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Arden’s ‘Deacon Mike’ passes away after cancer battle

FLETCHER — Deacon Michael LeVon Stout, 75, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020, from this life and is now in the presence of our Lord. He finished his fight with cancer peacefully in the afternoon surrounded by family.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 8, 2020, at St. Barnabas Church in Arden by Father Adrian Porras, pastor.

Deacon Mike, as he was better known by many, was born in South Bend, Ind., on May 14, 1944, to the late Elmer and Mary Loma (Hannah) Stout. At the tender age of 9, he lost his mother also to cancer, and then a

few years later his father remarried the former Nina Engel. He was a graduate of Central High School in South Bend. He met the love of his life, Cathie, and they were married in August 1965. He continued his education at Purdue University and majored in mechanical engineering – technology. Later, he went on to pursue a degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University-New Orleans.

He began his career working at Bendix in South Bend, moved on to Wheelabrator Frye in Mishawaka, and then transferred to Arden in June 1983 to work at Balcrank Products. While raising his family in the mountains of western North Carolina, he discovered a new passion for trout fishing and anything associated with being outside. He enjoyed his plants, gardening and helping others with anything they needed. He never met a stranger, always sharing a smile and a laugh that lit up any room.

He felt a calling to greater service in the Church and pursued his studies to become a permanent deacon. He was ordained a permanent deacon on June 10, 2006, and served at St. Barnabas Church. His many areas of service included presiding at weddings, baptisms and funerals. Other areas of outreach included prison ministry, visiting the sick and mentoring other deacon candidates, along with countless other tasks. In his 14 years of diaconate service, Deacon Mike took to heart his call to service. As a permanent deacon, Deacon Mike was a committed man whose faith was an example to others. He not only proclaimed the Gospel, but he lived the Gospel message and brought it to others with his wife Cathie always by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ron; and his brother-in-law, Kenny Cole.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Cathie; daughter, Mary Swanson; son, Darren (and wife Heather); grandchildren Jilian, Katie and Trey; sisters Barb (and husband Marcel) Landuit, and Christine Cole; sisters-in-law, Joyce Schrader and Pat Luczynski; brother-in-law, Norman Michaels; and many other relatives including aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to: St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Barnabas Catholic Church, P.O. Box 39, Arden, N.C. 28704; or Bridge Foundation (formerly CarePartners Hospice), P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, N.C. 28813.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian was in charge of the arrangements.

— Catholic News Herald Stout

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY PAULA COLEMAN AND FATHER THOMAS KESSLER St. Philip the Apostle dedicates new parish hall

STATESVILLE — With gratitude to Almighty God, after all the Masses on the weekend of Jan. 11-12, the parishioners of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville enjoyed an open house and blessed their new parish social hall. The facility has a seating capacity for 250 diners and includes a large commercial kitchen. The cornerstone of the building contains a quote from very generous and anonymous friends of the parish: “Not a donation but a contribution to the Kingdom of God.” Sacrificial contributions came from many parishioners, and other friends of the parish, to complete and pay off this Phase I of the parish’s Forward With Christ Building Campaign. The Parish Planning and Building Committee first met with Diocese of Charlotte officials in March 2015 and benefitted from their assistance, as well as that of Little Architectural Consulting and Messer Construction Co. An ambitious Forward With Christ Capital Campaign is now under way to raise $3.5 million for Phase II, a much-needed Activity & Education Center for the parish.

St. Pius X hosts educational ‘Celebration of Life’ event

GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — St. Pius X Church’s Purple Hat Ministry hosted a Celebration of Life event Jan. 28 featuring Room At The Inn and Cone Health Women’s Hospital.

The event was timed to coincide with the National Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children in January, and the U.S. bishops’ new initiative “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service” that marks the 25th anniversary of “Evangelium vitae.”

“At St. Pius X, respecting life is a way of life and we are overjoyed to witness the efforts for life within this parish,” said parishioner Tita Wofford.

“It’s a spectacular initiative, this is what we do,” said Krisan Walker, the parish’s community life chair. “We are thrilled to line up with this effort to ensure our parishioners are equipped to guide families in need to our local community partners.” The event featured a talk by Dr. Sue Pedaline, parishioner and CNO of Cone Health Women’s Hospital (soon to be Cone Health Women’s and Children’s Center), about the impacts of a the “Period of PURPLE Crying” an evidence-based educational program designed to educate parents on the dangers of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Parents learn healthy ways to respond to their new babies during these times of inconsolable crying and St. Pius X parishioners are enthusiastic supporters of the program. They donate knitted and crocheted hats – close to 10,000 purple hats since 2010 – that are then distributed during Period of PURPLE Crying parenting classes at the hospital.

“Infant abuse from head trauma from shaking is one form of abuse we can prevent,” said Walker.

“What stood out for me is the difference one person can make,” Pedaline said, referring to the love each knitter pours

GEORGIANNA PENN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD During a pro-life event Jan. 28, St. Pius X parishioners donated 168 knitted baby hats for Cone Health Women’s Hospital’s “Period of PURPLE Crying” educational effort to prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.

into each handmade purple hat. She thanked Walker, who along with ministry leader Lupina Doyle helped start the purple hat ministry 10 years ago during a Living Your Strengths class at St. Pius X. Walker, who has worked in foster care and mental health for years, knows the devastation that can occur from shaking. Out of the babies admitted to a hospital with Shaken Baby Syndrome, 30 percent die and 35 percent have lifelong disabilities. The Period of PURPLE Crying program has been implemented in more than 2,000 organizations in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Israel, Australia, North Korea and the Cayman Islands. Studies show a 35 percent decline in children being admitted to the emergency room for shaking-related injuries in hospitals that implement this program.

At Cone Health, Pedaline notes, “it is required…because of the impact on patient safety.”

This life-saving program is directly in line with the U.S. bishops’ new “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service” initiative because “if a baby is shaken and something horrible happens, DSS is called,” Walker points out. “And if there’s other children in the family, they might be given to another relative to raise or they might come in to foster care. So the reach goes beyond the infant who is getting this hat – it is for an entire family.”

Marianne Donadio, Room At The Inn’s vice president of development, thanked St. Pius X Church for “walking with” the mothers Room At the Inn has assisted over the years.

Some mothers have a background of extreme poverty, Donadio said, and “many of them have been chronically homeless themselves.” There is often a history of domestic violence, substance abuse or mental illness, as well. “It’s really quite terrifying, so to choose life in that situation, you have to be quite heroic,” she said. Pro-life work, she noted, is “most effective when we provide support while mothers are pregnant, when they’re trying to choose life and then for years afterwards. It’s a matter of helping them succeed long-term.” Learn more

Pregnant and parenting moms in need are in our parishes and our neighborhoods. As Pope Francis reminds us, our parishes need to be “islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Everyone in the parish community should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need.

The 25th anniversary year of “Evangelium vitae” is an opportunity to assess, expand and communicate resources to pregnant moms and families in need. Parishes are invited to join the nationwide effort from March 25, 2020, to March 25, 2021, entitled: “Walking with Moms in Need: A Year of Service.” Go to www.usccb.org/about/pro-lifeactivities/walking-with-moms-in-need.cfm to learn more.