Feb. 2, 2019

February 1, 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

GROWTH TREND Parish populations continue to grow

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Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe entre las cinco más grandes de la diócesis

‘We are His hands’

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Like Mary, be ‘influencers’ for God, pope urges at World Youth Day

16 INDEX

Contact us.....................................4 Español.......................................... 7-9 Events calendar............................4 Our Faith........................................2 Our Parishes............................ 3-6 Schools........................................ 12 Scripture readings...................2, 8 TV & Movies................................. 13 U.S. news.................................14-15 Viewpoints..............................18-19 World news............................. 16-17

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2019 DSA campaign reminds us of our call to put faith in action La campaña DSA 2019 recuerda nuestro llamado a poner la fe en acción

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MARCHING FOR LIFE N.C. pilgrims attend Mass, then join March for Life in D.C.

‘God wants this school, your school, to be a holy place’ Catholic Schools Week

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Carolina del Norte dijo sí a la Vida

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Catholic Charities food pantries anticipate greater need in wake of government shutdown, 3

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Agatha Feast day: Feb. 5

Pope Francis

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Global encounter of WYD challenges nationalism, walls

he joyous harmony of people coming together from so many different nations for World Youth Day stands in sharp contrast to today’s “sad” situation of confrontational nationalist feelings, Pope Francis said.

“It is a sign that young Christians are the leaven for peace in the world,” he said at his general audience Jan. 30 in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall.

The pope dedicated his weekly reflection to his trip to Panama Jan. 23-27 to celebrate World Youth Day. The hundreds of thousands of young people from five continents who attended the events “formed a great symphony of faces and languages,” he said.

“To see all the flags flying together, fluttering in the hands of young people, happy to encounter each other is a prophetic sign, a sign (that goes) against the tide of today’s sad tendency toward confrontational nationalist sentiments that erect walls, that close themselves off from universality, from the encounter among peoples,” he said.

He praised the enthusiasm and prayerful reverence young people showed at the many events and recalled the dedication he saw on the faces of many who declared themselves open to God’s will and ready serve the Lord.

“As long as there are new generations able to say, ‘Here I am’ to God, the world will have a future,” he said.

Another image that struck him during the trip, he said, was seeing so many parents proudly holding up their children as he passed by in the popemobile.

They showed off their children “as if to say, ‘Here is my pride, here is my future,’” he said. “How much dignity is in this gesture and how eloquent (given) the demographic winter we are living in Europe. The pride of those families is the children; children are security for the future. A demographic winter without children is hard.”

Young people are called to live the Gospel today “because young people are not ‘the tomorrow,’ not ‘in the meantime,’ but they are the ‘today’ of the church and the world,” he said.

Pope Francis also urged people to pray the Way of the Cross, saying it is “the school of Christian life” where one learns about a love that is “patient, silent, concrete.”

He then said he wanted to share a secret with everyone and pulled out a small box, showing it to the crowd, explaining it was a pocket-sized kit for praying the Way of the Cross. He said he loved following the Via Crucis “because it is following Jesus with Mary on the way of the cross where He gave His life for us, for our redemption.”

Although we have evidence that Agatha was venerated at least as far back as the sixth century, the only facts we have about her are that she was born in Sicily in the third century and died there a martyr.

In the legend of her life, we are told that she belonged to a rich, important family in Sicily. When she was young, she dedicated her life to God and resisted any men who wanted to marry her. One of these men, Quintian, was of a high enough rank that he felt he could force her to acquiesce. Knowing she was a Christian in a time of persecution, he had her arrested and brought before the judge – himself. He expected her to give in to when faced with torture and possible death, but she simply affirmed her belief in God by praying: “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.”

Legend tells us that Quintian imprisoned her in a brothel to get her to change her mind. Quintian brought her back before him after she had suffered a month of assault and humiliation in the brothel, but Agatha had never wavered, proclaiming that her freedom came from Jesus. Quintian then sent her to prison, and when she continued to profess her faith in Jesus, he had her tortured. He refused her any medical care, but God gave her all the care she needed in the form of a vision of St. Peter. When she was tortured again, she died after saying a final prayer: “Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul.”

Because one of the tortures she supposedly suffered was to have her breasts cut off, she is often depicted carrying her breasts on a plate. It is thought that blessing of the bread that takes place on her feast may have come from the mistaken notion that she was carrying loaves of bread.

Because she was asked for help during the eruption of Mount Etna, she is considered a protector against the outbreak of fire. More recently, she has been venerated as the patron saint of breast cancer patients. She is one of the female saints and martyrs mentioned in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

— Catholic News Agency

“The Martyrdom of St. Agatha” by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (c. 1756) on display at the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read about more saints whose feast days are in February, including St. Paul Miki and the 26 Martyrs of Japan (Feb. 6), St. Josephine Bakhita (Feb. 8), St. Sava (Feb. 13) and St. Polycarp (Feb. 23).

Your daily Scripture readings FEB. 3-9

Sunday: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, Luke 4:21-30; Monday: Hebrews 11:32-40, Mark 5:1-20; Tuesday (St. Agatha): Hebrews 12:1-4, Mark 5:21-43; Wednesday (St. Paul Miki and Companions): Hebrews 12:4-7, 1115, Mark 6:1-6; Thursday: Hebrews 12:18-19, 2124, Mark 6:7-13; Friday (St. Jerome Emiliani, St. Josephine Bakhita): Hebrews 13:1-8, Mark 6:14-29; Saturday: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21, Mark 6:30-34

FEB. 10-16

Sunday: Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11; Monday (Our Lady of Lourdes): Genesis 1:1-19, Mark 6:53-56; Tuesday: Genesis 1:20-2:4, Mark 7:1-13; Wednesday: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17, Mark 7:14-23; Thursday (Sts. Cyril, Monk and Methodius): Genesis 2:18-25, Mark 7:24-30; Friday: Genesis 3:1-8, Mark 7:31-37; Saturday: Genesis 3:9-24, Mark 8:1-10

FEB. 17-23

Sunday: Jeremiah 17:5-8, 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20, Luke 6:17, 20-26; Monday: Genesis 4:1-15, 25, Mark 8:11-13; Tuesday: Genesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10, Mark 8:14-21; Wednesday: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22, Mark 8:22-26; Thursday (St. Peter Damian): Genesis 9:1-13, Mark 8:27-33; Friday (The Chair of St. Peter): 1 Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19; Saturday (St. Polycarp): Hebrews 11:1-7, Mark 9:2-13

Our parishes

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Catholic Charities food pantries anticipate greater need in wake of government shutdown SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Officials from Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte are concerned there may be a greater need in the coming weeks for donations to its three food pantries, as they try to meet the needs of people impacted by the recent ended government shutdown.

Catholic Charities operates food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston Salem.

In 2017-’18, the food pantries served more than 14,923 clients, distributing 582,621 pounds of food to people in need in their communities.

Although SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits for February were distributed to qualified families in mid-January during the five-week federal government shutdown, Catholic Charities’ executive director Dr. Gerard Carter is concerned that many recipients will run out of food money before the end of this month. Even if SNAP benefits for March are distributed on time, these families may come up short and need food to carry them through.

“SNAP benefits were released early (in January) to cover February, but people

living on the margins are likely to deplete food benefits over the next three to four weeks, which leaves one to two weeks in late February that will not be covered even if benefits are restored for March,” Carter said. “We expect and need to plan for a huge potential increase in demand.”

Deacon Mark Nash, Catholic Charities’ western region office director, said the recent government shutdown has been the subject of much conversation in Asheville.

Various social service agencies in the region are discussing how they may be able to help.

“Our food bank partner, MANNA, has opened their doors on a limited basis for all federal employees,” Deacon Nash said.

“They have communicated to us that they are prepared to provide food to partners such as Catholic Charities for as long as possible.

They gave no specifics, but were not giving us any cause for immediate concern.”

He acknowledged that clients coming to the Asheville food pantry the past few weeks have said they are worried.

“A great deal of our participants are SNAP recipients,” he said. “They voiced concerns about whether there would be funds for them in March. This is the area where we feel the shutdown would have

the greatest impact on our resources.”

Deacon Nash said his reply has been simple: “We have no control over the SNAP program but are committed to providing adequate and nutritious food each and every Wednesday.”

Catholic Charities food pantries in Charlotte (pictured), Asheville and Winston Salem may need more donations in the coming weeks due to the impact of the recent government shutdown, as SNAP benefits for February were distributed early and recipients may need assistance if their benefits are used up before March.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

How you can help Financial donations to help Catholic Charities purchase food can be made online at www.ccdoc. org, under the “Donate” tab.

Food donations can also be dropped off at all three food pantry locations. Items always needed are: canned fruit, juice, tea and coffee, rice, spaghetti sauce, tuna, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, cereal and canned vegetables.

Non-food items – including toiletries, laundry detergent and paper products – are also always needed. The Charlotte food pantry can now accept refrigerated products like milk, yogurt, cheese and fresh produce.

Schedule your food drop-off in advance by calling 828-255-0146 in Asheville; 704-370-3228 in Charlotte; and 336-727-0705 in Winston-Salem.

Parish populations continue to grow SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The latest data show that the Diocese of Charlotte has topped 77,000 families, and three of today’s five largest parishes did not even exist when the diocese was formed.

In 1972 when the Charlotte diocese was carved out of the Diocese of Raleigh, there were an estimated 34,208 Catholics at 74 parishes and missions. Today the Charlotte diocese is home to more than 77,445 registered families, a total of at least 220,000 people, in 92 parishes and missions, according to data compiled by the diocesan Development Office and Planning Office.

As of Jan. 1, the five most populous parishes according to diocesan records are: St. Matthew Church in Charlotte (10,453 registered households); St. Mark Church in Huntersville (5,496 registered households); St. Therese Church in Mooresville (4,059 registered households); St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte (3,361 registered households); and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte (3,247 registered households).

St. Matthew, St. Mark and Our Lady of Guadalupe parishes were all created after 1972, the most recent being St. Mark Church in 1997.

St. Matthew Church, established in 1986, is also believed to be the largest Catholic parish in the United States.

“One of the most surprising things I’ve encountered since the beginning of my ministry at St. Matthew is the beautiful ethnic diversity of the population. The increasing number of Latino, Asian, and African members adds a beautiful ‘Catholic’ flavor to our congregation,” says Father Patrick Hoare, pastor of St. Matthew Church. “The size of our parish

nearly ensures that a newcomer will find a group of families who share their ethnic heritage. So they can preserve their traditions while still actively participating in the larger community.”

Father Hoare thinks one of his parish’s biggest challenges – like many other churches – is engaging youth and young adults, but the size of his parish is a great help, though.

“Taking advantage of our economies of scale, we can invest in the staffing and high quality programming that is critical in assisting our younger generations to encounter the person of Jesus,” he says.

When St. Therese Church moved to its present site 31 years ago from Main Street in Mooresville, the parish roll totaled 310 families. It now tops 4,000 families.

Father Mark Lawlor, pastor, calls it “an exciting and dynamic time.”

“When I was growing up in Salisbury in the 1970s, Mooresville, Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville were all small towns,” Father Lawlor recalls. “Like others, I never imagined the development and growth of the past 20 years or so.”

To accommodate the great increase, the parish built a much larger church to accommodate more than 1,000 more people than the former church. It was dedicated nearly four years ago.

“We have recently purchased adjacent property, which I see as an investment for our future,” he says. “We hope to develop the property in the future with the hopes of expanded parking and access to the facilities, areas for youth ministry and recreational activities.”

“While parish facilities are important, parish staff and volunteers are instrumental in making people feel welcome and part of the family,” he adds.

Top 5 parishes in the diocese ST. MATTHEW CHURCH............................. 10,453

ST. MARK CHURCH.......................................5,496

ST. THERESE CHURCH.................................4,059

ST. GABRIEL CHURCH................................... 3,361

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH.... 3,247

= 1,000 PEOPLE

“We have expanded our parish staff in the past year and we have more than 1,000 dedicated volunteers serving in numerous ministries.”

One of the most significant changes in the diocese’s recent history has been the rising number of Latino families at nearly every parish. The diocese’s Hispanic ministry started out with humble roots in the late 1980s, later developing a Hispanic Center in Charlotte that has now grown into the diocese’s fifth largest parish: Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Vincentian Father Gregory Gay, has served as parochial vicar since December 2016, and says his church building is now bursting at the seams.

“In terms of registered parishioners,

our numbers fluctuate reflecting the mobility of our Hispanic community. But since I have been here, I have noticed the increase in the number of participants in our Sunday liturgies as well as our weekday Masses,” he says. “Our only hope to respond to the Sunday increase is the expectation of a new church, because presently people are in the hallways and in the lobby attending Mass. For the weekday Masses we have moved the Eucharist from the small chapel to the main multi-purpose room. We also expanded our parking area in order to accommodate more vehicles.”

The parish has renovated the social ministries house to create more space for the parish food pantry and medical services offered there. Father Gay notes that now the space is also more conducive for community meetings such as AA, faith formation for adults and Spanish classes for parishioners.

The Vincentian-run parish has grown from two to three priests, and it has added administrative staff and expanded pastoral office to accommodate the growing congregation.

A positive aspect to all of this growth, Father Gay says, is that the number of participants in their faith formation program has risen.

“We responded to this growth, adding an extra day to the already five-day program,” he says. “The number of adults in faith formation has also increased, so now we have three different groups instead of two, ensuring the possibility that people can complete their sacraments. To accompany the parents of our children in faith formation, we have initiated obligatory classes allowing them to fulfill their baptism commitment to educate their children in the faith.”

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: FEB. 2 – 11 A.M. Mass for World Day of Consecrated Life St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

FEB. 28 – 10 A.M. Diocesan Foundation Board Meeting Catholic Conference Center, Hickory

FEB. 22 – 10 A.M. Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events February 1, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 28 • NUMBER 9

TÊT FESTIVAL: 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Feb. 1-2, and 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, 4929 Sandy Porter Road, Charlotte. Spectacular lion dance, live music entertainment, food, games and activities for the entire family.

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

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

STAFF EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org

THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for all registered parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others.

POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

ARTS AT THE ABBEY PRESENTS ‘THE CHARLOTTE CIVIC ORCHESTRA’: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at Belmont Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road, Belmont. The program will feature Carolina Pro Musica. Works to be performed include Telemann Suite in A Minor featuring Edward Ferrell, recorder; Bach Secular Cantata 209 with Gastonia native Rebecca Miller Saunders, soprano and Ferrell on 18th c. flute. The orchestra will also delight us with Mozart’s Symphony #39. Everyone welcome to attend.

MOVIES WITH A PURPOSE FEATURING ‘I AM’: 7-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, New Life Center Banquet Room, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. A Peace and Social Justice Film Series featuring the documentary “I Am” by Hollywood director Tom Shadyac, who after a serious accident went out to explore the true meaning of what it means to be human and happy. The film asks “What is wrong with the world and what can we do about it?” and documents Shadyac’s personal journey after a bicycle accident in 2007 that led him to the answers about the nature of humanity, the world’s ever-growing addiction to materialism, and human connections. Free popcorn and snacks. Limited child care is available. Reserve a spot now by calling 704543-7677, ext. 1003. The PG-13 movie is 76 minutes long and will be followed by a short talk by Father Pat Hoare.

For details about the Peace and Social Justice Ministry, email Peace.SMCC@gmail.com.

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

Saturday, Feb. 9, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road. Topics include: effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. Sponsored

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

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 901 North Main St. & Sunset Dr., High Point. Please come and help us pray for the end of abortion, and feel free to invite anyone who would be morally supportive of this very important cause. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at AJHoyng@Hotmail.com or Paul Klosterman at PaulJKlosterman@aol.com.

40 HOURS DEVOTION ST DOROTHY’S FEAST DAY CELEBRATION: 10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 3 – 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at St Dorothy’s Church, 148 St Dorothys Lane, Lincolnton. For details, contact Alison at 704-735-5575.

CCWG MORNING REFLECTION: 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road,

Charlotte. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Coffee and reflection by Father Basile Sede following Mass in the Assembly Room. All women of the Diocese of Charlotte are invited to attend. RSVP is requested via our website: www.charlottecatholicwomensgroup.org.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK MASS: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill.

Anointing is typically presented to those who need healing from physical or mental illness or someone who will be undergoing surgery. Refreshments following Mass. For details, call Mary Adams at 704-545-1224.

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

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING ‘Protecting God’s Children’ workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register and confirm workshop times, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are: ASHEVILLE: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St. GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, ‘ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND BI-POLAR DISORDER’: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28, St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road, Charlotte. Join us for an evening of conversation as we bring anxiety, depression, and bi-polar disorder “into the light”. We’ll listen to the stories of community members through videos from the Compass & Light documentary series, accompanied by a panel discussion with mental health professionals including Justin Perry and Jonathan Hetterly. Connect with local agencies that provide mental health services, and continue the conversation over dessert and coffee. All are welcome. No RSVP is needed.

‘LIVING HEALTHY WITH DIABETES’ CLASSES: 1-3:30 p.m. Mondays, March 11-April 15, Our Lady of Consolation Church, 2301 Statesville Ave., Charlotte. Living Healthy with Diabetes is a Stanford University program designed for people with pre-diabetes, diabetes or at risk for diabetes who want to better manage their health.

This workshop will provide techniques to self-manage symptoms associated with diabetes, mutual support and group interaction will boost participants’ confidence in utilizing techniques that address: depression, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, fatigue, appropriate use of medications, exercises for health, effective communication skills and healthy eating choices. For details and registration, contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or email sabreakfield@charlottediocese. org. Registration required.

WNC RESPECT LIFE MEETING: 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. Are you interested in joining other parishes from western North Carolina to come together, share ideas, encourage one another or just keep up with what is happening with prolife issues? Join Jessica Grabowski, Catholic Charities Respect Life Program Director, and Mike FitzGerald of C-PLAN to discuss collaborative regional pro-life efforts.

Please email Joanne Gregory, St. Barnabas Respect Life Coordinator at JRGDC@aol.com.

FAMILY HONOR ‘LEADING & LOVING’ PROGRAM: 7-9:15 p.m. Friday, March 8 and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at Our Lady of Grace Church, 2203 West Market St., Greensboro. Leading & Loving will help you become more confident and competent in how to raise virtuous children and how to respond to your young child’s questions about the truth and meaning of God’s gift of sexuality. This program presents the beautiful truths of human sexuality, family life and virtue cultivation through the lens of Pope Saint John Paul the II’s Theology of the Body. Program intended for parents of young children (newborn through early teen). For parents only. Lunch and childcare will be provided. To register visit www.familyhonor.org. For details, contact Vincent Weaver at upstatefamilyhonor@gmail.com or 864-275-287.

SUPPORT GROUPS DIVORCED CATHOLICS, ‘THE HEALING PROCESS OF ANNULMENTS’: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, St. Matthew Church New Life Center 206, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte; or 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, and Tuesday, March 19, at St. Matthew Church Waxhaw campus, 4116 Waxhaw-Marvin Road. After a Catholic goes through a divorce, there is so much confusion and misinformation about practicing the faith. The truth is that your Catholic faith is the very key to healing after a divorce and is vital to living a life filled with promise, peace and joy.

Join Deacon Jim Hamrlik for an insightful one-hour annulment workshop. For details, call Deacon Hamrlik at 704543-7677, ext. 1040.

YOUNG ADULTS ASHEVILLE THEOLOGY ON TAP: For Catholics in their 20s and 30s in the Asheville region. For details, check them out on Facebook, Twitter or MeetUp ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA: www.saintlawrencebasilica. org/young-adult-ministry GREENSBORO WAY OF CHRIST: The young adult ministry at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro: at www.stpiusxnc. com/woc, on Facebook at “wayofchrist”

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.

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Diocese of Charlotte seminarian Joseph Wasswa was admitted to candidacy for holy orders Jan. 26 during a Mass at the Pontifical College Josephinum, where he is studying to become a priest.

Columbus Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, Bishop of Columbus celebrated the Mass and admitted Wasswa, who is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, to candidacy. They are pictured with Monsignor Christopher J. Schreck, rector/president of the Pontifical College Josephinum.

The Rite of Admission to Candidacy is celebrated when a seminarian, usually in his second year of graduate study, has reached a maturity of purpose in his formation and has demonstrated the necessary qualifications for ordination. In the presence of the bishop, he publicly expresses his intention to complete his preparation for holy orders and his resolve to fully invest himself to that end, so that he will serve Christ and the Church faithfully.

— Carolyn A. Dinovo, director of communications at Pontifical College Josephinum

Sylva parish receives new processional crucifix SYLVA — Knights of Columbus Council 9722 presented a new processional crucifix to St. Mary’s Mother of God Parish on Jan. 6. The blessing of the crucifix was held before the 9 a.m. Mass. Pictured are Father Casey Coleman, pastor; Deacon Matthew Newsome; alter servers Nicholas Norgaard and Todd Wenberg; and members of the Knights council and parish.

— Scott Freeman

WNC Respect Life meeting set ARDEN — Are you interested in joining other parishes from western North Carolina to come together, share ideas, encourage one another or just keep up with what is happening with pro-life issues? Join Jessica Grabowski, Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Respect Life program director, and Mike FitzGerald of C-PLAN to discuss collaborative regional pro-life efforts at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at St. Barnabas Church, located at 109 Crescent Hill Road.

For details, email Joanne Gregory, St. Barnabas Parish Respect Life coordinator, at JRGDC@aol.com.

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On Feb. 8, the Church celebrates St. Josephine Bakhita and raises awareness of human trafficking JESSICA GRABOWSKI SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Wasswa takes next step in priestly formation

OUR PARISHESI

Who is St. Josephine Bakhita? Born in the late 1800s in Sudan, she was kidnapped by slave traders and sold numerous times throughout her life. She eventually ended up in custody with the Canossian Sisters and came to know Christ for the first time.

When she was called to go back to her captor, she pleaded to stay with the sisters and by the time her case got to court, slavery was outlawed in Sudan. Canonized in 2000, she is the patron of human trafficking victims. Feb. 8 is her feast day and the International Day of Prayer and Awareness of Human Trafficking.

Millions of people across the world each year fall victim to human trafficking – modern-day slavery.

On Feb. 8, Catholics all over the world will gather in prayer to raise awareness about this great evil. Through prayer, we not only reflect on the experiences of those who have suffered through this affront on human dignity, but also comfort, strengthen and help to empower survivors.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Respect Life Program’s anti-trafficking task-force is collaborating with the Sisters of Mercy to host a networking, fair trade sale and prayer service from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at the Sisters of Mercy Convent in Belmont. All are welcome to attend.

For more ideas of how to incorporate honoring St. Bakhita and praying for the victims of human trafficking on Feb. 8, go to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website, www.usccb.org, to learn about its anti-trafficking program.

JESSICA GRABOWSKI is the Respect Life program director for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

Prayer Service for Victims of Human Trafficking set for Feb. 8 in Belmont Feb. 8, the feast day of St. Josephine Bakhita, has been designated by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and the International Union of Superiors General as an annual day of prayer and awareness against human trafficking. On Friday, Feb. 8, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont, the Sisters of Mercy and Catholic Charities are co-sponsoring a Prayer Service for Victims of Human Trafficking and a resource sharing event.

Details about this event can be found at www.ccdoc. org/respectlife.

Turn on the light. Help stop human trafficking.

Catholic Relief Services fights human trafficking worldwide, working with schools, community groups and families to teach people how to stay safe and become more self-sufficient so traffickers can’t find their way in. CRS also provides temporary housing and health care for those who have escaped trafficking. Help CRS fight human trafficking by purchasing CRS Survivor Kits for victims of human trafficking and Prosperity Candles.

A Prosperity Candle supports the work of CRS to shine a light on, and put an end to, human trafficking and modern-day slavery. For more information, go to www.crs.org/slavery-human-trafficking.

End-of-life care topic of presentation at St. Pius X Church GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — “Life is a gift from God and we are stewards of our lives, not the owners.”

That was the message from Father Charles Vavonese, who spoke at a presentation on end-of-life decision-making and Catholic moral teaching at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro Jan. 15.

Father Vavonese serves as a chaplain with the Order of Malta in Syracuse, N.Y., and is the author of “I am the Resurrection of Life, A Resource for Catholic Moral Teaching on End-of-Life Issues.” His talk, sponsored by the Order of Malta of Central North Carolina, drew more than 100 parishioners from St. Pius X Parish, as well as local dames and knights of Malta.

Although “as Catholics we are not morally bound to prolong the dying process by using every medical means available,” Father Vavonese noted, “educating our population is critical for being able to give people the options to forgo physicianassisted suicide.”

We need to think, he said: “Are we prolonging the person’s death, or offering them life?”

Like other end-of-life experts in the Church, including the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Father Vavonese encouraged people to choose someone to be their health care proxy or exercise power of attorney, someone who knows what their wishes are and what the Catholic faith teaches.

“We need to find a way to communicate what our wishes are when we are unable to do that for ourselves,” he said.

Father Vavonese covered palliative care, Do Not Resuscitate orders, and what constitutes ordinary versus extraordinary care.

With extraordinary care, he said, we are not obligated to treatments offering no reasonable hope of benefit, or treatments

that involve excessive hardship, especially when a patient is near death.

“We strive to give our families many, many gifts, and this one – the gift of making known our final wishes – is one of the most important,” said Debora Ritzel, parishioner and Dame of Malta since 2016.

“Even though end-oflife procedures can be quite complicated, the presentation was made in a way that didn’t seem threatening, that there are measures one can take which are clearly spelled out in the Catholic Church.

And, even if one chooses Vavonese the most difficult decision to be made, if that individual follows the best medical advice in conjunction with Catholic moral teaching, he or she should find comfort that they have honored both man and God,” said parishioner Tita Wofford.

“At a time when there are so many voices contrary to the Gospel of life, we thought it was important as Knights and Dames of Malta to invite Father Vavonese to speak to our community in defense of our faith – particularly as it relates to endof-life issues,” said Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor. “Most of our people are totally unprepared for the decisions at the end of life.”

“We are people of hope with a firm faith in the promise of Christ and His resurrection,” he said. “We pray, think, talk and sing about heaven, but how many of us talk about that transition from this life to the next? When it comes to this subject or even the discussion of funeral preparations, denial is a powerful dynamic.”

He continued, “I learned from my own father’s death that one of the most loving gifts he could give us was a clear articulation of what he wanted going

forward with his medical treatment.

A clear, real, loving and Catholic conversation can ease the burden of responsibility that falls to the one you designate to direct your health care when and if you become incapacitated. A carefully written legal document may be helpful in knowing one’s desired course of medical care, but pales in comparison to having designated a compassionate individual whose conscience has been formed by our faith.”

“Given the advances in health care and the nuances involved in each person’s particular situation, it is critical to have our folks vest the legal, life respecting, decision-making power in a person, not in a document,” Monsignor Marcaccio emphasized. “For example, some of the same procedures classified as extraordinary care, may in different circumstances be viewed either as a temporary situation that leads to recovery or as an unnecessary burden that offers no hope of remedy. From my experience, both personally and pastorally, I beg people not to put off these frank and sometimes difficult conversations. I am so grateful to Father Vavonese for his presence and presenting us with a wide range of resources to start that very discussion.”

Get more information At www.ncbcenter.org: The National Catholic Bioethics Center’s website has much more information on end-of-life care and decisionmaking, including two documents Father Charles Vavonese recommended referencing, “The Ethical and Religious Directives for Health Care Services” and “Declaration on Euthanasia” At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Plan endof-life care and funeral arrangements with your family using the Catholic News Herald’s Catholic funeral planning guide, located in the “Our Faith” section

6

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 OUR PARISHES

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Get ready for CRS Rice Bowl The upcoming 2019 Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl Program begins on Ash Wednesday, March 6. Parishes and schools which participated in last year’s CRS Rice Bowl will receive the same number of materials again for this year’s CRS Rice Bowl with no need to place an order.

(Shipments should have arrive by the end of January).

Parishes and schools that wish to participate for the first time, or participating parishes and schools which need additional materials, should call toll-free 1-800-222-0025 or go to www.crsricebowl.org to place an order.

Orders for first-time or additional CRS Rice Bowl materials that are requested by Jan. 31 should arrive in parishes and schools by mid-February, in time for distribution on weekends prior to the start of CRS Rice Bowl on Ash Wednesday. Twenty-five percent of the Rice Bowl collection helps fund the CRS Mini-Grant Program.

For assistance or more information, contact Joseph Purello at Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, who serves as the CRS diocesan liaison, at 704-370-3225 or jtpurello@charlottediocese.org.

College students: ‘Give Your Heart Away’ HICKORY — College students in the Diocese of Charlotte are encouraged to take part in Catholic Campus Ministry’s upcoming service weekend, “Give Your Heart Away.”

The annual event, set for Feb. 15-17 at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, is a weekend of service for college students that includes prayer, theological reflection, feasting and fellowship besides a variety of community service projects. Registration costs $50 and the deadline to register is Wednesday, Feb. 6.

For more information, go online to www. catholiconcampus.com/gyha.

— Catholic News Herald

Vigil of the Two Hearts held CHARLOTTE — Around 70 faithful attended the first Vigil of the Two Hearts in 2019 Jan. 4 at St. Patrick Cathedral. Father Brian Becker, parochial vicar at St. Mark Church, offered the evening First Friday Mass and preached on how human effort alone is insufficient to overcome evils such as abortion and how Catholics need to gather in church to pray for God’s intervention to end the evil of abortion. He also encouraged attendees to overcome evil in today’s world by also growing closer to God through a deeper relationship with Christ through His Sacraments, and to go to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for strength and consolation. After Mass, Father Becker exposed the Blessed Sacrament and Deacon John Kopfle from St. Vincent de Paul Church led a Holy Hour of Reparation for an end to abortion.

The Two Hearts devotion is a monthly city-wide Mass and nocturnal Eucharistic Adoration vigil offered at St. Patrick Cathedral each First Friday evening through First Saturday morning to offer penance for sins, an end to abortion, strengthening of families and for the conversion of the United States. The next scheduled vigil will be Feb. 1-2.

Learn more at www.prolifecharlotte.org/two-hearts.

— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

Bishop Bohdan coming to Charlotte CHARLOTTE — All are invited to attend the upcoming visit of Bishop Bohdan Danylo of the Eparchy of St. Josaphat in Parma, Ohio, to St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish on Sunday, March 3. Bishop Bohdan will celebrate a Pontifical Divine Liturgy (Mass) starting at 11 a.m. March 3 marks Forgiveness Sunday, the last Sunday before the start of the Danylo season of Great Lent.

St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish meets at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. Learn more online at www.stbasil.weebly.com.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Parish marks 10 years of devotion to St. Peregrine CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Parish recently received an award for 10 years of promoting devotion to St. Peregrine. Father Chris Krymski, director of the National Shrine of St. Peregrine and associate pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica in Chicago, presented the award Jan. 24 to pastor Father Pat Hoare and Michele Gauvin, executive assistant to Father Hoare, who brought the devotion to the parish. Gauvin learned of the saint during her late father’s battle with cancer. Father Krymski preached an engaging homily, encouraging the faithful to “take courage” in sharing their Catholic faith in these tumultuous times. He relayed a story about his last visit to St. Matthew Parish two years ago, when a woman shared that she had a miracle related to the cost of her cancer medication. He included her story in his latest book, “Jesus the Healer; St. Peregrine, OSM, the Helper.” The woman was in the congregation Jan. 24 and made herself known to Father Krymski during the homily. After the service, the two shared a hug, obviously joyful at the saint’s intercession in her situation. Deacons Jim Hamrlik, Gary Schrieber and Jack Staub assisted Father Krymski and Father Hoare in blessing the faithful with first-class relics of St. Peregrine. The parish choir and band provided the music during the one-hour service. The parish holds the St. Peregrine healing prayer service on the fourth Thursday of each month in the church, located at 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. in Charlotte.

Rusciolelli joins Franciscan order BARBARA LENGERS SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

INDIAN LAND, S.C. — Molly Rusciolelli, music director for Our Lady of Grace Church and former parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, has entered the postulancy of the Franciscan Daughters of Mary in Covington, Ky. Rusciolelli, 22, has served the parish just across the North Carolina state line for two years in several capacities including organist, choir director and home school co-op teacher – all of which espouse the mission of her order: “… we witness to the dignity of all human persons by being living examples of the love of Christ for our neighbors.”

As she pursues her formation as a Franciscan sister, Rusciolelli will also serve at the Rose Garden Home Mission in Covington, a comprehensive pregnancy care center run by the Franciscan Daughters of Mary. It helps mothers-to-be make informed choices about prenatal care while assisting them with a noquestions-asked food pantry, a free primary care clinic, and a free dental clinic. In addition, the mission offers free counseling, parenting classes and more to needy families in the community.

Rusciolelli’s religious vocation does not surprise parishioners at Our Lady of Grace Church.

Natalie Jackson, the parish’s social ministry director, said, “She quietly took care of an elderly neighbor who did not have the family support she needed. Molly saw a need and stepped in. The neighbor once shared with me that they didn’t know God could make anything as pure as her in this world.”

“Even as a child Molly had a deep sense of virtue and a desire to serve Our Lord through service to those around her,” said her parents Bill and Debbie Rusciolelli, who have eight other children including a student at St. Joseph College Seminary in Charlotte. “It only seemed natural that she would choose to discern religious life as her vocation.”

Rusciolelli credits her family’s support and the personal witness of women religious she has met over the years.

“A solid family life that is the breeding ground for virtue and patience in waiting while spending time sitting quietly with the Lord” is what she said aided her seven-year discernment process to pursue a religious vocation.

For discernment help, she turned to the VISION Vocation Guide and its website VocationNetwork.org, a comprehensive guide about Catholic religious vocations and women’s religious communities, where she discovered the Franciscan

PHOTO PROVIDED

Molly Rusciolelli is pictured with her family at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Indian Land, S.C., before departing for the Franciscan Daughters of Mary in Covington, Ky., where she has taken her first religious vows.

Daughters of Mercy.

At a Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral on Dec. 22, Bishop Peter Jugis prayed over Rusciolelli and expressed his gratitude to her for her contributions to ministries at the cathedral over the many years she was a parishioner there.

Rusciolelli was also given a farewell party Dec. 30 after Mass at the Indian Land parish before she and her parents departed for the convent in Covington.

“It’s been a great experience to have Molly in the parish and watch her grow and witness to the Lord in the community. Molly has led us in sacred song, worked among our homebound parishioners, and started our outreach to unwed mothers and unborn children,” said Father Jeffrey Kirby, pastor. “She has done some great work and will be missed by our community.”

BARBARA LENGERS is the communications officer for Our Lady of Grace Church in Indian Land, S.C.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

7

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

Diácono Enedino Aquino

Abre un abanico de oportunidades a tus hijos

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

El Obispo Peter Jugis fue el celebrante principal de la Misa por la Vida de Carolina del Norte realizada en la Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepción, en la que estuvo presente el Obispo Luis Zarama de la Diócesis de Raleigh.

Al término de la Misa, el Obispo Jugis, acompañado de religiosos, religiosas, sacerdotes, seminaristas y peregrinos, marchó hasta el edificio de la Corte Suprema, donde dedicó el rezo del Rosario al respeto por la Vida.

D

e vez en cuando tengo que ir a la cárcel.

Es un ministerio que no quise tomar de lleno, me gustan más los enfermos y ese es mi ministerio.

Pero la cárcel no la puedo dejar de lado. Y les voy a decir algo, yo siempre he pensado que no hay, que no existe gente mala, salvo que le hemos dado un nombre.

Existe gente mala a la cual no se le ha dicho que puede hacer cosas buenas.

Y el común denominador de todos ellos es la falta de oportunidades. Y muchos me lo dicen, “si yo hubiera”, “si yo hubiera”, “a mí nadie me dio”, “a mí nadie me puso un abanico de oportunidades al frente”, “lo único que conocí fue violencia, fue droga, fue esto, fue el otro”. Siempre falta de oportunidades.

Por estas fechas estamos celebrando la semana de las escuelas católicas. Va a estar interesante, ojalá despiertes -en verdad- del letargo que muchas veces nos da el cuidar muchas veces el bolsillo. Porque esa es la idea general.

Señores, dénse la oportunidad de ir y sentarse a escuchar sobre las escuelas católicas y las ventajas que tienen respecto a las escuelas públicas.

Pon delante de tus hijos ese abanico de oportunidades.

Si tú no se las presentas, ellos no van a poder ver otras cosas que podrías ofrecerles.

Ellos tienen información como la que he escuchado de varios jovencitos que se han acercado y entregado su testimonio sobre lo que la escuela ha hecho en ellos.

Imagínate lo que puede hacer en tus hijos esa educación integral que estos muchachos nos estaban contando.

Desde lo que es espiritual hasta la cuestión física, la cuestión intelectual. Yo te diría que te des, que les des la oportunidad. No dejes que pase de largo, ve y visita la escuela, entérate de sus ventajas, pregunta, infórmate. Hay buenas cosas, las mejores escuelas son las escuelas católicas.

Pon las cosas en la balanza, dale la oportunidad a los tuyos. Así como muchos me dicen “es que a mí no me dieron oportunidades”, a nosotros también, yo entiendo.

Hay muchos de ustedes que llegaron solamente a la primaria, a la secundaria y son buenos trabajadores.

Pero, tenemos que entender, que hemos sido una generación muy especial.

Nuestros hijos necesitan más. Ustedes vean el abanico de oportunidades que hay afuera: ser delincuente, ser un Zeta, ser un distribuidor de marihuana, de esto y del otro. ¡Allá afuera hay oportunidades!

Yo espero que hagas conciencia de esto. Busca información, entérate sobre las charlas de admisión que ofrecen tus escuelas católicas y ve a ellas.

Yo he tenido la oportunidad de ver la información que ofrecen y es muy importante que ustedes la conozcan para que se la muestren a sus niños.

Yo siempre he pensado que lo que forja a un hombre es la educación. Y, basada en los principios cristianos, como se hace en las escuelas católicas, señores, no lo piensen.

Tienen también becas, hay cosas importantes que ustedes pueden lograr para sus hijos. Por eso, asiste a las charlas, siéntate un ratito y escucha. El tiempo que dediques a estas reuniones informativas puede hacer una gran diferencia en tus hijos. Y eso, imagino, es lo que como padre, como madre, quieres lograr para ellos.

EL DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO sirve como coordinador del Ministerio Hispano en Greensboro.

Carolina del Norte dijo sí a la Vida CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cientos de peregrinos de Carolina del Norte llegaron hasta la Basílica del Santuario Nacional de la Inmaculada Concepción, en la capital del país el pasado 18 de enero, para atender la Misa celebrada por sus obispos, para luego dirigirse a la Marcha Nacional por la Vida que recorrió las principales calles de Washington.

La Misa anual de Carolina del Norte dando gracias a Dios por el don de la vida humana, es una tradición de larga data para las dos diócesis católicas del estado. La misa fue concelebrada por el obispo de Charlotte Peter Jugis y el obispo de Raleigh, Luis Zarama.

El Obispo Jugis, celebrante principal, dio la bienvenida a los asistentes a la Misa diciendo que “los fieles de todo el estado de Carolina del Norte han llegado juntos a esta Misa representado a las Diócesis de Charlotte y Raleigh, así como de muchas otras ciudades de los Estados Unidos.

Venimos a ofrecer el sacrificio de Cristo, en acción de gracias a Dios por el regalo de la vida humana y por la protección de Dios a los no nacidos”.

Esta fue la primera Misa por la Vida en Washington para el Obispo Zarama desde que fue nombrado como Obispo de Raleigh en 2017. “¡Dios mío!”, dijo al iniciar su homilía desde el alto púlpito de la Iglesia principal, mirando a la multitud que abarrotaba la Basílica. “No creo haber estado nunca tan alto, creo que voy a necesitar tomar una pastilla para el mareo”, bromeó.

En su mensaje, el Obispo Zarama invitó a los peregrinos a enfocarse primeramente en Dios, para fortalecer su fe y amor a Dios en orden para ayudar a construir una cultura de vida. “Entreguémonos a los brazos de aquel que realmente nos ama”, pidió Zarama.

Dios nos ha hecho con amor, continuó, y este hecho debería hacernos “saltar hacia lo alto” con gozo.

“Necesitamos celebrar la vida, ¿y cómo celebramos la vida? ¡Con gozo!”, dijo.

“Ese gozo es el que las personas están buscando ver en nosotros”, añadió. “La alegría de lo que creemos, la belleza de nuestra vida y el respeto por la persona humana, de principio a fin, y todo lo que hay entre estos extremos”.

El Obispo Zarama señaló que el estilo de vida del mundo moderno nos invita a poner en el mismo nivel el “amor” por Dios, nuestro prójimo y “cosas” como coches, mascotas y hasta alimentos.

“El amor debe ser por Dios, por nuestro prójimo, por nosotros mismos. No por pizza, no por su coche”, subrayó.

SORPRESIVAS PALABRAS

Cuando el Obispo Zarama concluyó su homilía y procedía a retirarse, sorpresivamente regresó al púlpito y dijo que, debido a que pensaba algunas personas presentes solo hablaban español, les dirigiría algunas palabras.

“Hay que entender que, especialmente en nuestra cultura, hay que perder la vergüenza de expresar amor”, dijo. “Uno no sabe qué tan importante es hasta que una persona viene y te dice ‘te amo’. En ese momento cambia todo”.

Zarama señaló que si no conocemos del amor no encontramos valor a la vida, “y por eso hay aborto, por eso hay eutanasia, por eso hay pena de muerte”. “Solamente con la dulzura de un corazón se puede transformar otro corazón. Solamente con la dulzura del amor se transforma otra vida”, subrayó.

Al término de la Misa, el Obispo Jugis pidió a todos llevar el espíritu de la Marcha por la Vida a sus parroquias “para continuar el trabajo que hemos comenzado aquí y el mensaje de Dios pueda difundirse a lo largo y ancho de nuestro país”.

Saliendo de la Basílica, los peregrinos se unieron a cientos de miles en la Marcha por la Vida en su recorrido desde el Mall hasta la Corte Suprema, en recuerdo del aniversario de la decisión Roe vs Wade de la Corte Suprema, por la que se legalizó el aborto en 1973.

A la marcha acudieron peregrinos de Belmont Abbey College, la escuela católica secundaria de Charlotte y delegaciones de varias parroquias de la diócesis de Charlotte.

El Obispo Jugis se unió a la marcha junto con sacerdotes, seminaristas, religiosos, religiosas y laicos. Al llegar al edificio de la Corte Suprema rezaron juntos un Rosario.

“Ha sido hermoso ver a toda la Iglesia de los Estados Unidos reunida por los no nacidos, los bebés y todos los que, de una u otra manera, han sido heridos por la cultura de muerte; así como también junta en oración por la victoria de la cultura de la vida”, dijo el padre Peter Ascik, peregrino que viajó en compañía de la delegación de la Catedral San Patricio.

Más online En Facebook.com/CNHespanol: Vea imágenes y videos sobre lo ocurrido en la Misa de Carolina del Norte y la posterior Marcha por la Vida

8

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe entre las cinco más grandes de la diócesis SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

CHARLOTTE — Las últimas cifras muestran que la Diócesis de Charlotte ha alcanzado 77.000 familias registradas y tres de las hoy más grandes parroquias ni siquiera existían cuando la diócesis fue fundada.

En 1972, cuando la Diócesis de Charlotte fue separada de la Diócesis de Raleigh, existía un estimado de 34.208 católicos en 74 parroquias y misiones. Hoy, la Diócesis de Charlotte acoge a más de 77.445 familias registradas, haciendo un total de al menos 220.000 personas en 92 parroquias y misiones, de acuerdo a datos recogidos por la Oficina Diocesana de Desarrollo y Planeamiento Al 1 de enero, las cinco parroquias con mayor población son San Mateo en Charlotte (10,453 familias registradas); San Marcos en Huntersville (5,496 familias registradas); Santa Teresa en Mooresville (4,059 familias registradas); San Gabriel en Charlotte (3,361 familias registradas); y

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte (3,247 familias registradas).

El Ministerio Hispano de la diócesis comenzó con raíces humildes a fines de la década de 1980, y más tarde desarrolló un Centro Hispano en Charlotte, el que ahora se ha convertido en la quinta parroquia más grande de la diócesis: la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

El Padre Vicentino Gregorio Gay, quien sirve como vicario parroquial desde diciembre de 2016, asegura que el edificio de la iglesia está al máximo de su capacidad.

“Desde que he estado aquí, he notado el incremento en el número de participantes en nuestras Misas dominicales y de semana”, dijo. “Actualmente la gente ocupa los pasillos y la entrada para atender Misa. Durante las misas de semana hemos trasladado la Eucaristía desde la pequeña capilla al salón principal multipropósito.

También hemos expandido nuestra área de estacionamiento para acomodar más vehículos”.

La parroquia ha renovado la casa de los ministerios de servicios sociales creando

un mayor espacio para la despensa de alimentos, servicios médicos y reuniones comunitarias como de Alcohólicos Anónimos y clases de español.

La parroquia ha crecido de dos a tres sacerdotes, ha añadido personal administrativo y expandido la oficina pastoral. Un aspecto positivo de todo este crecimiento, dice el padre Gay, es que el número de participantes en las clases de formación de la fe ha aumentado.

“Hemos respondido a este crecimiento aumentando un día extra al programa regular de cinco días”, anotó. “El número de adultos en las clases también ha crecido y ahora tenemos tres grupos diferentes en vez de dos, asegurando la posibilidad que las personas puedan completar sus sacramentos.

Todos esos programas requieren de voluntarios. “Tenemos un movimiento de Renovación Carismática muy activo, el Movimiento de los Hijos e Hijas de María, el Movimiento Emaús, entre otros grupos, que proveen de un número adecuado de voluntarios”, añadió el Padre Gay.

Las 5 parroquias más grandes de la diócesis PARROQUIA SAN MATEO......................... 10,453

PARROQUIA SAN MARCOS.......................5,496

PARROQUIA SANTA TERESA....................4,059

PARROQUIA SAN GABRIEL........................ 3,361

PARROQUIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GUADALUPE .................................................. 3,247 = 1,000 PEOPLE

Ministerio Juvenil Hispano realizó primera reunión diocesana CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

MOORESVILLE — Como un “completo éxito” calificó Ibis Centeno, recientemente nombrada coordinadora del Ministerio Juvenil Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, la primera reunión de líderes e integrantes de este ministerio a nivel diocesano.

“Teníamos cuarenta jóvenes registrados y han llegado ochenta”, dijo Centeno. “Ha sido una sorpresa hermosa, y la verdad es que sentimos que el Espíritu quiere que esto suceda. Veo a los jóvenes con mucho entusiasmo, ganas de salir adelante. Han llegado con sugerencias, expresando sus necesidades y eso es lo que necesitamos conocer para luego planificar”, añadió.

La cita, realizada el pasado sábado 26 de enero en las instalaciones de la parroquia Santa Teresa en Mooresville, acogió también a varios de los coordinadores del Ministerio Hispano de diversos vicariatos, sacerdotes y el Padre Fidel Melo, director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, quien dedicó algunas palabras de aliento a los presentes.

El Padre Melo dijo que es “muy satisfactorio sentir la respuesta generosa de los jóvenes”, su entusiasmo, esperanza y alegría de abrazar las causas nobles. “Es una grata sorpresa de Dios quien llama a las personas a participar”, señaló.

Confesó estar sorprendido por la participación masiva, aunque destacó que “Charlotte siempre va arriba con los números”, aunque no somos la comunidad latina más numerosa del sureste de los Estados Unidos donde se nos adelantan ciudades de Florida y Atlanta, Georgia. Resaltó que ha sido importante ver la expresión de “fe y sed grande de Dios” en esta actividad donde se retoma el trabajo del Ministerio Juvenil de la Diócesis.

Los asistentes recibieron información sobre políticas, guías y procedimientos de funcionamiento del Ministerio Juvenil dictados por las autoridades diocesanas con la finalidad de contar con un movimiento juvenil sano que respete a sus integrantes. Se hizo hincapié en la necesidad de cumplir con el requerimiento de contar con líderes y

guías capacitados y certificados en el curso ‘Protegiendo a los Niños de Dios’ que ofrece la Diócesis a través del portal Virtus con la finalidad de informar, conocer y prevenir el abuso de menores durante las actividades de iglesia, proporcionando un ambiente seguro en el que el abuso sexual infantil no es tolerado ni encubierto.

También se recogió información de las delegaciones asistentes sobre sus inquietudes, necesidades, estado actual del ministerio en sus parroquias, próximas actividades y sugerencias de acción.

“La primera meta que nos hemos propuesto lograr es comunicación”, dijo Centeno. “Colaboración, que todos caminemos juntos. Hoy vamos a llegar a un acuerdo, a una visión, a una misión, a la que llegaremos unidos, caminando juntos”, apuntó.

Respecto al alejamiento de algunos jóvenes de las actividades de la iglesia, Centeno dijo que parte CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD del problema es que “algunos de Cuarenta jóvenes y líderes de grupos juveniles se registraron para atender la primera reunión los adultos mayorcitos tenemos de coordinación del Ministerio Juvenil a nivel diocesano. Sin embargo, la sorpresa fue grande la tendencia de criticar y juzgar a cuando llegaron aproximadamente ochenta. Uno de los grupos más numerosos y alegre fue el que nuestros jóvenes y eso nos separa, representó a la parroquia San Miguel de Gastonia, que aparece en la gráfica. nos divide”. Aún más, anotó, que “con el problema de la tecnología” los jóvenes nos “están pasando” y los adultos “nos estamos regresemos a nuestras parroquias a trabajar con nuestros quedando atrás”, por lo que, como inmigrantes, además grupos juveniles”. Luego anotó que por el carácter de tener “la competencia” de la cultura americana, ahora inquieto de los jóvenes, es importante trabajar con tenemos la “otra competencia de la tecnología”. Por actividades para mantenerlos activos y reconocer, a través ello cree que con la información de las necesidades de de testimonios, “la historia personal de cada uno de ellos”. los jóvenes se podrá poner en marcha proyectos que los atraigan y “hagan crecer este Ministerio”.

Más online Itzeny Soriano, miembro del grupo ‘Esperanza del En Facebook.com/CNHespanol: Vea videos sobre esta actividad del mañana’ de la parroquia St. James en Concord, dijo Ministerio Latino de jóvenes que la reunión “está dando muchas ideas para cuando

Lecturas Diarias FEB. 3-9

Domingo: Jeremías 1:4-5, 17-19, 1 Corintios 12:31-13:13, Lucas 4:21-30; Lunes: Hebreos 11:32-40, Marcos 5:1-20; Martes (Sta. Ágatha): Hebreos 12:1-4, Marcos 5:21-43; Miércoles (San Pablo Miki y compañeros): Hebreos 12:4-7, 11-15, Marcos 6:1-6; Jueves: Hebreos 12:18-19, 21-24, Marcos 6:7-13; Viernes (San Jerónimo Emiliani, Santa Josefina Bakhita): Hebreos 13:1-8, Marcos 6:1429; Sábado: Hebreos 13:15-17, 20-21, Marcos 6:30-34

FEB. 10-16

Domingo: Isaías 6:1-8, 1 Corintios 15:1-11, Lucas 5:1-11; Lunes (Nuestra Señora de Lourdes): Génesis 1:1-19, Marcos 6:53-56; Martes: Génesis 1:20-2:4, Marcos 7:1-13; Miércoles: Génesis 2:4-9, 15-17, Marcos 7:14-23; Jueves (San Cirilo Monje y San Metodio Obispo): Génesis 2:18-25, Marcos 7:24-30; Viernes: Génesis 3:1-8, Marcos 7:31-37; Sábado: Génesis 3:9-24, Marcos 8:1-10

FEB. 17-23

Domingo: Jeremías 17:5-8, 1 Corintios 15:12, 16-20, Lucas 6:17, 20-26; Lunes: Génesis 4:1-15, 25, Marcos 8:11-13; Martes: Génesis 6:5-8, 7:1-5, 10, Marcos 8:14-21; Miércoles: Génesis 8:6-13, 20-22, Marcos 8:22-26; Jueves (San Pedro Damián): Génesis 9:1-13, Marcos 8:27-33; Viernes (La cátedra de San Pedro): 1 Peter 5:1-4, Mateo 16:13-19; Sábado (San Policarpio): Hebreos 11:1-7, Marcos 9:2-13

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

9

Grupo de parejas ofrece retiros Pre-Cana a futuros matrimonios en Vicariato de Charlotte CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Las parejas que desean casarse tendrån la oportunidad de asistir al próximo retiro PreCana que realizarå el Vicariato de Charlotte el próximo 23 de marzo en las instalaciones de la parroquia San Gabriel.

AsĂ­ lo dio a conocer Gloria Restrepo, quien junto a su esposo Augusto Frattini, es parte de las parejas que conforman el equipo que ofrece este retiro, uno de los requisitos indispensables con que deben contar quienes desean contraer matrimonio religioso en las diferentes parroquias del vicariato.

Restrepo, quien coordina este grupo desde 2013, antes que sea considerado como parte formativa del Vicariato, se conociĂł con Frattini en MedellĂ­n, Colombia, en 1976, contrayendo matrimonio en 1985.

En su paĂ­s, Restrepo trabajĂł ofreciendo conferencias sobre procesos de calidad humana y observĂł que brindaban resultados positivos en la consolidaciĂłn de familias y parejas.

Tras mudarse a Miami, Florida, continuĂł brindando asistencia con retiros de parejas y charlas de seguimiento, actividad que trasladĂł a la parroquia San Gabriel cuando se instalaron en Charlotte.

Frattini y Restrepo dictan una charla en la que, destacando las diferencias biolĂłgicas entre hombre y mujer, ofrecen una soluciĂłn de entendimiento y aceptaciĂłn de la realidad de la pareja tal y

como es. “Llevamos cinco aĂąos en esto y hemos visto pasar quizĂĄs por las charlas como quinientas parejas. Eso nos ha fortalecido como matrimonio y nos ha dejado la satisfacciĂłn de ver que, a los meses, muchas de estas parejas se han casadoâ€?, seĂąala Frattini.

Por su parte Evelyn y Manuel Esquivel, nacidos en Estados Unidos y Cuba respectivamente, ofrecen una importante charla que genera comentarios y polĂŠmica: el manejo del dinero en el matrimonio.

La pareja se conociĂł en Miami en 1980 y contrajo matrimonio el 17 de diciembre de 1983. DespuĂŠs de trasladarse a Charlotte, ambos se hicieron miembros de la parroquia San Gabriel, donde Manuel ofrece su talento musical como director del coro y Evelyn se desempeĂąa como coordinadora del Ministerio Hispano.

Ambos reconocen que su compromiso de participaciĂłn en la Pastoral Familiar del Vicariato se generĂł ante el impulso del Padre Gabriel Carvajal, Vicario de la parroquia San Gabriel, de promover el sacramento del matrimonio entre las parejas que solo conviven sin regularizar su vida sacramental. “Me toca mucho que estas parejas, que han convivido por muchos aĂąos, quieran recibir esta bendiciĂłnâ€?, asegura Evelyn. “Algunos llegan muy serios y verlos salir, irse con ese brillo en los ojos, me llena muchoâ€?, aĂąade.

La pareja de colombianos conformada por Gonzalo PulgarĂ­n y Adriana Plata

ofrecen una charla que trata el tema de la importancia de la comunicaciĂłn en la pareja.

Con 29 aĂąos de casados y 28 de residencia en Estados Unidos, la pareja, que cuenta con tres hijos, desde hace nueve aĂąos estĂĄ al servicio de Dios en la parroquia San Lucas. “Le pedimos a Dios algo especĂ­fico y nos llamĂł como testimonio de pareja para la Pastoral Familiarâ€?, dice PulgarĂ­n.

Plata reconoce que a veces llega “el momento del cansancio, de uno querer tener su vidaâ€?, pero son “las mismas parejas con las que convivimos nos hacen venir a darles algo que nosotros hemos experimentado. No somos el matrimonio perfecto, pero nuestras vidas han sido edificadas a base de triunfos, alegrĂ­as, tristezas, tropiezos, pero siempre, al final, hemos experimentado el amor de Dios y su misericordia en nosotros. Y cuando vemos a estas parejas que necesitan conocer del amor de Dios, eso nos impulsa a que ellos tambiĂŠn vivan esta vida sacramentalâ€?.

Finalmente, JosĂŠ y Yolanda Zamora dictan la charla sobre la presencia de Dios en el matrimonio. La pareja, de origen mexicano, llegĂł en 2003 a los Estados Unidos y en 2005 JosĂŠ pidiĂł en matrimonio a Yolanda. “Yo no querĂ­a venir a Charlotteâ€?, relatĂł JosĂŠ, pero ante la inminente partida de ella, ĂŠl decidiĂł acompaĂąarla en la aventura.

Yolanda afirma que “es bonito dar el tiempo aquĂ­ porque alguien mĂĄs me lo diĂł a mĂ­, y ese es el compromiso cristianoâ€?.

JosĂŠ resalta que “lo que nos mueve es Dios,

que es el centro de nuestro hogar y, aunque tengamos problemas, siempre nos vamos a levantar con Élâ€?. “Nuestra vida se ha transformado y si Dios nos puso aquĂ­ es por algo y haremos lo que Él nos vaya diciendoâ€?, subrayaron.

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iiiFebruary 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM TH

2019 DSA campaign reminds us of our call to put faith in action SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

Where does your money go?

The purpose of the Diocesan Support Appeal is to help provide the annual funding necessary to carry out the mission of our diocese – namely to fulfill our call to “grow ever more perfectly into a community of praise, worship and witness, and to become a leaven of service and sign of peace through love in the Piedmont and Western North Carolina.”

All parishes and missions in the diocese help fund the annual DSA. Parishes that exceed their goal in donations receive a rebate of 100 percent for the additional funds.

Parishes that fall short of their goal in donations have the shortfall taken out of their operating budgets.

DSA funds are distributed as follows:

32% to CATHOLIC CHARITIES Burial Assistance Case Management Counseling Disaster Relief Elder Ministry Far West Families First Food Pantries Clothing Closet Legal Immigration Services Marriage Preparation Natural Family Planning Pregnancy Support & Adoption Refugee Services Respect Life Social Concerns & Advocacy Stay the Course Teen & Young Parent Support Transitions Out of Poverty Case Management Translation & Interpretation Enterprise Wee Care Shoppe Youth in Crisis

29% to EDUCATION Evangelization/Adult Education RCIA Campus Ministry Faith Formation Office Youth Ministry Young Adult Ministry Catholic Schools Offices Office of the Vicar of Education

15% to MULTICULTURAL MINISTRIES Hispanic Ministries Hmong Ministry African American Ministry

10% to VOCATIONS Seminarian Education Permanent Diaconate

8% to OTHER Eucharistic Congress Housing Ministry

6% to DSA CAMPAIGN COSTS

NOTE: THIS CHART REFLECTS PROJECTED 2019 DSA FUNDING FOR $6.08 MILLION WHICH IS ALLOCATED TO THESE OFFICES AND MINISTRIES.

CHARLOTTE — Christ Himself set the example for all Christians that we are to be His hands and His feet in the world. Here in the Diocese of Charlotte, the 2019 DSA campaign gives us the opportunity to put our faith into action by contributing to Christ’s work in ways such as feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger and educating the faithful.

In his DSA appeal letter to the faithful, Bishop Peter Jugis shared a passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians: “‘For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them’ (Eph 2:10).

“This is a heartfelt reminder and an opportunity to put our faith into action to help others while supporting our 2019 Diocesan Support Appeal, ‘We Are His Hands,’” the bishop said.

The DSA campaign funds more than 50 programs and ministries. It also funds the core operations of 30 ministries and agencies, like those mentioned above, that serve thousands of people across the diocese.

Most notably, the DSA is a significant funding source for Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte for its counseling, food pantries, pregnancy support, refugee resettlement, elder ministry, Respect Life and other programs, as well as the programs and ministries of the Education Vicariate.

The DSA also supports multicultural ministries, seminarian education, the permanent diaconate, the annual Eucharistic Congress, and the diocese’s housing corporation.

Catholic Charities receives 32 percent of the funds collected in the campaign. Other DSA funds are allocated to: the Education Vicariate (29 percent); multicultural ministries (15 percent); vocations (10 percent); and the Eucharistic Congress and the diocesan housing ministry (8 percent). Campaign administrative costs are projected to be 6 percent.

Last year, parishioners raised a record $6.3 million – 8 percent over the goal and the most ever raised in this annual campaign.

The 2019 DSA campaign has a goal of $6.08 million, which represents a 3.5 percent increase over the 2018 goal.

Parishioners in all 92 parishes and missions in the diocese fund the annual DSA campaign. Each parish has an assessed goal. Parishes that exceed their goal in donations receive a rebate for 100 percent of the additional funds collected; parishes which fall short of their goal in donations from parishioners make up the shortfall from their operating budgets.

In the 2019 DSA video, Bishop Jugis summarized this year’s campaign, saying, “‘We Are His Hands’ is an apt description for all of the activity that takes place in our diocese thanks to the Diocesan Support Appeal.”

More online On the Diocese of Charlotte YouTube channel: View the 2019 DSA video

How to support the DSA

PLEDGE: Make a pledge in response to a mailing you receive or in-pew appeal at your local p credit card or check. Pledging allows you to make a greater gift over time. You will receive paid, or until December 2019.

DONATE ONLINE: Donate online at www. charlottediocese.org/dsa, either with a one-time g you give online, please do not complete a pledge envelope at your local parish. This could r

ONE-TIME DONATIONS: Give a one-time contribution in response to a mailing you receive o “DSA” and note the name of your parish in the memo line of the check. Do not send cash th

STOCK DONATION: Make a donation of publicly traded securities and receive the tax benefi charlottediocese.org/ways-to-give.

FOR INQUIRIES: Contact Barb De Mase, associate director of development, at 704-370-3302

HE COVER

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.comiii PARISH/MISSION

La campaña DSA 2019 recuerda nuestro llamado a poner la fe en acción SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

parish. An individual DSA pledge may be paid in up to 10 installments by EFT, monthly reminder statements in the mail or by email until your pledge is

gift or set up a pledge with monthly gift payments via credit or debit card. (If result in having two gift records.)

or in-pew appeal at your local parish. Please make checks payable to the hrough the mail.

fits for giving appreciated stock. Instructions are online at www. or email bldemase@charlottediocese.org.

CHARLOTTE — Cristo mismo puso el ejemplo para todos los cristianos de que debemos ser Sus manos y Sus pies en el mundo. Aquí, en la Diócesis de Charlotte, la campaña DSA de 2019 nos brinda la oportunidad de poner nuestra fe en acción contribuyendo a la obra de Cristo de diversas maneras, como alimentando al hambriento, dando la bienvenida al extraño y educando a los fieles. En su carta de llamado de contribución para el DSA, el Obispo Peter Jugis compartió un pasaje de la Carta de San Pablo a los Efesios: “Porque somos hechura Suya, creados en Cristo Jesús para hacer buenas obras, las cuales Dios preparó de antemano para que anduviéramos en ellas”, Ef 2:10.

“Este es un recordatorio sincero y una oportunidad para poner nuestra fe en acción ayudando a otros, mientras apoyamos nuestra Campaña de Apoyo Diocesano 2019, ‘Nosotros Somos Sus Manos’”, dijo el obispo.

La campaña DSA financia más de 50 programas y ministerios. También costea las operaciones principales de 23 ministerios y agencias que sirven a miles de personas en toda la diócesis. En particular, la DSA es una fuente de financiamiento importante para Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte, para su oferta de consejería, despensas de alimentos, apoyo al embarazo, reasentamiento de refugiados, ministerio de personas de la tercera edad, Respeto a la Vida y otros programas, así como a los programas y ministerios educativos del Vicariato.

La DSA también apoya a los ministerios multiculturales, la educación de los seminaristas, el programa de diaconado permanente, el Congreso Eucarístico anual y la Corporación de Vivienda de la diócesis.

Caridades Católicas recibe el 32 por ciento de los fondos recaudados en la campaña. Otros fondos de la DSA se asignan al Vicariato de Educación (29 por ciento); ministerios multiculturales (15 por ciento); vocaciones (10 por ciento); el Congreso Eucarístico y el Ministerio de Vivienda Diocesano (8 por ciento). Los costos administrativos de la campaña se proyectan en 6 por ciento.

El año pasado, los feligreses recaudaron un récord de $6.3 millones, 3.5 por ciento sobre la meta y la recaudación más alta jamás alcanzada en esta campaña anual.

La campaña DSA 2019 tiene una meta de $ 6.8 millones, lo que representa un aumento del nueve por ciento sobre la meta de 2018.

Los feligreses de las 92 parroquias y misiones en la diócesis financian la campaña DSA anual. Cada parroquia tiene una meta asignada. Las parroquias que exceden su meta en donaciones reciben un reembolso por el cien por ciento de los fondos adicionales recaudados; mientras que las parroquias que no alcanzan su meta en donaciones compensan el déficit con sus presupuestos operativos.

En el video DSA de 2019, el Obispo Jugis resumió la campaña de este año diciendo que “Nosotros Somos Sus Manos” es la descripción más cercana de toda la actividad que se lleva a cabo en nuestra diócesis gracias al DSA”.

Más online En el canal de YouTube de la Diócesis de Charlotte: Vea el video DSA de 2019

11

DSA GOAL

Christ the King, High Point $13,673 Christ the King, Shelby $4,350 Divine Redeemer, Boonville $27,033 Good Shepherd, King $13,199 Holy Angels, Mount Airy $23,896 Holy Cross, Kernersville $80,810 Holy Family, Clemmons $157,119 Holy Infant, Reidsville $18,121 Holy Redeemer, Andrews $6,271 Holy Spirit, Denver $66,573 Holy Trinity, Taylorsville $7,218 Immaculate Conception, Forest City $43,501 Immaculate Conception, Hendersonville $139,133 Immaculate Conception, Waynesville $4,570 Immaculate Heart of Mary, High Point $141,142 Immaculate Heart of Mary, Murphy $22,278 Our Lady of Consolation, Charlotte $46,261 Our Lady of Fatima, Winston-Salem $10,818 Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro $115,246 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Bryson City $2,984 Our Lady of Guadalupe, Charlotte $79,714 Our Lady of Lourdes, Monroe $56,470 Our Lady of Mercy, Winston-Salem $87,138 Our Lady of the Americas, Biscoe $30,506 Our Lady of the Angels, Marion $11,575 Our Lady of the Annunciation, Albemarle $34,374 Our Lady of the Assumption, Charlotte $55,872 Our Lady of the Highways, Thomasville $18,154 Our Lady of the Mountains, Highlands $15,654 Our Lady of the Rosary, Lexington $21,580 Prince of Peace, Andrews $2,812 Queen of the Apostles, Belmont $96,308 Sacred Heart, Hamlet $3,116 Sacred Heart, Brevard $54,104 Sacred Heart, Mars Hill $8,786 Sacred Heart, Salisbury $106,962 St. Aloysius, Hickory $119,840 St. Andrew the Apostle, Mars Hill $9,752 St. Ann, Charlotte $116,330 St. Barnabas, Arden $84,943 St. Benedict, Greensboro $23,947 St. Benedict the Moor, Winston-Salem $10,728 St. Bernadette, Spruce Pine $34,432 St. Charles Borromeo, Morganton $51,772 St. Dorothy, Lincolnton $34,999 St. Elizabeth, Boone $41,273 St. Eugene, Asheville $83,857 St. Frances of Rome, Sparta $8,972 St. Francis of Assisi, Mocksville $21,788 St. Francis of Assisi, Franklin $30,202 St. Francis of Assisi, Jefferson $19,656 St. Francis of Assisi, Lenoir $28,449 St. Gabriel, Charlotte $374,641 St. Helen, Spencer Mountain $5,968 St. James, Concord $133,755 St. James, Hamlet $11,738 St. Joan of Arc, Asheville $28,692 St. John Baptist de La Salle, North Wilkesboro $18,205 St. John Lee Korean, Charlotte $15,559 St. John Neumann, Charlotte $100,924 St. John the Baptist, Tryon $46,105 St. John the Evangelist, Waynesville $18,932 St. Joseph Vietnamese, Charlotte $48,530 St. Joseph, Asheboro $31,409 St. Joseph, Newton $26,973 St. Joseph of the Hills, Eden $10,458 St. Joseph, Bryson City $7,016 St. Joseph, Kannapolis $18,943 St. Jude, Sapphire $20,967 St. Lawrence Basilica $81,665 St. Leo, Winston-Salem $169,326 St. Lucien, Spruce Pine $9,579 St. Luke, Mint Hill $112,414 St. Margaret Mary, Swannanoa $25,885 St. Margaret of Scotland, Maggie Valley $19,581 St. Mark, Huntersville $312,579 St. Mary, Greensboro $37,702 St. Mary, Shelby $25,781 St. Mary, Sylva $17,479 St. Matthew, Charlotte $837,171 St. Michael, Gastonia $81,669 St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte $95,082 St. Paul the Apostle, Greensboro $104,078 St. Peter, Charlotte $178,487 St. Philip the Apostle, Statesville $46,753 St. Pius X, Greensboro $209,297 St. Stephen, Elkin $14,180 St. Therese, Mooresville $182,912 St. Thomas Aquinas, Charlotte $107,489 St. Vincent de Paul, Charlotte $122,749 St. William, Murphy $21,063

TOTAL $6,080,000

Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘God wants this school, your school, to be a holy place’ SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Catholic school students across the Diocese of Charlotte celebrated Catholic Schools Week Jan. 27-Feb. 2.

All 19 schools enjoyed opportunities to show their school spirit and appreciation to teachers and students, and participate in community service projects and a school Mass.

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Masses at two schools this year: Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville and St. Mark School in Huntersville.

During his homily Jan. 30 at St. Mark Church, Bishop Jugis encouraged the students in their faith. “Jesus living in each one of our hearts brings us together and unites us,” he said. “We pray for our salvation and the salvation of the world. So we see how wonderfully the Mass unites us as one school family.”

“Isn’t that the special quality of a Catholic school – the Presence of Jesus Christ?” he asked. “As opposed to any other school we may have around here, either private school or public school?”

Through their shared faith and the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Catholic school brings students, parents and teachers together for a common purpose: serving God. “What does God want from you?” he asked, then replied, PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL AND KATIE WILLIAMS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD “God wants you to be holy. God wants every one of us as Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass Jan. 28 for Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville His children to be holy. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit (below) and Jan. 30 for St. Mark School in Huntersville. within each one of us.”

“In all that you do in school, in your learning, your studying, through your prayer – God wants this place, your school, also to be a holy place.”

He suggested three ways students can strive to be holy.

“One is to make sure you are praying every day,” he said. “Keep God first in our lives. He is why we are here, to serve.”

He also reminded students to attend Mass each Sunday. “It’s important to come together with your Church family, your parish family. The Holy Spirit will bring us to Mass so that we can hear the Word of God, Jesus, and receive His Body and Blood.”

Finally, he said, “Be charitable. If you really have the love of God in your heart, if Christ is dwelling there and you have the love of Christ, the love of Jesus in your heart, then that is going to show up in everything – in your actions, in your behavior, in how you treat other people with respect and kindness, serving others…”

Bishop Jugis reminded students to continue learning about their faith and to appreciate their education.

“We’re here during Catholic Schools Week to thank God for the gift of our school,” he said. “It is a gift that we receive, and with gratitude we have to work to make it grow. We pray that we will always serve God with humble and with loving hearts.”

Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School students read to IHM School Eagle’s Nest pre-K students, a Catholic Schools Week tradition for both schools.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LISA MICHALSKI-GILKEY

Holy Trinity Middle School teachers made sandwiches for the Urban Ministry Center of Charlotte during Catholic Schools Week.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from Catholic Schools Week and video highlights from the Jan. 30 Catholic Schools Week Mass with Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Mark Church

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CARRIE VEST

Charlotte Catholic High School welcomed national Catholic speaker and singer-songwriter PJ Anderson to bring his message of inspiration and faith to students during Catholic Schools Week. Anderson, who came straight to Charlotte from World Youth Day in Panama, spoke on the themes of “Pride in Faith,” “Pride in School,” and “Pride in Service.” He played a mixture of popular music, Christian rock and gospel songs. Students were encouraged and inspired by his message of faith and hope.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAROLYN KRAMER TILLMAN

St. Patrick School wins national $25,000 award SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — St. Patrick School is one of only 10 schools in the country to be awarded the Roberts Award for School Innovation, a $25,000 grant designed to assist schools in developing an innovative solution to a challenge within their school.

The award came from New Leaders, a nationally-recognized school leadership program. Board member Linnea Roberts established the award for outstanding New Leader principals.

St. Patrick Principal Amy Tobergte applied for the award with an enrichment project idea entitled Tech Hub. “This project seeks to change the landscape of our school by personalizing learning for our students through mobile technology, learning applications, and assistive devices,” Tobergte explained.

“Our Tech Hub project will impact our whole school, with a main concentration on our students with diverse learning needs including Matthew Morgan, Learning Support, LEAP and English Learners,” she said.

The idea behind Tech Hub is three-fold: redesign the computer lab to become a flexible learning environment; provide mobile technology of various types throughout the building as a-la-carte options for learners; and empower teachers and students with current, relevant applications to enhance learning experiences and outcomes.

The Tech Hub project will include redesigning the furniture and devices in the computer lab; purchasing new devices and assistive technology for “hubs” throughout the building; offering professional development for school staff on research-based best practices for technology integration; and providing time for teachers to plan meaningful lessons for students based on their learning targets.

“Tech Hub is a wonderful chance to look critically at the needs of our children, to add to our learning environment (and) to push them to meet their goals,” Tobergte said.

A committee of teachers who have the basic ideas of what they want to accomplish is ready to start planning this school year.

“We want to be thoughtful that these funds complement our resources that we have in our budget,” Tobergte noted. “We hope to begin this project this year, but see the full project taking life in the 2019’20 school year.

“We are all honored to have been selected for this incredible award, and we look forward to the impact these funds will have on our whole school community,” Tobergte said.

Mix

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Local artists glorify God with creation of gilded tabernacle

n Friday, Feb. 1, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “The Story of Saint Brigid of Ireland.”

A documentary on one of the pillars of Irish Christianity, St. Brigid of Kildare. n Friday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Tshimangadzo: The Story of Benedict Daswa.”

Details surrounding Blessed Benedict Daswa’s life as a beloved husband, father, and devout Catholic, who was eventually martyred for denouncing the ritualistic killings being done in South Africa. n Saturday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Saint Rome of Lima.”

The faith journey of Isabel Flores de Oliva, whose great love for God and neighbor would lead to her canonization as St. Rose of Lima. n Saturday, Feb. 9, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “My Name is Bernadette.”

After experiencing an extraordinary vision at a grotto, fifteen year old Bernadette Soubirous must cope with the distrust and disbelief of her fellow country men as she keeps the promise she made to the beautiful lady she envisioned.

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

‘Serenity’ Romantic thriller in which an emotionally scarred Iraq War vet (Matthew McConaughey) working as a fishing boat captain on a tropical island finds his isolated lifestyle interrupted when his ex-wife (Anne Hathaway) unexpectedly appears and offers to pay him millions to dispose of her alcoholic and abusive second spouse by taking him out on an excursion and feeding him to the local sharks. Viewers’ artistic evaluation of writer-director Steven Knight’s film will largely depend on their reaction to a weird plot twist meant to upend expectations, though there can be no question that his dialogue is laughably bad at times. Skewed values, a half-dozen uses of profanity, several mild oaths, pervasive rough and occasional crude language.

CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ Faithful, evocative and reverent adaptation of James Baldwin’s 1974 novel about a struggling young African-American couple (KiKi Layne and Stephan James), with many of the attendant weaknesses such careful film realizations can bring with them. Much of the dialogue is a bit of a slog to sit through. But the enduring love and strong family ties survive all manner of hardships, including James’ character being framed by a racist police officer on a rape charge. Momentary domestic abuse, a few racial slurs, fleeting rough language.

CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R

CHARLOTTE — A new tabernacle graces the sanctuary of St. Ann Church, thanks to parishioners’ donations and the work of several local artists.

The 100-pound tabernacle, made of gilded poplar and basswood, was designed by architect James McCrery to complement the church’s architecture and its scale within the sanctuary. Local artists Jacob Wolfe and Mary Clark, who have created artwork for several other churches in the Diocese of Charlotte, decorated the tabernacle. Metalsmith Seth Gould of Asheville crafted a custom key and lock, and St. Ann parishioner James McCarthy cut the marble for the tabernacle’s installation.

“Hundreds of parishioners” donated to the tabernacle project, noted Father Timothy Reid, pastor, “because of their love of the liturgy.”

Over the course of a year, local artist Mary Clark gilded a new tabernacle for St. Ann Church. Clark and master carver Jacob Wolfe beautifully executed architect James McCrery’s design.

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The front bas-relief panel of the tabernacle depicts the Annunciation in a Romanesque style, matching the church’s architectural design.

Wolfe, a master carver and sculptor, estimates that he put more than 300 hours into building and sculpting the tabernacle.

“My goal in this work was to put the focus on Our Lady while having all the supporting elements within the small area,” he said. “It was challenging to pull this off because I had to keep in mind that it would be gilded, which changes surface texture significantly and how things are perceived by the viewer.”

Once Wolfe completed his woodworking, Clark began the painstaking process to gild the tabernacle using 1,500 pounded sheets of 23.75-carat gold. It took her about a year to complete the work of traditional water gilding, which involves carefully applying crushed stone, rabbit and fish skin glue, linen, red clay and gold sheets in layer after layer.

“It was a privilege of a lifetime to work on this tabernacle, not only as an artist but also as a Catholic,” Clark said. “I am so pleased for the parishioners of St. Ann and for the entire Catholic community that Father Reid had such a noble goal as a gilded tabernacle for Our Lord. (It is) a work of great beauty to house Beauty Himself ! I am humbled and grateful to have been a part of this historic piece.”

A new tabernacle has been in the plan for St. Ann Parish ever since the new church was dedicated in 2009, Father Reid said. And when the parish unveiled its spectacular apse mural, done in the style of “Adoration of the Lamb” by Jan Van Eyck, the artwork was planned with a new tabernacle in mind.

“We wanted something that kept with the particular beauty of St. Ann Church,” Father Reid said. “When you walk into the church your eye is drawn there. Your eye goes right to it, and that is on purpose. There’s a continuous line of sight up the aisle, to the altar, to the sanctuary lamp, to the tabernacle, to the mural of the Holy Trinity.”

Using local artists such as Wolfe and Clark, as well as the talents of parishioners, is “a form of stewardship,” Father Reid noted. “We save money by keeping it in the diocese. It’s important that we do something locally. It gives the people pride. If we want nice things in the diocese for God, then we have to help people develop their talents to provide them.

“This tabernacle, like our Church itself, is meant to be an expression of the faith of the parish. We want to make sure we give God the very best as a parish.”

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Our nation 14

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter Jugis joins priests, seminarians and faithful from the Diocese of Charlotte in praying the rosary in front of the U.S. Supreme Court building at the conclusion of the national March for Life.

Before the march, he concelebrated Mass with Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. CNS | GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

People walk up Constitution Avenue headed toward the U.S. Supreme Court while participating in the 46th March for Life Jan. 18 in Washington.

Crowd comes to march for different reasons but same message: Defend life KURT JENSEN AND JULIE ASHER CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The sights of the annual March for Life never seem to change.

Tens of thousands congregate on the National Mall on a brisk winter morning.

Many of them have arrived after hours on the road as part of bus caravans.

They listen to speeches and then march up to the U.S. Supreme Court to mark the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

The speeches and the marchers each year call for respect for all life and an end to abortion, but there’s nothing monolithic about the marchers. In fact, there’s great texture there and a diversity of faith traditions.

Alexander Kvenvolden and wife Aleah, at the march for the second year, had come all the way from Seattle by themselves.

Despite the damp chill and the remains of a snowfall on the ground, Alexander was in khaki shorts. “I like shorts all the time,” the software developer explained.

They’d both been active in Students for Life while in college. “I’m also super-stoked about (rally speakers) Ben Shapiro and Abby Johnson (founder of And Then There Were None),” Alexander said.

Ahead of his remarks to the Jan. 18 rally on the National Mall, Shapiro, a commentator and editor-in-chief of The Daily Wire, did a pre-rally podcast from the stage. He took a call from Vice President Mike Pence to appreciative whoops from the crowd. Later, Pence and his wife Karen made a surprise appearance at the rally.

“It’s an extraordinarily important event,” Pence said of the march. “Forty-six years ago this month, the Supreme Court turned (away from) the inalienable right to life.”

He also said he couldn’t be “more proud than to be the vice president of the most pro-life president in history, President

Donald Trump.”

Those who stand up for the dignity of life in all its stages and want to see this respect for all life enshrined once again in U.S. law have a friend in the Pence family and the Trump administration, Pence told the March for Life crowd.

After his remarks, the vice president introduced a videotaped message by President Trump, which also was unexpected.

In his message, Trump said the prolife movement is “founded on love and grounded in the nobility and dignity of every human life. I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence: the right to life.”

Jeanne Mancini, president of March for Life, welcomed the crowd and thanked them for coming once again to march to end abortion, what she called “the greatest human rights abuse of our time.”

She asked the crowd if they will keep marching to fight abortion, to march for the “poorest of the poor” and those who cannot march for themselves until “we no longer need to march” and abortion “is unthinkable.” She received a resounding “yes” to each question.

Looking out from the speakers’ platform, she declared the crowd to be bigger than she has ever seen in her seven years as head of March for Life.

No official crowd counts are available for such events, but organizers estimated more than 200,000 people attended the event.

“We must keep marching for life every day of the year,” Mancini said, and she asked each marcher to share his or her pro-life story on social media because even of those stories about “why we march” can change others’ minds about abortion.

The theme for this year’s March for Life was “Unique From Day One: Pro-life Is Pro-science,” focusing on how scientific advancements reveal “the humanity of the unborn child from the moment of conception.”

PHOTOS BY PHIL ROCHE AND CESAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

N.C. pilgrims attend Mass, then join March for Life in D.C. CÉSAR HURTADO HISPANIC REPORTER

WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Carolina pilgrims gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Jan. 18 to attend Mass with their bishops before stepping out to the national March for Life.

The annual North Carolina Mass Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life is a long-standing tradition for the state’s two Catholic dioceses. The Mass was concelebrated by Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama.

Bishop Jugis, principal celebrant, welcomed everyone to the Mass, saying, “Faithful from all over the state of North Carolina have come together for this Mass representing the Diocese of Raleigh and the Diocese of Charlotte, as well as faithful from cities all over the United States.

We come to offer the sacrifice of Christ, in thanksgiving to God for the gift of human life and for God’s protection of the unborn.”

It was Bishop Zarama’s first Mass for Life in Washington since being installed as the bishop of Raleigh in 2017.

In his homily, delivered in English and in Spanish, Bishop Zarama urged the pilgrims to focus firstly on God, to strengthen their faith and love of God in order to help build a culture of life.

“Surrender in the arms of the One who really loves us,” Bishop Zarama said.

God made each of us out of love, he continued, and that fact should prompt us to “jump high” with joy.

“We need to celebrate life. And how do we celebrate life? With joy!” he said.

“That joy is what the people outside are looking to see in us,” he said. “The joy of what we believe, the beauty of our life, and the respect for the human person from the beginning to the end, and everything in between.”

Bishop Zarama urged people to put God first in their lives, loving God and loving their neighbor.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Jugis encouraged everyone to carry the spirit of the March for Life back home with them to their parishes, to “continue the good work

that we have begun here, so that God’s message can spread throughout the length and breadth of our country.”

After the Mass, pilgrims joined hundreds of thousands of others at the March for Life on the Mall to the Supreme Court building, where they marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision that legalized abortion.

Charlotte parishioner Christianne Goodman said this was her first time attending the national March for Life.

“I am here to be a witness for life. I am so excited to be here, to be a witness for Christ and for life,” Goodman said. Prayer and public witness like the March for Life “touches hearts,” she said.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video highlights from the North Carolina Mass for Life and the March for Life in Washington, D.C.

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief House introduces measure to ban abortions at 20 weeks WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., was joined by more than 100 other members of the House Jan. 24 in introducing the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act of 2019, a measure to ban abortions after 20 weeks of gestation. Smith, a Catholic, is the bill’s lead sponsor, which cites research showing that unborn babies “can feel agonizing pain” at 20 weeks of development. “The majority of Americans – some 59 percent according to a recent poll – support legal protection for pain-capable unborn children,” Smith said, referring to results of an annual poll of Americans’ views on abortion conducted by the Marist Poll at Marist College. The poll showed that 75 percent of respondents want “substantial” restrictions on abortion access even as more than half of respondents describe themselves as “pro-choice.”

N.Y. bishops decry new law expanding abortion ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state “has become a more dangerous one for women and their unborn babies” with the passage of a bill to expand abortion called the Reproductive Health Act and Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signing it into law, said the New York State Catholic Conference. “Today,

15

New York state has added a sad chapter to this already solemn date of Jan. 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade,” the conference said. Cuomo fully backed the Reproductive Health Act as it made its way through the Legislature. Among its provisions are: granting nondoctors permission to perform abortions; removing protection for an infant accidentally born alive during an abortion; and allowing late-term abortions. A crowd cheered during the signing ceremony held on the anniversary of Roe v. Wade Jan. 22. Some Catholics have called for the governor, a Catholic, to be excommunicated.

Survey assesses views on women deacons WASHINGTON, D.C. — Should the Vatican permit the ordination of women as deacons – a topic that has been studied by a papal commission – a majority of U.S. bishops surveyed said they would expect the U.S. bishops to pave the way to implement it. There was, though, only a minority of U.S. bishops answering the survey who believe the ordination of women as deacons is theoretically possible. These were two key findings of a report issued Jan. 22 by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. Just 54 percent of the bishops said “yes” when asked “if the Holy See authorizes the sacramental ordination of women as deacons, would you consider implementing it in your diocese?” In 2016 Pope Francis established a 16-member commission to review the theology and history of the office of deacon in Roman Catholicism and the question of whether women might be allowed to become deacons. The group submitted its report to the pope in late 2018. The findings have yet to be released. ­— Catholic News Service

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Our world 16

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Right) A pilgrim is pictured behind a flag before Pope Francis’ celebration of Mass for World Youth Day pilgrims at St. John Paul II Field in Panama City Jan. 27.

(Far right) Pope Francis blesses the crowd with the monstrance during the World Youth Day prayer vigil.

PHOTOS BY CNS | PAUL HARING

(Bottom right) Pilgrims pray during Pope Francis’ World Youth Day vigil at St. John Paul II Field in Panama City Jan. 26.

CNS | JACLYN LIPPELMANN, CATHOLIC STANDARD

Like Mary, be ‘influencers’ for God, pope urges at World Youth Day JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

PANAMA CITY — Although Mary would not be considered an “influencer,” like many social media personalities, she still became the most influential woman in history by trusting “in the love and promises of God, the only force capable of making all things new,” Pope Francis told young people at the World Youth Day prayer vigil Jan. 26.

“Are you willing to be an ‘influencer’ like Mary, who dared to say, ‘Let it be done’?” he asked. “Only love makes us more human and fulfilled; everything else is a pleasant but useless placebo.”

Despite sweltering temperatures in Panama City, hundreds of thousands of young men and women made their way to St. John Paul II Park on the penultimate day of World Youth Day. They brought sleeping bags and tents, prepared to spend the night at the field – praying the rosary, making new friends – before celebrating Mass with Pope Francis at 8 a.m. Jan. 27. The pope did not spend the night, but returned later in the evening to the apostolic nunciature.

Arriving in his popemobile, Pope Francis made his way through a sea of colorful flags and banners people waved excitedly.

After the pope took his place on the stage, young adults from Panama and the Palestinian territories gave their experiences of finding faith and hope amid doubt, sickness and addiction.

Erika de Bucktron, a 42-year-old mother of four from Panama, spoke of the fear

and difficulties she faced when doctors said her pregnancy was at high risk after diagnosing her unborn daughter with Down syndrome.

Throughout her pregnancy, she said, she and her husband abandoned themselves in God’s hands and, after the birth of their daughter, decided “to love her with all our hearts, without making any difference with our other children, who also welcomed her with so much love.”

Panamanian Alfredo Martinez Andrion, 20, recalled his experience of falling into a life of drugs and crime. His addiction, he said, ultimately led to a 12-month prison sentence. Despite attempts to reform following his release, he fell back again into drug use.

Ultimately, he found help at a Catholicrun halfway house that helped and encouraged him “in my path toward reintegration.”

“I want to tell the young people of the world that God loves us and never abandons us. We are the masters of our own actions, but if we are with God, everything will be OK,” Martinez said.

Nirmeen Odeh, a 26-year-old Palestinian woman, gave the final testimony of the evening, recalling that despite being born and raised in the Holy Land, she was apathetic to Christianity, especially coming “from a place where many of my simple rights are violated.”

“I thought it was better to be distant from Christianity so as not to be bothered by others,” Odeh said. “With all the struggles and weariness of daily life, I wasn’t interested in faith. However, I was curious about the idea of God! It fascinated me.”

After participating in World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland, Odeh said she took a “leap of faith” and began receiving the sacraments.

“And here I am today, three years later in Panama, excitedly praying for Him (God) to lead me on my next journey,” she said.

After listening to their experiences, Pope Francis addressed the youths, saying that their experiences reflected the risk Mary took to say “yes” to God. The salvation that God wishes to give His children, he said, isn’t a file in the cloud waiting to be downloaded or the latest app, but rather is an invitation to be “part of a love story interwoven with our personal stories; it is alive and wants to be born in our midst so that we can bear fruit just as we are, wherever we are and with everyone all around us.”

However, Christians can only obtain this salvation by placing their trust in God, especially in moments of uncertainty, doubt and trial.

Recalling the experience given by de Bucktron, the pope said the fears and difficulties the couple faced with the birth of her daughter meant embracing life, even “in accepting things that are not perfect, pure or ‘distilled,’ yet no less worthy of love,” he said.

“Is a disabled or frail person not worthy of love?” the pope asked. “Is a person who happens to be a foreigner, a person who made a mistake, a person ill or in prison, not worthy of love?”

God begins to write His great love story precisely through people’s problems, frailties and flaws, the pope said. Just as He embraced Peter after his denials, Jesus

helps Christians stand up when they have fallen, the pope added.

Thanking Martinez for his testimony, Pope Francis said the experience of the young Panamanian shows that, without strong roots that are firmly grounded, “it is impossible to grow.”

Older people, he continued, must ask themselves what foundations they are providing to help young people grow instead of lobbing criticisms against them.

“It is easy enough to criticize and complain about young people if we are depriving them of the jobs, education and community opportunities they need to take root and to dream of a future,” he said.

“Without education, it is difficult to dream of a future; without work, it is very difficult to dream of a future; without a family and community, it is almost impossible to dream of a future.”

The pope said that young men and women also need to be rooted in a community and a home that prepares their hearts and give them a sense of belonging.

Odeh’s experience, he explained, is proof that this belonging also gives a sense of identity that allows young people to “live the joy that comes from being found by Jesus.”

Pope Francis encouraged young people to not be afraid of opening their hearts to Christ and “embrace life with all its frailty and flaws, but also with its grandeur and beauty.

“Do not be afraid,” he said, “to tell Him that you, too, want to be a part of His love story in this world, that you are ready for something greater.”

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Church leaders call Philippine church attack ‘heinous and evil’ MANILA, Philippines — Church leaders condemned bomb explosions that killed at least 20 people and injured about 100 others inside a Catholic church in the southern Philippines Jan. 27. They called the attack a “heinous and evil” act of terrorism. Ucanews.com reported the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the bombing, which occurred during Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the city of Jolo. Islamic State, which often claims responsibility for acts of terrorism, issued a statement claiming two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts inside the church and near its entrance. The attack, one of the deadliest in recent years in Mindanao, occurred less than a week after a plebiscite was held on expanding and strengthening an existing Muslim autonomous region in the area. The bishops’ conference condemned the attack and called on Christians “to join hands with all peaceloving Muslim and indigenous communities in combating violent extremism.” Pope Francis also expressed his sorrow over the attack.

Vatican underlines support of universal health care coverage GENEVA — The Vatican supports efforts to build stronger and sustainable essential health care services on the way toward achieving universal health coverage, a Vatican official said. The Catholic Church is part of this effort in providing primary care to people in need and always “with due recognition to the sacredness of human life, from conception to natural death,” said Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, Vatican observer to U.N. agencies in Geneva. Speaking to the executive board of the World Health Organization Jan. 28, the archbishop noted the organization’s call for a renewal of primary health care and the Sustainable Development Goals’ target of universal health coverage to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The Holy See affirms the call to mobilize all stakeholders to take joint action to build stronger and sustainable primary health care toward achieving universal health coverage,” he said in a brief address. In fact, over the course of 2018, “Catholic-inspired organizations provided health care at 5,287 hospitals and 15,397 dispensaries, 15,722 residential programs for the elderly and for persons living with debilitating chronic illnesses and other disabilities in all parts of the world,” he said.

Pope: Bishops must realize seriousness of abuse crisis ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM PANAMA — The primary goal of the Vatican’s February summit on clerical sexual abuse and child protection is to help bishops understand the urgency of the crisis, Pope Francis said.

During a news conference with journalists Jan. 27 on his flight to Rome from Panama, the pope said the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences have been called to the Feb. 21-24 meeting at the Vatican to be “made aware of the tragedy” of those abused by members of the clergy. “I regularly meet with people who have been abused. I remember one person – 40 years old – who was unable to pray,” he said. “It is terrible, the suffering is terrible.” The pope’s international Council of Cardinals suggested the summit after realizing that some bishops did not know how to address or handle the crisis on their own, he said. “We felt the responsibility

of giving a ‘catechesis’ on this problem to the bishops’ conferences,” he said. “That is why we convoked the presidents” of the conferences, the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches and representatives of the leadership groups of men’s and women’s religious orders. The meeting, he said, will address “in a clear way” what protocols bishops need to follow when handling sexual abuse.

Jesuit: Vatican summit to help nations lagging on abuse policies VATICAN CITY — Only about half of the national bishops’ conferences in the world have adopted complete, Vatican-approved guidelines for handling accusations of clerical sexual abuse and promoting child protection, said the Jesuit named to moderate the Vatican’s February summit on abuse. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said about one-quarter of the bishops’ conferences have received feedback on their proposed guidelines from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and are working on the final versions. That leaves 25 percent of conferences “behind for various reasons, among which are different cultural contexts and a scarcity of available competence.” The doctrinal congregation in 2011 had asked every bishops’ conference in the world to develop guidelines for handling accusations of abuse and to submit them for approval by mid-2012. Father Lombardi said the February meeting would be an important occasion for bishops to share best practices and to assist conferences that, because of a lack of funds or expertise, have not launched protection and prevention programs.

Vatican releases guidelines to help Church fight human trafficking VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has created a set of pastoral guidelines to inspire and improve the Church’s work in addressing the crime of human trafficking and the care of its victims worldwide. The Migrants and Refugees Section of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development released its “Pastoral Orientations on Human Trafficking” Jan. 17 at a Vatican news conference. “Pope Francis’ insistent teaching on human trafficking provides the foundation for the present pastoral orientations which draw also from the longstanding practical experience of many international Catholic NGOs working in the field and from the observations of representatives of bishops’ conferences,” the text said. “While approved by the Holy Father, the orientations do not pretend to exhaust the Church’s teaching on human trafficking; rather, they provide a series of key considerations that may be useful to Catholics and others in their pastoral ministry, in planning and practical engagement, in advocacy and dialogue,” it said.

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Holy Land Pilgrimage September 3-12, 2019

This Pilgrimage includes: • • • • • •

Round trip airfare on Lufthansa Airlines Breakfast and Dinner per itinerary Specially selected hotel accommodations Air-Conditioned motor coach Full time tour manager Departure tax and current fuel charge

For information and reservations contact: Rev. Carl Zdancewicz, Our Lady of Mercy Parish 1730 Link Road, Winston Salem, NC 27103 Tel: 336-722-7001 X103 - Email: fr.carl@triad.twcbc.com

Have questions about this pilgrimage? Ask us! Go to www.Uni tours.com/questions.

THE ORATORY

Center for Spirituality

(803) 327-2097

oratorycenter@gmail.com

434 Charlotte Avenue, P.O. Box 11586 Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586

rockhilloratory.net

A Contemplative Approach to Spiritual Direction Saturday, March 2, 2019 9am – 11:45am

Presented by: Linda Flynn We all possess a deep longing to connect with something far greater than ourselves. Spiritual Direction is a time honored tradition of the Church, by which a trained individual helps the seeker name, claim and deepen their experience of the Holy in their midst. This morning will include practices and a sample of the flow of spiritual direction.

Linda Flynn is the Director of the Charlotte Spirituality Center, a training center for spiritual directors.

No charge, but pre-registration is required.

­— Catholic News Service

Transfiguration: What do we need to do to conform our hearts to Christ’s Heart?

A Retreat for Men Saturday, March 16, 2019 9:30am – 2:00pm

Presented by: Michael Petro Are we willing to take risks to gain the reward of heaven? The Synoptic Gospels recount the great and glorious event that took place on Mount Tabor. Dare we ascend that Mount to be transfigured with Christ?

Michael Petro teaches at St. Anne Catholic School in Rock Hill, SC and Belmont Abbey College.

Cost: $35 (lunch included)

ViewPoints 18

catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Robert Barron

Fred Gallagher

The internet and Satan’s game

B

y now the entire country has seen a video of a supposedly racist confrontation, in front of the Lincoln Memorial, between a grinning young high school student and a Native American elder, chanting and beating a drum. The immediate and ferocious judgment of the internet community was that the boy was effectively taunting and belittling the elder, but subsequent videos from wider angles as well as the young man’s own testimony have cast considerable doubt on this original assessment. My purpose in this article is not to adjudicate the situation, which remains, at best, ambiguous, even in regard to the basic facts. It is to comment, rather, on the morally outrageous and deeply troubling nature of the response to this occurrence, one that I would characterize as, quite literally, Satanic.

When the video in question first came to my attention, it already had millions of views on Facebook and had been commented upon over 50,000 times. Eager to find out what this was all about, I began to scroll through the comments. They were practically 100 percent against the young man, and they were marked, as is customary on social media, by stinging cruelty. As I continued to survey the reactions, I began to come across dozens urging retribution against the boy, and then dozens more that provided the addresses and email contacts of his parents, his school and his diocese. I remember thinking, “Oh my goodness, do they realize what they’re doing? They’re effectively destroying, even threatening, this kid’s life.”

At this point, my mind turned, as it often does today, to René Girard. The great Franco-American philosopher and social commentator is best known for his speculations on what he called the scapegoating mechanism. Sadly, Girard maintained, most human communities, from the coffee klatch to the nation state, are predicated upon this dysfunctional and deeply destructive instinct. Roughly speaking, it unfolds as follows. When tensions arise in a group (as they inevitably do), people commence to cast about for a scapegoat, for someone or some group to blame. Deeply attractive, even addictive, the scapegoating move rapidly attracts a crowd, which in short order becomes a mob. In their common hatred of the victim, the blamers feel an ersatz sense of togetherness. Filled with the excitement born of self-righteousness, the mob then endeavors to isolate and finally eliminate the scapegoat, convinced that this will restore order to their roiled society.

Girard’s theory was grounded in his studies of Shakespeare, Dostoevsky and other literary figures, but his profoundest influence was the Bible. Take a good, long look at the story of the Woman Caught in Adultery in the eighth chapter of John’s Gospel. It is surely telling that one of the principal names for the devil in the New Testament is “ho Satanas,” which

carries the sense of the accuser. And how significant, thought Girard, that it is precisely “ho Satanas” who offers all of the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, implying that all forms of human community are tainted, at least to a large degree, by the characteristically Satanic game of accusation, blaming, scapegoating.

All of which brings me back to the incident in Washington and the nasty reaction to it on the internet. I have used the internet to

‘When you’re about to make a comment online, ask yourself a simple question: “Am I doing this out of love, out of a sincere wish for the good of the person or persons I’m addressing?” If not, shut up.’ great positive effect in my evangelical work for many years; so I certainly don’t agree with those who denounce it in an unnuanced way. However, there is something about social media comboxes that make them a particularly pernicious breeding-ground for Girardian victimizing. Perhaps it’s the anonymity, or the ease with which comments can be made and published, or the prospect of finding a large audience with little effort – but these forums are, increasingly, fever swamps in which hatred and accusation breed. When looking for evidence of the Satanic in our culture, you don’t have to look any further than the computer.

The Wall Street Journal recently referred to me as “the Bishop of the Internet,” a title which I find more than a little strange. But for the moment, I’m going to claim it, only so I can make a pastoral pronouncement to all those who use social media. When you’re about to make a comment, ask yourself a simple question: “Am I doing this out of love, out of a sincere wish for the good of the person or persons I’m addressing?” If not, shut up. The internet can be a marvelous tool, and it can be a weapon used for Satanic purposes. Applying the test of love can effectively undermine the scapegoating mechanism and drive the devil out.

BISHOP ROBERT BARRON is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries (online at www.wordonfire.org) and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

He is also the host of “Catholicism,” an award-winning documentary about the Catholic faith.

I

The extraordinariness of Ordinary Time

t is somewhat of a misnomer when we say that liturgically we have entered “Ordinary Time.” In daily usage the term ordinary has come to mean common, eventless or run-of-the-mill, and it is often used in a pejorative sense.

Who wants to be ordinary? But the Church traditionally calls this time (right now, between the Christmas season just passed and the Lent to come) “Tempus Per Annum” or “time throughout the year.”

If we look back at older connotations of the word, we see that “ordinary” can be used as a noun. An ordinary is one who is “ordained,” or called forth, to an office or to fulfill especially an ecclesiastical role. But ordinary comes from the word order. Order has to do with one’s relationship to the world, to others and, of course, to God. One of our old and exquisite proofs for the existence of God has to do with the design of the universe.

It is mathematically and philosophically impossible for our world – from the incredible extravagance of ocean life and the brilliantly responsive ramifications of weather systems on earthly life in all its myriad forms, to the befuddling intricacies of animal existence and the wondrous workings and neurological poetry of the human mind – to be some giant happenstance of chance.

Our instinct for ethical signposts, our intention for goodness, speaks of a natural order that can only have been created with purpose and meaning. The world strives for truth and harmony. The world desires order. Of course, Advent and Christmas and Lent and Easter are perhaps akin to the great festivals of life.

But leading up to each of the festivals we attend is our day-to-day existence.

We sometimes call it the mundane, sometimes the profane. Holy Mother Church, however, calls it sacred. To the Church, if there is one thing Ordinary Time is not, is ordinary! In fact it is, or should be for us all, extraordinary.

There is no doubt that today much that is in the media, in the body politic and in the astounding and frightening divisions in American culture, is also extraordinary – extraordinarily immoral.

The opposite of order is chaos. And we live and breathe the fumes of this chaos every day. Godlessness is, by its very definition, chaotic. The idea that mothers should have the right to kill her unborn child if she doesn’t want them is a notion serving the demonic, chaos at its most profound. To slur our fellow humans with vulgar and demeaning epithets in the name of social activism is the action of preposterously chaotic and misguided hearts. Hatred in all forms is the product of chaos repressing conscience.

In these days we are tempted mightily

to embrace the language of W.B. Yeats in his famous poem “The Second Coming,” written in the aftermath of World War I, the first few lines of which are: Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

We can easily get the sense that things are falling apart, that the center is not holding. Yet, as Catholics, we are called to see the sacred in the profane. We are called to carry the joy of Christmas throughout the year; we are called to bring Easter Sunday into every day. To me, one of the saddest scenes in Scripture is in Psalm 137 when the Jews, exiled in Babylon, were called upon to sing their tribal songs for their captors but, instead, hung their harps in the willow trees by the banks of the river and wept. We are called to claw our way through the hanging strands of chaos around us and find the most orderly, beautiful essence there is: the mind of God. We are called to continue singing in this our exile. We are called to stand for the sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death; we are called to reach a hand out at every turn to the sick and the poor. We are called when our institutional Church fails us or our bishops lose their courage or their vision, to understand that we are more than an institution; we are a Mystical Body, a herald, a sacrament, a servant, and we, clergy and laity alike, should act accordingly. We are called to see the face of Christ in the lowliest among us, in our families, in all who are suffering and, yes, in our enemies.

There is absolutely nothing ordinary about our calling as a people. This particular liturgical time, this Ordinary Time, can help us put one step in front of the other, knowing Christ is with us in our daily struggles as He is in our joyful tidings. And when He is with us, in the Eucharist and the sacraments, in the Church’s teachings, liturgies and devotions, in our outreach to others, in the eyes of a spouse, the raising of children and the care of elders, in the smallest moments of a day and the prayerful petitions of a night, in our tears and in our laughter, if we keep Him with us in this “ordered” time, chaos doesn’t have a chance and Ordinary Time is, indeed, extraordinary.

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

February 1, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Father Deacon Kevin Bezner

An Orthodox spiritual father points the way to life in Christ

O

ne year ends, another begins.

Behind us are the spiritual mountains we have climbed, before us those we must climb if we are to endure in the faith.

It is a difficult journey, one that requires close attention to each step we take. The right steps lead you deeper into life in Christ, the wrong steps to demons and the abyss below.

Life as a Christian is a never-ending journey up one mountain after another, year after year. Or, as the 20th-century Orthodox priest Elder Sergei of Vanves wrote: “The spiritual life is a long-term thing. You have to be ready to battle ‘the old man’ within yourself for the rest of your life.”

The French Orthodox philosopher and theologian Jean-Claude Larchet has compiled 310 of the elder’s sayings in “Elder Sergei of Vanves: Life and Teachings” (Divine Ascent Press). The Elder’s comment on the length of the spiritual life, which refers to our shedding of the ways of Adam to put on the cloak of Christ, is number 283.

Larchet’s book also includes a short biography and an explanation of the elder’s principal teachings, a fine distillation of Orthodox spirituality.

Among Elder Sergei’s themes are repentance, prayer, living the commandments and fighting the passions.

He also speaks about psychology and mental illness, particular interests of Larchet’s, and so has good advice about the dangers that confront us today.

Larchet’s short biography is far more fascinating than this brief sketch and gives us insight into the life of a model priest, confessor, spiritual father and worthy successor of the apostles and the Church Fathers.

As the son of a Russian army officer and grandson of the Russian ambassador to the Netherlands, Kyril Shevich’s early years were far more comfortable than that of the average Russian. Even so, his life was hardly free from difficulty. During the Russian Revolution, his family was forced into exile and eventually settled in Paris, where as an adult Shevich came to know a number of the important thinkers of his time, including the theologian Vladimir Lossky and philosopher Jacques Maritain.

As he grew in the faith he corresponded with the later St. Silouan the Athonite, who gave him his blessing to become a monk. A letter from Silouan to Shevich is included in the book “Saint Silouan, the Athonite” by Archimandrite Sophrony, who also became a friend of Elder Sergei’s.

Larchet calls Silouan’s advice to Shevich prophetic, noting that Silouan commanded the aspiring monk to: “Go and tell the people as much as possible, ‘Repent!’”

Evidence of how the Elder Sergei fulfilled Silouan’s prophetic advice is found in his sayings: “Repentance is the key to the spiritual life….We must repent not only for our own sins, but also for sin in its entirety, for the state that has encompassed the whole world since the Fall” (286, 287).

Along with hundreds of other Russian emigres, Shevich was arrested and imprisoned in a concentration camp in France. Scripture and prayer helped him survive the camps: “This bitter ordeal of the camps caused him

to feel in a deep way the existential limitations and the ultimate tragedy of earthly life….

Kyrill spent the whole of his internment at Vernet in reading and meditation on the Bible in its entirety, and in deepening his practice of the Jesus Prayer….”

After his release from the camps, he finally became a monk as he had desired, and in 1945 was ordained a priest. Over time, he became the spiritual father of the philosopher Nicholas Berdyaev, iconographer monk Father Gregory Krug, Lossky and Larchet himself.

While his personal story is inspiring, his sayings to his spiritual children make this book essential reading for anyone seeking advice for spiritual battle.

It seems appropriate that the first saying included in the book is a concise definition of prayer: “Prayer is our very breath” (1).

Elder Sergei continues with this the theme, saying: “Every action, every job should be accomplished in a spirit of prayer” (3).

Prayer is our breath and should be central to our lives, he reminds us, because of our true purpose in life: “The purpose of life must be to live in communion with God” (9).

Saying or believing you have faith is not enough. Prayer is essential: “Faith is a state of being, not an idea about God. Our soul must be cemented to our faith, and only prayer can do this for us” (251).

Prayer must become a habit: “Prayer must absolutely be regular. Just as water falls on a rock and bit by bit cuts into the rock, prayer will penetrate into your soul” (249). Prayer, in fact, is life: “Prayer is the life of the soul, just as air is for the body” (291). Prayer also is more important than thinking: “A good rule for living: Pray more, think less” (299).

He reminds us, too, that while our battle is with the world, we must be careful about how we fight the world: “Fight the world not with the ways of the world, but with the ways of God” (83).

To know how to fight the world, turn to Scripture: “The foundation of everything is the teaching of the Gospel. The Gospel is the basic program for our spiritual life” (284).

As we climb each spiritual mountain, we cannot be distracted by the past: “Live one day at a time. Forget about what happened yesterday or in the past. Live each day as though it were your last” (196).

And while we must look to see where we are going, we must be attentive to what we are doing as we take each step on our journey: “It is necessary to prepare for the future. However, we prepare for the future by preparing for the present and living in the present moment. It is the present moment that defines the future. It is what we do today that defines and prepares us for what we will have tomorrow…” (242).

Elder Sergei of Vanves defeated the old man within him on his climb up the spiritual mountains of his life. His sayings teach us how to do the same. They are trail markers that point the way to life in Christ.

FATHER DEACON KEVIN BEZNER serves at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Mission in Raleigh. This was originally published in The Christian Review, where Deacon Bezner is a contributing editor.

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catholicnewsherald.com | February 1, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Bishop’s Youth

Stay With us, Lord 2019

Luke 24:29

April 06, 2019 9:00am - 3:00pm

register online at goeucharist.com Bishop Peter J. Jugis invites middle and high school youth to join him at Belmont Abbey for a day of prayer and adoration of our Eucharistic Lord. The Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage is graciously hosted by Belmont Abbey College and Monastery and provides youth with an experience of the Catholic faith with uplifting music and dynamic speakers. The Youth Pilgrimage is the perfect opportunity to prepare the way for the Eucharistic Congress.

Cost $15/person, includes lunch and a t-shirt.

S, LORD.” HU LU IT

IHS

9 24:2 KE

“STA YW

20

Register goeucharist.com