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October 23, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

Our parishes CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 3

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

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

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

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

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