to their race, nationality, religion, social group membership or political affiliation, they deserve our welcoming spirit, hospitality, and support,” she said.

After 77 years in operation as the primary refugee resettlement agency in northeast Iowa, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, was forced to close its refugee resettlement program at the end of January, Tracy Morrison, executive director of that agency, told CNS. “The primary reason for our closure was due to the federal government’s significant cutback in the number of refugees allowed to enter the United States,” Morrision said. “This number was reduced by more than half. Given the reduction in refugees legally permitted to the United States, our agency could not meet the minimum threshold of resettlements required to keep our program open.”

Though Morrision said the humanitarian impact of the closure can’t be measured, she said it has been “felt and seen” in northeast Iowa.

“Our refugee resettlement agency was a hub for refugee families to relocate to northeast Iowa because they had a U.S. tie or connection to the area,” she said. “It is beneficial for refugees to be resettled in a location where they have family and support systems to help them integrate to their new country.”

It’s important to note that the U.S. is not on track to reach the 45,000-refugee target by the end of September, which had been set by Trump, said Ted Bergh, chief executive officer of Catholic Charities Southwestern Ohio, whose organization resettled 333 refugees in 2016, but has resettled only 120 so far in fiscal 2018.

“We hope that more refugees will be arriving soon,” Bergh said. “The suffering of refugees waiting to find a home and resume their lives should not be allowed to continue.”

This Catholic Charities agency is trying to find a way to keep its staff and maintain the capacity to welcome refugees when arrivals return to prior levels, he said.

“The United States was once the leader in the world for receiving refugees and we hope this distinction is revived,” Bergh said. “This reflects Catholic social teaching that guides our efforts to always act for the common good and with respect for the human dignity of all men and women.”

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief Pleas for common sense gun reform raised after shooting NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tragedy struck an American city April 22 when a gunman fatally shot four innocent people at a Waffle House in Antioch, just outside of Nashville. The victims were: Akilah Dasilva, 23; DeEbony Groves, 21; Joe Perez, 20; Taurean C. Sanderlin, 29; remembered as a talented musician, a brilliant student, a loving son, and a dedicated worker.

Four others were wounded. James Shaw Jr., the hero who disarmed the shooter of his AR-15 rifle, likely prevented even more people from being hurt or killed. “We pray for those killed and injured in the horrific and senseless shooting at the Waffle House in Antioch on Sunday morning. May God embrace them in His mercy and may their families and friends find consolation and healing in His boundless love,” Diocese of Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding said in a statement.

CNS | MICHAEL ALEXANDER, GEORGIA BULLETIN

Auxiliary Bishop-designate Joel M. Konzen holds his copy of the apostolic mandates authorizing his consecration to the episcopate during his April 3 ordination Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta April 3.

Marist priest, educator, ordained as Atlanta’s auxiliary bishop ATLANTA — Having chosen “Be merciful, and with a cheerful heart,” as his episcopal motto, Bishop Joel M. Konzen, was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Atlanta April 3 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Bishop Konzen, 67, a Marist priest, served as teacher, principal and president at the independent Marist School in Atlanta for about 28 years. In February, Pope Francis appointed him as an auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, seven months after Bishop Luis R. Zarama, former Atlanta auxiliary, was named the bishop of Raleigh. More than 113 priests, along with deacons, seminarians, religious and members of the Marist community, attended the Mass.

Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, Alabama, and Bishop Bernard E. Shlesinger III, auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, were co-consecrators with Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory in laying on of hands and invoking of the Holy Spirit.

Catholic bishop pays tribute to Barbara Bush at memorial HOUSTON — Retired Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of the Archdiocese of GalvestonHouston joined other religious leaders in paying tribute to Barbara Bush April 19 during a ceremony described as a Celebration of Life in front of Houston City Hall April 19. He described the former first lady as a “faithful citizen besides being an outstanding wife and mother.” The archbishop focused on her life of service that continued long after she left the White House when her husband George H.W.

Bush served as the 41st President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Barbara Bush, the wife of the nation’s 41st president and mother of the 43rd president, died at her home in Houston April 17 aged 92. “We’ve been blessed in this city to have Barbara Bush as an outstanding example of a person who is truly involved in the city. You know, she could have set back and enjoyed life for 10, 15, 20 more years. But she got involved. She got involved in education. She got involved with children who needed to learn how to read and write,” the archbishop said. He said she visited Inner-City Catholic Schools, a program in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese to share her love for literacy and education.

“Her life has been an outstanding example of what it means to be a devoted wife, a devoted mother and a very involved citizen – a very, very faithful citizen of Houston.”

Catholic, other groups voice misgivings over 2018 farm bill WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the 2018 version of the farm bill having been voted out of committee for consideration by the full House, Catholic groups and other rural advocates are voicing their misgivings about many of its provisions.

Conservation programs that reward farmers and ranchers were zeroed out of the bill passed April 18 by the House Agriculture Committee. “Safety net” programs were boosted only marginally to aid farmers who have been getting dwindling prices for their crops and who could be the first victims of a trade war as tariffs are imposed on their produce. Another part of the bill rewrites the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, which could kick out 2 million Americans from the program, according to six Catholic leaders. “Eighty percent of the farm bill is around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s significant when we hear it’s going to include some dramatic cuts,” said James Ennis, executive director of Catholic Rural Life. About $1 billion would be cut from the Conservation Stewardship Program, according to Ennis.

Bishops: Ending programs would create bigger crisis for El Salvador WASHINGTON, D.C. — When a house is on fire, you don’t lock the doors to the outside to help save the people trapped inside, but that’s what U.S. policy is doing when it brings to an end two immigration programs that have helped more than 200,000 Salvadorans live, study and work in the U.S., said a U.S. archbishop April 13.

Miami Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski made the comments as he joined Salvadoran bishops in Washington on a panel about the roots causes of poverty, violence and migration. Archbishop Wenski accompanied Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador, Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez and two other Salvadoran bishops on the last day of a historic visit by the prelates to plead with U.S. lawmakers to protect through legislation Salvadorans who benefit from Temporary Protected Status and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs.

Returning the combined 215,000 Salvadorans who benefit from those programs to the country’s unrelenting violence and economic instability would mean devastating the nation further, breaking up families in the process and taking away the only income some families have, they said. TPS and DACA provide work permits and other protections to immigrants who meet certain criteria. The Trump administration announced these programs were ending. The future of DACA is temporarily tied up in the courts and also is pending action from Congress, which has expressed willingness to provide protection for the beneficiaries in some form. TPS recipients from El Salvador, however, have been told to get their affairs in order by the time the program expires in September 2019.

— Catholic News Service

IMMIGRATION FROM PAGE 3

themselves in distress at this time.

Through those offices we will continue to provide Legal Immigration Services via staff who have been accredited to complete legal documentation by the Board of Immigration Appeals in the Department of Justice. These DOJ Accredited Representatives assist families and individuals in achieving an immigration status that enables them to work, reunite with family members, or take steps toward becoming citizens who could contribute to the well-being of their family and society. We will not counsel anyone to thwart or resist proper law enforcement but will continue to provide education about individuals’ legal rights.

On a broader level, we, the Bishops of North Carolina, and the Bishops of the United States will continue working to: n Find a Bipartisan Solution to Protect Dreamers. The approximately 1.8 million Dreamers living in our country were brought to the United States as young people. They worship with us in our churches and synagogues, serve in our military, contribute to our economy, and add their many talents to American society. n Provide a Path to Citizenship.

Dreamers know America as their only home and should not be denied the opportunity to obtain U.S. citizenship and participate fully in civic life. n Recognize the Sanctity of Families.

Family immigration is the foundation of our country and of our Church.

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Pope Francis states, “The family is the foundation of co-existence and a remedy against social fragmentation.” We steadfastly know that families are what hold America together. We ask you to reject legislation that threatens familybased immigration. n Recognize the Right of Nations to Control Their Borders. While Catholic social teaching on migration recognizes and respects the sovereignty of each nation to regulate its borders, this right must be balanced with the right of vulnerable migrants, such as asylum seekers and victims of human trafficking, to access protection. Border security should be proportional and justly implemented. n Maintain Protections for Unaccompanied Children. A solution for Dreamers cannot be at the expense of other immigrant children. Such a tradeoff would be heartless and untenable. We ask that you maintain existing protections for unaccompanied children that help prevent trafficking and abuse and ensure their access to adequate care.

As members of the human family, each individual deserves and must be granted, the dignity that not only supports and fosters the common good of our society but also reflects the reality that we are all fundamentally brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States of America, watch over and pray for us now and always.

MOST REVEREND PETER J. JUGIS is the Bishop of Charlotte and MOST REVEREND LUIS RAFAEL ZARAMA is the Bishop of Raleigh.

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In ‘historic’ move, pope names three laywomen to doctrinal congregation CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has appointed three women as consultors to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It marks the first time women and laypersons were named as active contributors – not support staff.

The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, called decision to appointment the women “historic.” The Vatican announced the appointments April 21.

The new female consultors are: n Linda Ghisoni, born in Italy in 1965, is one of two women Pope Francis named to be undersecretaries of the Dicastery

for Laity, the Family and Life in 2017.

Leading the dicastery’s section on the laity, Ghisoni is a seasoned canon lawyer and jurist, having served as both a lawyer and a judge on the Diocese of Rome’s tribunal, the Roman Rota and the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

After completing her studies in philosophy and theology in Tubingen, Germany, she obtained her doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She did further specialized studies and earned diplomas from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments in 1994 and, in 2002, from the Roman Rota, a Vatican court that deals mainly with marriage cases. She also has authored several scientific publications relating to canon law. n Michelina Tenace, born in Italy in 1954, is a professor and head of the department of fundamental theology at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.

An expert on Christianity in the East, she is also part of Rome’s Aletti Center. The center, which is connected to the Jesuit-run Pontifical Oriental Institute, encourages studies of European Christianity and bringing together the cultures and spirituality of the continent’s Eastern and Western traditions.

She was one of the six men and six women the pope appointed in 2016 to a commission to study the issue of women deacons, particularly their ministry in the early Church. n Laetitia Calmeyn, born in Belgium in 1975, is a consecrated virgin and teaches theology at the College des Bernardins in Paris. She is a nurse specializing in palliative care and received her doctorate from the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute.

The pope also named two priests as consultors for the doctrinal congregation: Italian Father Sergio Paolo Bonanni, who teaches theology at the Gregorian University; and Spanish Claretian Father Manuel Arroba Conde, a judge serving the Diocese of Rome, professor at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University and head of the university’s Institutum Utriusque Iuris, which specializes in the relationship between canon law and civil law.

Five wounds of Christ: Pope urges recovery of traditional devotion CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis seems to be fixated on the wounds of Christ.

And he has suggested that other Catholics might want to be as well.

He has offered meditations on Jesus’ pierced hands, feet and side throughout his pontificate, but since January, his references in impromptu speeches and homilies have been so frequent that it seems to be a major focus of his own prayer life.

In his homily at morning Mass March 20, he shared the advice of a spiritual director: “Look. Look at the wounds. Enter in to the wounds. By those wounds we were healed.

Do you feel bitter, feel sad, feel life just isn’t going the right way and you’re also ill? Look there. In silence.”

Sometimes, the pope said, artists want to focus more on Jesus’ post-resurrection glory, so they will make a crucifix of gold and adorn it with jewels. But when one is feeling lost or frightened or in pain, he said, look at a crucifix “before the glory” and recognize how Jesus “annihilated Himself” to defeat evil and death.

Reciting the Angelus prayer March 18, Pope Francis recommended a centuries-old devotion in which a person contemplates one of the five wounds of Christ and recites an Our Father before moving to the next wound.

“When we pray that Our Father, let’s try to enter through Jesus’ wounds and arrive deeper and deeper, to His heart,” the pope said. “Enter into His wounds and contemplate the love in His heart for you, and you, and you, and me, for everyone,” the pope told thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square.

The wounds of Christ were a natural topic of reflection during Pope Francis’ meeting Feb. 10 with members of the Stigmatine order; after all, their spirituality is inspired by devotion to the passion of Christ, vividly shown in the wounds He endured for the salvation of the world.

A devotion to Christ’s wounds “may sound a bit medieval,” the pope told the priests. In fact, meditating on “the five sacred wounds” became popular in the 12th and 13th centuries, but it also enjoyed a resurgence in the 20th century with the growing attention to the Divine Mercy devotions of St.

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Pope Francis holds a crucifix during the Good Friday service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in this April 14, 2017, file photo.

Faustina Kowalska. The Polish nun wrote in her diary that Jesus told her, “When it seems to you that your suffering exceeds your strength, contemplate My wounds.”

Luminaries from St. Clare of Assisi to St. Alphonsus Liguori have guided the faithful in prayers focusing on each wound – left foot, right foot, left hand, right hand and side – and similar devotions are widely available online.

But Pope Francis’ remarks seem to have more in common with the meditations of St. Bernard of Clairvaux and, perhaps naturally, with the popular prayer, “Anima Christi” or “Soul of Christ.” The prayer often is attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the pope’s Jesuit order, and is included in the saint’s Spiritual Exercises.

Mercy, the central theme of Pope Francis’ pontificate, and “the gift of shame,” something he mentions often, intersect in the two treatments of Christ’s wounds.

St. Bernard’s reflection includes the line: “Where have your love, your mercy, your compassion shone out more luminously than in your wounds, sweet, gentle Lord of mercy?”

And the “Anima Christi” includes the plea to Jesus: “Within your wounds hide me.”

Talking to the Stigmatines, the pope adapted the prayer: “Within your wounds hide me. Hide me from my shame. Hide me from the wrath of the Father. Hide me from my misery. But in your wounds.”

At a morning Mass in mid-December, Pope Francis was talking about the tenderness of God and mentioned how when a child gets hurt, his or her dad or mom asks to see the scratch or the bruise, kisses it and says, “all better.” Pope Francis said he imagines God doing the same; God wants to see the wounds of His children, to touch them, bandage them and heal them.

“There, in the encounter of our wounds with the wounds of the Lord, which was the price of our salvation, there is the tenderness of God,” he said.

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief Pope meets his advisory commission on child protection VATICAN CITY — In its efforts to help advise the pope, the Roman Curia, bishops’ conferences and local churches on protecting minors from abuse, a Vatican commission listened to abuse survivors from Great Britain and discussed the results of Australia’s public inquiry into its country’s institutional responses to abuse. The plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors April 20-22 was the first gathering with a group of new members appointed in February. Pope Francis met with the commission members in a private audience April 21 and had met the day before with Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston, who is president of the 17-member commission. The commission secretary is U.S. Monsignor Robert W. Oliver, a Boston priest, canon lawyer and former promotor of justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The pope said he wanted to confirm the commission’s statutes, which were issued April 21, 2015, “ad experimentum” for a period of three years, according to a press statement by the commission April 22.

Pope apologizes for ‘serious mistakes’ in judging Chilean abuse cases VATICAN CITY — In a letter to the bishops of Chile, Pope Francis apologized for underestimating the seriousness of the sexual abuse crisis in the country following a recent investigation into allegations concerning Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno. The pope said he made “serious mistakes in the assessment and perception of the situation, especially due to a lack of truthful and balanced information.

I ask forgiveness of all those I have offended and I hope to be able to do it personally in the coming weeks,” the pope said in the letter, released by the Vatican April 11. Several survivors apparently have been invited to the Vatican to meet the pope. Abuse victims alleged that Bishop Barros – then a priest – had witnessed their abuse by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima. In 2011, Father Karadima was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance by the Vatican after he was found guilty of sexually abusing boys. Father Karadima denied the charges; he was not prosecuted civilly because the statute of limitations had run out.

Protesters and victims said Bishop Barros is guilty of protecting Father Karadima and was physically present while some of the abuse was going on. During his visit to Chile in January, Pope Francis asked forgiveness for the sexual abuses committed by some priests in Chile. “I feel bound to express my pain and shame at the irreparable damage caused to children by some of the ministers of the Church,” he said.

English, Welsh bishops raise concerns over gender ideology MANCHESTER, England — The bishops of England and Wales have raised concerns over the rise of gender ideology, saying it is creating confusion among people about the truth of human nature. In a statement issued at the end of their April 16-19 bi-annual plenary meeting in Leeds, the bishops acknowledged some people did not “accept their biological sex” but said they, as pastors, were “committed to their pastoral care.” The bishops said the notion that gender was a social construct rather than a biological fact ran counter to the intuition of most people. “The idea that the individual

is free to define himself or herself dominates discourse about gender. Yet our human instinct is otherwise,” they said in the statement. “We are deeply concerned that this ideology of gender is creating confusion.”

Church teaching leads Catholic entities to divest from fossil fuels WASHINGTON, D.C. — Caritas Internationalis, the Catholic Church’s worldwide network of humanitarian aid agencies, three German banks and more than 30 other Catholic institutions are planning to divest at least part of their financial portfolios from the fossil fuel industry.

The divestment announcement by the Global Catholic Climate Movement April 22, Earth Day, is part of a continuing campaign to convince Catholic entities to move investments to renewable energy enterprises. Divestment from the fossil fuel industry is crucial to addressing climate change and upholding the commitments to reduce carbon emissions set in the 2015 Paris climate accord, Tomas Insua, GCCM executive director, said. “I think there is so little understanding about the fossil fuel industry being at the core of the environmental crisis,” he said. The divestment campaign also falls in line with the message of Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” he explained.

Lay down your weapons, say Mexican bishops after second priest murdered MEXICO CITY — Yet another Mexican Catholic priest has been murdered in his parish – the second such lethal attack against clergy in the country in less than a week. Father Juan Miguel Contreras Garcia was shot dead in the St. Pius of Pietrelcina parish in the Guadalajara suburb of Tlajomulco de Zuniga. An April 20 statement from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office said Father Contreras was confronted and shot in the sacristy. Two assailants subsequently fled in a compact car. No motive for the attack was offered.

The attack on Father Contreras followed the April 18 murder of Father Ruben Alcantara Diaz in the northern Mexico City suburb of Cuautitlan Izcalli. Father Alcantara was attacked April 18, just prior to the 7 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Carmen Parish, the Diocese of Izcalli said in a short statement.

The Mexican bishops’ conference issued a call for action on the violence consuming the country and impacting the Church. “We are making an urgent call to construct a culture of peace and reconciliation. These regrettable occurrences call all of us to a much deeper and more sincere conversion. It’s time to look honestly at our culture and society in order to ask ourselves how we lost respect for life and the sacred,” the conference said in an April 20 statement.

Pope calls for end to ‘needless bloodshed’ in Nicaragua VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called for an end to violence in Nicaragua after several days of protests against proposed social security legislation led to the deaths of more than two dozen people. “I express my closeness in prayer to that country and I am united with the bishops in asking that every form of violence end, that a pointless shedding of blood be avoided and that open issues be resolved peacefully and with a sense of responsibility,” the pope said April 22 after praying the “Regina Coeli” prayer with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope said he was “very worried about what is happening these days in Nicaragua,” where citizens took to the streets beginning April 18 after the government announced changes to the nation’s social security system. The proposed overhaul was scrapped by Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega April 22.

— Catholic News Service

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

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 27, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Luke Burgis

Bobby Speers

Put ‘vocation directors’ in every home, school and parish D S t. John Paul II once said, “Each person – unique and unrepeatable – is the fundamental and primary Way of the Church.”

For him, there was no five-step program to renew the Church. He believed that the “way” forward is not a method or program; it’s each human person – all seven and a half billion of them. As a Church, we have to travel every path.

This means that there is not a single human being, dead or alive, whose life is not a doorway into the mystery of God. Their professed faith or absence of it, their political party, or their lifestyle can never absolve us – none of these things diminish our responsibility to enter into their life in order to truly know them.

How well do we truly know one another – especially young people? This is the great challenge of our technological age. Our

World Day of Prayer for Vocations The purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord’s instruction to “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into His harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). As a climax to a prayer that is continually offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), to the religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of mission “ad gentes.”

This year marks the 55th anniversary of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, in English and Spanish; download a vocations prayer card; and get more vocations resources attentiveness to each person that we encounter can change the trajectory of a single life and, with it, the world.

Education specialist Sir Ken Robinson tells the story of a young girl named Gillian Lynne who couldn’t stop fidgeting at school, no matter how hard she tried. The 8-year-old girl rocked vigorously in her chair and disrupted her classmates constantly. She turned in assignments late, wrote with bad penmanship, and wasn’t following the lessons. Finally, her school sent Gillian’s parents a letter recommending that she attend a special school for children with learning disorders.

Her parents took Gillian to a specialist first.

As he was talking to Gillian’s mother, the doctor observed Gillian sitting on her hands, rocking back and forth. After about 20 minutes of careful listening and watching, he asked Gillian if she would excuse them while they talked outside

in the hall. Before the doctor left the room, he turned on the radio.

From outside the room, they watched Gillian through a window. Within seconds after they walked out of the room, Gillian got up and started dancing to the music. She danced in a natural, joyful way. The doctor turned to Gillian’s mother and said: “Gillian isn’t sick. She’s a dancer.”

Gillian went on to become one of the most accomplished directors and choreographers of her generation, giving the world “Cats” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

Each person has a unique and unrepeatable vocation. If it is not discovered, embraced and lived, it is lost to the world forever.

Thank God for that doctor.

How seriously are we taking our responsibility to cultivate the personal vocations of others?

St. John Paul II wrote about the importance of this initiative very clearly in his first encyclical, “On the Redeemer of Man”: “Every initiative serves true renewal in the Church and helps to bring the authentic light that is Christ insofar as the initiative is based on adequate awareness of the individual Christian’s vocation and of responsibility for this singular, unique and unrepeatable grace.”

A Catholic diocese typically has one “vocation director” whose primary responsibility – at least the public perception of it – is to cultivate the vocations of people who are discerning the priesthood or religious life.

I’ve had a very positive experience with vocation directors. Two generous priests in the Diocese of Las Vegas helped me enter seminary formation and ultimately to leave it. But had I not decided to enter seminary, I would’ve never met them.

Vocation directors have limited reach. In a thriving diocese, there might be 100 seminarians and religious vocations. Where does that leave the dancers? The doctors? The young man who is petrified of proposing to the love of his life because he doesn’t know if her dad likes him?

This is where you and I come in.

I believe that the only way to create a culture of vocation – one in which everyone’s personal vocation is cultivated – is through a culture of mentorship. Vocation directors are critical, but they can’t do this work alone. They need coworkers.

You have unrepeatable experiences and a vocation that someone in the world desperately needs to see lived out with heroic fidelity. As we live out our own callings, each of us should pray for the grace to be a mentor to someone else.

I believe that we need to broaden our understanding of who has responsibility to be a “vocation director.” Should there not be “direction” for people who are called to every state of life, every profession, every unique pathway to holiness? If we are to fulfill the dream of St. John Paul II, then we must think big. We have to put “vocation directors” in every home, BURGIS, SEE PAGE 27

Where’s your quiet place?

uring the 40 days of Lent, we followed the footsteps of our Savior to Calvary, encountering and fostering a deeper relationship as we journeyed by fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Gloriously, we then celebrated His Victorious Resurrection on Easter Sunday. In Hebrews 12:2, St. Paul exhorts us by saying, “…keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” Sometimes we read and hear what the Bible says, but we never take it to heart by incorporating it into our daily lives.

Right after the Last Supper given in Luke’s account, the Agony in the Garden, the writer goes on to say in Luke 22:39-42: “Then going out He went, as was His custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him. When He arrived at the place He said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, He prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.”

There are several key points in this scripture passage. First, our attitude should always be one of trust in God in our lives. Second, we should cultivate the habit of daily prayer as the way to deepen our relationship with God. Third, we should have a quiet place where we can retreat for prayer.

For Jesus, prayer was a custom, a habit, the usual way of talking with His Father.

If you cherish a relationship, how often do you speak to that person? Is it once a year or is it a daily practice? Our spiritual relationship with God requires personal committed communication – and this is done through prayer. The closer we are to God, the more we pray.

Hence, St. Paul urged us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thess 5:17) In Matthew 6:5-8, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us, “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.

Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Do you have a place to pray where you can close out the world? This would be a location where you personally encounter God each day. Of course, we can pray in our car or standing at the checkout line at WalMart. But given what Jesus said, do you have a specific, peaceful place in your home where you can pour out your heart to your Father? It doesn’t need to be a large or luxurious shrine, just a place devoted to God. Recently I was invited to the home of St. Aloysius parishioners Bill and Linda Sylvester, to see their prayer room. There I felt peace, as this quiet place is filled with religious memories such as Linda’s first Holy Communion candle and a statute of Mary given to her by her mother.

Bill also has a treasured memory from his first Holy Communion, and there are several figures of Jesus, St. Anthony, St. Teresa, the Infant of Prague and more. A painting, depicting Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane, hangs on the wall. Also in the room are two chairs and a small table where devotionals, pamphlets, rosary beads, and a well-worn Bible have been placed.

This simple, quiet prayer room is their place to encounter God, offering a place of solitude, safety, convenience and comfort. And because it’s in their home, it’s always available and enables them to cultivate a daily discipline of prayer. You can’t pass it every day and not feel the desire to pray!

Like Linda and Bill, other Catholic families have similar arrangements, either an entire room, a prayer garden, or just a table set aside for prayer.

I encourage you to create your own quiet place where you and your family can pray, a place where everyone can escape from the world and encounter God. You won’t regret it.

BOBBY SPEERS is a writer who lives in Hickory and serves as chairperson of St. Aloysius Church’s evangelization commission.

April 27, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Letter to the editor

Let’s wait and see if Trump’s border strategy is beneficial

I would like to respond to the April 13 Catholic News Service article “Catholic Leaders react to Trump’s plan to send troops to border.” The San Antonio archbishop stated it was a senseless, disgraceful action, and that it demonstrated repression, fear, a perception that everyone is the enemy and sends the message, “We don’t care about anyone else.” President Trump is not stopping people from coming into the country legally. How else are we going to stop the drugs, gang members and sex traffickers from pouring into our country? They are mixed in with others who are just trying to seek a better life.

We have a horrible drug problem in our

country, and it is only getting worse. Has anyone in the past made any progress with the “War on Drugs”? There is no reason immigration can’t be handled in an organized way. It would be safer for everyone, including the immigrants.

I do not believe Trump is against immigrants. I do believe he is brave enough to make hard decisions other politicians have shied away from.

Immigrants should be able to come into our country protected from traffickers and without fear of being forced into a gang. Our present system is not working.

Can we at least wait to see if this strategy is beneficial? Why are we so quick to pass judgment?

VERNE FRANKS lives in Asheville.

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Angels in the Outfield HICKORY — Sylvanna Fraga, music ministry director at St. Aloysius Church, and the parish choir have been invited to sing the National Anthem at the Crawdads vs. the Delmarva Shorebirds home game at the L.P. Frans Stadium on Sunday, April 29. Her husband, Eric Meade, will also throw the first ball.

Fraga and the choir will sing the National Anthem a cappella.

Leading up to the performance, Fraga reflected on the history of the National Anthem. “The melody of the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ was written by John Stafford Smith dating back to the mid-1700s. It was a popular drinking song, ‘To Anacreontic in Heaven.’ Evidently, Francis Scott Key knew the tune and replaced the words using his famous historical poem, ‘Defence of Fort M’Henry’ as the lyrics. From what I have read, the National Anthem has been sung at baseball games for more than a hundred years.”

Fraga is right. During the 1918 World Series, Boston Red Sox vs. the Chicago Cubs, at the seventh inning everyone sang the National Anthem to give the soldiers fighting World War I their support. Since then, the National Anthem has been sung at baseball games. History and baseball buffs will contend, however, that the “Star Spangled Banner” was played at baseball games as early as the 1850s. The “Star Spangled Banner” was not officially given the title of the National Anthem until 1931.

Fraga is thrilled that the Crawdads invited her to sing. “This is truly an honor for me and my choir. I hope everyone will come to the game, hear the St. Aloysius choir of angels, and root for the Crawdads to win!”

— Bobby Speers, correspondent

BURGIS FROM PAGE 26

school and parish. They will be welltrained mentors who take up the pope’s call to cultivate the personal vocations of others. We must teach young people basic skills of discernment that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Nobody is alone in this important work.

A network of vocation mentors is forming to provide support and training. We’re there to be “midwives” to every personal vocation, whether it leads to a seminary, a baseball field, a business or a dance studio.

Because of the dearth of resources on mentorship in the Catholic world and my own long journey of vocation (eight years in Silicon Valley, five years in seminary formation), I co-authored the book “Unrepeatable: Cultivating the Unique Calling of Every Person.” It draws the inspiration for its title from St. John Paul II, who used the word “unrepeatable” repeatedly. Paying attention to the unrepeatable calling of every person is something that the great saint considered a key to creating a “culture of vocation.”

Thomas Merton once wrote in “New Seeds of Contemplation”: “The object of salvation is that which is unique, irreplaceable, incommunicable – that which is myself alone. The true inner self must be drawn up like a jewel from the bottom of the sea, rescued from confusion, from indistinction, from immersion in the common, the non-descript, the trivial, the sordid, the evanescent.”

Our mission is to draw up from the bottom of the sea these unique and unrepeatable jewels, each one charged with the mystery and grandeur of God. Is there any work more exiting work than that?

LUKE BURGIS is an entrepreneur who founded three startups in Silicon Valley and was named one of the “Top 25 Entrepreneur Under 25” in 2006 by Business Week.

He left behind a successful company to enter seminary formation for the Diocese of Las Vegas, where he spent three years studying in Rome at the Pontifical North American College before fully embracing his calling as an entrepreneur. Now he is the co-founder of ActivPrayer, a company dedicated to making sports and fitness truly serve the human person, and the co-founder and executive director of Inscape, a ministry that helps young people discover, embrace and live to the full their unique, personal vocations. Learn more about his ministry and his upcoming book at www.lukeburgis.com.

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Where are you going?

QUO VADIS DAYS 2018

June 11-15, 2018 * Belmont Abbey College Retreat is open to young men 15 thru 19 years old A camp for Catholic men to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern God’s call in their lives.

REGISTER BY JUNE 4

www.charlottevocations.org