Dec. 20, 2019

December 20, 2019

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 of Charlotte receives perfect financial transparency rating 3

Administrator appointed to St. Matthew Church while pastor remains on leave 5

INDEX

Contact us.....................................4 Español......................................... 8-11 Events calendar............................4 Our Faith........................................2 Our Parishes............................. 3-7 Schools........................................ 12 Scripture readings.......................2 TV & Movies................................. 13 U.S. news.................................14-15 Viewpoints..............................18-19 World news............................. 16-17

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Signs of God’s love Pope blesses Nativity scene statues

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La Lupita trajo un mensaje de esperanza Advent celebrations 6

¿No estoy yo aquí que soy tu madre?

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Our faith

catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Pope St. Sylvester I: Saw beginning of Christian empire in Rome

Pope Francis

Martyrdom comes from following Christ without compromise

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here always will be martyrs among Christians in the world, Pope Francis said.

Martyrdom “is the sign that we are on Jesus’ path; it’s a blessing from the Lord that within the people of God there is someone who gives this witness of martyrdom,” he said Dec. 11 during his weekly general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall. The pope continued his series of talks on the Acts of the Apostles by looking at the increasing amount of suffering and persecution the Apostle Paul faced as he spread the Gospel.

“Paul is not just an evangelizer filled with passion, the intrepid missionary among pagans who brings new Christian communities to life, he is also a suffering witness of the Risen One,” the pope said in his catechesis.

Much like Jesus, Paul faced fierce persecution in Jerusalem, and he was put in chains following his arrest on charges of preaching against the law and the temple.

While most people saw his chains as a sign of him being a criminal, the pope said, Paul saw the chains with “the eyes of faith” as a sign of his love for Jesus.

“For Paul, his faith is not a theory, an opinion about God and the world, but it is the impact of God’s love in his heart, it is love for Jesus Christ,” he said.

“Paul teaches us perseverance amid trials and the ability to see everything with the eyes of faith,” the pope said.

“Let us ask the Lord today, through the apostle’s intercession, to rekindle our faith and help us be completely faithful to our vocation as Christians, as disciples of the Lord, as missionaries.”

To further underline how, even in modern times, Christians still face suffering and persecution, the pope spoke about meeting with pilgrims from Ukraine earlier that morning.

He explained how Eastern-rite Catholics in Ukraine had been persecuted for their faith under communism, “but they did not negotiate the faith.”

The group of pilgrims that met with Pope Francis included bishops, priests, religious and laypeople from the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Mukachevo, which was celebrating the 30th anniversary of no longer having to practice the faith clandestinely under Soviet oppression.

The pope told them that their church “is the mother of many martyrs,” recalling the example of their bishop, Blessed Theodore Romzha, who was killed by the Soviet secret police in 1947 and who was beatified as a martyr by St. John Paul II in 2001.

Pope St. Sylvester I was born in Rome around the year 250. At a young age, his mother put him under the care of a priest to be taught literature and theology. He was ordained a priest by Pope St. Marcellinus.

Sylvester enjoyed providing shelter to Christians passing through the city. He would take them with him, wash their feet, serve them at table and care for them, all in the name of Christ.

One of the Christians whom Sylvester hosted was Timothy of Antioch, an illustrious confessor of the faith. When Timothy arrived in Rome, no one dared to receive him, but Sylvester

In 312 a new era set in. Constantine, having triumphed in battle under the “standard of the Cross,” declared himself the protector of the Christians and established close ties with the Church.

When Pope Miltiades died, Sylvester became pope on Jan. 31, 314 – making him the first of the Roman pontiffs to rule the flock of Christ in security and peace. He led the Church for 21 years until his death in 335, making him one of the longest-serving popes in history.

He is remembered in particular for his leadership through two heretical controversies in the Church – Donatism and Arianism – as well as the baptism of Constantine and the triumph of the Church over its former persecutors.

Donatists, led by the bishop Donatus, were extremist separatists in northern Africa who took a hardline view against Christians who had lapsed from the faith in order to save their lives during the brutal empire-wide persecution under Diocletian. In some cases, they beat Christians who had capitulated during Roman soldiers’ searches of their houses; they took money in return for ordaining priests and deacons; and they “rebaptized” fallen Christians, sometimes by force.

A council convened by Constantine in 313 and the Council of Arles convened by Pope Sylvester in 314 both condemned the Donatists’ actions.

These two stained-glass panels in the St. Sylvester window inside Chartres Cathedral in France depict a legend Arianism, led by the Alexandrian from the life of Pope St. Sylvester. Before Constantine legalized Christianity in 313, he was considering the merits Christian priest Arius, denied Jesus’ of Christianity versus Judaism. St. Sylvester suggested that the whole question of faith should be disputed divinity and equality with God. It taught before a collective audience of Jews and Christians, and the topics for discussion included paganism, God, Christ that Jesus was not equal with God the and the Ten Commandments. A leading rabbi named Zambri volunteered to perform a miracle as proof of his Father and not eternal. In 325, Pope faith’s superiority: he approached an ox and whispered “Jehovah” in its ear. The ox dropped dead. St. Sylvester Sylvester convened the First Council responded by whispering “Christ” in the ox’s ear, and the ox was restored to life. of Nicaea, the first general Council of the Church, which reiterated Jesus’ divinity and reaffirmed that Jesus was considered it an honor. For a year, Timothy preached the Gospel consubstantial with the Father – truly God and truly man. in Rome with great zeal, while Sylvester selflessly shared his own A memorable but untrue legend from his pontificate involved home.

Constantine, who was attacked by leprosy while he was still a After Timothy was martyred, Sylvester buried his remains. He pagan. One night St. Peter and St. Paul appeared to Constantine was quickly accused of having hidden the martyr’s treasures, and and commanded him to call for Pope Sylvester, who would cure the Roman governor had him imprisoned. In reply, Sylvester said, him by giving him the sacrament of baptism. According to the “Timothy left to me only the heritage of his faith and courage.” legend, the pope baptized him, and Constantine was converted.

After the governor choked on a fish bone and died, the guards’ (Actually, Constantine was baptized on his deathbed by someone hearts were softened and they set him free. Sylvester’s courageous else years later.) acts became known to Pope Miltiades (also called Melchiades), During his pontificate were built the great churches founded in who elevated him to the diaconate.

Rome by Constantine, including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Basilica of Under the tyranny of the Roman emperor Diocletian, while the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, and the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Sylvester was still a young priest, the persecution of Christians Pope Sylvester died on Dec. 31, 335, and was buried in the church grew worse, starting in 303. Diocletian murdered Christians, he built over the Priscilla Catacombs. Interestingly, he is one of burned churches, searched homes to destroy sacred texts, and the earliest saints who was not a martyr. ordered everyone to worship idols placed throughout every Roman — Sources: Catholic News Agency, town or risk being killed. During this difficult time, Sylvester The Catholic Encyclopedia strengthened the faithful in Rome.

Daily Scripture readings DEC. 22-28

Sunday: Isaiah 7:10-14, Romans 1:1-7, Matthew 1:18-24; Monday (St. John of Kanty): Malachi 3:1-4, 23-24, Luke 1:57-66; Tuesday: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Luke 1:67-79; Wednesday (The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas): Isaiah 62:11-12, Titus 3:4-7, Luke 2:15-20; Thursday (St. Stephen): Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Matthew 10:17-22; Friday (St. John): 1 John 1:1-4, John 20:1-8; Saturday (The Holy Innocents): 1 John 1:52:2, Matthew 2:13-18

DEC. 29-JAN. 4

Sunday (The Holy Family): Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14, Colossians 3:12-21, Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23; Monday: 1 John 2:12-17, Luke 2:36-40; Tuesday (St. Sylvester I): 1 John 2:18-21, John 1:1-18; Wednesday (Mary, the Mother of God): Numbers 6:22-27, Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21; Thursday (Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen): 1 John 2:22-28, John 1:19-28; Friday (The Most Holy Name of Jesus): 1 John 2:29-3:6, John 1:29-34; Saturday (St. Elizabeth of Ann Seton): 1 John 3:7-10, John 1:35-42

JAN. 5-11

Sunday (The Epiphany of the Lord): Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6, Matthew 2:1-12; Monday (St. André Bessette): 1 John 3:22-4:6, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25; Tuesday (St. Raymond of Penyafort): 1 John 4:7-10, Mark 6:34-44; Wednesday: 1 John 4:11-18, Mark 6:45-52; Thursday: 1 John 4:19-5:4, Luke 4:14-22; Friday: 1 John 5:5-13, Luke 5:12-16; Saturday: 1 John 5:14-21, John 3:2230

Our parishes

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Diocese of Charlotte receives perfect financial transparency rating SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has earned a perfect financial transparency rating from a national Catholic watchdog group – one of only five dioceses in the U.S. to earn this distinction.

The financial transparency ranking comes from the Voice of the Faithful, an independent Catholic lay organization founded in 2002 in Boston in response to the sexual abuse crisis in the Church. It seeks full transparency and accountability in Church governance.

The group awarded the Charlotte diocese a perfect score of 100 percent after a thorough analysis of the diocese’s financial reporting online at www.charlottediocese.org/ finance. There, the diocese has publicly posted complete annual financial audits going back six years. Also posted are the diocese’s financial policy manual, gift acceptance policy information, internal control questionnaires, members of the diocesan finance council and governance standards, parish accounting tools and tips, parish finance council guidelines and parish benchmarking charts.

Bill Weldon, the diocese’s chief financial officer, said receiving a perfect score is an affirmation of the Diocese of Charlotte’s long-standing commitment to financial

transparency.

“The primary pillars of good financial governance are accountability and transparency,” Weldon said. “The Diocese of Charlotte is accountable to every one of the faithful that comprise the Church in western North Carolina. To that end, we issue a complete audited financial report every year.

We go beyond that by providing financial information for all major ministries and activities of the diocese in our annual financial report. In addition to having the combined financial statements of the diocese audited annually, we have annual audits of the nine distinct entities that comprise the diocese.”

Other audits include Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools, Bishop McGuinness High School, Diocese of Charlotte Housing Corp., Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte Foundation and St. Joseph College Seminary.

“The diocese’s commitment to the second pillar – transparency – is evident by the high rating we received on this assessment,” Weldon said. “We sincerely believe that we have a responsibility to be fully transparent to all the faithful of the diocese.”

“As chief financial officer of the diocese, my primary responsibilities are to ensure that the Church’s assets are properly safeguarded and are used prudently and consistently with donor intentions; to provide complete, accurate and timely financial statements and reports; to publish and make

critical financial data easily accessible to our donors and other constituents; and to ensure the continued good financial health of the diocese,” Weldon said.

The financial transparency review was conducted by four independent reviewers from VOTF. The four other dioceses to earn a perfect score were the Diocese of Anchorage, Alaska; the Diocese of Erie, Pa.; the Diocese of Philadelphia; and the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y. Since its founding, VOTF has expanded worldwide with more than 30,000 members.

The group’s 2019 study also found that: n 65 percent of U.S. dioceses have exhibited a commitment to financial transparency by sharing audited financial reports on their websites. n The percentage of U.S. dioceses posting audited financial reports has risen from 56 percent in 2017 to 61 percent in 2018 to 65 percent in 2019. n Eight percent of the dioceses provided only unaudited reports in 2019, and the remaining 27 percent posted no financial information at all.

The VOTF study concluded that, although most dioceses have made a commitment to financial transparency, a sizable majority share little or no verifiable financial information with their parishioners. The average overall score achieved by all 177 dioceses in the 2019 report was 65.25 percent.

Bishop Jugis Fraternity of St. Joseph accompanies men along life’s journey to announce ‘Year of St. Joseph’ Jan. 1 SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis will celebrate Mass on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2020, at St. Patrick Cathedral.

During the Mass, Bishop Jugis will announce 2020 as the “Year of St. Joseph” in the Diocese of Charlotte. He first alluded to this during the closing Mass of the 15th Annual Eucharistic Congress Sept. 7.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX proclaiming St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, as the patron of the Universal Church.

“Quemadmodum Deus” was promulgated in 1870.

St. Patrick Cathedral is located at 1691 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte. All are invited to attend.

The diocese is also launching a website devoted to “the “Year of St. Joseph” complete with educational resources and Year of St. Joseph event details for the faithful to participate in across the diocese as they are finalized.

To learn more about how you can get involved as the “Year of St. Joseph” gets underway, visit the site at www.yearofstjoseph.org.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — A new ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is attracting men young and old to come together and support one another in being the faithful Catholic men they are called to be.

The mission of the Fraternity of St. Joseph is to impart the value of each man’s faith-filled gifts to the next generation of Catholic men within the faith community. The men’s group began meeting at the Charlotte parish in November, and as the Year of St. Joseph launches in 2020, it aims to inspire other parishes follow its example.

Its emphasis is on promoting the virtues, increasing men’s participation in the Eucharist and the sacraments, and encouraging them to learn more about their faith.

Founders of the Fraternity of St. Joseph see the ministry as a lived fellowship, where growth in moral posture and family values is the footing. It is an institution committed to steadfast faith-filled men who hold themselves and each other accountable to their families and the communities that they will ultimately transform around them.

Parishioner and founding member, Ray Haywood, believes all participants in the fraternity “will be gained in the knowledge that as brothers, we are stronger when we are united in standing, working and praying together! Iron sharpens iron.”

“I believe that the third millennial will be led by St. Joseph,” Haywood says. St. Joseph can be the guide for men, especially fathers, to grow in their vocation and strengthen their families.

He sees the fraternity as a way for men to share with each other the life lessons they have learned and bring clarity to the challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead for men who want to live their faith intentionally.

“In our humanity, we stand confused and outside of ourselves when we face things on our own,” he says. “We are not meant to face our journey alone. Not even Jesus faced the journey of His physical life alone.”

“The message we will be sharing and handing on (to younger fraternity members in particular), contains the life lessons that only wisdom can hold true. Truth is told to us all slowly, and over time,” he adds.

The parish’s Deacon Joe Diaz is another of the fraternity’s founding members.

“One of the biggest issues in our society is the breakdown of the family – where single-parent families, divorce rather than reconciliation, and the quest for the ‘almighty dollar’ have become the accepted norm rather than the exception,” Deacon Diaz points out.

Parental authority has been weakened because of this breakdown in society, and young people today lack examples to follow.

“The Fraternity of St. Joseph at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish is trying to help combat this by giving men, young and old, a place to explore their faith and their roles and responsibilities as Catholic

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RAY HAYWOOD

Men of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte have started the Fraternity of St. Joseph to support one another, especially younger men of the parish, in their life journey as Catholic men. men within the family and society,” Deacon Diaz says. “It is striving to give those attending the meetings, good, strong and solid Catholic tools to combat the secular influences that are attacking the family.”

The group’s regular meetings include study of Catholic books, discussion of current news events and experiences in their lives, and a general question-and-answer session. The group is also reading Haywood’s new book on Catholic fatherhood, “Tools to Ready the Journey.”

“While this fraternity may not solve all the ills of our society, it can give the men of our parish the tools to be good leaders – good Catholic leaders in both their families and society. As a supporter and attendee, I am happy to lend my knowledge of the faith and experience to the Fraternity’s efforts,” Deacon Diaz says.

Father Matthew Codd, pastor, believes the Fraternity of St. Joseph is important “because so many young men don’t understand the importance of their faith. They need good, strong male role models who can teach them how to see value in what Christ asks of us as fathers and men, and how to navigate the confusing times we live in.”

For more info The Fraternity of St. Joseph is open to all Catholic men over age 18. They meet at 8:30 a.m. every first and third Saturday in Aquinas Hall adjacent to St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. Have questions about joining or starting a similar group at your parish? Contact Ray Haywood at 704-707-5709 or rhywd@aol.com.

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: DEC. 25 Christmas Eve Midnight Mass Cathedral of St. Patrick, Charlotte

JAN. 6-10 Bishops’ Spiritual Retreat

JAN. 17 Charlotte March for Life

JAN. 1 – 9 A.M. Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Cathedral of St. Patrick, Charlotte

JAN. 14 – 11 A.M. Presbyteral Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

JAN. 23-25 National March for Life Washington, D.C.

JAN. 24 – 11:30 A.M. North Carolina Mass for Life Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C.

Diocesan calendar of events December 20, 2019

ESPAÑOL

Volume 29 • NUMBER 6

VIÑEDO DE RAQUEL: ¿Es usted o un ser querido que busca la curación de los efectos de un aborto anterior?

Los retiros de fin de semana son ofrecidos por Caridades Católicas para hombres y mujeres en todas las regiones de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Para obtener información sobre los próximos retiros, incluidos retiros en las diócesis vecinas, comuníquese con Karina Hernández: 336-267-1937 o karinahernandez@live.com.

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

704-370-3333

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

VIGILIA DE ADORACIÓN: 6 p.m. los jueves, en la Catedral San Patricio, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Nos reunimos para una Vigilia de Adoración por la Paz y la Justicia en Nicaragua, que en estos últimos meses están pasando por momentos turbulentos y ataques físicos contra la Iglesia Católica, sus templos, y sus Obispos.

Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a la Adoración, rezar el Santo Rosario, la hora santa de reparación, y terminando con la oración de exorcismo de San Miguel Arcángel.

ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS

PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

STAFF

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.

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DIVINE LITURGY: 4 p.m. Saturdady, Dec. 21, Immaculate Conception Church, 42 Newfound St., Canton. 30-minute catechism on the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom following Divine Liturgy. Coffee and tea will be served.

Confessions will be heard from about 2:15 to 3:15 p.m.

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4, 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, High Point. Come and help pray for the end of abortion, and feel free to invite anyone

who would be morally supportive of this very important cause. For details, email Jim Hoyng at Ajhoyng@hotmail. com or Paul Klosterman at Pauljklosterman@aol.com.

14TH ANNUAL MARCH FOR LIFE: 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10. Mass for the unborn at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Gathering at 11 a.m. in the parking lot across the street from the Charlotte Diocese, 1123 South Church St. March will begin at noon to Trade and Tryon St., where Father Cory Catron, Parochial Vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church, will preach. March will follow to the Court House at 401 W. Trade St., to pray a Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. For details, visit www.marchforlifecharlotte.org.

DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR: 7 p.m. each First Friday at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte.

The Divine Mercy Holy Hours are celebrated year-round (except for Lent) and consist of Eucharistic Adoration, readings from the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the sung chaplet of Divine Mercy and benediction. For details, call Paul Deer at 704-577-3496.

24-HOUR ADORATION: First Friday of every month at Good Shepherd Mission, 105 Good Shepherd Dr., King. For details, call the parish office at 336-983-2680.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING ‘Protecting God’s Children’ workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent

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 Perpetual Adoration Chapel (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 St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road Estelle Wisneski (704) 364-9568

sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are: CHARLOTTE: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.

GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road SUPPORT GROUPS RACHEL’S VINEYARD: Are you or a loved one seeking healing from the effects of a past abortion? Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats are offered by Catholic Charities for men and women in the western, central and eastern regions of the Diocese of Charlotte. For details about upcoming retreats, contact Jackie Childers at 980-241-0251 or Jackie.childers1@gmail.com, or Jessica Grabowski at 910-585-2460 or jrgrabowski@ charlottediocese.org.

YOUNG ADULTS ASHEVILLE THEOLOGY ON TAP: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville region. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp. St. Lawrence Basilica: www.saintlawrencebasilica.org/young-adultministry.

CHARLOTTE AREA: Groups for Catholics in their 20s and 30s, single or married, are active on MeetUp at www. meetup.com/charlottecatholicyoungadultministry.

OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH: on Facebook at “Our Lady of Consolation Young Adult Ministry” ST. GABRIEL CHURCH: https://stgabrielchurch.org ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH: call Meg VanGoethem, 815-545-2587 or visit www.4sjnc.org/faith-formation/ adult-ministry/young-adult-ministry St. Luke Church: www.stlukechurch.net/young-adult-ministry ST. MARK CHURCH: on Facebook at “The Young Adult Ministry of St. Mark” ST. MATTHEW CHURCH: on Facebook at “Young Adult Life: A St. Matthew Ministry” or visit www. stmatthewcatholic.org/youngadultministries ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL: on Facebook at “The Cathedral of St. Patrick - Young Adult Ministry” 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

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.

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Administrator appointed to St. Matthew Church while pastor remains on leave

Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe FOREST CITY — A celebration in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe was held at Immaculate Conception Church Dec. 12. The program began with traditional music and songs, then continued with a re-enactment of the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, followed by recitation of the rosary and the celebration of Holy Mass. At the conclusion of the program, Father Herbert Burke, pastor, imparted a special blessing to the children in attendance.

HAYESVILLE — Parishioners from St. William Church in Murphy and Immaculate Conception Mission in Hayesville celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with a bilingual Mass at the Hayesville church.

PHOTOS BY GIULIANA POLINARI RILEY AND PHIL ROCHE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Couple with ‘a great love for the Church’ leaves bequest to Immaculate Conception Parish SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HENDERSONVILLE — Frank and Mildred “Mickie” Zamborsky loved the Catholic Church and their particular parish community.

They memorialized this love by leaving a bequest in their estate to benefit their parish, Immaculate Conception Church. A portion of the bequest has been used to establish the Frank and Mildred Zamborsky Endowment Fund through the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation.

Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz, their former pastor, remembers the couple for their simplicity.

“They had a simple faith,” Father Schratz said. “They were unassuming people. Their simplicity was part of the beauty of who they were. They had a great love for the Church.”

Frank passed away at the age of 91 in March of 2017. Mickie passed away at the age of 86 in February of 2018, almost a year later. They had lived in Hendersonville the last 30 years of their lives.

Frank’s niece, Sister of Charity Dorothy Blatnica, shares her recollection of her uncle and aunt.

“Frank was born into a faith-filled Catholic family and continued to be an active Catholic all of his life,” Sister Dorothy said. “He and Mickie were faithful members of their various parishes, as his (accountant) job with General Motors demanded transfers to various cities. He had a devotion to St. Francis of Assisi, his patron saint.

Mickie was extremely devoted to St. Therese of Lisieux and included brief intercessory prayers to these saints at each grace before meals.”

Sister Dorothy noted that the couple was actively involved in volunteer work for many years in the Meals on Wheels program in Hendersonville, and Mickie was a volunteer for a number of years at Opportunity House and Elizabeth Hospice House in Hendersonville.

“They understood and appreciated their Catholic faith, which was firmly rooted in their parish church,” she explained. “They were of the generation that was strongly committed to God and country.

Frank had served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and God and country were the pillars of his identity – as it was for many of his peers.

“He and Aunt Mickie were never boastful of their charitable deeds, whether in the form of service or donations. It’s who they were,” she added.

Mickie Zamborsky’s niece, Joan Creamer, agrees. “They were very private people…never boastful and silent with humility in their giving.

“Both Sister Dorothy and I are proud of our aunt and uncle, and we would like them to be remembered for their very generous gift to the Church. They didn’t have children to carry on the name, perhaps their generosity will,” she said.

“We are so appreciative of those who give through their estate plan to continue the good works of the Church,” said Gina Rhodes, diocesan director of planned giving. “The Zamborskys’ legacy will live forever through their named endowment.

More and more people across the diocese are following their example by establishing an endowment in their estate plans,” Rhodes noted.

Learn more

For details about setting up an endowment, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-3703364 or email gmrhodes@ charlottediocese.org.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY JOAN CREAMER

Mickie and Frank Zamborsky are pictured on their 50th wedding anniversary at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Parma, Ohio, where they were married.

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announced today Father John Allen has been assigned parochial administrator of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte effective Dec. 13, while its pastor Father Patrick Hoare remains on administrative leave.

A priest of the Diocese of Charlotte, Father Allen is returning to North Carolina after serving in various leadership positions at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

“I am deeply grateful to God for the inestimable privilege of serving the Pontifical College Josephinum and its seminarians for the past 11 years,” Father Allen said in a statement from the Josephinum.

In his 11 years of service at the Josephinum – from 2005 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2019 – Fr. Allen has served as Dean of Men in both the College of Liberal Arts and School of Theology, taught courses in Church History in the School of Theology, served as Director of Pastoral and Apostolic Formation for the seminary and, since January 2013, as Vice President for Advancement and Director of Alumni Relations.

Father Steven Beseau, president/ rector, said, “The Josephinum is grateful to Bishop Jugis for having made possible Father Allen’s 11 years of service to this pontifical seminary.”

Father Allen’s return to North Carolina will be a permanent one, as he is needed to assist here in the growing Charlotte diocese, Bishop Jugis told Father Beseau.

Ordained in 1990, Father Allen has served in a variety of ministries during his priestly ministry. In addition to parish ministry in Greensboro and Gastonia, he was the diocese’s vocations director and chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School before moving to the Josephinum.

Father Hoare remains on leave pending an investigation into an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor about 25 years ago in Pennsylvania, before he entered ministry. Father Hoare has denied the allegation. Placement on leave is standard practice under the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, as investigations by civil authorities and the diocese are conducted.

In a Dec. 9 statement to St. Matthew parishioners, Bishop Jugis said, “Please join us in praying for God’s blessing upon the parish of St. Matthew at this time.”

— Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 OUR PARISHES

Celebrations of the season More than 600 people of all ages attended St. Gabriel Church’s Family Advent Mission in Charlotte Nov. 30-Dec. 1. Father Richard Sutter, pastor, encouraged them to rely on the gifts of the Holy Spirit for opening their hearts to receive Christ and share His joy with others. The mission included praise and worship music and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – a powerful and emotional worship experience, new to many who attended. The parish looks forward to sharing the joy of Christ through Adoration and live praise and worship music throughout the year.

St. Ann Parish in Charlotte celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 8 during its 12:30 p.m. Mass in the Extraordinary Form.

The Extraordinary Form (Latin) calendar contains a special privilege to allow the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to be celebrated Dec. 8 even when it falls on a Sunday during Advent.

The celebrant for the Mass was St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid, with several seminarians in choir.

PHOTO BY MIKE FITZGERALD

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. GABRIEL CHURCH

PHOTO BY MARCUS KUNCORO

A Rorate Caeli Mass was celebrated at St John the Baptist Church in Tryon, Dec. 7. This special Advent Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary was carried out entirely by candlelight, before dawn. As the sun rose, the church became brighter. The change from darkness to light symbolizes the coming of Jesus, Light of the World. Mass was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form by the Father Jason Christian, pastor, with Father Jason Barone and Deacon Peter Tonon assisting.

The choir was directed by Diane Nelson, Sacred Music administrator.

PHOTO BY MARCUS KUNCORO

St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte hosted its annual Rorate Mass Dec. 7. The Rorate Mass is a special Marian Votive Mass in the Extraordinary Form (Latin) which symbolizes both the purity of the Blessed Mother and the coming of the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, with the Incarnation at Christmas. The Mass was offered by Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary.

He was assisted by Father Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, and the college’s seminary spiritual director, Father Matthew Buettner.

Nineteen catechumen and 14 candidates made their Rite of Acceptance Dec. 15 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Father John Putnam, pastor, presided. They were given a cross as a reminder of the love that Christ has for them and to take this love forward as they continue their journey of preparation toward reception into the Church at Easter.

PHOTO BY AMY BURGER

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GIULIANA RILEY

The Ladies Guild of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City sponsored an Advent Day of Reflection Nov. 23. During the event, Benedictine Sister Gertrude of Mary, Queen of Peace Monastery, gave a presentation on “The Interior Castle” by St. Teresa of Avila.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

A statue of the Blessed Mother is illuminated for the Rorate Mass held Dec. 14 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. The Advent Mass in honor of the Blessed Mother in the Extraordinary Form began at 6:30 a.m. and culminated just after sunrise.

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

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In Brief

OUR PARISHESI

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in Charlotte throughout this month.

The event concluded with Catholic Health Professionals chaplain, Father Cory Catron, offering a blessing and announcing their next event on Feb. 7.

Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte is open to all Catholic physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, PAs, dentists, med students and other health professionals in Charlotte and throughout western North Carolina. The mission is to provide Catholic health professionals with an opportunity to network both socially and professionally, as well as to grow in their Catholic faith. For more information, contact catholichealthprofessionals@gmail.com.

Catholic health professionals group meets CHARLOTTE — More than 40 Catholic healthcare workers and their families gathered at St. Patrick Cathedral Dec. 6 for a special Advent service project to prepare Christmas gift bags for needy men and women. The event was sponsored by the new Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte, which formed in August.

The 250 bags, including an assortment of items such as shampoo, socks and treats, were prepared for the Missionaries of Charity, who will deliver them to needy men and women

Knights give out coats JEFFERSON — Knights of Columbus Council 16839 members Rick LaBonte, Charles Flederback, Bob Breton and Grand Knight Luis De La Cerda recently met with the NEST Alliance group to give winter coats to the kids in the local community. The kids were thrilled when they saw the coats.

— Patrick Hession, correspondent

PHOTO BY E.L. HUBBARD VIA THE ATHENAEUM FACEBOOK PAGE

Next step in their priestly formation CINCINNATI, Ohio — Charlotte seminarians Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli recently received candidacy to holy orders at The Athenaeum of Ohio, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019

César Hurtado

El regalo perfecto

U

na de las satisfacciones que proporciona trabajar en el Catholic News Herald es el poder conversar con mucha gente inspiradora, protagonista de la historia que se escribe en nuestra diócesis.

Hace poco, una reflexión del Padre Hugo Medellín, vicario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, me hizo pensar sobre la oportunidad de entregar un regalo en el momento correcto. ¿Y cuál es el momento apropiado? Como lo señaló el Padre Medellín, cuando, a través del obsequio, se cubre una necesidad o real deseo de la persona que lo recibe.

En otra ocasión, dialogué con el Diácono Sigfrido Della Valle, quien a su regreso del Camino de Santiago me contó sobre su experiencia de descubrir lo poco que realmente necesitamos para ser felices.

El diácono recorrió cientos de millas llevando sólo una ligera mochila. No decenas de camisas ni muchos pantalones, no múltiples juegos de ropa interior ni pares de zapatos. Ese peso adicional le hubiera impedido concluir su peregrinación y llegar a su destino.

Y, a propósito de los regalos, recuerdo que de muchacho, para entrar a las fiestas de quinceañeras, era indispensable ir bien trajeado y con un regalo en la mano.

Mis amigos y yo, solíamos comprar un jabón carbólico que, dentro de una cajita y envuelto para regalo, lucía muy bien. Y si lo movías, sonaba. Buen indicio.

El jabón carbólico era una pastilla de jabón, la más barata, con un olor muy peculiar y que solía llamarse ‘jabón de perro’. Me puedo imaginar la desilusión de la quinceañera al abrir este regalo.

En el otro extremo, también he efectuado algunos regalos costosos. Creo que, como lo hizo notar el P. Hugo, a veces más para satisfacer una necesidad mía que la de la persona que lo recibía.

En todos los casos, siempre me he encontrado en apuros. ¿Qué le puedo comprar a mi esposa, a mis hijas, a mis padres? Y de su parte, ¿qué me pueden obsequiar? ¿Ropa?, ¿una bicicleta?, ¿un perfume?, ¿un juguete? ¿Algo inútil que no usaremos y resultará en más peso para la mochila que llevamos a cuestas?

Ciertamente, el verdadero regalo son ellos, ellas. Su presencia, su amor, su compañía. El mejor regalo ya lo recibí de mis padres y lo entregué siendo padre. ¿Qué mayor obsequio podemos recibir y entregar que la vida misma? No necesita envolturas ni adornos. Solo tiene un ingrediente infaltable para que sea insuperable: el amor.

Y, hablando de la vida espiritual, el regalo perfecto también ya se nos ha dado. Pero sucede, a veces, que no lo queremos aceptar. Lo miramos de lejos y nos parece poco.

Lo comparamos con cosas materiales y dejamos de lado.

Pensamos que no lo necesitamos, que quita mucho tiempo y no es para nosotros.

Confidencialmente puedo decirles que el regalo perfecto llegó a mí en un encuentro Emaús. Desde ese momento, aunque pase por altas y bajas, con dudas o sin ellas, no se desprende de mí. Ahí está, latente, dentro, esperando y entregando amor.

En esta Navidad tú también puedes recibir el regalo perfecto. Pregunta por él, búscalo. “Porque todo el que pide, recibe; y el que busca, halla; y al que llama, se le abrirá”, (Mateo 7:8).

CÉSAR HURTADO es especialista de comunicaciones hispanas en Catholic News Herald.

FOTOS CORTESÍA ASNC

Mariela Maldonado, persona de enlace de asuntos hispanos de la Sociedad de Autismo de Carolina del Norte (ASNC), dijo que la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe acoge a un grupo de padres que se capacitan sobre el autismo, comparten experiencias y participan en eventos. “La generosidad de la parroquia es increíble” señaló, ya que incluso sufraga los gastos de inscripción de algunos participantes a la conferencia anual de esa organización.

Ayudan a padres de niños con autismo CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Con el objetivo de ofrecer recursos en español para ayudar a las familias hispanas afectadas por el trastorno del espectro autista (TEA o ASD, por sus siglas en inglés), la Sociedad de Autismo de Carolina del Norte (ASNC) ofreció un taller para educar a padres y profesionales sobre este trastorno en la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

“El autismo afecta la capacidad de las personas de comprender lo que ven, escuchan o perciben a través de sus sentidos”, explicó Mariela Maldonado, persona de enlace de asuntos hispanos de la organización sin fines de lucro.

Generalmente, quien sufren de autismo y del Síndrome de Asperger tienen dificultades, más o menos severas, para comprender la comunicación y en el aprendizaje de cómo relacionarse con otras personas, objetos y situaciones.

MAL COMÚN

Según informa la Sociedad de Autismo, este mal es el segundo trastorno de desarrollo más común después de la discapacidad intelectual.

Los Centros para la Prevención y Control de Enfermedades en Estados Unidos (CDC), asegura que 1 de cada 59 escolares de ocho años de edad podría ser diagnosticado con autismo en Carolina del Norte.

Otro hallazgo de un estudio publicado por la CDC afirma que cada vez más el porcentaje de TEA entre los niños afroamericanos e hispanos se está aproximando al de los niños de raza blanca.

AYUDA

Durante la exposición, Nancy Nestor, especialista de recursos en autismo, explicó la naturaleza del autismo, los criterios de diagnóstico, niveles del desorden, las habilidades requeridas por las personas afectadas para poder llevar sus vidas, estrategias de comunicación y

recursos comunitarios disponibles para las familias.

Maldonado precisó que la ASNC fue fundada en 1970 por padres que buscaban mejorar la vida de sus hijos afectados por el TEA. “Nuestros servicios y programas se adaptan a las necesidades únicas de las personas con autismo.

Les ayudamos a tener vidas saludables, seguras y satisfactorias; apoyamos a las familias a conectarse con los recursos, mantener a sus hijos seguros, resolver problemas escolares y planificación para las necesidades futuras de sus niños; además de educar a la comunidad para que sea sensible, comprenda y aplique el diagnóstico en una edad temprana”, dijo Maldonado.

GRUPO DE APOYO

Desde más de ocho años, la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe acoge a un grupo de padres que, con el apoyo de la ASNC, se capacitan, comparten experiencias y participan en eventos. “La generosidad de la parroquia es increíble, incluso corren con los gastos de inscripción de algunos participantes a la conferencia que se realiza cada año para que familias, profesionales y defensores del autismo aprendan nuevas estrategias”, indicó Maldonado.

El grupo se reúne el segundo jueves de cada mes, de 9 a 11 de la mañana en la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, 6212 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte. En Greensboro, otro grupo se reúne cada tres meses en la parroquia Santa María.

“Ahora, en febrero de 2020, ofreceremos una charla tanto en inglés como en español en Saint James the Greater Catholic Church en Concord”, informó Maldonado.

Para participar en los Grupos de Apoyo y/o entrenamientos, los padres y voluntarios deben informarse sobre los servicios y programas disponibles en su región.

Llame a Mariela Maldonado, Enlace de Asuntos Hispanos de Autism Society of NC, (919)302-4625 o escriba a mmaldonado@autismsociety-nc.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Los Santos Inocentes

Representaron Las Posadas En emotivo programa navideño de la parroquia San Gabriel CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Ante una gran audiencia, la Iglesia San Gabriel volvió a representar ‘Las Posadas’ una obra en la que, con cantos, oraciones y cuadros vivos, se revivieron los momentos más importantes de la llegada de Nuestro Salvador Jesucristo al mundo.

La puesta en escena, creada por Ana Lothspeich en 2004, volvió a redituarse en 2018, después de su suspensión en 2009.

La versión de este año, a diferencia del anterior, incorporó bailes y nuevas canciones que sorprendieron gratamente a los asistentes.3 El Padre Richard Sutter, párroco de San Gabriel, dijo al dar un mensaje de bienvenida que una palabra llegó a su corazón cuando iniciaron cantando con el coro, “y Jesús es esta palabra, que es alegría”.

En sus palabras, en idioma inglés y español, señaló que su esperanza era “que todos, en esta noche, sean alcanzados por la alegría que nos da Jesucristo”, antes de invitar a la concurrencia a orar “la oración de Jesús”, el Padre Nuestro.

James Dereck, presentador de noticias en una cadena local, y Angélica Hurtado, feligresa de San Gabriel, fueron los encargados de conducir el programa.

Según explicaron los conductores, “las Posadas tienen su origen en la historia

bíblica del viaje de San José y la Virgen María desde Nazaret a Belén de Judea, en búsqueda de posada”.

Utilizando una iluminación espectacular, cerca de 40 artistas, 160 voces y 20 músicos, el programa guió a los presentes desde la anunciación del Arcángel Gabriel a la Virgen María hasta la Natividad del Niño Jesús y su Adoración por Los Reyes Magos.

Cada una de las catorce escenas fueron acompañadas de una explicación del suceso, una pieza musical y oraciones que los concurrentes respondieron en voz alta.

El montaje requirió la movilización de decenas de voluntarios, asistentes de producción, coordinadores tras bambalinas, así como personal de iluminación y video.

Lothspeich dijo no saber cómo agradecer por toda la ayuda que le brindaron los voluntarios, participantes, músicos, elenco, cantantes y artistas que colaboraron con el programa navideño.

“Las Posadas es un programa muy especial para muchas familias de nuestra parroquia. Por muchos años hemos estado envueltos en compartir nuestra tradicional novena navideña con todos los miembros de nuestra parroquia”, señaló.

La belleza de la jornada, resaltó, fue que “celebramos, en un ambiente de oración, con música de África, Latinoamérica y Estados Unidos”.

Aunque la representación incluye la búsqueda de posada por José y María para dar a luz al Niño Jesús, no intenta replicar la celebración tradicional de origen mexicano que conocemos. Así, con esta adaptación, aparentemente es posible llegar al público americano y mostrar la riqueza de la cultura latina.

La directora adelantó que esperan reeditar Las Posadas para el año 2020. “Esos son los planes. Sabemos que ya es una tradición para muchos de los que nos han acompañado antes”.

El 28 de diciembre se conmemora a los Niños Inocentes que el cruel rey Herodes mandó matar.

El genocidio, es recordado por la Iglesia en unión con la Navidad, porque los niños no murieron por Cristo, sino en lugar de Cristo.

Según señala el Evangelio de San Mateo, Herodes llamó a los Sumos Sacerdotes para preguntarles en qué sitio exacto iba a nacer el rey de Israel, al que habían anunciado los profetas.

Ellos le contestaron: “Tiene que ser en Belén, porque así lo anunció el profeta Miqueas diciendo: “Y tú, Belén, no eres la menor entre las ciudades de Judá, porque de ti saldrá el jefe que será el pastor de mi pueblo de Israel” (Miq. 5, 1).

Entonces Herodes se propuso averiguar exactamente dónde estaba el niño, para después mandar a sus soldados a que lo mataran. Y fingiendo dijo a los Reyes Magos: - “Vayan y averiguen acerca de ese niño, cuando lo encuentren regresan y me lo informan, para ir yo también a adorarlo”. Los magos se fueron a Belén guiados por la estrella que se les apareció otra vez, al salir de Jerusalén, y llenos de alegría encontraron al Divino Niño Jesús junto a la Virgen María y San José; lo adoraron y le ofrecieron sus regalos de oro, incienso y mirra. En sueños recibieron el aviso divino de que no volvieran a Jerusalén y regresaron a sus países por otros caminos, y el pérfido Herodes se quedó sin saber dónde estaba el recién nacido. Esto lo enfureció hasta el extremo, por lo que rodeó con su ejército la pequeña ciudad de Belén, y dio la orden de matar a todos los niñitos menores de dos años, en la ciudad y alrededores.

El mismo evangelista San Mateo afirmará que en ese día se cumplió lo que había avisado el profeta Jeremías: “Un griterío se oye en Ramá (cerca de Belén), es Raquel (la esposa de Israel) que llora a sus hijos, y no se quiere consolar, porque ya no existen” (Jer. 31, 15).

Herodes, rey de Palestina, títere del imperio romano, fue grande porque supo ganar guerras y conquistar tierras para su reino, pero tristemente también fue conocido por sus crímenes.

Se casó con Mariamme, hija del sumo sacerdote Hircano II. Temeroso de que aspiraran a su reino, mandó matar a su yerno, José; a Salomé; al sumo sacerdote Hircano II; a su esposa Mariamme; a los hermanos de ella, Aristóbulo y Alejandra; a sus propios hijos, Aristóbulo, Alejandro y Antípatro.

Cuando se sintió enfermo, mandó encerrar a todos los personajes importantes de Jericó con la orden de que tan pronto como muriese los mataran a flechazos.

Muerto Herodes, no se cumplió esta orden. Con estos datos, podemos comprender que para él fue fácil mandar

matar a los Santos Inocentes. ¿Cuántos fueron? Hoy se sabe que Belén no debió tener más de mil habitantes y que a ese número, probablemente, correspondería una población de 20 niños varones.

Ain Karen es un pueblo cercano a Jerusalén. Según la tradición, es el lugar de “La Visitación” y del nacimiento de Juan el Bautista. Éste era mayor que Jesús tan solo seis meses y existe la leyenda de que también iba a ser víctima de Herodes. Perseguida su madre, Isabel, por los soldados asesinos, buscó una roca en el monte detrás de la cual ocultó al pequeño Juan antes de que los soldados la alcanzaran.

Cuando los soldados le dieron alcance, la registraron y buscaron incluso detrás de la roca, pero no vieron nada. Cuando se fueron, Isabel corrió a buscar a su niño y descubrió que la roca se había ahuecado para dar lugar en su interior al pequeño perseguido y así se salvó Juan el Bautista. En la Basílica de la Visitación, sobre el monte, se guarda una extraña roca ahuecada que recuerda esta anécdota.

Santa Elena, madre del emperador Constantino, que dio paz a los cristianos en el siglo IV, construyó una Basílica sobre la cueva de Belén en la que nació el Niño Jesús. Esa Basílica, reconstruida, todavía existe y guarda en su cripta la preciosa cueva en donde una estrella de plata señala el lugar del santo nacimiento. “Aquí nació Jesucristo de María la Virgen”, dice la inscripción en Latín.

La cueva de Belén es un sistema de cavernas que se prolongan debajo de la antigua basílica y del templo católico de Santa Catalina. En una de estas cavernas fueron encontrados restos de niños enterrados. El primer pensamiento fue que eran los restos de los Santos Inocentes, pero los féretros correspondían a una época muy posterior. De todos modos, esa caverna se dedicó a la memoria de los Santos Inocentes.

En la actualidad todavía existen santos inocentes y cada celebración litúrgica debe recordarnos no sólo a aquellos niños asesinados en lugar de Cristo, sino a todos aquellos inocentes perseguidos y asesinados en la actualidad.

Los humanos somos capaces de monstruosidades que nos avergüenzan.

Seguimos asesinándonos por motivos religiosos, políticos, económicos y cada vez que denunciamos uno de estos crímenes clamamos indignados “¡Nunca más!”, para luego repetir la historia. No permanezcamos indiferentes ante estos genocidios, despertemos en nosotros la solidaridad y unamos nuestras voces y nuestras acciones a las de estos inocentes que siguen muriendo en lugar de Cristo.

— Condensado de ACIPRENSA

Lecturas Diarias DICIEMBRE 22-28

Domingo: Isaías 7:10-14, Romanos 1:1-7, Mateo 1:18-24; Lunes (San Juan Cancio): Malaquías 3:1-4, 23-24, Lucas 1:57-66; Martes: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14, 16, Lucas 1:67-79; Miércoles (La Natividad del Señor): Isaías 62:11-12, Tito 3:4-7, Lucas 2:15-20; Jueves (San Esteban): Hechos 6:8-10, 7:54-59, Mateo 10:17-22; Viernes (San Juan): 1 Juan 1:1-4, Juan 20:1-8; Sábado (Los Santos Inocentes): 1 Juan 1:5-2:2, Mateo 2:13-18

DICIEMBRE 9-ENERO 4

Domingo (La Sagrada Familia): Sirácides 3:2-6, 12-14, Colosenses 3:12-21, Mateo 2:13-15, 19-23; Lunes: 1 Juan 2:12-17, Lucas 2:36-40; Martes (San Silvestre I): 1 Juan 2:18-21, Juan 1:1-18; Miércoles (María Madre de Dios): Números 6:2227, Gálatas 4:4-7, Lucas 2:16-21; Jueves (Santos Basilio el Grande y Gregorio Nacianceno): 1 Juan 2:22-28, Juan 1:19-28; Viernes (Santísimo Nombre de Jesús): 1 Juan 2:29-3:6, Juan 1:29-34; Sábado (Santa Isabel Ana Bayley Seton): 1 Juan 3:7-10, Juan 1:35-42

ENERO 5-11 Domingo (La Epifanía del Señor): Isaías 60:1-6, Efesios 3:2-3, 5-6, Mateo 2:1-12; Lunes (San André Bessette): 1 Juan 3:22-4:6, Mateo 4:12-17, 23-25; Martes (San Raimundo de Peñafort): 1 Juan 4:7-10, Marcos 6:34-44; Miércoles: 1 Juan 4:11-18, Marcos 6:45-52; Jueves: 1 Juan 4:19-5:4, Lucas 4:14-22; Viernes: 1 Juan 5:5-13, Lucas 5:12-16; Sábado: 1 Juan 5:14-21, Juan 3:22-30

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iiiDecember 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Luke 2:14

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THE CATHOLIC SHOPPE At Belmont Abbey College “That in all things God be Glorified”

GREENSBORO — ­ Con fe, esperanza y júbilo, miles de fieles en decenas de parroquias de la Diócesis de Charlotte recordaron el pasado 11 y 12 de diciembre, las milagrosas apariciones de la Virgen de Guadalupe a San Juan Diego ocurridas en 1531.

En celebraciones sencillas consistentes en Misas y cenas, hasta en aquellas organizadas en coliseos y centros de convenciones, los fieles expresaron su amor y confianza en la Virgen Morena, Reina y Patrona de México y Emperatriz evangelizadora de toda América.

GRAN FIESTA

En Greensboro, cientos de personas repletaron las instalaciones del Salón Barcelona del Centro de Convenciones Meridian, en la zona sur de la ciudad.

Las puertas abrieron a las 6 de la tarde y el programa dio inicio a las siete de la noche, con una Misa celebrada por el

Padre Paul Buchanan, párroco de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia en Greensboro.

Durante su homilía, el Padre Buchanan recordó las palabras de la Virgen a San Juan Diego en 1531. “¿Podría Dios habernos dado un signo más grande en este continente que la aparición de la Virgen en el Tepeyac?”, se preguntó.

“Cristo, el Señor, ha enviado a su madre como su embajadora a muchos lugares en el mundo, pero Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe es la mensajera que Cristo envió a las Américas, a nosotros, ¿qué quería que ella nos dijera?”, volvió a cuestionarse.

Debido a que la Virgen en la imagen de la tilma aparece evidentemente embarazada, señaló que “Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe es la madre de la esperanza, de las expectativas, de los no nacidos. Este es el mensaje más importante que Cristo nos envía a través de la Virgen de Guadalupe.

Ella es mi madre. Ella es la madre de cada uno de ustedes. Esto es algo que nunca debemos olvidar”.

Al término de la Misa se presentó un grupo de danza folklórica de la parroquia Santo Niño de Reidsville, seguido de la representación de las apariciones, realizada por un grupo de jóvenes de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Gracia. “¡Tantos problemas que tenemos¡ ¡tantos malos momentos! Perseguidos sin hacer

nada malo. ¿Acaso es malo tratar de buscar un futuro mejor para nuestros hijos?

Pero esta noche nos olvidamos de todo eso porque la Virgen nos ha recordado su promesa. Nos ha dicho que es nuestra madre, que nada nos aflija porque estamos bajo su sombra y que ella, ella misma es la fuente de nuestra alegría”, dijo emocionada la señora María Suárez*, quien se encontraba en compañía de su familia.

Tres agrupaciones de danza alegraron la noche con bailes tradicionales de diversas regiones de México, el Ballet Folklórico Guadalupano de Asheboro, el Ballet Folklórico Corazón de México, y la agrupación de danza Mexican Tradition.

Apenas pasadas las once de la noche, el Diácono Enedino Aquino, organizador de la celebración y coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Greensboro, anunció la presencia del P. Fidel Melo, director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, quien celebró una segunda Misa.

El Padre Melo recibió el saludo y homenaje de los fieles, con ocasión de su próxima partida a un año sabático que lo alejará de sus funciones.

En su homilía, el Padre Melo destacó que diez años más tarde de la caída del imperio azteca, ocurrida en 1521, se aparece la Virgen de Guadalupe. “Ese tiempo (los diez años) fue como el ‘Adviento’ de América, el

HE COVER

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

ensaje de esperanza

FOTOGRAFÍAS:

EPROVISUAL, Juan Antonio García, César Hurtado.

tiempo de espera, de espera del Evangelio. ¿Y quién es el Evangelio? Jesucristo, que nació de María Santísima”.

“Cristo no quiso llegar a América solo por la prédica de los misioneros, vino por el pié de María Santísima. Cuando América estaba en ese momento doloroso de transformación, de encuentro, de inicio de un proceso de inclusión que dió como resultado a nuestra América de hoy”, anotó.

Al finalizar la Misa, al borde de la medianoche, se presentó la Auténtica Banda Santa Cruz que ofreció una extensa serenata a la Guadalupana.

MAÑANITAS EN BOONVILLE

La parroquia Divino Redentor en Boonville celebró una Misa de Mañanitas a las seis de la mañana del día 12 de diciembre.

El Padre Enrique González, párroco de Divino Redentor, fue el oficiante. En su homilía, el sacerdote hizo una pregunta, al igual que Isabel que recibió la visita de la Virgen cuando estaba embarazada, “¿quiénes somos nosotros para que la Madre del verdadero Dios nos visite?”.

Respondió que no es por nuestros méritos, sino por el inmenso amor de Dios que permitió que su madre viva con nosotros, haciendo realidad sus palabras en la cruz cuando le dice a María “he allí a tu hijo”. “Y dice el evangelio que desde ese

momento el discípulo la llevó a vivir a su casa. Pero, más que el discípulo que se lleva a María a vivir a su casa, es el discípulo que viene a vivir a la casa de María”, destacó.

Al culminar la Misa se ofreció atole, tamales y pan dulce a los asistentes.

Las actividades en Divino Redentor iniciaron la noche del miércoles 11 con la maratón de relevos de la Antorcha Guadalupana, que tradicionalmente parte de Mount Airy, recorre 27 millas para llegar con la luz a la iglesia, alrededor de la medianoche.

El extenso programa concluyó el jueves 12 con Misa, festival mariano y danzas.

El mensaje de la Virgen “Oye y ten entendido hijo mío, el más pequeño, que es nada lo que te asusta y aflige; no se turbe tu corazón; no temas esa enfermedad, ni otra alguna enfermedad y angustia. ¿No estoy yo aquí?, ¿No soy tu Madre?, ¿No estás bajo mi sombra?, ¿No soy yo tu salud?, ¿No estás por ventura en mi regazo?, ¿Qué más has menester? No te apene ni te inquiete otra cosa”.

Más online En www.facebook.com/CNHEspañol: Vea varios videos sobre la celebración de la fiesta Guadalupana.

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Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PAOLA SCILINGUO-MENDOZA

Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe GREENSBORO — On Dec.12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, students and teachers at Our Lady of Grace School gathered together in the school gym for a reenactment of Our Lady’s appearance to St. Juan Diego nearly 500 years ago. Middle school students participated in the reenactment for the second year in a row.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina

The Catholic Church in Western North Carolina, a rapidly growing region, is seeking a dynamic, transformational leader who is a committed and practicing Catholic with the necessary spiritual and intellectual formation as well as academic credentials and experience to lead our 19 Diocesan schools. A Master’s degree in education or a related field is required.

The candidate must be well versed in the educational documents of the Church and committed to embracing and implementing the Catholic philosophy of education expressed in them; will be strongly committed to and passionate about Catholic Schools and their mission; will be a mission-driven, visionary, energetic, innovative, confident and collaborative leader who inspires cooperation and growth.

The Superintendent reports to the Vicar for Education and leads the Catholic Schools Office. The position also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the regional school system comprised of the nine schools in the greater Charlotte area.

The Catholic Schools Office serves, supports, and challenges the Catholic community in the Diocese toward continual and planned growth in Catholic identity, academic excellence, community support and service, and financial viability.

For more information and consideration, please send resume and a cover letter with salary requirements to: Ms. Kay Jordan, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 or to kayj@charlottediocese.org ; Phone: 704-370-3244.

Applications accepted through January 31, 2020.

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In Brief Sacred Heart wins award SALISBURY — Sacred Heart School and teacher Erin Brinkley were recently awarded a $1,200 Bright Eyes Education Grant to develop an aeroponics program at the school.

Aeroponics is cutting-edge technology in which plants are grown and nourished as their root structures are suspended in air. Through this grant, students will be able to study the environmental benefits, engineering logistics and the complexity of feeding communities where rich soil and water are limited resources. The school hopes to develop a sustaining program that will provide fresh produce in its food pantry every week, helping to supplement the canned goods that are already available. Sacred Heart School leaders hope this grant will help students better understand the complexity of feeding the world, especially in countries where optimal soil and water are not available.

— Robin Fisher

Students become religion teachers GREENSBORO — Middle school religion classes at St. Pius X School have been busy.

Not only have students been learning so many critical points about their Christian and Catholic faith, but they have also been learning to become teachers of their faith. On Fridays, religion teacher Bill Parker encourages students to step away from their textbooks and note taking to put stewardship in action. He likes to call these classes “Friday Retreats.” During these retreats, middle school students get to prepare a project to share with younger classes about what they are learning. For example, eighth-grade students presented a lesson on St. Francis Oct. 4 to preschool students. Eighthgraders used their previous Friday Retreat days to create games, songs and crafts that would help younger students learn all about this beloved saint on his feast day. The encounter was a huge success. Middle schoolers learned the value and reward of being able to share their faith in a meaningful way. Parker hopes to involve more of his classes in these realworld stewardship opportunities as the year progresses.

— April Parker

Mix

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

‘Compendium of the Miraculous: An Encyclopedia of Revelation, Marian Apparitions, and Mystical Phenomena’

by Deacon Albert E. Graham This compendium is the encyclopedia of mystical phenomena –a true treasure that every Catholic man, woman and child will turn to again and again.

Lovingly and painstakingly compiled over more than a dozen years, this beautiful, fascinating, and informative “Compendium of the Miraculous” by Deacon Albert E. Graham is packed with comprehensive information and revelatory details, including examples of authentic, questionable, erroneous, false and fraudulent revelation (with significant attention paid to Marian apparitions).

It is also overflowing with explanations and examples in the lives of saints of more than 40 types of extraordinary mystical phenomena. These include supernatural dreams and visions, bilocation, invisibility, incorruptibility, the gift

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

of tongues, prophecy, levitation, supernatural empery over nature, and many more.

This is a book unlike any other: an invaluable reference guide, an uplifting devotional, and a fount of theological knowledge all in one. It is a truly monumental accomplishment.

The book also features a foreword by “the Miracle Hunter” Michael O’Neill, one of the world’s foremost experts on the miraculous.

At www.tanbooks.com: Order your copy of “Compendium of the Miraculous.” Catholic News Herald readers enjoy 20 percent off their order – use the exclusive coupon code “CNH20.”

counterbalance this somewhat with an extended sequence of flashbacks showing Jesuit Father Bergoglio’s quasi-collaborationist approach to the brutal military regime that came to power in Argentina following a 1976 coup d’etat, a subject about which they seem to imagine that they have acquired a clarity and certainty that has evaded many others. But when it comes to the two pontificates, their bias is more than apparent. Fine performances by the leads and high production values do not compensate adequately for a fast and loose version of recent church history. Themes requiring mature discernment, scenes of violence, one mild profanity and a single crass term.

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

‘A Hidden Life’

‘The Two Popes’ (Netflix) Highly speculative account of a visit to the Vatican by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce), the future Pope Francis, shortly before the resignation of his predecessor, Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins). Screenwriter Anthony McCarten and director Fernando Meirelles ill-advisedly try to extol Francis by trashing Benedict, presenting the latter as doddering and detached from the realities of modern life. They

A fact-based drama recounting the events leading up to the 1943 martyrdom of Austrian farmer Franz Jagerstatter (August Diehl).

Motivated by his deep Catholic faith, Jagerstatter, who was beatified in 2007, refused to swear the oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler that was demanded of all those drafted into the Wehrmacht during World War II. Writer-director Terrence Malick focuses on the happy home life his gentle protagonist sacrificed in order to be obedient to his conscience, especially his spiritual and emotional bond with his wife, Franziska, known as Fani, under whose influence he first became serious about his religion. Beautiful both to look at and to contemplate, Malick’s film requires patience since it largely consists of scenes of ordinary domestic activities and farming chores, many of them overshadowed by the dread of what,

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at first, may lie ahead and later certainly does.

Yet, by accretion, he builds a sturdy bridge of sympathy between the audience and the central duo, and his movie will be prized by believing viewers, its ambivalent portrayal of Jagerstatter’s parish priest (Tobias Moretti) and bishop (Michael Nyqvist) notwithstanding. Mature themes, scenes of physical violence, an ambiguous portrayal of Catholic clergy.

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

‘Love and Mercy: Faustina’

Polish filmmaker Michal Kondrat’s docu-drama tells the story of the birth and growth of the devotion to Divine Mercy that originated with the visions of Jesus (Bartosz Ziemniak) experienced in the 1930s by St. Faustina Kowalska (Kamila Kaminska). Seamlessly combining reenactments with interviews and narration, the film recounts how the saint’s early death at age 33 left her confessor and spiritual director (Maciej Malysa) to continue working on her behalf to fulfill the requests that Jesus had made of her, including the establishment of a feast of Divine Mercy for the universal church. An off-screen suicide.

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

Other movies: n ‘Bombshell’: CNS: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: L n ‘Black Christmas’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Jumanji: The Next Level’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

13

On TV n Saturday, Dec. 21, 10:10 a.m.

(EWTN) “Pier Giorgio Frassati- Get to Know Him.” A brief introduction to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: a young, joyful man, whose devotion and charity towards the poor caused Pope Francis to encourage young people to look up to him as an example of holiness. n Sunday, Dec. 22, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Path of the Messiah.”

Hosts Raymond Arroyo and Jeff Cavins travel through the Holy Land as they retrace the footsteps of Our Lord. Part One begins this dramatic and beautiful journey into Christ’s homeland and reflections on the Messiah’s mission and ministry.

Part 1. n Monday, Dec. 23, 4:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Saints and Heroes: Nicholas, the Boy Who Became Santa.” Nicholas was still a young boy when he discovered the love of Jesus and the gift of giving that changed the world. Based on historical facts and traditions this film is worth watching with family and friends. n Tuesday, Dec. 24, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Promise.” A touching and insightful dramatization, looking inside Gospel events relating to the Annunciation and birth of Christ. n Wednesday, Dec. 25, 6 a.m.

(EWTN) “Urbit Et Orbi: Message and Blessing Christmas.” Pope Francis delivers his Christmas blessing to the city of Rome and the world. n Wednesday, Dec. 25, 4 p.m.

(EWTN) “The First Christmas.”

A colorful, animated production, narrated by Christopher Plummer, that tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus. n Thursday, Dec. 26, 6 a.m.

(EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the world in the recitation of The Angelus, live from Rome. n Friday, Dec. 27, 4:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Chimes.” Charles Dickens’ story of a poor 19th century porter, who is magically transported to the future from the sounds of chiming bells and his hope is restored. Narrated by Derek Jacobi.

Our nation 14

catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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In Brief House bill improves existing system for farmworkers, farmers, say bishops WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, passed by the House Dec. 11 with a 260-165 bipartisan vote, aims “to make a better system for both the farmer and the farmworkers and to create a more effective and humane agriculture industry,” said the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, the domestic policy chairman, was joined in praising the House vote by Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. They issued a statement Dec. 13. The measure, H.R. 4916, now goes to the Senate for a vote, would improve conditions for immigrant farmworkers and their families, as well as ensure

the stability of the U.S. agricultural industry, the chairmen said. It amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a process for farmworkers in the country without documents to seek a temporary five-and-a-half-year “certified agricultural worker” status, or CAW, if they have worked for approximately six months in the industry in the last two years. Among other provisions, the bill permanently establishes the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program, which provides financing assistance for rural rental housing and off-farm labor housing and rental assistance for qualified tenants of such housing.

Bishop Conley of Lincoln, Neb., to take medical leave of absence LINCOLN, Neb. — The Diocese of Lincoln announced Dec. 13 that Bishop James D. Conley will take a medical leave of absence, effective immediately. Due to serious medical issues, Bishop Conley formally requested a temporary leave of absence from Pope Francis, and the request was accepted. Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop George J. Lucas of Omaha to serve as apostolic administrator during Bishop Conley’s temporary leave of absence. In a letter to the faithful of the Diocese of Lincoln, Bishop Conley announced that he has been medically diagnosed with depression

and anxiety, along with insomnia and tinnitus.

“My doctors have directed me to take a leave of absence for medical and psychological treatment, and to get some much-needed rest.

After prayer, and seeking the counsel of my spiritual director, my brother bishops, and my family, I have accepted the medical necessity of a temporary leave of absence,” Bishop Conley wrote. He said he will be at a diocesan retreat facility in the Diocese of Phoenix, “thanks to the kind invitation of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted, while I undergo the best psychological and medical treatment available to me.”

Alleged victim sues Vatican, urges better child protections NEW YORK — John Bellocchio, 37, who claims former Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick abused him when he was a teenager, announced at a Dec. 9 news conference that he is suing the Vatican and demanding “sweeping child protection changes.” He filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1958, McCarrick was named an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese in 1977. A week earlier, Bellocchio, who is represented by Minnesota attorney Jeff Anderson, filed a lawsuit in New Jersey against McCarrick, who was archbishop of Newark, N.J., from 1986 to 2000.

The suit also names the Archdiocese of Newark as a defendant. Bellocchio alleges Vatican officials were aware of McCarrick’s behavior over his more than 60 years as a cleric and yet continued to promote him as a Church leader. He took the legal action under the New York Child

Victims Act and the New Jersey Victim’s Rights Bill, both of which are new laws lifting the statute of limitations on sex abuse. McCarrick – who was removed from the clerical state in February of this year following a Vatican trial into charges of abuse levied against him – became bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J., in 1981. From 1986 to 2000, he was archbishop of Newark. He became a cardinal in February 2001 and served as archbishop of Washington from 2001 to 2006.

Daleiden, colleague charged with criminal eavesdropping SAN FRANCISCO — A California judge ruled Dec. 6 to let a criminal trial proceed against David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on nine counts of violating California’s anti-eavesdropping law. The charges stem from undercover investigative videos filmed in 2015 by Daleiden and Merritt, who are with the Center for Medical Progress, which showed Planned Parenthood officials discussing fees related to selling fetal tissue. The two posed as representatives of a mythical fetal tissue procurement firm. Judge Christopher C. Hite of San Francisco County Superior Court dropped five counts against Daleiden and Merritt, but in his order he said there was sufficient evidence to support the nine counts. The defendants must appear in court for arraignment Jan. 30. Hite’s ruling follows a preliminary hearing held in September. The case is California v. David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt.

“The remaining charges under the California video recording law – the first and only time it IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 15

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IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 14

has ever been used against undercover news gatherers – will fall for the same reasons that five charges were dismissed today: These were public conversations easily overheard by third parties,” the Center for Medical Progress said in a statement. “The real criminals are the Planned Parenthood leadership who sold fetal body parts from late-term abortions and weaponized the justice system to try to cover it up.”

Catholics urged to pray novena for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification PEORIA, Ill. — Supporters of the canonization cause for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen have been invited to take part in a novena starting Dec. 12 to “petition God unceasingly to remove all obstacles” for the beatification of the media pioneer, author and evangelist. “We are confident in the power of prayer,” Peoria Bishop Daniel R. Jenky said in a video message released Dec. 9, the 40th anniversary of Archbishop Sheen’s death. The video and prayers for the nine-day devotion are found at www.celebratesheen. com. “I know how deeply saddened we all are about the postponement of the beatification of Fulton Sheen,” said Bishop Jenky, speaking in front of Archbishop Sheen’s tomb at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria. “But in these turbulent times when our faith is being tested – which even Fulton Sheen prophesied about – we need to remain faithful to prayer like Archbishop Sheen.” A novena had been planned, starting on the Dec. 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, to prepare for and lead to Archbishop Sheen’s scheduled beatification in Peoria Dec. 21. The beatification date was postponed, however, by the Vatican, the diocese said Dec. 3. Two days later, the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y. – which

then-Bishop Sheen headed from October 1966 until his retirement in October 1969, when he received the title of archbishop – acknowledged it had raised concerns over the prelate’s role in priests’ assignments and took those concerns to the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. As a result, Vatican officials said they wanted to give a further review of related records before the beatification goes forward.

Court leaves temporary stop on federal executions in place WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has left in place a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Trump administration from carrying out the first federal executions in 16 years. In an order handed down the evening of Dec. 6, the justices unanimously denied an application by the U.S. Department of Justice to lift a federal court injunction blocking the federal government from carrying out four executions scheduled for December 2019 and January 2020. In November, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan of the District of Columbia temporarily halted the upcoming executions of four federal death-row inmates, who had challenged the constitutionality of the lethal injection protocol to be used in their executions. When U.S. Attorney General William Barr announced in July that the government was reinstating the federal death penalty after a 16-year hiatus, he said the executions would use a single drug instead of a three-drug protocol used in recent federal executions and used by several states. Several of the inmates challenged the use of the single lethal injection.

Chutkan said these lethal injections go against the Federal Death Penalty Act of 1994, which states federal executions should be carried out “in the manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence is imposed.”

— Catholic News Service

DISCOVER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE

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St. Jude Novena May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us.

St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us, St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us. Say this prayer 9 times a day. By the ninth day your prayers will be answered.

It has never been known to fail.

Publication must be promised. L.D.S.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope lifts secrecy obligation for those who report having been abused CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CNS | VATICAN MEDIA

Pilgrims hold up figurines of the Christ Child as Pope Francis leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Dec. 15.

Pope blesses Nativity scene statues, calls them signs of God’s love CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis blessed hundreds of figurines of the baby Jesus – ranging from tiny plastic figures to life-sized statues – and encouraged children to make sure they have Nativity scenes at home.

After reciting the Angelus prayer Dec. 15, the third Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis did the traditional blessing of the “bambinelli,” or statues of the infant Jesus, for children to put in mangers at home, at school and in their parishes.

“Raise the statues up,” the pope told the children. “I bless them from my heart.”

Pope Francis then quoted from his new apostolic letter on the meaning and importance of the creche: “The Nativity scene is like a living Gospel. ... As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman. We come to realize that so great is His love for us that He became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with Him.” In his main Angelus address, Pope Francis spoke about the importance of answering the Advent call to conversion in preparation for Christmas.

“We are called to recognize the face God chose to assume in Jesus Christ, humble and merciful,” he said.

“Advent is a time of grace,” the pope said. “It tells us it’s not enough to believe in God; it’s necessary to purify our

faith each day.”

The Advent journey is about preparing “to welcome not a character from a fable, but the God who calls us, gets us involved and who makes us choose,” he said. “The Baby lying in the manger has the face of our neediest brothers and sisters,” who deserve the care of the Christian community.

Nativity scenes were also on the pope’s mind Dec. 16 when he met members of Italy’s Catholic Action section for 11- to 13-year-olds for his annual exchange of Christmas greetings with them.

“I’m giving you some homework,” he told them. “On Christmas Day pause in prayer and, with the same awe of the shepherds, look upon baby Jesus who came into the world to bring the love of God, who makes all things new.

“With His birth Jesus became a bridge between God and humanity, reconciling earth and heaven, restoring the unity of the whole human race,” the pope said. “And today He asks you, too, to be little bridges where you live. You know there always is a need to build bridges, right?”

“What is better, building bridges or walls?” he asked them. “Bridges,” they shouted.

Being bridges, bringing people together, “is not always easy,” the pope told them, “but if we are united to Jesus, we can do it.”

Pope Francis also asked them to think about what “Christmas” means to Mary. “She and Joseph can teach us how to truly welcome Jesus, how to adore Him and how to follow Him day by day.”

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a Church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse.

“The person who files the report, the person who alleges to have been harmed and the witnesses shall not be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to matters involving the case,” the pope ordered in a new “Instruction On the Confidentiality of Legal Proceedings,” published Dec. 17.

In an accompanying note, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, said the change regarding the “pontifical secret” has nothing to do with the seal of the sacrament of confession.

“The absolute obligation to observe the sacramental seal,” he said, “is an obligation imposed on the priest by reason of the position he holds in administering the sacrament of confession and not even the penitent can free him of it.”

The instruction was published by the Vatican along with changes to the already-updated “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela” (“Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments”), the 2001 document issued by St. John Paul II outlining procedures for the investigation and trial of any member of the clergy accused of sexually abusing a child or vulnerable adult or accused of acquiring, possessing or distributing child pornography.

In the first of the amendments, Pope Francis changed the definition of child pornography. Previously the subject was a person under the age of 14. The new description of the crime says, “The acquisition, possession or distribution by a cleric of pornographic images of minors under the age of 18, for purposes of sexual gratification, by whatever means or using whatever technology.”

In describing the procedural norms for how the tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to be composed and conducted, Pope Francis has removed the requirement that the legal representative of the accused be a priest. The law now reads: “The role of advocate or procurator is carried out by a member of the faithful possessing a doctorate in canon law, who is approved by the presiding judge of the college.”

But the abolition of the pontifical secret over the entire Vatican process is the greatest change made.

And, not only are victims and witnesses free to discuss the case, the amended law specifies that the stillin-effect obligation of Vatican officials to maintain confidentiality “shall not prevent the fulfillment of the obligations laid down in all places by civil laws, including any reporting obligations, and the execution of enforceable requests of civil judicial authorities.”

Archbishop Charles Scicluna, adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Vatican’s chief abuse investigator, told America Magazine the new law makes clear that “anybody who discloses misconduct or a crime and anybody who is impacted by the misconduct or the crime, and the witnesses, should never be subject to a vow or a promise of silence on the fact that they have reported.”

The new law, he said, explicitly states people’s “moral duty” to cooperate with civil authorities in reporting and investigating the crime of abuse.

“Moreover, there is an obligation not to bind people who disclose misconduct or crimes by any promise or vow of silence,” he explained.

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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homily, which the pope delivered off-the-cuff in Spanish, he reflected on the way Mary appears in the Gospels and in the apparitions to St. Juan Diego. She is first and foremost a woman who has been given many titles – many which contain the title “Our Lady,” which underlines her womanhood, he said.

In Brief Mary is loving mother, humble disciple, pope says on Guadalupe feast VATICAN CITY — Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pope Francis said she reminds Catholics of her true essence as a woman, a mother and a “mestiza” or person of mixed race. She revealed herself to St. Juan Diego as a “mestiza” to show “that she is everyone’s mother,” and she speaks to everyone as she spoke to this indigenous saint five centuries ago, with tenderness and motherly love, the pope said in his homily during a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 12.

Seminarians and priests from Rome’s Pontifical Latin American College alternated singing their traditional guitar-accompanied songs with the Sistine Chapel choir singing parts of the Mass in Gregorian chant. The pope and concelebrating cardinals and bishops processed into the basilica dressed in white.

Among the concelebrants were U.S. bishops from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin who were in Rome as part of their Dec. 9-13 “ad limina” visits to report on the status of their dioceses.

Pope Francis stood before a replica of St. Juan Diego’s tilma, which bears the image of Mary, who appeared to the saint in 1531. In his

Chaldean patriarch appeals for aid to Christians in Ninevah Plain BEIRUT — Cardinal Louis Sako, Chaldean Catholic patriarch, has appealed for Christian relief in the towns of the Ninevah Plain, the historical cradle of Christianity in Iraq. “It is still so painful to remember” the 2014 attack by the Islamic State, or IS, that forced Christians to leave their homes and was followed by the looting and destruction of houses, churches, schools and more, Cardinal Sako said from the patriarchate in Baghdad Dec. 7. “The only consolation for us at that time was to find a reliable support from different parts of the world,” he said, noting that social institutions and nongovernmental organizations helped the churches and “energetically contributed to the return of Christians in this region.” But, two years after its liberation from Islamic State militants, the Ninevah Plain area “still needs the help of our brothers and sisters who can pray and give us a hand,” so that people can remain in their homes and those who have been displaced “can return and live in dignity,” he said. The defeat of Islamic State from the region “does not mean that there is no need to help its inhabitants anymore,” Cardinal Sako said.

— Catholic News Service

Part Time Administrative Assistant - Youth Ministry Holy Cross Parish, Kernersville, NC

Reporting directly to the Youth Ministry Coordinator, the Administrative Assistant would help in processing all paperwork and database functions in regards to class offerings and events. They will also help in keeping up with the Youth Ministry social media calendar.

Our Youth Ministry runs throughout the calendar year, not just during school months.

The ideal candidate for this position is fluent in Microsoft Office products, is comfortable with making phone calls for the retrieval of information, has prior experience with the creation and use of a budget, has a workable understanding of social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and is able to maintain their work schedule and project load in a responsible and efficient manner without direct supervision. The daily workload will vary from week to week based on the Youth Ministry schedule.

This is a part time position at 15 to 20 hours per week. Interested parties should contact our office staff at 336-996-5109 to begin the application process.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for the following three full-time positions: Assistant to the Chancellor

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• This position is responsible for curating the administrative acts of the Bishop and his delegate in conformity with canon law. Other responsibilities include: processing marriage dispensations, preparing letters of good standing for clergy, updating the diocesan data base management system for Chancery maintained elements and processing papal blessings and requests for papal audiences.

• Applicants with a four-year degree and five or more year’s experience as an executive assistant are preferred.

PAS Accountant/Assistant to the CFO • This position is responsible for all bookkeeping functions for approximately five parishes enrolled in the Parish Accounting Services program. Other responsibilities include: administering the diocesan credit card program, preparing tax-exempt letters, compiling and summarizing survey documents, assisting the CFO with various initiatives, recording minutes for board meetings, filing and correspondence.

• Applicants with a four-year degree and five or more years relevant experience are preferred.

Administrative Assistant for Technology Services • This position is responsible for all aspects of order management, including purchasing, receiving, inventory and asset management. Other responsibilities include: assisting the Director with various initiatives, managing software subscription renewals, addressing billing inquiries, preparing presentations and functioning as the department receptionist.

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

• Applicants with a four-year degree and three or more years relevant experience are preferred.

SEND LETTER OF INTEREST (EXPLAINING WHY WORKING FOR THE DIOCESE IS OF INTEREST TO YOU) AND YOUR RESUME BY DECEMBER 30, 2019 TO employment@charlottediocese.org.

PLEASE SPECIFY THE POSITION FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING.

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catholicnewsherald.com | December 20, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Kathryn Evans

Father Lucas Rossi

Holiness does work P

eople never forget their first job. Mine was as a bus boy at a high-end restaurant called Jim’s Steakhouse. I learned how to bus tables and serve everyone, including the waitresses, all with very different personalities, with a smile.

After a few months, I began to see the challenge of restaurant life. Some of the regulars would come only to complain each week about the smallest thing. Others had several special demands for their table. I was told specifically about the TLC service for the high-paying customers, which meant paying more attention to their table no matter what.

Some nights, business could be slow. I learned right away from the other employees what to do on the slow nights: look busy…look like you are working. This is what St. Paul is speaking out against in the second letter to the Thessalonians.

During this period of history, Christians were so focused on the second coming of Christ that they began to neglect their daily duties and responsibilities. St. Paul calls them back to reality: Yes, wait for the Lord with vigilance, but stop being idle. He writes, “We hear that some among you are conducting themselves in a disorderly manner” – that is, some of you are walking in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Busybodies are active but do not get anything done. We might think of idleness as laziness, not doing any work at all. However, idleness can refer to a deeper struggle.

Ask yourself if you have experienced any of the following struggles recently: weariness, melancholy, feeling overworked, discouragement, instability, activism, boredom, depression. These words are familiar to us. However, there is one word that has almost disappeared from our English language that describes the spiritual struggle we face each day: acedia.

What is acedia? Quite simply, it is a “lack of care.” There were days when working in high school and college that I simply went to work and did not care about my job or the quality of work I was to do. This is the spiritual problem of acedia. The early monks called it the “noonday devil.” How often we run out of steam or enthusiasm for doing our work right around the lunch hour! Acedia is a vice that tempts us to settle for looking busy without getting any real work done. It is not as simple as being lazy like a couch potato, sitting and starring at the TV or our screens all day. No, the way acedia looks today is a busyness that accomplishes little. We look busy and stay busy to avoid the real work of life – the real work of holiness.

Let me explain. A teacher recently observed students in a library, with their laptops open, and their screen cluttered with several programs running all at once. Many were streaming videos, audio files, a game or two running in the background, and earbuds pumping sound into their heads. They all looked busy. They all looked active. But what real work was being accomplished? We might say, “Well, we are a culture perfected

at multi-tasking.” This observer said it is more accurate is to say that we have a become a culture of “multi-slacking.” We spend an enormous amount of energy doing a lot of little things with little attention. We attend to much and invest little. With so many tasks, few things can truly be done well. Yet, we seem to be addicted to this way of life and the constant need to be stimulated and be busy about many things all at once. The result is the collection of experiences mentioned above, all describing acedia. It gives way to spiritual sadness and restless distraction. We so often would rather be multi-tasking than working on holiness and prayer.

St. Paul reminds the Christians of Thessalonica that holiness does work. We see this when we embrace to the responsibilities of our daily lives both in our homes and in our lives, with great attention.

Think of it. We would rather be busy on our phones than do laundry, cook dinner, set the table, pray in our rooms, say a rosary, write thank you notes, or clean out the garage. We would rather hit the snooze on the alarm several times then face the day’s demands.

Acedia is the avoidance of necessary tasks that are good for our bodies and souls.

Instead, we give in to an inner sadness of quiet discouragement. We avoid prayer but will watch Netflix for hours. We skip over our daily duties and slack off, take shortcuts to avoid the work assigned. We would rather not study, but jump into social media. We are so willing to waste time. The result is avoiding that which is necessary: a relationship with God and investing in the relationships with friends and family. Acedia leaves us hollow, isolated.

What is the cure? St. Paul tells us: work.

Holiness does work.

We can believe that our jobs and the daily duties are somehow an obstacle to our relationship with God. Whether we are in an office, caring for children at home, working in a laboratory, factory, or restaurant, or are retired and volunteer, as long as our job is not immoral in nature, our work is our daily path to God. We can bring our work to God. Instead of falling into the temptation to mediocrity, we choose greatness. This is refusing to settle for the lesser good, the easy way out, or the path of least resistance. It means rolling up our sleeves and getting to work on what we would rather avoid.

Let us call to our minds our daily work and responsibilities. Holiness does work for God. We offer up our daily duties with a prayer for God’s strength and assistance. Holiness does work. Instead of giving ourselves over to looking busy but secretly feeding our distractions, we resolve to meet the Lord in everyone of our working days. Holiness does work.

We can look to St. Joseph for guidance. He is known, among many other titles, as the worker. He spent his earthly life as a humble carpenter and most importantly, he brought HOLINESS, SEE PAGE 19

M

The example of St. Joseph

y favorite way of preparing for Advent the past few years has been to read about and meditate on the Holy Family. Last year, I read the book “Joseph of Nazareth” by Frederico Suarez, and it gave me such a new appreciation for this powerful saint. There is so little that we can know about St. Joseph for certain, but Suarez’s book is a beautiful meditation on what the life and mind of this man must have been. Though no words of his own are recorded in the Gospels, and his passing from this world is left unmentioned, St. Joseph’s significance is clearly testified to in the role that he played as husband to the Virgin Mary and foster father to Jesus. One of the beauties of meditating on the Holy Family is the richness and clarity about what it is that makes a family, which is also meant to mirror for us the love that exists among the Holy Trinity. For God had the power to order His own family exactly as He wished.

With the many crises of faith and culture that our world is facing today, there are few examples of what fatherhood truly is, and we are suffering for it as a society. There is no greater example needed than that of St. Joseph.

I was in my late 20s when my own father passed away from cancer, and it left a hole that will never be entirely filled again on this side of heaven. There are many life events and experiences that I will not be able to share with him, there is advice I will not be able to receive, and there is a love that I can now only look for from above. But I know that I am still luckier than some who perhaps never knew their fathers or had abusive or toxic relationships with them. I was lucky to know a father’s love for nearly three decades, and I credit that with helping me to better understand our Heavenly Father’s love. How much of society’s current lack of faith comes from a lack of being properly fathered?

With constant attacks on the family and on masculinity in our culture, it’s difficult for current generations to know what true fatherhood, what true manhood, is even supposed to look like. Even for those who do understand what a man is called to be, it takes great courage and fortitude to stand against the tide of cultural trends that label all masculinity “toxic” and seek to eradicate it. Men and women alike suffer from these attacks, from the confusion of what is to be expected.

St. Josemaría Escríva says of St. Joseph, “He is an ordinary man, a family man, a worker who earned his living by manual labor.” These are not the accolades that the world normally equates with greatness,

especially in our modern times. Our culture today is one of noise and busyness, where fame and money are preeminent, and everyone is shouting to be heard and striving to be seen.

But St. Joseph shows us an example of just the opposite, with his silence, his obedience, his poverty, and his love and dedication to God and to his family above all else. He was a humble worker, though he came from a line of kingship, and lived a life of quiet simplicity. Among my favorite titles for St. Joseph are “Mirror of Patience,” “Lover of Poverty,” “Light of Patriarchs” and “Terror of Demons.”

Meditating on the Nativity narratives, it’s clear that St. Joseph would have needed not just meek humility, but also strength and courage. The journey to Bethlehem and then later the flight into Egypt would have required of the patriarch great physical stamina to be able to protect and care for the Blessed Mother and her Child. When the shepherds and later the magi came to adore the Christ Child, St. Joseph had the proper understanding of his own humbleness in the presence of the Child and His mother, so that he could attentively and reverently stand by while they were given their own due respect. And fleeing to the foreign land of Egypt would have put to the test all of his resources and ingenuity to be able to provide for the Holy Family.

St. Joseph was entrusted with the most serious and prestigious task given to a mortal man: he was given the care of the Christ Child and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. God chose this man to serve as His very own father on this earth, to protect Him and His mother, and to be an example of true fatherhood as he acted as the head of the Holy Family. If the Virgin Mary was the most perfect and grace-filled creature since the Fall, how beloved

by God must St. Joseph have been to be given her as a wife? Yet he was not a great king, he was not rich, and not a single word of his has been left in recorded history. He was, quite simply, a good man and one that should be an example to us all.

The most important work is not always the most obvious to the rest of the world, and sometimes it can be as commonplace as the raising of a family.

As Suarez says in his book, “God relies on ordinary men to work great deeds.”

KATHRYN EVANS is an author living on the outskirts of Charlotte, where she keeps chickens, experiments with cooking, and reads too many books. Find her work at www.evanswriting.com, including her book, “An Adult-ish Toolkit: 30 Things I Have Learned in 30 Years.”

December 20, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Jesuit Father John Michalowski

‘The one to whom little is forgiven, loves little’

H

ow much do we believe that we are loved? How much do we believe that God can love us? Do we see God as the Father of the Prodigal Son or do we see God as the judge, the one who holds us down? Is God so far above us and beyond us that we see God through the eyes of Psalm 90: “You sweep men away like a dream, like grass which springs up in the morning?

In the morning it springs up and flowers: by evening it withers and fades. So we are destroyed in your anger, struck with terror in your fury. Our guilt lies open before you; our secrets in the light of your face.”

In the seventh chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus helps us to understand who God really is. There Simon the Pharisee, invites Jesus to dine with him. Like many of the Pharisees, Simon sees God as a judge, as one who wants His followers to keep themselves pure, and if they don’t they will be punished. Thus, when he sees the sinful woman not only dare to enter his house, but to touch Jesus, he is scandalized. He says to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is, that she is a sinner.” Jesus’ response reveals who God the Father really is. “‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave them both. Which of the two will love him more?’ Simon said in reply, ‘The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.’

He said to him, ‘You have judged rightly.’”

(Luke 7:39-43).

Jesus then pointed out the difference between how the woman has treated him and how Simon the Pharisee treated Jesus. Though Simon had invited Jesus to dine with him, he had not provided water for Jesus to wash His sandaled feet, nor had he greeted Him with a kiss, as was common in that society, nor had he

HOLINESS FROM PAGE 18

Jesus to his workbench. This is our weapon against acedia. We invite God into all of our work and duties. Work was one of the ways in which St. Joseph lived out holiness.

He also taught Jesus to work. Our Lord worked for most of His life as a carpenter before His three years of ministry that led to the cross on Cavalry. Holiness does work.

Holiness embraces hardships and toil with the strength of God. Holiness does work. We choose to be

Let’s keep talking.

anointed Jesus’ head with oil as a sign of honor. The woman had done all of these things with her tears, her actions and with the ointment. Jesus turns to the Pharisee and says, “So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little” (Luke 7:47-48).

Is this the God whom we know, who forgives “seventy times seven,” whenever we turn back to Him seeking His forgiveness? This is the Father whom Jesus reveals. This is our God. We are loved. Fear is a last resort, if nothing else will keep us from doing wrong. As one who spent 23 years in the classroom, I know that fear is a lousy motivator. If your students know you want the best for them because you care for them, they will learn better and behave better. God loves and wants to be loved.

This is why the Son of God became one with us. Jesus loved us to the end, dying for us and rising for us. His love is everlasting.

Because he had experienced this in his own conversion, when St. Ignatius of Loyola had us consider the sin of the world and our own sins, he did so in order that we might recognize the depth of Jesus’ love for us. As St. Paul says, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. … Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:8, 10).

Once we know how loved we are, may we return love for love – loving God and one another as Jesus did. “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.

No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us” (I John 4:11-12).

JESUIT FATHER JOHN MICHALOWSKI is parochial vicar of St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

good workers who are joyful, helpful and friendly at the workplace. Holiness does work. At his workbench, St. Joseph trained Jesus in His trade. At his workbench, St. Joseph had the Savior always at his side.

Joseph brought human work closer to Jesus, and he is the model for us about how to truly work in holiness. We should bring our work closer to Jesus. Joseph worked.

Jesus worked. Holiness does work. So let’s get to work and be holy!

Let’s keep talking.

FATHER LUCAS ROSSI is the pastor of St. Michael Church in Gastonia. This is adapted from a homily he delivered for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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