Sept. 28, 2018

September 28, 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

Diocese set to build its largest ever affordable housing project 3

A time to mourn ... a time to love On anniversary of her son’s killing, Vivian Carr says she has grown closer to God

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INDEX

Contact us.................................4 Español...................................16-21 Events calendar........................4 Our Faith....................................2 Our Parishes........................ 3-11 Schools.....................................12 Scripture readings...................2 TV & Movies..............................13 U.S. news............................22-23 Viewpoints.........................26-27 World news........................ 24-25

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Shower of blessings Ground broken for St. Joseph College Seminary as Tropical Storm Florence blows through the Carolinas

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90 years of worshipping God, serving others St. Mary’s Parish in Greensboro rejoices with multicultural anniversary celebration

Hurricane Florence recovery efforts gear up across the diocese

V ENCUENTRO

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Clero y laicado se comprometieron a dar frutos ‘con una iglesia de salida’

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Francis

God’s love in charity exists even in most secularized places

D

uring times of freedom or persecution, the Gospel is needed to bring meaning, fullness and hope to life, Pope Francis said.

Speaking about his Sept. 22-25 visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, the pope said he visited these Baltic nations as they celebrated the 100th anniversary of their declarations of independence.

However, during these past 100 years, these countries have experienced “the yoke of occupation,” beginning with the Nazis and then the Soviet Union, the pope said at his general audience in St. Peter’s Square Sept. 26.

During his visit, the pope paid homage to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust in Lithuania, which saw more than 95 percent of its Jewish population murdered, and he visited a former Soviet KGB headquarters that is now a museum dedicated to victims of genocide, foreign occupations and political resistance.

“I stopped in prayer in the rooms where opponents of the regime were detained, tortured and killed. They killed 40 people, more or less, a night,” he said, noting how upsetting it was to see how cruel human beings could be.

“Let us think about that.”

The situation in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is very different now compared to when St. John Paul II visited in 1993, “therefore, my mission was to newly proclaim to these people the joy of the Gospel and the revolution of mercy, of tenderness because freedom (by itself) is not enough to give meaning and fullness to life without love, the love that comes from God.” During difficult, trying times, he said, the Gospel “gives strength and enlivens the struggle for freedom.”

During times of freedom, he added, the Gospel “is the light” showing the way for people’s daily journey, and it is “the salt” giving ordinary life flavor and preserving it from “the corruption of mediocrity and selfishness.”

A strong sign of the Gospel being alive is seeing concrete works of charity, he said.

Even where secularization has hit hardest, the pope said, “God speaks with the language of love, of care, of selfless service to those who are in need.

And then hearts open up and miracles happen. In deserts, new life blooms.”

Celebrate the gift of life The annual Respect Life Program is a year-round, nationwide effort to help Catholics understand, value, and become engaged with building a culture that cherishes every human life.

Begin in 1972, the program begins anew each October – the month set aside by the U.S. bishops as “Respect Life Month.” This year’s theme is “Every Life: Cherished, Chosen, Sent.”

For the Church, there is no distinction between defending human life and promoting the dignity of the human person.

As a gift from God, every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. The life and dignity of every person must be respected and protected at every stage and in every condition. The right to life is the first and most fundamental principle of human rights that leads Catholics to actively work for a world of greater

respect for human life and greater commitment to justice and peace.

To understand more fully how to defend and protect human life, we must first consider who we are, at the deepest level. God creates us in His image and likeness, which means we are made to be in loving relationship with Him. The essence of our identity and worth, the source of our dignity, is that we are loved by God. We are called to divine intimacy, true communion with God, and we can grow in this closeness with Him through daily prayer, reading the Scriptures, and frequent participation in the sacraments, especially confession and the Eucharist.

Reflection on the 2018-’19 Respect Life theme In 1531, when the indigenous peoples of Mexico were subjugated and the practice of human sacrifice was still a recent memory, the Mother of God appeared to St. Juan Diego as a pregnant native woman, now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe.

She sent him with miraculous flowers in his cloak to tell the bishop to build a church where people could receive her Son and her loving, tender care. When St. Juan Diego opened the cloak before the bishop, an image of Our Lady was revealed that remains to this day. The chapel was quickly built, millions embraced Christianity, and the Church increased its protection of the indigenous peoples.

By embracing the mission entrusted to him, St. Juan Diego helped bring Christ’s transforming love to cultures gripped by oppression and death.

Today, we again see the dignity of human life disregarded.

Unborn children are destroyed through abortion, and ill people are encouraged and assisted to take their own lives. How do we respond?

The essence of our identity is that we are created in God’s image and likeness and loved by Him. Nothing can diminish the priceless worth of any human life.

Every person is cherished.

God creates every person for eternal union with Himself and continually invites us to embrace a loving relationship with Him. Every person is chosen.

We are called to be messengers of God’s love, treating one another as cherished and chosen by Him. In doing so, we help build a culture that respects all human life.

Every person is sent.

Like St. Juan Diego, let us embrace our daily mission to help others encounter God’s transforming, life-giving love.

More online At www.usccb.org/respectlife: Join Catholics nationwide in celebrating Respect Life Month in October with the message “Every Life: Cherished, Chosen, Sent.” Download educational resources, intercessory prayers, and information on Church teaching about life issues such as abortion, assisted suicide, conscience protection, contraception, euthanasia, stem cell research, and IVF/reproductive technology.

REPRINTED (EXCERPTED) FROM RESPECT LIFE PROGRAM, COPYRIGHT 2018, USCCB, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Your daily Scripture readings SEPT. 30-OCT. 6

Sunday: Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48; Monday (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus): Job 1:6-22, Luke 9:46-50; Tuesday (The Holy Guardian Angels): Job 3:13, 11-17, 20-23, Matthew 18:1-5, 10; Wednesday: Job 9:1-12, 14-16, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday (St. Francis of Assisi): Job 19:21-27, Luke 10:1-12; Friday (BI. Francis Xavier Seelos): Job 38:1, 12-21, 40:3-5, Luke 10:13-16; Saturday (St. Bruno, BI. Marie Rose Durocher): Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17, Luke 10:17-24

OCT. 7-13 Sunday: Genesis 2:18-24, Hebrews 2:911, Mark 10:2-16; Monday: Galatians 1:6-12, Luke 10:25-37; Tuesday (St. Denis and Companions, St. John Leonardi): Galatians 1:13-24, Luke 10:38-42; Wednesday: Galatians 2:1-2, 7-14, Luke 11:1-4; Thursday (St. John XXIII): Galatians 3:1-5, Luke 1:69-75, Luke 11:5-13; Friday: Galatians 3:7-14, Luke 11:15-26; Saturday: Galatians 3:22-29, Luke 11:27-28

OCT. 14-20

Sunday: Wisdom 7:7-11, Hebrews 4:12-13, Mark 10:17-30; Monday (St. Teresa of Jesus): Galatians 4:22-24, 26-27, 34-5:1, Luke 11:2932; Tuesday (St. Hedwig, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque): Galatians 5:1-6, Luke 11:3741; Wednesday (St. Ignatius of Antioch): Galatians 5:18-25, Luke 11:42-46; Thursday (St. Luke): 2 Timothy 4:10-17, Luke 10:1-9; Friday (Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions): Ephesians 1:11-14, Luke 12:1-7; Saturday (St. Paul of the Cross): Ephesians 1:15-23, Luke 12:8-12

Our parishes

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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‘Shower down His blessings’ College seminary breaks ground as Tropical Storm Florence blows through the Carolinas PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

BELMONT — “We pray that God will continue to shower down His blessings upon this effort of ours,” Bishop Peter Jugis said with a grin before breaking ground for the permanent site of St. Joseph College Seminary Saturday morning – in spite of the wind and rain caused by Tropical Storm Florence.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis, clergy, monks from nearby Belmont Abbey and about 50 additional supporters broke ground Sept.

15 for the $20 million college seminary at the entrance to the 86-acre site located at 1212 Perfection Ave. Hurricane Florence pounded the North Carolina coast in the days leading up to the groundbreaking, making landfall Friday morning with 100-mph winds. But the wind and the rain were slow to reach the Charlotte region, giving organizers just the window of opportunity they needed to proceed with the 10 a.m. groundbreaking.

The college seminary’s 21 students, some of whom held a large tarp over the groundbreaking site, were all there for what Bishop Jugis called a “historic event” for the college seminary and the Diocese of Charlotte.

“We’re here today to ask God’s blessing on St. Joseph College Seminary, as He has been blessing it evidently from the very beginning, since we established the seminary, now two and a half years ago,” Bishop Jugis said.

“We pray that what we begin today He will be happy to bring to a successful completion because this is the Lord’s work, after all. It is His work that we are cooperating with, collaborating with. And it is all of course, for the greater glory and honor of His Name,” he said.

“Despite the weather, it couldn’t be more

beautiful,” said Father Matthew Kauth, rector of the college seminary.

Supporters wanted to press ahead with the groundbreaking Saturday because Sept. 15 is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

That day took on special significance for the college seminary in recent weeks, as the Church in the United States has been reeling from allegations of clergy sexual abuse, misconduct and abuse of power.

“For a long time, I wanted to break ground on the 22nd of August in honor of Our Lady’s queenship and immaculate heart,” Father Kauth had explained in an Aug. 19 homily as news about the sexual abuse scandal was reverberating. “Yet in the end we were delayed and now I know why. We offer this groundbreaking and this seminary to the Sorrowful Mother, in reparation. We pledge to enter the narrow way and commit ourselves to being faithful sons. Let us be the men that turn that sorrow into joy and gladden our Mother’s heart.”

“I think 100 years from now to look back and see memorialized on the campus that groundbreaking was Sept. 15 and then to recall what state the Church was in when the groundbreaking took place would tell a beautiful story,” said one supporter beforehand.

The college seminary students, led by their rector and other clergy, took part in a “good weather procession” around St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte the day before the hurricane was expected to hit their area – Sept. 14, the feast of the Exultation of the Cross – carrying a crucifix and a statue of Mary around the outside of the church that is located next door to the college seminary’s temporary home.

Then the young men went out to Belmont, made a wooden cross and planted it at the groundbreaking site.

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter Jugis, Father Matthew Kauth, rector, and other clergy and supporters turn the dirt and break ground for St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont. When completed in approximately 15 months, it will be the only college seminary located between northern Virginia and southern Florida.

Matthew Dimock, whose son Matthew attends St. Joseph College Seminary, joked on Facebook as people were wondering whether the groundbreaking would go ahead despite then-Hurricane Florence, “Come hell or high water … literally!”

The Gospel reading, read by Deacon Peter Tonon, was from Matthew 7:24-27, which some said was even more apropos SEMINARY, SEE PAGE 28

Construction of ‘transformational community’ to begin next spring in Charlotte SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp. will be building its largest-ever affordable housing project after receiving more than $11.3 million in federal tax credits, a grant and city funds.

Guardian Angel Villa is expected to break ground next spring in south Charlotte, adjacent to another Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp. project, Mother Teresa Villa.

The 96,000-square-foot, 81-unit apartment building is designed for low-income seniors aged 55 or older. It will feature 27 one-bedroom apartments and 54 two-bedroom apartments. Nine apartments will be handicapped accessible.

Guardian Angel Villa will be the fourth project for the diocese’s housing corporation, which was founded in 2001 by the late Bishop William Curlin to create, maintain and promote housing and accompanying services for seniors, the disabled, the poor and the vulnerable.

Adriel Cardenas is excited to move forward with his first project since becoming director of the housing corporation in late 2016, continuing the plans his predecessor Jerry Widelski put in motion for the 20-acre parcel off South Tryon Street – envisioning an extensive campus of affordable housing options, green space and amenities.

RENDERING PROVIDED BY DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE HOUSING CORP.

The campus’s unofficial name is Guardian Angel Village, so naming this new housing unit Guardian Angel Villa seemed appropriate, Cardenas said.

“We want the names of the facilities that we build to tie into the Catholic faith and the traditions of the Church.

Our mission is sharing the love of Christ and pointing people to Him in every way possible,” he explained.

“We all feel very fortunate and blessed to have the opportunity to deliver these homes and to touch people’s lives,” he said. “We want to deliver more than just the bricks and mortar. We want to build transformational communities.”

Guardian Angel Villa “is one part of that,” he said.

Guardian Angel Villa will have a chapel, as well as outdoor spaces and front porches where residents can relax, enjoy the gardens and socialize. It will feature

benches, rocking chairs and other community gathering spaces inside and outside.

Funding for the approximately $13.5 million project will largely come from a $9.3 million allocation of federal LowIncome Housing Tax Credits and a $250,000 grant, both administered by the N.C. Housing Finance Agency, as well as $1.75 million in proceeds from the Charlotte Housing Trust Fund. The diocese also is helping to fund the project by providing the land at a substantially reduced amount.

Three-quarters of the units will lease to residents 55 or older who earn 60 percent or below the area median income. One-quarter of the units will lease to residents 55 or older who earn 30 percent or below the area median COMMUNITY, SEE PAGE 28

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: SEPT. 29 – 4 P.M. Holy Mass for Respect Life Conference Bishop McGuinness High School, Kernersville

OCT. 3 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Elizabeth Church, Boone

OCT. 1 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Joseph Church, Eden

OCT. 6 – 5 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation and Pastor Installation of Father Roger Arnsparger St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville

OCT. 7-12 Annual Priests’ Retreat

OCT. 15- 10 A.M. Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center

OCT. 14 – 12:30 P.M. Holy Mass with the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

OCT. 15 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Barnabas Church, Arden

Diocesan calendar of events September 28, 2018

CONFERENCES

Volume 27 • NUMBER 26

RESPONDING WITH SOCIAL JUSTICE: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Catholic Conference Center, 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory. Workshops are intended to educate how we as Catholics can promote political responsibility, be informed and active citizens and drive the values that guide our communities. Conference will be led by Ralph McCloud, director of Catholic Campaign for Human Development, U.S. Conferences of Catholic Bishops, with a racism session in the morning steered by Bishop Shelton Joseph Fabre of the Diocese of HoumaThibodaux, La. Lunch will be provided. Transportation will be provided from Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Charlotte. Registration is required. To register, visit www. regonline.com/respondingsocialjustice.

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.

RESPECT LIFE CONFERENCE: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Bishop McGuinness High School, 1725 NC-66, Kernersville. Keynote speaker is Teresa Stanton Collett, a professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where she serves as director of the school’s pro-life center. An advocate for the protection of human life and family, Collett specializes in the subjects of marriage, religion and bioethics in her research. Bishop Peter Jugis will celebrate the closing Mass at 4 p.m. at Bishop McGuinness High School Chapel. For details and to register, go to www.ccdoc.org/respectlife or contact Jessica Grabowski at jrgrabowski@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3229.

ENTERTAINMENT SONFEST FALL FESTIVAL ‘BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER’: 2-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte. There will be food, rides and music. Everyone welcome to attend.

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

Saturday, Oct. 20, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting.

Sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-370-3230.

among us, and for the conversion of the women who turn to abortion instead of choosing life. May we show by our words and actions that every human life is cherished and chosen by God. For details, e-mail respectlife@stpatricks. org or call Tina at 704-301-2531.

ROSARY COAST TO COAST: All are invited to come together for a nationwide public recitation of the rosary: CHARLOTTE: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at Holy Trinity Middle School, 3100 Park Road, Charlotte.

WINSTON-SALEM: 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, on the corner of Hanes Mall Boulevard and Stratford Road.

For details, call Sam Hogan 336-865-9842.

ANNUAL ST. THOMAS MORE SOCIETY RED MASS: 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari will be the main celebrant. The Red Mass is celebrated annually in many large cities throughout the country, typically in conjunction with the opening of the new session of the U.S. Supreme Court.

WOMEN’S MORNING OF REFLECTION, ‘TROUBLED HEARTS’: 8:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, Our Lady of Grace School Library, 201 South Chapman St., Greensboro. Reflection will include time for refreshments and discussion. All women are invited. Must register in advance at rcwomenoct20.eventbrite.com. For details, contact Kate Boschini, regnumchristitriad@gmail.com or 336-430-8856.

MEN’S EVENING OF REFLECTION, ‘THE ROLE OF CHRISTIAN MAN IN THE MODERN WORLD’: 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 20, in the Parish Life Center-Bryan Hall at Our Lady of Grace Church, 2203 West Market St., Greensboro. All men are invited to take time out for reflection with a complementary dinner followed by a talk given by Deacon Jack Yarbrough. Registration required at www.rcmenoct20.eventbrite.com. For details, contact John Endredy at 336-202-9635 or jendredy@ gmail.com.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN 25TH AND 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, at St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Road, Charlotte.

Registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 28. For details and registration, email Sherill Beason at sabeason@ charlottediocese.org.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, at 901 North Main St., and Sunset Drive, High Point. Come and help pray for the end of abortion. For details, call Jim Hoyng at 336-882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.

PRO-LIFE PRAYER VIGIL, ‘EVERY LIFE, CHERISHED, CHOSEN, SENT’: Saturday, Oct. 6, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Join us after the 8 a.m. Mass in a special prayer vigil to inaugurate Respect Life Month. The prayer vigil will be led by Father Christopher Bond. The prayer vigil will be held outside Preferred Women’s Health Center, 3220 Latrobe Dr. Charlotte, the city’s busiest abortion mill. Come out to pray for the unborn, the weakest and most vulnerable

‘Protecting God’s Children’ workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are: ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St. CHARLOTTE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, St. Peter Church, 507 South Tryon St.; 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

GREENSBORO: 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, St. Paul the

Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS ‘DAVE RAMSEY’S FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY’: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Nine-week program starting on Sundays, Sept. 16-Nov. 11, in the Parish Activity Center at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave., Winston-Salem.

‘Financial Peace University’ will help you take control of your money, plan for your future and transform your life.

Dan and Pam McVicker, parishioners at St. Leo’s, along with other previous FPU graduates, will be facilitating the program. For details and registration, go to www.fpu. com/1069692 or contact Pam directly at 724-344-3431 or pammcvicker@gmail.com.

MIRAVIA’S 24TH ANNUAL BANQUET ‘CHOSEN & PRECIOUS IN GOD’S SIGHT’: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College St., Charlotte. Featuring Shawn Carney, co-founder and president of 40 Days for Life, as keynote speaker. For details, contact Megan Whiteside at meganwhiteside@miravia.org or register at www. miraviabanquet24.eventbrite.com.

YOUNG ADULTS CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry 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 20s and 30s Ministry” ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH: online at “Aquinas’ Finest,” www.stacharlotte.com/finest HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH IN DENVER: call Nicole Lehman, 704-607-5207 ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH IN WINSTON-SALEM: online at “Winston Salem Frassati,” www.wsfrassati.com GREENSBORO WAY OF CHRIST: The young adult ministry at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro: at www.stpiusxnc. com/woc, on Facebook at “wayofchrist” and Twitter @wocgreensboro or email Dan McCool at wocgreensboro@gmail.com.

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.

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Staff at Catholic Charities’ WinstonSalem office load agency vehicles with hurricane relief supplies that were sent to the Diocese of Raleigh this week.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOLY ANGELS

Residents and staff of Carobell from outside Wilmington sought refuge from Hurricane Florence at Holy Angels in Belmont Sept. 12-20.

Holy Angels provides refuge for Carobell residents during Hurricane Florence SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

BELMONT — Holy Angels is living up to its reputation of hospitality, sheltering a group of medically fragile North Carolinians fleeing from Hurricane Florence.

The home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, run by the Sisters of Mercy, has taken in a group of individuals from a similar facility near Jacksonville, North Carolina, after the town was evacuated because of the Category 1 hurricane. Florence made landfall along the Carolinas coast Sept. 14, claiming 32 lives and causing catastrophic flooding in many parts of eastern North Carolina.

Forty-six residents and staff of Carobell left the small town of Hubert Sept. 12 in a caravan of 11 vehicles, slowly making the 260-mile trek to Holy Angels, their designated emergency safe site.

Twelve of Carobell’s more medicalfragile residents, along with 11 staff members, evacuated to Onslow Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville to shelter in place there. It was the first evacuation in Carobell’s 49-year history.

They were greeted with open arms when they arrived at Holy Angels, then treated to a special dinner of steak, salad and baked potatoes.

“From the time we got here we felt the spirit of hospitality,” said Carobell’s president and CEO Vanessa Ervin. “You can’t put it into words, the gratitude that we have.”

Regina Moody, Holy Angels’ president and CEO, said hosting Carobell residents and staff has been a positive experience.

“It has been a pleasure to welcome them,” Moody said. “Our residents and staff have had a great attitude. Everyone has worked together.”

Ervin and her staff left everything – their own families and homes – to accompany and care for the Carobell

residents as the natural disaster unfolded around them.

By the time Florence reached Belmont, it had been downgraded to a tropical storm.

“I also have gratitude for my staff,” Ervin said. “They have left everything to come to allow me to do this mission of taking care of other people’s children.

I recognize that some of them have trees in their homes right now (after the hurricane). It’s an emotional burden.”

Six Carobell residents requiring around-the-clock care were settled in on site at Holy Angels, which has backup generators in the event of a power outage.

The remaining Carobell residents and some staff were housed at The Holiday Inn Express nearby. Some staff were also housed at a guest house on the Sisters of Mercy campus, where Holy Angels is located.

Ervin said that their facility did not sustain any significant damage, and the food in their freezer was not spoiled during the power outage. The estimated cost of the evacuation for Carobell is $30,000, she said.

She emphasized that things can be replaced after disasters such as Florence, but lives cannot.

“The people that we have the privilege to take care of are safe,” she said. “They are safe because of a partnership with my community hospital, with the Sisters of Mercy and Holy Angels and a partnership with staff who would sacrifice everything to make sure that these loved ones are secure and their quality of life is not compromised.”

Staff at both facilities have trained for such an evacuation, Moody and Ervin both noted, and they relied on that training and preplanning to ensure that the residents were moved without risking their care.

“We feel safe here,” Ervin said, adding that “God has honored our plan all along.

We have a Carobell to go back to.”

The Carobell residents and staff returned home safely Sept. 20.

Hurricane Florence recovery efforts gear up across the diocese CHARLOTTE — Parishes and schools across the Diocese of Charlotte are being asked to respond in the wake of Hurricane Florence with donations of money, food and supplies for our brothers and sisters in need in the Carolinas.

Forty-three people died and thousands of homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed when Hurricane Florence came ashore in Wilmington Sept. 14.

Damages are being estimated at between $38 billion and $50 billion, and recovery and rebuilding efforts in the region – still reeling from Hurricane Matthew in 2016 – are expected to take up to two years, emergency officials estimate.

Parishioners will have the chance to help victims of Hurricane Florence in special collections taking place at upcoming Masses.

In a Sept. 18 memo to pastors announcing the special collection, Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte, wrote, “As you are no doubt aware, the Carolinas and Virginia were struck by a devastating hurricane, causing fatalities, extensive flooding and high winds damage. Hurricane Florence has created a situation beyond which the local communities and agencies cannot handle without outside assistance.”

Parishioners should look for announcements from their parish as to when the collections will take place.

Donations should be made payable to one’s local parish, noted for “Disaster Relief.”

Donations will then be forwarded by parishes to the diocesan finance office, which will then dis-tribute the funds to Church partners offering disaster relief and recovery efforts – both short-term and long-term – to affected communities.

In addition, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has been working closely with its sister agency in the Diocese of Raleigh, organizing collections of three key types of items that Raleigh specifically requested: nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, and diapers (child and adult).

Flyers have been distributed to parishes and schools to help them organize drives for hurricane relief supplies should they

choose to do such a collection.

The first load of supplies traveled to eastern North Carolina this week.

“Recovery from a massive disaster like this will take a great deal of time,” said Joseph Purello, Catholic Charities’ director of social concerns and advocacy. “As the waters recede, people will start to go back home and find out just how bad the damage is, and whether their homes are even capable of sheltering them once again.

“What we know from previous experiences with disasters such as this is that it will be communities and households that already struggle with poverty and lower economic PAGE 22: Read opportunities that more about the will have the greatest relief efforts struggles to face. for victims We must find in our of Hurricane faith the generosity Florence and and the commitment learn how you to justice that will can help ensure people are not expendable when a crisis like this comes, and we must work to see to it that safe homes, clean water and economic security are part of a post-disaster life for the hurricane survivors.”

For Catholic Charities, the response efforts will extend beyond the special collections and food drives in the coming weeks.

“Catholic Charities is not a first responder in disasters,” noted Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Charities’ executive director, “but rather we are a provider of short- and long-term case management services. That is, once rescue personnel have concluded their jobs, agencies such as Catholic Charities work directly with storm survivors to restore normalcy to their lives.”

Carter said his agency expects to coordinate recovery efforts with the Raleigh agency “perhaps well into next year.”

— Catholic News Herald

More inside

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 OUR PARISHES

A time to mourn ... a time to love On anniversary of her son’s killing, Vivian Carr says she has grown closer to God

truck. My middle (son) got his CDL and is driving trucks.

It made me feel good. When I went to Justin’s job to turn in the keys, they spoke so well of him. They said many drivers are nasty but Justin had a real good attitude and was always pleasant. They threw a big baby shower for little Justin.

Carr: No, It wouldn’t mean anything to me if he did. I looked him in the eye in court, but it was just like nothing.

He says he didn’t do it. He was about 22 when it happened.

I never seen his parents. I just want justice to be served. I think no matter how much time he serves, it will always be in his mind. I believe in karma so I just let God handle.

LISA GERACI CORRESPONDENT

CHARLOTTE — Two years after her son’s death Vivian Carr still aches with grief, but memories of him and the birth of his son have brought her family closer to each other and to God. Justin Carr, 26, was shot in the head during a week of protests in Charlotte following the police shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott in September 2016. Besides his mother, he left behind a pregnant fiancée, two brothers and an aunt, as well as an extended family and friends at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte.

Rayquan Borum was charged in Carr’s death, accused of firing a weapon as demonstrators including Carr marched outside the Omni Hotel. He has pleaded not guilty, and his trial is set to begin Dec. 3.

The Catholic News Herald sat down to talk with Carr’s mother last week to see how the family is coping through their loss.

CNH: Justin’s fiancée, Tenae, was pregnant when Justin passed away. How is she doing, and how is little Justin?

Carr: When Justin found out he was having a boy, he cried. Little Justin is his only child. Little Justin reminds me so much of Justin because he is so mischievous and busy. They’re both active, both daredevils. Baby Justin is only a kid, but he likes to jump and climb on everything.

My Justin was real adventurous and little Justin jumps, runs, climbs – he is just a rough little boy. They have the same eyes; when I look in his eyes I see his dad. Sometimes the way he looks at me with those eyes, it is like my son is talking to me. I will say, “Justin, is that you talking?”

Little Justin knows how his dad looks from pictures.

Every time he sees a picture, even if it is on a keychain, he says, “Dada.” My Justin always wore dreads. People around the neighborhood, they’d call him “Black Jesus.”

Tanae isn’t cutting little Justin’s hair because he is going to have dreads just like his daddy. I lost an angel but gained another with baby Justin.

Justin’s old bedroom is the nursery for my grandkids. I have Justin’s old clothes and his picture on the wall. I have a hope box my cousin gave me. I keep keepsakes in there, in the room. I have Justin’s jersey and his basketball.

Justin loved the Panthers.

Tanae and I cope together, pray together and cry together. Sometimes when she is having a bad day, she will call me and I will pray with her, try to turn it around.

Tanae and Justin were high school sweethearts. They were off and on but were together for three years over this last run. They started dating when they were 15. She has been having a hard time but she has gotten very close to her family. She is part of our family now.

CNH: What was Justin like?

Carr: Coming up with Justin, he was this tiny little boy that used to aggravate people because he liked to play and pick a lot. His brother looked out for him. Justin was the baby boy, but in the end when they got to be adults the tables turned and he became like a big brother, too. He was the motivator of everything. If someone got a new job, he would say, “It’s because of me.” Everything, “it was because of me, I helped you do that.” He was a motivator for his circle of friends and family, and pretty funny, too.

All the stuff I used to tell him coming up, he would turn around on me and say, “Mama, you know what you told us: Always trust God if you are having a bad day.” He always believed in God. We have a large family so we don’t get to see everyone very often. My cousin has a large cookout every year.

Justin attended the last one with his family two weeks before he died. It was on Labor Day weekend. Justin loved chicken and rice with gravy. He loved sweets.

Justin was a truck driver who wanted to own his own fleet of trucks. That was the plan. My nephew got his CDL, then Justin, and my middle son was supposed to get his.

They were all going to get some money to buy trucks. My oldest was going to do the financial business part. Now that Justin is gone, my nephew has already bought his

Vivian Carr is pictured with her son Justin, who was killed in 2016 during a week of protests in Charlotte against police violence.

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY THE CARR FAMILY

CNH: Have you felt any spiritual signs since Justin’s passing?

Carr: Well, I can feel Justin’s presence, especially when I am at home. It’s a good, peaceful feeling when Justin is present. But I haven’t had him come back to visit me or any of that. I haven’t even had a dream about him, in two years. Not even a dream with him in it. I want one. This may sound weird, but I wish for him to come visit me, just maybe have a dream with something from him. I have had people come to me and say they’ve had dreams about Justin, but I haven’t had any.

CNH: Several videos have been released on social media, and the case regarding Justin Carr has created a lot of comments.

Are you comfortable with the attention, and did you have to give your permission for the videos to be released?

Carr: No, they (the police) released them. I didn’t have to give permission. They were released without it. I didn’t feel comfortable with the release. I have had hundreds of people hit me on Facebook Messenger with videos. People that were down there. I never actually looked at the videos.

Some people said they had evidence and I would want to see them. I don’t know if they have gone to the police with the videos or not. But social media has been negative. I went on the CNN website, this guy had me and my son on there, he was pointing out that we were “actors.” He claimed that it didn’t really happen, we were just actors for CNN. If I had one thing to say to social media it would be, “Stop the negativity.”

CNH: Do you think the police acted appropriately during the riots?

Carr: No. I didn’t even like the way they treated me when I got to the hospital. When I got the call from my oldest son and got to the hospital, they put me in this room by myself. They treated me like I did something bad. They didn’t tell me what was going on. They asked to see my ID and then they were asking questions about Justin, like he had done something wrong. Meanwhile, my son was in there, and I was trapped in this room for 45 minutes before someone even came.

CNH: Has Rayquan Borum apologized to you in anyway? What would justice look like to you?

I forgive him, I forgave him. That is what I used to tell my sons: “Think about your actions because you are not only affecting your family, it is someone else’s family, too.” He has a daughter – now there are two kids without a father.

It is hard trying to forgive him, but you have to. I don’t believe in the death penalty.

CNH: Are you going to attend the court hearing?

Carr: Dec. 3 is the first court hearing and I plan to attend every day. I have saved all my vacation time for the hearings. Not a good month – it’s Christmas time. The day I viewed the first video, it was the day before Thanksgiving.

Something else came up right around Christmas time. The people at my job have been extremely supportive. Even the members of the church ask about the court date.

CNH: What has your church meant to you?

Carr: We were raised here and even went to school here.

We were baptized into this church, in the 1960s. My mom was coming here since 1958. OLC started on Oaklawn and then moved here. My whole entire family – cousins, aunts, uncles – we used to all sing in the choir. Some of our family have left, but this will always be our home. This is our church. My bond at OLC has always been strong.

CNH: How has your relationship with God change since Justin’s passing?

Carr: I have gotten closer to God through my son’s passing. I have never asked God why this had to happen to me. I have never questioned God about this. The passing has brought me and my boys closer to God. I was waiting on the anger; a lot of my co-workers gave me books about dealing and coping with death and how anger was going to come. I was never angry at God – no, no, no. I understand death and we all have to go sometime. I never, I never, got angry at God. I just have to trust Him when going through something like this. You got to rely on God. You have to remain close to God. I have a friend who was there with me in the hospital the whole time. She just lost her son, too. His name was Justin and it was her baby boy. She calls me a lot to get advice. I have my time with God. I do my spiritual readings and I have time.

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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‘It was always giving back, not giving’ Couple leaves $330k endowment to St. Vincent de Paul Church SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

YIA members then attended a special luncheon with civil rights activist Claudette Colvin.

Amily James, 15, said, “We went to see the ‘first Rosa Parks,’ Ms. Colvin. They were trying to make her stand up on the bus but she refused to. We met her at a restaurant, and we ate and we were just listening to her story. It was somewhat touchy and she was funny, inspirational. What will always stick with me is when Ms. Colvin said that while on that bus she felt Harriet Tubman pushing down on one shoulder and Sojourner Truth pushing her down on the other shoulder, which had her glued to that seat.”

Gittens-Duliepre added, “Ms. Colvin opened her talk by praying the Lord’s Prayer with the youth. She made the YIA feel like they were actually there as they could feel the fear, anxiety and ultimately the courage she felt that day.”

“YIA ended day two by riding the NYC subway, which was quite an event. They had 15 minutes of fame when YIA collaborated singing and dancing talents with a NYC street performer at the Times Square Station. It was a magical experience when the street performer unselfishly gave the kids his microphone and shared his train station stage. As the party began with clapping, singing and dancing, immediately a huge audience circled the youth with their phones out to display to the social media world what was happening,” Gittens-Duliepre recalled.

As the young people climbed the stairs up from the train station into the bright lights of 42nd Street, they felt overwhelmed and exhilarated by the huge crowds of people. For some, it was their first time visiting the city.

Jovanka Gonzalez, 13, said, “We went to Times Square and at first it was all fun; we saw all the lights. Most of us who have not been there – we were stunned by everything. Then we started walking around, we started to get adjusted to things. It is a different environment, and we are not used to the crowded places in New York. It was very fun but very alerting for us.”

YIA members also visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Jovanka Gonzalez recalled, “Although St. Patrick’s was in the busy streets of Manhattan, when you stepped inside, you could feel peace. We were all surprised to learn that African American St. Pierre Toussaint is buried there.”

Olivia Mukoko, 12, added, “We also went to the 9/11 towers that are actually waterfalls now. There we saw a tree – the only tree that survived 9/11 – and someone talked to us about that tree.

I felt that it represented how we should still overcome the bad even though there is a lot of bad coming our way. We should still fight on and not give up, because that tree is still there.”

Friday morning, the YIA crew headed to the dioceses of Brooklyn and Queens and met in fellowship with more than 75 youth from Brooklyn and Queens at their final destination: Kujenga.

The event, held at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception on Long Island, N.Y., featured presentations by several speakers, Eucharistic Adoration, opportunity for the sacrament of confession, a recitation of the rosary, a lecture on African saints and ancestral prayer rituals, and a rite of passage ceremony

CHARLOTTE — When they died, longtime St. Vincent de Paul parishioners Chuck and Terry Davis left more than $338,000 to their parish in the form of an endowment.

The Terry and Chuck Davis Endowment was the last in a long line of efforts the Davises made to support their parish since they first joined in 1999.

For 17 years they lived at The Cypress, a continuing care retirement community near the church, before Terry passed away in 2015. Even though Chuck moved to California to live near family after his wife’s death, he did not forget St. Vincent de Paul Church and his faith community.

When he died in March, he made arrangements to be interred next to his beloved wife in the parish’s columbarium – which he also helped to design.

Father Mark Lawlor served as the Davis’ pastor at the time. He was a close family friend and offered both funeral Masses.

“Shortly after I was assigned to the parish in 2003, a resident of The Cypress requested that I consider celebrating a First Friday Mass in their Health Center. I celebrated the First Friday Mass for the next 13 years.”

In that time, he recalled, he came to know many of the residents who were parishioners and who participated in the Mass. “Chuck and Terry always helped to coordinate the Mass by checking with the administration for the room and Chuck often served as the lector,” he said.

He was invited to lunch at the Club House following the Mass and through these lunches he came to know the Davises very well.

“They were very devout in their Catholic faith and generous in all aspects of stewardship,” Father Lawlor said. “They were part of our columbarium committee and were instrumental in forming the policy and the design of the columbarium.

“When we began our capital campaign for the Ministry Center and Chapel, we had our first information session at The Cypress and Chuck spoke in favor of the initiative. The Davises were supportive of the project from the beginning and bought the monstrance for the Chapel of the Holy Family,” he said.

Another generous gift the couple made was in gratitude for their marriage of 67 years. They made the memorial donation for the stained glass window in the chapel depicting the Betrothal of St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary. “It was very sad when Terry died in her home in 2015,” Father Lawlor recalled. “Following her death, the family donated many household items to the Homeless Relief Ministry of St. Vincent de Paul.” He was blessed to receive some of their wedding china to remember them by.

The couple’s son, Bob Davis, served as executor upon his father’s passing.

“I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone in my life who was more dedicated and more supportive of the Church and more true to their faith than my mom and dad,” he said. He recalled that his mother’s family was very devout and his father, who grew up as a Southern Baptist, converted to

ROAD TRIP, SEE PAGE 28

GIVING, SEE PAGE 28

PHOTO PROVIDED

Members of Youth-in-Action at Our Lady of Consolation Church traveled to New York City on a spiritual retreat like nothing else they’ve experienced, called “Kujenga.”

A spiritual road trip Our Lady of Consolation’s Youth-inAction members go to Kujenga LISA GERACI CORRESPONDENT

CHARLOTTE — More than 30 young people from Our Lady of Consolation Parish’s Youth-In-Action group went on a five-day, coming-of-age road trip all the way to “Kujenga.”

Kujenga, which means “to build” in Swahili, was a retreat for black Catholic teens held recently outside New York City.

The journey challenged the youths to deepen their Catholic faith, connect to their African American roots, and receive spiritual guidance to help them become strong, young black Catholic adults.

Youth chaperone Dominise Duliepre explained, “Yes, we had fun, but the whole point was to get in touch with our spiritual side, to understand why we are here and what other people are doing. How do we all connect as one family? It is great to see other young black Catholics because we do not see them very often, especially in Charlotte. We are the only black Catholic church in the area. To see black Catholics at other churches in Brooklyn and Queens was cool. Seeing other kids like us sharing a similar religious experience was exciting.”

Their journey included a brief stop in Washington, D.C., where they visited the White House and the Washington Monument as well as the National Museum of African American History and Culture. YIA member and leader Emmanuel Okechukura, 19, said, “The first stop was the African American Museum, which is very famous. It was established in 2017. We re-established a lot of history there, connecting to our roots.”

Trip organizer and youth coordinator Denise Gittens-Duliepre added, “The display of Emmett Till’s coffin was the most impactful and very emotional. To actually see the coffin he laid in, it was as though the clock stopped at the year 1955 and you felt like you were really at the funeral services for Emmett Till.

The room was filled with a feeling of overwhelming sadness.

Emmett Till was the 14-year-old accused of whistling at a white woman. He was tortured, disfigured and murdered by two white men. There were so many heart-breaking exhibits, but there were also many wonderful historical accomplishments of African Americans, which made YIA proud.”

Their second day was packed with as much adventure as the first. Gittens-Duliepre said, “After a night at the Apollo, YIA started their day off with a visit to the cathedral in Harlem, St. Charles Borromeo Church. The pastor, Father Gregory Chisholm, and his spiritual team did an excellent job sharing and teaching how Catholicism played a major role in the history of Harlem.

His spiritual team spoke on the importance of being Catholic and answering to God’s call. This session emphasized the importance of holding on to faith as Catholics while growing older.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 OUR PARISHES

‘It becomes something that is part of you’ LISA GERACI CORRESPONDENT

Hot spots are popping up across the Diocese of Charlotte and receiving rave reviews. St. Gabriel parishioner Anna Eyl writes she cannot envision a Thursday without going. Carla Styber writes that if she could, she would camp out there all day; she never wants to leave. Marie Seclair describes the silence, peace and beauty there to be unmatched anywhere on Earth. Even the saints agree. St. Mother Teresa admitted it is the best place you will spend on Earth. Padre Pio boasted that one hour here is worth more than a thousand years of human glory. St. Peter of Alcantra said the graces there can be bestowed on anyone who asks for them.

It is a place open 24 hours a day to everyone, denied to no one, and conveniently located. The stay could last a minute or a week, but without regret and always a longing to come back.

What is this place? A Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel, of course!

The Charlotte diocese has five of them, including at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, and St. Aloysius Church in Hickory.

Not familiar with Eucharistic Adoration?

A sign displayed on the sign-up table at St. Gabriel Parish explains: “Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is the response of the Church to our Lord’s invitation to be vigilant, to keep watch and pray. Indeed, adoration suspends that moment in the Mass when the priest elevates the consecrated Host exposing Our Lord for intimate prayer and contemplation. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament suspends that moment.”

Staying for an hour – what’s called “making a Holy Hour” – recalls when Jesus asked His apostles to keep watch with Him for an hour while He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, before He was handed over to be crucified.

Operating a Perpetual Adoration Chapel requires that someone is always present with the Host, making sure that Our Savior is never left exposed alone. That sounds simple, but conducting this feat means recruiting 336 dedicated volunteers every week, two for each hour. Many wake up in the wee hours of the night, leaving their cozy beds to reach their duty post.

Celi Anatrella, secretary and Eucharistic Adoration coordinator at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, explains why she goes to Eucharistic Adoration: “My hour was two to three in the morning. It was a sacrifice because I had to get up in the middle of the night, and in the winter get up in the middle of my sleep, but it is a very anointed time for

LISA GERACI | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Mark Church in Huntersville me.”

Anatrella adds, “It becomes something that is part of you. When you get to spend time with someone, you get to know that person. You get to love that person, so you want to spend more time with them. You have to start somewhere. It is like when you first meet someone, you are only going to start to like with them and get to know

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

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

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

CHARLOTTE

HIGH POINT

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

HUNTERSVILLE

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

them. You can’t love what you do not know; you can only love what you do know. So, I think when you fall in love with Jesus, you want to spend all the time you could with Jesus.”

Anatrella credits the growth and success of St. Mark Parish to its Adoration Chapel. “I think the growth in the parish, the growth in faith and the vocations from this parish are because Our Lord is here. We get many graces. It is a growth in our holiness. We’re blessed here.

The only time the Lord asked the apostles for anything was the night He went into agony. He did not ask for an activity, He just asked for an hour of company: ‘Come and spend an hour with me.’ Of course, when we come spend an hour with Him, God is going to give us graces to grow in holiness. My crazy vision is that we have 10 people sign up every single hour – not just one or two – so the Lord is never alone. Then we will really be transformed because lives change when we spend an hour with God.” Gail Carroll, coordinator of Eucharistic Adoration at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, also emphasizes the power of Adoration to transform people: “He is calling so many people now. Jesus is totally veiled in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. When I sign up people for adoration, I encourage them to spend the first 15 minutes mediating on the fact that He is truly looking at you. Here, present, veiled as the Precious Bread – just marvel over that and soak it in; the light just permeates you. Look! You are experiencing the glory of God.” “Adoration encourages us to enter deeper into Jesus’ love because He is truly a prisoner of love,” Carroll adds.

“He waits for our visit. He called you for that special hour, a date with Him to spend an hour. He is the greatest lover.

There is no deeper love that you can experience than with Jesus’ Presence in the Eucharist. It’s communion, unity with Him, and then to adore Him in that presence gives Him so much delight. We want to love Him back as much as He loves us, so that is what it is all about. It is all about love. Jesus in creation is shouting, ‘I love you’.”

St. John Bosco once said, “Do you want the Lord to give you many graces? Visit Him often. Do you want Him to give you few graces? Visit Him rarely. Do you want the devil to attack you? Visit Jesus rarely in the Blessed Sacrament.

Do you want him to flee from you? Visit Jesus often!”

More online At www.charlottediocese.org: Not sure if a parish near you offers Eucharistic Adoration? Check the convenient parish directory and searchable map on the Diocese of Charlotte’s website

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2018

Marian Eucharistic Conference

Featured Speakers

Fr. Frank Pavone, National director, Priests for Life Fr. Bill Casey, Fatherswill of focus Mercyon Our featured speakers Fr. Brian OP, seeking toMullady, anchor ourselves to the two Dominican professor scholar pillars of thepriest, Real Presence ofand Christ in the Doug Barry, Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Founder of RADIX Catholic ministry Dr. John Bruchalski, Former abortionist turned pro-life Jeff Cavins, author Most Rev. Catholic Robertevangelist, E. Guglielmone

Featured Speakers

Bishop of Charleston Fr. Bill Casey, CPM The Fathers of Mercy

Registration Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM

The Fathers of Mercy$80, Youth: $40 General Admission: Registration required by Oct. 27 by mail.

Dcn. Harold Burke-Sivers Registration after Oct. 27: $90.

Catholicand Evangelist andlunches Speaker Saturday Sunday buffet are included.

We offer gluten free meals.

Dr. Ricardo Castanon Gomez For more information, call Eucharistic Miracle Researcher (864) 354-7160 or go to and Clinical Psychologist www.meconferencesc.net

Hilton Hotel | 45 West Orchard Park Drive | Greenville, SC 29615

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

An extraordinary celebration in Hickory BARBARA CASE SPEERS CORRESPONDENT

HICKORY — July 9 was a special day at St. Aloysius Church: 118 faith formation students received the sacrament of confirmation from Bishop Peter Jugis, and the bishop also blessed a new crucifix for the church’s sanctuary.

“This year the celebration of confirmation was most impressive to me because it captured the inclusive nature of our faith community,” reflected Kathryn Grandgenett, who has directed the ministry for six years. “James Maxson, music director, and Sarah Rose, youth director, worked with Angel Romero, Hispanic music director, to be sure that our music for the confirmation Mass was in two languages: English and Spanish. It was absolutely beautiful. The lectors chosen to read the Word of God were former faith formation students of mine who attended prior confirmation preparation classes and they just happened to be Hispanic.

Also, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion were all Hispanic. Over the years, confirmation preparation has always been a very special ministry to me, but the Mass was always in English. It was so beautiful to bring us all together as one body in Christ and language was not a barrier.”

Grandgenett continued, “Each year, faith formation students who are anticipating confirmation must earn faith and service credits. This year, Deacon Bill Schrieber arranged for the students to clean up the grounds at the Catholic Conference Center, also located in Hickory. This was

Fr. Vinny Fortunato, Appointed

by Pope Francis as a Missioner of Mercy is coming to Charlotte

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HERNANE ESPIRITU

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass and administered the sacrament of confirmation at St. Aloysius Church in Hickory, where he also blessed the new crucifix for the church’s sanctuary. not an easy task because our summer has been particularly hot. Our confirmation students worked diligently, a true labor of love, and they did an amazing job.”

The crucifix that the bishop blessed during his visit to the Hickory parish stands nine feet tall and is made of lindenwood, noted Father Lawrence LoMonaco, pastor. It was handcrafted in Rome.

“Although we have a masterfully handcarved triptych depicting the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary dedicated when the new church was built in 1993, the parish felt the need to include a more traditional crucifix placed in our sanctuary. Those who wanted to donate for the traditional crucifix graciously gave,” he said. “Our celebration of confirmation was quite extraordinary with a bilingual Mass and the dedication of a new traditional crucifix.”

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How Does The Divine Mercy Movement Transform The Culture of Death?

HEAR Renowned Capuchin Preacher, Fr. Vinny Fortunato, OFM Cap, speak on “How Mercy Defeats the Culture of Death” 9th Annual Divine Mercy Day of Healing

Divine Mercy Movement Transforms The Culture of Death October 6, 2018—9 am to 3 pm St. Matthew Catholic Church 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Charlotte NC $35 pp—$25 seniors/students: Cont’l Breakfast & Lunch

Register: www.stmatthewcatholic.org/divinemercy

Deronda Metz, Director of Social Services for the Center of Hope; Deacon James Witulski, Diocesan Liaison for Catholic Jail Ministry and Deacon Gary Schrieber, Director of Cenacles of Divine Mercy at St. Matthew Catholic Church: manifest mercy’s redemptive power.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 OUR PARISHES

Seminarians credit Catholic Campus Ministry with strengthening their call to priesthood CHARLOTTE — Former Catholic Campus Ministry participants and now seminarians – (pictured from left) Deacon Alfonso Gamez Jr., Kevin Tran, Chinonso A. Nnebe-Agumadu and Nelson Woodbury – stopped by the Catholic Campus Ministry booth at the Eucharistic Congress Sept. 8. The seminarians, who are all in formation at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, shared how Catholic Campus Ministry fostered or even led to an awareness of their vocation.

They pointed to the consistency of activities, good support and friends.

Focusing on values and faith kept them searching for meaning and God in their lives, they said.

Deacon Gamez, a University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduate, said Catholic Campus Ministry “kept me grounded, gave me a sense of family and friends.” At CCM he learned what discernment was. He came to understand that “God had a plan for me (that was) all inclusive of my happiness.”

Tran, also a UNCC graduate, said Catholic Campus Ministry “led me to a deeper sense of prayer.” This, with the experiences of small group study and worship opportunities, fed his inner restlessness. He needed to find God’s will, and his search led him to request admission to the seminary.

Catholic Campus Ministry “gave me the opportunity to grow in the faith, especially through retreats which really helped affirm the call (to priesthood),”

said Nnebe-Agumadu, a 2017 graduate of North Carolina A&T. “I had thought about the priesthood, but

Catholic Campus Ministry kept it alive in the midst of so many voices against it at college,” said Woodbury, a 2018 graduate of ASU. He added that the most important part of the ministry for him was building deep relationships that grow out of meaningful and intimate discussions. “Friendship comes from mutual pursuit of virtue,” he said.

— Ann Kilkelly

Learn more At www.catholiconcampus.com: Get connected at all the colleges and universities served by the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic Campus Ministry, or help students find their way to God with your financial gift

S T. G A B R I E L M E N ' S C L U B

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Cash, Credit Card, Checks; Payable to St Gabriel Men’s Club To Order Online, sgmcoysterroast.com

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT MINISTRIES SUPPORTED BY SGMC.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Youth invited to retreat All high school students in the Diocese of Charlotte are invited to a Fall Retreat Friday through Sunday, Oct. 19-21, hosted at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. The retreat starts Friday night at 7 p.m. and concludes at 11 a.m. Sunday. The retreat will focus on the Scripture passage from John 15:13: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” What is a true friend? What is ultimate friendship? Come pray and explore with other young people from across the diocese. Registration details are online at www. charlottediocese.org/ev/youth/events/highschool-retreat or call 704-370-3211.

Salisbury pastor visits Ohio seminarians CINCINNATI — Diocese of Charlotte seminarians studying at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West recently enjoyed a visit from Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury. He joined the seminary community for Mass, concelebrating on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Sept. 14. Pictured with Father Eckert are the diocese’s five seminarians in formation there: (from left, bottom row) Darren Balkey and Harry Ohlhaut; (middle row) Aaron Huber and Lee Benson; and (top row) Camilo Salas-Bowen.

The Athenaeum of Ohio – Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West, originally St. Francis Xavier Seminary, is the third-oldest Catholic seminary in the United States.

Divine Mercy Day of Healing coming up Oct. 6 CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church will host its 9th annual Divine Mercy Day of Healing from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.

Featured speakers include Capuchin Franciscan Father Vincent Fortunato, one of Pope Francis’ Missionary of Mercy priests; Deronda Metz, director of social services for the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope; Deacon James Witulski, diocesan liaison for Catholic Jail Ministry in Mecklenburg County; and Deacon Gary Schrieber, spiritual director of Cenacles of The Divine Mercy at St. Matthew Parish.

Mass will be offered at 9 a.m. by Father Fortunato and Father Patrick Hoare, pastor.

There will be singing of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, anointing of the sick, and a blessing with St. Faustina’s relic.

For registration details, go online to www. stmatthewcatholic.org/divinemercy.

Pray the rosary ‘coast to coast’ CHARLOTTE — Everyone is invited to join a nationwide public recitation of the rosary Sunday, Oct. 7, as part of a Rosary Coast-toCoast event.

Charlotte-area Catholics will meet at the Holy Trinity Middle School athletic field starting at 4 p.m. to pray the rosary for the United States of America and for the Church. The school is located at 3100 Park Road in Charlotte.

In Winston-Salem, Catholics should gather 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, at the corner of Hanes Mall Boulevard and Stratford Road. For information, contact Sam Hogan at 336-865-9842.

CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant applications now available Does your parish help run a food pantry, operate a thrift store, or sponsor an emergency services program? If so, consider applying for a CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant for up to $1,000 in grant funds.

Grants will be accepted through the postmark deadline of Oct. 15.

Information about this upcoming round of grants (including application, guidelines and eligibility) is available at www.ccdoc.org/ cchdcrs. Only one grant can be submitted per Catholic entity and grant applications must be reviewed and signed by the pastor of the parish, principal of the school, or director of the diocesan office applying for the grant.

For more information, email Joseph Purello at jtpurello@charlottediocese.org.

Belmont Abbey College to upgrade sports facility BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College has announced plans to dramatically upgrade the Wheeler Athletic Center’s Sports Performance facility.

The new design includes customized weight lifting equipment, new flooring, and a 1,350-square-foot artificial turf functional training area that will serve 31 varsity and eight developmental men’s and women’s athletic programs and more than 800 students.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the start of the spring semester in January.

There will be 12 new weightlifting stations with customized racks, benches, bars and plates, branded dumbbells, a new 30-yard turf sprinting and plyometric area, and many more features to enhance the performance and experience of students.

“Aristotle wrote, ‘Excellence is an art won by training and habituation...Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit’,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College. “Humpy and Pat Wheeler live Aristotle’s ideal every day of their lives. Their munificence is one more sign of their excellence and ensures that our students and coaches will have the opportunity to continue the pursuit and attainment of excellence and virtue on and off the fields of play. I am forever grateful for their great generosity and kindness.”

“This project was made possible by the generous donation from the Wheelers,” added Stephen Miss, athletics director.

“A major upgrade, renovating our Sports Performance facility better positions us to deliver upon our promise to our students: to form and develop the whole person – body, mind and soul.”

— Rolando Rivas

Knights pitch in KERNERSVILLE — The Knights of Columbus Council 8509 from Holy Cross Parish held its annual “Tootsie Roll Fundraiser” at the Kernersville Honeybee Festival Aug. 18, collecting more than $500 for the L.A.M.B. Foundation of North Carolina, a charity dedicated solely to assisting people with intellectual disabilities. The Knights also recently distributed almost $8,000 to intellectual disabilities programs at seven local elementary schools in Forsyth County.

— Paul Doizé, correspondent

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Celebrating autumn, Vietnamese style CHARLOTTE — Parishioners at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival Sept. 21-23 with traditional food, music, fireworks and entertainment including a performance by the parish’s outstanding Hidden Dragon Lion Dance team. The harvest festival is held during the full moon in the eighth month of the lunar calendar, corresponding to late September each year.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

At www. catholicnewsherald. com: See more photos from the Mid-Autumn Festival

Having fun at the Festival of Lebanon CHARLOTTE — Lebanese food, music and traditions were celebrated Sept. 22 during St. Stephen Maronite Catholic Church’s fifth annual Festival of Lebanon, held at St. Matthew Church in south Charlotte. Learn more about the St. Stephen Maronite Catholic community online at www.ststephenmaronite.org.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the Festival of Lebanon, courtesy of St. Matthew Church and St. Stephen Maronite Church

JOHN COSMAS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Moments of Grace Momentos de gracia

That special day. We want to remember it forever, and share the happy news with our family and friends.

Now, share the joy with your fellow Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte, too!

The Catholic News Herald is launching a special section of the print edition that we’re calling “Moments of Grace.”

Announce your child’s baptism, first Holy Communion or confirmation, or share the news of your wedding or wedding anniversary. Pricing starts at just $25.

Go to www.catholicnewsherald.com or call Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 for details.

No dejes que el tiempo borre tus recuerdos.

Comparte tus momentos más felices con familiares, amigos y queridos feligreses de la Diócesis de Charlotte. En la nueva sección ‘Moments of Grace’

de tu periódico Catholic News Herald. Desde $25 podrás anunciar el bautismo de tus hijos, su primera Comunión, confirmación, también tu matrimonio o aniversario. ¿Más detalles? Visita www. catholicnewsherald. com o llama a Erika Robinson al (704) 370-3333.

Hablamos español.

Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

Inaugural Catholic Bowl win goes to Bishop McGuinness Principals Dr. Carl Semmler and Tracy Shaw, along with school chaplains Father Christian Cook and Father Paul McNulty, pose for a photo before the Christ the King and Bishop McGuinness high schools ‘Catholic Bowl’ Sept. 21 in Kernersville.

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

In Brief Charlotte Catholic announces volunteer award winners CHARLOTTE — More than 100 Charlotte Catholic High School students have been recognized by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for volunteer contributions in the community. The students received their certificates at the Sept. 7 AllSchool Mass.

The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make and to encourage more people to serve their community. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families and groups who have achieved a certain standard, measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period, or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

The Bronze Award is presented to those aged 16-18 who have performed 100 to 174 service hours and to those aged 14-15 who have performed 50 to 74 service hours. The 39 CCHS Bronze Award recipients are: Daniel Boll, Lucas Boyle, Dalton Bridges, Carter Buck, Kathryn Burket, Annie Corser, Fletcher Curran, Serena Do, Jack Dumser, Tara Fitzpatrick, Liam Fitzpatrick, Jorge Francke, Ellen Gibbons, Austin Granelli, Julianna Hancock, Chris Hoefling, Brian Jacobs, Jake Johnson, Kaitlyn Kornbluth, Mae Levin, Aleesha Miller, Caitlin Murlless, Michael Neel, Maggie Olsen, Alexandra Pallander, Melia Patcha, Moorea Patcha, John Polking, Julianne Ruiz, Anna Schroeder, Joseph Silvestri, Sarah Sullivan, Alex Tan, Christopher Teves, Eleanor Walsh, Grace Wielechowski, Caroline Winner, Maria Yarussi and Gavin Zarins.

The Silver Award is presented to those aged 16-18 who have performed 175 to 249 service hours and to those aged 14-15 who have performed 75 to 99 hours. The 18 CCHS Silver Award recipients are: Joel Casingal, John Coleman, Kevin Dumser, Sydney Jacobs, Carmen Jarrell, Ryan Ma, Brynn McClatchy, Ruth Moniz, Payton Morgan, Anna Mullin, Paul Neel, Nicholas Pacifici, Carissa Pallander, Nicole Sanchez, Nicole Shooman, Nicole Tamol, Sabine Yessayan and Chloe Zarins.

The Gold Award is presented to those aged 16 to 18 who have performed more than 250 service hours and to those aged 14 to 15 who have volunteered more than 100 hours. The 53 CCHS Gold Award Recipients are: Isabella Ackermann, Christina Andrysick, Davis Barnett, Ellie Borkowski, Jackson Bowers, Elizabeth Branch, Alexander Briante, Carly Centanni, Daniel Charlonis, Julia Chaverin, Anthony Ciano, Louis Ciano, Anne Culicerto, Stewart Dautel, Anna Dougherty, Kate Dumser, Victoria Fontana, Anna Fuller, Andrew Gilles, Carrigan Hogg, Mirna Jerjees, Emma Joseph, Karlie Kazmierczak, Emily Rae Kearney, Madison Kelley, Elizabeth Kelly, John Kelly, Morgan Kuchenbrod, Grace Kunik, Scarlett Lovallo, Erin Macalintal, Patrick Macalintal, Laney McBride, Madison McLane, Campbell Morrison, Ryan Nofsinger, John Nowak, Samantha Pean, Anna Pederson, Arabella Pires, Caroline Prendville, James Ramich, Sophia Ritz, Carrie-Anne Rogers, Matthew Ruff, Mitchell Salvino, Mary-Kathryn Samuelson, Juliana Snoke, Parrish Srnovrsnik, Jacqueline Tavares, Caroline Valenti, Ramsey White and Taylor Wooton.

— Carolyn Kramer Tillman

KERNERSVILLE — The Villains beat the Crusaders Sept. 21 in what was dubbed the Catholic Bowl – the inaugural match-up on the gridiron between Bishop McGuinness High School and Christ the King High School in Huntersville.

Unfortunately for the Crusaders, the game was a rout: 84-8.

Bishop McGuinness’s principal Tracy Shaw said, “It was truly an amazing night! It was a true testament to Catholic education and how the community can come together.”

Shaw said she enjoyed the camaraderie of the evening. “It was so nice to have our clergy here to cheer on the students from both schools. I hope that Christ the King and Bishop McGuinness can meet up again in athletic competitions. It really was great to be able to play another Catholic school.”

Christ the King’s principal Dr. Carl Semmler said everyone had a great time at what was the homecoming game for Bishop McGuinness.

“The school was vibrant with students, great food, alumni, local Catholic middle school students and clergy from the area.

What a great spirit!” Semmler said.

Semmler noted that the Christ the King community enjoyed being part of the first Catholic Bowl.

“Bishop McGuinness has a quality athletic program and we thank Principal Shaw for inviting us. I am very proud of my Crusader football players and our coaching staff. This is only our third year of having a football program and I believe that the men did a great job,” he said.

Bishop McGuinness’s chaplain Father Christian Cook wore a Catholic Bowl T-shirt over his clerics at the game.

“The game had such a great atmosphere, with families coming together for great pre-game activities, and then the game,” he said.

Five other diocesan priests attended the inaugural Catholic Bowl: Father John Putnam, Father John Eckert, Father Paul Buchanan, Father Brian Becker and Christ the King’s chaplain Father Paul McNulty.

“The priests of the diocese had a good time being together.

We had a good time seeing some people from former parish

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DR. JANICE RITTER

assignments, etc., and we had great priestly fraternity on the sidelines,” Father Cook said. “We split time between standing on the Bishop McGuinness sideline and the CTK sideline.”

Father Cook noted that although the Villains won the contest handily, everyone appreciated what a young football program Christ the King has.

“It will not be long before they have a powerhouse program, and we look forward to continuing to grow this rivalry in future years,” he said.

Father McNulty was proud of his team’s efforts.

“Once again I was proud to watch our guys go up against an established program and fight, even when it was tough. They’ve got great heart and that is hard to come by. We’ll keep working and improving and meet the Villains again,” he said.

Father McNulty also agreed it was great to share in fellowship and fraternity with the Bishop McGuinness staff and his brother priests at the game.

The principal of the losing team agreed to wear the winner’s T-shirt to school after the victory. Semmler sported a navy blue Bishop McGuinness shirt at Christ the King Sept. 24. He also congratulated Bishop McGuinness on its win during the school’s morning announcements.

Said Shaw, “Dr. Semmler was a good sport about it all and I love how he looked in his Villain shirt!”

Students and faculty love renovated spaces at OLA School SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — As the school year gets under way, Our Lady of the Assumption students and faculty are enjoying updated and separate spaces to eat, play and enjoy hands-on learning.

Thanks to a $430,000 grant from an anonymous donor, several areas inside the school were converted last summer from multi-purpose areas to designated spaces for students and faculty to use – most notably, a 2,400-square-foot “cafetorium,” renovated gym and library, and updated “Makerspace.”

Two classrooms were converted to create the cafetorium, which includes the school’s first equipped kitchen. The space gives the school a place to prepare meals and for students to eat and listen to presentations. OLA can now offer a breakfast program for students, thanks to the new cafetorium.

Principal Allana Ramkissoon said she is pleased OLA now has the ability to offer a “take and go” breakfast program for students.

“We always wanted to have a breakfast program for the students who came to school in need of breakfast,” she said.

Nicole Francis, a seventh-grader, came to OLA six years ago. She likes the new cafetorium and the breakfast program.

“Everything is different. I love it, actually!” she said. “There are a lot of

kids that don’t get breakfast, so it’s nice that we can go get a small breakfast before class.”

The OLA renovation also created a separate space for gym class, apart from the cafeteria.

Sixth-grader Givonne Wright, who has attended OLA for six years, appreciates the separation. “Before, it took basically forever because we had P.E. and lunch in the gym. You would have to wait until the floors dried before you could have lunch in there. Now our schedule is better and easier.”

OLA’s library also underwent extensive renovation to allow for comfortable seating and work tables to accommodate a STEM lab. It also houses an audiovisual room where students can broadcast announcements and work on broadcast communications skills.

The updated “Makerspace” provides students a creative space to learn through hands-on projects.

“Our focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) will continue to drive our school program over the next few years,” Ramkissoon said. “We’re encouraging teachers to build into their lessons the idea of creating something. The area is set up for creation and collaboration.”

A portion of the anonymous funds also went towards hardware, software and digital network upgrades.

Ramkissoon said she is grateful to the

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Second-graders at Our Lady of the Assumption School enjoy lunch in the new cafetorium Sept. 21. anonymous donor and for additional funding from the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools budget that helped pay for the gym renovation, so students can run and play on improved surfaces. The gym now boasts a stage space for drama and musical performances.

“Working with the parish to ensure that all students have equal access to the curriculum and that everyone’s needs are met is an important part of the school’s mission. We are very excited about the changes and upgrades to various aspects of our school.

We believe that continuous improvement is the key to success,” she said.

Ramkissoon added that many of the improvements were made with the community’s needs in mind as well as students’ needs, because the parish plans to use the spaces for meetings and gatherings.

Mix

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

On TV

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

‘Unbroken: Path to Redemption’ More artful than many faith-motivated movies, this sequel and conversion story continues the biography of Olympic runnerturned-war-hero Louie Zamperini (likable Samuel Hunt). Having survived the downing of his plane over the Pacific, a long period adrift at sea and torturous captivity by the Japanese, events related in the 2014 original, helmed by Angelina Jolie, Air Force bombardier Zamperini returns home, goes on the road to sell war bonds and falls for a cheerful and devout Florida native. But all the while he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, he falls prey to alcoholism. Though his wife is patient and his older brother helpful, it will take no one less a personage than the Rev. Billy Graham (played by his grandson Will) to straighten things out. Mature themes, scenes of domestic violence, a vague scatological reference.

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

In theaters

‘A Simple Favor’

‘The House With a Clock in Its Walls’ After his parents are killed in an accident, a 10-year-old boy (Owen Vaccaro) goes to live with his eccentric uncle (Jack Black), who turns out to be a warlock. Having mastered some of the rudiments of his new guardian’s craft, the lad assists him and his best friend, a nice witch, in trying to locate and stop the timepiece of the title, a doomsday device with the capacity to turn the calendar back before the advent of humanity. Too scary for tots, the film is acceptable for most others. Occult themes, considerable peril, some scatological humor, a few mild oaths.

Thriller in which a mild-mannered young widow (Anna Kendrick) strikes up an unlikely friendship with the sophisticated, hard-bitten mother (Blake Lively) of one of her son’s classmates.

But when her new pal mysteriously disappears and she tries to track her down, she discovers just how little she really knew about her. The dark doings that drive the plot involve repellent behavior that, while not exactly endorsed by Jessica Sharzer’s script, is not condemned either. Instead, the taboo-breaking is treated as spice to lure jaded viewers. Gunplay and other violence with little gore, about a half dozen uses of profanity, pervasive rough and frequent crude language.

CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

Other movies: n ‘White Boy Rick’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: R

n Friday, Sept. 28, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Candles in the Dark.” A documentary detailing the life of Father Richard Ho Lung, founder of the Missionaries of the Poor, from his humble beginnings to his mission of joyful service to society’s most forgotten people. n Saturday, Sept. 29, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Padre Pio: Miracle Man.” This movie presents the distinctive life and holiness of Padre Pio marked by his great faith and devotion. We also see his persecution by others and some within the Church, the devil’s frequent attacks on him and his great compassion for the sick and suffering.

Part 2. n Sunday, Sept. 30, 10 p.m. (EWTN) “Saint Francis and Brother Elias.” An EWTN original docu-drama presenting the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and Brother Elias, the disciple who led the newly established Franciscan order following the death of St. Francis. n Monday, Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “St. Therese: Doctor

of the Church.” A three-part series looking at the life and world of St. Therese of Lisieux, the political and geographical state of Europe and France in particular at the time of her life. Also, a look at the writings of St. Therese and an examination of their relevance to Catholics today. n Thursday, Oct. 4, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Francis of Assisi.” A docudrama on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced everything for God. n Friday, Oct. 5, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Last Appeal.”

Andrea Syglowski and Caitlin Moreland star in the story of a peasant girl chosen to spread the message of the Divine Mercy to the world in preparation for the Day of Judgment. n Saturday, Oct. 6, 10 a.m.

(EWTN) “The Message of Fatima: The First Saturdays Devotion.” A docu-drama series on the prophecies, messages and warnings given to the three shepherd children by Our Lady of Fatima in 1917.

Diocesan Catechetical Conference

Enlisting Witnesses for Jesus Christ November 3, 2018 9:00am - 4:30pm

Asheville Crowne Plaza 1 Resort Drive / Asheville NC 28806

ALL ARE INVITED TO ATTEND! Join catechists, teachers, parents, and priests for an all-day conference that will feature prominent Catholic speakers.

The cost of the day includes registration, lunch, and refreshments. Publishers, vendors, and additional amenities will be available throughout the conference.

Registration: $35/person Cost includes registration, lunch, and refreshments.

Registration Deadline: October 19th, 2018

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Save the Date 16th Annual

Vineyard of Hope

Contact Chris Beal in the Office of Faith Formation - 704-370-3247

February 28, 2019 Pre-event Reception 5:30 p.m.

Blessing of the Meal 6:45 p.m.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte

Jeff Cavins

Catholic Speaker, Author

Rev. Julio Dominguez

Smoky Mtn. Hispanic Coordinator

Gloria Coronado

Archdiocese of San Antonio

REGISTER ONLINE: charlottediocese.org/ev/conference

13

Crowne Plaza Charlotte Executive Park 5700 Westpark Drive, Charlotte, NC 28217 For more information, email: vineyardofhope2019@charlottediocese.org

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iiiSeptember 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

90 years of worshippin

(Clockwise from top) Long-time parishioner Virginia Smith hugs outgoing pastor Vincentian Father Charles Strollo at the end of Mass Sept. 23. Father Strollo is wished well by his brother Vincentians, Father Bill Allegretto, incoming pastor, and Father Joseph Nguyen, parochial vicar. St. Mary’s Church in Greensboro is among the most diverse in the Diocese of Charlotte, with members coming from nearly every continent. The parish celebrated its 90th anniversary Sept. 23 with a festival of food, games and music that highlighted the various cultures of the parish, and commemorative T-shirts.

St. Mary’s Parish in Greensboro rejoices with multicultural anniversary celebration PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

GREENSBORO — The rainbow. In the Old Testament, it is the symbol of God’s covenant with His people. St. Mary’s Church in Greensboro has adopted the same symbol to represent the diverse beauty of many races and colors united in worshipping and serving God as one holy, Catholic people.

That diversity was on display Sept. 23, when several hundred parishioners gathered to celebrate St. Mary’s 90th anniversary.

DIVERSITY AT ITS ROOTS

St. Mary’s was established in 1928 to serve black residents in the segregated southeastern area of the city.

Pioneering missionary Josephite Father Charles Hannigan and three Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul built and staffed a church and a school for 100 students, and the first Mass was offered on Sept. 16, 1928.

In 1936 the present church building was dedicated, and in 1939 the Vincentian order began staffing the parish.

Desegregation and dwindling enrollment prompted the school to close in 1972, and in 1973 the parish was integrated and assumed into the newly-established Diocese of Charlotte.

The parish’s longest-serving member, 83-year-old Virginia Smith, has witnessed St. Mary’s grow and change over the years.

Smith was baptized at the church in 1937 and graduated from the parish school. The retired educator served in nearly every position possible at the parish – from the parish council to the choir – and is the only parishioner alive who has attended the parish’s 25th, 50th and 75th anniversary celebrations.

“Everybody calls me Sister,” she says, proud of her family’s Catholic faith.

Two of her aunts became Oblate Sisters of Providence in Baltimore, the only women religious vocations to come out of the parish so far. Her three children also grew up in the parish and attended the parish school.

Smith noted that St. Mary’s diversity is not a recent phenomenon. Decades before immigrants from Mexico and Central and South America moved to the Greensboro area, the parish experienced influxes of immigrants from Nigeria and other African countries, as well as Vietnamese, Montagnard and Hmong newcomers. But the first wave of change came with integration.

“Back in the day, it was not a multicultural church. It was our colored mission,” Smith recalled. Then “a whole slew of white people came,” transferring from New York with Western Electric after World War II and integrating after new parish boundaries were set in the 1970s. “The Galushes, the Henriaks, the Wilcoxes, I remember them all.”

As the parish became more diverse, Smith noted, “a lot of people left.”

But not her. “I’ve got no problem with multiculturalism. We are all one. God made us all. That’s just the way I feel.”

“It’s all I ever know,” she added, then laughed. “I’m Catholic born, I’m Catholic bred, and when I die I’ll be

Catholic dead.”

The growth and the mixing of long-time black parishioners and immigrant newcomers – many of whom struggle with learning English and navigating American culture – has not always been easy, parishioners acknowledged.

The Vincentian priests have encouraged the various ethnic and racial groups to mingle, get to know one another, and serve God and one another together – even as the church has added Masses in other languages.

Growth has continued unabated at St. Mary’s. A large parish hall was built on the site of the old school in 2003 to accommodate the increasing number of worshippers and ministries.

Outreach remains integral to the parish’s identity. “We are dedicated to serving the poor, the forgotten and the unloved…,” the parish’s mission statement declares.

Most recently, in April and May, the parish partnered with Catholic Charities staff and volunteers to offer help to victims of a tornado that devastated part of Greensboro and killed one person.

Today St. Mary’s boasts more than 2,000 members from nearly every continent on Earth, and the anniversary celebration Sept. 23 reflected that diversity, with the Mass being offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The Vincentian priests took turns delivering the homily in all three languages as well.

The celebration after Mass featured Mexican Norteño music and Tejano folk dancing, a traditional Vietnamese hat dance, an Igbo dance group performing the traditional “Nkwa Umuagbogho” (“Dance of the Maiden”), and the parish’s League of Lions Vietnamese lion dance team. The Knights of Columbus cooked up 300 pounds of pulled pork and more than 500 pounds of roast chicken.

HE COVER

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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ng God, serving others

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

LEGACY OF SOLIDARITY

In his homily Vincentian Father Bill Allegretto, pastor, reminded the congregation of the parish’s segregated history, when black Catholics in Greensboro “built a refuge – not a fort, but a refuge – a safe harbor, a dwelling place where God’s love can be found again and again and again.”

“They did it in the face of oppression. They did it in the face of resistance. They did this in the face of violence,” Father Allegretto said.

“They wanted to give back to the Lord for all that He did, and they did it with grateful hearts,” he said. “They did it with hearts of how to love in the face of destruction, and dismissal, and diminishment.”

He continued, “We are here because of those efforts, because what they did was to create a legacy for all of us to sit here together. How many churches can sit here together with so many different faces of our God’s reflection? Even though we communicate differently, even though we speak from a different culture, from a different pathway, we come because we believe that we have one Lord, one faith, and one baptism.”

“We know who we are, we know where we have come from, and we know where we’re going, don’t we? We know we are God’s people, and we’re going to continue to be God’s people because of what happened 90 years ago and what has been built every generation since then,” he said. “Our ancestors – and I will say, our ancestors – gave us a legacy, gave us the hope to gather as a Catholic people from many cultures, many traditions.”

That unity in diversity – symbolized by the parish’s rainbow – is something St. Mary’s members take great comfort in, several people said.

Parishioners proudly sang the gospel hymn “We Shall Overcome,” a key anthem of the civil rights movement, at the

recessional before congregating in the narthex and outdoors on the lawn to socialize, give thanks and celebrate their unique yet shared heritage.

“One hundred percent blessed,” was what Mio Nahria said of St. Mary’s, where she has been a member since 1998. “It’s a great community, great people.”

Theo Kougbany, who moved to Greensboro from Togo 15 years ago, said he loves his parish. “This is my church. It’s good. I love everything!”

GIVING THANKS

The spirit of gratitude extended to the parish’s Vincentian priests, whose bond with parishioners is strong.

At the end of Mass, parishioners David Cao, Bruit K’Bruit, Joseph Kakhu and Sister Delores Espitia – representing the various cultures of the parish – wished outgoing pastor, Vincentian Father Charles Strollo, well on his future ministry with the Vincentian order and welcomed Father Allegretto as incoming pastor.

“Thank you, Father, for your service, your love, your care,” said Cao. “Father Charlie, we cannot tell you how wonderful you are, but you are amazing.”

“You are a great leader and a dedicated pastor, always showing your love for all parish members, guiding St. Mary’s rainbow of cultures into one loving community,” said K’Bruit, representing the Montagnard community.

Parish council president Michael Diamond and Virginia Smith presented gifts to Father Strollo, who is moving to Philadelphia. To Father Allegretto, they gave a framed portrait of himself to hang on the wall – the latest in a long line of pastor portraits displayed there that reflect the parish’s 90-year legacy in Greensboro.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. MARY’S PARISH

St. Mary’s Church and School were established in 1928 to serve black Catholics in southeast Greensboro. Students were taught by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul at the school until it closed following desegregation in 1972.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the 90th anniversary celebration at St. Mary’s Church, and read more about its history

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CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Parte de los doce delegados de la Diócesis de Charlotte que asistieron al V Encuentro. De izquierda a derecha: Eduardo Cruz, Eduardo Bernal, Hermana Joan Pearson, Elva Alvarado, Patricio Barrientos, Patricia Luna, Arnulfo Lovo.

V ENCUENTRO

Clero y laicado se comprometieron a dar frutos ‘con una iglesia de salida’ CESAR HURTADO ENVIADO ESPECIAL

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Agotados, pero felices de haber compartido un encuentro con líderes y representantes de 165 diócesis y arquidiócesis de los Estados Unidos, retornaron a la Ciudad Reina los integrantes de la delegación de la Diócesis de Charlotte que participó en el V Encuentro Nacional del Ministerio Hispano que tuvo lugar del 20 al 23 de septiembre en Grapevine, Texas.

El Encuentro, titulado ‘Discípulos Misioneros: Testigos del amor de Dios’, fue el resultado de un proceso de cuatro años, en el que se recogió la opinión y capacitó a miles de católicos hispanos a lo largo y ancho de la Unión Americana a través de consultas y talleres pastorales parroquiales, diocesanos y regionales.

Entre los muchos expositores en el V Encuentro destacaron el Cardenal O’Malley, Arzobispo de Boston; el Arzobispo de Galveston-Houston y presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB), Cardenal Daniel DiNardo; el Arzobispo Gustavo García Siller, presidente del Comité de la USCCB para la diversidad cultural en la Iglesia; y el Monseñor Mario Dorsonville Rodríguez, Obispo Auxiliar de la Arquidiócesis de Washington.

En las plenarias y celebraciones religiosas los oradores y homilistas destacaron el aporte de la comunidad hispana que, en su diversidad, aporta sus dones y capacidades enriqueciendo a la Iglesia sin verse obligada a abandonar su cultura ni idioma.

Según cifras proporcionadas durante el evento, la población hispana en 2016 representaba alrededor del 40% de la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos. Además, el 50% de los

católicos entre 14 y 29 años son hispanos y el porcentaje aumenta a 55% en los católicos menores de 14 años. Esta realidad inclinó la balanza de las conversaciones hacia la necesidad de evangelización y mayor participación de los jóvenes.

Otro punto en que se incidió especialmente es el papel de una Iglesia misionera que no debe temer a salir a las “periferias” geográficas y culturales para encontrar a las personas y llevarles a Dios. “Es mi sincera esperanza que así como nos reunimos estos días, podamos llegar a ser la Iglesia que Cristo quiere que seamos”, dijo el Rev. Christophe Pierre, Nuncio Apostólico de los Estados Unidos.

“De verdad ha sido una experiencia muy alentadora, integradora y de mucha esperanza para el ministerio hispano a nivel nacional y también para seguir trabajando en la Diócesis de Charlotte. Veo que el Espíritu Santo está trabajando a través de tantos líderes, comenzando por los obispos y la gran riqueza que hay en la nación a través del ministerio hispano. Uno piensa que trabajan solos, pero el Señor está poniendo muchos servidores alrededor del país y es un gran Pentecostés de este siglo XXI para el ministerio hispano”, dijo el Rev. P. Juan José Juya, director del ministerio hispano del Vicariato de Gastonia, además de delegado en la cita.

El padre Fidel Melo, director del ministerio hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte señaló que el actual es un momento para “tomar impulso” y dar “un nuevo empuje a esta visión de una Iglesia que no es narcisista”, es decir que no solo se mira a sí misma sino que “busca la voz y la presencia del Espíritu Santo en el pueblo también”.

Delys Romero, delegada del vicariato de Asheville, dijo que el encuentro “ha sido la base para escuchar las

voces de aquellos que dejamos en casa”, y le impactó haber estado conversando al mismo nivel con obispos y cardenales en las mesas de trabajo. “Los obispos van a llevar todo ese consenso al Vaticano, al Papa, para traer una reforma a la Iglesia”.

Los cinco objetivos principales de la reunión: encontrar las necesidades y aspiraciones de los católicos de origen hispano, promover oportunidades de liderazgo para ellos, desarrollar nuevas formas de formarlos y alentarlos en sus vocaciones, invitar a todos los católicos a acompañar a los fieles de origen hispano y desarrollar una Iglesia “de salida” se vieron cumplidos y “ya comenzaron a dar frutos”, como destacó el Rev. Arturo Cepeda, Obispo auxiliar de Detroit, en la plenaria del sábado por la tarde donde un panel discutió especialmente el encuentro misionero con los jóvenes migrantes y los trabajadores campesinos.

El domingo, presidir la Misa final, el Arzobispo de Los Ángeles, Mons. José Gómez, aseguró a los participantes que así como Jesús envió a sus discípulos, Dios, a través de la Virgen de Guadalupe, confió una misión a San Juan Diego: ir a decirle al obispo que construya una iglesia.

“Piensen en eso, mis queridos hermanos y hermanas: Jesús le confió la misión de su Iglesia en el Nuevo Mundo a un laico”, dijo. “No a un sacerdote o a un obispo. No a un miembro de una orden religiosa”. “Él está llamando a los fieles laicos a trabajar junto a los obispos para renovar y reconstruir Su Iglesia. No solo en este país, pero en todo el continente americano”.

Más en línea En Facebook de Catholic News Herald-Español: Visite la página de para ver videos y fotografías

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

17

V ENCUENTRO

CNS | TYLER ORSBURN

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivers his homily Sept. 23 during the closing Mass of the Fifth National Encuentro, or V Encuentro, in Grapevine, Texas. The Sept. 20-23 gathering brought together more than 3,200 Hispanic Catholic leaders and about 125 bishops from across the country.

CNS | TYLER ORSBURN

Los delegados celebran la sesión de clausura el 23 de septiembre durante el Quinto Encuentro Nacional en Grapevine, Texas. La reunión del 20 al 23 de septiembre reunió a más de 3,200 líderes hispanos católicos y alrededor de 125 obispos de todo el país.

Alegría, esperanza contagiosa en Encuentro NORMA MONTENEGRO FLYNN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

GRAPEVINE, Texas — La alegría, esperanza, energía y el espíritu de colaboración son contagiosos entre los participantes del Quinto Encuentro Nacional, dijo un seminarista mexicoamericano de 22 años.

El seminarista dijo que se siente enriquecido por el intercambio de ideas sobre las necesidades pastorales que incluyen vocaciones y los jóvenes adultos.

También cree que sus contribuciones serán valiosas para fortalecer el ministerio hispano católico en los Estados Unidos.

“En la escuela teorizamos mucho y luego vienes aquí, y vuelves a la realidad para ver cuáles son las necesidades de la iglesia”, dijo el seminarista, quien no quiso que se usara su nombre, a Catholic News Service. “Una cosa que me sorprendió es la cantidad de jóvenes, jóvenes líderes, jóvenes que trabajan para diferentes diócesis, es algo que no esperaba que fuera una realidad”, agregó.

Los participantes del Encuentro, aproximadamente 3,200 líderes de ministerios hispanos, obispos y miembros de organizaciones y movimientos eclesiales, continuaron un día completo de consulta y discernimiento el 22 de septiembre en 28 áreas ministeriales y 10 prioridades que incluyen evangelización y catequesis, familia, inmigración, justicia y paz, y jóvenes y adultos jóvenes hispanos.

Durante una sesión plenaria de la tarde, los representantes regionales destacaron las contribuciones de los jóvenes conocidos como “dreamers”, “soñadores”, beneficiarios de la Acción Diferida para los Llegados en la Infancia. Muchos formaron parte del proceso de Encuentro pero no pudieron estar presentes en la reunión en Texas por temor a ser detenidos y deportados debido a las fuertes leyes de inmigración del estado. Fue un momento conmovedor en el que el público aplaudió en solidaridad con ellos.

“Tengo muchas esperanzas con los resultados de este Encuentro, de que regresaremos a casa y realmente traeremos

conciencia al mundo entero, que vamos a hacer una diferencia en las vidas de aquellos que nos necesitan”, dijo la hermana Norma Pimentel, delegada del Encuentro, a CNS. Como hermana de las Misioneras de Jesús, la hermana Pimentel es directora ejecutiva de Catholic Charities of Rio Grande Valley en Texas.

Otros temas incluyeron apoyar a las mujeres hispanas en liderazgo; la necesidad de continuar el papel de una iglesia misionera que llega a los demás; más acceso a puestos de liderazgo a todo nivel; y guiar, ser mentores para jóvenes adultos como líderes del ministerio.

A diferencia de Encuentros anteriores donde se desarrolló un plan pastoral nacional después de la reunión nacional, los resultados del Quinto Encuentro, o V Encuentro, se reunirán en un documento final que se compartirá con todas las diócesis, para que las parroquias y diócesis puedan utilizarlo para reforzar y fortalecer sus grupos de ministerio hispano.

La razón es que la comunidad hispana católica en la iglesia se ha vuelto grande y diversa en sus necesidades y realidades, y lo que tiene sentido en San Antonio tal vez no tiene sentido en otras diócesis como Green Bay, Wisconsin o Tulsa, Oklahoma, explicó el arzobispo Gustavo García-Siller de San Antonio en una entrevista con CNS. El arzobispo preside el Comité de Diversidad Cultural en la Iglesia de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos.

“Cada diócesis ha estado en un proceso diferente incluso en el (quinto) Encuentro”, dijo el arzobispo García-Siller.

También señaló que la participación de los obispos de la mayoría de las diócesis y arquidiócesis muestra su apoyo a la comunidad hispana y el compromiso de seguir adelante.

“Lo principal es que los obispos, y lo ven con la presencia de los obispos (en esta reunión), estamos asumiendo este caminar junto con el pueblo de Dios en la Iglesia Católica en la que muchos, muchos, muchos son católicos por el bien de toda la iglesia “, dijo el arzobispo García-Siller.

Today is ‘hour of the laity,’ Archbishop Gomez tells Encuentro delegates NORMA MONTENEGRO FLYNN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

GRAPEVINE, Texas — Hispanic Catholic leaders are living an important moment in the history of the Catholic church in the U.S. and are called to rise and continue the work of building the church, Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez said Sept. 23.

He made the comments during the closing Mass of the Fifth National Encuentro in Grapevine.

“The Encuentro has made us see our missionary reality and responsibility as Hispanic Catholics in the United States,” he said. “But most important, the Encuentro has made us reflect on the personal ‘encounter’ with Jesus Christ.”

Archbishop Gomez, who is vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was the homilist.

The USCCB’s president, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, was the main celebrant of the Mass.

Concelebrants were Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, the hosting diocese; and Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio.

Archbishop Gomez reminded the faithful that they’re missionary disciples on a journey, just like those who walked with Jesus in Galilee and Jerusalem.

The journey eventually reached Latin America and was sealed with God’s love in the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, who entrusted him with the mission of building the church in the Americas.

“Jesus entrusted the mission of His Church in the New World to a layperson. Not to a priest or a bishop.

Nor to a member of a religious order,” Archbishop Gomez said. “You are the children of Our Lady of Guadalupe in our present times; you are the spiritual heirs of Juan Diego.

“The mission that was entrusted to him, is now entrusted to you.”

The archbishop invited participants to answer the call to be leaders by striving to be holy and to work united with their bishops.

“I believe that this moment in the Church – is the hour of the laity. It is the time for saints,” Archbishop Gomez continued. “He is calling the lay faithful to work together with the bishops to renew and rebuild His Church. Not only in this country, but throughout the continents of the Americas.”

He also encouraged them to seek discernment as soon-to-be-canonized Blessed Oscar Romero did, by asking what God’s will for him was.

“He is asking you to take your place in the history of salvation, and to do your part for the mission of His Church,” Archbishop Gomez concluded.

About 3,200 diocesan delegates, bishops and representatives from ecclesial movements and Catholic organizations participated in four days of dialogue and consultation to discern the priority issues for Hispanic ministry currently and for years to come.

The V Encuentro, as it also is known, surpassed its goal of identifying and preparing 25,000 new ministry leaders.

The three most pressing priorities identified focus on developing faith formation opportunities, strengthening families, and developing more paid positions for Hispanic youth and young adult ministries. Another important outcome of the Encuentro is the goal to develop initiatives that promote and create new pathways of leadership for young adults.

The V Encuentro is a multiyear process of missionary work, consultation, leadership development and community building. The last Encuentro took place in 2006.

Hispanics represent about 40 percent of U.S. Catholics and nearly 60 percent of millennial Catholics, according to research from the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

La Iglesia Santa María en Greensboro es una de las más diversas de la Diócesis de Charlotte, con miembros llegados de casi todos los continentes. La parroquia celebró su 90 aniversario el 23 de septiembre con un festival sazonado con deliciosa comida, juegos y música que resaltaron su multiculturalidad.

FOTOS POR PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

90 años de adoración a Dios y servicio a los demás La parroquia Santa María se regocijó con una celebración multicultural de aniversario PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITORA

GREENSBORO — El arcoiris, en el Antiguo Testamento, es el símbolo del pacto de Dios con su pueblo. La Iglesia Santa María en Greensboro ha adoptado el mismo símbolo para representar la belleza diversa de muchas razas y colores, un pueblo santo y católico, unido en la adoración y el servicio a Dios.

Esa diversidad se exhibió el 23 de septiembre, cuando cientos de feligreses se reunieron para celebrar el 90 aniversario de su parroquia.

DIVERSIDAD EN SUS RAÍCES

Santa María se fundó en 1928 para servir a los residentes afroamericanos residentes en el área segregada de la ciudad.

El misionero Padre Charles Hannigan y tres Hijas de la Caridad de San Vicente de Paul construyeron y atendieron una iglesia y una escuela para 100 estudiantes, ofreciendo la primera Misa el 16 de septiembre de 1928. En 1936, el edificio de la iglesia actual fue dedicado, y en 1939 la orden de los vicentinos comenzó a dotar de personal a la parroquia.

La segregación y disminución de las inscripciones obligaron al cierre de la escuela en 1972, y en 1973 la

parroquia se integró a la recién establecida Diócesis de Charlotte.

La parroquiana más longeva, Virginia Smith, de 83 años, ha sido testigo del crecimiento y el cambio de Santa María a lo largo de los años.

Smith, educadora jubilada, sirvió en casi todas las posiciones posibles en la parroquia, desde el consejo parroquial hasta el coro, y es la única feligresa viva que asistió a las fiestas de los aniversarios 25, 50 y 75 de la parroquia.

Smith notó que la diversidad de Santa María no es un fenómeno reciente. Décadas antes de que los inmigrantes de México y América Central y del Sur se mudaran al área de Greensboro, la parroquia experimentó afluencias de inmigrantes de Nigeria y otros países africanos, así como de vietnamitas, montañeses y hmong (un grupo étnico asiático).

“En el pasado no era una iglesia multicultural. Fue nuestra misión de color”, recordó Smith. Luego “llegó una gran cantidad de gente blanca”, trasladándose desde Nueva York después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial”. A medida que la parroquia se hizo más diversa, señaló Smith, “se fue mucha gente”, pero ella no. “No tengo ningún problema con el multiculturalismo. Todos somos uno. Dios nos hizo a todos. Así es como me siento”.

Santa María cuenta hoy con más de dos mil miembros de casi todos los continentes en la Tierra, y la fiesta de aniversario el 23 de septiembre reflejó esa diversidad con la Misa celebrada en inglés, español y vietnamita.

El festejo después de la Misa contó con música mexicana norteña y danza folclórica tejana, una danza tradicional vietnamita, un grupo de danza Igbo interpretando el tradicional ‘Nkwa Umuagbogho’ (‘Danza de la doncella’) y la presentación del equipo de danza de la Liga de Leones Vietnamita. Los Caballeros de Colón cocinaron 300 libras de carnitas de cerdo y más de 500 libras de pollo asado.

LEGADO DE SOLIDARIDAD

En su homilía, el pastor, padre vicentino Bill Allegretto, recordó a la congregación la historia segregada de la parroquia, cuando los católicos afroamericanos en Greensboro “construyeron un refugio, no un fuerte, sino un refugio, un puerto seguro, una morada donde se podía encontrar el amor de Dios una y otra y otra vez”.

“Lo hicieron enfrentando opresión. Lo hicieron enfrentando resistencia. Hicieron esto enfrentando violencia”, dijo el padre Allegretto.

“Querían devolver las gracias al Señor por todo lo que hizo, y lo hicieron con corazones agradecidos “, dijo. “Lo hicieron con corazones de amor frente a la destrucción y rechazo”. Y continuó: “Nuestros antepasados, y diré, nuestros antepasados, nos dieron un legado, nos dieron la esperanza de reunirnos como un pueblo católico de muchas culturas, muchas tradiciones”.

Al final de la misa, representantes de las diversas culturas de la parroquia, agradecieron al pastor saliente, Padre vicentino Charles Strollo, y dieron la bienvenida al Padre Allegretto como pastor entrante.

El presidente del consejo parroquial, Michael Diamond, y Virginia Smith presentaron regalos al padre Strollo, quien se mudará a Filadelfia.

Al padre Allegretto le entregaron un retrato de sí mismo enmarcado para colgar en la pared. El más reciente de una larga lista de retratos de pastores exhibidos allí que reflejan el legado de 90 años de la parroquia en Greensboro.

Más en línea En www.catholicnewsherald.com vea fotos y videos de la celebración del 90º aniversario de la Iglesia Santa María.

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Jóvenes del sureste del país participaron alegres y entusiastas en la primera sesión de preparación del Libro de la Pascua Juvenil, bajo la dirección del Instituto Pastoral del Sureste Americano.

FOTO CORTESÍA SEPI

Iniciaron preparación de ‘Libro de la Pascua Juvenil’ CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Con la esperanza de extender la Pastoral Juvenil en la Diócesis de Charlotte, siete integrantes de ese ministerio participaron en la primera de tres reuniones convocadas por SEPI, Oficina Regional del Sureste para el Ministerio Hispano, para elaborar el “Libro de la Pascua Juvenil”.

El Diácono Darío García, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del vicariato de Hickory, encabezó el grupo que reúne líderes juveniles de Hickory, Greensboro y Asheville, donde se ha desarrollado con mayor fuerza la Pastoral Juvenil.

“En esta primera reunión, en conjunto con jóvenes líderes de otras diócesis del sureste americano, hemos acordado el tema de la Pascua Juvenil para 2019, que será la santidad en los jóvenes”, explicó el Diácono García, quien reconoce ser “el más veterano de todo el equipo”.

El libro bilingüe, que será una guía de actividades para los grupos juveniles, recoge la visión de los jóvenes para la Pascua con temas llamativos para ellos, de fácil desarrollo, con lecturas apropiadas, reflexión, oración y, por supuesto, música y actividades acordes para su edad.

‘Jóvenes Santos’, título del próximo libro al que aún le aguardan dos reuniones más para revisar el contenido, publicarlo y

distribuirlo, será un trabajo realizado por jóvenes y destinado para jóvenes, lo que asegura su atractivo para los participantes.

Según ha publicado SEPI, la segunda reunión se llevará a cabo en Luisiana el 1718 de noviembre y la tercera en Charlotte, el 2 y 3 de marzo de 2019.

A la segunda reunión de trabajo sólo podrán asistir quienes participaron en la primera cita. Sin embargo para la tercera, de difusión y entrega del libro, se aceptarán participantes nuevos.

Respecto a la Pastoral Juvenil en la Diócesis de Charlotte, el Diácono García asegura que se trabaja con gran éxito en los vicariatos de Greensboro, Asheville y Hickory, además de la parroquia Nuestra

Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte.

“Nuestra intención es de extender el trabajo, que monitoreamos Antonio García en Asheville, el Diácono Enedino Aquino en Greensboro y yo en Hickory, a otros vicariatos”, añadió.

Para ello planean, en un futuro cercano, detectar y recoger dos líderes juveniles de cada vicariato, para luego de capacitarlos poder establecer un equipo diocesano.

El Diácono García resaltó el apoyo incondicional del Obispo Peter Jugis, quien por intermedio del director del ministerio hispano, Padre Fidel Melo, asiste con aliento y fondos para la capacitación de líderes, crecimiento y desarrollo de la Pastoral Juvenil Hispana en toda la región.

ALL INVITED TO / TODOS INVITADOS A

Conferencia Catequética Diocesana

Confirmando Testigos Para Jesucristo 3 de Noviembre 2018 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

Asheville Crowne Plaza 1 Resort Drive / Asheville NC 28806

¡Todos están invitados a asistir! Únase a catequistas, maestros, padres y sacerdotes para una conferencia de todo un día que presentará prominentes oradores católicos. El costo del día incluye registración, almuerzo y refrigerios. Publicistas, vendedores y servicios adicionales estarán disponibles a lo largo de la conferencia.

Registración: $35/persona Costos incluyen registración, almuerzo y refrigerios.

Fecha límite para la registración: 19 de Octubre 2018

Para más información: Contacte a Chris Beal - 704-370-3247

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Obispo de Charlotte

Jeff Cavins

Orador Catolico, Autor

Rev. Julio Dominguez

Coordinador Hispano de Smoky Mtn.

St. Gabriel Church’s

TASTE OF LATIN AMERICA

LA GRAN FIESTA Saturday, OCTOBER 13

6:00 to 10:00 pm Parish Center Hall Cafeteria de la escuela

Free admission Food available for purchase Music and folkloric dances Raffles Entrada GRATIS Venta de comidas típicas Música y bailes folklóricos Entretenimiento p/niños Rifas: 49: HD Smart LG TV RCA 2-n-1 Tablet Cena p/2 @ Mezzanotte

Gloria Coronado

Arqdiocesís de San Antonio

Registración en línea: charlottediocese.org/ev/conference

A BENEFICIO DEL MINISTERIO HISPANO

¡TE ESPERAMOS EN LA GRAN FIESTA!

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Experiencing difficulties in your marriage?

A Lifeline for Marriage October 12-14, 2018 in Raleigh, NC The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6 post-weekend sessions. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way.

For confidential info or to register: (434) 793-0242 or retrouvaillenc@msn.com. Visit our Web site: www.helpourmarriage.org.

Invites You

24th Annual Fundraising Banquet

“Chosen & Precious in God’s Sight” Thursday, October 18, 2018 Check-in/Reception: 5:30 p.m. ~ Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

Charlotte Convention Center ~ Crown Ballroom

Featured Speaker ~ Shawn Carney Shawn Carney is the co-founder and president of 40 Days for Life, a breakthrough initiative of 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion, round-the-clock peaceful vigil outside a local abortion center and grassroots door-to-door outreach that has dropped local abortion numbers by 28 percent. Shawn helped to lead the first 40 Days for Life in 2004 and helped to expand the campaign as a national and international movement by 2007. Today, 40 Days for Life has been done in 769 cities in all 50 states and 47 countries. His efforts have mobilized more than 750,000 pro-life volunteers and have confirmed reports of over 14,600 mothers choosing life and 177 abortion center workers who have had conversions and left their jobs, including former abortion center director, Abby Johnson. Shawn is the co-author of 40 Days for Life and lives in Texas with his wife and six children.

Reservations are free but REQUIRED. Deadline to register is October 8, 2018.

To make your reservation or host a table of 8-10 people, register online: https://miraviabanquet24.eventbrite.com OR meganwhiteside@miravia.org, 704-525-4673 ext. 13.

MiraVia, Inc. is a Catholic, 501 (c)(3) non-profit maternity and after-care program serving women and their children in the Charlotte, N.C. region since 1994. All material support and services are offered free of charge to clients. For more information, visit www.miravia.org.

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Son varias las parroquias que ofrecen la bendición de mascotas en la fecha de celebración de la fiesta de San Francisco de Asís. En la gráfica de archivo, el P. Frank O’Rourke, párroco de San Gabriel, bendice perros y gatos de sus feligreses.

Cuide a sus mascotas en temporada de tormentas CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Nuestras mascotas, los animalitos que mantenemos en casa, convertimos en parte de nuestra familia y de quienes recibimos más cariño del que nosotros mismos les proporcionamos, se ponen en gran riesgo durante la temporada de tormentas del Atlántico, que oficialmente finaliza a fines de noviembre.

Según afirma la Sociedad Humana de los Estados Unidos, una organización sin fines de lucro que lucha por la protección de la vida animal, la mayoría de las mascotas sufren de fobia a las tormentas eléctricas.

Los síntomas de la fobia varían y las mascotas pueden jadear, babear, temblar incontrolablemente, arrojarse, caminar de habitación en habitación o trepar a sus dueños. En casos extremos, los perros rompen alfombras y muebles, pierden el control de sus vejigas e intestinos, se introducen en espacios reducidos o saltan vallas y huyen apenas se les presenta una vía de escape.

Con paciencia y amor, la misma que aplicaron varios santos conocidos por su especial estima a los animales, podemos ayudar a nuestras mascotas a superar momentos difíciles y que pueden ser riesgosos para sus vidas.

Conocido es el caso de San Lázaro, un leproso a quien le lamían las heridas los perros callejeros; también el de San Martín de Porras, mulato peruano que hizo comer de un mismo plato a perro, pericote y gato.

No digamos de San Antonio Abad, gran protector de los animales.

Sin embargo, se reconoce especialmente a San Francisco de Asís, santo patrono de los animales y la ecología, abanderado del amor a la Creación de Dios. En su “Cántico de las Criaturas”, se refiere a los animales como sus hermanos y hermanas. Su fiesta se celebrará próximamente, el 4 de octubre,

y por esa fecha muchas parroquias realizan la bendición de los animales domésticos.

Si bien no somos inmunes a los fenómenos naturales, la preparación antes que llegue una tormenta es importante para mantener seguros a todos los miembros de la familia.

En el caso de sus mascotas, le sugerimos revisar los siguientes puntos: n Implánteles un microchip. Los collares con etiquetas de identificación pueden romperse, los microchips se insertan debajo de la piel de su mascota y se pueden escanear con facilidad. n Lleve a sus mascotas dentro de casa a la primera señal de peligro. Los animalitos pueden huir o lastimarse al reaccionar a ruidos fuertes, lluvia, escombros y vientos fuertes. n Si tiene que dejar su casa, su mascota deberá ir con usted. n Tenga un plan por adelantado para quedarse con amigos o familiares o busque un hotel que acepte mascotas fuera del área de desastre. n Empaque una bolsa de emergencia que incluya un botiquín de primeros auxilios para mascotas; suficiente comida y agua embotellada para una semana; medicamentos; suministros de higiene; platos de comida; bolsas para recoger desechos; un collar y una correa extra; fotocopias de registros médicos; toallas; fotos recientes de sus mascotas; y un juguete o hueso artificial para calmar el estrés de su mascota.

Como siempre la prevención es la clave.

Por ello, entrene a su mascota a relajarse en un lugar seguro y aislado, familiarice a su animalito progresivamente con ruidos fuertes, busque la ayuda de su veterinario con pastillas sedantes, productos o fragancias relajantes naturales y, cuando la tormenta se presente, acompáñelo, arrópelo y demuéstrele que siempre estará a su lado.

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Citizenship and Immigration Coordinator Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is seeking a part-time Citizenship and Immigration Coordinator. This position will conduct outreach in various immigrant communities to increase a greater awareness about Citizenship and Immigration processes and services and to increase the number of people applying for Citizenship.

Duties include: coordinate assigned projects and workshops, outreach, event advertisement, volunteer training, applicant screenings, and preparing presentations and reports. Flexible hours including nights and weekends are required. Fluency in Spanish is preferred.

Cover letter and resume must be submitted electronically by 5 p.m. on Friday, October 12, 2018 to mvgundorin@charlottediocese.org.

No telephone calls, please.

CCDOC.ORG

CORTESÍA CONSUMERSD.GOV

El programa de asistencia en energía para hogares de bajos ingresos ofrece ayuda, especialmente a hogares en los que reside una persona mayor de sesenta años y/o con discapacidad, para pagar las cuentas de electricidad y gas.

Condados ayudan con el pago de servicios CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anunció que dispone de casi 44 millones de dólares provenientes de la Administración de niños y familias para apoyar el programa de Intervención en Crisis en el año fiscal 2018-’19.

Este programa provee de fondos a los diferentes departamentos de servicios sociales de los condados en todo el estado, con la finalidad de ayudar a los hogares de bajos ingresos que pasan por crisis relacionadas con el pago de sus servicios de electricidad y/o gas.

Según informó la agencia estatal, durante el pasado año fiscal se prestó asistencia a 104.853 hogares con el pago de sus cuentas de servicios o asegurándoles combustible o fuentes de enfriamiento.

Este verano especialmente caluroso ha puesto en aprietos a muchos hogares que se han visto en problemas para asumir los altos costos del pago de energía eléctrica originado por el uso permanente del aire acondicionado.

En Mecklenburg, el Programa de Asistencia en Energía para Hogares de Bajos Ingresos (LIEAP, por siglas en inglés), administra fondos federales que pagan su cuenta de calefacción por una sola oportunidad, después de determinar su elegibilidad para este beneficio.

Para que un hogar sea elegible, debe contar con al menos una persona que

cumpla los criterios de elegibilidad y estar en lo que se define como una emergencia relacionada con la calefacción o sistema de enfriamiento.

De manera preferencial los montos son entregados a hogares en los que reside una persona mayor de 60 años y/o con discapacidad que reciba beneficios a través de la División de Servicios para Adultos (DAAS, por sus siglas en inglés).

Debido a que LIEAP administra fondos federales, al menos una persona del hogar solicitante debe de ser ciudadano o residente legal, su ingreso menor al 130 por ciento del nivel de pobreza y sus ahorros totales no pueden sobrepasar los 2,250 dólares.

Para solicitar la ayuda es necesario mostrar una identificación válida, los seguros sociales o W-7 de cada uno de los residentes en el hogar, pruebas de ingreso de todos los miembros, las cuentas del servicio eléctrico o de gas y el contrato de arrendamiento.

En caso de ser beneficiado, los pagos se realizarán directamente a la compañía de gas o electricidad.

Las solicitudes deben efectuarse ante el Departamento de Servicio Social del condado donde reside hasta el 30 de junio de 2019. Los beneficios para las familias pueden variar dependiendo del monto que requieren para pagar sus cuentas.

Los hogares elegibles podrán recibir un máximo de $600 dólares en asistencia durante el año fiscal.

Para solicitar ayuda Mecklenburg County Social Services 301 Billingsley Road, Charlotte Tel. 704-336-3000 Union County Social Services 2330 Concord Ave., Monroe Tel. 704-296-4300 Iredell County Social Services 549 Eastside Dr., Statesville Tel. 704-873-5631 Cabarrus County Department of Human Services

1303 S. Cannon Blvd., Kannapolis Tel. 704-920-1400 Catawba County Social Services 3030 11th Ave. Dr. S.E., Hickory Tel. 828-695-5625 Gaston County Social Services 330 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Gastonia Tel. 704-862-7500 Forsyth County Social Services 741 North Highland Ave., Winston-Salem Tel. 336-703-3800

Upcoming Days of Reflection Join Catholic Charities for an opportunity to gather with other seniors from around the diocese to deepen and share one’s faith. Days of Reflection provide the chance to experience the inspiring power of God’s love and be nourished by His word as one continues a life-long journey of faith.

• Wednesday, October 17th Catholic Conference Center 1551 Trinity Lane, Hickory, NC 28602 Presenter: Fr. Patrick Cahill Topic: “How can silence and imagination improve your prayer life?”

Check-In: 9:45 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.

Program: 10:20 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $18 per person includes light morning refreshment & lunch – Make checks payable to Catholic Charities Deadline for Registration: Monday, October 8th • Wednesday, October 24th St. William Catholic Church 765 Andrews Road, Murphy, NC 28906 Presenter: Fr. Brian Cook Topic: “Mercy, Mercy, Me?” Check-In: 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Program: 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: Program and Lunch are FREE but registration required Morning Refreshments and Lunch are being provided by St. William’s Ladies Guild Deadline for Registration: Monday, October 15th To Register or for additional information: Contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or email sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org

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Our nation 22

catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Charities distributes disaster relief to areas hit by Florence CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Carolinas were hard hit with record rainfall and flooding rivers from tropical storm Florence after it made landfall Sept. 14. And although it was quickly downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm after making landfall, it still caused extensive flooding for days.

Forty-three people died in storm-related incidents, tens of thousands of homes were damaged and about 500,000 homes and businesses were left without power for days.

On the ground with direct relief efforts, even before the storm subsided, was Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh. Of the 54 counties in eastern North Carolina served by the agency, 18 have received FEMA Disaster Declarations. Catholic Charities’ offices in Fayetteville, New Bern and Wilmington will remain in the community through the long-term recovery process.

According to the agency’s website, “We are currently focused on getting needed supplies to families in the impacted areas. Items we are distributing include nonperishable food and water, clean-up kits, hygiene items, and diapers and baby formula. Staff in our Wilmington Office were packing their mobile truck with diapers to distribute to families as rain from Hurricane Florence still fell. As we move from immediate relief efforts to long-term recovery, we will work with families to help them move into safe and stable housing. We expect staff across our service area to still be working with families in for at least the next two years.”

Just to the south prior to the storm, Catholic Charities of South Carolina was also preparing to help those in need.

Kelly Kaminski, director of disaster services for Catholic Charities, said the agency activated its Emergency Operations Center and disaster services team Sept.

10 and had been coordinating with county emergency management teams, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Catholic Charities USA. It has been working with local partners to have water, cleaning supplies, baby items and other needed supplies readily available in areas along the coast.

Catholic Charities USA has set up its website donation page and text-to-give platform to help individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Florence. As it did in response to last year’s hurricanes, the agency forwards 100 percent of funds raised to the local Catholic Charities agencies that serve the affected communities.

“We are praying for those affected by the storm,” said Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “Unfortunately, those most impacted by natural disasters are the individuals and families who are already struggling to make ends meet.

“But thanks to the generosity of our donors, the most vulnerable have their immediate needs met and the longterm recovery support they need to rebuild their lives,” she said in a statement.

CNS | EDUARDO MUNOZ, REUTERS

A boat sits in the backyard of a home in New Bern Sept. 17 following Hurricane Florence.

Catholic Charities USA said its staff members are prepared to deploy to local agencies that may need additional support. Its mobile response unit also is standing by to be sent to the region. The vehicle can be packed with nonperishable food items, health and hygiene kits and bottled water, all of which are ready for distribution. A trailer connected to the vehicle contains a washer and dryer that will allow survivors to clean their clothes. The mobile response unit also can be used as a field office.

Two charity organizations, Food for the Poor and Matthew 25, had teamed up and coordinated efforts with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh to distribute disaster relief supplies to the hardest hit areas.

Food for the Poor received three tractor-trailer loads of goods from Matthew 25: Ministries for the relief effort with water, hygiene items, cleaning supplies, paper towels and toilet paper to be distributed by Catholic Charities.

Daniel Altenau, director of communications and disaster services for Catholic Charities in Raleigh, said a disaster can be one of the most traumatic things a family can experience.

“We are working with local partner agencies to address the immediate needs of families across central and eastern North Carolina,” he said.

Altenau said Catholic Charities was grateful for the support from Food for the Poor, noting: “We

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

A man clears debris from his home in New Bern Sept. 17 following Hurricane Florence.

know that no one can recover from a disaster this big alone, and no single agency can meet all the needs of survivors. But, as a community, we can care for our neighbors in need.”

How to help Support individuals and families impacted by Hurricane Florence a number of ways: CATHOLIC CHARITIES USA: CCUSA forwards 100 percent of funds raised to Catholic Charities agencies that serve affected communities. To donate, text CCUSADISASTER to 71777, call 1-800-919-9338, or donate online at www. catholiccharitiesusa.org.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF RALEIGH: Donate online at www.catholiccharitiesraleigh.org/hurricane-florence or by mail to Catholic Charities, 7200 Stonehenge Dr., Raleigh, NC 27613.

PARISH COLLECTIONS: Donate in special collections taken up at Masses celebrated throughout the Charlotte diocese in the coming weeks. Funds will be forwarded from the parishes to Church partners offering disaster relief and recovery efforts – both short-term and long-term. Make checks payable to one’s local parish, noted for “Disaster Relief.”

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6406 Carmel Road, Suite 301 | Charlotte, North Carolina 28226

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Catholic leaders oppose administration’s plan to limit green cards WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic leaders are speaking out against a Trump administration proposed rule announced Sept. 22 that would deny green cards to legal immigrants using public assistance. The 447-page proposal called, “Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds,” is published on the Department of Homeland Security’s website, www.dhs.gov. A news release announcing the rule says it aims to “clearly define long-standing law to ensure that those seeking to enter and remain in the United States either temporarily or permanently can support themselves financially and will not be reliant on public benefits.” Federal law has always required those seeking green cards – permits allowing immigrants to live and work permanently in the U.S. – to prove they will not be a burden to the U.S. government, but it has never considered the use of public benefits, such as food stamps or housing vouchers, in its decision to issue the cards. The action could force millions of immigrants who rely on public assistance for food and shelter to choose between accepting financial help in the form of Medicaid, food stamps, housing vouchers or other forms of public assistance, or seeking a green card to live and work legally in the United States.

Advocates decry historically low cap for refugee entry in 2019 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Advocates for refugee admissions into the United States decried what one statement called a historically low cap of 30,000 for fiscal year 2019, which begins Oct. 1, and asked Congress to work with the Trump administration to more than double that number. The 30,000 figure is one-third less than last year’s 45,000, which had been the lowest

number on record. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released the number Sept. 17. A group of advocates, on a Sept. 18 conference call with reporters, said the number had been issued without consulting Congress, which is required by law. That has led to hope that Congress can persuade the administration to increase the number. With few weeks left in the current fiscal year, the administration has processed only 20,918, less than half of the fiscal 2018 allotment, said Jen Smyers, director of policy and advocacy for Church World Service.The 30,000 figure is “deeply disturbing and leaves many human lives in danger,” said a Sept. 18 statement by Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas, and chairman of the of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Migration. “To cut off protection for many who are fleeing persecution, at a time of unprecedented global humanitarian need, contradicts who we are as a nation.”

Detroit Archdiocese welcomes investigation into Mich. dioceses DETROIT — Michigan’s attorney general has opened an investigation into the handling of sexual abuse by clergy in all of Michigan’s seven Catholic dioceses, as well as any attempts to cover up those claims dating back to the 1950s.

Attorney General Bill Schuette confirmed Sept.

21 the investigation began in August. He said in a statement that his office has determined that a “full and complete investigation of what happened within the Catholic Church is required. This investigation is and will continue to be independent, thorough, transparent, and prompt. My department and this investigation will find out who knew what and when.”

Michigan’s seven dioceses include Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Gaylord and Marquette. In addition to diocesan clergy, Schuette’s office said it will investigate claims of abuse by religious order priests who have served in Michigan. The attorney general’s office also established a telephone and email hotline for reporting abuse by clergy in Michigan. The Archdiocese of Detroit responded by saying it welcomed news of the investigation, pledging to cooperate fully in bringing to light all claims and helping victims of abuse receive justice and healing.

N.Y. Archdiocese names judge as independent reviewer on abuse protocols NEW YORK — New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan has named a former federal judge to study archdiocesan policies and procedures with respect to sexual abuse by clergy and recommend enhancements directly to the cardinal. Cardinal Dolan introduced Judge Barbara S. Jones, his first special counsel and independent reviewer, at a Sept. 20 news conference. He said Jones will have complete access to records, personnel and himself to “conduct an independent, scrupulous review” of how the archdiocese deals with accusations of alleged abuse of a young person by a priest, deacon or bishop. Jones said her preliminary review indicates the archdiocese has a robust infrastructure in place, developed after the adoption of the bishops’ 2002 “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.” She and her team at Bracewell, an international law firm, will have “unfettered access” to examine existing protocols and identify potential deficiencies or noncompliance to the cardinal, she said.

Bishop Bransfield retires; pope orders investigation of allegations WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., and has instructed Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore to conduct an investigation into allegations that Bishop Bransfield sexually harassed adults. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Vatican nuncio to the U.S., announced Bishop Bransfield’s retirement Sept. 13 and the appointment of Archbishop Lori as apostolic

Catholic Charities Director of Development The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time Catholic Charities Director of Development. The candidate must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of 5 years experience in fundraising; extensive fundraising experience may be substituted for a completed undergraduate degree. A knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising database software is preferred.

Responsibilities include: creating and executing the annual development plan for Catholic Charities, engaging, retaining, nurturing and recognizing current donors; identifying and cultivating new donors.

Please submit cover letter and resume by October 3, 2018 to Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@charlottediocese.org

E S F L L FA TIVAL

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administrator. The Archdiocese of Baltimore reported that Archbishop Lori had received a specific charge from the pope to investigate allegations against the bishop. “My primary concern is for the care and support of the priests and people of the Diocese of WheelingCharleston at this difficult time,” Archbishop Lori said in the statement Sept. 13. “I further pledge to conduct a thorough investigation in search of the truth into the troubling allegations against Bishop Bransfield and to work closely with the clergy, religious and lay leaders of the diocese until the appointment of a new bishop.”

— Catholic News Service

Our world 24

catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Vatican signs provisional agreement with China on naming bishops CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VILNIUS, Lithuania — For the first time in decades, all of the Catholic bishops in China are in full communion with the pope, the Vatican announced.

Pope Francis lifted the excommunications or irregular status of seven bishops who had been ordained with government approval, but not the Vatican’s consent, the Vatican announced Sept. 22. A few hours earlier, representatives of the Vatican and the Chinese government signed what they described as a “provisional agreement” on the appointment of bishops.

“With a view to sustaining the proclamation of the Gospel in China, the Holy Father Pope Francis has decided to readmit to full ecclesial communion the remaining ‘official’ bishops ordained without pontifical mandate,” the Vatican said, listing their names.

The pope also included in the list Bishop Anthony Tu Shihua, who, before dying Jan. 4, 2017, “had expressed the desire to

be reconciled with the Apostolic See,” the Vatican said.

Regularizing the bishops’ status, the Vatican said, Pope Francis hopes “a new process may begin that will allow the wounds of the past to be overcome, leading to the full communion of all Chinese Catholics,” some of whom steadfastly have refused to participate in activities or parishes under the leadership of bishops not recognized by Rome.

In recent years, most bishops chosen by the government-related Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association have sought and received Vatican recognition before their ordinations.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said in a statement that “the objective of the Holy See is a pastoral one: the Holy See intends just to create the condition, or to help to create the condition, of a greater freedom, autonomy and organization, in order that the Catholic Church can dedicate itself to the mission of announcing the Gospel and also to contribute to the well-being and to the spiritual and material prosperity and

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harmony of the country, of every person and of the world as a whole.”

“What is required now is unity, trust and a new impetus,” Cardinal Parolin said in a video message recorded before he left Rome to join the pope in Vilnius. “To the Catholic community in China – the bishops, priests, religious and faithful – the pope entrusts, above all, the commitment to make concrete fraternal gestures of reconciliation among themselves, and so to overcome past misunderstandings, past tensions, even the recent ones.”

The nomination and assignment of bishops has been a key sticking point in Vatican-Chinese relations for decades; the Catholic Church has insisted that bishops be appointed by the pope and the Chinese government has maintained that would amount to foreign interference in China’s internal affairs.

Catholic communities that have refused to register with the government and refused to follow government-appointed bishops commonly are referred to as the underground church. Many communities, though, have bishops who were elected locally but who pledged their unity with and fidelity to the pope, which in effect meant they were recognized by both the government and the Vatican.

Vatican officials always have said that giving up full control over the nomination of bishops would not be what it hopes for, but could be a good first step toward

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ensuring greater freedom and security for the Catholic community there.

The Vatican announcement said the agreement was signed Sept. 22 in Beijing by Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, undersecretary for foreign relations in the Vatican Secretariat of State, and Wang Chao, Chinese deputy foreign minister.

The provisional agreement, the Vatican said, “is the fruit of a gradual and reciprocal rapprochement, has been agreed following a long process of careful negotiation and foresees the possibility of periodic reviews of its application. It concerns the nomination of bishops, a question of great importance for the life of the Church, and creates the conditions for greater collaboration at the bilateral level.”

“The shared hope,” the statement said, “is that this agreement may favor a fruitful and forward-looking process of institutional dialogue and may contribute positively to the life of the Catholic Church in China, to the common good of the Chinese people and to peace in the world.”

The Vatican did not release the text of the agreement or provide details about what it entailed.

News reports in mid-September, like earlier in the year, said the provisional agreement would outline precise procedures for ensuring Catholic bishops are elected by the Catholic community in China and approved by the pope before their ordinations and installations.

Media reports in the days before the announcement said future candidates for the office of bishop will be chosen at the diocesan level through a democratic election system, and the results of the elections will be sent to Beijing for government authorities to examine. The government would then submit a name via diplomatic channels to the Holy See. The Holy See will carry out its own investigation of the candidate before the pope either approves or exercises his veto, according to the Jesuit-run America magazine. If the pope approves the candidate, the process will continue. If not, “both sides will engage in a dialogue, and Beijing would eventually be expected to submit the name of another candidate.”

The pope will have the final word on the appointment of bishops in China, the report said.

Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 76-year-old retired archbishop of Hong Kong, has been one of the rumored agreement’s strongest critics.

In an interview with the Reuters news agency in Hong Kong Sept. 20, Cardinal Zen said Cardinal Parolin should resign.

“I don’t think he has faith. He is just a good diplomat in a very secular, mundane meaning,” Cardinal Zen told Reuters.

“They’re giving the flock into the mouths of the wolves. It’s an incredible betrayal.”

Cardinal Parolin, meanwhile, told reporters Sept. 20 the Vatican is “convinced that this is a step forward. We are not so naive as to think that from now on everything is going to go well, but it seems to us that this is the right direction.”

Although Greg Burke, director of the Vatican press office, said the agreement is pastoral, not political, and it is seen as a step in the long efforts to re-establish full diplomatic relations between the Vatican and China. The two have not had formal diplomatic ties since shortly after China’s 1949 communist revolution.

8/10/18 1:55 PM

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Church present and future: Synod to show young Catholics’ needs, gifts VATICAN CITY — The Synod of Bishops will meet in October to try to look at the world and the Catholic Church through the eyes of teenagers and young adults and find ways to encourage their enthusiasm and dreams, help them sift through the possibilities life offers them to serve others and resist the temptations that come their way. Pope Francis will preside over the synod, which is scheduled for Oct. 3-28 and will bring together more than 300 cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and lay experts, including young people. In addition to their personal experience, synod participants will have at their disposal a working document that was based on: input from bishops’ conferences, religious orders, offices of the Roman Curia and Catholic organizations; on online survey open to anyone 16-29 years old; and a document prepared by more than 300 young people who met in Rome in March at the invitation of the pope. But just to make sure, young voices are still ringing in their ears, Pope Francis has invited hundreds of young people to join synod participants Oct. 6 in the Vatican audience hall for an evening of music and of young people talking about the search for their identity, hopes for their relationships and ideas for living a life of service and self-giving. The theme for the synod is: “Young people, the faith and vocational discernment.”

Pope to Latvians: Stay with the suffering, forgive one another AGLONA, Latvia — What would Mary do? was the question Pope Francis, in effect, asked Latvian Catholics gathered at their nation’s popular Marian shrine. Celebrating Mass Sept.

24 at the Basilica of the Assumption, a shrine holding a beloved icon of the Mother of God in Aglona, 60 miles from the Russian border, Pope Francis insisted Marian devotion was about more than just pilgrimages; it means imitating Mary by staying close to those who suffer, acknowledging situations of injustice, forgiving offenses and promoting reconciliation. In a country that experienced 50 years of Soviet domination and that remains fiercely proud of its re-conquered independence, members of Latvia’s large Russian minority have struggled to obtain citizenship rights, and many claim they still face discrimination. Russian speakers make up about a quarter of the population.

Pope Francis spent the day in Latvia as part of a visit Sept. 22-25 to the Baltic nations.

In Lithuania, a nation that experienced invasions, atrocities and persecution, Pope Francis began his visit with a plea to break down walls of suspicion and fear. “If we look at the world scene in our time, more and more voices are sowing division and confrontation – often by exploiting insecurity or situations of conflict – and proclaiming that the only way possible to guarantee security and the continued existence of a culture is to try to eliminate, cancel or expel others,” the pope said Sept. 22. Going directly from the airport to the Lithuania’s presidential palace, Pope Francis’ first appointment was with the president, government authorities and civic leaders.

The pope’s visit to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia comes in the year the three Baltic nations are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their declarations of independence after World War I. While declared Soviet republics in 1940,

the countries were occupied by the Nazis during World War II and then lived under Soviet rule from 1944 to 1990.

Two more Chilean bishops step down in wake of abuse crisis VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis accepted the resignations of two more Chilean bishops, bringing to seven the number of bishops who have stepped down since June in response to the clerical sexual abuse scandal in their country. The Vatican announced Sept. 21 the resignations of 60-year-old Bishop Carlos Pellegrin Barrera of San Bartolome de Chillan and 71-year-old Bishop Cristian Contreras Molina of San Felipe. The normal retirement age for a bishop is 75. Almost every one of the 34 bishops in Chile had offered his resignation to Pope Francis in mid-May after a three-day meeting at the Vatican to discuss the clerical sexual abuse scandal detailed in a 2,300-page report compiled by Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and his aide, Father Jordi Bertomeu.

Pope Francis accepted the resignations of three Chilean bishops June 11, and two other bishops June 28. The pope has named apostolic administrators for all seven dioceses; he has yet to appoint new bishops to the sees.

cuts being made will impact CRS programs, though it is difficult to estimate (at this point) what that will be.” In early September, U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration would cut $200 million of aid to medical and humanitarian aid providers. He had already announced that the U.S. would withhold $350 million from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East – amounting to more than one-quarter of the organization’s annual budget. DuBose said CRS’ five-year $50-million program “Envision Gaza 2020” program, which is funded by USAID and provides food and necessity vouchers as well as short-term employment opportunities for Palestinians in Gaza, will be directly impacted

by Trump’s decision. The program has been providing assistance to 155,000 Gazans through USAID funds, she said, and by the end of October they will be serving “zero.”

— Catholic News Service

Catholic workers say U.S. aid cuts to Palestinians could be disastrous JERUSALEM — The U.S. budgetary cuts to humanitarian aid institutions helping Palestinians could lead to long-term disastrous consequences, said Catholic aid workers in the region. “There is concern that the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is already dire, will be made worse,” Hilary DuBose, who represents Catholic Relief Services in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, said. “These massive budget

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Robert Barron

Deacon Michael Zboyovski

‘Be strong, fear not’ A

uthor John Killinger once wrote about a meeting he had with some university students. He asked them, “What does it take to get someone’s attention these days?”

The overwhelming consensus of the group was that unless something was flashy and loud, no one pays attention. I gave that some thought and tend to agree. But when you take some time to really think about those limitations, it rules out an awful lot of things.

Sitting on the porch and listening to birds singing in the distant trees. Gazing into the night sky and seeing those seemingly tiny stars in the night sky that may, in reality, be much larger than our sun. Feeling the anticipation or eagerness in the eyes of a child. The deep lines on an elderly person’s face that tell a story without them speaking a word. None of those things are flashy and loud.

Could it be that because we are culturally conditioned to look for the flamboyant, we often miss some of life’s great subtleties – those delicate, understated things that have often been admired and captured by artists and poets, musicians and mystics?

How sad would it be for us to be surrounded

by God’s blessings and miracles and unless they were flashy and loud, we’d never notice or appreciate them.

I want to break open some truths of today’s scripture passages and relate their significance and impact to what is happening in our Church today.

Look at how God spoke to His people through the prophet Isaiah, to a people “whose hearts are frightened.” He tells them, “Be strong, fear not. Here is your God, He comes with vindication; He comes to save you.”

We too are a people who are frightened right now. We too are a people who are brokenhearted. We too are a people who are confused and waiting for right action to be taken. So listen with our ears and with our hearts to what Isaiah announces to a wounded congregation. He says to be strong, don’t let fear get the best of you. He tells his people that God is here, right here in the middle of what we are dealing with.

It is God who comes to our defense. It is God who has your back. It is God who will defend and protect you. It is God who will raise you up out of this chaos and suffering.

Isaiah reminded his people that if they looked only to themselves, or to their synagogue leaders, or to their army, or to a king or ruler to fix things, then they were still blind to the truth and not hearing what he telling them.

How does that apply to us? If we believe that the answer to our Church problems will solely come out of our righteous indignation, or through our virtuous clergy, or even the work of the pope himself, we too are blind to the truth and we are not hearing what the scriptures are shouting to us. Our faith and our trust are to be placed and grounded in God. It is God who has our backs. It is God who will protect and defend the People of

God, the Church. As the Bible shows us, it is God and God alone who saves us and delivers us from darkness into His glorious light.

Do we all have a part to play? Absolutely, yes! But our work is secondary and subservient to God’s guidance. The scriptures challenge us to humbly let God lead us in our struggle and not just ask that He tag along as we make all our decisions. We are called to do as God asks of us. And the only way to know the path forward is to remain personally connected to God by putting our faith and trust in Him. That is how the healing miracles of the New Testament happen. That is how the healing miracles of 2018 and beyond will happen.

Isaiah goes on to say that when we get that – when we truly understand our faith and trust relationship to God – then eyes will be opened and the blind will see. Then will the deaf hear. Then will the crippled jump like a deer.

Then will the mute have a voice again. Those miracles become reality only after people place their faith and trust where it is intended to be: in God alone.

Our gospel story follows up on the Isaiah teaching and demonstrates first-hand the miracles that come about when faith and trust are placed in God. In every Mass said every day throughout the world, some form of this prayer is contained in the Eucharistic Prayer: “Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Francis our pope and Peter our bishop and all the clergy.”

This is a specific petition asking for a special blessing. And God is answering our prayers. Most people of the world see the Church scandal only as disgusting, discouraging and destructive. And while those descriptive terms are true, they are not the only focus. The battle of good and evil is present in every age. It is with us individually and it is with every institution.

When we read the New Testament, the Christian scriptures, we are correctly wrapped up with awe and amazement when we read the gospel miracle stories of demons being cast out, sight given to the blind, hearing and speaking restored in the deaf and the mute.

But do you think the world sees – in fact, do we see – those same miracles being performed

by God in the middle of the Church’s turmoil?

Some of the demons of sexual immorality and abuse have been exposed, called out of darkness into the light of day. Their evil intent is being identified and dealt with. We are also regaining sight and envisioning the possibility of a new and expanded relationship between laity and clergy. Blind adherence to certain teachings and Church formulations is being questioned and openly debated in the light of the 21st century. The deaf ears of some of the hierarchy are being opened, and they have no choice but to hear and listen to the pleadings of God’s people, FEAR NOT, SEE PAGE 28

Tintoretto and the reform of the Church

I

was in Washington, D.C., recently for meetings of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Since formal proceedings didn’t begin until the evening, I found myself one morning with a little free time. So I made my way to one of my favorite places in the city, the National Gallery of Art, which I frequented when I was a student at Catholic University many years ago.

At the close of a long session of walking and musing, I was drawn by an empty and comfortable-looking couch situated at the end of one of the galleries. Plopping down to rest, I looked up at the picture right in front of me. At first glance, given the color scheme and the peculiar modeling of the figures, I thought it was an El Greco, but closer examination revealed that it in fact was Tintoretto’s depiction of “Christ at the Sea of Galilee.” The drama at the center of the composition is the Apostles’ boat, buffeted by choppy waves, and St. Peter taking a gingerly, tentative step onto the bounding main at the invitation of the Lord who beckons to him.

My seated posture conduced toward contemplation, and I spent a good deal of time with this painting, first admiring the obvious technical skill of the painter, especially in the rendering of the water, but eventually moving to a deeper perception of its spiritual theme, of particular resonance today.

Whenever the Gospels present the disciples of Jesus in a boat, they are, of course, symbolically representing the Church. So Tintoretto is showing the Church in its practically permanent condition across the ages: at sea, rocked by waves, in danger of going under. Indeed, with a handful of remarkable exceptions, every age has been, in some way, a perilous one for the Mystical Body of Christ. The boat is filled with the specially-chosen Apostles of the Lord, those who spent years with the Master, learning His mind, watching His moves, witnessing His miracles with their own eyes, taking in His spirit. One would think that even if everyone else failed to follow the Lord, these men would hold steady. And yet we see them cowering, timorous, obviously at a loss as the storm rages around them. And the Gospels, in a manner that sets them apart from most other literature dealing with religious founders and their disciples, do consistently portray Jesus’ inner circle as deeply flawed.

Peter denied the Lord at the moment of truth; James and John succumbed to petty ambition; Thomas refused to believe the report of the Resurrection; Judas betrayed his master; all of them,

with the exception of John, abandoned Him on the cross, protecting their own hides. And yet Tintoretto shows Peter tentatively placing his foot upon the sea, commencing to walk toward Jesus.

The great spiritual lesson – shopworn perhaps to the point of being a cliché, but still worth repeating – is that as long as the Church keeps its eyes fixed on Christ, it can survive even the worst of storms. It can walk on the water.

The Catholic Church is once more enduring a moment of extreme trial in regard to sexual abuse. This time, the focus of attention is on the failure of some bishops to protect the vulnerable, and in at least one terrible case, the active abuse perpetrated by a cardinal archbishop. The whole world is rightly outraged by these sins, and the Church appropriately feels ashamed. Many wonder, understandably, how those specially devoted to Christ could fall into such depravity. But then we recall that every bishop today is a successor of the Apostles – which is to say, of that band that both sat in easy familiarity with Jesus and denied, betrayed and ran from their Master. In stormy times, the first Apostles cowered, and their successors, we have to admit, often do the same.

But there are grounds for hope.

They are found, however, not in institutional reform (as important as that is), not in psychological analysis (as indispensable as that might be), not in new programs and protocols (as helpful as they might prove), but rather in a return to Jesus Christ.

Eyes fixed on Him, hearts attuned to Him, minds beguiled by Him, action determined by Him, the leaders of the Church can, even now, walk on the water.

Tintoretto sheds considerable light on this issue of Apostolic weakness and strength in the very manner in which he has arranged the figures in his composition. The painting is foreshortened in such a way that the disciples appear very small, almost doll-like, whereas Jesus, looming in the extreme foreground, looks gigantic. As John the Baptist put the principle: “He must increase and I must decrease.” When our anxieties and egos are placed in the foreground, Christ necessarily recedes. Crucial to the reformation of the Church is the reversal of that perspective.

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

September 28, 2018 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

27

Letters to the Editor

A time for purging During a recent homily, our parish’s deacon said this is a time in the history of the Church when many of us will be faced with the question: Do we stay or do we go? His homily was a penetrating look at the shame of sexual abuse and cover-up in the Church. It was the most direct acknowledgement of sex abuse I had ever heard during Mass in my 30-plus years as a Catholic – a plea for discussion, engagement and ultimately forgiveness for decades of sexual abuse and cover-ups within the Church. On behalf of all the ordained, he asked: forgive us this betrayal of trust.

Hearing this from the pulpit of my own church felt like a punch to the gut. It made the scandal more real than reading the newspaper articles or hearing about it on TV. So when he asked for forgiveness, I have to say I’m not ready to give it.

How can we forgive when the highest ranks of the Church knew about these problems and let them persist? How can we forgive without knowing whether the appeal for forgiveness is genuine, and whether the Church will really take responsibility for this huge trespass? How can we entrust our children to this institution when leaders have been promising to clean things up for decades? How can we move on?

Our only way forward will be for us parishioners and parents to know the Church is serious about making things right, that there will be transparency. We entrust these men with our souls and come to them in the most vulnerable moments of our lives. They must be held to the highest standard. They have been given positions of great power and access and we need to ensure they are worthy of our trust.

Anything less, and doubts will continue to fester in our souls and the light that the Church should be in our lives will be forever dimmed, if not extinguished altogether.

In his homily, the deacon said someone had asked, “Where is God in all of this?”

The answer was, “God is in the purging.”

If God is in the purging, then may all of us demand the purge. Demand that we hold the leadership of the Church and our local priests accountable. That those who have been part of this scandal – either as culprits, enablers, or those who covered up for others – speak out and accept the consequences.

If they love the Church that they pledged their lives to, may they sacrifice their own security to allow the Church to live on.

We also need to ask questions of our parish leaders. How are we ensuring this doesn’t happen in our own parishes and

schools? What safety measures are in place? Until we can see a time where this is not a sickness of our Church, it may be time to restrict priests from having access to our children. It makes me so sad to say these things, but trust has been broken. It needs to be built back from scratch.

I am not ready to forgive, but I am ready to witness. May the purge be thorough, comprehensive and final. Only then can we start the process of healing and forgiveness.

And perhaps, and only then, can a new era of confidence and trust in the Church begin.

ERIKA LOPEZ lives in Charlotte.

We need to talk about sex The scandal affecting the Church today has put a spotlight on many issues that the Church has been facing for many years.

The lack of leadership on the part of major Church leaders, a colossal shift in their priorities, and deep flaws in Catholic education have created an environment where many people’s faith has been shaken. One of those flaws is the lack of education about human sexuality.

Let’s be honest. As Catholics, we don’t talk about sex. It’s not seen as appropriate in “polite” company. This attitude, however, is downright destructive. We need to be teaching our young people about the amazing gift that God has given them and how to use that gift appropriately.

A problem I have found is that there really isn’t all that much out there to guide young singles. Sex is a gift and a natural part of most Catholics’ lives, yet resources such as Theology of the Body are rarely taught in Catholic schools. The Catechism contains very little in explanation as to why certain things are right or wrong in regard to this topic. With little guidance on these teachings, how can one expect young Catholics to live these teachings and find good marriages?

This lack of knowledge is manifesting in all sorts of ways. For example, an upstanding, generally considered “good” Catholic high school in North Carolina has a teen pregnancy rate almost three times the local county rate. We need to be educating our children and taking steps to eliminate this problem in our communities.

If we want to ensure that something like this never happens again, we have to start somewhere. Reforming the Catholic education system to include sexual education and health as a vital part of the curriculum is a real actionable

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BRIDGET SEELINGER, BSN, RN, lives in Asheville and is pursuing a master’s degree in public health.

Going back to ‘tradition’ is not the solution In an article about the Church abuse scandal in the Catholic News Herald’s Aug. 31 issue, it was suggested that the solution to this crisis in the Church was to go back to “tradition” because what has been going on for the past 100 years hasn’t worked. I couldn’t disagree more.

It was the Council of Trent, with its “circling of the wagons” rather than confronting the clear sickness in the Church at the time, that accelerated the decline to where we have come today. We became an even more imperial Church, ever more rife with clericalism and triumphalism. We became a Church with no accountability, answering only to itself and killing (either literally or virtually through “silencing”) anyone who dared to dissent or question through the Inquisition and its later form, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The last thing we need is to go back to an environment where priests and the hierarchy are unquestioned little kings rather than “servants of the servants.”

No matter how “pure” their original calls and vocations may be, “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and unaccountable power will only lead to consistent abuse.

Certainly not all priests succumb to these temptations, but those prone to power grabs would continue to be enabled.

What we need is true servant leadership that actually looks to furthering the Church’s mission: to bring people into ever-growing relationship with God, rather than using the power of the Church for crowd control and self-preservation of the hierarchy and its institutions. This must be coupled with outside accountability and transparency that is not beholden to the hierarchy. The Church is most assuredly not a democracy, but if the clergy don’t start to come to grips with what their actual role is, I strongly suspect the faithful will be “voting with their feet.” I, for one, won’t stand any longer with the Church if it continues to hide behind power and legal strategies to protect its might rather than standing with the “least of my brothers.” I will trust that, as Ezekiel said in chapter 34, God Himself will shepherd His lost sheep and remove those who have been plundering them.

JOHN KNIPPEL lives in Hayesville.

Through press time on Sept. 26, 20,256 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 41,144 pages. The top 10 headlines in September so far have been:

facebook.com/ Catholic News Herald

intervention and one that I firmly believe will have an immediate, positive outcome.

Diocese of Charlotte

Pinterest.com/ charlottecnh

Allow female altar servers in Eucharistic procession A photo in the Sept. 14 edition of the Catholic News Herald, depicting “an army of altar servers” in the Eucharistic Procession of the annual Eucharistic Congress, couldn’t help but catch my attention. What was wrong with the picture? There was not a single girl shown in the procession of servers. As a mother to both a son and a daughter, this is very disheartening to me.

Church law states that service at the altar is one of the liturgical functions that can be performed by both lay men and women.

In light of the continuing sexual abuse scandals that plague our Church, maybe, if we could be more inclusive, we might be able to stop raising generations of misogynist male leaders and clean up our Church. Let’s try to be more inclusive in our

diocese and follow the teachings of Jesus.

ANN HELMS lives in Monroe.

Vatican agreement with China is troubling The agreement reached between the Vatican and the Chinese government to share approval of candidates for bishop and the recognition of previously excommunicated bishops (created by the government) demands comment from Bishop Peter Jugis.

Does he support and agree with the Vatican’s decision? If so, will all future Chinese candidates have to agree to comply with the government’s policy of one child per family, as well as their official policy of approving of abortion, to be “approved” as a candidate for the office of bishop? Further, are Church teachings past, present and future subject to approval of the Chinese government?

To say the government acknowledging that the pope is the spiritual leader of all Chinese Catholics as a reason to make this agreement is ridiculous. By definition, the pope is the spiritual leader of all Catholics regardless of where they live. By this agreement, the Vatican has moved the Church back to the 16th century when Henry VIII made bishops for Rome’s approval. Which country will be next to want “approval”?

A much larger question remains open in the minds of many laity: Given the current hierarchical sex abuse scandal and now this bizarre agreement with China, is the papacy of Pope Francis out of control?

STEPHEN F. BAGNELL lives in High Point.

Come to a special place: the Adoration Chapel There’s a special place I know where Jesus is waiting for us to come and visit a while, to stop for a minute or two (or longer), to meet with Him face to face and to know without a doubt that we have His undivided attention.

It doesn’t cost a penny. We don’t need an appointment or have to be all dressed up. It pleases Jesus that we just desire to spend some time with Him. Jesus waits patiently to receive all those who come every day and night to this special place. Under the appearance of bread, He is God our Savior, exposed and vulnerable on the altar, loving all who come to see Him. People from all walks of life and every culture come. Miraculously, Jesus can commune with each person as if they are the only ones there. Sometimes we are just so awed by Jesus’ goodness that we simply fall on our knees and adore Him. Other times we may need to express sorrow for something that’s been nagging at us.

Sorting it out with Jesus and asking for forgiveness may give us the necessary grace to make a sacramental confession.

Often we give heartfelt thanks for all the blessings, gifts and favors we have received in our life. We also have petitions to humbly lay before Jesus: people to forgive, hurting hearts to be consoled, health concerns for ourselves and others, financial burdens, relationships to mend, just to name a few.

In this special place Jesus loves to whisper hopeful thoughts into our hearts.

Our burdens seem lighter because we have shared them with Someone who really cares.

You may have guessed this special place is the Adoration Chapel at St. Gabriel Church.

You are invited to come and see for yourself.

There is a spot available just for you.

PATRICIA HENNESSY lives in Charlotte.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 28, 2018 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SEMINARY FROM PAGE 3

given the day’s inclement weather: “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined.”

“This building is a sign of the work that must take place, the building of strong and faithful men for the holiness of the priesthood,” Father Kauth had said in a statement Sept. 13 to announce the groundbreaking moving forward despite the hurricane. “Brick and mortar of a building, form and strength of virtue, will

ROAD TRIP FROM PAGE 7

for the youths. The event concluded with Sunday Mass.

YIA’s Florence Okoro, 17, recalled, “The Holy Hour was the most memorable experience as we gathered in the church with candles and sang worship songs. I felt so close to God that it moved me to tears.

I will forever remember the smell of the incense and the voice of God.” Jacqueline Diouf, 16, added, “It was dark and candles were lit up. It was kind of like a meditation hour with God. The atmosphere was so spiritual. It was just cool to feel the presence of God all together in a different space. Sometimes you just

GIVING FROM PAGE 7

Catholicism in college before marrying his mother.

Davis shared that his parents never missed Sunday Mass and they volunteered at many parish events over the years.

“Every part of their lives was centered around the Church.”

“They lived modestly on a fixed income,” he explained.

“They wouldn’t subscribe to cable TV because they didn’t want the monthly expense.

They were so conservative with their spending and yet would think nothing of donating thousands of dollars to the Church,” he said.

Davis believes his parents were invested in the people of St. Vincent de Paul Parish and wanted to make a difference in their lives. In their humility, he said, the last thing they would want is for people to know all that they did for the parish.

“Their motivation was pure.

They never did it for publicity.

It was always giving back, not giving.”

The Terry and Chuck Davis Endowment will be used

rise on this site together.”

The wind and the rain almost completely ceased for the entire groundbreaking ceremony, and people lowered their umbrellas to enjoy the moment.

Bishop Jugis blessed with holy water the area that will become the entrance to the new college seminary, praying, “Lord Jesus Christ, raise up the sign of salvation in this place; and forbid entry here to the avenging angel.”

As he blessed the ground, a choir comprised of college seminary students chanted Psalm 47.

Part of the rite of blessing of a site for a church, the psalm begins: “Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, fairest of heights, is the joy of all the earth; Mount Zion, ‘the recesses of the North,’ is the city of the great King. God is with her castles; renowned is He as a stronghold.”

The theme of a strong and holy foundation for the college seminary was continued throughout the groundbreaking ceremony.

“By the cross we stand,” Father Kauth

quoted from the Stabat Mater as he addressed the people gathered for the groundbreaking. “And that’s why you’re here.”

In spite of “the tumultuous weather that the Church is experiencing, we stand by the cross. And when the storm has ended, those who remain at the cross will still be there,” he said.

Suzette Mahoney from Charlotte said she braved the weather to attend the groundbreaking “because I am in full support of our college seminary in Charlotte. This is the answer to build up our holy Catholic Church.”

The young men ended the ceremony by breaking into their “college seminary fight song” – “Salve Pater,” written by the college seminary’s music director Thomas Savoy.

Opened in 2016, St. Joseph College Seminary has been a magnet for young men wanting to discern the priesthood.

Enrollment growth has been faster than the diocese had anticipated, from eight students in its first year to 21 this year.

The diocese has had to buy two houses

don’t feel it at your home. Sometimes you just don’t feel it because sometimes you get used to the atmosphere, sometimes it is just not there. But then, when you get with other people, you can really feel. You can talk about it, like, you can talk out loud. I can feel it! I can still feel it right now because we are all here and we are all reminiscing about what we did at Kujenga.

I feel it right now. If you think about the way I think about it, I really had a great experience because I can still feel it.”

YIA’s president, Devine Drummond, 18, described the rite of passage ceremony as a meaningful moment for him. “It was a special moment when they honored the 2018 graduates as we received a special homily crafted to send us off into the real world. We received a special blessing, as our sponsors were at our side for support.”

While the older teens received guidance

on their spiritual journeys as black Catholics, the younger group tried to piece together the painful history of their ancestors by visiting an African burial ground containing the remains of more than 419 forgotten, enslaved AfricanAmericans.

Zhi’yahn Hood, 12, noted, “We went to the African-American burial ground, where a bunch of people were injured and died. They were all buried together. Now they found a bunch of bones from all those people. It was an actual burial ground for African slaves.”

Young Empress Voliton added, “At the burial ground, they had a realistic statue of a man and a family. We saw a little film about how they found out about the slave burial ground. I don’t know if it was real or not, but the statue was of a family putting the father into the grave. The woman

specifically for maintenance of the church and buildings on the church property.

“Chuck and Terry passed from this life, but they are fondly remembered,” Father Lawlor said. “Their gracious donation and the establishment of this endowment will provide for the positive ministry of the Church for many generations to come.”

The endowment is being administered by the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation. Founded in 1994, the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation now manages 261 endowments totaling more than $50 million in assets.

Learn more Individuals can establish an endowment in the diocesan foundation by leaving a bequest in their will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a gift of real estate, a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment, or a life income arrangement such as a trust or annuity. For information about setting up an endowment to benefit the Church in western North Carolina, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or email gmrhodes@charlottediocese.org.

FEAR NOT FROM PAGE 26

whose voice is being restored after centuries of being muted.

God’s miracles and blessings continue to surround us.

I want to caution us about an ongoing trap that the devil continues to use to weaken the Body of Christ.

Great folks within our own congregation and throughout the world have left the Church or are seriously thinking about leaving. Before they make that move, I would ask them to consider this: If your motivation is that you don’t want to be even remotely associated with a sin-filled community or you feel that you’re being humiliated and looked down upon by outsiders, as if you’re guilty of the same sins, then you’re being misled by the sin of pride. Know who the mastermind of pride is, and don’t fall into that trap.

Fracturing and dismembering the Body of Christ is the constant motivation of evil.

Please, please don’t fall for that trap.

We, as the Church and as individuals, are being publicly humiliated for a reason. I firmly believe we are being invited into the suffering and passion that Christ experienced as a fully innocent person condemned for the sins of others. As Jesus humbled Himself for the sake of righteousness and for the sole benefit of others, so too should all innocent Christians accept being humiliated by what has occurred. In a small way, we’re being invited to drink a drop of the same cup of suffering from which Jesus Himself fully drank.

Humility will ultimately strengthen us. That virtue of humility will draw us together in love as we continue Christ’s mission of teaching and healing. It is the virtue of humility which is the corrective remedy to dispel one of the seven deadly sins, the sin of pride. Humility will be the foundation of our path forward in recovering the dignity and beauty of God’s people. In humility, we will do this ... together.

DEACON MICHAEL ZBOYOVSKI gave this homily during Masses Sept. 8-9 at St. Eugene Church in Asheville.

and convert a former convent that it owns to temporarily accommodate the students until the permanent college seminary can be built.

The $20 million college seminary will take about 15 months to construct, with the fundraising campaign kicking off this fall. The two-story building will include a chapel, classroom, library, conference rooms, a kitchen and refectory (cafeteria), faculty offices, and a guest room for speakers and visiting priests. It will also include 40 dorm rooms or “cells” for the college seminarians. The original plan called for 20 cells, but enrollment at the new college seminary has already exceeded that number.

It will be the only college seminary located between northern Virginia and southern Florida.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the groundbreaking ceremony for St. Joseph College Seminary in Belmont

outside was talking about the burial ground and I really wanted to hear every word of it, but I couldn’t. It was really touching.”

Gittens-Duliepre explained, “The trip was a humbling experience for YIA to learn of the lives young people live in NYC – quite a tougher life. YIA more than appreciated the experience to now know that there are young Catholics that look like them. Being young and Catholic down South can make you feel out of place at times because there are so few of us, but being in New York showed us quite the opposite. This trip was a profound and lifechanging experience!”

—Denise Gittens-Duliepre, Chimdindu (Chimmy) Oduh, Amily James, Jovanka Gonzalez, Florence Okoro and Jacqueline Diouf contributed.

COMMUNITY FROM PAGE 3

income. Rents are projected to range from $342 to $866, depending on income and unit size.

Architectural firm Progress Design Studio designed Guardian Angel Villa, and Douglas Development and Schaumber Development will be co-developers on the project.

A management company will be selected in the near future.

Once construction begins in the spring of 2019, Guardian Angel Villa is estimated to take a year to construct.

This is the second of several phases slated for the 20-acre campus on Guardian Angel Lane. It already features Mother Teresa Villa, a housing complex for adults with developmental disabilities that opened in 2015.

Did you know?

The Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp. is funded in part by contributions from the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

Learn more about the DSA and how you can contribute at www.charlottediocese. org/development/diocesan-supportappeal.