April 15, 2020

April 15, 2020

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Be ‘His messengers of peace, hope, encouragement’ amid distress of current pandemic, bishop preaches during unprecedented Holy Week liturgies 8-10 SPECIAL COVERAGE: THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

CCHS creating critical PPE for health care workers 5

Sewing for safety SPX ministry turns needles and threads into helping others during pandemic

5

RCIA programs, Campus Ministry adjust during pandemic Elect now hope to enter Church at Pentecost

6

Our faith

catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Divine Mercy Sunday: April 19 Pope Francis

Flush the lies from one’s heart to see God

S

eeing and growing closer to God require purifying one’s heart from the sins and prejudices that distort reality and blind people to God’s active and real presence, Pope Francis said.

This means renouncing evil and opening one’s heart to letting the Holy Spirit be one’s guide, the pope said April 1 during a live broadcast of his weekly general audience from the library of the Apostolic Palace.

The pope also recalled that April 2 marked the 15th anniversary of the death of St. John Paul II. The pope told Polish-speaking viewers that during these “difficult days we are living through, I encourage you to trust in Divine Mercy and in the intercession of St. John Paul II.” In his main talk, the pope continued his series on the Eight Beatitudes by reflecting on the sixth beatitude, “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” “To see God, you don’t need to change your glasses or your vantage point or change theological authors who teach the way. What is needed is to free the heart from its deceptions. This is the only path,” he said.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not recognize Jesus, because, as he told them, they were foolish and “slow of heart” to believe all that the prophets had said. Being blind to Christ comes from a heart that is “foolish and slow,” closed to the Spirit and content with one’s own perceptions, he said.

“When we realize that our worst enemy often is hidden in our heart” then one experiences a “maturation” in faith.

The most “noble” of battles, he said, is the one against the lies and deceptions inside oneself that lead to sin, he said.

“Sins change our inner vision, the evaluation of things, they make you see things that are not true or that at least are not ‘that’ true,” he said.

Cleansing and purifying the heart, then, is a lifelong process of renunciation and liberating oneself from the evil inside one’s heart, making room, instead, for the Lord. It means recognizing the ugly and evil parts inside oneself and letting one’s life be led and taught by the Holy Spirit, he added.

Seeing God also means being able to see him in creation, how he is working in one’s life, in the sacraments and in others, especially those who are poor and suffering, Pope Francis said.

“It is serious work and above all it is God at work in us -- during the trials and purifications of life -- that leads to great joy, and true and profound peace.”

“Do not be afraid. Let us open the doors of our hearts to the Holy Spirit so he may cleanse them” and ultimately lead people to the fullness of joy and peace in heaven.

‘Who can say that he is free from sin and does not need God’s mercy? As people of this restless time of ours, wavering between the emptiness of selfexaltation and the humiliation of despair, we have a greater need than ever for a regenerating experience of mercy.’

St. John Paul II “Regina Coeli” message, April 10, 1994 “Divine Mercy” by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski

Mankind’s need for the message of Divine Mercy took on dire urgency in the 20th century, when civilization began to experience an “eclipse of the sense of God” and, therefore to lose the understanding of the sanctity and inherent dignity of human life. In the 1930s, Jesus chose a humble Polish nun, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, to receive private revelations concerning Divine Mercy that were recorded in her Diary. St. John Paul II explains: “This was precisely the time when those ideologies of evil, nazism and communism, were taking shape. Sister Faustina became the herald of the one message capable of off-setting the evil of those ideologies, that fact that God is mercy – the truth of the merciful Christ. And for this reason, when I was called to the See of Peter, I felt impelled to pass on those experiences of a fellow Pole that deserve a place in the treasury of the universal Church” St. John Paul II, “Memory and Identity” (2005).

In his second encyclical, “Rich in Mercy,” St. John Paul II offered an extended meditation on the mystery of God’s mercy, which he calls “the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God.” He returned to this theme throughout his pontificate.

On May 5, 2000, five days after the canonization of St. Faustina, the Vatican decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter would henceforth be known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

The devotion to Divine Mercy Sunday grew rapidly after its designation by the pope and is now widely celebrated by Catholics. The Divine Mercy image is often carried in processions on Divine Mercy Sunday, and is placed in a location in the church so that it can be venerated by those who attend the Mass.

John Paul II, who died in April 2005 on the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, was himself beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011, by his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, and was canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday, April 27, 2014, by Pope Francis.

— USCCB

How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet The Chaplet of Divine Mercy was given to St. Faustina with this promise: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you” (Diary, 1541). “Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death. … Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy. I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy” (Diary, 687). The Divine Mercy Chaplet is prayed using a rosary: Step 1: Begin with the Sign of the Cross, then say one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the Apostles Creed. An optional opening prayer is: “You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.” Then repeat three times: “O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You!”

Don’t miss it!

Step 2: Then on the beads where with the rosary you would pray an Our Father, say the following: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.”

Step 3: On each of the 10 Hail Mary beads, say the following: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all five decades.

Step 4: Conclude by saying the following three times: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.” An optional closing prayer is: “Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will offer Mass on Divine Mercy Sunday at 10 a.m. The private Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte will be streamed live on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: www.youtube. com/dioceseof charlotte

Daily Scripture readings APRIL 12-18

Sunday (The Resurrection of the Lord): Acts 10:34, 37-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9; Monday: Acts 2:14, 22-33, Matthew 28:8-15; Tuesday: Acts 2:36-41, John 20:1118; Wednesday: Acts 3:1-10, Luke 24:13-35; Thursday: Acts 3:11-26, Luke 24:35-48; Friday: Acts 4:1-12, John 21:1-14; Saturday: Acts 4:13-21, Mark 16:9-15

APRIL 19-25

Sunday (Divine Mercy Sunday): Acts 2:42-47, 1 Peter 1:3-9, John 20:19-31; Monday: Acts 4:23-31, John 3:1-8; Tuesday (St. Anselm): Acts 4:32-37, John 3:7-15; Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26, John 3:16-21; Thursday (St. George, St. Adalbert): Acts 5:27-33, John 3:31-36; Friday (St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen): Acts 5:34-42, John 6:1-15; Saturday (St. Mark): 1 Peter 5:5b-14, Mark 16:15-20

APRIL 26-MAY 2

Sunday: Acts 2:14, 22-33, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Luke 24:13-35; Monday: Acts 6:8-15, John 6:22-29; Tuesday (St. Peter Chanel, St. Louis Grignion de Montfort): Acts 7:51-8:1, John 6:30-35; Wednesday (St. Catherine of Siena): Acts 8:1-8, John 6:35-40; Thursday (St. Pius V): Acts 8:26-40, John 6:44-51; Friday (St. Joseph the Worker): Acts 9:1-20, John 6:52-59; Saturday (St. Athanasius): Acts 9:31-42, John 6:60-69

Our parishes

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief

Deacon Gary Schrieber leads participants in praying the rosary during the Catholic Men’s Conference at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.

The day included Eucharistic Adoration, the sacrament of confession, Mass and talks. Rev. Msgr.

Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, celebrates Mass at the conference, assisted

by Deacon Schrieber.

Thomasville parish aids food pantries THOMASVILLE — Now in its sixth year, the food collection ministry at Our Lady of the Highways Church continues to be a great success, collecting 22,972 pounds of food and $13,033 to-date to aid the Cooperative Community Ministry and the Fairgrove Family Resource Center.

The food ministry started in 2015 through the efforts of Pat and Joan White (pictured), who felt the call for the church to help those in need in the Thomasville area. The once-monthly food collections take place at all the Masses one weekend each month.

— Joe Thornton, correspondent

PHOTOS PROVIDED

BY JAMES SARKIS

Catholic Men’s Conference ‘a tremendous success’ SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

Hibernians receive proclamation HUNTERSVILLE — Members of the St. Brendan the Navigator Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians recently were presented with a proclamation from the Town of Huntersville, which proclaimed March 2020 as Irish-American Heritage Month to recognize the significant economic and cultural contributions to the United States by Irish-American citizens. The AOH is a Catholic-Irish fraternal organization whose goals are to promote friendship, unity and Christian charity; foster and perpetuate Irish history, culture and traditions; and to protect and defend all life. To learn more, go to www.aohmeck2.org. Pictured are AOH members Seamus Curry, Shane Lis, Bernard Holst, Paul Mescall, Ray FitzGerald, Mayor Aneralla and Steve Witmer receiving the proclamation from Huntersville Mayor John Aneralla.

— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

Parish assists college seminarian BOONE — The Knights of Columbus Council at St. Elizabeth Church recently presented Michael Camilleri, a parishioner and college seminarian, with a donation in support of his formation.

Pictured with him are Wally Lewis, Grand Knight, Father Brendan Buckler, pastor, and Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent

CHARLOTTE — Prior to statewide stay-at-home orders and diocesan closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 10th annual Catholic Men’s Conference provided area Catholics the opportunity to grow in faith and ask themselves, “What are you looking at?”

The all-day men’s conference March 7 at St. Matthew Church included a keynote address by Father Larry Richards; Mass celebrated by Rev. Msgr. Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese; Eucharistic Adoration; the opportunity to receive the sacrament of confession; and the praying of the rosary.

“In all it was a tremendous success with over 500 men present including attendees, seminarians, priests, deacons and vendors,” said Jason Murphy, one of the conference organizers. “The confessional lines were full throughout the day and men were present from all across the state and even from South Carolina.”

Murphy noted that during his keynote address, Father Richards “reinforced the importance of men leading their families and be willing to die for them. And if they are not praying and living lives of virtue for their families, then they are in fact killing them and not giving them life.”

“Men need to step away from what society is trying to tell them who they are and be the men Christ is calling them to,” Murphy added.

Chris Cona, a parishioner of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, said “a real sense of ‘philos’ (Greek for brotherhood) permeated all the events. In my experience this is almost impossible to experience at such a large event… The lines for confession looked like something from Disney World. Encouraging to see.”

Deacon Gary Schrieber of St. Matthew Church has attended several of the local men’s conferences over the years. “I went to my first conference a few years back at St. Matthew and I loved it. Since then, I make it a point to attend and to try and bring at least one guest. This year, my (adult) son attended with me again.”

Deacon Schrieber assisted Monsignor Winslow at Mass and also led the men in praying the rosary after lunch.

“It’s good to see so many men in the diocese interested in growing in their faith – just as I am,” he said.

“This conference challenges me in some ways: ‘Am I the best me that I can be? And am I doing what God wants me to be doing?’ It also supports and encourages me in other ways. I am here doing God’s will by the many things that I do and that I’m involved with,” Deacon Schrieber added.

“The most important thing of all is: we are doing this together as a community of men, fathers, brothers and friends,” he explained. “We come together as disciples

of Christ and we are not much different from the first disciples. Not perfect, but always looking to be better and to grow. This conference helps in doing just that.”

Mark your calendar Next year the Catholic Men’s Conference will be held March 20 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte. It will feature Bishop Peter Jugis as main celebrant at Mass, Dr. William Thierfelder of Belmont Abbey College as keynote speaker, and Dr. John Aquaviva, professor, author and speaker as master of ceremonies. More information is online at www. catholicmenofthecarolinas.org.

Online Masses 4

catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

April 15, 2020 Volume 29 • NUMBER 14

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 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:

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE: 11 a.m. Sunday

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH, KING: 11 a.m. English; 1:30 p.m Spanish Sunday

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

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

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

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org

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

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

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

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

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

ST. MARY MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA

DIVINE REDEEMER CHURCH, BOONVILLE: 9 and 11 a.m.

Sunday

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

GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org

ST. MARY CHURCH, GREENSBORO ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, GASTONIA

STAFF

HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE

ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, GASTONIA: 10:30 a.m. Sunday

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

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

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12 p.m. daily; 9 a.m. Sunday

ST. MARGARET MARY CHURCH, SWANNANOA

BELMONT ABBEY MONASTERY: 11 a.m. daily

HOLY INFANT CHURCH, REIDSVILLE: 9 a.m. Sunday

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

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY: 9 a.m. daily ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, HICKORY: 9 a.m. daily; 11 a.m.

Sunday English; 1 p.m. Sunday Spanish ST. ANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

(Latin Mass) Sunday

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 10 a.m.

Monday-Friday and Sunday ST. STEPHEN MISSION, ELKIN: 9 a.m. Sunday ST. THERESE CHURCH, MOORESVILLE ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 9 a.m. daily; 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 RECORDED MASSES 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:

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, GREENSBORO ST. STEPHEN MISSION, ELKIN ST. STEPHEN MARONITE CATHOLIC CHURCH, CHARLOTTE ST. THERESE CHURCH, MOORESVILLE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE MISAS LOCALES EN ESPAÑOL Las siguientes parroquias ofrecen misas en vivo o grabadas cada semana. Un horario actualizado está en línea en www.catholicnewsherald.com, o comuníquese con su parroquia para más detalles: OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8 a.m. Domingo

ST. BASIL THE GREAT EASTERN CATHOLIC CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 11 a.m. Sunday

GOOD SHEPHERD MISSION, KING

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM: 9 a.m. English; 2 p.m. Spanish

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH, FOREST CITY

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 9 a.m.

Sunday in English and 10 a.m. Sunday in Spanish

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, HIGH POINT

ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM: 1:30 p.m. Domingo

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE

ST. JAMES THE GREATER CHURCH, CONCORD

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH, WAYNESVILLE, AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION, CANTON

OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO

ST. LUKE CHURCH, MINT HILL: 1 p.m. Domingo

SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY

ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE: 1 p.m. Domingo

ST. LUKE CHURCH, MINT HILL: 9 and 11 a.m. Sunday in English; 1 p.m. Sunday bilingual; 4:30 p.m. Sunday

ST. EUGENE CHURCH, ASHEVILLE

ST. MARY MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA: 7 p.m.

Domingo

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. GABRIEL CHURCH, CHARLOTTE

HOLY CROSS CHURCH, KERNERSVILLE

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, LENOIR ST. LAWRENCE BASILICA, ASHEVILLE ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, HICKORY: 1 p.m. Domingo

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

Seek the intercession of St. Roch, St. Rosalie CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis is encouraging the people of the Diocese of Charlotte to pray for the intercession of St. Roch and St. Rosalie to end the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

Most public Masses and all parish activities remain canceled across western North Carolina, and all 19 diocesan schools have now shifted to online classes only, as part of the community’s response to the public health threat.

During a special videotaped Mass offered March 15, Bishop Jugis encouraged the faithful to pray to St. Roch and St. Rosalie to “deliver us from the current attack and subsequent suffering we are enduring from the coronavirus.”

St. Roch, who is believed to have been born in France and lived in Italy in the 1300s, cared for the victims of the plague in Italy.

He contracted the plague but survived, and many healings were attributed to him. He is the patron saint of invalids. His feast day is Aug. 16.

St. Rosalie was born in Sicily and lived during the mid-1100s. In her youth she left her home and lived in a cave, giving her life

to God. She died alone in a cave near Palermo in 1166.

In 1624 a plague hit Palermo and St. Rosalie appeared to a sick woman and a hunter and instructed him to the place where her body was buried.

St. Rosalie told him to have her bones processed around the city three times to end the plague.

The plague ceased, and her feast day is celebrated Sept. 4.

The following prayer to the two saints is suggested:

St. Roch

“Merciful Father, through the intercession of Blessed Mary, St. Roch, and St. Rosalie, deliver us from the current attack and subsequent suffering we are enduring from the coronavirus.

May we seek to assist those in need in body or

St. Rosalie spirit and ourselves turn away from sin and trust in You. We ask this in the name of the Divine Physician, Jesus Christ Our Lord.”

— Catholic News Herald. CatholicOnline contributed.

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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SPECIAL COVERAGE: THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Sewing for safety SPX ministry turns needles and threads into helping others during pandemic GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

Dr. Leo Maganares, professor of engineering at CCHS in Charlotte, models one of the PPE sets that CCHS is producing to protect local health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CCHS

CCHS creating critical PPE for health care workers SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Catholic High School community has a reputation for helping others, especially during times of hardship. Now, the high school is responding to the local need to equip health care workers who are fighting the COVID-19 pandemic with personal protection equipment (PPE).

In late March, a student informed school staff that parents in the school community who are health care workers were in need of PPE to do their jobs safely. The student suggested CCHS join the fight against COVID-19 by printing 3D masks at the school.

Staff immediately responded to Principal Kurt Telford’s call for action.

Dr. Leo Maganares, CCHS engineering professor, and Joann Keane, photography and digital media instructor, have teamed up on the 3D printing project.

“Joann and I made different designs using AutoCAD and on March 25 we tested the first 3D printed models,” Maganares said.

“It takes approximately four hours to create one full set of face shield and facemask. We use two 3D printers for each set. It takes approximately three and a half hours to print a face shield and four hours to print a facemask,” he explained.

Several other faculty, staff and parents are helping them with the project. Health care workers who are members of the CCHS community will receive the PPE at the high school at a designated time.

“The production will be an ongoing process and the sets will be delivered in increments to meet the urgent needs of our community.

We anticipate to reach 1,000 sets by the end of April,” Maganares said.

Grants from the CCHS Foundation and the CCHS Alumni Association will provide essential funding for the project and enable them to buy more 3D printers to produce 2,000 sets of PPE at a cost of $11.25 per set.

Maganares noted, “The purpose of our action has many angles.

First, we are a Catholic school and we stand by our brothers and sisters in need. Second, we are educators, and we have a moral responsibility to show our students that CCHS is an active family in the community, and, last and foremost, as Americans we never quit.”

Maganares believes the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for students to get involved as citizens in their community. “Challenging times bring people closer and make them more responsible and considerate,” he said.

“I am grateful to the Charlotte Catholic Foundation and the Charlotte Catholic Alumni Association for their generosity,” Telford said. “Dr. Leo has quietly and without fanfare spent many hours setting up and monitoring the production process. It is an example of what the greater Catholic community does when there is a need.”

Added Keane, “As we celebrate the Year of St. Joseph, the builder, in some small way are we continuing his mission with 21st century tools to build, create and help our community, our family in faith.”

GREENSBORO — Members of a knitting ministry at St. Pius X Church and others are using their creative talents to sew fabric face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The parish’s Purple Hat Ministry typically knits purple hats for newborns and donates them to a local hospital for new parents to receive along with information about preventing Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Hospital visits and parenting classes have been curtailed as the community fights the coronavirus pandemic, however, so ministry members have exchanged their knitting needles for sewing needles to help others in need right now.

“When all this started, I didn’t know what I could do to help,” says Mary Ellen Liebal, a middle school math teacher at St. Pius X and Purple Hat Ministry member. “In addition to staying at home, this is something I can do.”

The ministry has already sewn almost 100 fabric face masks and donated them to community groups including Room At The Inn, a pro-life maternity home in Greensboro.

“The biggest thing anyone can do right now to help the most people is to just stay at home,” says Marianne Donadio, vice president of marketing at Room At The Inn. “This often feels like we are doing nothing and we want to do more.

“The ladies from St. Pius found a way to use their talents at home to make masks to help keep our moms and children safe,” Donadio says. “It’s these little acts of love that help our clients feel cared about, and that makes all the difference in the world. We are very grateful.”

Hospice of Rockingham County in Reidsville also received masks for people to use when visiting their sick and dying family members.

The Purple Hat Ministry has also donated masks to: • Alberta Professional Services, which provides mental health services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through group homes and community-based services, and Professional Rehabilitation Consultants, a similar St. Pius X community partner that serves disabled adults in group homes.

• Triad Goodwill for its readiness effort, “Masks for Heroes.” Goodwill has already had requests for masks from High Point Medical Center, LifeSource Inc., Guilford County Schools for bus drivers delivering food and Novant Health, Inc. “We are truly grateful to be affiliated with St. Puis X Catholic Church that values the lives of people that generally are marginalized due to society’s perception of value,” said Mashunda Famble, owner of Professional Rehabilitation Consultants. “This church breathes life into the concept of accessibility to all and truly acting in servitude which is what God requires. To some it may be just a protective mask but to us it is a lifeline.”

“In times like this, Jesus always calls us to help the sick,” says Krisan Walker, St. Pius X parishioner and chair of the St. Pius X Community Life Committee.

“In times like this, when we feel hopeless, it is extremely empowering to be able to help others, which can improve our own spiritual and mental health and outlook. It is really one big circle.”

Public health officials advise people to wear a cloth mask when they must go out in public, but they also caution that face masks are not a

substitute for washing your hands and social distancing in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. People are advised to reserve available surgical masks and N95 respirators for health care workers and others on the front lines of combating the pandemic.

It’s not just the core members of the group from the parish – a pre-med North Carolina State student

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Pictured at her sewing machine are Nivida Murphy, St. Pius X parishioner and retired nurse, and some of the cloth face masks the parish’s Purple Hat Ministry is making for local community groups.

contacted the parish and expressed interest in making masks with the group.

Jenny Iruela, who is at home and completing the semester through online classes, has discovered her parents’ old sewing machine and is also pitching in.

“I have been thinking of ways I could contribute to COVID-19 prevention and community relief. I thought this would be a perfect way to contribute to my community by sewing these cloth masks and distributing them to people who are in dire need of protection,” Iruela says.

St. Pius X’s pastor, Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, says the ministry’s work is a reflection of the Church’s pro-life work.

“Mother Teresa used to advocate that little things done with great love can make the difference, in this case it’s little things done for life out of love that’s making a difference. Truly all of our preventive health measures and even our social distancing can be seen as a manifestation of our commitment to protect and defend the gift of life.”

How you can get involved There are many resources online for making cloth masks and donating them to groups in need. One pattern is online at www.deaconess.com/How-to-make-a-FaceMask.

CDC guidance on how to wear cloth face masks is at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/ diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SPECIAL COVERAGE: THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Catholic schools switch Catholic Charities recipient of COVID-19 Response Fund grant to online learning amid COVID-19 pandemic SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of Catholic school students have been taking classes and completing assignments online since mid-March, when the Diocese of Charlotte’s 19 schools switched to remote instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In-school classes were suspended and extracurricular activities were canceled when Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order March 14 closing public schools across the state.

Online instruction continued until April 8, when schools closed as originally scheduled for the Easter holiday and spring break. After classes resume April 20, school leaders expect to continue online learning but will “monitor the evolving situation and consider the opportunity to resume normal classroom operations if public health restrictions are lifted or relaxed,” Interim Superintendent Debbie Mixer said.

The near-overnight conversion from in-school to virtual learning has gone well, school leaders say.

“We are a work in progress, but are very happy to report that teaching and learning have continued at Charlotte Catholic,” said Charlotte Catholic High School’s principal, Kurt Telford. “Our environment is very collaborative to begin with, and now even more so as we receive valuable feedback from faculty, staff, parents and our students. One parent recently commented that her students ‘haven’t missed a beat.’”

“Departments are working together to solve any issues that arise, collaborating as we go along to best serve our students so that they can continue to learn,” Telford added.

Schools have used online discussion boards, closed YouTube live classes, Google Meets, and their websites and social media to keep everyone connected.

Sacred Heart School in Salisbury has been sharing its morning assembly online via Facebook for staff, students and families. Each weekday assembly broadcast from the school gymnasium has included a Scripture reading, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, song and announcements.

Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, launched the school’s first remote morning assembly March 30.

“I am so glad to be with you all. I wish I could see you in person. A virtual ‘high five’ to you all,” Father Eckert said. He then reminded the students of the virtue they were last learning about at school: docility.

“Remember, ‘docility’ means you are willing to be taught, that you are willing to learn. We are in a new circumstance. We all have to be docile and continue to learn in new circumstances,” he told them.

Father Eckert also encouraged students to practice their favorite virtue of the year, magnanimity, saying: “It means ‘big soul, ready to do great things.’ Today when you are learning at home, be ready to practice some ‘magnanimity.’ Do some great things for your parents, your brothers, your sisters. Have a great day at home!”

On April 5, Sacred Heart parent Tanya Restar shared on the school’s Facebook page that her daughter, in participating in her first-grade online Zoom class, had “incorporated her lesson on learning time with ‘only 5 more minutes’! Thank you, she loves this time to see her friends and the best teachers!”

“Our students, teachers and families are doing a phenomenal job of adjusting to the remote learning platform and are finding new and creative ways to facilitate daily learning. This is a challenging time for us all, but our faith will sustain us!” Mixer said.

CHARLOTTE — More than $3 million has been awarded to 51 local nonprofits in the second round of grants from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund, including $40,000 to Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte.

To date, more than $6 million has been granted to nonprofits meeting basic needs for those affected by the pandemic, such as education, housing, food, employment, financial assistance, health and mental health.

Catholic Charities received $40,000 to provide rental assistance for 50 vulnerable households.

“Although there are some temporary provisions in place to prevent evictions during this pandemic, the reality is that eventually rents will need to be paid.

Those impacted by job loss or a reduction

in wages due to COVID-19 will still be in a bind once evictions are enforced,” said Dr. Gerard Carter, Catholic Charities’ executive director. “Catholic Charities is proud to partner with so many other community agencies by providing relief to those struggling to maintain their homes until things begin to normalize.”

Since the Charlotte-Mecklenburg COVID-19 Response Fund was launched March 16, over $16 million has been raised from corporations, foundations, individuals and local government.

“These grants will assist a wide variety of nonprofit organizations across the county to meet escalating needs in the face of this unprecedented crisis,” said United Way of Central Carolinas President and CEO Laura Yates Clark.

“To date, we’ve made 65 grants to

nonprofits from this fund, and it’s just the beginning,” said Foundation For The Carolinas President and CEO Michael Marsicano. “We do not know what our demands will be in a week or a month.

This is why we continue to fund-raise for the COVID-19 Response Fund – to help our friends and neighbors in need.”

The next cycle of funding will open April 20 at 10 a.m. and close May 1 at noon. Visit www.uwcentralcarolinas. org/grants/COVID for eligibility requirements and to apply.

The COVID-19 Response Fund is administered through a partnership between Foundation For The Carolinas and United Way of Central Carolinas, in close coordination with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.

— Catholic News Herald

YOUR DSA CONTRIBUTIONS AT WORK

Campus Ministry, RCIA programs adjust during pandemic Elect now hope to enter Church at Pentecost SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Because churches have canceled public Masses and large events in response to the pandemic, the date for receiving people into the Church – including many college students who have been supported by Catholic Campus Ministry – has been pushed back.

Baptisms, first Holy Communions and confirmations for candidates and catechumens, usually held during Easter Vigil liturgies, have been postponed until Pentecost on May 31, assuming that public health restrictions are lifted.

“The vigils of Easter and Pentecost are linked, bound together by the fulfillment of the Paschal mystery and the birth of the Church,” explained Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese. “It is a fitting time to administer the sacraments and receive new members into the Church.”

Catholic Campus Ministry at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee and at UNC-Greensboro have been preparing 15 students to enter the Church. Like parishes, they had a number ready to be received at the Easter Vigil.

But since universities closed due to the coronavirus, continuing RCIA formation has changed to virtual classes and one-on-one sessions.

“The coronavirus has certainly presented us with challenges, not only in how we provide for the formation of our students, but also in the practical aspect of administering the sacraments to them,” said Deacon Matthew Newsome, campus minister at Western Carolina.

Of the nine people in his RCIA program, three were to receive the sacraments of initiation at Easter.

As the situation evolved, “it became apparent that Easter reception would not be possible, and my focus shifted to, ‘How can I assure them that they haven’t been

forgotten about?’” Deacon Newsome said.

He said he has always had a flexible approach to RCIA in campus ministry, because the students he works with have schedules that don’t fit easily within a typical parish RCIA program.

That made it easy for him to adapt to remote meetings, though it “is still no

‘We have all stayed connected to each other well, and I still feel like I am learning just as much.’

Brianna Sheagley RCIA candidate

substitute for in-person gatherings, where we can pray together and communicate more openly.”

He has been keeping in touch with more frequent emails, updating students about the Church’s response to the pandemic, and giving them ways to continue to engage in their newfound faith from home.

Amy Kalayjian, who is pursuing her master’s degree at WCU, met Deacon Newsome last semester. She had been attending Mass for several years, but was not able to participate in a Campus Ministry program as an undergraduate.

“I had never had a very strong spiritual upbringing, and I never felt a strong connection to any religion or any major motivation to pursue a spiritually fulfilled life,” she said.

She started attending Mass with her parents as a senior in high school and felt drawn to the Church, its teachings, its approach to prayer and worship, and its charity work. Her mother converted while Kalayjian was an undergraduate.

A hard part of her journey had been attending Mass regularly – “really integrating that into my life when I hadn’t done that for years” – and

then having Mass taken away due to COVID-19 pandemic, she said. The transition to remote RCIA has also been challenging, she said, but Deacon Newsome has done a good job of keeping everyone on track.

Gregg Cecconi, campus minister at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and two other Greensboro-area colleges, said that before the pandemic closures, he and RCIA candidates met once a week either at the Smith Campus Ministries Center at UNC-G or at St. Pius X Parish with its RCIA group. Now they are using GroupMe, a group messaging app, Google Hangouts for online sessions, as well as online materials from Symbolon, Word on Fire and the St. Paul Center, and YouTube videos from Father Casey Cole, OFM. Brianna Sheagley, a senior in UNCG’s computer science program, was excited about entering the Church at the Easter Vigil. She had attended several Protestant churches before finding out about Catholic Campus Ministry. Despite feeling close to God, she said she never found a place that felt like home. Sheagley says she “prayed for God to show me where He wanted me to go. … I knew He wanted me to go somewhere.”

At the beginning of last semester, she was walking through the Elliott University Center when she saw a big banner: “Catholics on Campus.” She mentioned it to her mother, who found the Campus Ministry’s website and encouraged her daughter to check it out.

“I saw a mention of the Catholic Lounge on the website at the beginning of the semester, so I decided to just go there and study and see how I felt about it,” Sheagley said.

She also got to know Cecconi, who she said was “kind and open with me.

He is so easy to talk to, easier to talk to than any other person I have met. He told me about RCIA, and I felt totally safe in just being honest about what questions or hesitations I had when it came to the idea of joining.”

Cecconi assured her the focus would RCIA, SEE PAGE 7

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

7

SPECIAL COVERAGE: THE CHURCH RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

All seminarians return to diocese, continue studies online

RCIA

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

FROM PAGE 6

be on learning and there would be no pressure to convert.

Sheagley says she found herself fitting in with the UNC-G Catholics and felt God’s presence strongly in the Catholic realm, so she thought “the natural next step” would be RCIA. Going online has required some mental adjustments, she said.

“But it hasn’t been too hard because Gregg and Lindsay Kohl from St. Pius Church have been so good at keeping up with us RCIA candidates,” she said.

She gets email updates and can email questions, which are answered quickly, sometimes over a video call. “We have all stayed connected to each other well, and I still feel like I am learning just as much,” Sheagley said. “So although the circumstances are different than what anyone could have expected, I think the transition is being handled very well and I am happy to be an RCIA candidate during this time.”

How to contribute to the DSA The Catholic Campus Ministry and RCIA programs are among those funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.

CHARLOTTE — The COVID-19 pandemic has forced seminaries to close and send seminarians back to their home dioceses, including those from the Diocese of Charlotte.

The diocese’s seminarians who have been studying in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and in Rome are now continuing their coursework online, and the men enrolled at St. Joseph College Seminary are continuing with virtual classes through Belmont Abbey College.

Two of the diocese’s transitional deacons, scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood June 20, recently talked with the Catholic News Herald about their current circumstances.

Deacon Jonathan Torres recently returned from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and is staying near St. Mark Church in Huntersville with fellow seminarians Camilo Salas-Bowen and Kevin Tran. Besides taking classes through video conferencing, he has been helping out at the parish, assisting at Mass and offering Benediction after Eucharistic Adoration.

“It’s been a bit surreal, especially in my final months before my priestly ordination,” he says, having to shift gears especially during the final months of study before his priestly ordination.

“I had imagined leaving seminary in May with more finality or closure, so this sudden move back to Charlotte has been jarring, to say the least. Things like my graduation, and celebratory events that we do at the end of every year, have been canceled, which no one would have ever expected. Yet here we are.”

“However,” he adds, “I can say that being back in Charlotte close to my family and friends and getting to be with the priests at St. Mark’s has been a great blessing.”

Deacon Jacob Mlakar returned March 24 from the Pontifical North American College in Rome, after restrictions put in place by the Italian government forced the seminary to send its students home.

He is also continuing his classes online through platforms

like Google Meet and Zoom, as well as video-chat platforms so the seminarians can communicate with their formation advisors. The shift from in-person to online classes has gone surprisingly smoothly, he noted, joking that “these universities sometimes seem to function like they’re still in the Middle Ages!”

“I think they have largely risen to the challenge, though, and they have gained some great new capabilities in the response to this crisis,” he said.

He is helping out at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, but said it is sad not to see people at Mass.

Having seen firsthand the terrible pandemic in Italy before returning to Charlotte, Deacon Mlakar said he has “constantly found myself turning to God with the words of St. John Henry Newman’s celebrated poem”: “Lead, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom Lead Thou me on!

The night is dark, and I am far from home – Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene – one step enough for me.”

“I think the virus can help all of us grow in our abandonment to God’s loving providence. It has certainly helped me trust Him more, a grace for which I am most thankful as I continue to prepare for priestly ordination,” he said.

Support our seminarians Easter weekend, April 11-12, was the Seminarian Education Collection in the Diocese of Charlotte. Please give generously to further the studies of our future priests. The Seminarian Education Program, in which 37 men are currently enrolled, is primarily funded through the annual Diocesan Support Appeal, the Seminarian Education Campaign, and this collection. Donations can be made directly to your parish online or you can mail your donation to your parish. Please mark your donation: “Seminarian Education Campaign.” For more information, contact Jim Kelley, diocesan development director, at jkkelley@charlottediocese.org.

HAVE YOU ANSWERED THE CALL TO SUPPORT THE DSA? The purpose of the Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) is to help provide the annual funding necessary to carry out the mission of our diocese – namely to fulfill our call to “grow ever more perfectly into a community of praise, worship, and witness, and to become a leaven of service and sign of peace through love in the Piedmont and western North Carolina.” The DSA provides funding for 50 ministries and programs.

When we make our annual contribution to the DSA, we join with all our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the diocese to do the Lord’s work – works of love and service that no one individual or parish can do alone.

Easy Ways to Donate Pledge | One-Time Gift | Online Gift | Stock Donation | IRA Contribution www.charlottediocese.org/DSA

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Bring the peace, the love and the presence of the Risen Christ to every person – no matter what their needs, or struggles, or sufferings, or sorrows, or distress.’ — Bishop Peter Jugis

Easter is about new life in Christ Be ‘His messengers of peace, hope, encouragement,’ Bishop Jugis preaches at livestreamed Masses CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — “Jesus is not a dead historical figure confined to the past. He is the living Lord with whom we have a personal relationship now,” Bishop Peter J. Jugis told the faithful during special livestreamed Easter Masses at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte April 11 and 12.

“This is the amazing fact of history, which we celebrate today, and in fact which we celebrate every day in the Church: Jesus rose from the dead in His glorified human body. He accomplished our eternal salvation and He, our glorious Risen Savior, remains with us now and always,” Bishop Jugis said.

The liturgies commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ began with the blessing of the Paschal fire and lighting of the Paschal candle outside the cathedral’s front door at dusk April 11.

Normally, hundreds of people process behind Bishop Jugis – candles in hand – into the darkened cathedral.

This year, because of restrictions related to preventing the spread of COVID-19, only the cathedral’s clergy carried candles that were lit from the Paschal candle as hundreds watched the Mass streamed live online from their own homes across the Diocese of Charlotte.

A second livestreamed Mass was celebrated by the bishop on Sunday morning, again to a near-empty cathedral.

But the bishop’s message was one of hope – hope in Christ and His salvific work.

“Why did Jesus, the Son of God, come

down from heaven to Earth? For the salvation for the human race,” Bishop Jugis continued in his homily.

“By His suffering, death and resurrection, He accomplished His work of salvation of the human race. He restored us to friendship with God by becoming the sacrifice for our sins.

“He is the salvation of humanity.”

During the Easter liturgy, he noted, “we bless the water that will be used for the sacrament of baptism, and we renew the promises of our own baptism during this Mass,” Bishop Jugis said.

“Why do we renew the promises of baptism at Easter? Why is baptism associated especially with the Easter season? The Risen Lord is the salvation of the human race, and He accomplished that salvation through His cross and resurrection.”

“Baptism in Christ is when we first experience that grace of salvation,” he continued. “We are introduced to a new life of grace, with our sins forgiven, to be faithful to God’s commandments at our baptism. Baptism is the first sacrament that begins the journey of salvation, and that’s what Easter is all about — salvation and a new life in Christ.”

“Yes, no more turning away from God,” he said. “We are set on a new path of friendship with God and Jesus. So, when you renew the promises of your baptism in this Easter Mass, resolve once again to be faithful in serving God as a baptized Catholic Christian, following His

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Deacon Brian McNulty, of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, holds the Paschal candle as Bishop Peter Jugis lights the candle at dusk on the steps of St. Patrick Cathedral during the Easter Vigil April 11. commandments.”

“We live as a new creation in the Risen Lord Jesus, as members of His mystical Body. And we bring the peace, the love and the presence of the Risen Christ to every person – no matter what their needs, or struggles, or sufferings, or sorrows, or distress.”

“And there is more than enough trial and testing that we are experiencing these days with the virus pandemic,” he added. “But we remember Jesus’ words: ‘Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.’

“The Risen Lord Jesus refreshes us, gives us rest, through the Holy Spirit and He makes us His messengers of peace, hope,

encouragement and new life.”

The Easter Vigil is typically when new Catholics enter the Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). However, as preparations were suddenly halted by the pandemic, those catechumens and candidates planning to receive the sacraments of baptism, first Holy Communion and confirmation will enter the Church at Pentecost this year.

Bishop Jugis prayed that everyone would experience the joy of Easter: “I wish all of you God’s blessings and peace, and especially that you will have Easter joy this day, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. And that this Easter joy will remain with you always.”

Father Casey Coleman, pastor, and Deacon Matthew Newsome celebrate the Easter Vigil at St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva. Like many other churches, the Sylva parish is livestreaming or recording its Masses on their websites and social media.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

Churches across the Diocese of Charlotte, including St. Mark Church in Huntersville, were nearly empty for Easter this year, as public Masses have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Bishop Jugis to brother priests: ‘The Lord’s faithful need you, especially at this time’

Father Casey Coleman at St. Mary Mother of God Church in Sylva said hello to parishioners as he and volunteers passed out blessed palm branches and bottles of holy water during a ‘“drive-through” procession in the church’s parking lot.

Proper face masks notwithstanding, the joy everyone had was evident on their faces despite the restrictions the coronavirus pandemic has placed on people’s ability to gather for worship.

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CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis delivered a special message to his brother priests during the Chrism Mass broadcast live from a near-empty St. Patrick Cathedral: “The Lord’s faithful need you, especially at this time.”

During this solemn annual liturgy, a tradition of Holy Week, all of the priests of the diocese ordinarily renew their ordination promises. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, only a couple representatives were present April 7 to renew their promises.

“This renewal of promises today does take on special meaning as our priests continue to carry out their ministry faithfully in the present distress of the coronavirus pandemic, which quite possibly is a distress unprecedented in all their years of priesthood to date,” Bishop Jugis noted, “where there is widespread fear on the part of many people, concern for their own well-being and the well-being of others – and rightly so.”

The bishop praised the work of the priests of the Diocese of Charlotte during this unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty.

Priests across western North Carolina have been offering “drive-through” confessions, placing the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance viewable from their church windows so that people may go to Eucharistic Adoration from inside their cars in the parking lot, rigging up their cell phones and webcams to offer their private daily Masses on Facebook Live and YouTube, and more – all while still making hospital visits, administering last rites and offering funeral Masses within the allowable public health protocols.

“I’m grateful for the way our priests have carried on their ministry while still respecting the restrictions necessary to protect everyone’s health,” he said.

“All of our priests – diocesan and religious – are outstanding examples of complete, untiring dedication to Christ Jesus in the midst of this crisis. We see their love for the Lord demonstrated in all their ministry to Christ’s flock. Jesus is the love and the hope that we bring to our parishioners.”

He urged them to “continue to nourish our parishioners on Christ’s love and assure them of the Lord’s care for each one of them during this time of trial and testing.”

“The Church’s message of salvation continues in the midst of the present distress, and we are charged to proclaim Christ risen from the dead,” he assured everyone listening to the Mass streamed live on the diocese’s YouTube channel.

Christ “remains with us all days, even until the end of the age,” he said. “He is our hope and our life.”

During the Chrism Mass, the bishop also blessed the holy oils of the sick and catechumens, and consecrated the sacred chrism.

Clergy representatives included Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville and the judicial vicar for the diocese, and Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte and vicar forane of the Charlotte vicariate.

Hundreds of people watched the Mass streamed live on YouTube. Viewer Marilyn Castot commented: “Thanks be to God for the internet!”

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DELLA SUE BRYSON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Though we may be quarantined, Jesus is not quarantined’ Bishop Jugis marks Palm Sunday with livestreamed service from near-empty cathedral during COVID-19 pandemic CHARLOTTE — There were no crowds waving palm branches, no joyful singing, no elaborate liturgies to commemorate Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week.

No, Palm Sunday in the middle of a pandemic took on a somber, simpler tone.

Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass, the liturgy that begins with a commemoration of Jesus entering Jerusalem among a jubilant crowd, inside a near-empty St. Patrick Cathedral.

The private liturgy was livestreamed on the diocese’s YouTube channel.

Despite unprecedented isolation measures that have shut down most public activities and worship services throughout North Carolina and the United States, the bishop’s homily was a hopeful one.

In his bilingual homily, Bishop Jugis encouraged people to follow the example of Mary at the foot of the cross, and “to stay close to Jesus these days, when we hear so much fearful news about the spread of the virus and sad news about deaths cause by the virus.”

“Let us remember: though we may be quarantined, Jesus is not quarantined. He desires to be with us always and everywhere, and we can stay close to Him,” Bishop Jugis said.

Bishop Jugis recalled Pope Francis’ livestreamed prayer service March 27, in which the pope stood alone in St. Peter’s Square and gathered the worldwide Church to pray for an end to the pandemic that has claimed more than 100,000 lives in the past three months. The worldwide coronavirus pandemic is not God’s judgment on humanity, but God’s call on people to recalibrate their lives, Pope Francis said.

“It is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to you, Lord, and to others.”

Bishop Jugis continued, “During this time of trial and testing, what matters is Jesus. During this time of trial and testing, what is necessary is Jesus.”

The bishop encouraged the faithful to choose to be with Christ, and not to choose discouragement and despair during the pandemic.

“In the midst of the isolation in which we are experiencing the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us. Jesus is risen, and He is living by our side,” he said.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos and video from the annual Chrism Mass Deacons take the sacred oils from St. Patrick Cathedral to be poured into small bottles for distribution to all of the parishes in the diocese.

PHOTO PROVIDED PHOTO PROVIDED

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

With the help of parishioners and a pickup truck, Father Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo, pastor of St. James Church in Hamlet, led a Eucharistic procession through Hamlet and nearby Rockingham during Holy Week, blessing the town and praying for a quick end to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parishioners at St. Michael Church in Gastonia got a blessing with holy water from Father Lucas Rossi during a “Parade-aPalms” April 5. More than 400 cars took part, stretching all the way down to Jackson Street from the church parking lot.

People were encouraged to wear red and bring items to be donated to those in need during the pandemic.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

BARBARA CASE SPEERS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Take a moment to look at Jesus’

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER

Father John Putnam, pastor, leads a Eucharistic procession outside St. Mark Church in Huntersville during Holy Week.

The new stained glass windows at St. Mark Church are highlighted inside the darkened church over Holy Week.

KIMBERLY BENDER ONLINE REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis asked the faithful to spend a few moments with Jesus during an especially somber Good Friday liturgy celebrated in a near-empty St. Patrick Cathedral because of public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In his homily, Bishop Jugis outlined the Good Friday liturgy for the few clergy members and media present at the Charlotte church and addressed a livestreamed audience of more than 1,200.

“We have the veneration of the cross, especially important and poignant on this day where we honor His crucifixion,” Bishop Jugis said.

“Even if you’re not able to be here for this celebration in person, at home, take a few moments where you find a cross or a crucifix on one of the walls of your house or maybe standing on your dresser in your room,” he said. “Take a moment to look at Jesus, and to love Him and to honor Him and all that He did for your salvation, to reconcile you to Almighty God and give you the chance of eternal life.”

“And as you look upon Jesus and recall all that He did for you, what should be our disposition?” Bishop Jugis asked, then replied, “Sorrow for our sins and a deep conversion of heart; a desire to leave sin behind and to have a change of heart; to be sorry for all of our wrongdoing and start on a new path with the love of Christ in our hearts.”

After listening to the account of Jesus’ suffering, His crucifixion and His death, Bishop Jugis opened his homily with the question: Why did Jesus offer His life as a sacrifice to the Father?

“We know the answer is: for the salvation of all humankind,” he said.

“His desire is that the salvation that He won for us on Mount Calvary should embrace all of mankind, of every time, of every place, and that everyone in the world open their heart to His gift of salvation.”

Bishop Jugis also discussed the Solemn Intercessions for the Good Friday Liturgy: among them, praying for the Church, those who are to enter the Church through the sacraments of initiation, and for those who do not know Jesus.

“This year our Holy Father has asked us to add two additional Solemn Intercessions during this horrible worldwide pandemic that we are all experiencing,” he explained. “To first of all pray for those who have become ill with the coronavirus, and a final intercession asking the Lord to have mercy on all who have died as a result of complications from this illness.

“In these prayers, we’re moved by the love of Christ, praying that everyone may come to know Jesus and come to know of His love and mercy that might transform the whole world.

“We want the work of Christ on Calvary to be extended, even in our own time.”

After the liturgy on Friday evening, people had the opportunity to venerate the cross, which contains a relic of the True Cross, outside the cathedral.

St. Aloysius Church in Hickory among the many parishes providing Eucharistic Adoration within the restrictions on public gatherings during the pandemic. Father Larry LoMonaco, pastor, has placed the monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament in a parish office window for people to walk up or drive up to participate.

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY AMY BURGER

PHOTO PROVIDED

Like many parishes, St. Pius X in Greensboro handed out blessed palm branches in a “drive-through” for Palm Sunday April 5. But the parish also included a small palm branch inside a special newsletter and resource guide mailed out to 800-plus parish families – Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor, called it “a symbol of our communion in prayer.” One parishioner wrote on the parish’s Facebook page: “Because my elderly dad lives with us due to health problems, I was afraid to even do the drive-through palm pick up. I don’t want to take any chances. So you can imagine how appreciative I was last night when I opened the mail and saw the mailing from our wonderful parish and saw that you had even enclosed a piece of palm. God bless you all!” Says Monsignor Marcaccio, “I am encouraging parishioners to see Christ in those that they are quarantined with during this crisis. The best way to see and to be Christ for one another is to practice patience and kindness.”

MARK MARCH AND PHIL ROCHE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Parishes did not stop their almsgiving this Lent, despite the pandemic. Knights of Columbus Council 14087 collaborated with members of St. William Church in Murphy and Hiwassee Community Center to assist in distributing food from a Manna Food Distribution truck March 25. Volunteers distributed food to 56 households serving 169 people. In addition, 10 cases of clement oranges were donated to the Hiwassee Dam High School for its lunch program. Volunteers wore face masks and protective gloves to place boxes of food and produce in clients’ vehicles as they drove up to the distribution point. Volunteers distributed every item that Manna had loaded onto the truck – nearly 2,400 pounds of nonperishable dry goods and fresh produce. The next distribution is scheduled for April 22.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

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April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

Padre Julio Domínguez

El don de la esperanza

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ueridos hermanos en Cristo, Todos estamos alertas y preocupados ante esta situación que se está viviendo en nuestro país y en muchas partes del mundo entero.

Situaciones que muchos de nosotros nunca antes habíamos experimentado, como la muerte de tantos hermanos nuestros, el paro total de labores y, lo más triste, la cancelación de todos los servicios religiosos.

Yo quiero que todos nosotros, juntos como hermanos y miembros de la Iglesia de Cristo, le pidamos a nuestro Dios y Señor que hoy más que nunca nos conceda el don de la esperanza.

Que ante la visión tan negativa que estamos recibiendo de los medios de comunicación tratemos de ver la parte más positiva de este momento, y nos alentemos unos a otros con la fuerza de Dios y el don de la esperanza.

En estos días he tomado infinidad de momentos para reflexionar en muchos puntos de mi vida y el Señor me ha dado grandes bendiciones haciéndome ver lo pequeño que es el hombre y la gran necesidad que tenemos de Él.

En estos días he podido disfrutar a mi familia y darme cuenta que si antes no tenía tiempo para ellos ahora lo tengo. ¿Qué estoy haciendo con este tiempo de familia?

En este tiempo, me he rendido a los pies de Jesús y le he dicho que Él lleva el control de las cosas y que sólo Él sabe cuándo volverá todo a la normalidad; y me he dado cuenta que no soy tan indispensable como pensaba serlo.

Sin poner tanta atención a las noticias y prudentemente siguiendo las instrucciones que se nos han dado, veo que poco a poco llega la serenidad a casa y la paz de Dios va reinando en ella.

Y así voy viendo muchas cosas positivas que en un espíritu inquieto, atribulado y muy ocupado, eran difíciles de ver y sentir; pero en la confianza en el Señor y esperando de su misericordia se puede palpar con fuerza el gran amor que Él nos tiene.

Les animo a no perder nuestra esperanza sino a pedirle a Dios que la fortalezca, y que desde donde estemos ayudemos a todos nuestros hermanos a vivir este tiempo como un tiempo de espera, de solidaridad y de mucha reflexión sobre nuestras vidas.

Ojalá que nuestra meta sea lo que San Pablo mucho recomendaba: Recapitular todo en Cristo Jesús.

EL PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ es director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

El Obispo Peter Jugis sumerge la vela pascual en la fuente bautismal durante la Misa de Vigilia Pascual el 11 de abril en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

La Pascua es una nueva vida en Cristo Sean “sus mensajeros de paz, esperanza y aliento”, pidió el Obispo Jugis CHARLOTTE - “Jesús no es una figura histórica muerta confinada al pasado. Él es el Señor vivo con el que tenemos ahora una relación personal”, dijo el Obispo Peter J. Jugis a los fieles durante las misas de Pascua en la Catedral San Patricio, en Charlotte, celebradas el 11 y 12 de abril.

“Es un suceso sorprendente en la historia, que celebramos hoy y, de hecho, que celebramos todos los días en la Iglesia: Jesús resucitó de entre los muertos en su cuerpo humano glorificado. Él logró nuestra salvación eterna y Él, nuestro glorioso Salvador resucitado, permanece con nosotros ahora y siempre”, aseveró.

Las liturgias que conmemoran la resurrección de Jesucristo comenzaron, al caer el sol del sábado 11 de abril, con la bendición del Fuego Pascual y el encendido del Cirio Pascual en los exteriores de la catedral.

Normalmente, cientos de personas forman una procesión detrás del Obispo Jugis, con velas en mano, e ingresan a la oscura catedral.

Este año, debido a las restricciones relacionadas con la prevención de la propagación de COVID-19, solo el clero de la catedral llevaba velas que se encendían con el Cirio Pascual, mientras cientos seguían desde sus hogares la misa transmitida por las redes sociales de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

El obispo celebró una segunda Misa “en vivo” el domingo por la mañana, nuevamente en una catedral casi vacía.

Pero su mensaje era de esperanza, esperanza en Cristo y su obra de salvación. “¿Por qué Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, bajó del cielo a la Tierra? Por la salvación de la raza humana”, continuó el obispo en su homilía.

“Por su sufrimiento, muerte y resurrección, realizó su obra de salvación de la raza humana. Nos restauró a la amistad con Dios al convertirse en el sacrificio por nuestros pecados. Él es la salvación de la humanidad”.

Durante la liturgia de Pascua, señaló que, “bendecimos el agua que se utilizará para el sacramento del bautismo, y renovamos las promesas de nuestro propio bautismo”. “¿Por qué renovamos las promesas del bautismo en Pascua? ¿Por qué se asocia el bautismo especialmente con la temporada de Pascua? El Señor resucitado es la salvación de la raza humana y logró esa salvación a través de Su cruz y resurrección”.

“El bautismo en Cristo es cuando experimentamos por primera vez esa gracia de la salvación”, continuó. “Se nos presenta una nueva vida de gracia, con nuestros pecados perdonados, para ser fieles a los mandamientos de Dios en nuestro bautismo. El bautismo es el primer sacramento que el que comienza nuestro viaje de salvación, y de eso se trata la Pascua: la salvación y una nueva vida en Cristo”.

“Sí, no más apartarse de Dios”, dijo.

“Estamos en un nuevo camino de amistad con Dios y Jesús. Entonces, cuando renueve las promesas de su bautismo en esta Misa de Pascua, resuelva una vez más ser fiel en el servicio a Dios como cristiano católico bautizado, siguiendo sus mandamientos”.

“Vivimos como una nueva creación en el Señor Jesús resucitado, como miembros de su cuerpo místico. Y llevamos la paz, el amor y la presencia del Cristo resucitado a cada persona, sin importar sus

necesidades, luchas, sufrimientos, penas o angustias”.

“Y hay pruebas más que suficientes, como las que estamos experimentando estos días con la pandemia viral”, agregó.

Pero, recordemos las palabras de Jesús: “Vengan a mí todos los que trabajan y están agobiados, y yo les daré descanso”.

“El Señor resucitado Jesús nos refresca, nos da descanso a través del Espíritu Santo y nos hace sus mensajeros de paz, esperanza, aliento y vida nueva”.

Usualmente, en la Vigilia Pascual los nuevos católicos ingresan a la Iglesia a través del Rito de Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos (RICA). Sin embargo, como la pandemia detuvo repentinamente los preparativos, los catecúmenos y candidatos que planean recibir los sacramentos de bautismo, primera comunión y confirmación ingresarán a la Iglesia durante la fiesta de Pentecostés, que se celebrará el domingo 31 de mayo de este año.

El Obispo Jugis concluyó orando para que todos puedan experimentar la alegría de la Pascua: “Les deseo a todos las bendiciones y la paz de Dios, y especialmente que tengan la alegría de la Pascua en este día, mientras celebramos la resurrección de Jesús. Y que esta alegría pascual permanezca con ustedes por siempre”.

Más online

— Catholic News Herald

En www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte: Puede ver el video completo de la Misa de Pascua que celebró el Obispo Jugis

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iiiApril 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

Las Siete Primera Palabra: “Padre, perdónalos porque no saben lo que hacen”

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na vez que Jesús fue llevado al Calvario, fue despojado de sus vestiduras. Se le clavó dolorosamente a la cruz y se le alzó en medio de dos ladrones.

Fue en ese momento, al comenzar el tiempo culminante de su pasión, que pronunció unas palabras de perdón para sus verdugos. La primera de las siete frases dichas por Jesús desde la cruz tenía que ver con su profunda preocupación por el estado de la humanidad; y por ello exclamó: “Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen”. Sólo San Lucas ha dejado constancia de estas palabras en las Escrituras. (Lc. 23, 34). ¿Qué significan en sí mismas? ¿Qué significan para nosotros? ¿A qué se refería Jesús con estas palabras que pronunció en la cruz?

Cristo no piensa en su dolor en esta exclamación, piensa en el perdón; pide la paciencia divina, clama por la misericordia. Ama con plena lucidez perdonando al que ofende. Jesús está dispuesto a cumplir toda justicia y pagará por los que no pueden pagar.

Parece que, con ellas, perdona sólo a los que ignoran las causas de sus actos o no son responsables de ellos. Con esta frase pronunciada con una caridad heroica, Jesús nos enseña a todos a perdonar.

A partir de tal demostración de amor hacia sus enemigos, es decir, todos nosotros que éramos enemigos de Dios, pidiendo por el perdón de aquellos que lo despreciaron, Jesús estaba sentando un precedente que debía ser obedecido por todo aquel que quisiera ser su discípulo. Es por esto por lo que el precio del discipulado tiene que ver con negarnos a nosotros mismos y es por esto por lo que Jesús nos llamó a amar a nuestros enemigos. Él no nos estaba dando ninguna instrucción de algo que él mismo no hubiera cumplido. Siendo así, la oración que Jesús hace por todos aquellos que lo rechazaron es digna de imitar por todos los que estamos unidos a él, cuando nos toque pasar por momentos de sufrimiento, persecución y de zozobra como los que vivimos actualmente.

A partir de la muerte de nuestro Señor, hay esperanza para todo el que ponga su fe en Él. Jesús no oró específicamente por quienes lo estaban crucificando, sino que lo hizo por todos aquellos que habrían de creer en Él para la salvación. A todos ellos el Padre los perdonó, concediéndole la petición al Hijo, incluso cuando ninguno de nosotros sabíamos lo que estábamos haciendo al rechazar a Dios y despreciar una salvación tan grande y sublime.

Jesús pide al Padre que perdone a los hombres.

El perdón es una forma de amor no exigible en justicia, que exige reparación y castigo. Jesús es el Hijo, el Hijo del hombre que clama perdón porque perdona. Y pide al Padre su amor superior. Ante los ojos de Jesús desfilan todos los pecados de los hombres: asesinatos, violaciones, robos, infidelidades, falsedades, blasfemias que son ofensas al mismo Dios, además de ofensas al hombre. Cada pecado es golpear al mismo Dios, matarlo si fuese posible, ofender su amor. Cristo está perdonando cuando le clavan al madero y su pensamiento es pedir que el Padre también perdone. ¡Hoy, sin falta, perdonémonos unos a otros, sin excepción! Regresemos del Calvario con el corazón limpio, ligero, purificado y abierto; porque la Palabra de Jesús nos ha hecho caer en cuenta de que nosotros muchas veces tampoco sabemos lo que hacemos.

Que lo que hagamos cada día de nuestro diario vivir, sea agradable a Dios y que exalte por todo lo alto el sacrificio hermoso que Jesús hizo por ti y por mí en la cruz.

— DIÁCONO GUILLERMO ARZOLA, Nuestra Señora de Lourdes

Segunda Palabra: “Yo te aseguro, hoy estarás conmigo en el Paraíso”

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n verdad, ¡qué Cuaresma hemos vivido! Y hay que agradecerle a Dios por eso.

Estamos delante la Cruz, Jesús está muriendo, está dando sus Últimas Palabras y quiere nuestra atención.

Con imaginación, coloquémonos a cierta distancia del Calvario.

Sobre un firmamento gris se divisan tres cruces de las que cuelgan tres ajusticiados. Jesús está en el centro.

Hacia Él miran los otros dos. Lucas, el evangelista de la misericordia, ha situado la escena en el momento cumbre de la Historia de la Salvación.

Jesús, como revelador del Padre, antes de morir, nos va a manifestar el núcleo de su misión y del mensaje que el Padre le había encomendado: la Buena Nueva de la Gracia, la salvación del género humano.

La sangre de los tres formaba un mismo charco. Pero, como dice San Agustín, aunque para los tres la pena era la misma, cada uno moría por una causa distinta. En estas dos figuras nos encontramos con el misterio insondable del corazón del hombre: luz y tinieblas, fe e incredulidad, libertad para decidir entre lo uno y lo otro.

Estoy plenamente convencido que Dios hace cita con nosotros para salvarnos, y es probable que las personas no sepan que esa cita ha sido hecha.

Tenemos el caso de la mujer samaritana,

Jesús hizo una cita con ella junto al pozo de Jacob. Allí se encontraron, no por casualidad, sino como parte del plan divino. Jesús llegó hasta allí porque era necesario que pasara por Samaria.

Igualmente en la historia de Zaqueo, el publicano que quería ver a Jesús y se subió a un árbol para verle pasar.

El Maestro lo llamó por su nombre y le dijo “es necesario que yo more hoy en tu casa”. Jesús tenía una cita con Zaqueo en aquel día pero él no lo sabía.

Lo mismo ocurrió con Saulo de Tarso. Dios tuvo una cita con él camino a Damasco. Pablo no sabía que aquél día el Señor se le aparecería en el camino pero así fue.

Estas citas con Jesucristo cambiaron el destino de todas esas personas. Cada uno de nosotros, los creyentes, estamos con Cristo porque, aún sin saberlo, Jesús hizo una cita con nosotros para salvarnos.

En esta historia vemos también como un malhechor tenía una cita con Jesús en el Monte Calvario, y él no lo sabía. Las palabras del Señor resuenan aún entre nosotros: “Yo te aseguro que hoy estarás conmigo en el Paraíso”.

Hermanos, tenemos dos caminos a seguir en nuestra cita con Jesús. ¿Cuál quieres seguir tú?, ¿la fe o la incredulidad? ¿la luz o las tinieblas?

Ya que Jesús murió para salvarnos, en estos días tan difíciles hay esperanza, una esperanza que no defrauda, una esperanza en el paraíso, una esperanza plena llena de gozo en Dios.

El Paraíso se vive aquí en la tierra, agarrados de la mano de Jesús. La promesa es para hoy: tú estarás conmigo en el Paraíso de la vida.

Así como la samaritana encontró el paraíso del agua viva que mana del Señor, o Zaqueo que encontró el paraíso de la transformación de su corazón y devolvió más de lo robado, o Saulo encontró el paraíso en el camino a Damasco, así también nosotros podemos encontrar el paraíso en esta crisis que vivimos.

Es la libertad de nuestro corazón, donde no hay miedo ni sobresaltos ni angustias, sólo confianza en Jesús que sale en busca de nosotros, muere en una cruz y quiere tener una cita contigo, un encuentro muy personal.

Déjate encontrar por Dios, por Jesús resucitado.

—DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO, Vicariato de Greensboro

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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Palabras Tercera Palabra: “Madre, ahí tienes a tu hijo... Hijo, ahí tienes a tu madre”

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sta Palabra está dirigida a la Madre de Jesús y el discípulo amado.

La palabra de Jesús a ellos dos, la dirige a nuestro miedo a estar solos. Razón importante a la realidad que estamos viviendo en estos momentos en el mundo.

Muchas personas sienten miedo, sienten soledad, aislamiento. Necesitan que alguien esté cerca, siempre están hablando por teléfono o enviando mensajes.

Tratamos de evadir la realidad y, sin embargo, esto no diluye el miedo o la soledad.

El huir no tranquiliza el miedo, sino que lo hace más profundo. Y entonces les asalta el sentimiento de soledad. ¿Cómo puede esta sencilla palabra de Jesús curar nuestro miedo, temor, falta de fe y esperanza?

Jesús ante estas incertidumbres, inseguridades por las que estamos pasando los seres humanos, nos entrega a María como nuestra Madre.

Es la figura de una presencia esencial como Dios se manifiesta a la realidad humana a través de María.

En la cruz se unen los opuestos: Dios y el ser humano, hombre y mujer, judíos y paganos. Se hacen uno, no sólo exteriormente, sino también interiormente. Lo masculino y lo femenino, lo judío y lo pagano, lo piadoso y lo mundano, lo divino y lo humano se hacen uno en mi corazón. Y este hacerse uno consigo mismo es la condición necesaria para vencer el miedo, la desolación y desconfianza.

Por eso el mensaje de esta Palabra, a través del gran regalo de Jesús al darnos a su propia Madre, nos da fe, esperanza y seguridad en estos momentos tan difíciles para la humanidad. En medio de la tormenta, a través de María, descubrimos la grandeza a la cual pertenecemos: Ser Hijos de Dios e Hijos de María.

Esto nos hace reaccionar para proclamar al mundo entero que no son las seguridades materiales las que nos traen realizaciones humanas como son la felicidad, la libertad, el optimismo, la autosuficiencia, etc. sino la sensibilidad espiritual de una Madre que nos acerca, que nos une, que nos anima y nos hace sentir que todos somos

bienvenidos a la familia de los Hijos de Dios. En el corazón de María, nuestra madre, encontramos consuelo, fe, esperanza, amor.

Gracias a María Santísima estamos unidos en esta Semana Santa, confiados, protegidos y seguros que ella siempre va a estar con sus hijos. El misterio de Dios se hace presente en cada momento, en cada instante de la vida, donde nos damos cuenta que no hay más seguridad para los seres humanos que es estar unidos en el Señor.

El sufrimiento por la soledad a veces es indicio de la falta de relaciones. No estamos en relación con nosotros mismos, ni con Dios, ni con los demás, y por eso nos sentimos solos. La soledad deja de ser dolorosa cuando estamos en relación, aunque estemos solos, en relación con nosotros mismos, con las personas que llevamos en el corazón, con la creación y con Dios.

María Santísima Nuestra Madre, en estos días de temor y miedo, se une a nosotros para decirnos: “Acaso no soy tu Madre”, ven conmigo y caminemos juntos y “hagan lo que mi Hijo les diga”.

Todo lo que el mundo pregona no tiene sentido porque el que hace su vida sin hacer la voluntad de Dios se vuelve oscuridad, temor y miedo y no hay poder que lo salve. Pero todos los que se ponen en el camino de la vida que es Jesús, llevarán consigo el anuncio de la salvación, por que Él es el Camino, la Verdad y la Vida.

Si Dios está con nosotros, quién estará contra nosotros.

— PADRE JOSÉ A. JUYA, Vicariato de Gastonia

Cuarta Palabra: “¡Dios mío, Dios mío!, ¿por qué me has abandonado?”

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¡Elí, Elí! ¿lama sabactani?” (Mateo, 27: 46). “Deus meus Deus meus ut quid dereliquisti me” (Marcos, 15: 34).

El momento más triste y desolador de la agonía de Cristo en el Gólgota fue el abandono. Esta palabra es una oración en el sufrimiento y en la soledad. Antes de morir se volvió a Dios como una plegaria llena de misterio.

El que sufre puede convertir el sufrimiento en poderosa oración por las necesidades del mundo. Jesús es Dios y hombre, y en el madero de la cruz revela su humanidad. Era el hombre de dolores, sufría como sufrimos los humanos.

El eco de su dolor llegó a todos, pero no impresionó a sus enemigos. Más bien gritaban con audacia sacrílega: “Caiga sus sangre sobre nosotros y sobre nuestros hijos”. Pudo más el odio y la rabia desbordada que la queja divina, los intereses religiosos pervertidos que el llamado a la consolación y la misericordia.

Sabemos que las palabras de Jesús desde la cruz no son un discurso, una arenga política, una simple denuncia de un abuso sobre un inocente. No, son una oración, una oración cargada de compasión y misericordia, una oración con un profundo contenido humano y espiritual, una llamada a la búsqueda del bien y al combate decidido contra el mal. Jesús ora desde la cruz por todos, ora al Padre por nuestra salvación.

“Dios mío, Dios mío, por qué me has abandonado” es el clamor de tantos hombres y mujeres en el mundo víctimas de la persecución, el hambre, el abuso, el desamparo. El clamor del hombre ante el abandono de los gobernantes injustos que no respetan sus derechos, de los patrones que no pagan justo salario, de las instituciones que pisotean los derechos humanos. Más que un grito de dolor es un llamado a la esperanza.

No es el desespero de Jesús, no es ‘la noche oscura’ de Jesús. Es un llamado sentido a fortalecer la esperanza, la esperanza en aquel que es la misericordia infinita, al que tiene el poder para deshacer el sufrimiento y convertirlo en alegría y paz.

Jesús, al sentirse abandonado, nos quiere enseñar que en este mundo está a la puerta de la vida. El sufrimiento que nosotros vemos como desgracia, pero que Él nos enseña a verlo como el camino para encontrar el gran alivio. La dicha de sentirse renacido, revitalizado, la dicha de la novedad, del gran levantamiento en Jesús resucitado.

Dios mío, Dios mío, no nos abandones en nuestro camino por este mundo lleno de peligros, de atentados contra la vida, pero especialmente contra nuestra vida espiritual, apartándonos de Ti, único bien; llevándonos por las liviandades y gozos contaminantes del pecado.

En esta palabra de tu Hijo queremos descubrir tu divina presencia compasiva y misericordiosa para sentirnos acogidos, protegidos y llenos de gozo en el camino de conversión, de vuelta decidida a tu amor. Amén.

— DIÁCONO DARÍO GARCÍA, Vicariato de Hickory

PALABRAS, PASA A LA PÁGINA 14

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

PALABRAS VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 13

Quinta Palabra: “Tengo sed”

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Me gustaría presentarte a Caleb”, me dijo la hermana Mary Angelus.

Ella me llevó arriba, a las viviendas de los hombres, siguiendo el pasillo hasta el fondo. Allí estaba él, acostado tranquilamente. La casa ‘Gift of peace’ era el hogar que mi obispo ayudó a la Madre Teresa a abrir para atender a pacientes con VIH/SIDA. Como seminarista de primer año en Washington, DC, cada uno de nosotros tenía que hacer un “apostolado” o “ministerio” fuera del seminario. Creo que esto se hacía principalmente para mantenernos en contacto con el mundo real y para recordarnos por qué dedicamos nuestras vidas a la formación, oración y estudio.

El Obispo Curlin nos había dicho que esta casa había causado mucha controversia cuando se abrió. Para el año 2000 ya había mucha mayor información sobre el VIH/SIDA, pero también existía y sigue existiendo mucho miedo.

La hermana me dio la tarea de bañar a Caleb. Tenía un balde, una toalla y jabón y me puse a trabajar. Para la semana siguiente, Caleb se había deteriorado drásticamente. Era obvio que estaba sufriendo. Medía aproximadamente seis pies y tres pulgadas y obviamente había sido un hombre atlético alguna vez.

En verdad batallé para moverlo a la cama y limpiar su piel, que literalmente parecía esfumarse cuando le lavaba el cuerpo.

Regresé a la universidad la semana siguiente y me sentía derrotado y abrumado. Estaba en un programa académico donde todos eran más inteligentes y disciplinados que yo, así que tuve que trabajar muy duro. Decidí que servir todos los viernes por la noche en la casa ‘Gift of Peace’ era demasiado para mí (el servicio también incluía despertarme en medio de la noche para dar medicinas a los enfermos). Pensé que estando en el tercer año de universidad, tomando 20 créditos por semestre, necesitaba enfocarme en mis estudios y cambiar mi ministerio externo a algo más sencillo.

La capilla tenía un hermoso crucifijo y al lado estaba escrito el mensaje de Jesús “Tengo sed”. Rezaría allí y luego iría a trabajar sirviendo comidas, medicinas y limpiando.

Cuando llegó la hermana Mary Angelus, le dije que ya no podría ayudarla porque estar sirviendo allí era demasiado para mí como para cumplir con mis otras obligaciones. Le dije que no estaba listo para hacer esto, que era demasiado para mí cuidar de Caleb y los otros enfermos. Ella sonrió y me dijo que sí estaba listo porque el Señor me había colocado allí. Caleb había muerto el sábado anterior. Bien podría haber sido yo la última persona que vio antes de morir.

En esa capilla, comencé a darme cuenta de que Jesús tenía sed de mí. Jesús tiene sed de cada uno de nosotros. Jesús tuvo sed de que Caleb volviera a casa para recibir su eterna recompensa.

Mientras celebramos la Semana Santa, reflexionemos sobre cómo Jesús modeló esta realidad en su vida. ¿Solo dijo “Tengo sed” poco antes de morir o la vivió?

Vivirla es actuar con caridad en cada paso del viaje. Jesús modela una vida de oración y servicio. Ahora más que nunca,

necesitamos un corazón de siervo para reflejar el amor del Señor a todos aquellos con los que nos encontramos.

Que la sed de Jesús se ponga en acción a través de nuestra oración y actos de servicio.

Amén.

— PADRE PAT CAHILL, San Eugenio, Asheville

Sexta Palabra: “Todo está cumplido”.

S

on las últimas palabras de Jesús en la cruz en el Evangelio de San Juan. Con esta declaración, Jesús afirma que su propósito en nuestra historia ha llegado a su momento cumbre: Jesús nos ha enseñado el amor.

En otro momento, Jesús le dijo a sus discípulos: “Ámense los unos a los otros como yo los he amado. En verdad les digo: no hay amor más grande que el de aquel que da la vida por sus amigos” (Juan 15, 12-13).

Jesús nos deja claro su mandamiento. En él se resume el mensaje del Evangelio de San Juan. Pero este mensaje sería obsoleto si solamente fuera algo que alguien dijo.

Jesús quiere dejarnos claro la importancia de ese mandamiento. Quiere que lo recordemos muy bien, que lo llevemos a nuestro corazón y lo dejemos cambiarnos por dentro. Pues el mismo Jesús que nos da este mandamiento está dispuesto a entregar su vida en la cruz para que nos quede bien claro que el verdadero y más grande sentido en esta vida es el salir de nuestro egoísmo y darnos a los demás.

En la situación en que nos encontramos, ¿qué nos dice este mandamiento de amarnos los unos a los otros como Jesús nos ha amado? La pandemia ha puesto todo el mundo de rodillas. Solamente nos ponemos de rodillas cuando estamos humillados, cuando nos sentimos pequeños delante de la grandeza de Dios o cuando un enemigo sin piedad nos humilla y se ensaña con nosotros.

Eso es lo que ha hecho la pandemia a todos los pueblos del mundo: hemos sido humillados. Hemos sido puestos de rodillas, hemos sido recluidos en nuestras casas.

No podemos visitar a nuestros amigos, no podemos ir a la iglesia. El dar un abrazo podría poner a alguien un grave peligro.

Nuestra vida ha dado un giro total. La vida que conocíamos no será la misma al salir de este encierro.

En medio del encierro y viendo hacia nuestro futuro, ¿qué nos dice este mandamiento?. ¿En verdad podemos amarnos los unos a los otros como Jesús nos ama?, ¿en verdad somos capaces de aceptar que nuestra zona de comodidad ya no existe?

Ahora tenemos que pasar mucho más tiempo con nuestras familias, con los hijos, el esposo o la esposa. En medio de todo esto, ¿cómo podemos ser testimonio de este mandamiento que Jesús nos ha dejado?

Desafortunadamente, el número de llamadas por violencia doméstica aumentó mucho por el mes de marzo en comparación con marzo de 2019 en el condado Mecklenburg. Tal parece que la paz era ausencia de guerra, y ahora que las parejas tienen mucho más tiempo juntas pelean más.

Este no puede ser el mensaje de Cristo.

El mensaje de Cristo es de entrega al otro.

PALABRAS, PASA A LA PÁGINA 15

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PALABRAS VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 14

¿En verdad estamos usando este tiempo de confinamiento en nuestros hogares para crecer en la caridad fraterna?, ¿en verdad estamos atentos a procurar el bienestar de los demás? ¿Decimos “por favor”, “gracias”, “perdóname”? ¿En verdad vemos este momento como uno muy difícil, tal vez el más grande en nuestra vida y sociedad, en donde la única manera que podemos salir adelante es solidarizándonos con el sufrimiento de los demás?

Por otro lado, hay feligreses que están aprovechando este tiempo al máximo para crecer en la amistad mutua, en la entrega de los unos a los otros. También muchos que, al no poder hacer más por las víctimas de la pandemia, elevan a Dios sus oraciones llenas de compasión e impotencia y, como último recurso, entregando a Dios todo lo que somos, pidiendo en nuestra humillación que nos muestre su camino.

Creo que a esto se refiere Jesús al decir:

“Todo está cumplido”. Este es un mensaje que debe estar vivo en el pueblo cristiano pues contiene la sabiduría necesaria para sobrellevar esta crisis por dura y penosa que es y que puede llegar a ser. Jesús nos enseña el camino del amor.

— PADRE HUGO MEDELLÍN, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Séptima Palabra: “Padre, en tus manos encomiendo mi espíritu”

N

o cabe duda que esta frase resume una de las más bellas y profundas peticiones del Señor, en la cual se deja sentir la angustia del ser humano y el sometimiento de la voluntad de un hijo que ha querido complacer a su Padre.

Ante la angustia de la muerte, ante la sospecha de lo que podrá pasar, ante el temor de lo desconocido de frente a las

realidades eternas, el ser humano se vuelve al Padre para pedirle que ilumine su mente y su corazón para poder discernir lo que es bueno, lo que agrada, lo perfecto.

Dios que quiere que todos los hombres se salven. Inmediatamente manda su luz y esta es precisamente la labor del Espíritu Santo, para que el ser humano pueda realizar la voluntad de Dios.

Sin embargo, esta puede ser también la más grande de las tragedias o éxito espiritual para el hombre, pues en su libertad tiene que elegir el bien, pongámoslo más elevado todavía, el Sumo Bien expresado en la voluntad del Padre.

Si el hombre elige realizar lo que Dios le está diciendo, el hombre tendrá una vida en plenitud y aún, en medio del sufrimiento y situaciones de la vida, encontrará sentido a su vida y podrá exclamar al final como nuestro Señor Jesucristo: “Padre en tus manos encomiendo mi espíritu”.

15

Si por desgracia, el hombre decidió no seguir la voluntad de Dios durante toda su vida, su misma ceguera espiritual hará que haya mucho temor hacia su Creador e irá a esconderse, como sucedió con Adán en el paraíso, y perdiendo toda esperanza, perderá en sí el sentido de su vida.

En estos días de tanta angustia y miedo ante los males que nos aquejan, es bueno preguntarnos y reflexionar si estamos haciendo la voluntad del Padre. Es bueno y muy aconsejable pedirle al Señor que envíe su Santo Espíritu sobre nosotros para tomar decisiones correctas y someternos totalmente y sin confusiones a la voluntad de Dios, que ha querido salvarnos y dar su vida en rescate por todos nosotros.

Que la Palabra de Cristo nos impulse a centrar nuestra vida a la voluntad del Padre.

— PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ, director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

El Obispo Peter Jugis mira el crucifijo con admiración durante la liturgia de la Pasión del Señor que se celebró el 10 de abril en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Durante su homilía en la Misa Crismal el 7 de abril en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte, el Obispo Peter Jugis reconoció el trabajo de los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Charlotte durante este tiempo de miedo e incertidumbre.

El Obispo Jugis a sus hermanos sacerdotes:

“Los fieles del Señor los necesitan, especialmente en este momento”

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“Tomen un momento para mirar a Jesús” CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter J. Jugis pidió a los fieles que pasaran unos momentos con Jesús durante la Liturgia de Viernes Santo, especialmente sombría, celebrada en una casi vacía Catedral San Patricio debido a las restricciones de reunión por la crisis sanitaria generada por la pandemia de COVID-19.

En su homilía, el Obispo Jugis se dirigió a una audiencia de más de mil personas que recibía la señal de la celebración a través de las redes sociales.

“Tenemos la Veneración de la Cruz, especialmente importante y conmovedora, en este día en que honramos Su crucifixión”, dijo.

“E incluso, si no puede estar aquí, en persona, en esta celebración, tome un momento, encuentre una cruz o un crucifijo en una de las paredes de su casa, o tal vez en el tocador de su habitación y, tome un instante para mirar a Jesús, amarlo y honrarlo por todo lo que hizo por su salvación, por reconciliarlo con Dios Todopoderoso y darle la oportunidad de la vida eterna”.

“Y al mirar a Jesús y recordar todo lo que hizo por nosotros, ¿cuál debería ser nuestra disposición?”, preguntó; para luego responder, “pena por nuestros pecados y una profunda conversión de corazón; un deseo de dejar atrás el pecado, tener un cambio de corazón, lamentar todas nuestras malas acciones y comenzar un nuevo camino con el amor de Cristo en nuestros corazones”.

Después de escuchar el relato del sufrimiento de Jesús, su crucifixión y muerte, el Obispo Jugis abrió su homilía con la pregunta: ¿por qué Jesús ofreció su vida como sacrificio al Padre?

“Sabemos que la respuesta es para la salvación de toda la humanidad”, aseveró.

“Su deseo por la salvación que ganó para nosotros en el Monte Calvario debía abarcar a toda la humanidad, de todos los

tiempos, de todo lugar, y así todos en el mundo abran su corazón para recibir Su regalo de salvación”.

El Obispo Jugis también habló a los fieles sobre las oraciones especiales en la Liturgia de Viernes Santo: orar por la Iglesia, por aquellos que ingresan a la Iglesia gracias a los sacramentos de iniciación y por aquellos que no conocen a Jesús.

“Este año, nuestro Santo Padre nos ha pedido que agreguemos dos oraciones adicionales durante esta horrible pandemia mundial que todos estamos experimentando”, dijo el obispo. “Ante todo, orar por aquellos que se enfermaron con el coronavirus, y una petición final pidiéndole al Señor que se apiade de todos los que murieron como resultado de las complicaciones de esta enfermedad”.

“Entonces, en estas oraciones, movidos por el amor de Cristo, oramos para que todos puedan llegar a conocer a Jesús, conocer su amor y misericordia que podría transformar el mundo entero.

Queremos que la obra de Cristo en el Calvario se extienda, incluso en nuestro propio tiempo”.

Después de la Liturgia, y hasta las siete de la noche, los fieles tuvieron la oportunidad de venerar la cruz colocada en el atrio de la Catedral San Patricio.

La cruz de la catedral contiene una reliquia de la Cruz Verdadera. Esta es la primera vez que se venera la cruz en los exteriores, debido a las restricciones de reunión para frenar la propagación del coronavirus COVID-19. Los fieles no podían tocar ni besar la cruz, pero estaba permitido arrodillarse frente a ella.

Más online En www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte: Puede ver el video completo de la Liturgia de Viernes Santo que celebró el Obispo Jugis

KIMBERLY BENDER Y SUEANN HOWELL CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — El obispo Peter J. Jugis envió un mensaje especial a sus hermanos sacerdotes durante la transmisión de la Misa Crismal ‘en vivo’ desde la Catedral San Patricio: “Los fieles del Señor los necesitan, especialmente en este momento”.

Durante la solemne liturgia anual, una tradición de Semana Santa, los sacerdotes de la diócesis renuevan sus promesas de ordenación. Sin embargo, debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, solo un par de ellos estuvieron presentes el 7 de abril para renovar sus promesas.

“Hoy, esta renovación de promesas adquiere un significado especial, cuando nuestros sacerdotes continúan llevando a cabo fielmente su ministerio durante la angustiante pandemia de coronavirus, que posiblemente ha marcado una situación sin precedentes en todos sus años de sacerdocio”, y, “donde existe un temor generalizado” de muchas personas que se preocupan, con razón, de su propio bienestar y el de los demás, señaló el Obispo Jugis.

También elogió el trabajo de los sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Charlotte durante este tiempo de miedo e incertidumbre sin precedentes. Los sacerdotes han estado ofreciendo confesiones ‘al paso’, colocando el Santísimo Sacramento en una custodia visible desde las ventanas de sus iglesias para que las personas puedan atender la Adoración Eucarística desde sus autos en los estacionamientos; utilizando sus teléfonos celulares y cámaras web para ofrecer Misas diarias privadas en Facebook Live y YouTube, y todo ello mientras realizan visitas al hospital, administran los Santos Óleos y ofrecen Misas funerarias dentro de los protocolos permitidos de salud pública.

“Estoy agradecido por la forma en que nuestros sacerdotes están llevado a cabo su ministerio sin dejar de respetar las restricciones necesarias para proteger la

salud de todos”, dijo.

“Todos nuestros sacerdotes, diocesanos y religiosos, son ejemplos sobresalientes de completa e incansable dedicación a Cristo Jesús en medio de esta crisis. Vemos su amor por el Señor demostrado en su ministerio del rebaño de Cristo. Jesús es el amor y la esperanza que brindamos a nuestros feligreses”.

Los instó a “continuar nutriendo a nuestros feligreses del amor de Cristo y asegurarles el cuidado del Señor a cada uno de ellos durante este tiempo de prueba”.

“El mensaje de salvación de la Iglesia persiste en medio de la angustiosa situación actual y tenemos el encargo de proclamar a Cristo resucitado de entre los muertos”, aseguró a todos los que vieron la Misa transmitida “en vivo” por el canal YouTube de la diócesis.

Cristo, “permanece con nosotros todos los días hasta el fin de los tiempos”, dijo. “Él es nuestra esperanza y nuestra vida”.

Durante la Misa Crismal, el obispo bendijo los santos óleos de los enfermos y los catecúmenos, y consagró el crisma sagrado.

Los representantes del clero incluyeron al Padre John Putnam, pastor de la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville y vicario judicial de la diócesis; y el Padre Timothy Reid, pastor de la Iglesia Santa Ana en Charlotte.

Cientos de personas vieron la misa ‘en vivo’ por la red social YouTube. La espectadora Marilyn Castot comentó: “¡Gracias a Dios por Internet!” Dawn Marie Cattier escribió: “Como nueva católica que espera pacientemente el momento en que pueda recibir los sacramentos, realmente disfruté las misas a las que no tuve el privilegio de asistir. ¡Que la Trinidad nos acompañe a todos! Amén”.

Más online En www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte y www.facebook.com/CNHEspañol: Puede hallar mayor información y videos sobre la Misa Crismal

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

17

Imitemos el amor sacrificado de Cristo, pidió el Obispo Jugis CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — Fue una liturgia mesurada para el Jueves Santo, 9 de abril, ya que el Obispo Peter Jugis ofreció la Misa de la Cena del Señor dentro de la Catedral San Patricio casi vacía debido a las restricciones impuestas por las autoridades debido a la pandemia del COVID-19.

La liturgia se transmitió ‘en vivo’ por el canal de YouTube de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Un periodo de Adoración Eucarística, también transmitida ‘en vivo’ online, siguió a la misa.

El Triduo Pascual, como se llama a los tres días que conducen a la Pascua, generalmente comienza con una elaborada Misa de Jueves Santo en conmemoración de la institución de la Eucaristía y el sacerdocio de Jesús.

Pero este Jueves Santo, asistieron solo el clero de la catedral y un par de camarógrafos para transmitir ‘en vivo’ el servicio privado online a los fieles de la diócesis. Las reuniones públicas en Carolina del Norte se han limitado a menos de 10 personas, ya que los funcionarios de salud pública se esfuerzan por frenar la propagación del coronavirus, que hasta la fecha ha causado la muerte de más de 60 personas en el estado y más de 85 mil en el mundo.

En su homilía, el Obispo Jugis habló sobre el amor sacrificado de Jesucristo y el ejemplo que dejó a los cristianos para amar a los demás.

La lectura del Evangelio para la Misa fue tomada de Juan 13: 1-15, en la que el obispo destacó la frase: Jesús “amó a los suyos en el mundo y los amó hasta el final”.

“Esa frase es muy significativa”, dijo. “El sufrimiento de Cristo que estamos conmemorando en estos días, la pasión y la muerte de Cristo, es una expresión de amor. Su sufrimiento, su pasión, su crucifixión, su muerte (son) una expresión de amor para toda la humanidad”.

Cristo nos dio su vida, su cuerpo y su sangre, para la salvación del mundo, y su sacrificio se recuerda este Jueves Santo y en cada una de las Misas, señaló.

El sacrificio de Cristo, en la cruz y en la Eucaristía, demuestra su amor por la humanidad.

La Eucaristía es también el corazón y el centro de la vida parroquial, lo que significa que el amor de Cristo está en el centro de la vida de la parroquia, añadió. “Y en el corazón de cada cristiano está el amor de Cristo, porque el amor de Dios ha sido derramado en nuestros corazones a través del Espíritu Santo”.

“Sí, durante estos días, que iniciamos hoy con esta Misa de la Cena del Señor, celebramos el sacrificio de amor de Cristo por toda la humanidad”, sentenció.

Al comenzar el Santo Triduo, el obispo alentó a las personas a volver a dedicarse a amarse “hasta el final”, tal como Cristo nos ama.

Más online En www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte: Puede ver completa la Misa de la Última Cena del Señor

El Obispo Peter Jugis eleva la Eucaristía en la misa de Domingo de Ramos, el 5 de abril en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“Lo que cuenta verdaderamente es Jesús”

Dijo el Obispo Jugis en su homilía de Domingo de Ramos CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO HISPANO

CHARLOTTE — En una celebración de Domingo de Ramos a puerta cerrada, el Reverendísimo Peter J. Jugis, Obispo de la Diócesis de Charlotte, dirigió un mensaje de esperanza y concientización a la feligresía Católica del Oeste de Carolina del Norte, durante la Misa que celebró a las 11 de la mañana en la Catedral San Patricio.

En condiciones sin precedentes, ante una iglesia sin ocupantes debido a la crisis sanitaria por el brote de Coronavirus en todo el mundo, el Obispo Jugis, acompañado de un pequeño séquito que no excedía de las diez personas que permite la norma de aislamiento social decretada por las autoridades federales y estatales, realizó un breve recorrido procesional por los exteriores de la catedral, efectuó las lecturas previas en el portal de la iglesia y luego ingresó al templo.

No hubo multitudes que agitaran sus ramos, ni cánticos alegres, ni liturgias elaboradas para conmemorar el Domingo de Ramos y el comienzo de la Semana Santa. El Domingo de Ramos, en medio de una pandemia, adquirió un tono sombrío y sencillo.

En su homilía bilingüe, el Obispo Jugis alentó a las personas a seguir el ejemplo de María al pie de la cruz, “a permanecer cerca de Jesús en estos días, cuando escuchamos tantas noticias temerosas sobre la propagación del virus y noticias tristes sobre las muertes causadas por el virus”.

“Recordemos que, aunque podamos estar en cuarentena, Jesús no está en cuarentena. Él desea estar con nosotros siempre y en todas partes, y podemos estar cerca de Él”, dijo.

Luego, en perfecto español, el Obispo Jugis dijo que el Papa Francisco rezó una oración “muy bonita” en la que se refirió a la pandemia del coronavirus expresando que son tiempos

de crisis en los “que debemos fijar la mirada en Jesús”. En resúmen, añadió, el Papa dijo “que debemos confiar en Jesús el crucificado y resucitado”.

Citándolo textualmente, señaló que el Papa Francisco rezó: “Señor, nos diriges una llamada, una llamada a la fe, que no es tanto el creer que tú existes sino ir hacia ti y confiar en ti.

En esta Cuaresma resuena tu llamada urgente: ‘Convertíos, volved a mí de todo corazón’. Nos llamas a tomar ese tiempo de prueba como un momento de elección. No es el momento de tu juicio sino de nuestro juicio. El tiempo para elegir entre lo que cuenta verdaderamente y lo que pasa, para separar lo que es necesario de lo que no lo es. Es el tiempo de restablecer el rumbo de la vida hacia ti Señor y hacia los demás”.

Interpretando el mensaje papal, el obispo expresó que “lo que dice el Papa es que lo que cuenta verdaderamente es Jesús, lo que es necesario es Jesús”. En estos tiempos de crisis, dijo, citando la Carta a los Hebreos 12-2, “levantemos la mirada hacia Jesús”.

Finalizando su mensaje en español subrayó que “en medio del aislamiento en que estamos experimentando la carencia de tantas cosas, escuchemos una vez más el anuncio que nos salva: Jesús ha resucitado y vive a nuestro lado”.

Todas las incidencias de la celebración pudieron ser vistas gracias a la transmisión “en vivo” que realizó la Diócesis de Charlotte, en colaboración con la Catedral San Patricio, a través de la página de YouTube de la diócesis.

Más online En www.youtube.com/DioceseOfCharlotte y www.facebook.com/ CNHEspañol: Vea la Misa completa de Domingo de Ramos y la homilía en español que dirigió el Obispo Peter Jugis a la feligresía

Lecturas Diarias ABRIL 12-18

Domingo (La Resurrección del Señor): Hechos 10:34, 37-43, Colosenses 3:1-4, Juan 20:1-9; Lunes: Hechos 2:14, 22-33, Mateo 28:8-15; Martes: Hechos 2:36-41, Juan 20:11-18; Miércoles: Hechos 3:1-10, Lucas 24:13-35; Jueves: Hechos 3:11-26, Lucas 24:35-48; Viernes: Hechos 4:1-12, Juan 21:1-14; Sábado: Hechos 4:13-21, Marcos 16:9-15

ABRIL 19-25

Domingo (Domingo de la Divina Misericordia): Hechos 2:42-47, 1 Pedro 1:3-9, Juan 20:19-31; Lunes: Hechos 4:23-31, Juan 3:1-8; Martes (San Anselmo): Hechos 4:32-37, Juan 3:7-15; Miércoles: Hechos 5:17-26, Juan 3:16-21; Jueves (San Jorge, San Adalberto): Hechos 5:27-33, Juan 3:31-36; Viernes (San Fidel de Sigmaringen): Hechos 5:34-42, Juan 6:1-15; Sábado (San Marcos): 1 Pedro 5:5b-14, Marcos 16:15-20

ABRIL 26-MAYO 2

Domingo: Hechos 2:14, 22-33, 1 Pedro 1:17-21, Lucas 24:1335; Lunes: Hechos 6:8-15, Juan 6:22-29; Martes (San Pedro Chanel, San Luis María Grignion de Montfort): Hechos 7:51-8:1, Juan 6:30-35; Miércoles (Sta. Catalina de Siena): Hechos 8:1-8, Juan 6:35-40; Jueves (San Pío V): Hechos 8:26-40, Juan 6:44-51; Viernes (San José Obrero): Hechos 9:1-20, Juan 6:52-59; Sábado (San Atanasio de Alejandría): Hechos 9:31-42, Juan 6:60-69

Mix 18

catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Book Pick

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‘The Virtue of Hope: How Confidence in God Can Lead You to Heaven’ by Fr. Philip Bochanski In this marvelous series of reflections on hope, adapted from a series of talks, Father Philip Bochanski not only lays out what hope is but also shows how we can exercise this theological virtue, through being daring, changing our ways, serving the Lord, struggling, suffering and praying. Beginning with the Book of Genesis and proceeding through the Gospels, the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he examines how hope directs us to our ultimate goal of life with God and gives us the strength and perseverance to attain it.

“The Virtue of Hope” is excellent spiritual reading for everyone, an instruction manual for how to grow in hope and in bravery in the face of life’s challenges. It is a clarion call that hope must not be merely theoretical, but must “lead us to a deeper relationship with God, an encounter with the One who loves us and calls us to friendship with Himself.”

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Employment Opportunity with the Diocese Of Charlotte

n Thursday, April 16, 1:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Thomas Aquinas in Today’s World.” Dr. Teresa Farnan looks at how Saint Thomas teaches us that nothing here on earth will make us truly happy because we were made to know, love and serve God here on earth and then to be happy with Him in heaven forever. n Friday, April 17, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Setting Captives Free: A Deeper Look at Ignatian Discernment of Spirits.” Father Timothy Gallagher explores the teachings and methodology behind the Ignatian concepts of prayer, meditation, examination and suitable acts of penance in the discernment of spirits. n Saturday, April 18, 8 p.m. (EWTN) ”The Untold Story of an Unknown Masterpiece.”

A look at the history of the Original Image of Divine Mercy, from the events that led to its creation under St. Faustina Kowalska’s guidance to its current place in the Cathedral in Vilnius, Lithuania. n Sunday, April 19, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Regina Caeli with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis recites the glorious prayer to Our Lady Queen of Heaven: The Regina Caeli. n Monday, April 20, 1:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Saints of China: Martyrs of the Middle Kingdom.” Dr. Anthony Clark tells the stories of two of China’s most honored martyr saints of the Vincentian Order: St. Francois-Regis Clet and St. JeanGabriel Perbore. n Wednesday, April 22, 1:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Great Britain in Focus.” From Westminster

Cathedral, a report on the Day of Reparation for the sins of abuse within the Church; witness the annual Marian procession in Manchester; and an interview on how Christians can seek guidance in making life decisions. n Thursday, April 23, 1 p.m. (EWTN) “Armenia’s Christians.” A look at the Church in Armenia, which was brought there by the Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew. Since then, Christianity in Armenia has endured great suffering but has preserved the identity and cultural heritage of the people. n Friday, April 24, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Life and Times of Sister Faustina.” Born in Poland in 1905 as Helena Kowalska, she is now known as Blessed Sister Mary Faustina, “The Apostle of Divine Mercy.”

Father Seraphim Michalenko Vice-Postulator for the cause of Canonization for Blessed Faustina for North America, explains in detail this re-enactment of Blessed Faustina’s life and the Divine Mercy Novena.

DISCOVER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE

The Diocese of Charlotte is accepting applications for the following full-time position: WEB DEVELOPER • This position is responsible for development and oversight of all facets of the diocesan presence on the Internet (excluding parishes and schools). He/she designs, implements and maintains an effective World Wide Web site presence for the Diocese of Charlotte by creating a dynamic, real-time, server generated site, selecting and presenting new content and ensuring timely content expiration. The Web Developer must create graphics suitable for the maintenance of a satisfying browsing experience as well as monitor bandwidth usage for unusual activity. The websites will present information on diocesan organizations, events, calendars, new programs and technical support.

• Qualified applicants will possess a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science or a related field and will have a minimum of five years related work experience.

SEND LETTER OF INTEREST (EXPLAINING WHY WORKING FOR THE DIOCESE IS OF INTEREST TO YOU) AND YOUR RESUME BY APRIL 24, 2020 TO: employment@charlottediocese.org.

The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Our nation 20

catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Gomez: Trust in the Sacred Heart WASHINGTON, D.C. — Standing at the foot of the cross on Good Friday with Mary, we look

upon her crucified Son, asking God, “Why did He have to die? Couldn’t there be some other way?” Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles said in a homily April 10. “Today we are also asking God: Why this coronavirus? Why have you allowed this disease and death to descend on our world?” he continued. “We know that Jesus on the cross is the only answer. In the heart of Christ – wounded by the soldier’s spear, pierced by our sins – we see how much God loves the world. We see how precious we are in our Father’s eyes.” The homily by Archbishop Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic

Bishops, was part of a national prayer service he led from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles as “a special moment of unity” at a time when the nation’s churches are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bilingual service included Scripture readings and his homily, followed by the recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart. The service was livestreamed at https://lacatholics.org and on the USCCB Facebook page, www.facebook.com/usccb. The cathedral was empty except for Archbishop Gomez, three priests, a lector and a musician playing a keyboard and singing hymns. “As we stand today at the foot of His cross, in the midst of this pandemic, Jesus is calling us to trust in his Sacred Heart,” the archbishop said in his homily.

“Let’s pray often to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: ‘Jesus, I trust in you! Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, en ti confio.’”

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schools, parishes and some dioceses, are eligible for assistance under regulations developed to implement portions of the massive $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. Interim final rules governing the law’s implementation state that faith-based organizations are eligible to seek and obtain Small Business Administration loans to continue paying employees for up to eight weeks provided at least 75% of the loan is used for payroll costs. The regulations are set to undergo the normal comment process as required by law, but they essentially took effect April 3. The law also includes a provision for church employees who are laid off from entities that do not participate in a state or a private unemployment insurance program to receive jobless benefits.

Anthony Picarello, associate general secretary and general counsel of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, explained the provision permits those employees to receive unemployment benefits in much the same way that contract and so-called gig workers can under the new law. “They will not be left hanging out to dry,” he told Catholic News Service. The CARES Act’s complexities were still being unraveled April 6 as the country reels from an intensifying economic shutdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal officials are working to smooth the way for nonprofits and small businesses employing up to 500 workers to access $350 billion in low-interest loans available under law’s Paycheck Protection Program.

Catholic schools, Little Sisters among court’s postponed cases WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court, much like the rest of the country, is putting some of its work on hold amid the restrictions of the COVID-19 health crisis. The court, which had already postponed oral arguments from mid-March to mid-April, announced April 3 that it also was postponing the rest of the April argument session scheduled through April 29.

In announcing the decision, it did not say if or when it would resume scheduled arguments for this term but indicated in a short news release that the court will “consider rescheduling some cases from the March and April sessions before the end of the term, if circumstances permit in light of public health and safety guidance at that time.” The most recent announcement impacts a case the court was to hear April 29: Little Sisters of the Poor v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The sisters, who have been before the nation’s high court before, are back because of state challenges to the Trump administration’s decision to allow religious employers to opt out of the Affordable Health Care’s contraceptive mandate. ­— Catholic News Service

Our world

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Pope calls for a ‘contagion’ of Easter hope, peace, care for poor CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — In an Easter celebration like no other, Pope Francis prayed that Christ, “who has already defeated death and opened for us the way to eternal salvation,” would “dispel the darkness of our suffering humanity and lead us into the light of His glorious day, a day that knows no end.”

The pope’s traditional Easter message before his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) still mentioned countries yearning for peace, migrants and refugees in need of a welcoming home and the poor deserving of assistance.

But his Easter prayers April 12 were mostly in the context of the suffering and death caused by the coronavirus and the economic difficulties the pandemic already has triggered.

The pope’s Easter morning Mass was unique; missing were dozens of cardinals concelebrating and tens of thousands of pilgrims from around the world packing St. Peter’s Square. Yet millions followed on television, by radio and by livestream as the Easter “Alleluia” was repeated and the Gospel account of the disciples finding the empty tomb was proclaimed both in Latin and in Greek.

In a clear sign of continuing prayers to God for the end of the pandemic, the sanctuary around the altar again was dominated by symbols of Romans’ faith in divine intervention: the icon “Salus Populi Romani” (health of the Roman people) and the “Miraculous Crucifix,” both of which were carried through the city centuries ago in times of plague.

As is customary, Pope Francis did not give a homily during the Mass but offered his reflections before the “urbi et orbi” blessing.

Instead of standing on the central balcony of the basilica overlooking the square, he delivered the address from the gates leading to the tomb of St. Peter under the basilica’s main altar.

The Easter proclamation “Jesus Christ is risen! He is truly risen!” goes forth from “the night of a world already faced with epochal challenges and now oppressed by a pandemic severely testing our whole human family,” the pope said. “In this night, the Church’s voice rings out: ‘Christ, my hope, is risen!’”

The proclamation of hope, new life and victory over death, he said, should be “a different ‘contagion,’ a message transmitted from heart to heart, for every human heart awaits this good news,” he said.

“This is no magic formula that makes problems vanish,” the pope said. “No, the resurrection of Christ is not that. Instead, it is the victory of love over the root of evil, a victory that does not bypass suffering and death, but passes through them, opening a path in the abyss, transforming evil into good: this is the unique hallmark of the power of God.” The Risen Jesus, he said, came forth from the grave still bearing the marks of His crucifixion, he said. “Let us turn our gaze to Him that He may heal the wounds of an afflicted humanity.”

Pope Francis prayed first of all for those directly affected by the coronavirus, especially the sick, those who have died and those mourning loved ones after not being able to say goodbye.

“May the Lord of life welcome the departed into His kingdom and grant comfort and hope to those still suffering, especially the elderly and those who are alone,” he said. “May He never withdraw His consolation and help from those who are especially vulnerable, such as persons who work in nursing homes or live in barracks and prisons.”

Pope Francis also prayed for those suffering from solitude because of the pandemic, for those who have lost their jobs, for doctors and nurses treating the sick and for members of law enforcement, who are helping keep people safe.

“In these weeks, the lives of millions of people have suddenly changed,” he said.

Some people have found it an opportunity to slow down, reflect and spend time with their families.

But, he said, for many others “this is also a time of worry about an uncertain future, about jobs that are at risk and about other consequences of the current crisis.”“Indifference, self-centeredness, division and forgetfulness are not words we want to hear at this time,” he said. Yet, “they seem to prevail when fear and death overwhelm us, that is, when we do not let the Lord Jesus triumph in our hearts and lives.”

“We want to ban these words forever,” he said, and Easter is the time to start.

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COVID-19 is not God’s judgment, but a call to live differently, pope says CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — The worldwide coronavirus pandemic is not God’s judgment on humanity, but God’s call on people to judge what is most important to them and resolve to act accordingly from now on, Pope Francis said.

Addressing God, the pope said that “it is not the time of your judgment, but of our judgment: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. It is a time to get our lives back on track with regard to You, Lord, and to others.”

Pope Francis offered his meditation on the meaning of the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for humanity March 27 before raising a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament and giving an extraordinary blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world).

Popes usually give their blessing “urbi et orbi” only immediately after their election and on Christmas and Easter.

Pope Francis opened the service – in a rain-drenched, empty St. Peter’s Square – praying that the “almighty and merciful God” would see how people are suffering and give them comfort. He asked to care for the sick and dying, for medical workers CNS | YARA NARDI, POOL VIA REUTERS exhausted by caring for the sick and for Pope Francis holds the monstrance political leaders who bear the burden of as he gives his extraordinary blessing making decisions to protect their people. “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the The service included the reading of the world) from the atrium of St. Peter’s Gospel of Mark’s account of Jesus calming Basilica at the Vatican March 27. the stormy sea. “Let us invite Jesus into the boats of our lives,” the pope said. “Let us hand over our fears to Him so that He can conquer them.”

Like the disciples on the stormy Sea of Galilee, he said, “we will experience that, with Him on board, there will be no shipwreck, because this is God’s strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things.”

The Gospel passage began, “When evening had come,” and the pope said that with the pandemic and its sickness and death, and with the lockdowns and closures of schools and workplaces, it has felt like “for weeks now it has been evening.”

“Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void that stops everything as it passes by,” the pope said. “We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm.”

However, the pandemic storm has made most people realize “we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented,” he said. And it has shown how each person has a contribution to make, at least in comforting each other.

“On this boat are all of us,” he said.

The pandemic, the pope said, has exposed “our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits and priorities.”

In the midst of the storm, Pope Francis said, God is calling people to faith, which is not just believing God exists, but turning to Him and trusting Him.

April:

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Lessons from the cloister for healthy – and holy! – social distancing

S

Kelly Henson

T

Hospitality during quarantine

he other day, I was stung by a bee while doing dishes ... inside. Honestly, after my first yelp of surprise, my predominant feeling was empathy. The poor bee had accidentally flown into our home looking for pollen-heavy blossoms. Instead, he met my daughter who was immediately focused on his destruction. However, her intention was more vehement than her fly-swatting skills, and he ended up half dead in the kitchen trash.

What had happened? His world was suddenly tossed upside down, and he was bludgeoned by unknown forces. The poor bee dragged his mangled dignity out of the sticky eggshells and crumpled marker drawings and stung the first tangible threat he sensed – me.

As the COVID-19 virus has swept through our nation, it’s easy to feel hurt, defensive, trapped and scared. Like the bee, I, ashamedly, have been too quick to sting the first person I see with impatient words, overly sensitive reactions and demands for a level of personal space to process it all that is just impractical in a family of seven. When our circumstances change suddenly, our unconquered fears and sinful tendencies are thrown into sharp relief.

1 John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” As odd as it may sound, the virtue of hospitality is a particular form of charity that we can use to counteract the anxiety, resentment and claustrophobia that many of us are feeling during quarantine.

First, we are called to extend hospitality towards Christ. We are used to Him welcoming us into His churches. While churches remain shut, the sorrow of separation from the physical Presence of Christ saddens our hearts and deepens our longing for our Eucharistic Lord. In our family, our blessing before meals requests, “Come Lord Jesus, be our guest. Let Thy gifts to us be blessed. Amen.”

What does it really mean to invite Christ to be a guest at our table? I know He would see the messy parts of our lives. I know he would hear the kids bicker and see me struggle to weave order, education and beauty into our days. But, when our distractions and busyness outside the home are stripped away, we can see how much we need His presence in our home.

Every time we pray, He is welcome and present. Meals begin with a prayer of gratitude. A quick Morning Offering after breakfast helps us start our day intentionally in league with God. Our pastor recently encouraged the practice of the Angelus at 6 and 12 o’clock. And others have prompted us to use the Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m. (or 3 a.m.) to accompany those who are dying in pain and alone around the world right now.

My daughters rarely settle down peacefully for the night unless I sit in their room and pray a rosary with them first. There are no

spiritual gold stickers earned for practicing every single devotion; the point is to use these tools and spontaneous prayer throughout your day to invite God into the present moment.

Christ can bring light into isolation and hope into our fear of an uncertain future. At Pentecost the Spirit of God rushed into the locked room full of scared apostles and filled their hearts with courage, with peace that passes understanding and with a desire to serve. God offers that same Spirit to each of us in our homes today.

The second way to practice hospitality during quarantine is towards the people in our homes with us. While hospitality is a virtue of charity generally extended toward guests and strangers, in a sense, our own families are often strange to us, especially if we lead busy, transient lives. When we are all cooped up together, the little courtesies we would easily extend to a house guest can soften the emotional burden that our family members are suffering under right now.

We each have different ways of expressing that extra care – a special meal, a long conversation on the couch after dinner, a shared game or joke, or maybe taking the time to say “yes” to an activity that usually elicits a quick “not right now.” A good host receives and cares for hearts as well as bodies. That blessing returns upon the giver because when we seek to make the ordinary extraordinary, it pulls us out of ourselves and our well-worn mental tracks of worry.

In a way, both of these forms of hospitality to Christ and to our family are the same.

When we make our home a haven for the people who live there, we are also serving Christ in them. This is the heart of an integrated home – worshiping God in Himself and through love of each other.

It is not easy to give when you feel that much has been taken from you. A new book, “The Theology of Home,” points out, “Hospitality ... is the struggle and opportunity to reorient our internal axis outside of ourselves.” Time in silent prayer and conversation with a grounded friend can help us move past the shock and frustration of a suddenly changed life. But, as you emerge from those initial reactions, resolve to make this a time of connection and deepening within your family relationships. Foster your unique family culture, eat together, pray together, laugh together, solve problems together, suffer together.

Christ will be there as your house guest and will help make burdens light despite the uncertainty that surrounds us.

KELLY HENSON is a Catholic writer and speaker who explores the art of integrating faith into daily life. She and her family are parishioners of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro.

She blogs at www.kellyjhenson.com.

hortly before they moved to our jobs. Everyone with school-age Charlotte, I was blessed to live the children is either homeschooling or cloistered life with the Poor Clares supervising virtual schooling. For those of Perpetual Adoration in Portsmouth, finding yourself without an occupation, Ohio, for nine months. Little did I creatively consider what you could do know upon discerning that I had no daily. Begin working on your degree cloistered vocation that a decade later, through online education. Draw. Write.

I’d have a chance to put to use some of Garden. Knit. Sew. Tackle the honey-do the life skills I learned there. list. Potty train a little one. Exercise. If For those of you unaccustomed to you can’t think of something that suits social distancing, I offer these lessons you, reach out to family for ideas. from the cloistered life.

9. Go outside daily. We all need 1. Set your alarm for a reasonable fresh air and bright sunshine for our time and stick to it. In the cloister, physical, spiritual and mental wellone lucky sister got up before the others and walked the halls jingling a small bell, knocking each door, and calling “Adoremus in Aeternum!”

2. Shower daily. Your family will appreciate it. Mother Dolores required this of us daily as a discipline and an act of charity toward the other sisters. Even if you’ve done nothing and gone nowhere, shower and get dressed.

3. Pray daily. This is the first official order of business in the cloister, where throughout the day, there is a lot of prayer PHOTO PROVIDED going on. But even at home, set The Richardson family poses with Mother Dolores Marie, aside a half hour to spend with PCPA, at her 25th anniversary of religious vows in the Lord before the children Hanceville, Ala., in September 2019. From left are Mary wake up. Make your Morning Richardson with baby Joseph asleep, Maria and Rita, and Offering, read the Daily Mass JR Richardson.

Readings, say the rosary, meditate on Scriptures, and offer up to God by name our leaders, each being. My favorite outdoor activity member of your family, and any other by far was gardening with Mother intentions on your heart.

Dolores. While I thought we were just 4. Treasure those around you. I was weeding the Swiss Chard, Mother very lucky that the community I was a would use it as a time to explain how part of had a great rapport. The sisters gardening is a good allegory for the all loved one another and enjoyed each soul: as we pull out dandelions, we also other’s company. In your own family, can consider how we can pull the roots you may love or be annoyed with those of sins from our soul. around you. Strive to love, even if you 10. Read! During my nine months don’t like. in the cloister, I read many wonderful 5. Be grateful for your food! When books from our monastery library. people would bring food to us in the FORMED, your local public library’s cloister, Mother Dolores would pile it onto virtual collection, or books buried in a cart and wheel it to the chapel with us your attic can finally be read. Consider at her heels. She rolled the cart in front of spiritual classics and other classics that the altar where we would kneel in silent provide wonderful food for thought. thanksgiving to God for providing for our 11. Write a letter every Sunday… needs. It was very humbling. or every day. In the monastery, we 6. Be creative with meals. Mother wrote home on Sundays. You can do Dolores encouraged “Sister Cook” this more often. Go through your to vary the meals, creatively using Christmas card list and focus on those whatever was on hand. The variety of who are elderly, sick or may be lonely. culinary delights does wonder to break Write a cheery note and maybe color or monotony for both cook and consumer. draw something to enclose. Postage is 7. Clean daily! When everyone available online from several places. spends 24/7 in the same house, dust 12. Laugh and be joyful! Perhaps the and dirt build up quicker. So set a time most striking and most memorable – to clean it up – we had a 8:30-9 a.m. and the most unexpected – aspect of daily cleaning time. Mother assigned cloistered life was the joy! Never in my each sister her own zone and a rotation life did I spend so much time laughing of chores. Setting something like this and smiling. Each night at recreation, will keep you from being overwhelmed we’d spend good quality time together, or feeling like you are constantly mostly just laughing and living God’s cleaning. This includes laundry. joy in our cloistered life.

8. Be occupied! Each sister had a job.

May we all practice social distancing There was “Sister Correspondence,” with grace and fun, and become holy in “Sister Cook,” “Sister Sacristan,” the process!

“Sister Seamstress” (that was me!) and others. In our current quarantine, some MARY BETH RICHARDSON is a member of St. Ann of us have been able to go virtual with Parish in Charlotte.

April 15, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

23

Rev. Msgr. Patrick Winslow

Living in exile I

n challenging times one can always find a hidden invitation from God to reassess, reprioritize and refocus on things that truly matter. Now that our ordinary daily routine has ground to a halt, we have time for sober reflection and insight into the unfortunate situation in which we find ourselves. What can we learn?

Holy Scripture offers more than a few examples of insight born from adversity; not just personal struggles, but total community upheaval. During the sixth century B.C., the Babylonian Empire invaded Jerusalem and exiled its residents – God’s chosen people – not only from their homes but from their country. Life as they knew it was immediately and radically changed. This was not just a matter of relocating to their new ruler’s city of Babylon; their entire system of worship was uprooted. They believed the Temple of Jerusalem was the only place on earth where one could offer true worship to God. The Temple was His footstool and meeting place; the Holy of Holies dwelt within.

The forced exile of the People of God, combined with the complete destruction of the Temple, must have felt like a divine revocation of the Promised Land. For the next 70 years they lived as outcasts longing for their homeland. Psalm 137:1 recalls their pain: “by the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.” It was a devastating experience, which at the time seemed to extinguish the holy flame that was to become a light to the nations (Is. 49:6).

The people of Israel would eventually realize that their struggle had the unexpected, but divinely intended, effect of making the light of their faith shine brighter. Amid their suffering, Israel’s prophets began to develop important themes born from their experience; such as not to rely on princes and rulers, or even their own status as a nation. They were to rely only on the intimate and providential hand of God: “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you’” (Is. 41:13).

As for their separation from the Temple, those individuals who lacked true devotion could no longer hide behind a mere pretense of ritual sacrifice and prayer.

Only those who allowed themselves to be purified by suffering were able to find spiritual consolation, eschew despair, and hope for the restoration of the Temple to serve God in freedom and purity. They also had to grapple with the sobering prophetic message that the exile was the action of God’s sanctifying hand. In short, they needed it. God intended it for the good of His people and, through their faithful witness, for the good of all the nations.

Admittedly, our situation is far less dramatic and severe than the Babylonian Exile. Nevertheless, our pain and uncertainty is real. Some are experiencing the loss of loved ones. Many are facing illness. All are experiencing disruption to their daily lives, anxiety and fear about their health and economic future. Access to the sacraments has been severely limited. Our pain teaches the same lesson: adversity can purify faith and

strengthen our reliance on God’s providence.

Like the Judahites before the exile, familiarity and routine in times of prosperity have a way of distancing us from consideration of our ultimate destiny. Daily life and cradling societal structures provide us with an immediate sense of security – but not without a cost. The eternal horizon can recede from view. Shortsightedness causes larger considerations to withdraw.

God becomes an occasional academic question, while reflection upon one’s purpose and life’s true meaning retreats from the mind. Then, when our fragile temporal securities are shaken, the full weight of the present hardship can leave us hopeless and in fear. Even the most conscientious believer is not immune.

Without the farsighted vision afforded by a strong faith, the Christian once given sight is in danger of becoming blind again.

Let this not be our fate. Our faith must rise to the occasion and enable our vision to see past the current moment. We must keep the eternal horizon in view by continually recalling that “here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come” (Heb. 13:14). With our bearings set to true North, we can reassess and reprioritize our lives. Questions of purpose and meaning come into focus. The practice of one’s faith extends beyond an hour on Sunday or the occasional moment of existential anxiety.

Authentic religious faith is lived. Faith rightly becomes the compass that guides us not only on our larger path, but even in the daily course of our life. This is the trusting faith that Christ asks of us: Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. (Mt 6:27-33) Living this way, the believer with heightened vision becomes sensitive not only to God’s greater plan but also to the immediate working of His providential hand in the smallest details of our personal life. Each is important. Inextricably bound by the threads of time, as the mustard seed becomes a tree, one gives rise to the other. The small acts of providence give rise to His greater plan. Like the Holy Virgin at the Annunciation, we would see and surrender to the movements of grace stirring before our very eyes that ultimately give birth to the extraordinary work of God in our life and in the world.

This is the first and greatest lesson that we can learn at this moment.

REV. MSGR. PATRICK J. WINSLOW is the vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte.

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catholicnewsherald.com | April 15, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE — YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH

DUC IN ALTUM JUNE 29 — JULY 3, 2020 AT BELMONT ABBEY COLLEGE RETREAT FOR YOUNG WOMEN, 15 -19 YEARS OF AGE WWW.CHARLOTTEVOCATIONS.ORG