October 23, 2020

October 23, 2020

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

St. Lawrence Basilica earns national, state preservation awards 3

First FFHL grant to Hispanic Ministry will fund technology to aid digital outreach 3 INDEX

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

Subscribe today! Call:

704-370-3333

FUNDED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU!

A stellar effort Immaculata School in Hendersonville celebrates $900,000 renovation Parish, school and diocese collaborate to make project a reality 12 Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

RESPECT LIFE MONTH: SPOTLIGHT ON PORNOGRAPHY

2

Psychologist warns of increasing impact of porn as screen time rises Tips for parents: Raising chaste children in a pornographic world

¿Es la celebración del Día de Muertos satánica?

11

Reiniciaron Misas presenciales regulares en la Guadalupana 8

7

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

All Saints and All Souls’ Days

Pope Francis

True prayer, like true faith, leads to care for others

B

eing indifferent to or hating others is to deny the existence of God’s presence in one’s neighbor, Pope Francis said. “This is practical atheism,” the pope said Oct. 21 during his weekly general audience.

“To not recognize the human person as an image of God is a sacrilege, an abomination, the worst offense that can be directed toward the temple and the altar,” he said.

Arriving in the Paul VI audience hall, the pope once again observed socialdistancing measures by taking his seat immediately rather than going to greet members of the crowd up close. He also apologized and explained that mingling with them would increase “the danger of infection for you.”

“I am sorry for this, but it’s for your safety,” he said. “But please know that I am close to you in my heart. I hope you understand why I do this.”

Before his main talk, the pope said he noticed a mother cuddling and breastfeeding her crying baby at the start of the audience. Upon seeing this, he said, “I thought, ‘That’s what God does with us, like that mother, who with such tenderness tried to rock the baby, to feed the baby. It is a beautiful image.”

“Never silence a child who cries in church. Never. Because it is a voice that recalls God’s tenderness,” he said.

Continuing his series of talks on prayer, the pope talked about “the wicked” person often mentioned in the Book of Psalms and described them as someone who “lives as if God does not exist.”

The Book of Psalms, he said, presents prayer as a “fundamental reality of life” that serves as a “boundary,” which prevents “us from venturing into life in a predatory and voracious manner.”

However, he said, there are “the wicked” ones, like those who go to Mass “only to be seen” or to show off, or those who pray out of habit and with no depth, thus rendering “a false prayer” to God. “The worst service someone can give God, and others as well, is to pray tiredly, in a habitual way, to pray like a parrot: blah, blah, blah. No. We must pray with our hearts,” the pope said.

“Prayer is not a sedative to alleviate life’s anxieties; or, in any case, this type of prayer is certainly not Christian,” he added. “Rather, prayer makes the person responsible” for others as can be seen “clearly in the ‘Our Father’ that Jesus taught His disciples.”

Pope Francis said the psalms teach Christians that prayer is more than just seeking God’s help for oneself but rather a “collective patrimony, to the point of being prayed by everyone and for everyone.”

“If you pray so many rosaries and then gossip about others, you have resentments, you have hate against others, this (prayer) is purely artificial.”

Should Christians celebrate Halloween?

Nov. 1-2 All Saints Day All Saints Day was instituted to honor all the saints, known and unknown, and ask for their prayers. It is usually a holy day of obligation.

In the early days, Christians were accustomed to solemnize the anniversary of a martyr’s death for Christ at the place of martyrdom. Groups of martyrs frequently suffered on the same day, and in the persecution of Diocletian, the number of martyrs became so great that a separate day could not be assigned to each. But the Church, concerned that every martyr should be venerated, appointed a common day for all. The first trace of this was in Antioch on the Sunday after Pentecost.

Pope Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for Nov. 1. Pope Gregory IV (827844) extended the celebration to the entire Church.

Many customs of the feast’s vigil, Halloween, reflect the Christian belief that we mock evil because as Christians, it has no real power over us. The modern custom of “trick-or-treating” comes from the Middle Ages when poor people begged for “soul cakes” and in return prayed for departed souls.

A detail from Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, in the Sistine Chapel

All Souls’ Day All Souls’ Day commemorates the faithful departed – those who die with God’s grace and friendship.

Not everyone who dies in God’s grace is immediately ready for the goodness of God and heaven, so we must be purified of the temporal effects of sin. The Church calls this purification of the elect “purgatory.”

Church teaching on purgatory essentially requires belief in two realities: there will be

a purification of believers prior to entering heaven, and the prayers and Masses of the faithful in some way benefit those in the state of purification.

As to the duration, place and exact nature of this purification, the Church has no official dogma, although St. Augustine and others used fire as a way to explain the nature of the purification.

— NewAdvent.org and ChurchYear.net

There is nothing intrinsically “pagan” or “evil” in celebrating All Saints Day or its vigil, dressing up in costumes, playing games, having parties, carving vegetables or collecting candy from willing neighbors. You are free to do any or all of these things if you wish, because none of them are intrinsically disordered, provided that there are no evil intentions in the act (Mk 7:18-23).

Halloween is not a philosophy or system of belief, good or bad, but a set of American customs and practices derived from European ones. And it should be noted that Christianity has externally borrowed from pagan customs – e.g., wedding rings, brides wearing white, Christmas trees and Easter eggs – but transformed their interior meaning to conform with Christ.

On the other hand, we do not want to use our legitimate freedom to alienate or scandalize our Christian brothers, which would be a violation of charity. St. Paul says that even though Christians may eat meat sacrificed to idols (a practice which wasn’t even Christianized) without sinning, they should choose for the sake of charity not to do so in front of those who do not understand this liberty (Rom 14; 1 Cor 10:23-31).

We should not be a stumbling block for others. If your family members or friends choose not to celebrate Halloween, respect their decision and do not do anything in their presence which they would find offensive.

If you choose not to celebrate Halloween in the common customs, you might consider replacing it with a celebration of All Saints Day or adapting the common customs to highlight All Saints Day, such as handing out holy cards with candy or dressing up your children as saints.

Halloween can be legitimate fun, but this kind of fun is not worth causing a brother to stumble. The decision of whether to celebrate Halloween should be made prudently, charitably and in conformity with the faith.

As St. Augustine said, in essential things there must be unity, in matters of opinion there may be diversity, but in all things there must be charity. ― Catholics United for Faith

Daily Scripture readings OCT. 25-31

Sunday: Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10, Matthew 22:34-40; Monday: Ephesians 4:32-5:8, Luke 13:10-17; Tuesday: Ephesians 5:21-33, Luke 13:18-21; Wednesday (Sts. Simon and Jude): Ephesians 2:19-22, Luke 6:12-16; Thursday: Ephesians 6:10-20, Luke 13:31-55; Friday: Philippians 1:1-11, Luke 14:1-6; Saturday: Philippians 1:18-26, Luke 14:1, 7-11

NOV. 1-7

Sunday (All Saints): Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12; Monday (All Souls’ Day): Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 5:5-11, John 6:37-40; Tuesday (St. Martin de Porres): Philippians 2:5-11, Luke 14:1524; Wednesday (St. Charles Borromeo): Philippians 2:12-18, Luke 14:25-33; Thursday: Philippians 3:3-8, Luke 15:1-10; Friday: Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 16:1-8; Saturday; Philippians 4:10-19, Luke 16:9-15

NOV. 8-14

Sunday: Wisdom 6:12-16, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13; Monday (The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica): Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12, 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17, John 2:13-22; Tuesday (St. Leo the Great): Titus 2:1-8, 11-14, Luke 17:7-10; Wednesday (St. Martin of Tours): Titus 3:1-7, Luke 17:11-19; Thursday (St. Josaphat): Philemon 7-20, Luke 17:20-25; Friday (St. Frances Xavier Cabrini): 2 John 4-9, Luke 17:26-37; Saturday: 3 John 5-8, Luke 18:1-8

Our parishes

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

St. Lawrence Basilica earns national, state preservation awards SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

ASHEVILLE — St. Lawrence Basilica has been awarded two prestigious honors to help guide its future restoration efforts: an award for participation in the National Fund for Sacred Places and a 2020 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from Preservation North Carolina.

One of two minor basilicas in the Diocese of Charlotte, St. Lawrence Basilica is an architectural gem and historic landmark. It was pivotal in the growth of the Catholic Church in western North Carolina, and it is architecturally significant for its internationally famous designer, its unique method of construction, and its novel architectural style.

The basilica sits on a hill in downtown Asheville, overlooking the Appalachian Mountains. The red brick building, built in the Spanish Renaissance style, is capped by a copper dome that is guarded by statues of St. Lawrence, St. Stephen and St. Aloysius Gonzaga. The 82-foot-by-58-foot dome, constructed of terracotta tile, is one of the largest free-standing elliptical domes in North America. It features the same vaulting technique and herringbone tile pattern that Guastavino used at Grand Central Terminal and Ellis Island’s Registry Room, as well as 200-plus other locations in New York City, and at Asheville’s Biltmore House.

Guastavino came to Asheville to work on the Biltmore mansion and chose to remain in the area. Some have called the basilica Guastavino’s crowning achievement, and he is buried inside the basilica he built. After Guastavino’s death in 1908, his son completed the project and it was dedicated in 1909.

The basilica was named one of a select few churches nationwide to participate the National Fund for Sacred Places in 2020, a program of Partners for Sacred Places, the only national non-sectarian nonprofit that helps communities preserve their historic religious properties. Its mission is to build a shared sense of responsibility for the future of sacred places.

The award means the basilica can receive a matching grant of up to $250,000 and a package of customized planning grants, training and technical assistance, coaching and consulting services through Partners for Sacred Places in collaboration with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

This funding and support will be used to help launch a parish capital campaign to make urgently needed repairs to the dome, roof and parapets.

The Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit recognizes people or organizations demonstrating a genuine commitment to historic preservation through extraordinary leadership, research, philanthropy, promotion or significant participation in preservation.

The award commends the planning and completion of the basilica’s “Historic Structure Report,” completed this summer by acclaimed historic preservation architect Joseph K. Oppermann of Winston-Salem to set the stage for the basilica’s future repair and restoration. The award also recognizes overall stewardship of the church by the parish, the diocese and the Basilica Preservation Fund.

“St. Lawrence parishioners, and all members of the Diocese of Charlotte, have been entrusted with the care of this extraordinary masterpiece,” said Mary Everist, president of the Basilica Preservation Fund. “It is truly an honor to have our preservation efforts – particularly the recently completed Historic Structure Report – recognized by Preservation North Carolina with the Carraway Award.”

“We are also extremely excited and grateful to have been accepted into the National Fund for Sacred Places grant program cohort for 2020. As we embark on the next phase of preservation efforts, the expertise and financial support of this exceptional organization will be crucial to ensuring our magnificent, historic basilica will remain a place of beauty and reverence for generations to come,” Everist said.

“St. Lawrence Parish and the Basilica Preservation Fund Inc. are honored to receive both the 2020 Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit from Preservation North Carolina, recognizing the dedicated preservation work at the basilica, and being accepted into the National Fund for Sacred Places grant program,” said Father Roger Arnsparger, the basilica’s rector and pastor.

“These awards are a welcomed encouragement for the

3

First FFHL grant to Hispanic Ministry will fund technology to aid digital outreach SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Technicians from Vertical Access rappel down the front of St. Lawrence Basilica in 2018 as part of an evaluation of the historic basilica’s structural integrity.

Information from the survey became part of a comprehensive report by WinstonSalem architect Joseph K. Oppermann, and that report has been recognized by state preservation leaders. continued work of the parish, the diocese and the community in preserving and making available the astounding architectural construction and spiritual labors of Mr. Rafael Guastavino, his son. Their dedication along with the parishioners, community and visitors assisted St. Lawrence Parish to provide a sacred temple for the celebration of Our Lord’s sacred mysteries.

“We are grateful for these awards which recognize likewise the interest of the parishioners, the local community and visitors who have been able to worship and receive God’s abundant graces in the Basilica of St. Lawrence for 111 years,” Father Arnsparger said.

— St. Lawrence Basilica contributed.

Learn more

At www.saintlawrencebasilica.org and www.savethebasilica.org: Inperson tours are not available at this time, but you can go online to learn more about the historic St. Lawrence Basilica and the ongoing efforts to restore and preserve it.

CHARLOTTE — The first grant from the Diocese of Charlotte’s unprecedented “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign to benefit multicultural ministries is being given out to connect Hispanic families to the Church using the latest digital technology.

The Multicultural Ministries Endowment – one of seven endowments set up thanks to the FFHL campaign – is funding a $17,400 grant for the Hispanic Ministry Office. The money will be used to buy computers and audiovisual recording equipment to assist the Hispanic Ministry team that supports the 10 vicariates, or regions, of the diocese.

The diocese’s Hispanic Ministry staff is one of the most extensive of all dioceses in the United States, with diocesan-supported leadership and staff serving every vicariate and parishes with Hispanic populations. Nearly half of the diocese’s estimated 400,000 Catholics are Spanish-speaking or of Hispanic origin.

Sister Joan Pearson, who is the Hispanic Ministry coordinator for the Salisbury Vicariate and works closely with Hispanic Ministry’s vicar Father Julio Dominguez, said she is grateful for the opportunity to buy 12 laptops, 12 projectors, 12 microphones with stands, and 12 light sets for video recording purposes.

“It really is a godsend,” Sister Joan said.

“I used to have to share the projector with Father Julio and had to go get it when I needed it.” Now she will have a laptop, projector and microphone to use at her location as needed.

“We are so grateful to the good people of our diocese who pledged and contributed to the FFHL campaign, because the funding we have just received from the Multicultural Ministries Endowment is very important to our efforts to accompanying our Hispanic Catholic faithful throughout the diocese – especially during this ongoing pandemic,” Sister Joan explained.

“The continuing COVID-19 crisis has pushed all of us to adapt our ministries following the CDC and diocesan safety guidelines regarding how we minister to the faithful,” she said. “I believe we, the diocesan Hispanic Ministry coordinators team, have been very creative in our efforts, which we began employing as early as late March while still in Phase 1 of the governor’s stay-at-home order.”

Hispanic Ministry team members were able to adapt to the challenges brought on by the pandemic with a fairly rapid and smooth transition from church-centered activities to social media, podcasts, webinars and video conferencing to “keep the faith going” and strengthen Hispanic DISTRIBUTION, SEE PAGE 20

Online Masses 4

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

October 23, 2020 VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 2

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

The following parishes are providing live or recorded Masses each week. An updated schedule is online at www.catholicnewsherald.com, or contact your parish for details.

LIVESTREAMED MASSES

RECORDED MASSES

The following parishes offer Masses live at the following times on their Facebook page or YouTube or Vimeo channel. If no time is listed here, check their parish website for more information:

The following parishes offer Masses recorded on their website, Facebook page, YouTube or Vimeo channel. Search those platforms for the parish’s name to find the latest Mass information:

BELMONT ABBEY MONASTERY: 11 a.m. daily

GOOD SHEPHERD MISSION, KING HOLY CROSS CHURCH, KERNERSVILLE HOLY SPIRIT CHURCH, DENVER IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, FOREST CITY IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, HIGH POINT OUR LADY OF CONSOLATION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, LENOIR ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH, CANDLER ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, ASHEBORO ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM ST. MARGARET MARY CHURCH, SWANNANOA ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARY MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, GASTONIA ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, GREENSBORO ST. STEPHEN MISSION, ELKIN ST. STEPHEN MARONITE CHURCH, CHARLOTTE ST. THERESE CHURCH, MOORESVILLE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE

DIVINE REDEEMER CHURCH, BOONVILLE: 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH, KING: 11 a.m. English; 1:30 p.m. Spanish Sunday HOLY INFANT CHURCH, REIDSVILLE: 9 a.m. Sunday

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

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 10 a.m.

Sunday OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE: 9 a.m. daily

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

QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, BELMONT: 9:15 and 11 a.m.

Sunday

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH, BREVARD: 12 p.m. daily Mass, 10 a.m. Sunday

ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org

SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY: 8 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, 7 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Saturday

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.

ST. ANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Latin Mass) Sunday ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, ARDEN: 11 a.m. Bilingual Sunday Mass ST. BASIL THE GREAT EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 11 a.m. Sunday ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM: 9 a.m.

English; 2 p.m. Spanish ST. DOROTHY CHURCH, LINCOLNTON: 9 a.m. Sunday

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.

ST. EUGENE CHURCH, ASHEVILLE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil; 9 a.m.

Sunday Mass

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.

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sunday in English and 12 p.m. Sunday in Spanish

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

ST. LUKE CHURCH, MINT HILL: 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday in English; 1 p.m.

Sunday bilingual; 4:30 p.m. Sunday

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

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, MOCKSVILLE: 9 a.m. English; 10:30 a.m. Spanish ST. JAMES CHURCH, CONCORD: English and Spanish

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH, WAYNESVILLE, AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION, CANTON ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA, ASHEVILLE: 7:30 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. Sunday in English and 5 p.m. in Spanish.

ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE: 7 and 9 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 7 a.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday in English, and 1 p.m. in Spanish ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 8 a.m. Sunday ST. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA: Noon Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 a.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m. Sunday in English and 7 p.m. Saturday in Spanish ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12 p.m. daily; 9 a.m. Sunday ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, GASTONIA: 9 a.m. Sunday ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE: 12:30 p.m. Sunday ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m. Sunday

EN ESPAÑOL OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8 a.m. domingo; 7:30 p.m. martes; 12 p.m. miércoles, jueves y viernes.

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY: 12:30 p.m. Domingo ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, HICKORY: 1 p.m. Domingo ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM: 1:30 p.m.

Domingo ST. DOROTHY CHURCH, LINCOLNTON: 10 a.m. Domingo ST. EUGENE CHURCH, ASHEVILLE: 7:30 a.m. Domingo ST. JAMES THE GREATER CHURCH, CONCORD ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH, CANDLER ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12 p.m. Domingo ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, ASHEBORO ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA, ASHEVILLE: 5 p.m. Domingo ST. LUKE CHURCH, MINT HILL: 1 p.m. Domingo ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE: 1 p.m. Domingo ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 11 a.m. Domingo ST. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA: 7 p.m. Sabado ST. THERESE CHURCH: 12 p.m. Domingo VIETNAMESE

ST. PETER CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 11:30 a.m. Sunday

ST. JOSEPH VIETNAMESE CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday

ST. STEPHEN MISSION, ELKIN: 9 a.m. Sunday

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 9:30 a.m. Sunday

ST. THERESE CHURCH, MOORESVILLE: 9 a.m. weekdays, 5 p.m.

Saturday 8 and 10 a.m. Sunday ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday’ 9:30 a.m., Sunday; ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 10 a.m. daily, 10 a.m.

Sunday in English and 2 p.m. Sunday in Spanish

LATIN ST. ANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12:30 p.m. Sunday OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 1 p.m. Sunday ST. THOMAS AQUINAS, CHARLOTTE: 12:15 and 7 p.m. Thursday

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: OCT. 29 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Barnabas Church, Arden NOV. 3 – 11 A.M. Presbyteral Council Meeting NOV. 4 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Charlotte NOV. 7- 9 A.M. Diocesan Catechetical Mass Hilton Charlotte University Place, Charlotte

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

5

Bishop Jugis makes appeal to reach college seminary campaign goal by Dec. 31 SUEANN HOWELL AND PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PHOTOS VIA FACEBOOK

Celebrating the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary LINCOLNTON — Approximately 30 young people from St. Dorothy Church recently turned out for “Catholic Kids Connect” to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and learn about the Battle of Lepanto and the power of praying the rosary. The evening concluded with feasting on a rosary made of yummy cupcakes.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Pro-life signs vandalized, stolen CHARLOTTE — Pro-life signs erected during Respect Life Month in October have been stolen and vandalized at two Charlotte churches.

A banner with a pro-life message was stolen from outside St. Vincent de Paul Church on Old Reid Road between Oct. 9 and 10, according to a Charlotte Mecklenburg Police report.

Then sometime the weekend of Oct. 17-18, the large pro-life banners lining the road in front of the church were vandalized. The signs – which feature the messages “Pray Every Day to End Abortion” and “America, Defend Life” – were cut in half and hung in two pieces, but have since been repaired.

Two large banners that were part of a similar pro-life display in front of St. Ann Church on Park Road were stolen sometime overnight Oct. 20-21. The parish said it plans to replace the banners.

St. Vincent de Paul Church has had its pro-life displays, including its “cemetery of innocents,” damaged and vandalized several times over the past few years.

— Kimberly Bender, online reporter

MiraVia to hold virtual fundraiser Oct. 29 CHARLOTTE — MiraVia will host its 26th annual fundraising banquet online this year, due to restrictions on large inperson gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The online event is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 29.

The “Path to Life” banquet will feature keynote speaker Melissa Ohden, survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion in 1977. Ohden is the founder and director of The Abortion

Survivors Network and is a master’s level prepared social worker. She is the author of “You Carried Me: A Daughter’s Memoir.”

The online event will also feature a virtual tour of the college-based residential facility located at Belmont Abbey College and testimonials from former and current MiraVia moms.

Online registration is free. Details are on page 6. Go to www.mira-via.org for more information and to register.

Questions? Contact Megan Whiteside at meganwhiteside@ miravia.org or call 704-525-4673, ext. 13.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. MiraVia contributed.

Series of Year of St. Joseph Missions in November to be streamed live online The Fathers of Mercy will preach three back-to-back missions in November at parishes in Huntersville, Kernersville and Arden, as part of the Diocese of Charlotte’s Year of St. Joseph commemorations, and each of the three four-night missions will be streamed live online to allow more people from across the diocese to participate despite pandemic restrictions.

The first Year of St. Joseph Mission, led by Mercy Father Joseph Aytona, will be held Monday, Nov. 2, through Thursday, Nov. 5, at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. The second mission, led by Mercy Father Ricardo Pineda, will be held Monday, Nov. 9, through Thursday, Nov. 12, at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville. The third mission, led by Father Pineda, will be held Monday, Nov. 16, through Thursday, Nov. 19, at St. Barnabas Church in Arden.

Missions will begin each evening at 6 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration and confessions until 7 p.m. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed each evening at approximately 6:45 p.m. The missions will be held in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament from 7 to 8 p.m. and end with Benediction.

Details are on page 10. Go to www.yearofsthoseph.org/ events for more information about each evening’s topic and to find links to each parish website to view the Year of St. Joseph Mission livestreams.

— Catholic News Herald

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis is making a personal appeal to the people of the Diocese of Charlotte to help reach the capital campaign goal for St. Joseph College Seminary in pledges by year’s end. Twenty-seven young men recently moved into the college seminary’s permanent home in Mount Holly earlier this fall, and so far $16.5 million of the $20 million has been raised to pay for its construction.

The new building was blessed by Bishop Peter Jugis on Sept.

15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, after an official ribboncutting ceremony.

With Gothic architecture and brickwork inspired by nearby Belmont Abbey, where in 1876 Benedictine monks planted the roots of Catholicism in western North Carolina, the two-story, 30,000-square-foot building includes 40 dorm rooms, a chapel, classroom and library, faculty offices, a refectory and kitchen, and a picturesque cloister walk where students can meditate and pray.

The building reflects a monastic-style design meant to foster prayer, quiet and reflection even as its communal spaces provide opportunities for the young men to bond as friends and brothers in Christ. Architectural details including custom liontail door pulls, stained glass windows, brickwork and archways were all fashioned by local artisans. Many of the furnishings and artwork were donated to the college seminary.

The aim of the college seminary program is to nurture local vocations among the parishes and families in the Charlotte diocese, close to home, before the men graduate and go on to major seminaries located elsewhere to complete their priestly formation and return for ordination to serve in the diocese’s growing parishes.

The young men enrolled at St. Joseph College Seminary come from 15 parishes across the diocese including Arden, Boone, Charlotte, Forest City, Gastonia, Huntersville, Lenoir and Salisbury.

“What we are about here at St. Joseph College Seminary is building men – building men of nobility, of integrity and authenticity,” said Father Matthew Kauth, rector, at the Sept. 15 ribbon cutting. “The building, the structure – beautiful as it is – is attempting in its nobility and strength to be an image of that: a reminder of what we are supposed to become as men of virtue.”

Diocesan officials hope to raise the remaining $3.5 million in pledges before Dec. 31 to conclude the capital campaign and avoid paying higher interest costs on the college seminary’s construction loan. To date, 650 donors have contributed.

Bishop Jugis will be asking each household to prayerfully consider pledging to the campaign to support the development of future priests to serve in the diocese. Parishioners will receive a letter with more details in mid-November.

“The need for well-formed, faithful priests to serve our growing Catholic population is great,” he writes in the letter, noting that the number of priests serving the diocese has grown 76 percent since 1972 while the Catholic population has grown a staggering 900 percent.

“The preparation of priests is our collective responsibility and one that benefits each and every soul in our diocesan family,” he writes.

To help reach the capital campaign goal, an awareness campaign has been launched by the seminary, including several mailings, regular emails, and video interviews featuring Bishop Jugis, Father Kauth and the seminarians themselves featured on the college seminary’s website and social media channels. “Seminibus,” the college seminary’s e-newsletter, is another way news about the college seminary is being shared.

“The Diocese of Charlotte is a family of faith where everyone counts and all are needed. Together we can complete this momentous phase in the life of St. Joseph College Seminary,” Bishop Jugis said.

“With your support, these men will emerge formed, sanctified and prepared to be the servant leaders we need.”

Support St. Joseph College Seminary At www.stjosephcollegeseminary.org or www.stjcs.org: Get more information about St. Joseph College Seminary and sign up for the e-newsletter “Seminibus.” For inquiries, contact Fredrik Akerblom, St. Joseph College Seminary development director, at 704-302-6386 or fakerblom@stjcs.org, or Jim Kelley, diocesan development director, at 704-608-0359 or jkkelley@charlottediocese.org.

6

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 OUR PARISHES

Seminarian Education second collection to be taken up Nov. 7-8 CHARLOTTE — Every Catholic household in the Diocese of Charlotte is being asked to consider making a donation to the Seminarian Education second collection Nov. 7-8.

There is an increased need for funding as the number of men in formation for the priesthood in the diocese is rising. The number of seminarians has more than doubled in just a few years – from 16 seminarians to 41. There are 14 men in three major seminaries and 27 at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly.

The college seminarians moved into the permanent home for the seminary last summer, and for the first time in the seminary’s history, are now living all together under one roof as they discern a possible vocation to the priesthood.

This good news for future vocations is welcomed as the past 10 years have seen remarkable growth in the diocese.

A decade ago, there were 58,500 registered households. In 2019, that number was 68,000. By the year 2025 it is estimated that the number of registered households will climb to 86,800.

“Growth of this nature is paralleled by a need for priests to pastor this increasing number of Catholics,” Bishop Jugis said in an October letter to parishioners urging them to support the collection.

In the next decade, 27 priests are expected to reach retirement age.

And as seven diocesan priests are actively serving although they are past the retirement age of 70, the need for more priests to serve the growing Catholic population in western North Carolina is great, he noted.

“We are both blessed and challenged. As you know, our challenge is to provide the funding needed to recruit, educate and form our future priests,” the bishop explained.

Besides praying for the seminarians by name, Bishop Jugis asks the faithful to consider making a gift to further support all diocesan seminarians.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Support Seminarian Education To make a gift to support Seminarian Education, drop off or mail your contribution to your parish or make a secure gift online. If making an online gift, consult your parish’s website if they offer online giving or go online to charlottediocese.org/donate, then click on “Seminarian Education.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRYAN CLARK

Memorial for the Unborn erected in Hickory HICKORY — A group from St. Aloysius Church’s Knights of Columbus Council 6451 spent the morning of Oct. 2 in prayer and witness outside the church’s St. Sebastian Chapel, turning the grassy hill next to the chapel into a memorial for the unborn. Each of the small white crosses in the outdoor display represents five of the 3,000 innocent lives lost to abortion each day in the United States. St. Aloysius Church is among many parishes in the Diocese of Charlotte that erect this sobering memorial each October for Respect Life Month. The Knights of Council 6451, along with others in the Hickory community, have approached this annual event over the past 20 years with a grim sense of the gravity of the situation, but also with the hope coming from the proclamation of the message of the sanctity of life. During their work to build the memorial, the Knights pray that those in the position of making decisions about abortion will understand the unnecessarily horrific burden of sin being taken on daily in this country. (During the time it probably took to read this information, three lives were ended, three futures destroyed, and the burden of sin taken on by all involved through abortion.)

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

7

RESPECT LIFE MONTH: SPOTLIGHT ON PORNOGRAPHY

Psychologist warns of increasing impact of pornography as screen time rises GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — The local Order of Malta recently took up the difficult subject of pornography, hosting a presentation by Dr. Rick Cook, a psychologist and parishioner at St. Pius X Church, who warned the prevalence of pornography is on the rise.

The internet, Cook said, provides all the ingredients for increasing the influence of pornography on society because it offers easy access, an affordable price and anonymity.

“You don’t have to look hard to find it,” Cook said. “There Cook are limitless free sites; it is available for a click…(And) the embarrassment of being seen at an adult bookstore is gone. People who never would have been consumers, are now regular consumers.”

More than one in 10 websites feature pornography, research shows, and one in five internet searches seek such materials. Many pornographic sites portray physical aggression.

Cook said 90 percent of boys are exposed to pornography before the age of 18, and nearly 80 percent of all children are inadvertently exposed to such materials.

“Pornography does not encourage the development of normal social relationships,” said Cook, a psychologist at New Directions Treatment Center in Winston-Salem. “Part of growing up

is learning to develop friendships, learning how to get along with others, how to manage feelings of attraction, but also how to handle rejection, disappointment and frustration.”

“Pornography doesn’t portray courtship or romance…nor does it teach healthy bonding,” he said. The focus is on physicality, and emotional intimacy is ignored.

The pandemic might make pornography even more insidious as people become isolated and students are constantly online.

Deborah Ritzel, St. Pius X parishioner and Dame of Malta, calls pornography a silent epidemic and says people may be unaware that members of their own families may be using these sites. “During the pandemic, I read that many of the pornography sites were allowing free access…Many of these same websites do not verify the age of their users and, as a result, many children potentially were exposed to this as they worked on their computers every day.”

Cook said pornography can easily become addictive, as can any activity that provides instant gratification and a powerful stimulus that can create euphoria. Addiction impairs reasoning and judgment, creating habits that are easy to set and hard to break.

Cook explained there can be simple triggers for addictive behavior. For example, 12-step programs refer to the acronym “HALT,” which stands for hungry, angry, lonely or tired. These are four emotional states that can lead people in recovery to relapse. Individuals struggling with pornography addiction are encouraged to identify the emotional states that trigger their

behavior. Cook recommends group or individual psychotherapy to help develop strategies that provide a measure of accountability. Sometimes group therapy is best, he said, “because when you see other people struggle with the same thing, it normalizes it in a good way.”

To determine if someone might have an addiction, he explained, it is important to determine a pattern of use: Is there a time of day?

Location? Situation? Does the subject lie about or minimize the problem? “Addiction thrives in secrecy,” he said. “This is where shame sets in.

Guilt is when you do something that goes against your values, but shame is about who you are as a person. Shame kills souls.”

When talking to teens, Cook advises: “it is not a one-time conversation.” Parents should ask questions and shut down sources that feed an addiction. Families can devise a plan together, such as “turning in” all electronic devices to a central location at night, keeping computer screens visible, and modeling healthy media habits.

Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church, punctuated Cook’s presentation by acknowledging how difficult the subject of pornography can be.

“It’s an uncomfortable subject to speak about, but one that’s necessary as we see the impact that it’s having on the faith lives of so many people,” he said. “Rick has been a great asset to me in ministry. I refer people of our community to him to bring health and healing of body, mind and spirit. We hope that his message on this topic will get out to many, many more people.”

Online resources At www.usccb. org: Find more resources about combating pornography and read the U.S. bishops’ 2015 pastoral statement “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.”

Click on “Issues & Action,” then select “Topics” and then “Pornography.”

At www. faithandsafety. org: Find information and guidance about navigating this digital world safely with your family

Raising chaste children in a pornographic world

W

e live in a sexually broken culture.

In modern times, the prevalence of pornography has become a pressing problem for parents. Here are five steps parents can take to raise chaste children in a pornographic world.

1. Parents, teach your children the true meaning of human sexuality and educate them in chastity.

Forming a child in chastity is one of the most important responsibilities mothers and fathers have. Because we live in a highly sexualized culture, children are receiving an education in sexuality all the time. It’s imperative that you as parents give them an education and formation in authentic love and chastity throughout their childhood.

First and foremost, parents must emphasize the beauty and sacredness of the body and sexuality, and the truth that we are made for lasting love. We are each made in God’s image and therefore called to love, for “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). Far from the Church being down on sex, the Church wants to preserve the true meaning of love, including sexuality. Marital intercourse as God designed it serves to promote the oneness of husband and wife and the creation of new life (see Gen 1:28; 2:23-24).

Parents should take every opportunity to impress on their children the goodness of God’s design for marriage and the family.

Parents should also stress for their children the power of sex. One analogy to use is that sexuality is like a fire. A fire in the fireplace is good; its blaze brings warmth, light and cheer to the home. A fire in the middle of the living room floor is bad; without proper boundaries, it can burn the whole house to the ground.

Take heart! Most parents who talk with their children about the truth and meaning of human sexuality and the harms of

Ryan Foley pornography find that the awkwardness of the conversation is on the side of the parent – not the child. Children are eager for direction and guidance in such an important area of their lives.

2. Be aware of the widespread availability of pornography and the fact that many children are exposed to it at young ages.

The average age of first exposure to pornography is 11. Over a quarter of children see pornography before beginning puberty, a percentage that has increased over past generations. By the age of 13, over 90 percent of boys and 60 percent of girls will have accessed pornography online at least once. With each new generation now growing up with the Internet, being exposed to pornography is no longer the exception but the norm.

Some children are exposed to pornography inadvertently when online.

Others are exposed because of natural curiosities about human sexuality. The younger children are, the more of an effect it can have on their young brains. Study after study shows that young people who seek out and consume online pornography are more likely to have “recreational” attitudes about sex. Moreover, researchers have also found there is a significant correlation between frequent porn use and feelings of loneliness and major depression.

‘Engender wisdom into your children so they aren’t easy targets.’

Often parents fear that teaching their children about sexuality means saying “too much too soon.” But given the young ages at which children may first see pornography, unfortunately what happens more often is that parents say “too little, too late.” Mothers and fathers must use prudence and prayerfully consider how much information a particular child can handle and understand at a particular age.

Good information arms children with the truth, enabling them to spot more easily the lies of our hyper-sexualized culture.

Education in chastity can begin at young ages with encouraging modesty, respect for one’s body, and self-control. Later instruction, best given by the parent of the same sex as the child, can build on this foundation with delicate and clear guidance on sexual morality.

3. If you struggle with pornography use, seek your own healing to be a good example and witness of chaste love for your children.

Many parents find it difficult to broach subjects like sexuality or pornography with their children because of the shame they feel about their own sexual sins and struggles, whether past or present. But do not allow shame or embarrassment stop you from teaching your children about chastity. If anything, parents who have struggled with sexual behaviors realize

that for their children’s sake, they must be honest with themselves, repent of their sins, and seek out healing. A parent’s story of healing is a powerful story of redemption and conversion.

Parents, if you personally struggle or have struggled with pornography or other forms of sexual sin, it is never too late to set a good example for your children.

Seek the help you need from the Church, professional counselors, or local support groups to overcome sinful habits that have weighed you down.

4. Be vigilant about what technology you allow in your home, and establish clear boundaries by installing filtering software and educating your children about technology use.

Technology, and particularly the internet, is now the primary gateway to accessing pornography. Everything from iPods to game consoles, from laptops to tablets, from TVs to smartphones – all devices that connect to the internet can access pornography. It’s thus important that parents follow this rule: If I am not willing to monitor it, I will not provide it.

When it comes to protecting our children from the worst of the worst online, good parental controls can go a long way. Here are some tips: n Install Internet filtering on all your family’s internet-connected devices: home computers, laptops, tablets, phones, etc. Good filtering software, when set up properly, can block nearly all inadvertent exposure to inappropriate material online. n Establish a culture of accountability in your home. Along with filtering software, parents should also be receiving Internet accountability reports. Accountability is not about “catching” children doing CHILDREN, SEE PAGE 20

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

8

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020

Manteniendo todas las medidas de distanciamiento social, higiene y prevención -que incluye la toma de temperatura corporal antes de ingresar a las instalaciones parroquiales- se reanudaron las Misas presenciales en la Guadalupana en horario regular, con la asistencia máxima de 150 personas en el salón comunitario y 25 en el hall de ingreso. Se han colocado bocinas en el exterior para quienes deseen escuchar Misa en los exteriores.

P. Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar

Aprovechen el momento presente

¿

Quién no ha experimentado alguna vez o varias veces en la vida momentos difíciles?

Las situaciones adversas que se presentan en el diario vivir de la persona y la sociedad, a veces parecen ser callejones o túneles sin salida, y que en vez de salir al claro, o la luz, pareciera que se está caminando en arenas movedizas haciendo que la situación se vuelva más difícil.

Otras veces, cuando ya casi es superada la situación adversa, de repente llega otra igual o peor.

De ahí que se diga: “Si no es Chana, es Juana, si no es la hermana o de plano, las tres juntas”.

Es así que el año 2020 será de fácil recordar. Y no sólo por sus dígitos, si no también por lo que en él se ha estado viviendo a nivel de sociedad. Particularmente, con el jaque mate que el Coronavirus le ha dado la vida humana y a la ciencia médica. ¡Cuántas familias han quedado en tristeza y dolor por el viaje que alguno de sus seres querido ha tenido que hacer de esta vida a la otra! Con el fin del año se van acercando las celebraciones propias de la temporada, en que serán recordados esos seres amados.

Ahora bien, a lo anterior hay que sumar los retos que cada persona y familia tiene que enfrentar a corto y largo plazo.

Es precisamente en este contexto que la Palabra de Dios da un mensaje de esperanza.

“Aprovechen el momento presente porque estos tiempos son malos” (Ef 5,16) ¿Qué circunstancias estaban viviendo los efesios que llevaron al autor de la carta a hacerles una recomendación y a la vez una definición de los tiempos?.

Antes del calificativo que da al tiempo, el autor invita a aprovecharlo. Esto es, aunque los tiempos no sean tan buenos, él ve una oportunidad que no hay que dejar pasar.

Hasta la sabiduría popular de cada cultura tiene frases o dichos que denotan una enseñanza. Por ejemplo: “Al mal tiempo, buena cara”, “Si la vida te da limones, haz limonada o tráete el tequila”, “Si te lanzan piedras, construye”. ¿Y qué tal este en inglés?, “Every cloud has a silver lining”... “no hay mal que por bien no venga”, y tantos otros dichos o refranes más.

De modo que en vez de estarse quejando o culpando a otros, o a sí mismo, o peor, deprimiéndose, hay que aprovechar al máximo el tiempo y descubrir las oportunidades que están por ahí.

Esto, aunque se tenga que pasar a veces por quebradas oscuras, no se debe temer ningún mal. Ya que por encima de todo está Dios, con su vara y su bastón, y al verlas hay que avanzar sin miedo (Sal 23, 4).

Si lo que angustia tiene solución, trabájese en ella.

Si no, déjese en el mar de la misericordia de Dios.

Hágase lo posible, lo imposible que lo haga Dios.

Y tener presente siempre que cuando las puertas del mundo se cierren, o parezcan cerrarse, queda abierta, inmensamente abierta, la puerta de la infinita misericordia de Dios.

EL PADRE GABRIEL CARVAJAL SALAZAR es coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Albemarle.

de comunión a los fieles que se acercaban al templo en el interior de sus vehículos.

“Son seis las Misas que estamos ofreciendo cada domingo, seis de la mañana, ocho, diez, doce, dos y cinco de la tarde”, dijo el Padre Hugo Medellín, vicario parroquial, explicando que la capacidad del templo se ha limitado para respetar el distanciamiento social.

“No son muchas las sillas y podemos acoger 150 personas en el interior, 25 en el pasillo y hemos colocado bocinas afuera para quienes, de pie, puedan escuchar la celebración”, añadió.

Según observamos, las sillas se han agrupado por conjuntos de 5, 4, 3 y 2 sillas, además de asientos unitarios para las personas que visitan el templo sin compañía. Todos los grupos de sillas guardan una distancia mínima de 6 pies. La Misa que atendimos, de doce del mediodía, estaba a plena capacidad.

“Fue muy conmovedor para mí ver, en una Misa en la que me tocó salir a dar la comunión fuera del templo, a muchas familias que, guardando su distancia social y cubriendo su rostro con cubrebocas, esperaban bajo el sol recibir el sacramento”, dijo el Padre Medellín.

Según refirió el P. Hugo, el pasado mes de julio, después de un cierre total de más de tres meses, se abrieron las puertas del templo para que, observando estrictos límites de GUADALUPANA, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

FFHL, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

Reiniciaron Misas presenciales regulares en la Guadalupana CHARLOTTE — Tras casi siete meses de ausencia de Misas presenciales regulares en la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte, éstas se reanudaron parcialmente el pasado 27 de septiembre, para luego volver a su programación normal desde el 4 de octubre.

Como se recuerda, debido a disposiciones estatales que limitaban el derecho a reunión a un grupo mínimo de personas, así como posteriormente las ordenanzas de permanecer en casa, además de las recomendaciones de las autoridades sanitarias locales, estatales y nacionales para evitar la propagación de la pandemia de COVID-19, el Obispo Peter Jugis dispuso la suspensión de la celebración de Misas presenciales en el territorio de la diócesis.

Pese a todo ello, la parroquia Guadalupe, en plena observancia de las disposiciones sanitarias, buscó desde el inicio de la pandemia formas alternativas para ofrecer la presencia de la Eucaristía entre sus fieles.

Es así que, mientras desarrollaban sus capacidades para iniciar la transmisión online de los servicios eucarísticos, realizaron procesiones del Santísimo Sacramento visitando las zonas más necesitadas de su parroquia. Posteriormente, y hasta antes del reinicio de las Misas presenciales, ofrecieron servicios

SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

CHARLOTTE — La primera subvención de la campaña sin precedentes “Adelante con fe, esperanza y amor” (FFHL), de la Diócesis de Charlotte en beneficio de los ministerios multiculturales está siendo otorgada para conectar las familias hispanas con la Iglesia, utilizando la última tecnología digital.

El Fondo para Ministerios Multiculturales, uno de los siete patronatos establecidos gracias a la campaña FFHL, está financiando una subvención de $ 17.400 para la Oficina del Ministerio Hispano. El dinero se utilizará para comprar computadoras y equipo de grabación audiovisual para ayudar al personal del Ministerio Hispano que apoya a los diez vicariatos de la diócesis.

El equipo del Ministerio Hispano de la diócesis es uno de los más grandes de todas las diócesis en Estados Unidos, con liderazgo y personal que atiende a todos los vicariatos y parroquias con grandes poblaciones hispanas. Casi la mitad de los 400.000 católicos estimados en la diócesis son hispanohablantes o de origen hispano.

La hermana Juana Pearson, coordinadora del ministerio hispano para el vicariato de Salisbury y quien trabaja en estrecha colaboración con el vicario del ministerio hispano, Padre Julio Domínguez, dijo que está agradecida por la oportunidad de poder comprar 12 computadoras portátiles, 12 proyectores, 12 micrófonos con soporte y 12 juegos de luces con fines de grabación de video.

“Realmente es un regalo del cielo”, dijo la hermana Juana. “Antes tenía que compartir el proyector con el padre Julio e ir a buscarlo cuando lo necesitaba”. Ahora tendrá una computadora portátil, un proyector y un micrófono para usar en su ubicación según sea necesario.

“Estamos muy agradecidos con las buenas personas de nuestra diócesis que se comprometieron y contribuyeron a la campaña de FFHL, porque la financiación que acabamos de recibir de Fondo de Ministerios Multiculturales es muy importante para nuestros esfuerzos de acompañar a nuestros fieles católicos hispanos en toda la diócesis, especialmente durante esta pandemia en curso”, explicó la hermana Juana.

“La crisis de COVID-19 nos ha

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

Primera subvención FFHL al Ministerio Hispano financiará tecnología para ayudar su alcance digital

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Pandemia no detendrá arribo de Antorcha Guadalupana

En el grupo que corta la cinta inaugural aparecen, de izquierda a derecha: Enrique Nassar, presidente de la Asociación de Hondureños en las Carolinas; el cónsul general, Raúl Jerónimo Sabillón Rosales; el Padre Hugo Medellín, vicario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; la vicecanciller de Honduras, Nelly Jerez; Amittay Rodríguez, pastor de la Iglesia Camino; y el embajador alterno de Honduras en Estados Unidos, Rafael Sierra.

CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

FOTO CORTESÍA JORGE MEDINA

Consulado de Honduras abrió sus puertas en Charlotte CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Tras una larga espera de más de 25 años, la comunidad hondureña residente en las Carolinas vio realizado su anhelado sueño de contar con una oficina consular que atienda las necesidades de sus aproximadamente sesenta mil compatriotas.

La ceremonia de apertura de la sede, ubicada en 1805 Sardis Road North, Suite 100, se realizó el sábado 3 de octubre y estuvo a cargo del embajador alterno de Honduras Más online en Estados Unidos, Rafael Sierra, el cónsul general, Raúl Jerónimo Sabillón En www.bit.

Rosales, y la vicecanciller, Nelly Jerez, ly/35lHBph: Puede quienes cortaron la cinta inaugural que encontrar el video lucía los colores de la bandera del país completo de la centroamericano. transmisión del evento Todas las incidencias del evento de inauguración. fueron compartidas a través de una El canal YouTube conferencia online con las otras trece Cancillería Honduras delegaciones consulares en Estados ofrece más videos Unidos y funcionarios de cancillería en de interés para los Honduras. migrantes de ese país A la cita asistieron personalidades hispanas locales, entre ellas Enrique Nassar, presidente de la Asociación de Hondureños en las Carolinas; Jorge Medina, periodista radial y activista comunitario; Ana Miriam Carpio, directora ejecutiva de UNISAL; además del sacerdote Hugo Medellín, vicario de la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, y el pastor Amittay Rodríguez de la Iglesia Camino.

SUEÑO HECHO REALIDAD

9

Al tomar la palabra, Enrique Nassar, después de agradecer a Dios por “el sueño hecho realidad”, dijo que con la ayuda de todos, autoridades y comunidad, esperan trabajar “con honestidad, transparencia, calidad y respeto”, para que así, “todos juntos podamos resolver los problemas de los hondureños” residentes en las Carolinas.

Por su parte el cónsul Sabillón Rosales resaltó la labor del gobierno de Honduras y pidió la gracia de Dios “para resolver los problemas” y “ser una guía para nuestros compatriotas”.

Luego recordó que la fecha de la inauguración coincide con la del

nacimiento de Francisco Morazán, militar, político, pensador y visionario hondureño que gobernó la República Federal de Centro América entre 1830 y 1839.

El Padre Hugo Medellín dijo haberse sentido muy acogido por la comunidad y las autoridades presentes al estar “acompañando a un pueblo que ha luchado por años para contar con un consulado con todos los servicios que ello implica”.

Destacó que los organizadores mencionaron cómo su fe y compromiso de oración los había fortalecido para lograr que esta importante meta se concretara. “No era como en el caso de otros eventos en que se trata de acaparar la atención de la gente religiosa invitando a un sacerdote o pastor, esto era muy diferente”, señaló.

La parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe cuenta con un gran número de fieles centroamericanos, especialmente procedentes de Honduras, El Salvador y Guatemala.

Jorge Medina, fundador de la organización Hondureños Unidos, dijo que el nuevo gobierno hondureño finalmente “entendió que los hondureños en Estados Unidos representan el segundo rubro de ingreso en Honduras y tienen una urgente necesidad de atención en servicios consulares”.

Medina, tras el devastador paso del Huracán Mitch por Centroamérica en 1998, organizó a la comunidad catracha apoyando la causa del TPS para más adelante colaborar con la recepción de los consulados móviles hondureños en Charlotte.

SERVICIOS CONSULARES

Por su parte, el cónsul Sabillón Rosales dijo que la amplia oficina instalada, “reúne las condiciones físicas y de seguridad”, así como también “es de fácil acceso a nuestros compatriotas hondureños”.

Explicó que las operaciones debieron iniciar durante el mes de marzo, pero la pandemia de COVID-19 los obligó a postergar la fecha.

Informó que allí brindarán servicios y protección consular, emisión de pasaportes, de documentos legales, inscripción de nacimientos, matrimonios y defunciones, para posteriormente ofrecer la emisión de matrícula consular y tarjeta de identidad hondureña.

La atención de los diferentes servicios consulares se realiza a través de citas que se obtienen gratuitamente ingresando a la página citaconsular.com. “Estamos para brindarles un buen servicio en cuanto a rapidez, transparencia y amabilidad”, resaltó.

FE

CHARLOTTE — La Antorcha Guadalupana, una carrera de relevos que parte de México y llega a Nueva York uniendo a dos naciones y miles de familias divididas por la frontera, estará arribando el próximo mes de noviembre a la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, que gentilmente ha decidido acoger los lienzos de la Lupita y San Juan Diego y la delegación que porta la antorcha.

En esta carrera, familiares y amigos mexicanos de migrantes, portan la antorcha que será después llevada por sus familiares que viven en la ciudad de New York y en varios estados de la Unión Americana.

Leandro Bernabé, organizador local, confirmó que la antorcha partió el pasado 13 de septiembre “del lugar más sagrado de México, la Basílica de Guadalupe, ubicada en la Ciudad de México”, cruzará la frontera por Laredo, Tamaulipas, el 23 de octubre, y “estará en la Ciudad Reina el 12 de noviembre en horas de la tarde” para luego finalizar su recorrido en Nueva York el 12 de diciembre, fecha central de la celebración de la Morenita del Tepeyac.

Los lienzos de La Lupita y San Juan Diego recibirán el homenaje de los feligreses. Regularmente se realizan danzas y presentaciones musicales para luego dar paso a una Misa que concluye con un agasajo a los corredores.

Bernabé señaló que este año, con circunstancias especiales por la pandemia, planean registrar un menor número de corredores para cumplir con las medidas sanitarias regulatorias de cada condado y estado.

Al momento se desconocen más detalles y el recorrido que realizará la antorcha dentro del territorio de la Diócesis de Charlotte. En ediciones pasadas, se ha detenido en las ciudades de Newton, Concord, Thomasville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro y otras antes de partir con dirección a la zona noreste de Carolina del Norte.

Más online

FAMILIA

En www.facebook.com/CNHespañol: Vea el video de recepción de la Antorcha Guadalupana en 2019

FRATERNIDAD

Caballeros de Colón

Considere unirse a los más de 2 millones de miembros de la organización fraternal católica más grande del mundo y registrándose en línea hoy en: www.kofc.org/es

Por tiempo limitado - Membresía en línea GRATIS Use el código de promoción (MCGIVNEY2020)

10

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Más oportunidades para prevenir la diabetes CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Gracias a los exitosos resultados del programa de prevención de diabetes iniciado en septiembre de 2019, Cabarrus Health Alliance, en colaboración con la pastoral de salud de ministerio hispano del Vicariato de Charlotte, se

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request.)

There are none that can withstand your power.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times.)

Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times.)

3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory Be Published in gratitude for prayers answered.

Thank you, V.S.

aspectos de la salud física, emocional y vida sana no solo para ellos, sino que el beneficio se extiende para toda su familia. Durante los cursos se les ofrece diversas charlas, tales como salud mental, prevención de suicidio, salud coronaria, clases de gimnasia, clases de cocina y más.

La especialista destacó la colaboración que se genera entre los propios participantes que, gracias a un grupo de WhatsApp, comparten sus inquietudes, experiencias, recetas de comida y se apoyan mutuamente.

Un nuevo grupo del programa de Pre

488-0702 para realizar una encuesta y acordar la toma gratuita de un examen de sangre para evaluación de diabetes.

Conocidos los resultados de la prueba y la encuesta de evaluación se hará saber al solicitante si califica para participar en el grupo.

apresta a organizar un tercer grupo de participantes en esta iniciativa.

Así lo dio a conocer Carolina Bonilla, especialista en comunidades saludables y facilitadora de grupos de Cabarrus Health ¿QUÉ ES LA DIABETES? Alliance. Bonilla tiene a su cargo varios Según explica Cabarrus Health Alliance grupos de prevención de diabetes, entre en su página de internet, la diabetes es ellos el de la parroquia San Gabriel. una enfermedad que hace que los niveles Pese a que el grupo que inició actividades de glucosa (azúcar) en sangre aumenten en septiembre de 2019 en esa más de lo normal. La diabetes tipo 2 parroquia debió detener sus reuniones es la forma más común de diabetes. presenciales en marzo de 2020, debido Si tiene diabetes tipo 2, su cuerpo a las restricciones sanitarias dictadas no usa la insulina correctamente por las autoridades locales, estatales y (resistencia a la insulina). federales, las clases no se detuvieron y La mayoría de los alimentos que se realizaron, hasta su finalización en comemos se convierten en glucosa septiembre de 2020, vía zoom. (azúcar) para que nuestro cuerpo “Los resultados han sido muy la utilice como energía. El páncreas buenos, especialmente en la reducción produce una hormona llamada del indicador de glucosa en la sangre, insulina para ayudar a que la glucosa pues muy raro que un participante ingrese a las células de nuestro termine igual, siempre hay una baja. cuerpo. Cuando una persona tiene De igual manera en el peso, o este diabetes, su cuerpo no produce se mantiene o se reduce, pero la suficiente insulina o no puede usar mayoría pierde peso al menos en un CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD su propia insulina tan bien como cinco por ciento, que es la meta que Si sospecha que tiene prediabetes o diabetes, llame o envíe un debería. Esto hace que el azúcar se planteamos”, dijo Bonilla. acumule en la sangre. La diabetes texto a Carolina Bonilla, 704-488-0702, solicitando informes sobre “Perder de seis a doce libras en todo puede provocar un ataque cardíaco, el nuevo grupo de prevención que se apresta a iniciar actividades. un año pareciera poquito, pero al un derrame cerebral, ceguera, mismo tiempo es difícil”, añadió. insuficiencia renal o mutilaciones de La especialista asegura que una pies o piernas. de las cosas que funciona mejor es que el diabetes ha comenzado actividades el 12 Una persona con prediabetes tiene un nivel programa “te concientiza de verdad”, por lo de octubre. Pero no se desanime, que la de azúcar en sangre más alto de lo normal, que “cosas a las que estuviste acostumbrado especialista nos ha comunicado que ya pero no lo suficientemente alto para un de toda la vida las empiezas a dejar de lado se está formando otro que podría iniciar diagnóstico de diabetes. Sin cambios en su por otras más sanas. Te cambia el ‘chip’ y lo actividades en noviembre o diciembre. estilo de vida, entre el 15-30% de las personas reemplaza por uno mejor, uno con un estilo Las clases continuarán ofreciéndose con prediabetes desarrollarán diabetes tipo de vida más saludable”, anotó. bajo la modalidad online. Las personas 2 en un plazo de 3-5 años. También tienen Los participantes aprenden mucho no interesadas en participar deben un mayor riesgo de enfermedad cardíaca y solo de la diabetes sino también de otros comunicarse por teléfono o texto al (704) accidente cerebrovascular.

Discover a Place of Prayer

The Rock Hill Oratory gathers individuals together to share the commitment of learning how to pray and remaining faithful to prayer.

Year of St. Joseph Mission with The FATHERS of MERCY

We’re happy to announce the Fathers of Mercy are preaching a special Mission in honor of the Year of St. Joseph at three locations in the Diocese of Charlotte this November!

ROCK HILL ORATORY Center for Spirituality LEARN, PRAY, GROW For more information about our current programs and events go to – www.rockhilloratory.org If you have questions or would like more details please contact us – oratorycenter@gmail.com

The Year of St. Joseph Mission will be held in three location across the diocese this November. Mark your calendars!

Fr. Joseph Aytona, CPM

Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM

•

November 2 – 5, 2020 with Fr. Joseph Aytona, CPM St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC

•

November 9 – 12, 2020 with Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM Holy Cross Catholic Church, Kernersville, NC

•

November 16 – 19, 2020 with Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM St. Barnabas Catholic Church, Arden, NC

Sponsored by the Diocese of Charlotte Find event details at: www.yearofstjoseph.org/mission

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

11

¿Es la celebración del Día de Muertos satánica?

CONDESANDO DE ACIPRENSA

A pocos días del Día de los Fieles Difuntos, el 2 de noviembre, la celebración tradicional en México del Día de los Muertos causa cierta controversia por sus diversos símbolos y colores. ¿Es una celebración satánica o vinculada al culto a la Santa Muerte?

El Padre José de Jesús Aguilar, subdirector de Radio y Televisión de la Arquidiócesis de México, lamentó que “en los días en los que la Iglesia recuerda a los fieles difuntos no faltan algunos extranjeros que al ver los cráneos, las calaveras en los monumentos, en las ofrendas, lleguen a pensar que los mexicanos tenemos cultos demoníacos o satánicos o a la llamada Santa Muerte”.

“Los católicos en México no tenemos cultos satánicos, no damos culto a la Santa Muerte, sino que entendemos que la muerte es un límite y al mismo tiempo el paso para poder llegar a la trascendencia y, si hemos vivido los valores del Evangelio, el camino también para poder vivir en la eternidad con Dios”.

“Y como la muerte no es algo trágico sino la oportunidad de encontrarnos con Dios, por eso de alguna manera festejamos también la muerte que es el camino hacia la vida definitiva y eterna”, añadió.

El P. Aguilar indicó que a quienes piensan que los que celebran el Día de los Muertos participan en un ritual satánico, habría que explicarles un poco de la cultura prehispánica, inculturada con la llegada del Evangelio a estas tierras.

“En el mundo prehispánico la muerte y la vida eran parte de una misma realidad.

Por eso colocar una calavera, un esqueleto en algún determinado sitio no era darle culto a la muerte ni hablar solamente de la muerte sino decir que la muerte forma parte de la vida y la vida forma parte de la muerte. De esta manera, la muerte no se convierte en algo trágico sino simplemente en parte de la alegría de la vida”, indicó.

“En el mundo prehispánico se creía que los difuntos podían solamente ir a dos lugares: aquellos que morían en relación al agua, por ejemplo por hidropesía o ahogados, iban al lugar donde estaba Tláloc, el Tlalocan, un lugar semejante a lo que la gente considera el Paraíso. Sin embargo, la mayoría de los difuntos iban al Mictlán, al lugar de los muertos donde durante todo el año tenían una cierta amnesia, no tenían ningún alimento”.

A esos difuntos, dijo, “solamente durante el mes de agosto, el mes de las cosechas para los vivos, se les permitía salir para que gracias a las cosechas sus familiares vivos pudieran presentarles una ofrenda con los mejores alimentos y bebidas”.

“De tal manera que la primera parte del mes de agosto salían del Mictlán los niños, los pequeñitos, para convivir con sus familiares a través de su espíritu. Y

la segunda parte del mes podían salir los adultos”.

Explicó que esto cambió con la llegada del Evangelio, que enseña que los difuntos “ya no necesitan alimentarse de ninguna cosa material porque entran en una realidad totalmente distinta”. De igual manera, dijo, cambiaron los días dedicados a los difuntos pues el calendario litúrgico cristiano les dedica el 1 y 2 de noviembre para recordar a aquellos que murieron y ya se han encontrado con Dios, y para aquellos que van en camino y se están purificando para llegar pronto a su Creador.

Por su parte, el P. Mario Arroyo, doctor en Filosofía que lleva adelante el canal de YouTube ‘Teología para Millenials’, descartó que el Día de los Muertos sea una celebración satánica, pues “sería bastante extraño que una celebración satánica tuviera una conmemoración litúrgica, como es el Día de Muertos, que sí o sí se tiene que celebrar”.

“En segundo lugar, el Día de Muertos, la Conmemoración de Todos los Fieles Difuntos, lleva implícito un dogma que confesamos todos los católicos cada domingo y cada solemnidad que vamos a Misa al rezar el Credo, es decir ‘creo en la comunión de los santos’”, apuntó.

En el Día de los Muertos, precisó, “recordamos que estamos en una comunión misteriosa pero real con todos los miembros del cuerpo místico de Cristo, con los miembros vivos y con todos los miembros difuntos”.

No se trata de un “culto a los muertos”, sino que “es virtud de la piedad que nos lleva a no olvidarnos de quienes nos han precedido, de quienes nos han dado la vida, padres abuelos, bisabuelos o amigos o gente que se ha cruzado con nosotros a lo largo de la vida y podemos interceder por ellos”.

El P. Arroyo precisó que ciertamente existen en torno a la muerte “otro tipo de celebraciones que no son de carácter cristiano, algunos que están emparentadas con la brujería, como invocar a los muertos para saber el futuro o el intentar hablar con un médium con un espíritu de alguien que nos ha precedido”.

Sin embargo, añadió, “nada tiene que ver eso con rezar por los difuntos, ir al cementerio, ir a Misa y ofrecer sufragios por los muertos”, dijo.

Sobre la aparente relación entre el culto satánico a la Santa Muerte y el Día de los Muertos, el P. Arroyo señaló que “el Día de Muertos es una tradición de la Iglesia muy antigua, que cristianiza además una tradición prehispánica en el caso de México y otros lugares de América Latina. En cambio el culto a la Santa Muerte, emparentado con la brujería y el satanismo, es bastante reciente”.

“El Día de los Muertos, en la tradición mexicana, se ha celebrado con calaveritas desde muchísimo antes de que existiera

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Hermoso altar de muerto colocado en octubre de 2019 en la Casa de México en Madrid, España. Dedicado a artistas e intelectuales mexicanos y españoles, en él se puede apreciar los elementos que componen un altar tradicional en versión moderna. la Santa Muerte y tiene formas literarias, artísticas, culinarias, que son una manifestación de una cristianización de una tradición prehispánica”, añadió, señalando al “pan de muertos, calaveritas de azúcar, y una serie de realidades que son culturales y que han sido cristianizadas”.

El P. Luis Fernando Valdés, doctor en Teología y capellán de la Universidad Panamericana en Ciudad de México, indicó que “la Sagrada Escritura nos revela que la muerte no es plan de Dios, sino que entró en el mundo por el pecado, y el pecado fue consecuencia de la insidia del demonio contra el ser humano. Entonces, por eso, la muerte

Lecturas Diarias OCTUBRE 25-31

Domingo: Ex 22: 20-26, 1 Tes 1: 5-10, Mt 21: 33-43; Lunes: Ef 4: 32–5, 8, Lc 13: 10-17; Martes: Ef 5: 21-33, Lc 13: 18-21; Miércoles (Santos Apóstoles Simón y Judas): Ef 2: 19-22, Lc 6: 12-19; Jueves: Ef 6: 10-20, Lc 13: 31-35; Viernes: Flp 1: 1-11, Lc 14: 1-6; Sábado: Flp 1: 18-26, Lc 14: 1. 7-11

NOVIEMBRE 1-7

Domingo (Solemnidad de Todos los Santos): Apoc 7: 2-4. 9-14, 1 Jn 3: 1-3, Mt 5: 1-12; Lunes (Todos los Fieles Difuntos): Sab 3: 1-9, Rom 5: 5-11, Jn 6: 37-40; Martes: Flp 2: 5-11, Lc 14: 15-24; Miércoles (San Carlos Borromeo): Flp 2: 12-18, Lc 14: 25-33; Jueves: Flp 3: 3-8, Lc 15: 1-10; Viernes: Flp 3: 17–4, 1, Lc 16: 1-8; Sábado: Flp 4: 10-19, Lc 16: 9-15

NOVIEMBRE 8-14

Domingo: Sab 6: 12-16, 1 Tes 4: 13-18, Mt 25: 1-13; Lunes (Dedicación de la Basílica de Letrán): Ez 47: 1-2. 8-9. 12, 1 Cor 3: 9-11.

16-17, Jn 2: 13-22; Martes (San León Magno, Papa y doctor de la Iglesia): Ti 2: 1-8. 11-14, Lc 17: 7-10; Miércoles (San Martín de Tours, obispo): Ti 3: 1.7, Lc 17: 11-19; Jueves (San Josafat, obispo y mártir): Fmn 7-20, Lc 17: 20-25; Viernes (Santa Francisca Javier Cabrini, virgen): 2 Jn 4-9, Lc 17: 26-37; Sábado: 3 Jn 5-8, Lc 18: 1-8

en cierto modo está asociada al demonio, porque está asociada al pecado que generó”.

“Pero la fe nos dice que Jesús nos ha rescatado de la muerte, porque es el primero que ha resucitado, es decir que la muerte no lo pudo detener para siempre. Entonces la muerte ya no tiene la última palabra porque Jesús ha vuelto a tomar su vida y eso nos promete a nosotros: que retomaremos nuestra vida, resucitaremos el último día.

Por eso la muerte ya no está asociada al demonio en el sentido de que tenga dominio absoluto sobre el hombre”, dijo.

El P. Valdés subrayó que “la muerte no es satánica” y que “la comunión de los santos existe”.

“Estamos vinculados todos los bautizados, vivos, en el Purgatorio y en el Cielo, de tal manera que la muerte no rompe el vínculo”, señaló, e indicó que “la muerte es un paso de esta vida terrena a la vida inmortal, a ver a Dios cara a cara.

Clarísimamente donde está Dios no está el demonio”.

Para mayor información En www.bit.ly/37gLePF: Encontrará un video sobre el Día de Muertos preparado por Google Mexico En www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9OJtU1hbOmg: El P. José de Jesús Aguilar nos explica por qué los católicos celebramos el ‘Día de Muertos’

Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Immaculata students ‘shine like stars’ despite rain during celebration of $900,000 renovation ‘A light shining in the increasing darkness’ PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE AND TARA HACKMAN CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Top) School leaders officially cut the ribbon to celebrate the successful renovation. From left are Julie Wojcik, administrative assistant; Principal Margaret Beale, Father Christian Cook, pastor; and Dr. Greg Monroe, superintendent of Diocese of Charlotte Catholic Schools. (Above) Students watch a livestream of the ribbon-cutting ceremony safely from their classrooms, using smartboards and technology made possible by the renovation effort, after a brief rain shower moved the Oct. 16 ceremonies indoors.

PHOTOS BY PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Third-grader Mia Montenegro-Mata holds up her handmade star during the ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 16 for Immaculata School’s $900,000 renovation.

Collaborative effort makes renovation a reality SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HENDERSONVILLE — When the Immaculata community cut the ribbon Oct. 16 to celebrate its renovated school, it signaled the culmination of efforts by many people to bring the $900,000 project to fruition.

Besides key financial support through a successful capital campaign

by Immaculate Conception Parish and a grant from the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign, four diocesan offices pitched in to help plan, fund and execute the renovations. The Catholic Schools, Development, Finance and Properties offices all partnered with the Hendersonville school and parish to help raise the money, arrange the financing, coordinate the contractors and stay within their budget.

One of the many responsibilities of the Development Office is to help parishes organize and conduct capital campaigns.

“Over the course of six months in 2018, we met to help them plan, organize and train parishioners to encourage broad involvement in giving to the capital campaign,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “They ran a very effective campaign.”

The Finance Office worked with the

parish to build a funding plan, which typically includes savings or a building fund, a capital campaign, funds from other sources such as FFHL, and financing for the remainder of the project’s cost.

“Our office works with the parishes to come up with a plan that will meet the needs of the parish yet in a financially responsible manner,” said Bill Weldon, the diocese’s chief financial officer and chief administrative officer.

The Properties Office “assisted the school with development of the project budget based on inputs from outside vendors and experience with other schools in the diocese that had previously completed capital projects – both new construction and renovations,” said Emmett Sapp, diocesan construction manager.

The Properties Office also helped the school get the most “bang for the buck” by watching the budget closely and managing vendors to complete and furnish the renovated spaces.

“This project was a good example of effective collaboration among the departments and entities,” Sapp said.

Diocesan schools staff met on site several times with Immaculata’s principal, Margaret Beale, to contribute ideas and input on the renovation plans to help meet the school’s educational goals and keep open the lines of

communication.

“This project is an excellent example of what we as Catholic Schools are about: Many parts of one Body, the Church, working together for the good of our students,” said Dr. Greg Monroe, diocesan superintendent of schools.

Father W. Christian Cook, pastor, noted, “The support of the diocese was instrumental to our school construction project being completed on time and on budget. With support from the four diocesan offices, we were able to bring this project home.”

It is important for the parish, the diocese and the Church as a whole to provide schools that support parents as the primary educators of their children, Father Cook said. “We all worked together – Immaculata, the parish of Immaculate Conception, and the diocese – to provide this choice for parents.”

“If people ever wonder if the parishes benefit from funds they give to the diocese, they should look no further than this project,” he said. “I am so thankful for not only the dollars coming back to this project by way of a diocesan FFHL grant, but in the support of employees from many different diocesan departments giving of their time and competence without hesitation. I am grateful for the way so many gave of themselves in abundance, all in support of our parish and the mission of our Catholic school.”

HENDERSONVILLE — Rain could not put a damper on everyone’s enthusiasm Friday as students, teachers and supporters of Immaculata Catholic School officially celebrated the end of a major renovation effort.

The Oct. 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony began in front of the school, with students and staff safely distanced around the parking lot, but a brief rain shower forced everyone back into their classrooms to watch the celebration on a video streamed live from the school’s gym.

The livestreaming was actually made possible thanks to the $900,000 renovation of the school in downtown Hendersonville.

Immaculata students made the most of the festivities, waving paper stars they had colored and cut out as they sat at their desks and watched the ribbon-cutting ceremony on their classrooms’ state-of-the-art smartboards. They cheered and clapped along as school leaders and supporters cut the ceremonial red ribbon.

“From the playground to the covered walkway, we are thankful for the new changes at our school,” said eighth-grader Annie Thompson.

“One of the things which makes ICS so special is that no matter your race, gender or where you’re from, you will always feel a sense of welcome and safety here.”

The Immaculata Catholic School remodeling project also included a new security vestibule and visitor check-in system, upgrades to the school’s technology infrastructure and the addition of an intercom system. Restrooms were remodeled, and a prominent canopy was added to the length of the front entrance and sidewalk.

Cely Construction of Greenville, S.C., was the general contractor.

“Being an Immaculata star means being a hardworking student who is part of a family growing together in harmony,” said eighth-grader Luz Casimiro. “This school is like a beautiful blossoming flower, and with every year it becomes more and more dazzling even during the toughest storms.”

Principal Margaret Beale continued the star theme in her remarks at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “An Immaculata star is a light that shines before others and gives hope and inspiration,” she said.

Addressing her students through a laptop computer for the video livestream, Beale cheered them on: “Immaculata, lift your stars, raise them high, and together as a school, let’s shine for all to see. Let’s shine like stars, let us forever be Immaculata stars!”

Funding for the school ‘s renovation came from a successful capital campaign by the school’s home parish, Immaculate Conception, and a $475,000 grant from the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign.

“Immaculata Catholic School is a light shining in the increasing darkness of the culture which surrounds us,” said Father W. Christian Cook, pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville. He thanked everyone who took part in the project to “show our support for our dear students and teachers who are the true Immaculata stars which shine brightly in this world.”

Mix

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

‘Stories of the Saints’ a timely read SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

BROOKLYN, New York — With All Saints Day approaching, our attention shifts to those heroic souls who have triumphed over sin and death.

In “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage,” author Carey Wallace offers readers aged 10 and up an engaging glimpse into the lives of saints who performed miracles, faced wild lions, confronted demons and transformed the world.

‘The War with Grandpa’ Flimsy comedy adapted from Robert Kimmel Smith’s novel for children, a recently widowed retiree (Robert De Niro) is convinced by his daughter (Uma Thurman) to move in with her family and is given the bedroom previously occupied by his preteen grandson (Oakes Fegley), who is exiled to the attic. The boy resents this supposed injustice so much that he starts the conflict of the title, a battle of ever-escalating practical jokes. The setup is as unrealistic as the lad is ill-mannered and there are no surprises amid the ensuing slapstick.

Occasional anatomical and scatological humor, a couple of instances each of mild oaths and crass language.

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

‘Rebecca’ (Netflix) Faithful adaptation of British author Daphne du Maurier’s bestselling 1938 gothic novel about the paid companion (Lily James) to a demanding elderly woman (Ann Dowd) who travels with her employer to Monte Carlo where she meets, falls for and marries a wealthy widower. Back at the latter’s imposing estate on England’s Cornish coast, however, the formidable housekeeper (Kristin Scott Thomas), rules the roost and does her utmost to preserve the memory and routine of her beloved former mistress. The story morphs from whirlwind romance to psychological thriller as the newlywed bride struggles to cope with her servant’s treachery. Mature themes.

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

‘Yellow Rose’ A Filipina (Eva Noblezada) living in Texas but lacking legal papers faces a series of challenges as she dreams of and works toward, a career in country music. Her fledgling boyfriend (Liam Booth), the bar owner who hires her and the established star (Dale Watson, playing himself) who mentors her are all limited in the extent to which they can shield and advise her. So, too, is her caring mother (Princess Punzalan). As a result, she must create her own future. There’s a touch of naivete to the kind and ethical world writer-director Diane Paragas has constructed and gaps in logic as well as one unresolved plot hole large enough to accommodate a freight train mar her screenplay. Yet this tale of a character finding her soul in music, while hardly novel, is a timeless and inspiring one.

Acceptable for mature teens.

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

From St. Augustine of Hippo to St. Teresa of Calcutta, Wallace takes the reader on a journey to discover 70 of the best-known and best-loved saints.

Readers will meet St. Joan of Arc, whose transcendent faith compelled her to lead an army when the king’s courage failed. St. Francis of Assisi, whose gentleness tamed a man-eating wolf. St. Valentine, a bishop in the time of ancient Rome, who spoke so often of Christ’s love that his saint’s day, Feb. 12, has been associated with courtly love since the Middle Ages.

The book also features St. Thomas Aquinas, the great teacher and Doctor of the Church. St. Peter Claver, who cared for hundreds of thousands of people on slave ships after their voyage as captives.

And St. Bernadette, whose vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary prompted her to dig the spring that became the healing waters of Lourdes.

Each saint is illustrated by Nick Thornborrow in a dramatic and stylized full-color portrait. Included in every entry are the saint’s dates, location, emblems, feast days and patronage.

Taken together, these stories create a rich, inspiring and entertaining history of faith and courage.

Wallace says she loves to write fiction, but as a believing Christian who attended Catholic schools as a child, she remembered the stories of saints’ lives as intriguing adventure stories and felt called to write this latest book.

“I feel like this book wrote me, even more than I wrote it.

They were forming me, the saints were acting on me, I was serving them in some way,” she notes. “The power of the stories is wonderful.”

The book is meant to be the stories of the saints told as if they are great stories and they have beautiful lessons for all kids, she explains. But she’s been especially glad to see boys love the book, because it can be hard to find spiritual stories boys really connect with.

“The illustrations are done by a video game designer and boys seem to like his artistic style,” she says. “He really knows how to tell a story with a picture.”

Wallace says she wanted people to appreciate the saints as our faith heritage. “We really do have these kind of ‘superheroes’ in the faith. I wanted to share them in stories that are memorable and to show their lives as a great adventure.”

She arranged the book about the saints in chronological order.

“It begins with Polycarp, a convert of St. John the Apostle. It begins with someone with a direct connection to the life of Jesus on earth. It ends with Mother Teresa. In between, you get this whole beautiful scope of Christian history told through some of its most beloved characters.”

“Writing the book also enriched my faith because it also shows how rich and diverse that history is and how many ways there are to be a good Christian,” Wallace adds. “There are all kinds of people and the scope of how God worked in them really spoke to me.”

Order online Get your copy of “Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage” online at www.amazon.com or www. barnesandnoble.com.

13

On TV

n Saturday, Oct. 24, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Karol: The Pope the Man.” Follow young Karol’s life journey as he transitions from a worker, poet, and teacher to his true calling: the priesthood of Christ. n Thursday, Oct. 29, 5 a.m. (EWTN) “Saint Paul of the Cross.” An EWTN original docudrama depicts the holy life of St. Paul of the Cross, who overcame a perilous childhood to become the founder of a religious order devoted to the Passion of Jesus. n Thursday, Oct. 29, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Father Michael McGivney.” Discover the life, work, and legacy of Father Michael McGivney, an American parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus, the largest Catholic fraternal organization in the world. n Sunday, Nov. 1, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “St. Catherine of Siena.” Discover the prolific work and life of one of the Doctors of the Church, St. Catherine of Siena, as told through interviews and reenactments in this EWTN original docudrama filmed on location in Italy.

Catholic Book Pick ‘This is the Church’

by Katie Warner “This is the Church “ is a beautiful way to introduce your little one to the incredible story of salvation history! The book will dazzle you with its detailed, stained-glass illustrations and tempt you to countless readings with its rhythmic story.

Through this unique picture book, which is destined to become a classic found in all Catholic homes, you and your little one will fall more deeply in love with Jesus Christ, Our Savior and King, who died and then rose and founded a Church, the Catholic Church, to share God’s love with the world.

If you’re already a fan of Katie Warner and Meg Whalen’s beautiful children’s books, this one will not disappoint ... and is likely to become your new favorite.

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

Our nation 14

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Church must be ‘sign of unity’ that comes from belief in God, nuncio says NICHOLE GOLDEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ATLANTA — Before placing the pallium on the shoulders of Atlanta’s new archbishop, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, nuncio to the United States, remarked that Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer is to help his brother bishops be unified.

“Especially in a society, which is divided, the Church should be the sign of unity, but a unity which comes not just as a fruit of results of our own efforts, but because we believe in God,” said Archbishop Pierre, who imposed the pallium during a Mass celebrated Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, at St. Peter Chanel Church in the Atlanta suburb of Roswell.

The pallium – a band of wool worn over an archbishop’s shoulders to signify unity with the pope and responsibility to care for his flock – was blessed by Pope Francis on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, in Rome.

Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Archbishop Hartmayer was unable to travel to Rome for the papal blessing.

While Pope Francis continues to bless palliums and give them to archbishops as his predecessors did, the pope also decided several years ago that the formal imposition of the bands would be done in the archbishops’ archdioceses by the nuncio in their country.

Nearly 50 priests and some 80 invited guests attended the midday Mass in Roswell, which was livestreamed. Bishops of the Atlanta province also attended.

Attendees wore masks and adhered to social-distancing guidelines.

Challenging the world is a mission or vocation that Christians are called to, said the nuncio. He added that the Church is not “another society,” rather “it is a sign of God’s presence where we live.”

Archbishop Hartmayer grew up outside of Buffalo, N.Y. He was ordained in 1979 as a Franciscan priest in Albany, N.Y., serving in different education ministries. He moved to Atlanta in 1995 when he was appointed to lead St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro and later St. John Vianney Church in Lithia Springs. He was named bishop of Savannah in 2011.

Pope Francis appointed then-Bishop Hartmayer to be Atlanta’s seventh archbishop in March. He was installed in a quiet ceremony, amid the pandemic, in May at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.

Archbishop Hartmayer thanked his family, priests, religious and brother bishops attending the pallium Mass. He expressed gratitude to Pope Francis for giving him the opportunity to serve the Church in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

“I pray I will be able to meet his expectations. I know that he is praying for

Your Life’s Journey…

With help from masters of ceremonies Father Gerardo CeballosGonzalez, Archbishop Chistophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, places the pallium around the neck of Atlanta Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer during Mass Oct. 7, at St. Peter Chanel Church in Roswell, Ga. CNS | MICHAEL ALEXANDER, THE GEORGIA BULLETIN

me,” said the archbishop.

He commented on the shape of the pallium, which is reminiscent of a sheep being carried on his shoulders and “never to be separated” from it.

“And that is exactly my mission, I believe

... to bring unity where there is disunity and to bring together a diverse community of baptized people and to see one another as brothers and sisters,” said Archbishop Hartmayer. “The pallium will always remind me of this responsibility.”

DISCOVER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE

how will you be remembered?

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

Rely on the Knights of Columbus to protect your family’s future.

Bob Gordon Field Agent

516-551-7838 robert.gordon@kofc.org 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.

LIFE INSURANCE • DISABILITY INCOME INSURANCE LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE • RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

from St. Mary’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception to a city park, offered a rosary for peace, and conducted an exorcism for a city that has witnessed racial justice protests peppered with riots for more than four months.

Two demonstrators have been killed over election-related division and many police injured. In early October, groups promoting indigenous rights toppled popular statues of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.

“There is no better time than in the wake of civil unrest and the eve of the elections to come together in prayer, especially here in Portland,” Archbishop Sample said before the procession.

In Brief Knights of Columbus founder to be beatified Oct. 31 WATERBURY, Conn. — Father Michael J. McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Columbus, will be beatified Oct. 31 during a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J., at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Conn. He will be the first U.S. parish priest to be beatified and will be given the title “Blessed.”

Details about Father McGivney’s beatification Oct. 31, as well as an Oct. 30 vigil and a Nov. 1 Mass of thanksgiving for his beatification, can be found online at www.kofc.org.

Richmond bishop hopes recompense brings survivors ‘continued healing’

High Court to hear cases dealing with Trump immigration policies WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear cases stemming from President Donald Trump’s immigration policies related to financing border wall construction and the requirement that asylumseekers remain in Mexico until their claims are processed. The court said Oct. 19 it would take up the cases after the Justice Department appealed lower court rulings against the policies.

The justices earlier had allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its plans as the cases wound their way through the federal courts. In a 5-4 vote July 31, the justices gave the go-ahead for construction to continue on portions of the border wall with Mexico by declining requests from several organizations that the high court stop the work.

The decision came after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled in June that the administration’s transfer in 2019 of $2.5 billion in military funds to pay for border wall construction was an illegal overreach of executive authority.

In the second case, the Supreme Court in an order March 11 had granted the administration’s request to continue enforcing its “Remain in Mexico” policy while a lower court’s ruling that blocked the policy was being appealed to the high court.

Portland archbishop leads rosary, exorcism to bring peace PORTLAND, Ore. — Archbishop Alexander K. Sample led a Eucharistic procession Oct. 17

RICHMOND, Va. — Reiterating that reconciliation “is a defining aspect” of the Diocese of Richmond’s bicentennial year, Bishop Barry C. Knestout released a report Oct. 15 summarizing the results of the Independent Reconciliation Program, posted online at www. assistance.richmonddiocese.org.

“As you will read in the report,” the bishop said, “the IRP was able to provide recompense for more than 50 victim survivors, and while we can never undo the pain they experienced and continue to experience, we hope this program helps bring them some sense of greater peace and continued healing.”

FAITH

FAMILY

FRATERNITY

Knights of Columbus

Consider joining the over 2 million members of the largest, lay Catholic order in the world by signing up online today at: www.kofc.org/joinus For a Limited Time – FREE Online Membership – Use Promo Code (MCGIVNEY2020)

Dr. Cherie Minette uses natural supplements to treat: Anxiety / Depression Acid Reflux / Sleep Hormones / Allergies Cholesterol / Fatigue

USCCB offers ‘Election Novena’ as way to prepare for Nov. 3, pray for nation WASHINGTON, D.C. — As it did in 2016, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is encouraging people of faith to take part in an election novena beginning Oct. 26 and ending Nov. 3, Election Day. A closing prayer for elected leaders will be offered on Day 10, Nov. 4.

“Bearing in mind our nation’s challenges and the need for wise, moral, civic leadership, four years ago our conference offered an electronic ‘Election Novena’ to help Catholics prepare for the 2016 election,” the USCCB said.

“Shared through social media and various email lists, the prayer effort was widely popular with the laity and very much appreciated by clergy, who are often asked to promote more partisan or issue-specific prayer campaigns,” it added in a letter sent by about a dozen USCCB committee chairmen to all U.S. bishops.

Go to www.usccb.org/2020-election-novena for the full novena and its daily intentions, a link to sign up to receive the intentions daily by email as well as links to PDFs of the intentions in English and Spanish and to other resources including the bishops’ quadrennial statement: “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

— Catholic News Service

Got stock?

Estate Planning Elder Law | Probate

Unlock your potential to make a difference.

Settling an Estate? You don’t have to do it alone.

Giving appreciated stock to your parish, Catholic school, agency, the diocese or the Foundation creates a gift that will benefit your desired beneficiary and provide you tax benefits.

Contact Attorney Sabrina Winters to help navigate you through this complicated process.

For more information, go to www.charlottediocese.givingplan.net or call Gina Rhodes at 704/370-3364.

St. Matthew Parishioner

704.843.1446 | www.ncestateplanninginfo.com

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

Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

15

Our world 16

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope, religious leaders pray for peace, greater care for one another CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

ROME — The only way to end war and ensure humanity’s survival is “through encounter and negotiation, setting aside our conflicts and pursuing reconciliation, moderating the language of politics and propaganda, and developing true paths of peace,” Pope Francis said.

The pope, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and an international array of other Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist leaders gathered on Rome’s Capitoline Hill Oct. 20 to affirm their community’s commitment to peace, dialogue, fraternity and assistance to the poor and needy.

Before coming together to make their peace pledge, the religious leaders gathered with members of their own faith families to pray, focusing on the theme, “No one is saved alone: Peace and fraternity.”

Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew and other Christians prayed in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Ara Coeli; Jewish participants prayed in Rome’s main synagogue a few blocks away, while Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs and members of other religions used rooms in the Rome City Hall and in the Franciscan convent attached to the basilica.

Gathered in the Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo, the religious leaders observed a moment of silence for

the victims of the coronavirus pandemic and of all wars and civil conflicts.

In the face of uncertainty and, especially, the threat of violence, people naturally are tempted to think only of themselves and their loved ones, but that is not a Christian response, Pope Francis said at the prayer service in the basilica.

“Save yourself” – the words the crowd and the chief priests said to Jesus as He was about to die – “is a very human instinct, but wrong,” the pope said.

“The ‘gospel’ of save yourself is not the Gospel of salvation,” he said. “The true Gospel bids us to take up the cross of others.”

The meeting was organized by the Romebased Community of Sant’Egidio. Since St. John Paul II’s interreligious prayer for peace in Assisi in 1986, the community each year has invited religious, political and cultural leaders from around the world to gather to continue the dialogue and to pray for peace.

The community’s international meetings usually last several days and include panel discussions and workshops on various themes related to peacemaking, interreligious dialogue and service to the poor. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 meeting was just an evening event.

Lutheran Bishop Heinrich BedfordStrohm, president of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, gave a reflection at the Christian prayer service.

Join the

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Family

Immediate openings for teachers, teacher assistants, and substitute teachers in our 9 Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools. o

Charlotte Catholic High School 704.543.1127

o

Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School 704.527.7822

o

St. Ann Catholic School 704.525.4938

o

St. Matthew Catholic School 704.544.2070

o

St. Patrick Catholic School 704.333.3174

o

Christ the King High School 704.799.4400

o

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School 704.531.0067

o

St. Gabriel Catholic School 704.366.2409

o

St. Mark Catholic School 704.766.5000

Contact the school directly for additional information and visit the employment opportunity website at: www.charlottediocese.org/schools-office/employment-opportunities

CNS | PAUL HARING

Pope Francis talks with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during an encounter to pray for peace, in Piazza del Campidoglio in Rome Oct. 20.

With everyone, including the pope and patriarch, wearing masks and sitting three feet apart, Bishop Bedford-Strom told the congregation, “Our souls are confused.

All the physical signs of connectedness – hands reaching out to each other, speaking closely face to face unmasked, embracing each other, giving each other hugs – all these physical signs, which so far have been expressions of love, have now become the enemy of love, have become a danger to the other, have become a potential source of suffering.”

“How can we as churches be heralds and agents of God’s healing?” he asked. “How can we be signs of peace and brother- and sisterhood?”

The answer, the bishop said, is found in “the trinity of praying, doing justice and becoming one.”

Asking oneself if Christ is present in a refugee stuck in a camp or in a child who is starving “is the door opener to a fulfilled life. It is the path to peace and fraternity,” he said. “It is the source of healing.”

In his homily, Pope Francis said that as Jesus was dying on the cross, “Calvary was the site of a great ‘duel’ between God who came to save us and man who wants to save only himself; between faith in God and worship of self; between man who accuses and God who excuses.”

“Jesus’ arms, outstretched on the cross, mark the turning point, for God points a finger at no one, but instead embraces all,” the pope said. “Love alone extinguishes hatred, love alone can ultimately triumph over injustice. Love alone makes room for others. Love alone is the path toward full communion among us.”

At the interreligious gathering after the prayer services, Patriarch Bartholomew, who has long led Christian theological reflections on ecology, insisted that care for the earth is an obligatory response to belief in God the creator of all.

The world is experiencing a difficult period, he said, “but at the same time,

a moment favorable for questioning ourselves, meditating, praying and acting to build a better society capable of facing the great challenges of the moment, which don’t impact only certain peoples and nations, but life itself in this marvelous home of ours – the world, a gift of the merciful God.” Recognizing the “divine work” present in the environment and in each person, he said, would help people understand that fraternity and peace are not simply pious words, but lead to “true freedom” and an understanding “in this dark hour that ‘no one is saved alone.’”

Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, read a message from Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar Mosque, who used the occasion to condemn the beheading Oct. 16 of a teacher in a Paris suburb accused of insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

“I declare before Almighty God that I disassociate myself, the rulings of the religion of Islam, and the teachings of the prophet of mercy, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, from such (a) heinous criminal act and from whoever would embrace such deviant, false thought.”

The heart of el-Tayeb’s message was a reaffirmation of the document on interreligious dialogue and human fraternity he and Pope Francis signed in 2019 and a condemnation of prejudice, racism and forms of globalization that attempt to get people to believe that their cultures or religious traditions are backward or even the cause of violence.

“The time has come for us to adopt a new form of globalization based on human fraternity that treats all human beings as equal in rights and duties and strengthens social coexistence,” he said. It also must respect “religious and cultural specificities and identities,” he said, and work for a reduction of military spending, instead channeling those funds to education, health care and scientific research.

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Patriarch: Christian beliefs lead to opposition to death penalty VATICAN CITY — Opposition to the death penalty is the “logical and moral consequence” of recognizing the dignity of all human life and of believing that each person deserves the possibility to repent of his or her sins and crimes, said Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. While in Rome Oct. 20 for a prayer meeting for peace with Pope Francis, the Orthodox patriarch spoke about his reading of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti.” “ The patriarch said the encyclical is a further sign of Pope Francis’ “unshakable interest” in human beings, created and beloved by God, and that, inspired by Christian tradition, the document “is not simply a compendium or summary of previous encyclicals or other texts of Pope Francis, but the crowning and happy conclusion of all social doctrine.”

Demonstrators burn two churches in Chile SANTIAGO, Chile — Demonstrators burned two Catholic churches in Chile, where gatherings to mark the one-year anniversary of mass protests against inequality descended into chaos. Church officials and media reports described the Oct. 18 gatherings through the country as peaceful, but unrest broke out late in the day, with some protesters entering and vandalizing parishes in Santiago. Videos posted

on social media showed the spire of Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Santiago burning, then crashing to the ground as a nearby crowd cheered. St. Francis Borgia Church also was vandalized, and religious items were stolen, a church official said.

Pandemic increases trafficking risks, speakers say ROME — While the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down or slowed most businesses, it does not appear to have put a dent in human trafficking, said Callista Gingrich, U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. In fact, the financial difficulties many families face around the world actually make people more vulnerable to traffickers’ offers of quick cash or false promises of good jobs in other lands, said speakers at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See’s symposium Oct. 14, “Combatting Human Trafficking: Action in a Time of Crisis.” Faithbased organizations “are among some of our best partners” in the push to end trafficking and assist the victims, Gingrich said, pointing specifically to Talitha Kum, the international network involving some 2,600 women religious and their collaborators around the world.

Canadian faith leaders oppose assisted suicide expansion OTTAWA, Ontario — The Catholic Church has joined with religious leaders from all faiths and creeds across the country to denounce the federal government’s plan to make it easier to

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request.)

There are none that can withstand your power.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times.)

Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times.)

3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory Be Published in gratitude for prayers answered.

Thank you, A.S.

Please pray for the following deacons who died during the month of October: John Gallen 10/26/1996 Frank Aversa 10/2/2005 Pe Nhia Cha Lee 10/17/2018

get medically assisted suicide in Canada. “We, the undersigned, remain inalterably opposed to euthanasia and assisted suicide, the intentional killing of human beings, euphemistically being called ‘Medical Assistance In Dying,’ (MAID) but which is more accurately, and tragically, nothing less than murder,” said the Oct. 14 open letter, signed by more than 50 religious leaders in Canada. It is part of a national effort by opponents of Canada’s medical assistance in dying system to try to stop the federal government from expanding who qualifies for legally sanctioned suicide. Public opinion polls have consistently shown Canadians support having access to legal medically induced suicide, and the federal government is considering legislation proposing a two-tier system for those whose death is reasonably foreseeable and those whose death is not.

Pope accepts resignation of accused bishop VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a Polish bishop accused of negligence after a documentary claimed he repeatedly transferred a priest accused of sexually abusing children. The Vatican announced Oct. 17 that the pope accepted the resignation of 68-year-old Bishop Edward Janiak of Kalisz and named Archbishop Grzegorz Rys of Lodz as apostolic administrator “sede vacante.” Bishop Janiak’s failure to act when told about allegations of abuse perpetrated by a diocesan priest drew a public outcry following the May 16 release of the documentary, “Hide and Seek,” produced by Polish filmmakers Marek

17

and Tomasz Sekielski. The film was a follow-up to their 2019 documentary “Tell No One,” which exposed the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in Poland and has garnered nearly 24 million views on YouTube.

— Catholic News Service

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request.)

There are none that can withstand your power.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times.)

Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times.)

3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory Be Published in gratitude for prayers answered.

Thank you, D.M.

ViewPoints 18

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Dr. Tod Worner

Jesuit Father John Michalowski

‘He emptied Himself, … coming in human likeness’

On going through hell

R

ecently, during the summer of rage, my eighth-grade daughter stood gazing at the television news with furrowed brow and a shaking head. When she realized that I had been looking at her, she blushed and confessed, “With everything going wrong in the world, it’s hard not to get down.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

There is a clever (but depressing) cartoon showing the spines of books neatly ordered on a shelf. Each volume had a date (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) indicating that between each book’s covers is the story of that year. When one arrives at 2020, however, there are well over a dozen books grappling with all that 2020 has been. Just think about it: a paralyzing pandemic; a tumultuous economy; riotous racial strife; vulgar, sophomoric behavior from our elected leaders (from both parties); dislocation from family and friends. It is a time of fear and anxiety, uncertainty, and depression.

And yet while each constellation of trials always has its own character, the human grappling with trial is nothing new.

Think about all who have preceded us in suffering and darkness: Flannery O’Connor, wracked with lupus in her 30s, wrote to her friend, “I have never been anywhere but sick. In a sense sickness is a place, more instructive than a long trip to Europe, and it’s always a place where there’s no company, where nobody can follow.”

Mother Teresa, corresponding with her spiritual director from the intolerable gutters of Kolkata, ached, “In my soul I feel just that terrible pain of loss – of God not wanting me – of God not being God – of God not really existing.”

St. Paul, describing a cryptic affliction, lamented that “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’” (1 Cor 12:7-9) And Jesus Christ, God Himself, agonized in the garden while pleading, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” (Mt 26:39) And in one of His final utterances from the cross, the Son of God calls out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46) It is a scene of such hellish blackness that G.K. Chesterton quietly wondered if the God on the cross, for an instant, became an atheist.

But how is this comforting?

While there may be some solace in the notion that “misery loves company,” I don’t want to be miserable. None of us do. But in this hobbled world of broken men and women, our suffering is not something that is completely up to us. We will suffer. Some of us in great ways and

some of us in small but, rest assured, we will all suffer.

What is heartening, in fact, about the sufferings of Flannery and Teresa, Paul and God Himself is not simply that they suffered as well, but that they transcended their suffering.

Flannery found meaning in her pains and recognized how they humbled her and made her a better writer. St. Teresa discovered a strength to persevere even though the devil tempted her to quit. Paul lived with his affliction and evangelized the world. And Christ, well, He saved you and He saved me. In a puckish proverb loosely attributed to Winston Churchill during the dark days of the Blitz of London, we get the point: “If you are going through hell, keep going.”

It is easy to “get down,” as my daughter says. It is easy to flirt with despair and wonder if things will ever turn aright.

But here is what I told my daughter that day.

First, God, in the end, wins. He created us with dignity, loves us through our fallibility, and goes to the ends of the earth to gather us in His embrace. Life is difficult. There will be suffering.

But heaven is forever and God reigns supreme.

Next, the world is brimming with saints and heroes. So as the statues fall and the people rage, find those saints and admire those heroes that you know exist. Learn from them. Emulate them. And become one of them.

Finally, God gave you great gifts. Love your corner of the world beginning with your faith, family and friends, and then hear the call of how you are to bring your unique gifts to bear on a world desperate for healing.

French Catholic writer (and no stranger to immense suffering) Georges Bernanos said it well: “Christians are not supermen. Nor are saints, even less so, because they are the most human of human beings. Saints are not sublime, they don’t need the sublime. They are not the heroes in the manner of Plutarch’s heroes. ... (But) Christ wished to open to His martyrs the glorious way to a fearless death, but He also wished to precede each one of us in the darkness of anguish unto death. The steady, fearless hand can at the last moment lean on His shoulder, but the hand that trembles is sure to meet His hand.”

To be sure, the world has darkness and we will always have our share of suffering. But we are called to hope. With God’s help, we were made to transcend it.

If you are going through hell, keep going.

DR. TOD WORNER is a husband, father, Catholic convert and practicing internal medicine physician.

His blog, “Catholic Thinking,” is found at Aleteia.org.

He also writes for Patheos (“A Catholic Thinker”) and the National Catholic Register. Follow him on Twitter @ thinkercatholic.

E

very year we read the incredible passage from the second chapter of Philippians that speaks of how the Son of God emptied Himself to enter into humanity by becoming one with us. Every month priests, deacons, religious and many lay persons read and pray that passage in the Liturgy of the Hours. Because it is so familiar, we seldom take to heart how incredible it really is.

Consider fairy tales for a moment. It is not uncommon in fairy tales for a prince or a princess, who falls in love with a commoner, to disguise him or herself as an ordinary person in order to win the heart and the hand of the one whom he or she loves. They don’t want the poor man or woman to be overwhelmed by them or to say “yes” to them because he or she is dazzled by their riches and prestige. No, they want to be loved for themselves. Only then do they reveal who they are.

Jesus went infinitely further. Not only is He God, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, but, as Philippians tell us: “He did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, He emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness, and found human in appearance, He humbled Himself…” (2:6-8).

Think about that for a moment. Let it sink in: the God of the universe, Creator of all that is, decides to enter into the history of a small planet that rotates around an average star in the Milky Way galaxy. God so humbles Himself that God not only enters into human life, but God depends on a human being to become one with us.

What an amazing young woman He chooses to ask: “Mary, will you become the Mother of the Messiah?” And the angel Gabriel tells her that “you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.” (Lk 1:31). In Hebrew the name is “Yeshua,” a name that means “Yahweh saves,” for He will save His people from their sins.

The Son of God empties Himself because He is love, and He finds love in the womb of Mary, and then, once born, in the care of Mary and Joseph. But Jesus’ love was not completed by becoming human and showing us what humanity is called to be.

No, Jesus loved us to the end, embracing even death, “death upon the cross.”

From conception to death, He embraced humanity to the full, and then bestowed an infinite gift upon us, the gift that only divinity can give – He resurrected to give us the loving gift of eternal life.

It is only right that we return love for love. But Jesus tells us that we cannot love the God whom we do not see, unless we love the brothers and sisters whom we do see: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me” (Mt 25:40).

St. Paul urges us to respond generously with love. “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any solace in love, any participation in the Spirit, any compassion and mercy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing. Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important

than yourselves, each looking not for his own interests, but also those of others.

Have the same attitude among yourselves that is also yours in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:1-5).

Will we empty ourselves for others? Will we even embrace the cross, if that is our calling? Will we embrace life and death, trusting all to the Father’s love, as Jesus did? Or will we turn away?

We cannot do it on our own. That is why Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit. In Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13) Let us pray: Lord Jesus, send us your Spirit that we might embrace your attitude of love and service. Help us to empty ourselves of selfishness and greed, of anger and untruth, of timidity and fear.

Help us to live in you. We ask this of the Father in Jesus’ Name and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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

October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Susan Piening

Belief in dignity, worth of every person part of who we are as Catholics Life experiences shape who we are and who we are to become. Early in my midwifery career I believed abortion was a woman’s “choice.” I knew I could never have an abortion, but felt I had no right to tell someone they had to have a baby.

As a nurse-midwife I occasionally counseled women who sought an abortion. I saw their fear, anguish and hopelessness and my heart broke for them.

Some were women I knew for years and I knew how difficult a choice it was for them. I knew they were good, loving women who were terrified.

They believed it was either their life or the baby’s life. I held their hand during the procedure. I knew exactly what was happening when the suction machine was turned on. A part of me died each time as I witnessed the end of an innocent human life and saw the anguish and regret on the mother’s face.

Over the years several experiences caused me to rethink my belief in “a woman’s choice.” The experience I remember most vividly was when I was examining a teenager who was five months pregnant and the baby kicked my hand. I asked, “Did you feel that? That’s the baby moving.” She and her boyfriend looked at me and said, “They said I could still get rid of it!” My heart broke and I thought, “What have we taught our children?”

I thought a great deal about that question. I had two small children at the time and thought about what I wanted to teach them and what the world taught them. I came to realize that abortion teaches our children that their very existence depends on someone thinking they are valuable and wanted. They have no intrinsic value unless someone more powerful gives them value. For that is what abortion does: it gives the power of life or death to another person, not to God. That is not the lesson I wanted to teach my children.

That was the last time I facilitated an abortion. It was also the beginning of my conversion to the Catholic faith.

Church teaching has and always will condemn abortion as intrinsically evil.

Good can never come from evil. The ends, no matter how much you want to believe they are good, can never justify evil means.

Cooperation with evil taints our soul and

‘Our dignity does not come from another person, but from God alone.’

separates us from God. I have to live with my choice – my cooperation in evil – but I will no longer remain silent. This election has reminded me how important it is to speak up for our children.

As a convert to the Catholic faith I learned that “God is love.” Jesus Christ came to save us not only by dying for our sins, but by showing us how to love; to show us what sacrificial love really means.

So I ask, where is love in abortion?

Where is love in the taking of innocent life?

Where is love in a mother willing the death of her child? It sounds harsh and ugly, but sometimes the truth is harsh and we must face the ugliness of our actions.

Abortion breeds confusion, despair and death, and not only for the innocent babies.

It lies to women, saying, “It’s like you were never pregnant.” But she knows the truth.

Abortion robs the woman the opportunity to love, to understand that true love and sacrifice go hand in hand. It robs the child of the opportunity to grow and become the person God created them to be. Abortion robs family and friends the opportunity to love the woman and child and to grow in compassion. Abortion robs us of our humanity and distorts us so we are no longer the image of God. We need to remember that our hope is with our children. It is not with you or me, but with the children, who are here now and those yet to be born. This lesson of hope and love is found at MiraVia on the campus of Belmont Abby College, a residence for single women attending college who choose to have their babies – to be countercultural, to choose life. It is a joy and privilege to spend time with these brave, strong young women who choose love and hope instead of despair and fear.

They are fully aware of the challenges they face and they do it with grace and dignity every day. Hope is here. Love is here. But not fear.

Hope and love are in the teachings of the Catholic Church. Catholic teaching on the sanctity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death are beautiful. Each of us has dignity and worth because we are created by God in His image and loved by Him. Our dignity does not come from another person, but from God alone. When we lose sight of this truth, we lose what makes us truly human: our ability to love and hope.

As Catholics, as Christians, as human beings, we need to believe in the dignity and worth of every person or we will not only cease to be Catholic, but cease to be fully human.

SUSAN PIENING holds a Masters of Science in Nursing from Columbia University, a master’s degree in theology from Holy Apostles Seminary and College in Cromwell, Conn., and is certified by the National Catholic Bioethics Center. She is a parishioner of St. Michael Church in Gastonia.

Most-read stories on the web

‘A different world is possible, and we are called to learn how to build it.’

Pope Francis

From online story: “Educational alliance needed to overcome inequality, division, pope says” Through press time on Oct. 21, 19,605 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 27,852 pages. The top 10 headlines in October so far have been: n Where to watch Mass online................................................................................................................ 1,441 n Eucharistic Adoration............................................................................................................................. 838 n Clergy appointments announced.........................................................................................................497 n The real presence of Christ in the Eucharist....................................................................................484 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald.........................................................267 n St. Lorenzo Ruiz: first Filipino saint and martyr............................................................................. 254 n ‘Walking with Moms in Need’ during COVID-19.................................................................................252 n St. Ignatius of Antioch ‘Catholic Church’ honored Oct. 1................................................................170 n Pet blessings held across the diocese in honor of St. Francis of Assisi..................................... 176 n Meditating on the rosary through music.............................................................................................169

Join the conversation online

facebook.com/ catholic newsherald

@CatholicNewsCLT

Diocese of Charlotte

Pinterest.com/ charlottecnh

Catholicnewsclt

Letters policy The Catholic News Herald welcomes letters from readers. We ask that letters be originals of 250 words or fewer, pertain to recent newspaper content or Catholic issues, and be written from a perspective of Christian charity.

To be considered for publication, each letter must include the name, address and daytime phone number of the writer for purpose of verification. Letters may be condensed due to space limitations and edited for clarity, style and factual accuracy.

The Catholic News Herald does not publish poetry, form letters or petitions. Items submitted to The Catholic News Herald become the property of the newspaper and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org Mail: Letters to the Editor

Catholic News Herald 1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203

20

catholicnewsherald.com | October 23, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHILDREN FROM PAGE 7

wrong but about helping children think more critically about their internet use. It also encourages parents to have conversations about sites their children visit and search terms they use. n Use “safe search” on all web browsers. While these are not foolproof, they can provide another layer of protection. n Many mobile devices today come with built-in parental controls that limit the kind of content and apps children can access on these devices. Make sure to use these.

Another concern parents need to be aware of is online sexual interactions. First is the increasingly widespread problem of “sexting” – sending sexually explicit messages, images or videos through text messaging, e-mail or social media. One study estimated that two-thirds of teens and young adults have received a “sext,” and 40 percent have sent one. Some programs allow a user to send pictures that “fade away” right after they are sent, making it harder for parents to keep tabs on their children’s activity. Children and teens may feel pressured into sending or receiving a “sext” by peers.

The second threat are online sexual predators. While there are many different predation scenarios, most of them boil down to adults (mostly men) preying upon common teenage vulnerabilities. Online predators primarily use social media to identify and groom their victims.

The fact is that there will probably always be both adults and teen peers out there who seek to manipulate and

DISTRIBUTION FROM PAGE 3

families during the crisis. The need for outreach was particularly acute because the coronavirus has disproportionately affected Hispanics, many of whom are classified as essential workers or are unable to work from home, and others who lack access to affordable health care.

Sister Joan noted, “The reality of doing this with outdated tech equipment (older than some of our class participants!) quickly revealed some major problems: We needed up-to-date and multiple-platformsenabled equipment. Some of us needed cameras to attach to old monitors just to Skype.”

“This grant equipment is essential in accomplishing our mission. And the designation of these funds for Hispanic Ministry is a very clear way to communicate support by the diocese to the People of God,” she said.

They hope to begin using the new equipment next month, she said.

“FFHL funds continue to go to the parishes, capital projects and endowments across the diocese,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development. “FFHL has had a significant impact on the work being done in parishes and in ministries

FFHL VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 8

empujado a todos a adaptar nuestros ministerios siguiendo las pautas de seguridad diocesana y de los CDC con respecto a cómo ministramos a los fieles. Creo que el equipo de coordinadores del Ministerio Hispano diocesano ha sido muy creativo en sus esfuerzos, que comenzamos a emplear a fines de marzo, cuando todavía estábamos en la Fase 1 de la orden de permanencia en casa del gobernador”.

Los miembros del equipo del Ministerio Hispano pudieron adaptarse a los desafíos provocados por la pandemia con una

misuse others for sexual pleasure and power. What parents must do is engender wisdom into their children so they aren’t easy targets. First, as emphasized above, speak with your children about the body and its sacredness. Teach them that we should keep certain parts of the body private, not because the body is bad or shameful, but because only your spouse should see you “naked and unashamed,” as Scripture says (Gen 2:25). Privacy affirms and protects the sacredness of the person and his or her body.

Also teach your children a healthy distrust of others online. This isn’t pessimism or paranoia; it is realism.

Your children need to know that if they choose to be vulnerable online, whether emotionally or sexually, that there are people out there who will take advantage of that. They might spread a sexy photo for others to see, blackmail the person with the photos later on, or use them as a means to try to bond with a vulnerable child.

Anyone can be flattering online, but real relationships blossom in face-to-face, honest interactions – not through manipulation.

5. Cultivate loving, trusting relationships with your children so they feel comfortable approaching you with questions about sexuality or sexual images they may have inadvertently seen.

Ephesians 6:4 says a father should bring up his children using “training” and “instruction.” These two activities encompass much of what the Bible says to parents about good parenting, namely providing an environment of structure and support. And of course this applies to mothers, too. As parents, when you provide your children with both structure and support, you will not be authoritarian (overly demanding with no warmth) or permissive (very responsive and warm with no

across the diocese that provide services to parishioners. This distribution from the Multicultural Ministry Endowment Fund is just one way these distributions will help the Hispanic Ministry staff do a more effective job serving others.”

The FFHL campaign launched in 2013 and has received $53.3 million in pledge payments to date.

Proceeds from the campaign have already been put to work, and all 92 parishes and missions have received funds. Four other main areas of the campaign have received significant funding so far: clergy support, Catholic education, Catholic outreach, and pastoral and temporal needs.

Campaign distributions total $43.1 million to date, including $15.5 million for FFHL’s seven endowments.

Your DSA contributions at work The diocesan Hispanic Ministry Office is funded in part by contributions to the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how you can contribute at www. charlottediocese.org/dsa.

transición bastante rápida y fluida de las actividades centradas en la iglesia a las redes sociales, podcasts, seminarios web y clases de videoconferencia para “mantener la fe” y fortalecer a las familias hispanas durante la crisis. La necesidad de alcanzar a la comunidad fue particularmente sensible porque el coronavirus ha afectado de manera desproporcionada a los hispanos, muchos de los cuales están clasificados como trabajadores esenciales o no pueden trabajar desde casa, y otros carecen de acceso a la atención médica asequible.

La hermana Joan señaló: “Hacer esto con equipos de tecnología obsoletos (más antiguos que algunos de nosotros) reveló rápidamente grandes problemas: Necesitábamos equipos actualizados y habilitados para múltiples plataformas.

expectations), but lovingly authoritative.

Permissive parents (all support, little structure) unwittingly train children to believe that their every whim and desire is good. These parents falsely believe that the best way to nurture a child’s character is through fewer rules and more familial love. While on the surface their approach appears loving and nurturing – especially compared to stricter parents – these indulgent parents raise children who easily wander into the minefield of sexual sin and have little experience with resisting temptation and desires.

On the other end of the spectrum, authoritarian parents (all structure, little support) train children to seek refuge anywhere but at home. These parents create an overly critical home devoid of affirmation and encouragement. Kids in these homes start to believe that their parents don’t care about them, or that they will never measure up to their standards. These legalistic parents unwittingly chase their children into the minefield of sexual sin.

But when parents give both strong structure and loving support to their children, they raise wise children who desire righteousness, and loved children who know they can turn to their parents for help and mercy. God is always ready to bestow mercy on us. Through loving interactions with a parent, children come to experience, and then learn to trust, in His mercy.

RYAN FOLEY is an internet safety consultant and vice president of business development for Covenant Eyes, an internet accountability and filtering service.

This article is part of the USCCB’s “Clean Heart” series and is a companion resource to the U.S. bishops’ 2015 pastoral statement “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.”

GUADALUPANA VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 8

reunión, los fieles pudieran congregarse para la oración. Ya desde agosto iniciaron las Misas presenciales únicamente con una Misa durante los días de semana a las seis de la mañana.

“Sabíamos que si se abrían las Misas con anterioridad iba a ser muy peligroso.

La comunidad se iba a volcar a la Iglesia e iba a generarse una situación muy riesgosa para ellos mismos. Teníamos que actuar con responsabilidad”, dijo el vicario.

Además de las Misas presenciales, aún se transmiten Misas online en su página de facebook los martes a las 7:30; miércoles, jueves y viernes al mediodía; sábado a las 6 de la tarde y domingo a las 8 de la mañana.

Respecto a esta respuesta de ofrecer Misa enline, el sacerdote explicó que se dió “como reacción a una necesidad para la que no estábamos preparados”.

“Supimos responder bien, fue providencial que en esos mismo días contratamos a una persona para que nos ayude con los temas de la tecnología. No sabemos lo que va a pasar. Si la necesidad persiste, la audiencia nos va a dictar

Algunos de nosotros necesitábamos cámaras para conectarlas a monitores antiguos solo para comunicarnos por Skype”.

“Este equipo es esencial para lograr nuestra misión. Y la designación de estos fondos para el Ministerio Hispano es una forma muy clara de comunicar el apoyo de la diócesis al Pueblo de Dios”, por lo que esperan comenzar a usar el nuevo equipo el próximo mes.

“Los fondos de FFHL continúan dirigiéndose a las parroquias, proyectos de capital y fundaciones en toda la diócesis”, dijo Jim Kelley, director diocesano de desarrollo. “FFHL ha tenido un impacto significativo en el trabajo que realizan las parroquias y ministerios de la diócesis que brindan servicios a los feligreses. Esta distribución del Fondo para Ministerios

el siguiente movimiento.

Pero, gracias a esto, nos hemos podido dar cuenta que estamos al servicio de toda la comunidad, no solo de la nuestra, sino que, de otras lejanas, en Estados Unidos, México y el mundo, que nos siguen en nuestras transmisiones. Con generosidad, nos sentimos honrados de brindar nuestro ministerio de comunicaciones a todo el mundo de habla hispana”.

La venta de sus viandas en la cafetería también se ha reanudado. “Los que preparan los alimentos siguen todas las reglas de seguridad. Se puede pasar y recoger, pero también consumir en el lugar pues las bancas se han separado siguiendo las normas de distanciamiento social”, aseguró el P. Medellín.

Más online En www.facebook.com/ NSGuadalupeCharlotte: Siga las Misas online y entérese del gran número de actividades de esta parroquia

Multiculturales es solo una de las formas en que estas donaciones ayudarán al personal del Ministerio Hispano a hacer un trabajo más eficaz en su servicio”.

La campaña FFHL, que se lanzó en 2013, ha recaudado $ 53.3 millones en compromisos de colaboración hasta la fecha.

Los fondos de la campaña ya se han puesto en acción y las 92 parroquias y misiones han recibido fondos. Otras cuatro áreas principales de la campaña han recibido financiación significativa hasta ahora: Apoyo al Clero, Educación Católica, Alcance Católico y para necesidades pastorales y temporales.

La distribución de la campaña totaliza $ 43.1 millones hasta la fecha, incluyendo $ 15.5 millones para siete fondos de la FFHL.