March 29, 2019

March 29, 2019

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Bishop, Belmont Abbey abbot apologize to victim as chancellor steps down over misconduct finding

Can’t park and pray here Pro-life advocates continue witness despite parking restrictions outside Charlotte abortion mill

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Llamando a los discípulos por la radio Radio Alégrate María de Morganton cumplió dos años de operación

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WORLD WATER DAY 2019 Promoting global access to clean water – a fundamental human right

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INSIDE A comprehensive Catholic end-of-life and funeral planning guide

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Vincent Ferrer, priest Feast day: April 5

Pope Francis

God’s will is clear: to seek out, save humanity from evil

C

hristians have faith in a God who wants to and is able to transform the world, conquering evil with good, Pope Francis said.

That is why “it makes sense to obey and abandon oneself” to God and his will, even during life’s most difficult moments, the pope said March 20 during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

Continuing a series of talks about the Lord’s Prayer, the pope focused on the line, “Thy will be done.” It is the third petition in the prayer right after, “hallowed be thy name” and “thy kingdom come.”

God’s will – what He wants – is clearly illustrated throughout the Gospel, the pope said; it is “to seek out and save whoever is lost.”

“Have you ever thought about what that means, that God is looking for me, for each one of us” personally, “knocking on the door of our heart” with love, hoping to capture people’s attention and take them by the hand toward salvation, the pope said.

“God is not ambiguous,” Pope Francis said. “He does not hide behind riddles” or inscrutable plans; He wants everyone to know the truth and be saved.

The Our Father is a prayer asking that this desire be fulfilled and that each person and all of humanity be saved, he said.

When people pray, “Thy will be done,” they are praying not as subservient “slaves” but as children who understand and trust their Father and His loving plan, the pope said.

“It is a courageous, even confrontational prayer because there are so many, too many things going on in the world that are not according to God’s plan,” he added.

The Lord’s Prayer is meant to ignite the same deep love Jesus felt for His Father, the same passion to “transform the world with love.”

Christians do not believe in random, unalterable or “inescapable fate,” the pope said. Rather, they truly believe “that God can and wants to transform reality, conquering evil with good,” and this, he said, is why people pray.

Even though Christ was being “crushed by the evil of the world,” He abandoned Himself fully and confidently to God’s will, the pope said.

That path to salvation may be difficult, and people may experience suffering, pain or harm, but God “will never abandon us. He will always be with us, next to us, within us.”

“For a person of faith, this is more than a hope, it is a sure thing – God is with me.”

Roman Catholics celebrate the missionary efforts of St. Vincent Ferrer on April 5. The Dominican preacher brought thousands of Europeans into the Catholic Church during a period of political and spiritual polarization in Western Europe.

Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain, during 1357. His parents raised him to care deeply about his religious duties, without neglecting his education or concern for the poor. One of his siblings, Boniface, later joined the Carthusian order and became its superior general. Vincent, however, would become a Dominican and preach the Gospel throughout Europe.

He joined at age 18 in 1374.

As a member of the Dominican Order of Preachers, Vincent committed much of the Bible to memory while also studying the Church Fathers and philosophy. By age 28, he was renowned for his preaching, and also known to have a gift of prophecy.

Five years later, a representative of Pope Clement VII chose Vincent to accompany him to France, where he preached extensively.

While Vincent sought to live out his order’s commitment to the preaching of the Gospel, he could not escape becoming involved in the political intrigues of the day. Two rival claimants to the papacy emerged during the late 1300s, one in Rome and another in the French city of Avignon. Each claimed the allegiance of roughly half of Western Europe, in what was called the “Western Schism.”

Caught between the rival claimants, Vincent attempted to persuade the Avignon Pope Benedict XIII to negotiate an end to the schism. Benedict, who was regarded as pope in both Spain and France, sought to honor Vincent by consecrating him as a bishop.

But the Dominican friar had no interest in advancing within the Church, and regarded many bishops of his time as negligent leaders distracted by luxury.

“I blush and tremble,” he wrote in a letter, “when I consider the terrible judgment impending on ecclesiastical superiors who live at their ease in rich palaces, while so many souls redeemed by the Blood of Christ are perishing. I pray without ceasing, to the Lord of the harvest, that He send good workmen into His harvest.”

Vincent not only prayed, but acted – committing himself to missionary work and resolving to preach in every town between Avignon and his hometown in Spain. In a commanding style, he denounced greed, blasphemy, sexual immorality and popular disregard for the truths of faith. His sermons often drew crowds of thousands and prompted dramatic conversions.

Popular acclaim, however, did not distract him from a life of asceticism and poverty. He abstained completely from meat, slept on a straw mat, consumed

only bread and water on Wednesdays and Fridays, and accepted no donations for himself beyond what he needed to survive. He traveled with five other Dominican friars at all times, and the men would spend hours hearing confessions.

For two decades, Vincent and his group of friars undertook “St. Vincent Ferrer Preaching,” by Alonzo preaching missions in Cano (c. 1644-1645), on display in the Spain, Italy and Colección Banco Santander in Madrid, France. When he Spain traveled outside these regions, into Germany and other parts of the Mediterranean, those who did not know the languages in which he preached would testify that they had understood every word he said, in the same manner as the apostles experienced at Pentecost.

Although he did not heal the temporary divisions within the Church, Vincent succeeded in strengthening large numbers of Europeans in their Catholic faith. He wrote little, although some of his works have survived, and exist in modern English translations.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “Vincent felt that he was the messenger of penance sent to prepare men for the judgment. For 20 years he traversed Western Europe preaching penance and awakening the dormant consciences of sinners by his wondrous eloquence. His austere life was but the living expression of his doctrine.”

St. Vincent Ferrer died on April 5, 1419, at age 62, in the city of Vannes in the French region of Brittany. He was canonized in 1455, and has more recently become the namesake of a traditional Catholic community approved by the Holy See, the Fraternity of Saint Vincent Ferrer.

He is considered a patron saint of reconciliation, as well as the patron of builders, construction workers, plumbers and fishermen.

— EWTN/Catholic News Agency

What was the Western Schism?

The Western Schism, also called Papal Schism, Great Occidental Schism and Schism of 1378, was a split within the Catholic Church lasting from 1378 to 1417 in which two – and since 1410 even three – men simultaneously claimed to be the true pope, having excommunicated one another. Driven by politics rather than any theological disagreement, the schism was ended by the Council of Constance (1414-1418).

For a time these rival claims to the papal throne damaged the reputation of the office.

The affair is sometimes referred to as the Great Schism, although this term is typically reserved for the more enduring East-West Schism of 1054 between the Western Churches answering to the See of Rome and the Orthodox Churches of the East.

— Wikipedia

More online At www. greatschism. org: Read more about the Western Schism, its causes and impacts on the Church

Daily Scripture readings MARCH 31-APRIL 6

“St. Francis of Paola in Ecstasy”

by Pietro Bianchi (c. 1728), on display at the Louvre, Paris

Sunday: Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32; Monday: Isaiah 65:17-21, John 4:43-54; Tuesday (St. Francis of Paola): Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, John 5:1-16; Wednesday: Isaiah 49:8-15, John 5:17-30; Thursday (St. Isidore): Exodus 32:7-14, John 5:31-47; Friday (St. Vincent Ferrer): Wisdom 2:1, 12-22, John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30; Saturday: Jeremiah 11:18-20, John 7:40-53

APRIL 7-13

Sunday: Isaiah 43:16-21, Philippians 3:8-14, John 8:1-11; Monday: Daniel 13:1-9, 19-30, 3362, John 11:1-45; Tuesday: Numbers 21:4-9, John 8:21-30; Wednesday: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Daniel 3:52-56, John 8:31-42; Thursday (St. Stanislaus): Genesis 17:3-9, John 8:51-59; Friday: Jeremiah 20:10-13, John 10:31-42; Saturday (St. Martin I): Ezekiel 37:21-28, Jeremiah 31:10-13, John 11:45-56

APRIL 14-20

Sunday (Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord): Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Luke 22:14-23:56; Monday: Isaiah 42:1-7, John 12:1-11; Tuesday: Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 36-38; Wednesday: Isaiah 50:4-9, Matthew 26:14-25; Thursday: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15; Friday (Good Friday): Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9, John 18:1, 19:42; Saturday (Easter Vigil): Genesis 1:1, 2:2, Exodus 14:15-15:1, Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18, Romans 6:3-11, Luke 24:1-12

Our parishes

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Bishop, Belmont Abbey abbot apologize to victim as chancellor steps down over misconduct finding CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis issued the following statement March 28 regarding the departure of Monsignor Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte: The Diocese of Charlotte announces that Monsignor Mauricio West has stepped down from his position as vicar general and chancellor, effective Monday, March 25, 2019.

His departure follows a recent finding by the Lay Review Board of the Diocese of a credible allegation of sexual misconduct.

The alleged events occurred in the mid-1980s when Monsignor West was the Vice President for Student Affairs at Belmont Abbey College, and involved multiple instances of unwanted overtures toward an adult student over a twoyear period. In February, the individual met personally with the Lay Review Board to discuss the allegation.

Monsignor West has denied the allegation.

During a period of counseling and assessment, he will be on a leave of absence from his ministerial duties.

While the alleged behavior did not constitute sexual abuse and did not involve a minor, it is the strict policy of the Diocese of Charlotte to refer all allegations by known accusers of potential sexual misconduct to the Lay Review Board for investigation. Misconduct includes boundary violations and improper behavior by clergy, lay people and church volunteers involving children and adults.

Personally, and on behalf of the Catholic CHANCELLOR, SEE PAGE 10

‘No parking’ zone limits pro-lifers’ activity

ABBOT, SEE PAGE 10

‘Come and be a witness’

Transportation in a written response to Sperrazzo’s recent request. “We must also consider the dangers that are associated with potential conflict for large vehicles and pedestrian crossing which outweighs the benefit for on street parking since none of the surrounding business have a need for overflow on street parking.”

“CDOT will not modify or remove the parking restrictions given an undemonstrated need for parking,” Naftel wrote.

The Hebron abortion facility’s largest neighbor sits just across the road: women’s fashion retailer Cato Corp. “No parking” signs are posted along the wide stretch of Denmark Road outside Cato’s corporate headquarters and distribution center.

It has been Sperrazzo’s experience that Cato’s security guards have kept a close eye on activity along Denmark Road and East Hebron Street. During one of her vigils, she said, they told pro-life advocates to move PARKING, SEE PAGE 10

40 DAYS, SEE PAGE 10

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father Peter Ascik, parochial vicar of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, prays March 22 in front of the Family Reproductive Health abortion facility on East Hebron Road in Charlotte. Father Ascik is leading the local effort of the national 40 Days For Life campaign at the parish this year. to encourage them to change their minds.

“Right now they have it where we can only park in front of those signs,” he said, gesturing to the corner of East Hebron Street and Denmark Road.

Benham laments the lack of parking outside the abortion facility. “They don’t want anyone parking there because they don’t want to make it easy for folks to come out here. And so you have to park about a quarter-mile down the road.”

Sperrazzo says she has repeatedly attempted to get Charlotte city officials to lift the restrictions against on-street parking in front of the Hebron abortion facility, but so far her efforts have been unsuccessful.

“On street parking is generally provided in areas where there is a demand for parking for residences and/or businesses that don’t have adequate parking on site.

In this area, there is not a demonstrated need for on street parking,” explained Allison Naftel of Charlotte Department of

We were sorrowful to learn this week that an allegation of sexual misconduct against Monsignor Mauricio West, a current diocesan

CHARLOTTE — Dressed in clerics and quietly praying his rosary, Father Peter Ascik exudes a calming presence in the midst of honking horns and jeers from abortion supporters at the entrance of Family Reproductive Health – one of Charlotte’s three abortion facilities.

This year the parochial vicar of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte is spearheading the local 40 Days For Life campaign for the parish, which began Ash Wednesday and runs until April 14.

Week after week the priest drives over to the Hebron abortion facility, tucked away in an industrial part of the city just off South Boulevard, to pray for the women coming there that day to kill their unborn children. As chaplain for the parish’s Respect Life ministry, Father Ascik aims to set an example of prayerful witness on the front lines of the abortion battle at the Hebron Street facility and draw Catholics’ attention to the need to come out and pray – despite the sometimes daunting atmosphere.

Abortions take place every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at Family Reproductive Health.

A tall wooden privacy fence cloaks the facility from public view. Its remote location and limited off-street parking mean fewer people tend to pray there than at Charlotte’s two other abortion facilities. Multiple escorts and pro-abortion advocates position themselves at the property’s entrance and along the sidewalk holding signs that read “Honk if You are Pro-Choice.”

Last Friday, as on previous days, Father Ascik stood quietly on the sidewalk outside the Hebron facility. Joining him were a few local parishioners who prayed with him while holding signs encouraging women to choose life for their unborn children.

It’s important for people to stand up for the sanctity of life in front of the abortion facility, he says.

“I am here to witness to the value of unborn babies who are brought here to be killed, and to reach out to their mothers and fathers who may be here too to offer them another choice,” he says, and “to testify to their value, as mothers and fathers – the value of their families. And hopefully to inspire them, and pray for them to help them make another choice

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — One of Charlotte’s three abortion facilities, Family Reproductive Health, sits in an industrial area just off South Boulevard. Its unassuming location at 700 East Hebron St. belies the fact that 1,500 to 2,000 abortions are committed there each year.

It’s not Charlotte’s busiest abortion facility – that’s A Preferred Women’s Health on Latrobe Drive, with more than 3,000 abortions each year – but the Hebron facility’s inconspicuous location is one reason why pro-life advocates are paying greater attention to it.

The location has no on-street parking along East Hebron Street and limited parking on Denmark Road – posing a challenge for pro-lifers to come out and publicly witness. Parking has been further restricted over the years, even on days when surrounding businesses are closed.

The challenges are growing, says one pro-lifer who has made it her mission to pray outside the Hebron facility as often as possible.

Francesca Sperrazzo, a parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, has been praying for years in front of Hebron, often alone. She is a member of the Helpers of God’s Precious Infants, a group committed to peaceful prayer in front of abortion facilities.

Sperrazzo has noticed that tensions have increased, because as the parking has become more limited, both pro-lifers and pro-abortion advocates vie for those limited number of spaces. People at the Hebron facility even call police when they suspect pro-lifers’ cars may be illegally parked, Sperrazzo said.

“They came out here with a measuring tape one day!” she said.

Another pro-life advocate who spends many hours witnessing outside the Hebron facility is Philip “Flip” Benham. The evangelical Christian minister and leader of Concord-based Operation Save America is not afraid to stoke controversy and get arrested in his efforts to draw attention to the Hebron facility.

Like on other days, on March 22, Benham was outside the Hebron facility clutching his Bible and standing by large signs featuring pro-life messages, hoping to speak to women as they went in for their abortions

BELMONT — Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, chancellor of Belmont Abbey College, issued the following statement March 28 regarding the departure of Monsignor Mauricio West as vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte:

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: MARCH 29 – 1:30 P.M. Signing of Lutheran/Catholic Covenant Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury

APRIL 6 – 9 A.M.-3 P.M. Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage Belmont Abbey College, Belmont

APRIL 14 – 11 A.M. Palm Sunday Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

APRIL 18 – 7 P.M. Mass of the Lord’s Supper St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

APRIL 5 – 10 A.M. Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

APRIL 7 – 10 A.M. Mass at Boy Scout Catholic Camporee Camp Grimes, Nebo

APRIL 16 – 10 A.M. Chrism Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

APRIL 19 – 3 P.M. Good Friday Veneration of the Cross St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events March 29, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 28 • NUMBER 13

MOVIE NIGHT, ‘ANGST’: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. This film is designed to raise awareness around anxiety. It includes interviews with kids, teens, educators, experts, parents and a very special interview with Michael Phelps. Learn how to identify and understand the signs and symptoms of anxiety and where to reach out for help. Q&A session afterwards with Dr. Richard Cook, clinician at New Directions, a treatment center for anxiety and depression.

For details, call the parish office at 336-272-4681.

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

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

MOVIE NIGHT, ‘LIKE’: 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 12, St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. An independent film documentary that explores the effects of technology and social media on our lives. Bonus Session on APP-Education on how to protect our children, teens and grandchildren from online threats. For details, call the parish office at 336-272-4681.

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

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org

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

Saturday, March 30, St. Aloysius Church, 921 2nd St., NE, Hickory. 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.

STAFF

ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org

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

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

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

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

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PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS 40 DAYS FOR LIFE: March 6-April 14, vigils will be held daily outside the Planned Parenthood location in Winston-Salem and outside Preferred Women’s Health Center in Charlotte. Join the nationwide vigil and help pray for an end to abortion in 40 Days for Life’s spring campaign. To pray at home, church or online, visit www.40daysforlife.com. To learn more and find a campaign near you contact John Humphreys at johnhumphreys50@yahoo.com (Charlotte) or ws40daysforlife@gmail.com (Winston-Salem).

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: 10 a.m. Saturday, April 6, 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, 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. Anyone who would have difficulty standing for 15-20 minutes is welcome to bring a folding chair. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at AJHoyng@ hotmail.com or Paul Klosterman at PaulJKlosterman@ aol.com.

LENTEN MISSION SERIES, ‘INTO THE DESERT’: 7 p.m.

All Wednesday evenings during Lent (March 13-April 10), in the Activity Center at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Everyone welcome to attend a five-part series of reflections to enrich your Lenten season. Beginning with an introduction to the lives of some of the Desert Fathers. Father Joshua Voitus and Father Cory Catron will show how the exemplary lives of the saints can show us a path of holiness for our own lives. Bring a snack to share. Drinks will be provided.

Donations are welcome and encouraged.

LENTEN MEDITATION SERVICE, ‘THE PASSION WITHIN THE EUCHARIST’: 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, St. Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville. For details, call the parish office at 704-664-3992.

HELPERS OF GOD’S PRECIOUS INFANTS PROCESSION FOR LIFE: Saturday, April 6, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Beginning with Latin Mass at 10 a.m. followed by Procession for Life around 11:30 a.m. and prayers at “A Preferred Women’s Health Center” abortion facility, 3220 Latrobe Dr., Charlotte. Father Matthew Bean will lead the procession. For details, go to www.charlottehelpers.com.

BLESSING OF EASTER FOOD BASKETS: Noon, Saturday, April 20, in Aquinas Hall, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte. Deacon James Witulski will be blessing Easter food. This Eastern and Central European tradition is also called “The Blessing of the Easter Baskets,” (or “Swieconka” in the Polish language) and will last about 30 minutes. This tradition is becoming increasingly popular among all Catholics. The Blessings will be in both the English and Polish languages. The traditional foods, such as sausage, eggs, bread, and butter in the shape of a lamb, are brought to the Church, neatly arranged in a basket. However, every person of any nationality is invited to use their imagination and include their own national foods. Children can even bring their own baskets with their own treats, including chocolate and Easter candy. For details, call Deacon James Witulski at 704-960-3704.

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

The Divine Mercy Holy Hours are celebrated (except for Lent) and consist of Eucharistic Adoration, readings from the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, the sung chaplet of Divine Mercy and benediction. Is Divine Mercy needed today? St. John Paul II had this to say: “There is nothing more man needs than Divine Mercy – that love which is benevolent, which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights, to the holiness of God.” The Lord told St. Faustina: “I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish.” For details, call Paul Deer at 704-577-3496.

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

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING ‘Protecting God’s Children’ workshops are intended to educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent 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, April 6, St. Lawrence Basilica, 97 Haywood St. CHARLOTTE: 7 p.m. Monday, April 8, St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road GREENSBORO: 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road

SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS HEALTH CARE CONFERENCE, ‘HUMAN DIGNITY AT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE’: 8 a.m.-6:45 p.m. Saturday, April 6, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte.

The St. John Paul II Foundation, in collaboration with the Diocese of Charlotte and Belmont Abbey College, presents the second annual Converging Roads health care ethics conference. The theme will focus on “Human Dignity at the Beginning of Life” and continuing education credits for healthcare professionals will be offered. A White Mass, honoring health care professionals and their role in the Church, will open the conference. Speakers include: Maureen Condic, Ph.D., University of Utah, School of Medicine; David A. Prentice, Ph.D., Charlotte Lozier Institute; and Ashley K. Fernandes, M.D., Ph.D., Ohio State University College of Medicine. For details and registration, go to www.convergingroads.com.

FREE MEDICARE CHOICES MADE EASY CLASS: 10 a.m.noon Tuesday, April 9, St. Eugene Church, 72 Culvern St., Asheville, and 2-4 p.m. St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr., Arden. This presentation will cover how the program works, what people need to do to enroll, what options are available, ways you can save money and Q&A. This event is intended for those already on Medicare, those turning 65 and new to the program, those leaving employer insurance for Medicare, and for those who help Medicare beneficiaries with their insurance. For details and registration, contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-3220 or sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org.

‘SENIOR FRAUD & SCAMS PREVENTION’: 10-11 a.m.

Wednesday, April 24, St. Edwards Hall at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St., High Point.

Presented by Hugh A. Harris, outreach and policy counsel for the N.C. Department of Justice - Public Protection Section. This workshop will provide answers as to why you are at risk for fraud and scams, the most popular scams targeting seniors, tips to protect yourself and what you should do if you’ve been scammed. Sponsored

by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and Elder Ministry at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. To RSVP, contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220 or sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org by Wednesday, April 17.

ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR: 6:30-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at the Catholic Diocese Pastoral Center, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte. Attorney Christian Cherry with Grier Furr & Crisp, Charlotte, will present legal information about wills, trusts, powers of attorney, probate, bequests and other planned gifts as well as Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues. He is an estate planning attorney with a concentration including wills, estates, trusts and probate. Presentation will include an open Q&A. To register and reserve your free take-home materials, contact Judy Smith at jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3320.

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.

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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In Brief Korean priest appointed CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the appointment of Father HyoSuk Lee, who also goes by the name Father Thomas Aquinas, to St. Peter Yu Catholic Community in Greensboro.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Mary’s Sons kneelers visit parishes around diocese Special prie-dieus, or kneelers, that will be given to the three men being ordained priests for the Diocese of Charlotte this year are currently on tour around the diocese, enabling the faithful to pray for the men and sign journals conveying their well-wishes.

The kneelers are commissioned each year for the ordinands by the lay apostolate Mary’s Sons. Transitional Deacons Michael Carlson, Alfonso Gamez Jr. and Britt Taylor are scheduled to be ordained Saturday, June 22, during a special Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Parishes hosting the kneelers in the coming weeks include:

Former St. Matthew parishioner ordained to transitional diaconate CHICAGO — Deacon Gabriel Sumerel, O.S.B., a former parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, was ordained March 24 to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Joseph N. Perry of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Benedictine Deacon Gabriel, son of Keith and Lori Sumerel, serves at the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Chicago. He will be ordained to the priesthood next summer.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Deacon appointed CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the appointment of Deacon Stephen V. Puscas as a permanent deacon for Immaculate Conception Parish in Forest City effective Feb. 11.

From Aurora, Ill., Deacon Stephen and his wife Sue relocated to Nebo to live in a milder climate and to be in an area of the country that they became fond of while on a family reunion. They have three biological children, two adopted children and five grandchildren.

Puscas Born March 1, 1952, in Aurora, Ill., he was baptized and confirmed in the Romanian Byzantine Rite on March 23, 1952, and grew up in the Roman Catholic Church. This provided a strong foundation for his becoming a permanent deacon.

He was ordained Oct. 18, 2003, for the Diocese of Rockford by Bishop Thomas Doran.

During his almost 16 years of diaconal service, he has given of himself in many ways in terms of his family life and in support of his ministry. Father Kenneth Wasilewski, director of the permanent diaconate for the Rockford diocese, said Deacon Stephen has served in both a parish and school setting.

He is an accomplished teacher and has a master’s degree in theology.

At Saint Mary Parish in Rockford, he and his wife were involved in juvenile cancer research, prison ministry, and support for unwed and incarcerated mothers. He also was a spiritual advisor for the parish youth group and a member of the parish’s ecumenical council.

— Deacon John Martino

Men’s conference held in Charlotte CHARLOTTE — Nearly 300 men attended IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 10

April 4-7: St. John the Baptist Church, Tryon April 8-14: St. Aloysius Church, Hickory April 15-21: St. Dorothy Church, Lincolnton April 22-28: Immaculate Conception Church, Hendersonville

May 2-6: St. Bernadette Church, Linville May 7-12: St. Elizabeth Church, Boone May 13-17: Charlotte Catholic High School Chapel, Charlotte May 24-31: St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte

As more parishes are added, the dates and times will be posted in upcoming print editions of the Catholic News Herald and online at www.catholicnewsherald.com.

Greensboro parents learn how to promote chastity thanks to Family Honor program GLENN M. LANHAM SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

GREENSBORO — On March 8 and 9, Our Lady of Grace Parish hosted a conference by Family Honor Inc. This organization, founded in 1998 and based in Columbia, S.C., “recognizes the primary and irreplaceable role of parents, thus providing tools for parents and children to connect on important life issues, with a special focus on chastity and God’s gift of sexuality.” The program can be summed up as a Theology of the Body-based course for parents to explain chastity and sexuality to their children.

Presenters were Bill Pratt and Joe and Rose Czejkowski, all part of an eight-person presenter team from Raleigh.

The Czejkowskis, a married couple from Raleigh, found the Family Honor program online at www.familyhonor.org. They then met the facilitators in person at the Ignited by Truth Conference in Raleigh. They “wanted to raise their own kids with a healthy understanding of chastity, and eventually they began to volunteer” and became full-fledged presenters, traveling to various parishes for like conferences.

Pratt recounted a story of traveling to an economics-themed conference in which each participant was required to introduce themselves and their line of work. He decided to speak openly and told everyone that he was a “full-time chastity educator,” and in reaction he got some raised eyebrows from the secular crowd. Later, several people came up to him and recounted their own missionary work or efforts in evangelization. He later noted that he was required to study Planned Parenthood’s website as part of his Family Honor training, and found it an eye-opening and somewhat disturbing experience.

Participants at the Greensboro conference were parents of toddlers to teenagers, with each parental group divided by tables according to their child’s age. They watched videos of typical Catholic parents and a priest about how to raise integrated and healthy children in an age of sexual excess and confusion. This was followed by presentations from the Raleigh team, then discussions by each parental group and questionand-answer session. As a result, each group learned from others’ experiences in parenting.

Notable among the day’s challenges to virtue was the repeated quote from St. John Paul II: “The future of humanity passes by way of the family” (“Familiaris Consortio”), as well

as frequent comparisons between the secular world view on sexuality and the Church’s view.

Participants had the chance to take a survey afterwards.

One noted, “I wish I had found this program earlier, my oldest is now 17.” Another parent said, “(The presenters) all had personable relatable styles and really were strong facilitators who kept things moving along. They provided helpful insights without launching into monologues.”

Family Honor offers three basic courses for parents, from which much of the conference info was pulled: Leading and Loving, for parents of children up to 12 years old; Changes and Challenges for sixth-graders, which teaches virtues and values; and Real Life/Real Love, for eighth-graders and older.

The program also offers an interactive online training course called “The Truth and meaning of Sexuality, Love and Family.”

This course helps “prepare parents, catechists, and others to be a positive, hopeful voice in an effort to help heal our wounded culture.” Topics include the history and trends of sexual thought and expression, social and physical consequences of the sexual revolution and modern sex education movement, St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and Pope Benedict XVI’s explanation of human sexual love in “Deus Caritas Est,” and the gift of fertility, male/female complementarity, total personal sexuality, and marriage and the family.

Family Honor also offers the book “Our Power to Love,” described as a new approach to sexuality education for adolescents and parents. It gives more information about how the human reproductive system functions and it promotes fertility appreciation within the larger context of the vocation of chastity.

Their literature emphasizes: “We face a culture confused about the purpose of the family, the dignity of life, and the meaning of true love and sexuality…Our young people are most affected by this moral confusion, as they grow up in a culture that continues to aggressively promote a twisted understanding of sexuality…

“Only by restoring the nature and dignity of the human person and the true meaning of sexuality will our society find true freedom to love; and discover the ultimate joy that God desires for each of us.”

GLENN M. LANHAM is a member of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019

(Izquierda) Agustín Rodríguez, coordinador de la comunidad cristiana católica La Encarnación de la parroquia San Carlos Borromeo en Morganton, es el responsable de la operación y programación de la emisora Radio Alégrate María de Generación en Generación.

Diácono Darío García

Cuaresma, ¿cómo vivirla?

L

os cristianos católicos sabemos que la Cuaresma es un tiempo para prepararnos hacia la celebración del Misterio Pascual que es el Gran Misterio de nuestra Fe, y que esa preparación exige la penitencia, el ayuno, la oración y la limosna como prácticas muy efectivas para lograrla.

Una pregunta que muchos nos hacemos es cómo vivirla, cómo hacerla, pues existen muchas dudas acerca de cómo vivir el ayuno, por ejemplo, y muchos nos atrevemos a proponer soluciones como esta: puedes cambiar el ayuno por no ir a jugar el partido de fútbol de la tarde del viernes de Cuaresma, que es una propuesta de solución más contra prestacional que otra cosa, que no tiene nada que ver con el sentido real que tiene el ayuno como práctica cuaresmal.

La iglesia nos enseña que las prácticas cuaresmales propuestas, y que tienen sus raíces en la Palabra de Dios y en la enseñanza del Magisterio, tienen como intención hacer sacrificio, esfuerzo, abstenernos de hacer cosas que son prohibidas como comer carne roja o de animales domésticos, pero si carne de pescado, por ejemplo, con la sincera intención de “molestar” nuestro cuerpo, sentidos; sacarlos del “acomodo” material y volverlos hacia un “dolor” espiritual que nos acerque a la necesidad de hacer penitencia y oración en un proceso de acercamiento a una verdadera conversión.

Una buena Cuaresma debe tener presentes los acentos del ayuno, la oración y la limosna acompañados del rezo y la meditación del Via Crucis, la visita a los enfermos, a los privados de la libertad, a los desamparados, para manifestarles no solo nuestra compañía, sino, y muy especialmente nuestro amor, nuestra caridad cristiana. Trabajar por cerrar las brechas producidas por el odio, la discriminación, el racismo, las desigualdades sociales son acciones propias de este tiempo; y subrayar estas acciones, no con un afán meramente de atención humana, sino y muy profundamente con el sentimiento del sufrimiento de Jesús en su pasión y muerte en la Cruz.

No miremos la Cuaresma como una simple parte del tiempo litúrgico de la Iglesia, sino como un tiempo de verdadera y cercana preparación para iniciar, fortalecer o reiniciar un verdadero proceso de conversión hacia la vida nueva que es el Señor muerto en cruz y resucitado.

Vivámosla, ojalá en familia, en nuestras comunidades, para que muchos hermanos puedan descubrir en ella una oportunidad para acercarse al Señor, para mejorar su calidad de vida personal, familiar y comunitaria con lo cual seremos mejores cristianos, hombres y mujeres preparados para combatir el mal en el mundo y lograr que todos seamos hermanos, unidos en la misma fe y buscando al mismo Jesús y Redentor, Jesucristo, el Señor.

Señora del Silencio y la humildad, Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros.

EL DIÁCONO DARÍO GARCÍA sirve como coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Hickory.

(Abajo) La emisora, con la ayuda de un operador técnico voluntario, emite las 24 horas del día.

FOTOS POR CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

LLAMANDO A LOS DISCÍPULOS POR LA RADIO

Radio Alégrate María de Morganton cumplió dos años de operación CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

MORGANTON ­— El pasado 17 de febrero, Radio Alégrate María de Generación en Generación, una estación por internet operada por la comunidad cristiana católica La Encarnación de la parroquia San Carlos Borromeo de Morganton, cumplió su segundo aniversario de fundación.

Según Agustín Rodríguez, coordinador de la comunidad y responsable de la operación y programación de la emisora, la estación tiene como objetivo principal el llevar la Buena Nueva y “enviar un mensaje a los hermanos que quizás no pueden llegar por alguna razón y no tienen la oportunidad de acercarse a la Iglesia”.

Rodríguez, natural del municipio de Aguacatán, departamento de Huehuetenango, Guatemala, cuenta que el punto de partida para la creación de la radio fue la presencia de la comunidad La Encarnación en la parroquia de Morganton.

“Cada año, para la fiesta de la Encarnación, conseguimos que nos visite un sacerdote de Guatemala. Fue en 2015 que llegó un sacerdote de la parroquia de nuestro pueblo. Allá hay una radio y él nos sugirió que hiciéramos algo”. Con el apoyo de ese sacerdote y Radio Encarnación de Aguacatán dieron sus primeros pasos. Desde aquel entonces crearon un programa que se llama ‘Encuentro con Jesucristo vivo’, el que se transmitió inicialmente en la radio de Aguacatán y, tras la aparición de la radio local, en ambas estaciones.

Después de conseguir el apoyo del párroco de Morganton y la asesoría de la radio en Aguacatán, en febrero de 2017 iniciaron las transmisiones formales de Radio Alégrate María de generación en generación.

PROGRAMAS LOCALES

Pese a contar con solo personal voluntario, la radio se mantiene en operación las 24 horas del día. “Iniciamos por la mañana con complacencias de alabanzas para los cumpleañeros, es decir las mañanitas. También tenemos programas para jóvenes, alabanzas por la noche, los viernes el Santo Rosario ‘en vivo’ desde la parroquia y mensajes de reflexión de Álvaro Leonel Ramazzini”, obispo de la Diócesis

de Huehuetenango, quien también tuvo ocasión de visitarlos durante las fiestas de la Encarnación.

Desde sus inicios, el número de oyentes ha crecido tanto local, nacional como internacionalmente. Rodríguez afirmó que trabajan incansablemente para mejorar la programación y colocar más espacios en vivo. “Siempre, cuando transmitimos en vivo, siempre tenemos respuesta de la comunidad local, de todo Estados Unidos y de Guatemala.

Eso es para nosotros una señal que la radio se escucha”.

Además de lograr una efectiva evangelización, el coordinador asegura estar observando un efecto adicional en la comunidad. “Estamos viendo que la familia se une.

Cuando transmitimos, vemos que las familias se conectan con sus parientes y amigos en Guatemala y otros lugares de Estados Unidos. Queremos unir familias y culturas y transmitir algo de nuestra cultura a nuestros hijos”, subrayó.

Pese a que un gran número de miembros de la comunidad son de origen guatemalteco, Rodríguez dijo que “cuando inicio la comunidad todos éramos de un solo pueblo, pero ahora nos hemos unido y somos multiculturales”.

Con humildad, reconocen no haber recibido capacitación ni tener experiencia en la radiodifusión. Sin embargo, les RADIO, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Obispo y Belmont Abbey abbot se disculpan con la víctima mientras el canciller se retira a causa de una conducta inapropiada CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter Jugis emitió el siguiente comunicado el 28 de marzo acerca de la salida de Monseñor Mauricio West, vicario general y canciller de la Diócesis de Charlotte: La Diócesis de Charlotte anuncia que Monseñor Mauricio West se retiró de su cargo como vicario general y canciller, a partir del lunes 25 de marzo de 2019. Su partida se produjo tras una reciente investigación de la Junta de Revisión Laica de la Diócesis de una acusación creíble de conducta sexual inapropiada.

Los supuestos eventos ocurrieron a mediados de la década de 1980, cuando Monseñor West era Vicepresidente de Asuntos Estudiantiles en Belmont Abbey College, e involucran múltiples instancias de acercamientos no deseados hacia un estudiante adulto durante un período de dos años. En febrero, la persona se reunió personalmente con la Junta de Revisión Laica para discutir la acusación.

Monseñor West ha negado la acusación. Durante un período de asesoramiento y evaluación, estará ausente de sus deberes ministeriales.

Si bien el supuesto comportamiento no constituyó un abuso sexual y no involucró a un menor, la estricta política de la Diócesis de Charlotte es referir todas las denuncias de acusaciones de posible conducta sexual inapropiada a la Junta de Revisión Laica para su investigación. La mala conducta incluye violaciones de los límites y comportamiento inadecuado por parte del clero, laicos y voluntarios de la iglesia que involucran a niños y adultos.

Personalmente, y a nombre de la Iglesia Católica, extiendo nuestras más sinceras disculpas a la víctima de este caso y oro por todos los que han sufrido por una conducta indebida. La Diócesis de Charlotte está comprometida a tomar

todas las medidas necesarias para erradicar todo comportamiento inapropiado y ser abierta y transparente en cuanto al manejo de todas las denuncias de tal conducta.

— Reverendísimo Peter J. Jugis, Obispo de Charlotte BELMONT — Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari, canciller de Belmont Abbey College, emitió la siguiente declaración el 28 de marzo: Nos entristece el saber esta semana que una acusación de conducta sexual inapropiada contra Monseñor Mauricio West, un sacerdote diocesano actual y ex vicepresidente de Asuntos Estudiantiles en Belmont Abbey College, se ha determinado como creíble. La conducta indebida presuntamente ocurrió a mediados de la década de 1980, durante la permanencia de Monseñor West en la Abadía de Belmont e involucró a un estudiante adulto, que afirma haber sido víctima de acercamientos no deseados por parte de Monseñor West.

Monseñor West ha negado las acusaciones. No obstante, estamos profundamente apenados por la víctima y nos hemos disculpado personalmente con esta persona. Aunque no podemos deshacer el pasado, estamos dedicados a prevenir este tipo de comportamiento inapropiado en el futuro.

Estamos totalmente comprometidos con la prevención de conductas sexuales inapropiadas de cualquier tipo. Investigamos y resolvemos todos los reclamos de acuerdo con las leyes estatales y federales, y proporcionamos capacitación y educación periódica a los miembros de la comunidad de Abbey College sobre la prevención del acoso y la mala conducta sexual.

Si bien es descorazonador que un ex alumno y toda nuestra comunidad hayan sido dañados por

esta afirmación, estamos comprometidos con la honestidad y transparencia en el manejo de todas las denuncias de mala conducta. Oramos por la sanación de todos los que han sufrido por la conducta indebida de parte del clero y permanecemos dedicados a nuestra misión y al bienestar de nuestros estudiantes. Hemos cooperado plenamente con la Junta de Revisión de Laicos de la Diócesis de Charlotte en este asunto.

Para información sobre la seguridad y protección de los estudiantes de Belmont Abbey College, incluyendo nuestra política de mala conducta sexual, por favor visite: https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/ campus-life/campus-safety/. Para mayor información sobre sobre esta denuncia en particular, que fue reportada e investigada por la Diócesis de Charlotte, por favor contacte a David Hains, Director de Comunicaciones de la Diócesis.

— Abad Placid Solari, O.S.B., Belmont Abbey (NOTA DEL EDITOR: Monseñor Mauricio West inició su ministerio como monje benedictino en Belmont Abbey en 1979 y sirvió por una década en varios cargos de facultad y administrativos en la institución universitaria administrada por los Benedictinos, incluyendo las posiciones de director de vida residencial, vicepresidente de asuntos estudiantiles y luego en el consejo de administración. Se desempeñó como pastor asociado en la Iglesia San Gabriel durante seis años antes de ser nombrado canciller de la Diócesis de Charlotte en 1994).

Para mayor información En www.charlottediocese.org/humanresources/safe-environment: Lea la política de la Diócesis de Charlotte respecto a la protección de los niños y personas vulnerables de abuso, y consiga información de cómo reportar un caso de abuso relacionado a un ministro.

CMPD ofrecerá programa gratuito a niños y jóvenes CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — Cientos de niños y jóvenes latinos podrán beneficiarse de un novedoso programa gratuito que próximamente lanzará el Departamento de Policía de Charlotte Mecklenburg (CMPD), según informó el Detective Daniel Hernández, oficial de enlace comunitario de esa agencia del orden.

Hernández, veterano de las fuerzas armadas y actualmente detective de CMPD, dijo que el programa, que tendrá una duración de ocho semanas, será de valiosa ayuda para niños y jóvenes que se encuentran desconcertados sobre su futuro y están en peligro de caer en “malos pasos”.

“Ellos van a aprender destrezas de orientación, como por ejemplo, si están perdidos en un bosque y necesitan de la ayuda de una brújula, deben saber cómo utilizarla para orientarse y poder encontrar el camino de salida. Eso mismo les va a servir en sus vidas, para que más adelante sepan reconocer dónde está esa ‘brújula’ que los pueda ayudar a determinar cuáles son las rutas ‘buenas’ y las ‘malas’, y así sepan escoger el buen camino”.

De igual manera, el programa tiene como objetivo generar confianza entre los jóvenes de la comunidad hispana y la institución policial.

El ambicioso proyecto tiene previsto dar

seguimiento a los jóvenes participantes por varios años. “Es nuestro deseo poder repetir la experiencia los años siguientes con los mismos jóvenes y poder ver si hemos tenido un impacto positivo en sus decisiones de vida. Así los iremos acompañando para asegurarnos que sean personas de bien para la sociedad”, añadió el representante policial.

Con el paso del tiempo, Hernández espera poder reclutar a más jóvenes latinos al programa Cadete que tiene en marcha CMPD. Este programa provee a jóvenes estudiantes calificados de universidades y colegios comunitarios locales la oportunidad de becas integrales, ayuda económica y trabajo a medio tiempo remunerado en la agencia policial.

“El programa no requiere que el joven estudie algo únicamente relacionado con el trabajo policial”, aclaró Hernández, “y cuando se gradúe de su carrera tendrá, si así lo desea, las puertas abiertas para trabajar como Oficial de Policía en el Departamento”.

“Solo hay que imaginarse el mundo de posibilidades que se le abre a un joven, ya graduado, con experiencia como Oficial de Policía. Después de cuatro años todos van a querer contratarlo”, subrayó.

El Oficial Hernández invitó, muy en especial, a que las organizaciones juveniles de las diferentes parroquias del condado Mecklenburg lo contacten para que se beneficien de este programa. “El requisito que

pedimos es que los jóvenes se comprometan a participar, una vez por semana, durante las ocho semanas, y que los padres también tomen en serio esta responsabilidad”, señaló, reiterando que el programa no tiene ningún costo.

COMPROMISO COMUNITARIO

Destacando la voluntad de CMPD de servir a la comunidad latina, el Detective Hernández aseguró que durante el mes de abril dos Oficiales de Policía viajarán a la ciudad de Querétaro, México, para participar en un curso de inmersión cultural y de idioma español que les pueda ayudar en su relación con la comunidad latina del condado Mecklenburg.

“Ellos estarán cuatro semanas hablando español y entendiendo nuestra cultura.

Participarán en clases de español y se alojarán con familias mexicanas. Tendrán la oportunidad de salir a conocer lugares importantes, relacionarse con personas locales y recibir instrucción en el departamento de policía”, detalló Hernández.

Programa para niños y jóvenes latinos Informes: Detective CMPD Daniel Hernández Teléfono: 704-432-2041 (por favor dejar mensaje)

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UNCC brinda ayuda a los abuelitos CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — El programa de Gerontología de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte en Charlotte (UNCC), está ofreciendo un programa educacional para mejorar las relaciones entre los abuelitos y sus nietos, refrescando las destrezas de comunicación de los abuelos, sus habilidades de acceso a servicios y las prácticas positivas de crianza.

Así lo hizo saber el Doctor Julián Montoro-Rodríguez, director del programa de gerontología de UNCC. La gerontología es una rama de la medicina que se encarga del estudio de la salud, la psicología y la integración social y económica de los adultos mayores.

La asistencia es dirigida por el programa de Gerontología de UNCC con fondos proporcionados por la Comunidad de Retirados. Se ofrece tanto en inglés como en español.

Según aclaró el Doctor Montoro-Rodríguez, los abuelos de cualquier edad pueden participar si son los cuidadores principales y responsables de la crianza de un nietos(s) de entre 4 y 17 años.

“El programa incluye seis sesiones semanales consecutivas de dos horas cada una. La reunión es con un grupo de 4-6 abuelos/as dirigidos(as) por un trabajador social. Antes de comenzar y al final del programa hay una entrevista con un estudiante para conocer la situación familiar. La reunión es para hablar de las prácticas de crianza, de la relación con los nietos y para recibir información de servicios de apoyo”.

Una vez que los interesados se registran, cada participante indica el día, hora y lugar de preferencia para reunirse.

Después que se forma un grupo de cuatro a seis abuelitos, éste inicia sus actividades.

“Tenemos grupos en varios lugares, como la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, YMCA, etc. Esperamos completar el programa este verano, así que cuanto antes se apunten mejor”, dijo Montoro-Rodríguez.

Todos los abuelitos de Charlotte y otras áreas pueden participar. Además de la enseñanza recibirán una tarjeta de regalo por un valor de $ 20 dólares por cada entrevista y sesión a la que asistan.

Si cumple los requisitos, está interesado(a) en participar o tiene preguntas adicionales, comuníquese o deje un mensaje al Doctor Julián MontoroRodríguez en su teléfono de UNCC: 704-687-6166.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Misioneros brindaron capacitación en doctrina social de la Iglesia CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE ­— Decenas de jóvenes y líderes adultos de la Pastoral Juvenil de la Diócesis de Charlotte participaron de una capacitación sobre la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia (DOCAT), dictada por un grupo de jóvenes misioneros procedentes de Miami y formados por el Instituto Pastoral del Sureste (SEPI), para esta importante misión.

La jornada tuvo como anfitrión al Ministerio Hispano de la parroquia San John Neumann, que desde muy temprano recibió a los jóvenes ofreciendo un generoso desayuno, snacks a lo largo del día y un suculento almuerzo, Zulay Carvajal, coordinadora de formación de SEPI, señaló que “el sueño del Papa (Francisco) es que un millón de jóvenes estudien el DOCAT”, por lo que SEPI ha respondido al llamado y ha formado un grupo de misioneros que se han dedicado a estudiar el DOCAT y elaborar una guía de estudios para compartir con los jóvenes de otras diócesis.

“Esta es ya nuestra cuarta visita para venirles a entregar la guía a los jóvenes para que ellos puedan, entre ellos mismos, formar grupos de estudio para seguir esparciendo lo que es la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia con un lenguaje más juvenil que se nos hace mucho más fácil entender a nosotros los jóvenes”, dijo Carvajal.

¿QUÉ ES DOCTRINA SOCIAL?

Respecto a la definición de la doctrina social, señaló que es el punto de vista de la Iglesia de cómo nosotros debemos actuar en relación al plan maestro de Dios, la persona humana, el bien común, la solidaridad, la familia, el trabajo, la economía, la comunidad política e internacional, el medioambiente, la paz y la caridad, entre otros puntos.

La coordinadora resaltó la importancia de la fe, “el saber en qué creemos”, pero “también es muy importante saber qué hacer con eso que creemos y tomar acción”, pues según dijo, al ser parte de la Iglesia debemos ser parte de la solución a la problemática que se está viendo en nuestra sociedad. “Somos la Iglesia, pero tenemos un llamado más allá. Hay muchas situaciones con cosas políticas, el medioambiente, de las que los jóvenes no hablamos mucho y creemos que no estamos llamados a entrar en ese ámbito, pero la doctrina social de la Iglesia nos invita a tomar acción”, puntualizó.

Durante el taller se generaron conversaciones interesantes con preguntas que los jóvenes respondieron abiertamente, desarrollando un provechoso intercambio

(Izquierda) Zulay Carvajal, coordinadora de formación de SEPI, encabezó un grupo de jóvenes misioneros que esperan concretar el “sueño” del Papa Francisco que un millón de jóvenes estudien el DOCAT. (Abajo) La misión dió sus frutos en la Diócesis de Charlotte y un numeroso grupo se comprometió a difundirlo.

FOTOS POR CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

de opiniones.

Todos los asistentes recibieron dos libros, uno con las enseñanzas de la doctrina social de la Iglesia y otro como guía de estudios.

En el prólogo de la guía de estudios, a cargo del Padre Rafael Capó, director de SEPI, se invita a los jóvenes a que se pongan en movimiento. “Transformen sus grupos, transformen sus vidas, transformen sus comunidades. Si muchos otros jóvenes de los que compartirán estos materiales y estudian el DOCAT hacen lo mismo, el mundo será mejor y los demás experimentarán que el Señor sigue actuando mediante la juventud”.

Victoria Andrés, de la parroquia Santo Niño en Reidsville, se mostró agradecida por el taller recibido. “En nuestra parroquia apenas estamos comenzando nuestro grupo juvenil. Esta es una experiencia personal para poder aprender cómo llevar el mensaje de Dios a nuestros jóvenes para motivarlos y hacerlos discípulos de Dios. Vamos a tomar nuestra fe y ponerla en acciones que tenemos que hacer día a día”, dijo.

Carvajal resaltó que es importante que los jóvenes crean en sí mismos y en ese

amor que el Señor les tiene. “A veces se nos olvida y pensamos que somos rechazados, que la gente no nos quiere como parte de la Iglesia. Esa rebeldía nos aleja más de nuestros sacerdotes, de nuestros coordinadores”.

Para la coordinadora “es cuestión de decir ‘mira, aquí estoy, qué puedo hacer’.

Abrir el corazón y decir tengo mucho que dar, úsalo como quieras que estoy dispuesto a dar mi tiempo, mi talento, mi tesoro, ser abierto realmente, ver la necesidad que hay en nuestra parroquia”.

Finalmente afirmó que los jóvenes “a veces pecamos un poco de pereza y el Papa nos dice que no seamos jóvenes de sillón”, por lo que cree es necesario tomar acción, formarse en lo que es la Iglesia, en lo

que cree la Iglesia y en lo que nos está invitando a hacer en todos los ámbitos de nuestra vida.

Más online En www.facebook.com/CNHEspanol: Vea un video sobre el taller de doctrina social de la Iglesia ofrecido en Charlotte

Lecturas Diarias MARZO 31- ABRIL 6

“San Francisco de Paula en éxtasis” de Pietro Bianchi (c. 1728), en exhibición en el Museo de Louvre, París

Domingo: Josué 5:9-12, 2 Corintios 5:17-21, Lucas 15:1-3, 11-32; Lunes: Isaías 65:17-21, Juan 4:43-54; Martes (San Francisco de Paula): Ezequiel 47:1-9, 12, Juan 5:1-16; Miércoles: Isaías 49:8-15, Juan 5:17-30; Jueves (San Isidoro): Éxodo 32:7-14, Juan 5:31-47; Viernes (San Vincente Ferrer): Sabiduría 2:1, 12-22, Juan 7:1-2, 10, 25-30; Sábado: Jeremías 11:18-20, Juan 7:40-53

ABRIL 7-13

Domingo: Isaías 43:16-21, Filipenses 3:8-14, Juan 8:1-11; Lunes: Daniel 13:1-9, 19-30, 33-62, Juan 11:1-45; Martes: Números 21:4-9, Juan 8:21-30; Miércoles: Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95, Daniel 3:52-56, Juan 8:31-42; Jueves (San Estanislao): Génesis 17:3-9, Juan 8:51-59; Viernes: Jeremías 20:10-13, Juan 10:31-42; Sábado (San Martin I): Ezequiel 37:21-28, Jeremías 31:10-13, Juan 11:45-56

ABRIL 14-20

Domingo (Domingo de Ramos): Lucas 19:28-40, Isaías 50:4-7, Filipenses 2:6-11, Lucas 22:14-23:56; Lunes: Isaías 42:1-7, Juan 12:1-11; Martes: Isaías 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 36-38; Miércoles: Isaías 50:4-9, Mateo 26:1425; Jueves: Éxodo 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corintios 11:23-26, Juan 13:1-15; Viernes (Viernes Santo): Isaías 52:13-53:12, Hebreos 4:1416, 5:7-9, Juan 18:1, 19:42; Sábado (Vigilia Pascual): Génesis 1:1, 2:2, Éxodo 14:15-15:1, Éxodo 15:1-6, 17-18, Romanos 6:3-11, Lucas 24:1-12

Our schools

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY MELISSA KINSLEY PHOTO PROVIDED BY CARRIE VEST

Students perform living Stations of the Cross HIGH POINT — On March 15, the eighth-grade class of Immaculate Heart of Mary School presented a daytime and evening performance of living Stations of the Cross at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The powerful portrayal of the final 12 hours of Jesus’ life was open to the public. It offered a renewed focus on Jesus and His love for humanity, while meditating on His Passion and death.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

3 CCHS students named National Merit Finalists CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School seniors John Holden (Jack) Kelly, Alyssa Marie Nelson and Andrew Le Nguyen (pictured above with Principal Kurt Telford) have been named National Merit Scholarship finalists.

Kelly is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society.

He also is a member of the Latin Honor Society and the National Speech and Debate Honor Society. He has served as a student ambassador at CCHS, as a debate team captain, and on the MACS Superintendent’s Student Advisory Board. He has interned in the Clemson University Bioengineering Department and attended the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Summer Program at N.C. State. He is an Eagle Scout and practices Tae Kwon Do. He is the son of Christopher and Steffan Kelly Charlotte.

Nelson is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Rho Kappa. She also is a member of the Latin Honor Society and has served as a coach for Girls On the Run. She has played tennis, run track, and cheered competitively at CCHS. She recently held a research apprenticeship at Winthrop University, where she assisted in the presentation of her research along with the professor for whom she worked. She is the daughter of Garret and Donna Nelson of Waxhaw.

Nguyen is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and Rho Kappa. He also is a member of the Latin Honor Society. He has served as president of the Latin Club and as a group leader for faith formation. He has been a member of the CCHS wrestling team and led the Aerospace Engineering Club. He holds a black belt in martial arts. He is the son of Giang Van Nguyen and Thy Uyen Le of Charlotte.

Nearly 1.6 million high school juniors from more than 22,000 high schools nationwide entered the 2019 competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test last fall. Approximately 16,000 students qualified as semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of all U.S. high school seniors.

From this group of students, approximately 15,000 finalists were named, and more than half of all finalists will receive either a Merit Scholarship or a Special Scholarship from a corporate sponsor. The winners will be announced between April and July. They will join more than 300,000 other distinguished students who have earned the National Merit Scholar title.

The National Merit Scholarship program was founded in 1955 to distinguish and honor academically talented American high school students and to encourage them to develop their talents and skills to the fullest. The competition is rigorous, and scholarship winners are chosen based on their skills, abilities, extracurricular accomplishments and potential for future success.

— Carolyn Tillman

Cultural Awareness Day WINSTON-SALEM — Students at St. Leo School celebrated the second annual Cultural Awareness Day March 18. This year’s festivities included music, dance and artwork from a number of world cultures, as well as an international bake sale to benefit the Daughters of Padre Pio in Benin, West Africa. This religious order, led by Mother Madeleine Koty (sister of the school’s own French teacher, Georgette Koty), is dedicated to caring for and educating abused orphans. Pictured are: (from left) Aidan Vu, Jessa Pacholke, Nevaeh Fears, Cooper Smits and William Grissom.

A special St. Patrick’s Day CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Catholic High School Band took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade and gave a concert at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland) in Dublin, Ireland, over St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DOUG WOODY

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PARKING

40 DAYS

CHANCELLOR

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than the terrible choice of abortion.”

Prayer has a definite impact, Father Ascik emphasizes.

“You do meet people who change their minds.

Just a few weeks ago at this facility, after praying for several hours in the morning, a woman came back and she said to one of our volunteers, ‘It worked. We changed our minds.’”

People have come up to him and thanked him for praying, he says, people who were inside the abortion clinic on that very day who left after changing their minds. “And even if on that day the people don’t change their minds, we are here to pray for them, maybe for their conversion down the road.”

“We are here to pray for their unborn babies who die here so that someone noticed their death, that someone was there thinking about them and praying for them as well,” he adds.

Father Ascik encourages people to join the public, prayerful witness outside Charlotte’s abortion mills, especially the Hebron facility as it gets less attention.

“Come out here and see,” he says. “All you have to do is come and pray. Let the Holy Spirit lead you. Simply come and be a witness. You will see miracles. I have seen miracles.”

Sign up to pray at www.signup.com/go/ bqyUWAD. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Church, I extend our deepest apologies to the victim in this case and pray for all who have suffered from misconduct. The Diocese of Charlotte is committed to taking all necessary steps to root out all inappropriate behavior and to being open and transparent about our handling of all allegations of such conduct.

— The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

their cars from the no-parking zone or risk being towed.

“I can’t have the Helpers vigil there anymore,” she said. “That puts a damper on things. Local parishioners would rather go there. It’s closer to them,” she explained.

According to information from the city, Cato asked for the no-parking zone in front of their headquarters in 2015 to block “overnight parking and other semi parking that was resulting in potentially dangerous situations for staff that were crossing the street as well as sight distance issues for vehicles pulling out of the driveways due to vehicles parking along both sides of the roads.”

“We will not be removing parking restrictions in this area,” city official Lamar Williams told Sperrazzo in an email dated March 26, 2018.

Sperrazzo asked a nearby business owner for permission to use his parking lot for a Helpers vigil, but he declined, telling her that he “did not want to get involved in politics,” she said.

She presses on, continuing to advocate with the city and neighboring businesses for more parking, especially on Saturdays.

In the meantime, she encourages people to park on Denmark Road where parking is permitted or carpool or walk the 0.1-mile distance to the facility.

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 5

the ninth annual Charlotte Catholic Men’s Conference March 16 at St. Patrick Cathedral.

During the conference, entitled “Fight Like a Man,” participants were treated to powerful talks on Catholic manhood by Father Richard Sutter of Waynesville, Father David Miller of Lincolnton, and Doug Barry of EWTN’s “Battle Ready.” Carolina Catholic Radio Network broadcast live from the parish’s Family Life Center throughout the day-long event.

The occasion, held in lieu of a usual Lenten penance service, involved more than a dozen priests who heard approximately 1,200 confessions over the course of more than 12 hours, starting at 7:30 a.m. that day. The St. Matthew Parish priests probably heard about nine hours of confessions each, and they had help from Father Richard Hanson (six hours) and 10 other priests from around the Charlotte area who each generously offered about two hours each, Father Patrick Hoare, pastor, reported. By way of comparison, he noted, a parish penance service would have enabled them to hear around 600 confessions at most.

“I have had numerous expressions of gratitude from parishioners who were moved by the day and the number of people seeking God’s grace,” Father Hoare said, adding that seeing so many people seeking the sacrament of reconciliation brought “tears of joy” to his eyes.

The effort was so successful that the parish is considering repeating it in future years, he said.

— Catholic News Herald

ABBOT FROM PAGE 3

priest and former Vice President for Student Affairs at Belmont Abbey College, has been determined to be credible. The misconduct allegedly occurred mid1980s during Monsignor West’s tenure at Belmont Abbey and involved an adult student, who claims to have been a victim of unwanted advances by Monsignor West.

Monsignor West has denied the allegations. Nonetheless, we are deeply sorry for the victim and have apologized personally to the individual. Although we cannot undo the past, we are dedicated to preventing such inappropriate behavior in the future.

We are thoroughly committed to the prevention of sexual misconduct of any kind. We investigate and remediate all claims according to state and federal laws and provide regular training and education to members of the Abbey community on the prevention of sexual harassment and misconduct.

While it is disheartening that a former student and our entire community have been hurt by this allegation, we are committed to honesty and transparency

Sacred Heart gives back SALISBURY — The Sacred Heart School Student Government had a successful “I Love Zoo” Valentine’s Day Fundraiser, enabling the school to donate $300 to the Rowan County Family Crisis Council Center. Council representative Icela Trujillo accepted the check from student government officers at a recent Friday morning assembly.

— Robin Fisher

Public square rosary held TRYON — Parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church held a public square rosary March 23 in front of the church, in defense of traditional marriage. The event is held nationwide each year on the Saturday closest to the feast of St. Joseph.

— Giuliana Polinari Riley, correspondent

Charlotte priests hear more than 1,200 confessions in 12-hour period CHARLOTTE — More than a thousand confessions were heard March 15 during St. Matthew Church’s first “Day of Reconciliation and Adoration.”

Holy Land pilgrimage held HENDERSONVILLE — Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz, pastor, and Deacon Mark Nash led a group of 35 people from Immaculate Conception Parish on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Feb. 20-March 2. Pilgrims are pictured above in Cana of Galilee.

Celebrating ‘Pi Day’ HIGH POINT — Immaculata School celebrated Pi Day on March 14 with an afternoon full of Pi-related activities. The

For more information At www.charlottediocese. org/human-resources/ safe-environment: Read the Diocese of Charlotte’s policy on protecting children and vulnerable people from abuse, and get information on how to report a case of ministryrelated abuse

in handling all allegations of misconduct.

We pray for the healing of all who have suffered from clerical misconduct and remain dedicated to our mission and to the welfare of our students. We have cooperated fully with the Lay Review Board of the Diocese of Charlotte in this matter.

For information regarding the safety and protection of Belmont Abbey College students, including our sexual misconduct policy, please visit: https:// belmontabbeycollege.edu/campus-life/ campus-safety. For further information regarding the current allegation, which was reported to and investigated by the Diocese of Charlotte, please contact David Hains, Director of Communications for the Diocese.

— Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., Belmont Abbey (EDITOR’S NOTE: Monsignor Mauricio West began his ministry in 1979 as a Benedictine monk at Belmont Abbey, and he served for a decade in various faculty and administrative positions at the Benedictine-run college, including as director of residential life and vice president for student affairs and later sat on the college’s board of trustees. He served as associate pastor at St. Gabriel Church for six years before being appointed chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte in 1994.)

student body rotated to various stations led by the eighth-grade students. Activities included Pi Jeopardy, word searches, face painting of Pi symbols, Pi Bingo, making bead necklaces representing Pi, listening to Sir Circumference and the Dragon of Pi, and taking a trivia quiz. As students entered the gym, they taped a digit of Pi (3.14) on the wall to make a visual representation of this “famous” irrational number. The two highlights of the afternoon were a visit from Albert Einstein and getting to eat a slice of delicious pie.

— Julie Wojcik

BMHS student to attend N.C. Governor’s School KERNERSVILLE — Junior Thomas Gessner will represent Bishop McGuinness High School this summer at North Carolina Governor’s School. The program is the oldest statewide summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students in the nation.

Gessner is a member of St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro. He is involved at Bishop McGuinness as the executive treasurer of the student council, Gessner president of Model United Nations, and currently in the school theater production of “Legally Blonde.” He is also working towards the completion of his Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts.

— Kimberly Knox

S U P P L E M E N T TO T H E C AT H O L I C N E W S H E R A L D

Catholic funeral planning

A Holy Death INSIDE: Planning a Catholic funeral, 2-4, 7-9 Cremation vs. burial? 5-6 Local Catholic cemeteries and columbaria, Why do we pray for the dead? 10-11 Guidance on end-of-life health care 12-14 Planned giving options 15

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St. Joseph Vietnamese Church’s Outdoor Stations of the Cross, Charlotte

March 29, 2019

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION

Catholic funeral rites explained Editor’s note: St. Mark Church in Huntersville has produced this guide to funeral planning that is applicable for Catholics. While each pastor sets his own guidelines within the Church’s “Order of Christian Funerals,” we offer this guide as a reference for your family to consider and discuss:

‘At the death of a Christian, whose life of Introduction the death of a loved one, please contact faith was begun theUpon funeral home so that they may assist you in making the necessary funeral arrangements. in the waters We encourage parishioners to do pre-planning to make a difficult time easier for your family.

Funeral home services are very willing to help of baptism and you in this process.

Normally, the funeral home will contact the strengthened at parish to secure the date and time of the funeral.

At St. Mark we will do everything we can to accommodate family needs, but please know that the Eucharistic as a busy parish the church may be in use for other events during the time period first chosen.

Once the date and time have been decided, the table, the Church family will be contacted by one of the parish priests or deacons to plan the Mass of Christian intercedes burial and other funeral rites. This involves choosing readings, hymnody and discussing how family and friends might be involved in on behalf of the funeral liturgy. While there is always an element of the funeral rites that are personalized the deceased to reflect the life of the deceased, it should always be remembered that Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and because of its thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which now been returned to God, the author of confident belief has life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral that death is (“Order of Christian Funerals,” no. 5).

Catholic funeral rites consist of three principal or movements: the vigil or wake, the Mass not the end, nor parts of Christian Burial, and the burial rites. Each of does it break the these is discussed briefly here: bonds forged in The Vigil for the Deceased life.’ (sometimes called the Order of Christian Funerals, no. 4 More online At www.usccb.org/ prayer-and-worship/ bereavement-andfunerals/index.cfm: Get more information on Catholic funeral guidelines, prayers, suggested readings at funeral Masses, and more

At www. catholicsensibility. wordpress.com/ funeral-rites: Read the entire Order of Christian Funerals as well as explanations of each section

Wake) The Vigil for the Deceased is the principal rite celebrated by the Christian community in the time after death and before the funeral liturgy.

“At the vigil the Christian community keeps watch with the family in prayer to the God of mercy and finds strength in Christ’s presence,” “Order of Christian Funerals,” no. 56.)

The Vigil can be celebrated at the funeral home, the home of the deceased or at the parish church. During the course of the Vigil service, there will be a brief proclamation of the Word of God, intercessory prayer, and blessing. If someone in the family would like to offer a personal remembrance of the deceased (eulogy) this may be done at the conclusion of the Vigil service.

The Funeral Liturgy/ Mass of Christian Burial The funeral liturgy is the central celebration of the Christian community for the deceased. At the funeral liturgy the community gathers with the family and friends of the deceased to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery. Through the Holy Spirit the community is joined together in faith as one Body in Christ to reaffirm in sign and symbol, word and gesture

that each believer through baptism shares in Christ’s death and resurrection and can look for the day when all the elect will be raised up and united in the kingdom of light and peace (“Order of Christian Funerals,” no. 129).

The funeral Mass includes the reception of the body, the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and final commendation and farewell.

RECEPTION OF THE BODY

been nourished by the Word of God, turns for spiritual nourishment to the Eucharistic sacrifice in which the community with the priest offers to the Father the sacrifice of the New Covenant. The Liturgy of the Eucharist takes place in the usual manner. Members of the family or friends of the deceased should bring the gifts to the altar.

FINAL COMMENDATION AND FAREWELL

The final commendation is a final farewell by the members of the community, an act of respect The rite of reception takes place at the beginning of the funeral liturgy or Mass.

It begins with the greeting of the family, the sprinkling of the coffin with holy water as a reminder of baptism, and the placing of the pall which symbolizes the baptismal garment. If the family so chooses, they may drape the pall over the coffin of the deceased.

The entrance procession follows with the ministers leading PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER the coffin Nearly 60 parishioners of St. Mark Church in Huntersville gathered at Northlake Memorial Gardens and family Cemetery for an outdoor Mass in 2016 for the repose of all the faithful departed. The Mass was offered members into

by Father Cory Catron, then parochial vicar, and assisted by Deacon Louis Pais. The Mass was followed the church. by a procession around the grounds to bless the graves. Unlike many in society, Father Catron said in his During the homily, Catholics are more comfortable with death because we put our hope in a living God knowing that procession we too will rise again with Him. He said that we remember all those loved ones who have gone before us an entrance here at the altar on this day, all throughout this month and every day of our lives we pray that God has hymn will mercy upon them. be sung. The family remains standing with the remainder of the congregation for one of their members, whom they entrust to in the pews until the conclusion of the opening the tender and merciful embrace of God. During prayer. It is our practice at St. Mark to place a the rite, the body is again sprinkled with holy crucifix and Bible on the coffin at the conclusion water and incensed. The sprinkling is a reminder of the entrance procession. These symbols that through baptism the person was marked for of Christian life are carried in the entrance eternal life and incensation signifies respect for procession and can be placed on the coffin by the body as the temple of the Holy Spirit. family members of the family chooses to do so.

Otherwise, they will be placed by one of the ministers.

PROCESSION TO THE PLACE OF COMMITTAL At the conclusion of the funeral liturgy, the procession is formed and the body is accompanied to the place of committal. This final procession LITURGY OF THE WORD of the funeral rite mirrors the journey of human After the opening prayer, the Liturgy of life as a pilgrimage to God’s kingdom of peace and the Word begins. The readings include an light, the new and eternal Jerusalem.

Old Testament reading (during the Easter season the first reading is taken from the Acts of the Apostles or the Book of Revelation), a Responsorial Psalm (sung), a New Testament reading and a Gospel reading.

The Order of Christian Funerals provides a complete listing of the Scripture readings that The rite of committal, the conclusion of the can be used in the funeral rites, and the family is funeral rites, is the final act of the community encouraged to assist in making the selections of of faith in caring for the body of its deceased readings for the funeral. In addition, members member. In committing the body to its resting of the family or friends of the deceased are place, the community expresses its hope that, invited to assist by serving as readers. During with all who have gone before marked with the the funeral Mass, those who read, since they are sign of faith, the deceased awaits the glory of the exercising a ministry of the Church, are to be resurrection. It normally takes place beside the practicing members of the Catholic Church. grave or mausoleum where the remains of the deceased are to be placed.

Rite of Committal

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

At the funeral Mass, the community having

— “Funeral Planning Guide for the Mass of Christian Burial,” St. Mark Church in Huntersville

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL EDITIONI

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FUNERAL PLANNING The right to a funeral liturgy Church law stipulates that funeral services are a right, not a privilege, of all members of the Church, both the faithful and the catechumens (Canons 1176; 1183, §1). The Order of Christian Funerals also provides for the celebration of funeral rites for children whose parents intended them to be baptized (Canon 1183, §2).

‘As you consider the funeral, try to remember that planning a funeral is not a burden, but a privilege. Think of the funeral as a gift to the person who died as well as his friends and family. It is a chance for all to think about and express the value of the life that was lived.

It is also a chance to say goodbye.’ “Preparing for Funeral Liturgies,” St. Matthew Church in Charlotte

“Christians celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life which has now been returned to God, the author of life and the hope of the just. The Mass, the memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the principal celebration of the Christian funeral.” (“Order of Christian Funerals,” no.

5) “At the funeral liturgy the community gathers with the family and friends of the deceased …

– to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, – to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, – and to seek strength in the proclamation of the paschal mystery.

Through the Holy Spirit the community is joined together in faith as one Body in Christ to reaffirm in sign and symbol, word and gesture that each believer through baptism shares in Christ’s death and resurrection and can look to the day when all the elect will be raised up and united in the kingdom of light and peace.” (“Order of Christian Funerals,” no. 129)

The funeral Mass, also known as a Mass of Christian Burial, is as much about the living as the deceased. The “Order of Christian Funerals” states: “The celebration of the Christian funeral brings hope and consolation to the living. While proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ and witnessing to Christian hope in the resurrection, the funeral rites also recall to all who take part in them God’s mercy and judgment and meet the human need to turn always to God in times of crisis” (no. 7). At left, Archbishop William Lori celebrates the funeral Mass of Bishop William Curlin on Jan. 2, 2018, at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

Non-practicing Catholics may receive Catholic funerals It is an unfortunate reality that many baptized Catholics no longer practice their faith and may consider themselves to have been away from the Church for too long to be ever welcomed again by the Church.

Such individuals or their families may feel uncomfortable in a church and ultimately decide against having a Catholic funeral.

By our baptism, however, we have been made equal in dignity before the Lord, and the Church, our Mother, bears the suffering of all those who became her sons and daughters through baptism. Thus, the Church offers funeral rites (including a funeral Mass) even for non-practicing Catholics and, under certain circumstances, for non-Catholic Christians.

Although the deceased may not have participated fully in the life of the Church on earth, the Church longs for her separated children to share in Christ’s blessings. She desires to pray for them and with their loved ones so that their sins may be forgiven and they may dwell forever in the presence of God in heaven.

— “Catholic Funeral Planning Guide,” Diocese of Portland, Maine; Canon 1183, §3

SUEANN HOWELL CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Download a general obituary form that can be used with any funeral home or a funeral pre-planning guide

Your Life’s Journey… how will you be remembered?

Establish a legacy that responds to the many gifts God has given you.

What about miscarried or stillborn babies?

Depending on the possibility of your collecting the remains, the baby should be named and buried. If you are in a hospital, the remains of the baby will be sent to the pathologist. You should request that you receive the remains. Most hospitals have little caskets which they offer you. If the baby is more developed you may need to obtain a larger casket from a funeral director. You should ask your pastor for a Mass of Christian Burial and bury the baby appropriately and in a marked grave.

— “Catholic Funeral Guide,” St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia

Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

For more information on how to leave a legacy for your parish, please contact Gina Rhodes, Director of Planned Giving at 704/370-3364 or gmrhodes@charlottediocese.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION

FUNERAL PLANNING

‘Now and at the hour of our death’ We prepare for eternal life by choosing to love and follow God now, in our daily lives and decisions.

For example, through prayer and regular reception of the sacraments, especially Confession and the Eucharist, we obtain grace to live in ever-deeper communion

with God and with one another in lives of faith, charity and justice. We ask for Our Blessed Mother’s help now, and we entrust ourselves to her further as we “surrender ‘the hour of our death’ wholly to her care.”

(Catechism of the Catholic Church 2677) — USCCB

What is the ordinary manner of preparing for death and burial?

How should I prepare for a good death?

n Save and/or purchase insurance to properly provide for a casket, funeral services and burial.

n Live a Catholic sacramental life.

n Remember that the Church desires the full body to be present for the Mass of Christian Burial and for the body to be buried in a cemetery.

n Pray to St. Joseph, patron of a happy death.

n Leave instructions that someone will call the priest when death seems close.

Catholic burial, funeral practices explained MONROE — Father Benjamin Roberts pauses between questions during a videotaping at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe, where he serves as pastor. Father Roberts was interviewed by the Catholic News Herald about questions Catholics often raise when planning a funeral.

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

At the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: Watch a video explanation of Catholic funeral and burial customs

n Develop a Catholic understanding of life and death.

n Ensure that someone will call the priest for the last rites (confession, anointing and Communion) before death. n Ensure that someone will call the priest when death occurs. n The Prayers for the Dead are to be prayed.

(See page 11 for more info.)

n Develop an understanding of the Catholic funeral rites. n Prepare with a good confession, the anointing of the sick, and Communion as “Viaticum.”

Make sure someone calls the priest. If you are going to have surgery which requires general anesthetic, ask the priest to hear your confession and administer the sacrament of the sick before you go to the hospital. n If you are going to be in the hospital or any nursing care facility, be sure to list the parish priest, deacon and others from the parish whom you wish to visit; otherwise, they will not be able.

n The body is prepared for burial by family or the funeral directors. n Arrange for someone to meet with the funeral director to begin preparing for the funeral rites.

n Make advanced plans with your parish priest for the funeral rites; read the policies of your parish for funerals. n Save for the expenses of a proper Catholic funeral; most people have insurance policies for this. n Talk with family members and your attorney.

Be sure your legal documents give a Catholic understanding of caring for the sick and dying.

Be sure your Will provides for food and water to be given until you cannot assimilate it as a part of ordinary care when appropriate. Appropriate ordinary means of life support should also be given where there is hope of cure. Think of appointing a Health Care Power of Attorney with your instructions to be followed.

Three Convenient Locations Indian Trail: 704-821-2960 4431 Old Monroe Road, Indian Trail, NC 28079 Matthews / Weddington: 704-846-3771 3700 Forst Lawn Drive, Matthews, NC 28014

n Make provisions for your funeral in your will; remember that your requests must be in agreement with your parish priest and the Church. n Contact a funeral home to make prearrangements. n Purchase a burial site.

— “Catholic Funeral Guide,” St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia

Ballantyne / Charlotte: 704-714-1540 166151 Lancaster Hwy., Charlotte, NC 28277 www.heritagecares.com

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March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL EDITIONI

5

BURIAL VS. CREMATION

‘The Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the deceased be observed; nevertheless, the Church does not prohibit cremation unless it was chosen for reasons contrary to Christian doctrine.’

Catholic cemeteries are important in the life of the Church.

Canon 1176, §3

Cemeteries St. James the Greater Church, Concord St. Frances of Rome Mission, Sparta St. Helen Mission, Spencer Mountain (parishioners only) St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jefferson (future)

Cemeteries with columbaria Immaculate Conception Mission, Canton Holy Family Church, Clemmons (parishioners only) Holy Cross Church, Kernersville Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury St. John the Evangelist Church, Waynesville

Columbaria only

(Right) St. Matthew Church is one of 26 parishes in the diocese with a columbarium.

Other parishes have traditional cemeteries, or a combination of both options.

St. Elizabeth Church, Boone Sacred Heart Church, Brevard (full) St. Joan of Arc Church, Candler (full) St. Gabriel Church, Charlotte (full) St. Matthew Church, Charlotte

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. MATTHEW CHURCH’S BEREAVEMENT GUIDE

St. Peter Church, Charlotte

Cemeteries vs. columbaria in the Diocese of Charlotte?

Did you know?

In general in the United States, burial options include: in-ground burial with monument graves, flush marker graves, lawn crypts or family estate lots; above-ground burial in mausoleums; and cremation with interment in mausoleum niches, columbaria, or in-ground in cremation graves or lawn crypts.

More online At www. catholicnewsherald. com: Download a general obituary form that can be used with any funeral home or a funeral pre-planning guide

Church law (Canon 1240) stipulates, “Where possible, the Church is to have its own cemeteries or at least areas in civil cemeteries that are designated for the deceased members of the faithful and properly blessed.”

Because of limited space at many parishes across the diocese, a cemetery on parish grounds is not always practicable. Identifiably Catholic sections in public cemeteries have become an alternative option, as well as columbaria on parish grounds. But columbaria for cremated remains cannot be the only option provided.

Diocesan policy states: “If a parish wishes to make a columbarium available to the faithful, it will also make available at the same location as the columbarium, spaces for burial of the bodies of the deceased. The number of spaces available for placing cremated remains in a columbarium shall not be more than the number of spaces available for burial of bodies of the deceased.

The expectation is that more spaces will be available for burial of the bodies of the deceased than spaces in a columbarium for the placing of cremated remains, since burial of the body is the norm of Christian burial.”

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read the Diocese of Charlotte’s full policy on cemeteries and columbaria

St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte (full) Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, Hayesville St. Aloysius Church, Hickory Christ the King Church, High Point Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, High Point (full) Our Lady of the Mountains Mission, Highlands St. Paul the Apostle Church, Greensboro St. Pius X Church, Greensboro (full, with waiting list) St. Margaret of Scotland Church, Maggie Valley (full) St. Luke Church, Mint Hill (full) St. William Church, Murphy St. Margaret Mary Church, Swannanoa St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem (full)

Public cemeteries with Catholic sections Stanly Gardens, Albemarle Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte Westlawn Cemetery, Clemmons

The grave marker for Bishop William Curlin at Belmont Abbey Cemetery commemorates not only his birth and death dates, but also his dates of ordination as a priest and as a bishop.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Northlake Memorial Gardens, Huntersville Forest Lawn East Cemetery, Matthews

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION

BURIAL VS. CREMATION

If cremation is desired for legitimate reasons, the Church prefers that the funeral liturgy occur before cremation. Cremated remains are always to be buried or interred.

‘Although cremation is now permitted by the Church, it does not enjoy the same value as burial of the body.

The Church clearly prefers and urges that the body of the deceased be present for the funeral rites, since the presence of the human body better expresses the values which the Church affirms in those rites.

How should a Catholic plan for cremation?

First , discuss your questions with a knowledgeable pastor or parish staff person.

Second, if your decision is to be cremated, make your wishes known in your will or in documents designed to help plan your funeral and burial. Provide copies of these documents to family members, your pastor, funeral home, or Catholic cemetery.

Lastly, as you plan, keep in mind the therapeutic value to your family of celebrating the full funeral liturgy with the body present.

When should cremation take place?

The Church prefers that cremation take place after the full funeral liturgy with the body. Sometimes, however, it is not possible for the body to be present for the funeral liturgy. When extraordinary circumstances make the cremation of the body the only feasible choice, pastoral sensitivity must be exercised by all who minister to the family of the deceased.

Think of cremation of the body and committal of the remains as the conclusion of a funeral with the body.

What does a Catholic do with the cremated remains after the funeral liturgy is completed?

The Church requires that the cremated remains be either buried in the ground in a cemetery or placed in a mausoleum or columbarium, preferably in a Catholic cemetery.

The Church recommends that the place of burial or entombment be permanently memorialized with a traditional memorial stone, crypt/niche front, or bronze plaque, minimally marking the name and dates of birth and death of the deceased person.

Since the human body was the temple of the Holy Spirit during life, was fed at the Eucharistic table, and will share in the bodily resurrection, contemporary cultural practices like scattering the cremated remains over water or from the air or keeping the cremated remains at home are not considered reverent forms of disposition that the Church requires. Other practices such as commingling cremated remains or dividing up cremated remains among family members or friends are not acceptable for Catholics.

— www.catholic-cemeteries.org

Order of Christian Funerals’ Appendix on Cremation, no. 413 CNS | GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

An urn containing cremated remains is seen in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery mausoleum in Coram, N.Y., Nov. 2.

CREMATION: Q&A on the proper handling of ashes CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In 1963, the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued an instruction permitting cremation as long as it was not done as a sign of denial of the basic Christian belief in the resurrection of the dead.

The permission was incorporated into the Code of Canon Law in 1983 and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches in 1990.

Church law, however, had not specified exactly what should be done with “cremains,” so several bishops’ conferences asked the congregation to provide guidance.

That request led to “Ad resurgendum cum Christo” (“To Rise With Christ”), an instruction “regarding the burial of the deceased and the conservation of the ashes in the case of cremation,” issued Oct. 25, 2016. The document was approved by Pope Francis after consultation with other Vatican offices and with bishops’ conferences and the Eastern Churches’ synods of bishops.

The document has prompted many Catholics to ask whether it changes any regulations about cremation.

Catholic News Service provided some of those questions to the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship to be answered: Q: The 2016 document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith spells out regulations regarding cremation. Does it change anything in how the Church in this country has regulated this issue?

A: No, the document from the CDF doesn’t change anything for us in this country. For example, we already have permission to have a funeral Mass in the presence of cremated remains. What the instruction does do, however, is reiterate the Church’s preference for the burial of the body in normal circumstances, and, when cremation is necessary, its insistence that the remains be properly interred.

Q: If the document says that traditional burial is preferred, does that mean cremation is wrong?

A: If the Church saw cremation as “wrong,” it wouldn’t permit it. Sometimes cremation can truly be necessary. However, the ancient custom and the preference of the Church is to bury the body, whenever possible.

Q: What should I do if I’ve already scattered the ashes?

A: We can’t change the past, of course, and if you truly didn’t realize at that time that it shouldn’t be done, then you shouldn’t burden yourself with guilt. Remember that what happens to a

person’s body after death has no bearing on what happens when that person’s soul meets the Lord on judgment day. However, you might wish to offer extra prayers for the person’s happy repose.

Q: If I plan to donate my body to science, after which it will be cremated, is that OK? What if the laboratory disposes of these ashes?

A: This would seem to be a valid reason for cremation. However, it would be important to make sure that arrangements are made for a funeral Mass, and that a trusted relative or friend is able to receive the remains and see to their proper burial.

Q: How do I convince my dad to let me bury my mother’s ashes, which he now has at home?

A: Only you would know the best way to approach a situation like that, and it would depend a lot on his reasons for keeping the remains and on his own personal faith. Perhaps making him aware of the Church’s preference would be enough to convince him? Or the assurance that his own earthly remains will one day be buried alongside those of his wife? Also, the Vatican’s instruction itself articulates some compelling reasons: “The reservation of the ashes of the departed in a sacred place ensures that they are not excluded from the prayers and remembrance of the Christian community. It prevents the faithful departed from being forgotten, or their remains from being shown a lack of respect…” (5).

Q: Many people die and are never buried properly.

Perhaps they die at sea or in an explosion or whatever.

Why is the Vatican worried about something like this when there are so many other problems in the world?

A: This instruction isn’t concerned with those kinds of situations. Burial at sea is necessary at times, as is cremation. The main purpose for this instruction is to help foster a healthy respect for the human body, even after death, especially in light of the move in recent years away from traditional burial in favor of more expedient and economical means. Where contemporary culture today may well question what difference it makes, the Church is reminding us to recall that the human body is an integral part of the human person deserving of respect even after death. The earliest Christians buried the bodies of their dead, and this set them apart from many of their contemporaries. We bury our dead out of reverence for God our Creator, and as a sign that we look forward to the resurrection on the last day.

‘The cremated remains of a body should be treated with the same respect given to the human body from which they come.

This includes the use of a worthy vessel to contain the ashes, the manner in which they are carried, and the care and attention to appropriate placement and transport, and the final disposition. The cremated remains should be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum or columbarium. The practice of scattering cremated remains on the sea, from the air, or on the ground, or keeping cremated remains at the home of a relative or friend of the deceased are not the reverent disposition that the Church requires.’

Order of Christian Funerals’ Appendix on Cremation, no. 417

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL EDITIONI

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FUNERAL PLANNING

What is pre-planning?

Pre-planning is making your cemetery and funeral arrangements before your death. This allows your wishes to be known, thus eliminating an incredible burden on your loved ones during the very stressful and painful hours after your death. Pre-planning is a concrete sign of your love for surviving family members.

What are the benefits of pre-planning?

The most obvious benefit is that you will relieve your loved ones of the burden of making your cemetery and funeral arrangements at a time of tremendous grief. Your advance planning will give your family the guidance they need to feel comfortable that they are carrying out the decisions you made.

Pre-planning may prevent disagreement among survivors at an emotionally charged time and can assure that emotional over-spending does not occur. By pre-planning and pre-funding cemetery and funeral arrangements, you might be creating exempt assets should you ever have to go on public assistance.

The costs of cemetery property have been escalating at the rate of 100 percent every 10 years. By purchasing in advance, you are locking in today’s pricing.

At what age should I consider pre-planning cemetery and funeral arrangements?

Adults of any age who make their own decisions should have a plan. Like your will, it can be revised throughout your life as needs change. In general, the earlier you preplan the more options you have. Your cemetery and funeral options will probably never cost less than they do today. Statistics show that 43 percent of all deaths are unexpected; we are not guaranteed any tomorrows.

In our culture, few families are comfortable discussing death and loss. This is just one of those things that does not get easier as time goes by. Now is the best time for you to get your plan in order.

Why should I choose to be buried in a Catholic cemetery?

First and foremost, Catholic cemeteries are a vital part of our Church’s heritage of caring for and burying the bodies of the dead in blessed ground — one of the corporal works of mercy.

— www.catholic-cemeteries.org

‘A person tends to die as he has lived. If my life has been a journey with the Lord, a journey of trust in His immense mercy, I will be prepared to accept the final moment of my earthly life as the definitive, confident abandonment into His welcoming hands, awaiting the face to face contemplation of His Face. This is the most beautiful thing that can happen to us: to contemplate face to face the marvellous countenance of the Lord, to see Him as He is, beautiful, full of light, full of love, full of tenderness.’

Can I donate my body to a university?

Yes. But you must be sure that the body will be buried properly when the experimentations are completed. In this case a Mass should be offered for the deceased.

Also online At www.ncbfs.org: Learn more about preneed funeral trusts, funeral insurance, cremation vs. burial costs, and how to calculate funeral costs At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See a list of local parishes’ funeral planning guides

Ingram Funeral Home & Cremation Society Turn to a Catholic owned funeral home when you are ready to plan or have an immediate need.

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www.ingramfuneralhome.us

704-663-3939 | ingramclint@yahoo.com

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March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com

CATHOLIC NEWS HERA

Funeral pre-planning guide Use this worksheet to plan your funeral service or as a guide to discuss your wishes with your family Preparing and planning now can assure the type of funeral service appropriate for your loved one. Often times pre-planning and even pre-

funding your funeral arrangements can not only provide peace-of-mind to you, but also to those who suffer emotionally at the time of their loss.

Full name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Social Security Number: __________________________________________________________________________ Date of birth: ________________________________________________________ Place of birth: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Father’s name: _________________________________________________________________________ Mother’s maiden name: __________________________________________________________________________ Education: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Marital Status: ____ Married

____ Never Married

____ Widowed

____ Divorced

Married to: _____________________________________________________________

Date: ______________________________

Place: ______________________________________________________

Children: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Places lived: ___________________________________________________________

Employment: __________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

Civil, fraternal and other involvement: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you are a veteran, complete this information or attach copy of discharge: Veteran of which war? _________________________________________________

Place of Enlistment: _______________________ Date of Enlistment: __________

Service Number: _____________________ VA Claim Number: ______________

Place of Discharge: ________________________________

Branch of Service: ____________________ Rank: __________________________

Date of Discharge/Retirement: __________________________________________ County in which my discharge is on file with Clerk/Registrar of Deeds: ______

People to be notified immediately: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Obituary announcement to be sent to: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS Collect the following important papers and documents, and tell your family where they are kept: * Mortgage(s) and deeds * Military discharge * Birth certificate * Will * Bank account information * Attorney * Stocks/bonds * Insurance policies

* Safe deposit box * Cemetery deed * Living will or advance directive * Durable Power of Attorney

* Health Care Power of Attorney * Computer/website passwords

FUNERAL PRE-PLANNING DETAILS I have a pre-need funeral trust established with: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I have a funeral insurance policy with: __ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I have looked at caskets/urns/burial vaults and would prefer: ___________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ I have considered a marker or monument and would prefer: ___________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Memorials may be made to: ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CEMETERY INFORMATION Cemetery preferred: _________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

Phone: _________________________________________________________________ I ____ own ____ prefer Type of burial rights: ____ Ground burial

____ Columbarium

____ Mausoleum

____ Lawn crypt

If owned, name of burial right holder is/are: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Legal description of burial rights: ____ Lot # ____ Section ____ Row ____ Block

Grave number: __________________________________________________________________

CREMATION I would prefer to be cremated.

____ Yes

If cremation, what type of disposition? ____ Burial

____ No ____ Niche

Cremation vault: ____ Yes

____ No

Donation of organs or body? Describe: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

ALD SPECIAL EDITION

catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019

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Funeral rites planning form FUNERAL HOME: _________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________________________________________________________________________

PLACE OF SERVICE: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Church name) (Address)

____ Funeral Mass

Casket:

____ Open during Wake

Type of casket: ____ Wood

____ Memorial Mass

____ Cemetery/Chapel

____ Graveside

____ Closed during Wake

____ Metal

Cremation – Type of urn: ____ Wood

____ Church Service

____ Cremation coffin

____ Bronze

____ Other: ______________________________________________

____ Marble ____ Other: ______________________________________________

Clergy (if preferred): _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Musical selections (in keeping with the liturgy; please consult priest or music minister): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Liturgy of the Word desired readings (please consult priest or parish office): Old Testament: ______________________________________________________________ Responsorial Psalm: _________________________________________________________ New Testament: _____________________________________________________________ Gospel: _____________________________________________________________________ Will family place a pall on casket? ____ Yes ____ No Use incense? ____ Yes ____ No

Lector 1: __________________________________________________________________________________ Lector 2: _________________________________________________________________________________ Prayers of the Faithful: _____________________________________________________________________ Offertory Gifts: ____________________________________________________________________________

____ Cross or Bible placed on casket?

WAKE/COMMITTAL SERVICE Wake/Rosary Service: ____ Yes Viewing: ____ Public

____ No

____ Private

Location: _______________________________________ Officiant: _________________________________________________________________________________

____ None

Participating organizations at Wake or Committal Service (military, fraternal, lodge, etc.): ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Flag (Committal Service only): ____ Draped

____ Folded

Clothing preference: ____ From current wardrobe

____ New

Presented to: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____ Other: ___________________________________________________

Description/color: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Personal accessories:

____ Wedding band ____ Eyeglasses ____ Other

____ Stays on ____ Stays on ____ Stays on

____ or Returned to: ___________________________________________ ____ or Returned to: ___________________________________________ ____ or Returned to: ___________________________________________

Pallbearers: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (Name) (Relationship) (Phone #)

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS (include floral preferences, notes, awards, life achievements, pictures, obituary requests, items to be placed with the remains, etc.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOTE: Share a copy of this funeral Mass plan with your family, your funeral home (if you have a pre-plan), and your parish office.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION

Many parishes have bereavement ministries or grief support groups.

Check your parish’s website or bulletin, or call the parish office for details.

Offering Masses for the dead The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic Sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (1032).

It is normal to have a Mass offered as soon as possible for the deceased. Most people leave provision for this in their wills. When possible the “month’s mind,” a Mass on the one-month anniversary and then on other anniversaries, is a good practice. If Masses are not available on those days in your parish, your parish priest may be able to send them to be offered in the missions.

Arranging a Mass for a deceased loved one is easy. Simply contact a Catholic church in the community where you would like to have the Mass celebrated, or at your own parish if you would like to attend the Mass.

A stipend of usually $5-$20 per Mass is offered for the priest who will offer the Mass. Every parish has a Mass offering book, usually kept at the parish secretary’s desk, so that when you call or stop by the parish it is easy to ask for a Mass intention.

Sometimes you may be able to pick a specific day to have the Mass celebrated in memory of the deceased, but at times you may have to accept whatever date is available.

You will receive a Mass card from the parish with the time, date and church name where the Mass will be offered.

You can give the Mass card to the family of the deceased so they know when the Mass will be offered in their loved one’s honor.

Don’t forget to mark down the details on your own calendar so that you can attend the Mass or remember to offer your prayers on that day.

Why is it important to have a grave?

Our cemeteries are places of great sign value as were the catacombs of old.

The grave and the marker are visible signs that a person did live and that it mattered that he or she lived. Years from now someone will walk by our graves and remember us and that it was important that we lived and died. Cemeteries are places of catechesis about death and they are places of prayer in the context of the communion of saints and our waiting for the final coming of the Lord.

We visit the grave often to pray for the deceased and we decorate the graves regularly, especially on Nov. 2, All Souls Day. — “Catholic Funeral Guide,” St. Michael the Archangel Church in Gastonia

CNS | GREGORY A. SHEMITZ

Memorial candles are seen next to a statue of St. Paul in a mausoleum alcove at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, N.Y.

Why do we pray for the dead?

CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Praying for the dead might not make sense to nonbelievers but for Catholics it is part and parcel of the faith tradition, rooted in Old Testament readings and supported by the Catechism and the Church’s funeral liturgy.

“Our faith teaches us to pray for the dead,” said Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Ill., in a 2015 All Saints’ Day reflection, stressing that although people hope that those who die are with God and the angels and saints, it is not necessarily a guarantee.

“Scripture teaches that all of the dead shall be raised. However, only the just are destined for the kingdom of God,” the bishop wrote.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the clearest Bible reference about prayers for the dead is from the Second Book of Maccabees.

When soldiers were preparing the bodies of their slain comrades for burial they discovered they were wearing amulets taken from a pagan temple which violated the law of Deuteronomy so they prayed that God would forgive the sin these men had committed.

The New Testament echoes this notion in the second letter of Timothy when Paul prays for someone who died named Onesiphorus, saying: “May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church also has something to say about prayers for the dead, stating: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (1030).

The Roman catacombs where early Christians were buried also were places of prayer.

Today, prayers for the dead begin at the moment of death, often when family members are gathered around the bedside of the person who has died.

Prayers for death and grieving are among the “Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers,” published in 2007 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, that includes prayers immediately after death, prayers for mourners, prayers at the graveside and a more general prayer for the dead.

Of course these prayers continue in the funeral liturgy, which is the “central liturgical celebration of the Christian community for the deceased,” according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’

Did you know?

overview of Catholic funeral rites, online at www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/ The acronym “RIP” or bereavement-and-funerals/overview-ofR.I.P. is an abbreviation catholic-funeral-rites.cfm. of the Latin phrase The funeral liturgy, the website points “requiescat in pace” out, is “an act of worship, and not merely or the English “Rest in an expression of grief.”

It is a time when the Church gathers with peace.” the family and friends of the deceased “to give praise and thanks to God for Christ’s victory over sin and death, to commend the deceased to God’s tender mercy and compassion, and to seek strength in the proclamation of the Paschal Mystery,” it adds.

The prayers in the funeral liturgy express hope that God will free the person who has died from any burden of sin and prepare a place for him or her in heaven.

“The funeral rite is a prayer for the dead, designated by the Church as the liturgy of Christian burial,” wrote Bishop Braxton in his reflection.

He noted that many parishes “regularly disregard” the emphasis of this liturgy by printing funeral programs which say: “the Mass of the Resurrection: A Celebration of Life,’ even though the person has obviously not yet been raised from the dead.”

According to the Catechism, most Catholics who don’t merit hell still need purification before entering heaven and pass through a state when they die that the Church describes as purgatory.

In a question-and-answer page on www.BustedHalo.com, a Paulist-run website, Paulist Father Joe Scott said praying for the dead has “further origins in our belief in the communion of saints.”

The priest, an associate pastor at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Community in Los Angeles, added that living members of this communion can “assist each other in faith by prayers and other forms of spiritual support.”

“Christians who have died continue to be members of the communion of saints,” he wrote. “We believe that we can assist them by our prayers, and they can assist us by theirs.”

Pray regularly for the faithful departed, especially on Nov. 2 (All Souls Day).

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL EDITIONI

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Prayers for the dead The Mass is the highest form of prayer in the Church, and the most effective prayer that could be said on behalf of those who have gone before us. In Masses for the dead, and especially funeral Masses, “the Church offers the Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ’s Pasch for the dead so that, since all the members of Christ’s Body are in communion with one another, what implores spiritual help for some, may bring comforting hope to others.” (“General Instruction of the Roman Missal,” 379)

PRAYING WITH THE DYING As death approaches, the Church stays close to the one who is dying, to give comfort and support. The family should ask that Communion be brought to the dying (this is called “Viaticum, Latin for “food for the journey”).

Members of the local church may wish to join the family in a vigil of prayer. After the person’s death, the family is encouraged to continue praying, and to participate in the preparation of the vigil (wake) and funeral liturgies.

The following prayer may be recited with a dying person, alternating with times of silence. The Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be are also appropriate. The dying person may also be signed on the forehead with the cross, as was done at baptism.

Holy Mary, pray for me.

St. Joseph, pray for me.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.

CNS | KAREN CALLAWAY, CATHOLIC NEW WORLD

A woman prays after placing flowers and statues of saints on her son’s grave at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Ill.

With death anniversaries, many find comfort in rituals CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A tricky thing about grief is that it is not a one-shot deal. Although it is often strongest when it’s first experienced, it can sneak up at any time. It especially reappears on the anniversary of the death of a loved one.

Some have labeled these days as “deathversaries” and even though they are days that can bring up painful memories, they should not be ignored nor do they need to be completely depressing.

The Internet, which is not always a place of solace, actually has plenty of advice for coping with anniversaries of a loved one’s death.

Websites including www.modernloss.com or www.whatsyourgrief.com offer the following suggestions: n Take flowers to the grave site or other place where you remember your loved one. n Look at old photos and home videos or put digital photos into photo album. n Volunteer with a charity or cause your loved one liked, or make a donation to the charity in his or her name. n Host a dinner party and invite those who knew this person best and cook foods they liked or gather at the person’s favorite restaurant. n Do something your loved one would have enjoyed. n Write about your loved one; write them a

letter or plant a tree in their name. n Take the day off work. n Ask friends or family members for help.

The Mayo Clinic, based in Rochester, Minn., notes on its website, www.mayoclinic.org, that reawakened grief can occur years after a loss, particularly when people are confronted with reminders of their loved one’s death.

The site advises people to be prepared, especially for anniversary reactions and to plan a distraction for the day or reminisce about the relationship. It reiterates some of the suggestions previously mentioned and also urges people to allow themselves to “feel a range of emotions. It’s OK to be sad and feel a sense of loss, but also allow yourself to experience joy and happiness. As you celebrate special times, you might find yourself both laughing and crying.”

“There’s no time limit for grief, and anniversary reactions can leave you reeling.

Still, the intensity of grief tends to lessen with time,” it adds.

Many cultures celebrate the death anniversary of loved ones by gathering together as families and sharing special foods.

Catholics often mark the anniversary of a loved one’s death by attending Mass or having a Mass offered for the deceased.

Catholics also celebrate feast days which are the anniversaries of saints’ deaths. The anniversaries of deaths of loved ones will likely

not be celebrated in the same manner as they are for major saints: with festivals and parades through streets, but recollections on this day share the same idea: recalling when one’s life on earth ended and eternal life began.

For many people, the idea of being festive on the anniversary of someone’s death is hard to imagine and might never happen, but for those grieving a loss there are signs that healing has begun and that comfort or renewed strength is present.

Father Eamon Tobin, pastor of Ascension Catholic Community in Melbourne, Fla., who wrote a parish column about coping with loss, says signs of healing after grief include: n Being able to talk about your loved one in a more comfortable manner. n Realizing that while “life is not the same, it can be good again.” n Grief becomes less engrossing. n New inner resources are developed or strengthened.

“Grief work, though very painful,” he writes, “is good and holy.”

The priest also wrote that “grief is the way God intended for us to deal with loss.”

He said the “world’s way is denial. It tells us to ‘move on’ even before we have started to grieve. Grief work (and it is work) is the only thing that will heal our loss or at least help us to live with it.”

IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH The following prayer may be recited immediately after death and may be repeated in the hours that follow: V. Eternal rest grant unto him (her), O Lord.

R. And let perpetual light shine upon him (her).

V. May he (she) rest in peace.

R. Amen.

V. May his (her) soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen.

AT THE GRAVESIDE O God, by whose mercy the faithful departed find rest, send your holy Angel to watch over this grave.

Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.

At www.usccb.org/ prayer-and-worship/ bereavement-andfunerals/prayers-fordeath-and-dying.cfm: See more prayers and Scripture readings for the dying and for the dead At www. catholicnewsagency.com/ resources/prayers: Find more prayers, including a prayer to St. Joseph for a holy death

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION

Life itself is always a good, and is a quality that can never be lost.

END-OF-LIFE CARE

Ordinary/ proportionate versus extraordinary/ disproportionate means of preserving life Ordinary or proportionate means are those that (in the judgment of the patient assisted by health care professionals) offer a reasonable hope of benefit and do not entail an excessive burden or impose excessive expense on the family or the community. A person has a moral obligation to use ordinary means.

Extraordinary or disproportionate means are those that (in the judgment of the patient assisted by health care professionals) do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit, do entail an excessive burden, or do impose excessive expense on the family or the community.

A person may forgo extraordinary means.

Euthanasia and assisted suicide Euthanasia is an act or omission that of itself or by intention causes death to alleviate suffering. Catholics may never condone or participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide in any way.

Dying patients who request euthanasia should receive loving care, psychological and spiritual support, and appropriate remedies for pain and other symptoms so that they can live with dignity until the time of natural death.

Nutrition and hydration In principle, there is an obligation to provide patients with food and water, including medically assisted nutrition and hydration for those who cannot take food orally.

Medically assisted nutrition and hydration become morally optional when they cannot reasonably be expected to prolong life or when they would be excessively burdensome for the patient or would cause significant physical discomfort.

— National Catholic Bioethics Center. Learn more online at www.ncbcenter.org.

What kind of legal documents or arrangements about your end-of-life medical care should you have?

An “Advance Medical Directive” and “Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care” (or “Health Care Proxy”) are legal documents that take effect if the patient becomes incompetent. Even though these documents can be written without the assistance of an attorney, some states give them considerable legal weight.

An Advance Medical Directive specifies what medical procedures the patient wishes to receive or to avoid. (An Advance Medical Directive sometimes is called “A Living Will,” but because of its association with the advocacy of euthanasia, we have chosen to avoid this phrase.)

Durable Power of Attorney specifies a particular individual (variously called a “proxy,” “agent,” or “surrogate”) to make medical decisions on behalf of the patient (or the “principal”) when the patient is no longer able to do so.

When neither of these instruments is drawn up, the task of making important medical decisions usually falls to the family.

Most states have laws governing the use and implementation of the Advance Medical Directive and Durable Power of Attorney.

All hospitals and health care facilities are required by law to provide written information to the patient about the right to accept or refuse medical treatment and the right to formulate an Advance Directive and/or designate Durable Power of Attorney. The health care facility must also provide written policies stating how the patient’s Advance Directive or Durable Power of Attorney will be implemented. People should remember that they do not have to sign any Advance Directive given to them by the hospital.

WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

Make certain that your Advance Directive forbids any action that the Catholic faith considers to be immoral, such as euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide. (A Catholic hospital, in any case, will not follow a directive that conflicts with Church teaching.)

Once a directive is made, copies should be distributed to the agent and anyone else

More online At www.ncbcenter.org: What are the Church’s teachings on end-of-life decisions and how difficult will it be to follow them? Must we endure a great deal of pain? What if I am no longer able to make medical decisions for myself? Order or download a copy of “A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions,” which describes how you might approach end-of-life decisions in light of the teachings of the Church.

The details of a patient’s medical condition at a specific time need to be considered. the patient deems appropriate. One should periodically review the provisions of an Advance Directive and, when there is a revision, all previous copies should be destroyed.

The usefulness of an Advance Directive, which gives specific instructions for care, is limited because of its inflexibility. If circumstances change significantly between writing the Advance Directive and its implementation, the instructions may be of little value to those acting on a patient’s behalf, or may even hinder their freedom to make good decisions. There may also be a problem of interpreting the document when it is not clearly written. An Advance Directive oftentimes does not allow for adequate informed consent because one must make a decision about a future medical condition which cannot be known in advance.

When drawing up an Advance Directive, therefore, one should focus on general goals rather than on specific medical procedures.

Assigning Durable Power of Attorney is preferable to an Advance Directive because it leaves decisions in the hands of someone whom the patient has personally chosen.

A proxy agent also can be more sensitive and responsive to the decision-making that

is necessary for a given case. When assigning Durable Power of Attorney one should choose an agent of good moral character – someone who is known to be capable of making sound decisions under stressful circumstances. The agent should know the teachings of the Church and possess the practical wisdom to apply them to changing circumstances.

An agent, of course, must also survive the patient. One may designate alternate agents in case one’s first choice, for some reason, is unable to act.

A good agent makes decisions for the patient in light of what the patient would choose if able to do so. The proxy, therefore, should be very familiar with your moral convictions and wishes. When there is an Advance Directive from you, this should be the guide. When there is not, the agent must act on the oral instruction that has been given. Sometimes, however, acting in your best interests means ignoring instructions that are obviously unwarranted or clearly immoral. No agent is bound to carry out actions that conflict with morality and the faith.

ALSO NOTE

When formulating any Advance Directive and discussing end-of-life issues, avoid using the expression “quality of life” because it is used by advocates of euthanasia to suggest that some lives are not worth living.

While illness and other circumstances can make life very difficult, they cannot diminish the inestimable worth of each human life created by God. Life itself is always a good, and is a quality that can never be lost. Still, we need not cling to this life at all costs (what’s called “therapeutic obstinacy”), since the life to which we have been called in Christ is incomparably better.

Euthanasia has been defined by St. John Paul II in “The Gospel of Life” as “an action or omission which of itself and by intention causes death, with the purpose of eliminating all suffering.” The Church holds that “euthanasia is a grave violation of the law of God, since it is the deliberate and morally unacceptable killing of a human person.”

— National Catholic Bioethics Center

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL EDITIONI

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END-OF-LIFE CARE What is the difference between foreseeing death and intending death?

The difference ultimately lies in the intentionality of the patient or health care professional. A person should never intend in any way the death of a patient or the hastening of a patient’s death. Sometimes it is difficult to determine whether a medical decision made during end-of-life care includes such an intention. Certain means can be used to alleviate a patient’s pain, for example, by a physician who foresees that the patient’s life may be shortened as a result (as an indirect, non-intended but tolerated effect of the therapy), but similar means could be used to intentionally shorten a patient’s life.

Are proportionate or ordinary means the same for everyone?

Basic care (such as nutrition and hydration, pain relief, antibiotic treatment, and postural change) is generally the same for all patients and should always be provided. The evaluation of proportionate or disproportionate means, however, is based on objective and subjective factors for an individual patient.

For example, total parenteral nutrition may be a proportionate means in an industrialized country but a disproportionate means in a developing country, where it is not affordable or is technically too difficult to administer.

A treatment may also be disproportionate because it is futile or because it causes complications that are too hard for the patient or the patient’s family to bear.

What ethical problems are there with advance directives?

The right of patients to self-determination can lead them to include morally illicit requests in advance directives, such as requests to have ordinary care withdrawn.

An effective therapeutic alliance between a physician, a patient and the patient’s proxy is the best way to address end-of-life issues.

Requests made by a patient in an advance directive may preclude therapeutic dialogue, preventing such an alliance.

A patient may react to an illness or a specific therapy differently than expected, or medical advances occurring after a directive was written may change the patient’s treatment options in unexpected ways. In such situations, an advance directive may prevent objective moral analysis.

Advance directives are often difficult to interpret and apply in the actual circumstances encountered by health care professionals, relatives and proxies.

Advance directives that do not differentiate between proportionate and disproportionate treatments may be promoted by pro-euthanasia associations as a first step toward acceptance of euthanasia.

What is a Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST)?

A Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is a medical order specifying whether life-sustaining treatment is to be used or withheld for a specific patient in various circumstances. It carries the signatures of the health care provider and sometimes the patient.

It differs from a do-not-resuscitate order and a traditional advance directive in that it is actionable from the moment it is signed by the health care provider, even if the patient is still competent and is not terminally ill.

One reason given for use of a POLST and similar instruments is the avoidance of futile or unwanted treatment. Even without a POLST, however, patients are never obligated to submit to health care procedures whose burdens outweigh therapeutic benefits.

Decisions about forgoing life-sustaining treatment should be made at the time and in the circumstances in which the decisions are needed (not years ahead), and they should be made by the patient or the patient’s surrogate in consultation with the patient’s attending physician, in line with the patient’s known wishes and best interest (not by health care workers who are strangers to the patient but have access to his POLST).

The details of a patient’s medical condition at a specific time need to be considered when such decisions are made, including the imminence of anticipated death, the likely risks and side effects of treatment, the suffering treatment is likely to cause, and the expense to the patient’s family and community.

An optimal advance directive is written in very general terms. Instead of specifying treatment, it designates a health care proxy or surrogate who will make decisions if the patient is incompetent, someone who knows the will of the patient and the teachings of the Catholic Church.

What is the difference between an advance directive and a POLST? An advance directive is a legal document that allows a person to identify a proxy or surrogate

decision maker and express his wishes about receiving or forgoing health care, including life-sustaining treatment, in the event that he is no longer able to communicate such wishes.

An optimal advance directive is written in general terms that identify principles on which a surrogate is to base decisions, made with the assistance of a physician, in the specific health care situation encountered by the patient.

A POLST is a medical order about receiving or forgoing life-sustaining treatment that takes effect from the moment the health care provider signs it, even if the patient is competent and not terminally ill.

Why is the designation of a health care proxy or surrogate morally preferable to use of a POLST? Unless death is imminent, it is virtually impossible to compare the benefits and burdens of treatment before a patient has encountered a specific health care situation.

Thus, pre-signed checklists of treatments to be received or withheld are not helpful for making decisions based on the best interest of the patient and consistent with the patient’s wishes.

A well-informed proxy who knows the patient, understands the values held by the patient, and respects the natural moral law can provide a far better understanding of how the patient’s wishes are to be respected than can a general checklist that is not tied to any specific patient care situation.

— National Catholic Bioethics Center

More online At www.ncbcenter.org: Find more resources and helpful guidelines on end-of-life care

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END-OF-LIFE CARE

A note on general principles regarding end-of-life care No summary can substitute for thorough catechesis, but some general principles are clear. We are entrusted by God with the gift of life, and in response, we care for our lives and health in obedience and gratitude to our Creator.

This obliges us to make use of appropriate, effective medical care.

However, even effective treatments may at times impose such a great burden that we, in good conscience, may forgo or discontinue them. This applies even to lifesustaining treatments. Of course, nothing should be done or deliberately omitted to hasten death.

The Church affirms the inviolable dignity of every person, regardless of the duration or extent of the person’s incapacity or dependency. Nothing diminishes the unchangeable dignity and sanctity of a

person’s life, or the obligation to protect and care for it. In principle, assisted feeding and hydration should be provided unless it cannot sustain life or is unduly burdensome to the patient, or if death is imminent whether it is provided or not.

Moreover, no one should choose suicide, nor counsel or assist another to take his or her own life.

DISCERNING TREATMENT OPTIONS

Judging the effect and burden of treatments can be difficult, especially as death draws near. To understand health facts and treatment options, we need professional medical advice. To understand Catholic moral teaching, we need to consult Church teaching and those who can faithfully explain it.

The Church affirms the inviolable dignity of every person, regardless of the duration or extent of the person’s incapacity or dependency.

SPEAKING WITH LOVED ONES

After informing our consciences, we need to inform our families. If we are unable to make decisions, they most often have legal authority to make surrogate decisions on our behalf. Or we may designate a health care agent by a durable power of attorney.

Though it is often helpful to also have written, signed documentation, no living will “check box” can ever replace clear conversations about our faith-guided principles. The best option is to choose an agent who will make medical decisions on our behalf in accord with our Catholic faith and Church teaching.

We should also inform family of our pastoral care preferences, and make clear that after death, we desire prayer, funeral rites, and Christian burial.

ACCOMPANIMENT BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH

life-threatening illnesses, as well as their families, can be provided with physical, psychological, and spiritual care through team-based palliative care. Hospice care can provide similar integrated care for those nearing death and for their families.

Pastoral care is integral to both palliative and hospice care, and includes making available the Eucharist, Confession, Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum. It also includes supportive prayer and support for decision makers. It may be helpful to familiarize ourselves with local services available in preparation for our own passing or that of loved ones.

Even after death, accompaniment continues. Our prayers can help those who are being purified in purgatory, so it is a spiritual work of mercy to pray for those who have died.

— USCCB

Those who are sick should not be alone, as multiple popes have reminded us in messages for the annual World Day of the Sick. Patients who have serious or

Grieving Loved Ones Are Not Alone Last year, Catholic Charities provided 75 individuals with a dignified burial. The service is designed to help families who do not have the means to provide a compassionate and dignified burial for their loved ones. Without this service, some families would have no option but to leave the body of their loved ones unclaimed at the morgue.

Burial assistance helps families that have no insurance or finances to pay the costs associated with death expenses.

For assistance, please call the Catholic Charities office nearest you: Asheville: 828.255.0146 Charlotte: 704.370.3262 Winston-Salem: 336.727.0705 This program relies on the generosity of individual donors and community supporters. To donate, please visit ccdoc.org.

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Opportunities for giving Everything we have, everything we are, and everything we will become is a gift from God. As stewards of those gifts, we are called to return a portion of our time, talent and treasure in gratitude for God’s great bounty. The Diocese of Charlotte – with its parishes, offices, agencies, schools and outreach ministries – has many ways for you to give back in gratitude for what God has blessed you with:

Donate online Secure donations can be made online via credit card or direct debit at www. charlottediocese.org/donations for: Catholic Charities Catholic Conference Center Campus Ministry Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) Eucharistic Congress Forward in Faith, Hope & Love (FFHL) MACS Education Foundation Seminarian Education Campaign Triad Area Catholic Schools Education Foundation

Donate by mail Donations in any amount may be made via mail directly to the Diocese of Charlotte, or to any of the ministries mentioned at left. Checks should be made payable to the particular program (as listed above), except for Campus Ministry and Seminarian Education, both of which should be made payable to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte. Please designate in the memo section of your check where your gift should be directed. Please send donations to: Diocese of Charlotte Attn: Finance Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003

Securities (stocks, bonds, mutual funds) Gifts of stock may be made via electronic transfer or by physical certificate. The

Diocese of Charlotte maintains a brokerage account with Wells Fargo Advisors for the purpose of processing electronic transfers to the diocese for the benefit of the diocese or any of its parishes, schools or agencies.

Refer to the Stock Donations section at www.charlottediocese.org/donations for detailed guidance on initiating a transfer of stock.

Planned giving and endowments Many people choose to contribute to the future of the Church in western North Carolina through planned gifts, including real estate, retirement account plans, life insurance policies, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and gifts made through a will or living trust.

The Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte aims to provide long-term financial stability for the diocese and its parishes, schools, ministries and agencies. Through endowments and

other planned gifts, it provides a means to generate income to help sustain the long-term strength and viability of Catholic institutions in western North Carolina.

Who to contact

For details about any of these planned giving opportunities, To leave a bequest to the Church in your contact Gina Rhodes at will, use the following language: gmrhodes@ n For a parish, Catholic school or charlottediocese.

Catholic agency, the listing should be: org or 704-370“Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of the Roman 3364; or Judy Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, or his Successors in Office for the (name and city Smith at jmsmith@ charlottediocese. of parish, school or agency).” org or 704-370n For the diocese, the listing should 3320. be: “Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, or his Successors in Office.” n For the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation, the listing should be: “Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte to be added to or establish the (name) endowment fund.”

Making a gift in your will

Help a neighbor in need: Help Catholic Charities Make a donation today to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte that will transform lives by strengthening families, building communities, and reducing poverty in your local neighborhoods. It’s easy to help a neighbor in need:

Donate online Donate securely online at www.ccdoc.org/donate using a credit or debit card or EFT/ACH.

Donate by mail Donations may be mailed to: Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte Attn: Central Processing Office 1123 South Church St. Charlotte, NC 28203-4003 Checks should be made payable to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. (Please include your address, daytime phone number and parish.)

You can also donate using your Donor Advised Fund. You can also double the impact of your donation with your employer’s matching gift and mail your matching gift form to the address noted.

Vehicle donations Catholic Charities also has opportunities for you to donate your car, truck, RV, boat, motorcycle or other vehicle. For details, go online to www.ccdoc.org/donate/donate-carsvehicles, or call (toll-free) 855-930-GIVE or

855-930-4483 to speak with Catholic Charities’ partner, Charitable Auto Resources.

Food donations Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s food pantries in Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Asheville rely heavily on donated food and nonfood items for weekly distribution to clients.

For food pantry locations and drop-off times, go to www.ccdoc.org/donate/donate-groceryitems.

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FROM THE COVERI

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WORLD WATER DAY 2019

Women collect water from a river in Terakeka, Sudan.

Villagers drink water from the river, which often results in stomach ailments and causes them to urinate blood. CRS constructed a borehole that provided enough fresh water for 500 families, or 2,500 people, for up to 50 years. In total, CRS will build 15 boreholes and repair another five in Terakeka. CRS will also train community members in hygiene promotion and water pump repair.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES

Promoting global access to clean water – a fundamental human right JOSEPH PURELLO SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘The disadvantaged of the earth challenge us to find a remedy for the lack of water in their countries; they also challenge us, from their poverty and limits, to accord the just value to this good, essential for the development of all peoples.’

Pope Francis

From his World Water Day 2019 message

Water is essential to life, but for nearly a billion people access to clean freshwater is limited or non-existent.

According to a February 2018 World Health Organization report (using 2015 global data), 71 percent of the global population (5.2 billion people) used a drinking-water service located on premises, available when needed, and free from contamination. An additional 18 percent of people had access to an improved water source located within a 30-minute round trip from their home, although this water was not necessarily free from contamination. However, an estimated 844 million people lacked even a basic drinking-water service – including 159 million people forced to access untreated surface water (such as rivers, streams and lakes) and 423 million people who had to obtain water from unprotected wells and springs.

Lack of access to clean freshwater leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually from waterborne illnesses, and countless millions of people spending days and weeks in agony fighting such illnesses.

Highlighting this problem is the intent of “World Water Day.” World Water Day has been internationally observed since 1993, with March 22 being the day officially assigned by the United Nations General Assembly for this observance.

Pope Francis has used this annual observance to join with other global leaders in calling for a world where all people have access to clean water for drinking, cooking and hygienic purposes, and enjoining the international community of nations to respect and promote access to clean water as an essential and fundamental human right.

This right has been espoused in Catholic social teaching, summarized as: “The right to water, as all human rights, finds its basis in human dignity and not in any kind of merely quantitative assessment that considers water as a merely economic good. Without water, life is threatened. Therefore, the right to safe drinking water is a universal and inalienable right” (excerpted from “The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church,” Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, 2004).

The varied themes of World Water Day each year guide nations and humanitarian agencies as they highlight the challenges faced by many around the earth to obtain clean freshwater and work for greater sustainable management of limited freshwater resources.

This year’s theme is “Leaving no one behind,” which echoes the Church’s “preferential option for the poor” as it calls upon the global community to consider people who have been marginalized and have restricted or no access to clean water. Women, children, older adults and those with disabilities often find their needs come last when the scramble for limited clean water pushes people to the periphery. For many people, access to clean water is denied because of discrimination, war and forced displacement or confinement.

In his message for this year’s World Water Day, Pope Francis reflected on the concern of those “left behind” in the access to clean water: “Water is an essential good for the balance of ecosystems and human survival, and it is necessary to manage it and take care of it so that it is not contaminated or lost. It may be seen in our days how the aridity of the planet is extending to new regions, and more and

Two boys drink clean water made possible by a CRS project. After massive flooding destroyed water systems throughout northern Pakistan, CRS helped villagers construct or repair thousands of meters of pipeline.

WATER, SEE PAGE 20

Learn more At www.worldwaterday.org: Read more information about World Water Day

At www.crs.org/water: Find education resources, including the video “Water Security at CRS,” sharing how CRS is saving lives and improving communities with clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects.

In El Salvador, this rain trap was used to collect water that can be used to water crops.

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In theaters

Local author pens ‘101 Surprising Facts About the Bible’ SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

‘Captive State’ Drab sci-fi drama in which, nine years after humanity surrendered the earth to invading aliens, a young Chicago man (Ashton Sanders) gets caught up in a conspiracy to rebel against them. He and the other plotters are tracked by a local police official (John Goodman) whose ultimate allegiance in the struggle is unclear. But the movie as a whole never quite gels, and the inclusion of some gritty settings and behavior makes this strictly adult fare. Considerable violence with some gore, torture, multiple suicides, glimpses of nonmarital sexual activity, cohabitation, at least one profanity, a couple of rough terms, occasional crude language.

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

‘Wonder Park’ When her mother (voice of Jennifer Garner) becomes seriously ill and must go away for medical treatment, a young girl (voice of Brianna Denski) lashes out by turning her back on the imaginary amusement park they had created together with the help of an ensemble of stuffed animals (the most prominent voiced by Norbert Leo Butz, Ken Hudson Campbell and Mila Kunis). But on a journey through the woods near her home, she stumbles on a real-life version of the venue and finds that it’s in crisis because of her anger and neglect. As penned by Josh Appelbaum and Andre Nemec, this animated adventure rambles and, though objectionable elements are absent, the many dangers the characters face, together with the fraught emotional situation, will likely prove too scary and upsetting for little kids. Frequent peril, somber plot developments, brief mild gross-out humor.

CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG

Other movies: n ‘Five Feet Apart’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG -13 n ‘Us’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: R

CHARLOTTE — In his latest book, “101 Surprising Facts About the Bible,” Rick Rotondi takes on the most famous, most translated book in history.

“The 101 Series is a series published by Saint Benedict Press. It’s a very engaging way to approach a subject in bite-sized pieces. You can get a great introduction to different subjects,” Rotondi explains.

“A lot of it is coming out of my work on a documentary series on Jesus called ‘Messiah’,” Rotondi adds. He has been working on the documentary for the past 18 months, which was filmed in the Holy Land and Rome and will be released this fall.

“It inspired me to research into the Bible and to share what I learned in this book,” he says.

To help readers explore the history and content of the Bible, Rotondi has divided the book into three parts: how the Bible was compiled, written and made; the prophecies of the Bible; and how the Bible speaks to us.

“The Bible is one book. What makes it one book? It is Christ.

Christ provides that unity of Scripture. He is in the Old Testament and the New Testament,” Rotondi notes.

We see Him present in Genesis, in Exodus and in the prophets.

That is the Road to Emmaus experience that the disciples had, he says. “That is really what I wanted to Give people; a Road to Emmaus experience.”

Rotondi provides a historical overview of the Bible, how the Bible has shaped civilization and culture. “It is the Bible that gives us respect for human dignity. It insists every human being is made in the image and likeness of God.” He hopes anyone who is seeking sound, basic information to understand what the Bible is, where it comes from and how it has shaped history and the Christian faith, will take the time to explore the story of the Bible shared in this book.

Rotondi also hopes that readers take away a sense that Christ is the whole purpose of creation, that God is revealing Christ to us from the very beginning and that this is the way so we can know and love Him. “God also wants to speak to us, but we need to dwell on His words, which is Scripture. He can draw our attention to passages that have meaning in particular times of our lives. It’s all about Christ, and it is all about God speaking to us. We need the Bible for that,” he says.

No one should be afraid of reading the Bible more often and more deeply, he emphasizes. “Biblical literacy is so crucial. We have forgotten about that in our age. We have lost the Bible as part of our culture. We need it.”

Even for people who are not believers, he says, “They need it because you can’t understand our history without it.”

“We should know the Bible as literature, and then as Catholics and Christians, we should know it more deeply as the Word of God,” he says. “It is a unifying text for us all.”

Order a copy At www.tanbooks.com: Get a copy of “101 Surprising Facts About the Bible”

On TV n Friday, March 29, 4 p.m.

(EWTN) “Miles Christi: Soldiers of Christ in America.” Learn about this religious order of priests and brothers in Argentina, who provide spiritual retreats and direction for the sanctification of the laity. n Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Marie’s Story.” A religious sister teaching at the Larnay Institute in central France offers to work with the blind and deaf daughter of a 19th century artisan.

Based on true events. n Sunday, March 31, 10 p.m.

(EWTN) “Russia’s Catholics.”

The current state of the Catholic Church and Faith in Russia, including the years of persecution Catholics and Orthodox Christians suffered during the country’s Communist rule. n Monday, April 1, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Mother Dolores Hart’s Early Life.” Mother Dolores talks about her childhood years, how she helped her grandfather operate the movie projector in a local theater, her movie actor father and her dream to become an actress. n Wednesday, April 3, 3:20 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Paul Outside the Walls.” Dr. O’Donnell gives a rather graphic description of the death of St. Paul at the hands of the Romans. He also describes the area what the significance of “Outside the Wall” was to Rome and is today. n Friday, April 5, 3:20 p.m.

(EWTN) “St. Eusebius.” A visit to the Church of St. Eusebius with Dr. Timothy O’Donnell. He was a Roman priest who refused to embrace the Aryan heresy, which denied Christ’s divinity. n Saturday, April 6, 8 p.m.

(EWTN) “Clare and Francis.”

The story of two of the Catholic Church’s most beloved Saints, who become linked in their quest for searching for something higher than riches and social status. n Sunday, April 7, 1:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.” A look back on the life, ideals, and works of 1960s community activist, Saul Alinsky, through the lens of a Catholic perspective. n Monday, April 8, 5:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Death.” Father Wade Menezes, C.P.M., Fathers of Mercy, gives a brief overview as to why we should study the Four Last Things, and a discussion of the first of our five topics: Death. n Tuesday, April 9, 6:30 a.m.

(EWTN) “From Death to Life.”

Father Richard Ho Lung and his team discuss Jesus’ call from the darkness of sin to the light of new life. n Wednesday, April 10, 4:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Bernadette: Princess of Lourdes.” Bernadette and her friends went out to gather firewood, but found something of far greater value, a true understanding of their faith through a special encounter with “The Immaculate Conception.”

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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New book encourages fathers to lead faith-filled families SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HARRISBURG — Ray Haywood did not set out in life to be an author. This husband, father and parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte is a car salesman. But something happened in 2015 that propelled him to pen a book encouraging men to be godly influences in their families.

The book, “Tools to Ready the Journey: A Father’s Guide to a Faith-Filled Family,” was released on the feast of St. Joseph, March 19.

The book stems from a private revelation Haywood experienced, in the form of a weeping crucifix in his office at the car dealership. He purchased the handmade crucifix made of fish bone on vacation in June 2015 in Mexico, and after hanging it in his office that October, he noticed moisture dripping from it.

Haywood consulted his parish’s priests, who encouraged him to pray and contemplate the meaning of this private revelation.

Shortly afterward, he recalls, “I woke up with an overwhelming feeling that I had to write a book. Within a matter of 10 minutes, the title of the book and all of the chapters were outlined. I felt overwhelmed with the knowledge of the content that needed to be shared, as if every experience up to that point in my life was with this one purpose in mind.”

In his search for answers regarding this experience, Haywood says, “I have always been led to encouragement – encouragement to reach into the lives of men and share with them the value of

leading their family’s faith journey by building the foundation of faith found in the New Covenant and in the sacraments shared in our one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church’s teachings.”

He explains that at the time of his prayer to strengthen his family’s faith, it had stopped at that – his family. “Through a moment of grace, I realized God’s intent within my prayer was to reach into and strengthen His/ our faith-filled family,” he says.

In writing this book Haywood felt an undeniable call to action to reach into the hearts of young men and fathers who are building the foundation of faith within their families.

“I felt a clear calling to share life lessons and competencies to help guide the way of young men to a clearer perspective of a father’s rightful place within the faithfilled family – to give clarity among all the confusion this world places before them as stumbling blocks,” he explains.

In his book, Haywood says, “As fathers, we must understand and accept that every decision and position we take, through our words and actions, affect our families.

If we become complacent to what society dictates as acceptable, then we separate our families from our foundation of faith.

“If we fail to challenge false truths,

perceived as reality for those living in and of this world, and we fail to protect our families from the many worldly causes that try to capture their hearts, then they will lose their way as they face the world on their own.”

The book consists of 13 chapters, a study guide and other resources including a website and Facebook page designed to generate conversation and encouragement among fathers.

Says Haywood, “It is now time to reach into the hearts of young men and fathers

and challenge them in humility to seek out truth, to understand truth as it is shared, and to take their rightful place within the family they are held accountable by God to lead.

Before we can lead, we must first follow.”

For more information At www.trjfathersguide.com: Learn more about “Tools to Ready the Journey: A Father’s Guide to a Faith-Filled Family.” It is available in hardcover, paperback and as a Kindle eBook online at www.amazon.com.

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Our nation 14

catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Nebraskans’ faith, community spirit stronger after floods, priest says CAROL ZIMMERMANN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After floodwaters ravaged much of Nebraska, ironically one thing some people needed most was clean water.

The town of Peru, home to 1,000 residents alongside the Missouri River, had a drinking water shortage for several days after the town’s water treatment plant was flooded.

Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska, based in Lincoln, an hour north, stepped in to help with a bottledwater drive for displaced students at the town’s Peru State College which closed for several days because of the flooding.

Town officials asked people to conserve water as best they could and to drink bottled water available at the college campus and City Hall before the National Guard and a nearby town replenished the town’s quickly-drained water tower.

The town remained under a boil water notice March 21.

For Father Justin Fulton, assistant director of Catholic Social Services, the bottled-water drive alone showed one way so many in the state are linked. The college where they delivered water is where he obtained his master’s degree and the nearby town of Auburn, that helped replenish Peru’s water supply, is where he grew up. Most of that town had been under water from the flooding that began March 14 after a combination of rain, melting snow and ice jams caused rivers to overflow.

The flooding in Nebraska caused widespread damage to stored grain and fields where planting was about to begin and left livestock – cattle, hogs and chicken – stranded or drowned. It also damaged hundreds of miles of state roads – many that have remained closed since the flooding began

CNS | OFFICE OF GOVERNOR PETE RICKETTS HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

A damaged road is seen March 16, 2019, after a storm triggered historic flooding in Niobrara, Neb. Gov. Pete Ricketts and the Nebraska National Guard surveyed flooded farms, homes, bridges and highways, damage Ricketts called “devastating” and perhaps the worst seen in a half-century.

– and left thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses waterlogged.

It will likely take months for state officials to declare the full cost of damage from the flooding but preliminary estimates of damage to homes and businesses is more than $1.3 billion, state officials said in a March 19 news conference, announcing that three-fourths of the state’s counties have declared an emergency.

Father Fulton said March 20 that “everyone knows

everyone” in Nebraska, especially since so many people grew up there and farms have been in families for generations. “We’re all connected,” he said, and with outpouring of support for those harmed by the flood, he said, Nebraskans are reminded: “We are connected as a human family.”

But even in midst of this disaster that hit farming communities so hard, he maintains that people are not giving up, especially on their faith. “With anything, you’ve got to be able to see God working,” he said, adding: “We’re going to get through this.”

The priest, who is in residence at St. Teresa’s in Lincoln and teaches Catholic morality and social teaching to juniors at Lincoln’s St. Pius X High School, said the flooding has provided a lot of fodder for conversation about God. “Nebraskans are simple people. We understand challenges because our lives are tied to the elements,” he said. The priest added that there have been many good years, but now with this dramatic turn, he doesn’t sense that people think “God has abandoned us.”

“We aren’t losing faith; we’re making it stronger,” he added.

And as for the outreach of groups like Catholic Social Services, he said: “We’re not geared to respond to something this big” and for now are “treading water” before long-term help begins in the area.

How you can help Donations can be sent directly to Catholic Social Services of Southern Nebraska online at https://bit.ly/2UNhil7 or to Catholic Charities USA for flood relief to Midwest region online at https:// bit.ly/2FlW47y.

Your Life’s Journey… how will you be remembered?

Establish a legacy that responds to the many gifts God has given you.

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For more information on how to leave a legacy for your parish, please contact Gina Rhodes, Director of Planned Giving at 704/370-3364 or gmrhodes@charlottediocese.org.

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief W.Va.’s attorney general files suit against diocese, bishop CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston “strongly and unconditionally” rejects the state attorney general’s assertion that “the diocese is not wholly committed to the protection of children.”

The diocese issued a statement late March 19 in response to an announcement earlier that day that Attorney General Patrick James Morrisey brought a civil suit against the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston and its former bishop, Bishop Michael J. Bransfield, citing provisions of the West Virginia Consumer Credit and Protection Act. The filing says that based on its investigation, the state attorney general’s office claims that the diocese and Bishop Bransfield in past years violated the consumer law by failing “to disclose to consumers of its educational and recreational services that it employed priests and laity who have sexually abused children.”

The suit defines “educational and recreational services” as the Catholic schools, summer camps and other entities in the statewide diocese. The diocese’s statement said the complaint “is based in part on information included in (its) November 2018 public disclosure of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse and on other information provided by the diocese to the attorney general over the past five months.” It added that some of the alleged abuse occurred more than 50 years ago and some “are not accurately described.”

Bishops: EPA plan to roll back pollution rule would harm unborn WASHINGTON, D.C. — Unborn children would face greater health risks if the Environmental Protection Agency moves to rescind a rule regulating hazardous air pollutants emitted by power plants, said the chairmen of two U.S. bishops’ committees. The bishops argued in a March 22 statement that the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, or MATS, are needed to protect pregnant women as well. “The proposed change to the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards rule is troubling since it is well-documented that pregnant mothers and their unborn children are the most sensitive to mercury pollution and its adverse health effects,” said Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City, Kan., chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

The bishops’ comments coincided with a March 18 letter sent by a USCCB official in response to the publication of the revised EPA rule in the Federal Register Feb. 7. The EPA said it had concluded that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants from power plants because the cost of doing so “grossly outweighs” the benefits gained by doing so.

Bishops say Equality Act’s regulations will harm society WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a joint letter to Congress March 20, the chairmen of three committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said they oppose to the Equality Act because while it is meant to provide protections to those who identify as LGBT, it would impose “sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole.” The measure would add the new terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the definition of “sex” in federal civil rights laws, they said. Such a move would have “wide-reaching impacts” on health care, women and girls’ legal protections, charitable services to needful populations, schools, personal

privacy, athletics, free speech, religious liberties and potentially parental rights, the prelates said.

The Equality Act was introduced in the House and Senate March 13. It is also known as H.R. 5 and S. 788. The letter was signed by Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Fla., chairman of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty; and Bishop James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb., chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.

Regarding individuals who identify as LGBT, “each and every person should be treated with dignity and respect, the chairmen said.

“Part of that dignity, as Pope Benedict stated, is every person’s right to gainful and decent employment free of unjust discrimination. Also included is each person’s right to services that address their needs for health and safety.”

However, “rather than offering meaningful protections for individuals,” the Equality Act “would impose sweeping regulations to the detriment of society as a whole.”

develop the virtues necessary to live a moral life,” he said. “Part of this virtue formation includes cultivating chastity, helping our students understand the meaning and purpose of their sexuality.”

credit for voluntary donations to state-based scholarship programs.” Companion bills have been introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Ala., respectively.

New school choice tax credit bill introduced in House, Senate

Cardinal continues recovery

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new piece of legislation endorsed by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos could put Catholic or other religious schools within reach of many families who would otherwise not be able to afford them. The plan, called “Education Freedom Scholarships,” is actually not a new federal program meant to redirect funds toward private school scholarships and away from public education or the like – though that is what some of its opponents portray it as doing. According to the program’s website, the plan offers “a $5 billion annual federal tax

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— Catholic News Service

September 3-12, 2019

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City wrote his March 15 column in The Leaven, the archdiocesan newspaper, about a Catholic school’s decision not to enroll the child of a non-Catholic same-sex union couple, noting the issue has garnered local and national media attention.

“Not surprisingly, the secular media has been very negative in their portrayal of the decision”

by St. Ann Catholic School in Prairie Village, he said. “Some St. Ann parishioners, as well as many more non-parishioners from both Missouri and Kansas, have signed a petition urging me to reconsider the decision,” he wrote. “I believe most petitioners and many other critics of the decision are well-intentioned. They have a genuine concern for the child and the same-sex couple. “I share their concern for the welfare of both the child and the parents, but we disagree about the best way to treat them with both respect and compassion.” The primary purpose of the parochial schools “is to help Catholic parents form their children in the faith,” the archbishop wrote. “An important part of this spiritual formation is helping our students

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HOUSTON — After being hospitalized after suffering a stroke March 15, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, was discharged March 20 from St. Joseph Medical Center in Houston and was transferred to a nearby rehabilitation program. Doctors expect him to make a full recovery, according to a statement from the archdiocese. “I look forward to getting back to work soon, and continuing the important work we have before us,” the cardinal said in the statement, expressing gratitude for all of the prayers and support he has received.

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Our world 16

catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CNS | SIPHIWE SIBEKO, REUTERS

A stranded family sits on top of their home March 21, 2019, in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai outside Beira, Mozambique. Hundreds were feared dead in Mozambique four days after a cyclone slammed into the country, submerging entire villages and leaving bodies floating in the floodwaters, the nation’s president said.

Pope sends aid to southeast Africa after cyclone CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — As an immediate sign of his concern and an encouragement to other donors, Pope Francis has sent $50,000 each to Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi to assist with initial emergency relief efforts after a cyclone hit the region and caused massive flooding.

As of March 22, at least 300 people were known to have died, thousands have been injured and hundreds of thousands left homeless, according to the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

The dicastery, which will distribute the aid from the pope through the Vatican nunciatures in each country, said the week of torrential rain in the region has “razed to the ground tens of thousands of homes and public buildings” and made major roads impassable.

The water and electricity distribution systems have been compromised and there is a growing concern about the spread of diseases, particularly through unclean water.

The Vatican described Pope Francis’ donation as a “first contribution” and “an immediate expression of his feeling of spiritual closeness” to the people impacted.

In addition, it noted, the contribution is only “part of the aid that is being gathered throughout the Catholic Church” from bishops’ conferences and charitable organizations.

In Washington, the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ subcommittee on Africa and their international policy committee said March 22 that Catholic Relief Services has set up an emergency relief initiative to collect resources to provide humanitarian aid “and begin the longer-term recovery efforts” in the three African countries.

“It is with profound shock, horror and sadness that we learn about the devastation and massive loss of life that has occurred ... due to Cyclone Idai. The magnitude of the cyclone and the scope of its damages are almost beyond

CNS| SIPHIWE SIBEKO, REUTERS CNS | DENIS ONYODI, RED CROSS RED CRESCENT VIA REUTERS

Survivors of Cyclone Idai arrive at an evacuation center March 21, 2019, in Beira, Mozambique. Hundreds were feared dead in Mozambique four days after a cyclone slammed into the country, submerging entire villages and leaving bodies floating in the floodwaters, the nation’s president said. belief,” said Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J., and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

They wrote to the Catholic bishops’ conferences of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi as the chairmen, respectively, of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on the Church in Africa and the Committee on International Justice and Peace.

Flooded homes are seen March 21, 2019, in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai outside Beira, Mozambique. Hundreds were feared dead in Mozambique four days after a cyclone slammed into the country, submerging entire villages and leaving bodies floating in the floodwaters, the nation’s president said.

The two prelates expressed sorrow and solidarity over the lives lost by the cyclone and offered prayers for recovery efforts.

How you can help At www.crs.org: Donate to the international Catholic relief efforts to aid victims of Cyclone Idai

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Pope leads pilgrims in prayer for victims of mosque attack VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called on Christians to unite in prayer for the victims of two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 people dead and dozens wounded in one of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history. “I am close to our Muslim brothers and sisters and their entire community.

I renew my invitation to unite with them in prayer and gestures of peace to counter hatred and violence,” the pope said March 17 during his Sunday Angelus address. Around the world, thousands have joined in praying for the victims of the March 15 attack. The gunman, Brenton Tarrant, left a 74-page manifesto posted on social media, identifying himself as a 28-yearold Australian and white nationalist who wanted to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. After condemning the attack, Pope Francis bowed his head as he led the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square in silent prayer for the dead and the wounded.

Academy for Life encourages parents to vaccinate children VATICAN CITY — Catholic parents should vaccinate their children for the good of their children and the community, and they can do so with a “clear conscience” that “the use of such vaccines does not signify some sort of

cooperation in voluntary abortion,” said the Pontifical Academy for Life. In July 2017, the Vatican-related academy issued updated moral considerations on vaccinations given that many of the most common vaccines for measles, rubella and chickenpox are prepared from cell lines that originally were developed from a female fetus aborted in 1964 and a male fetus aborted in 1966. The Academy for Life issued a working translation of the 2017 document March 20 after U.S. news media reported on a Kentucky Catholic family suing the local health department for measures it took in response to an outbreak of chickenpox at Assumption Academy in Walton, Ky., a Catholic K-12 school affiliated with the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X.

Pope accepts resignation of embattled Chilean cardinal VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of a Chilean cardinal who has faced widespread criticism for his handling of cases of clerical sexual abuse in the country.

The pope accepted the resignation of Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati of Santiago, the Vatican announced March 23; the Vatican did not give a reason for the cardinal stepping down. All bishops are required to offer their resignations when they turn 75; Cardinal Ezzati is 77.

The cardinal’s is the eighth resignation Pope Francis accepted after almost every bishop in Chile offered to step down in May 2018 after a three-day meeting at the Vatican to discuss the clerical sexual abuse scandal. Chile has 27 dioceses and other Church jurisdictions led by a bishop. The announcement of the cardinal’s resignation comes just over a week after a Chilean news outlet published a 2015 criminal complaint made against Cardinal Ezzati and the Archdiocese of Santiago that revealed a case of sexual abuse that occurred in the cathedral of Santiago and its subsequent cover-up.

Pope to beatify martyrs, visit Marian shrine on trip to Romania

all the Catholic bishops in China were in full communion with the pope.

— Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Visiting Romania May 31-June 2, Pope Francis will stop at six destinations, including a popular Marian shrine in the Transylvanian region. He also will beatify seven bishop-martyrs of the Eastern-rite Romanian Catholic Church, who died during a fierce anti-religious campaign waged under the communist regime in Romania. His visit to the predominately Orthodox country will be his 30th foreign trip after visiting Morocco in late March and Bulgaria and Macedonia in early May.

Vatican-China pact motivated by mission, cardinal says VATICAN CITY — The Vatican’s tentative agreement with the government of mainland China obviously has a diplomatic component, but it was motivated by a desire to spread the Gospel and ensure the appropriate freedom of the Catholic Church, the Vatican secretary of state wrote. A firm belief that the Catholic Church truly is “catholic” or universal “pushes the Holy See to nurture no distrust or hostility toward any country, but to follow the way of dialogue in order to reduce distances, overcome misunderstandings and avoid new divisions,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin wrote in the preface to a new book, “The Church in China.” In midSeptember, representatives of the Vatican and the Chinese government signed what they described as a “provisional agreement” on the appointment of bishops, a key sticking point in Vatican-Chinese relations for decades. Just prior to the agreement’s signing, Pope Francis lifted the excommunications or regularized the status of seven bishops who had been ordained with government approval, but not the Vatican’s consent, marking the first time in decades that

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father John Michalowski, S.J.

Dolores King

J N

The wind of mercy blows seeds of love

ust as a cooling breeze touches all in its path, mercy flows out and touches people, like the ripples caused by a pebble dropped in a body of water. Action creates effect. The actions of others created many mercies in my life. o doubt the prayers of my grandparents and others kindly assisted me and my family as I was growing up. A woman named Jesse secured food for us children, who lived in the projects. After school and Saturday mornings we would enjoy a treat or cereal and milk. The food always seemed to run out, and if anyone was late it all was gone. But Jesse kept peace among the children when we gathered for food, and we all knew she was our advocate and protector.

Jesse’s involvement in our lives was a mercy and beacon of light in the projects we called home. She loved us and we knew it.

I witnessed the mercy of my sister who rescued animals who were abused and tormented for sport.

My sister Irma would risk her own safety defending the wounded creatures, then bring them up to our apartment on the 13th floor. She and my mother would feed and provide emergency care, then take the animal to the animal shelter. Witnessing mercy as a child made me see the behavior as something to emulate.

Bread was often our meal, and waiting for it to be prepared and baked seemed an exercise in patience.

When the bread was finally baked, we had to wait again. My mother was always generous and despite 12 hungry mouths to feed, we had to wait until she carefully wrapped one of the fresh loaves in a linen cloth for my older brother to deliver to an elderly women who lived alone. I didn’t understand her urgency to give away the highly-coveted bread until I grew up and connected it to offering the first fruits to God in thanksgiving. My mother has always had a heart for those who suffer, and I’m sure that the bread was in some way a token of mercy. When I became a mother, I followed her example and taught my children to care for those in need.

No matter where we are or at what stage of relationship we have with another, there is always an opportunity to show love and mercy. The toughest time for me to do this was when my world was turned upside down. I had received a call from my daughter’s college in Pittsburgh asking me where she was. I prayed that my fears would not come true.

My fears did not come true, but my life did turn upside down. My daughter dropped out of school and moved to Florida, where she lived a troubled lifestyle defined by the culture of death. I was anguished and heartbroken and cried for weeks. This particular daughter was the heart of my heart. How could this happen? I turned away from her, not speaking of her and not allowing my other children to speak with her. I treated her as if she were dead. One summer day I went outside to work in my garden as I cried in a thunderstorm. No one could hear my sobs and the rain covered my tears, but the anger and pain was relentless.

I complained to God over and over, and I hated the person who had lured my daughter into such a lifestyle. I wanted to take my child back from the beast who stole her from me and my plan for her. I wanted justice. I begged God to show me what to do

and how to do it. Over and over, I pleaded with Him. My mother always taught me to pray for my enemies so I prayed. God certainly did not want me to hate, so I opened my heart and said, “OK, show me how to love her. Show me how to forgive.”

All mercy comes from the cross and the torrent of His mercy flows freely when we embrace this gift of love and extend it to others.

In the “Imitation of Christ,” it says, “love Me in her.” Really? Just love her in You? Yes, well, I can love You all day long, Jesus – that is easy. But all I have to do is to love You in her? Wow. That’s it. I began speaking to my daughter again, and I planned a trip to visit her. With a sense of hospitality and friendship, I greeted the woman I had vehemently hated. She and I talked and exchanged niceties, but I was also candid about my beliefs and how our faith, traditions and moral compass guide what we do and who we become. My daughter worked the night shift and the next day, my daughter said, “What do you think about her?” I paused and said, “To know her is to love her.”

When my heart opened, God’s love and mercy worked through me. Not only did I have hope, my behavior changed and my soul became peaceful.

None of this was my doing. God gave me the grace to seek Him and His way. During my visits with my daughter, we spoke of God and His love and mercy and we discussed the Ten Commandments and what it means to reject sin and follow Christ. We discussed the importance of seeking the Truth who is Christ.

I acted as a loving mother and lived out my faith in their presence. I prayed for them, and I let go of my desire for revenge.

Loving Christ in others is not only a mercy to that person, but also to the one doing the loving. I experienced a paradigm shift, which made me a more loving child of God. What beauty is there to behold in those we easily cast off as undesirable. I made my amends and learned a powerful lesson, because God in His infinite mercy gave me a most beautiful and powerful lesson – a lesson of love and mercy without measure or limit.

My relationship with Christ taught me that all mercy comes from the cross and the torrent of His mercy flows freely when we embrace this gift of love and extend it to others. Within this gift are the transformative effects of love. “We love, because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). As stated by St. John Paul II, “From the vantagepoint of God’s love, we are moved to genuine repentance – to reform our lives, to SEEDS, SEE PAGE 20

‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful’

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n Luke 6:36 we hear: “Jesus said to His disciples: ‘Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.’” How merciful is that? How merciful is God, the Father?

There are at least two ways of looking at God’s mercy. The first is captured in the reading from the ninth chapter of Daniel that we read earlier this Lent. There Daniel in sackcloth and ashes prays, “Lord, great and awesome God, you who keep your merciful covenant toward those who love you and observe your commandments. …We have sinned, been wicked and done evil; we have rebelled and departed from your commandments and your laws. …O Lord, we are shamefaced … for having sinned against you…”

We have sinned. That is key. It is not just that I as an individual have sinned, but we as a community, as a nation have sinned.

If this was true in the day of kings, how much more true is this for us in a democracy where we all share in what our nation is doing or not doing in our country and in the world? Whether it be discriminatory policies and actions, ignoring international refugee conventions that our country has signed, unwillingness to pay a living wage to the poor, or the committal of hundreds of thousands of abortions each year, we have sinned. Ask AfricanAmerican parents as to why they are afraid to let their children play with toy guns or why they are afraid to be stopped by police at night, or why Hispanics are afraid to encounter the police, and you will know that we have sinned. Whether it be trust in our military might rather than working for the common good of all nations, whether it be our support of the Saudi government diplomatically or through its purchase of American arms, which has caused the slaughter of thousands of civilians and the slow starvation of over a million people in Yemen, we have sinned.

I recall the criticism of President Bill Clinton and leaders of other Western democracies over their refusal to act to stem the genocide in Rwanda. They did not heed the pleading of Canadian General Romeo Dellaire, who commanded the United Nations troops in Rwanda, to let him try and stop the slaughter. They would not let his men leave their base. We have sinned.

“O Lord, we have sinned against you.” Yet God is merciful and forgiving when we turn to Him. This is true. It is something I remember every time I enter the confessional. As a 14th Century penitential advised: before a priest hears the confession of another, he should first recall his own sins and the mercy of God to him, as only then can he offer that mercy to another of God’s people.

The second way of looking at God’s mercy is to recognize that we, humanity, have put Jesus, God’s only Son, to death, crucified, dying on the cross – a cross made not just of wood, but of our sins. As we read in Isaiah 53: “He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins. Upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed. We had all gone astray like sheep, each following his own way; but the Lord laid upon Him the guilt of us all. …Through His suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt He will bear. …Because He surrendered Himself to death, and was counted among the wicked, and He shall take away the sins of many, and win pardon for their offenses.” Despite the awfulness of our sin, God the Father is willing to forgive us if we turn to him and ask His pardon. He is mercy itself.

This is the challenge: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

God is merciful and forgiving when we turn to Him.

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

March 29, 2019 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Dr. Kamila Valenta

The gift of religious freedom

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he seasons of Lent and Easter provide us with many opportunities to practice our faith in publicly visible ways. Many of us enjoy pious traditions of wearing ash crosses on our foreheads, reenacted Stations of the Cross, outdoor living rosaries, Palm Sunday processions, Good Friday veneration of the cross, and Easter Sunday festivities. These practices not only enhance our spirituality, but also visibly strengthen our faith community and identity. However, such public displays of Christian faith are only possible because of religious freedom.

We are fortunate to enjoy religious freedom in this country, but for many people around the world, such freedom to worship is far out of reach.

Although most people now live under some form of democracy, religious persecution perpetrated by states, societies and extremist groups has greatly risen in the past decade. The situation is currently so worrisome that Pope Francis asserts there have been more martyrs in recent times than in the first centuries of Christianity. The pope dedicated his March prayer intentions for Christians who face death for making the Sign of the Cross, reading the Bible, going to Mass, or otherwise publicly showing their faith.

Open Doors USA, a non-profit organization, reports that there are an estimated 250 million persecuted Christians, most whom live in countries where Christianity is illegal, forbidden or punished, with the three remaining Communist states of North Korea, China and Cuba among the most severe perpetrators. At the top of the list: North Korea – considered to be the most dangerous country in the world for Christians. Many people are routinely killed, along with their families, or sent to prisons or labor camps. An estimated 60,000 North Korean Christians – one in five – suffer in concentration camps.

Christians are publicly scorned, warned against, and prohibited from gathering to worship.

Despite continued repression, there are approximately 100 million Christians in China, and if current trends continue, the U.S. State Department projects that China will soon have more Christians than any other country in the world.

Many Chinese are evangelized while stationed to work for an increasing amount of Chinese-owned companies in Africa, where they encounter African missionaries. After they return home, Chinese workers often keep their faith alive even under brutal persecution.

As the number of Christians in China increases, the Communist government feels more threatened and is responding with greater pressure and brutalities.

Many churches have been destroyed and entire congregations arrested, beaten and imprisoned. The mass arrest of the congregation of Covenant Church in Sichuan province last December included 11 children, who were taken along with the adults and subjected to inhumane treatment. Besides violent suppression,

the Chinese government has recently started a project of rewriting the Bible to make it fit the Communist ideology and promote allegiance to Communist leaders – all in an effort to subjugate its growing Christian population.

Cuba, which has been suppressing the Church since the Communist revolution in the 1950s, passed a new constitution in February that dropped a clause about the state’s recognition of freedom of conscience and religion.

Since the constitution was opposed by most clergy and led to protests among the faithful, the Cuban government responded by withdrawing permits for church events featuring missionaries, firing government-employed drivers for giving rides to church members, and in some cases blocking clergy from voting. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom warns that as tensions are rising, the Cuban government is expected to confiscate church property, interrogate religious leaders and prohibit Sunday worship.

Besides outright suppression by governments, many Christians around the world suffer persecution from society and extremist groups. This is especially true in Africa and the Middle East.

The extremist group Boko Haram in Nigeria has become notorious for church burnings, mass murder and kidnappings, and humanitarian organizations warn that traditional Christian communities in Iraq and Syria are about to disappear because of continued violence from extremist Islamist organizations coupled with systemic political, social and economic marginalization.

The effects of anti-Christian social pressures are particularly evident in India, where living conditions for Christians have rapidly deteriorated over the past five years. India now ranks among the top 10 countries with the most severe persecution of Christians. First promoted by the country’s elites, the idea that Hinduism is a primary aspect of Indian patriotism has penetrated into most segments of the society.

This has resulted in Indian Christians being maltreated or attacked by ultranationalist groups, actions that often go unpunished by the government.

Christians in India are members of the lowest caste, are socially marginalized, and rank among the poorest of the poor.

The suffering of our fellow Christians in oppressive countries around the world reminds us that although religious freedom is a basic human right, it should never be taken for granted. This right needs to be appreciated, cultivated and protected. As we gather to participate in various devotions of this beautiful season with great joy and without fear of repercussions, let us remember in our prayers all those who will not be able to publicly express their faith.

DR. KAMILA VALENTA is a member of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and a part-time professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where she teaches courses on ethnic conflict and terrorism.

Letters to the editor

We must realize that silence is acceptance I want to acknowledge and applaud the March 1 letter to the editor by Rosemary Hagerott regarding the “‘lack of leadership’ on abortion by Church hierarchy.”

She speaks for many of us Catholics who, like her, have been shocked and sickened by the legislators who proposed allowing the “murder” of the unborn and born babies, and the people who wildly applauded when told the law had passed.

It is unbelievable that any Catholic would be in favor of this sin. These Catholic proponents should be immediately excommunicated. What has happened to the support for the “pro-life movement”? It is unbelievable that more of our religious leaders have not stepped up and taken a stand against this law or even commented about it.

I learned from a very fine teacher in my youth that when we are faced with any issue with which we disagree, we need to

speak up because “silence is acceptance.”

Clergy, where are your voices?

DAPHNE STROUP lives in Davidson.

Credit those who supported anti-infanticide legislation I agree with the March 15 letter by Sean O’Meara entitled “News item omitted information” regarding the infanticide bill in Congress. It was a terrible tragedy that Congress failed to pass this legislation, but I understand that there were three Democratic senators who voted with the Republicans: Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Senator Doug Jones of Alabama. Give these gentlemen credit for voting the right way on this, and condemn the rest of them.

NANCY MOSLEY lives in Charlotte.

Most-read stories on the web

‘Passion in the life of a young person is important. A life without passion is like plain pasta without salt.’

Pope Francis

From online story: “Prayer, dialogue, enthusiasm are key to making good choices, pope says” Through press time on March 27, 15,285 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 24,781 pages. The top 10 headlines in March have been: n Abuse allegations reported against two former pastors of St. Elizabeth in Boone............1,748 n Benedictine Father Kieran Neilson passes away.............................................................................739 n A few things to know about Ash Wednesday................................................................................... 668 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald..........................................................431 n Eastern Catholics begin Lenten journey, welcome bishop to Charlotte....................................401 n Parishioners donate $74K for technology, curriculum updates at OLG School......................391 n Father Benjamin A. Roberts: Unity in diversity is the vision of the Church.............................235 n Queen of the Apostles Parish breaks ground on new church.......................................................213 n St. John the Evangelist Parish prepares to ‘move mountains’....................................................202 n St. Michael student comes ‘full circle’ as teacher............................................................................ 175

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 29, 2019 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SEEDS

WATER

RADIO

FROM PAGE 18

FROM PAGE 11 VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 6

detach ourselves from the spirit of the world, turn away from sin, and turn more fully to God. This is exactly how the grace of baptism unfolds in our lives.” (Totus Tuus) Oh, wonder of wonders that God was calling me to turn away from sin. With what mercy and grace God gently asks us to take His hand, inviting us grow and live with joy and peace. In our brokenness, God’s mercy gives us new life, renewing our minds and spirits, bodies and hearts.

Looking back on my life and its phases and seasons, there are times that are clear examples of mercy where God’s hand touched my heart and got my attention. Other times, I was in misery and could not recognize mercy until the misery had passed. Now I am confident that God’s mercy is all around us and actuated in His people through spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Mercy and love bring the broken, lost and lonely together for a moment, and through that exchange relief comes and hope is ushered in. For a moment, the love of God is experienced, whether the soul is aware or not.

So we give for a price. Isn’t it reasonable we give and receive for a price? Some duty paid, some profit received? Love does not measure, nor does it demand. Love gives and receives and gives again and again. Jesus paid the price on the cross. The ransom of love has been paid and we, His children, blow the seeds of love on the wind of mercy, mercy that has no boundaries or borders, no bias or limit.

On the wind of mercy we are touched by the love of Christ.

DOLORES KING is a member of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, a lay Dominican, and member of the Apostles of Divine Mercy. This commentary is adapted from a recent talk on mercy that she gave at St. Matthew Church.

sobra el entusiasmo y las ganas de capacitarse.

Por ello Invitaron a una personalidad radial para que les diera entrenamiento y además cuentan con el apoyo permanente del Diácono Darío García, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Hickory, quien realizó trabajo radial en su país natal, Colombia.

Con equipamiento técnico comprado por la comunidad gracias a la recolección de dinero con la venta de alimentos, Rodríguez afirma que “la radio no tiene dueño, es de la comunidad, y nosotros estamos aquí solo para tratar de mejorar el mensaje que transmitimos”.

Para solventar los gastos que acarrea contar con una emisora de este tipo, han programado el próximo mes de julio una radio maratón para recolectar fondos. “Esperamos que la comunidad nos apoye para seguir trabajando”, dijo.

Con numerosos planes para el futuro, la meta a corto plazo es la de mejorar y obtener un mejor alcance. Rodríguez aseguró que la comunidad sueña con que algún día puedan contar con un trabajador a tiempo completo en la radio. “Esperamos en Dios que así sea”, concluyó.

more are suffering as a result of the lack of water sources suitable for consumption. For this reason, ‘leaving no one behind’ means committing ourselves to putting an end to this injustice. Access to this good is a fundamental human right, which must be respected, because the life of the people and their dignity are at stake.”

His message continued: “Leaving no one behind also means being aware of the need to respond with concrete facts; not only with the maintenance or improvement of water structures, but also by investing in the future, educating new generations in the use and care of water. This task of raising awareness is a priority in a world in which everything is discarded and disdained, and which in many cases does not appreciate the importance of the resources we have at our disposal.”

GET INVOLVED

En www.facebook.com/CNHEspanol: Vea una entrevista al coordinador y responsable de Radio Alégrate María de Morganton

Catholics are able to join in supporting the yearly observance of World Water Day through their support of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. Catholic community’s humanitarian relief and development agency sponsored by the U.S. bishops.

CRS serves vulnerable people oversees by developing and improving sources of clean water for drinking. cooking, washing, caring for livestock and irrigation.

In 2018, 7.2 million people benefited thanks to clean water and sanitation projects organized through CRS. CRS is also one of many humanitarian agencies calling for “a water secure world for all” by 2030.

Earlier this month, Thomas Awiapo, a CRS employee from Ghana, visited several schools in the Diocese of Charlotte and spoke of his childhood living in poverty, a childhood in which he was always close to starvation. He recounted how he had no choice but to drink from a nearby river. There he would see animals in the water, and though the river made people sick (and “some died from their sickness,” he lamented), there was no other choice. “I was thirsty,” Awiapo said.

With nutrition and education provided through CRS Rice Bowlfunded programs, Awiapo was raised out of destitution to eventually work for CRS. He now travels around the U.S. to express his gratitude to Catholics in America and share how Rice Bowl helps provide food and clean drinking water to vulnerable communities around the world.

En www.bit.ly/2TnuLyw: También puede contactarlos en Facebook

JOSEPH PURELLO is director of Catholic Charities’ Office of Social Concerns and Advocacy and diocesan director for CRS.

Más online En www.radioalegratemaria.com: Escuche la programación de Radio Alégrate María de Generación en Generación las 24 horas del día

Wash Away all Your Sins on

Divine Mercy Sunday April 28, 2019

Attend Sunday Mass - Venerate The Divine Mercy Image Receive The Eucharist - Go To Reconciliation (within 20 days before or after) Gain Remission of Sin & Punishment

Come to 3 PM Hour of Great Mercy

“In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of me, in virtue of My Passion.” (Diary,1320) Prayers, Homily, Singing of Chaplet, Blessing with St. Faustina’s 1st Class Relic

Enjoy Divine Mercy Cenacles Hospitality Immediately following in Banquet Room Refreshments & Divine Mercy Materials

In Home Cenacle Signups in Narthex

after the Divine Mercy Sunday Masses and in Banquet Room after the 3pm Hour of Great Mercy

St. Matthew Catholic Church

8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy Charlotte NC 28277