Sept. 11, 2020

September 11, 2020

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

Belmont Abbey, CaroMont Health announce new hospital plan 3

Teen Serve Week Amid pandemic St. Peter teens, parishioners team up to help people in need

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INDEX

Contact us.....................................4 Español.........................................8-10 Online Masses...............................4 Our Faith........................................2 Our Parishes............................. 3-7 Schools....................................12-13 Scripture readings.......................2 TV & Movies..................................11 U.S. news.................................14-15 Viewpoints..............................18-19 World news............................. 16-17

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Deepen your faith in the Eucharist Profundiza tu fe en la Eucaristía INSIDE: A Eucharistic-themed special supplement for families

Time to go back to school!

See photos of the first day of school at our Catholic schools

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Venezolanos recuerdan a la Virgen de Coromoto 9

Obispos de Estados Unidos ofrecen guía de participación ciudadana 8

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Francis

Common good, not greed, must motivate search for vaccine “Mater Dolorosa” by El Greco (1590s), part of the collection at the Museum of Fine Arts of Strasbourg, France

T

he common good – and not political or economic gain – should be at the heart of the race to find a vaccine for COVID-19, Pope Francis said.

During his weekly general audience Sept. 9, the pope said that “we see partisan interests emerging” in the search for a vaccine, and some people “are taking advantage of the situation to instigate divisions: by seeking economic or political advantages, generating or exacerbating conflicts.”

“Others simply are not interesting themselves in the suffering of others; they pass by and go their own way. They are devotees of Pontius Pilate: they wash their hands,” he said.

The general audience was in the San Damaso courtyard of the Apostolic Palace, a small space with seats for about 500 people. While attendees were required to wear masks, they bunched up at the railings to try to get closer to Pope Francis, prompting him to urge them to return to their seats and stay a safe distance from one another.

“Please move back so that you aren’t crowded here. Each one (return) to your seats so we can avoid infections,” he said at the start of the audience.

After the audience, the pope put on a mask before getting in his car to leave the courtyard.

Continuing his series of talks on “healing the world,” highlighting Catholic social teaching, the pope reflected on the importance of love and the common good, especially in a time of crisis.

The Christian response to the pandemic, he said, “is based on love,” which is difficult, especially when it means “loving the enemy,” which is “the highest summit of holiness.” Love, he continued, not only makes families and friendships flourish, but also “social, cultural, economic and political relationships,” thus allowing for the growth of a “civilization of love.”

Pope Francis said the coronavirus pandemic highlights how “each person’s true good is a common good” and that “a virus that does not recognize barriers, borders or cultural or political distinctions must be faced with a love without barriers, borders or distinction.”

“If the solutions for the pandemic bear the imprint of selfishness, whether it be by people, businesses or nations, we may perhaps emerge from the coronavirus crisis, but certainly not from the human and social crisis that the virus has brought to light and accentuated.”

“Therefore, we must be careful not to build on sand! To build a healthy, inclusive, just and peaceful society we must do so on the rock of the common good,” he said. “Common good is a rock.”

What is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows?

For 50 years, St. Pio of Petrelcina bore the stigmata, bodily marks corresponding to the wounds suffered by the crucified Jesus. The Capuchin Franciscan monk’s wounds caused great notoriety – for years the Church forbade him from publicly displaying them, and he endured multiple medical and psychological investigations questioning his credibility. Shortly before he died in 1968, the wounds disappeared and left no visible scarring.

Padre Pio, ‘a man of prayer and suffering’ Feast day: Sept. 23 On Sept. 23, the Catholic Church remembers the Italian Franciscan priest St. Pio of Petrelcina, better known as “Padre Pio” and renowned for his suffering, humility and miracles.

The man later known by these names was originally named Francesco Forgione, born to his parents Grazio and Maria in 1887. His parents had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. They taught the five surviving children to live their faith through daily Mass, family prayer of the rosary, and regular acts of penance.

Francesco had already decided at a young age to dedicate his entire life to God. At age 10, he felt inspired by the example of a young Capuchin Franciscan, and told his parents: “I want to be a friar – with

a beard.” Francesco’s father spent time in America, working to finance his son’s education so he could enter the religious life.

On Jan. 22, 1903, Francesco donned the Franciscan habit for the first time. He took the new name Pio, a modernized Italian form of “Pius,” in honor of Pope St. Pius V. He made his solemn vows four years later, and received priestly ordination in the summer of 1910. Shortly after, he first received the stigmata – Christ’s wounds, present in his own flesh.

Along with these mystical but real wounds, Padre Pio also suffered health PADRO PIO, SEE PAGE 20

The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15 commemorates the seven great sorrows which Mary lived in relation to Her Son, as they are recorded in the Gospels or through Tradition. On this feast day, we are invited to reflect on Mary’s deep suffering: 1. At the prophecy of Simeon: “You yourself shall be pierced with a sword – so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare.” (Luke 2:35) 2. At the flight into Egypt: “Get up, take the child and His mother, and flee to Egypt.” (Mt 2:13) 3. Having lost the Holy Child at Jerusalem: “You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow.” (Luke 2:48) 4. Meeting Jesus on His way to Calvary 5. Standing at the foot of the Cross: “Near the cross of Jesus there stood His mother.” (John 19:25) 6. Jesus being taken from the Cross 7. At the burial of Christ Prior to the Second Vatican Council, there were two feasts devoted to the sorrows of Mary. The first feast was instituted in Cologne in 1413 as an expiation for the sins of the iconoclast Hussites. The second is attributed to the Servite order whose principal devotion are the Seven Sorrows. It was instituted in 1668, though the devotion had been in existence since 1239 – five years after the founding of the order.

— Catholic News Agency

Daily Scripture readings SEPT. 13-19

Sunday: Sirach 27:30-28:7, Romans 14:7-9, Matthew 18:21-35; Monday (The Exaltation of the Holy Cross): Numbers 21:4-9, Philippians 2:6-11, John 3:13-17; Tuesday (Our Lady of Sorrows): 1 Corinthians 12:1214, 27-31, John 19:25-27; Wednesday (Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian): 1 Corinthians 12:3113:13, Luke 7:31-35; Thursday (St. Robert Bellarmine): 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 7:3650; Friday: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 8:1-3; Saturday (St. Januarius): 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49, Luke 8:4-15

SEPT. 20-26

Sunday: Isaiah 55:6-9, Philippians 1:2024, 27, Matthew 20:1-16; Monday (St. Matthew): Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13, Matthew 9:9-13; Tuesday: Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13, Luke 8:19-21; Wednesday (St. Pius of Pietrelcina): Proverbs 30:5-9, Luke 9:1-6; Thursday: Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, Luke 9:7-9; Friday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, Luke 9:18-22; Saturday (Sts. Cosmas and Damian): Ecclesiastes 11:912:8, Luke 9:43-45:

SEPT. 27- OCT. 3

Sunday: Ezekiel 18:25-28, Philippians 2:1-11, Matthew 21:28-32; Monday (St. Wenceslaus, St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions): Job 1:6-22, Luke 9:46-50; Tuesday (Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael): Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, John 1:47-51; Wednesday (St. Jerome): Job 9:1-12, 14-16, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus): Job 19:21-27, Luke 10:1-12; Friday (The Holy Guardian Angels): Job 38:1, 12-21, 40:3-5, Matthew 18:1-5, 10; Saturday: Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17, Luke 10:17-24

Our parishes

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Help support our retired priests

(From left) CaroMont Health’s Richard Blackburn, vice president of Diagnostic and Support Services, Board Chairman David Payseur Jr. and President/CEO Chris Peek are pictured with Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, after signing their agreement Sept.

1 at Belmont Abbey College.

Second collection to fund priests’ retirement and benefits plans SUEANN HOWELL CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — The weekend of Sept. 19-20, the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte will have the opportunity to show support for retired priests who have given a lifetime of service.

The Priests’ Retirement and Benefits second collection helps to support the diocese’s retired priests and fund others’ future retirement.

Currently serving the Church in western North Carolina are 84 diocesan priests and 23 religious order priests, and an additional 29 priests are retired.

“Each year, we have the opportunity to respond generously and with grateful hearts to the priests who serve us faithfully in the 92 parishes and missions throughout our diocese,” said Bishop Peter Jugis in his annual letter announcing the collection. “With the annual collection to fund the priests’ retirement and benefits plans, we financially sustain these men who give their lives to preach the Gospel, to teach the Catholic faith, to lead God’s people in love, and to celebrate the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.”

Most retired priests actually continue serving in ministry – visiting the sick in nursing homes and hospitals, counseling inmates in prisons, filling in for priests at parishes when needed, and much more.

“Retired priests pray daily for the people of the diocese, offer Mass for the intentions of parishioners, and give of their time and talent to help with confessions and Sunday Masses in parishes throughout the diocese,” Bishop Jugis said.

The goal to fund the priests’ retirement and benefits program for 2020 is $1.3 million. The goal is comprised of: 69 percent for pension contributions to diocesan priests’ retirement plans and retirement benefits expenses for retired diocesan priests’ health plans; 22 percent for pension contributions for religious order priests’ retirement plans; 6 percent for administrative fees; and 3 percent for fundraising costs.

The amount assessed each parish is 2.3 percent of its annual offertory income. In most parishes, the assessment amounts to 20 percent more than the weekly Sunday offertory.

Many people contribute to this second collection during the offertory at Mass, but reduced Mass schedules and seating capacities in churches because of the COVID-19 pandemic could mean fewer donations to this critical fund.

Instead, people are being encouraged to give online, mail in their donations, or drop them off at their parish offices.

“Your parish provides an envelope for this collection in the parish offertory packet it mails to you,” Bishop Jugis noted in his letter. “If you are unable to attend Mass the weekend of Sept.

20, please consider making a gift by mailing in your contribution or making a gift online.”

People can go to their parish’s website if it offers online giving, or give online www. charlottediocese.org/donate (click on “Priests’ Retirement”). Gifts made through the diocesan website will be credited to the donor’s parish.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CAROMONT HEALTH

Belmont Abbey, CaroMont Health announce new hospital plan BELMONT — A hospital is planned east of the campus of Belmont Abbey College, thanks to a new partnership with CaroMont Health Inc. that will complement new healthcare degree programs at the college.

Abbey and CaroMont officials officially signed a lease agreement Sept. 1 for the construction of a hospital on the abbey’s property, to be named CaroMont Regional Medical Center-Belmont. The Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey unanimously approved the lease earlier in August.

The cooperative venture will provide substantial benefits to the Abbey, the college, CaroMont Health and the Gaston County community, officials said in a statement.

“I am grateful to Chris Peek, president and CEO of CaroMont Health, and to Dr. Bill Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, for initiating the discussions that led to this significant day in the abbey’s history,” Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari said in a statement. “Special recognition goes to Richard Hoefling (’71), Bill Monroe, and Michael Warstler (’86), without whose expertise and dedicated service on behalf of the abbey, the lease would not have been realized. I am grateful as well to all in the college community who worked so diligently on the SOAR initiative, which this lease will help to bring to fruition.”

The SOAR initiative has involved creating new majors at Belmont Abbey College, including degree programs in Nursing and Health Information Management & Analytics, which began welcoming students this fall. Other new majors such as Marketing and Supply Chain Management were also part of this concerted effort.

The Nursing major program is pending approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, the North Carolina Board of Nursing, and other regulatory agencies.

Students pursuing these healthcare majors are expected to have practicals at the new hospital and use classrooms located on the hospital’s campus. They will also be able to look to the hospital for possible employment opportunities after they graduate.

“We are at a new beginning for Belmont Abbey College as our healthcare degrees take shape,” Thierfelder said of the new programs. “I am overjoyed at the prospect of the impact our students will make on our community and the world. The health informatics major at the abbey integrates health, technology, data, science, and our uniquely Catholic and Benedictine charism.

“With this program our college will bring a much needed moral and charitable ethos the world so desperately needs.”

Services are still being planned for CaroMont Regional Medical CenterBelmont, but abbey officials said the hospital will serve the community and offer an emergency department, inpatient units for patients requiring admission or observation, operating rooms and surgical capabilities, a labor and delivery unit, and a full suite of imaging services – including MRI and CT scans, nuclear medicine and ultrasound.

Officials said the hospital, located east of the college’s main campus off I-85, could open as early as mid-2023. State officials must first approve CaroMont’s certificate of need.

Medical office buildings for outpatient services and physician offices are also planned for the hospital campus.

Belmont Abbey College, founded in 1876, is the only Catholic college between northern Virginia and Florida.

The new health care majors bring the total academic degree programs offered by the college to 25.

Enrollment this fall is approximately 1,400 students.

— Catholic News Herald

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Father Meehan passes away, aged 89 LENOIR — Father Gabriel Joseph Meehan passed away Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at Caldwell Memorial Hospital in Lenoir. He was 89.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church at noon Friday, Sept. 11, 2020, officiated

by Bishop Peter J. Jugis. Father Meehan’s body will be received at the church at 10:45 a.m.

Friday for a viewing from 11 a.m. until the Mass. He will also lie in repose from 2 to Meehan 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2020, at The Padgett and King Mortuary in Forest City.

Born July 29, 1931, in Philadelphia, he began his studies at Holy Trinity College in Holy Trinity, Ala., and then studied at seminaries in Brackney, Pa., and Winchester, Va. On May 19, 1959, he was ordained at Winchester as a priest for the Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. In 1961, he became a Trappist priest at the Abbey of the Genesee in Piffard, N.Y. After 12 years of monastic life as a Trappist priest, Father Meehan came to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1973 to pursue a more active priesthood. He served for a few months as an assistant at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte and then served for three years as administrator of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville.

In July 1976, Father Meehan became pastor of St. Lucien Church in Spruce Pine. While serving there, he formally became a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte in January 1978. In July of that year, he was named pastor of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville.

Father Meehan also served as pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church in Albemarle and as pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, as well as vicar forane for the Hickory Vicariate. In June 1985, he was named pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City and served there until 2001, when he retired to Lenoir.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1024 W. Main St., Forest City, N.C. 28043.

The Padgett and King Mortuary & Crematory was in charge of arrangements, and an online guest registry is available at www. padgettking.com.

— Catholic News Herald

Online Masses 4

catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

September 11, 2020 Volume 29 • NUMBER 25

1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

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

LIVESTREAMED MASSES

RECORDED MASSES

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

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

BELMONT ABBEY MONASTERY: 11 a.m. daily

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

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

Spanish Sunday HOLY INFANT CHURCH, REIDSVILLE: 9 a.m. Sunday OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 10 a.m.

Sunday

STAFF EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org SENIOR REPORTER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org ONLINE REPORTER: Kimberly Bender 704-808-7341, kdbender@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org

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

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OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE: 9 a.m. daily QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, BELMONT: 9:15 and 11 a.m.

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

Sunday SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY: 9 a.m. daily (except Tuesday), Tuesday Mass, 6 p.m.

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

English; 2 p.m. Spanish ST. EUGENE CHURCH, ASHEVILLE: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Vigil; 9 a.m. Sunday Mass ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHURCH, MOCKSVILLE: 9 a.m. English; 10:30 a.m. Spanish ST. JAMES CHURCH, CONCORD: English and Spanish ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8, 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sunday in English and 12 p.m. Sunday in Spanish ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH, WAYNESVILLE, AND IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MISSION, CANTON

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

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

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

ST. MARK CHURCH, HUNTERSVILLE: 7 and 9 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday; 7 a.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. Saturday; 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday in English, and 1 p.m. in Spanish ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 8 a.m. Sunday

OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH, MONROE

ST. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD CHURCH, SYLVA: Noon Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 9 a.m. Saturday; 11:30 a.m. Sunday in English and 7 p.m. Saturday in Spanish ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12 p.m. daily; 9 a.m. Sunday

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, CHARLOTTE SACRED HEART CHURCH, SALISBURY: 11 a.m. Domingo ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, HICKORY: 1 p.m. Domingo ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM: 1:30 p.m.

Domingo ST. EUGENE CHURCH, ASHEVILLE: 7:30 a.m. Domingo ST. JAMES THE GREATER CHURCH, CONCORD ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH, CANDLER

ST. MICHAEL CHURCH, GASTONIA: 9 a.m. Sunday

ST. JOHN NEUMANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12 p.m. Domingo

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, CHARLOTTE: 12:30 p.m. Sunday

ST. JOSEPH CHURCH, ASHEBORO

ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 9 a.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday; 4:30 p.m. Saturday; 10:30 a.m. Sunday

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

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

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 11 a.m. Domingo

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

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

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

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

VIETNAMESE ST. JOSEPH VIETNAMESE CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday ST. MARY’S CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 9:30 Sunday LATIN ST. ANN CHURCH, CHARLOTTE: 12:30 p.m. Sunday OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, GREENSBORO: 1 p.m. Sunday

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: SEPT. 15 Blessing of St. Joseph College Seminary St. Joseph College Seminary, Mt. Holly SEPT. 16 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Francis of Assisi Church, Franklin SEPT. 18 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of Mercy Church, Winston-Salem SEPT. 21 – 6:30 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Holy Trinity Mission, Taylorsville SEPT. 25 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Angels Mission, Marion SEPT. 30 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of Consolation Church, Charlotte OCT. 2 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission, Hayesville

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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National vendor’s data security incident includes some diocese information

Teen Serve Week gave St. Peter Church’s teens multiple opportunities to volunteer recently.

Among other projects, they contributed to efforts to make and supply cloth masks to schools and organizations in need.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. PETER CHURCH

Amid pandemic St. Peter teens, parishioners team up to help people in need SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Teen Serve Week, an annual event every summer at St. Peter Church, was understandably different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating teens were not able to gather in large groups at church or at the agencies where they normally serve, but they still found ways to help people in need.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the parish faith formation department instead found locations where small groups could work, make take-home kits, and hold a supply drive for charitable agencies during the week-long effort July 12-16.

“The week started with Mass at the parish and a talk on Catholic social teaching, which is the foundation of why we serve through our faith and love of God,” said Joan Guthrie, the parish’s communications director.

A unique aspect of this year’s Teen Serve Week involved a parish-wide effort to make face masks for local charities and schools where the teens normally volunteer each summer.

St. Peter Church has made it a priority to purchase ethically produced masks from COLLECTION through Ethix Merch for use by its staff and volunteers and to give out to people in need during the pandemic, so they decided to put their faith even more into action to help Emily Sagor with producing these masks.

St. Peter parishioner Ethix Merch serves as the sales and marketing partner for the Carolina Textile District in Morganton. Member factories – including Opportunity Threads, which received a CCHD grant from the Diocese of Charlotte – are committed to sustainable practices, fair wages and cooperative employee ownership and profit-sharing.

“Our mask-making effort started when we learned that children attending Boys & Girls Club would not be able to attend without a mask,” said Cathy Chiappetta, the parish’s faith formation director.

“Our teens were grateful for the opportunity to still be able to help in a small way, since we would not be able to volunteer with the children this year.”

A team of teens and parishioners of all ages volunteered to cut and

sew 1,000 masks for the Boys & Girls Club, Freedom School, Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Druid Hills Academy and A Roof Above.

The project had a profound effect on th teens and parishioners alike.

“After several months of feeling the isolating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, an opportunity to help our community in a small way was a blessing,” explained sewer Sheila McGrail. “As a retired teacher, I feel good about being part of a group effort to help children attend camp as well as teachers and staff preparing for the beginning of a challenging school year. The teenagers who prepared and cut fabric made my job so much easier. Volunteers who dropped off the materials and picked up the sewn masks minimized any COVID-19 risks for me.”

Parishioner Emily Sagor and her daughter, Moriah Campbell, helped sew the masks.

“Our family was very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this mask-making project.

Moriah and I both love to sew, but we don’t do it as often as we would like to. Having materials and a pattern delivered to our door made it easy to help out.

We both thoroughly enjoyed crafting the masks, and we thought they were really charming (ours had pineapples on them),” Sagor said.

She added that they enjoyed the creative time together and “felt that it was good for our brains, as we were feeling uncertain, anxious and somewhat helpless at times.

The icing on the cake, if you will, was knowing that each mask would go to someone who needed it. While I was sewing each one, I prayed for the wellbeing of its recipient. That alone was healing for me,” Sagor explained.

“I really loved how I could produce these masks from home. Staying active in the St. Peter service community, while socially distanced, was great for me,” said Marguerite Stouse, a teen on the mask-making team.

Fellow team member Jake Kernodle said, “The mask-making project was an easy way to help people safely from my own home. It was easy to cut out the pattern pieces and the elastic. I hope it helps people stay healthy.”

Jesuit Father Jim Shea, pastor, noted, “Our teens strengthened

‘While I was sewing each one, I prayed for the well-being of its recipient.’

MASKS, SEE PAGE 20

CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte was notified recently by a third-party vendor, Blackbaud Inc., that the company had experienced a data security breach that included a database housing limited personal information about donors to the diocese’s programs and related entities.

The incident was limited in scope and did not involve sensitive information such as credit card or bank account information, Blackbaud and the diocese said.

“The diocese is committed to the security and privacy of our donors’ information and that of all our constituents, and by policy does not keep or maintain any sensitive personal information, such as credit or debit card numbers or bank account information,” the diocese said in a statement posted Aug. 28 on the communications page of its website. “Nonetheless, as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability, we want to let you know what happened and what the diocese is doing in response.”

On July 16, 2020, Blackbaud, an international provider of fundraising software for nonprofit organizations, informed the diocese and thousands of other affected organizations that it had detected and contained a ransomware attack in May 2020.

Before the attacker was locked out, the individual(s) removed a copy of the affected organizations’ backup files that included a diocesan database containing the names and addresses of donors, contact information and giving history. Working with federal law enforcement, Blackbaud said it agreed to pay the ransom “with confirmation that the data was destroyed.”

The diocese said it is continuing to work with Blackbaud and others to learn more about the incident and what precautions Blackbaud is taking to prevent future attacks. For more information about what happened at Blackbaud, visit www. blackbaud.com/securityincident.

For other questions, contact the diocese’s Development Director Jim Kelley at jkkelley@ charlottediocese.org or 704-6080359.

— Catholic News Herald

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 OUR PARISHES

Celebrating the sacraments

Rossitch endowments aid seminarians, Our Lady of Mercy Parish SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church recently celebrated six Masses for more than 430 confirmation students. At the third Mass Sept. 1, Bishop Peter Jugis concelebrated with Father John Allen, parochial administrator; Father Peter Ascik, parochial vicar; and Father Binoy Davis, parochial vicar. Deacon Daren Bitter served and proclaimed the Gospel.

Permanent diaconate candidate Joseph Becker assisted at Mass.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — Carmen Rossitch and her husband Gene lived the American dream after fleeing Cuba in 1962. They worked hard in their careers while raising a family, and they dedicated their time, talent and treasure to the building up the Church in western North Carolina.

The Rossitches and their three children were forced to leave Cuba when Fidel Castro rose to power. They found a new home in Miami, where Gene worked two jobs seven days a week.

Then Carmen, who has a doctorate in math and physics, heard from a friend about a teaching position available at Winston-Salem State University.

Believing that North Carolina offered them both better job opportunities and a good place to raise their family, Carmen accepted the job and the family headed northward to Winston-Salem, where they happily put down roots.

The Rossitches’ family grew to include two more sons. Carmen taught math at Winston-Salem State for 37 years, and Gene, who had worked as a certified public accountant in Cuba, spent 30 years with Wachovia Bank (now Wells Fargo) managing international operations and foreign exchange groups. Gene passed away in 2011.

For decades, the family was active at Our Lady of Mercy Church and the five Rossitch children attended Our Lady of Mercy School and Bishop McGuinness High School.

Carmen Rossitch now lives at Maryfield at Pennybyrn in High Point but speaks fondly of her time in Winston-Salem at Our Lady of Mercy Parish and why she and Gene wanted to give back to the Church through the establishment of three endowments: the Eugene and Carmen Rossitch Endowment Fund for Seminarian Education; the Rossitch Family Endowment Fund; and the Reverend Enrique Mendez Fund.

She explains that it was very important for them to give back and support Our Lady of Mercy Parish. “My kids all went to school there.

We were involved in everything when we were young. It’s a great church. We love the people there.”

The Eugene and Carmen Rossitch Endowment Fund for Seminarian Education was established in 2006 and ensures the continued support of seminarians’ education in the diocese. The diocese now has 41 young men in various stages of formation, a successful indication of the diocese’s growth and emphasis on religious vocations.

“I think we always tried to do things for the Catholic Church, and seminarian education is one of our projects. I think we should all try to do this,” she says.

“More people like the Rossitches are establishing endowments during their lifetime and then adding to them later in their wills and estate giving plans,” noted Jim Kelley, diocesan development director. “And like the Rossitches, people with multiple interests are setting up endowments to further those particular interests in building up the Church.”

Create an endowment

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LINDSAY M. KOHL AND MARYANN LUEDTKE

GREENSBORO — Fifty children received their first Holy Communion during two Masses celebrated Aug. 15 at St. Pius X Church by Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor.

Interested in setting up an endowment? Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will, a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan, a gift of real estate, a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment, or a life income arrangement such as a trust or annuity. For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@charlottediocese.org.

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Virtual food drive to reach out to the hungry, homeless

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

Parish celebrates feast of the Assumption BOONE — Parishioners at St. Elizabeth Church took part in a Marian procession led by Father Brendan Buckler, pastor, after Mass Aug. 15.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent

Horeth scholarship awarded

St. Mark parishioners offers prayers of reparation HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark parishioners in Huntersville spent extra time in prayer Aug. 29 by attending the parish’s annual Mass and Holy Hour of Reparation. The annual event was organized to offer penance and reparation for sins committed against the dignity of the human person and the family – particularly abortion, contraception, euthanasia and same-sex unions. The Mass was offered by parochial vicar Father Melchesideck Yumo, who also led the Holy Hour of Reparation after Mass. The annual event, sponsored by the parish’s Respect Life Ministry, was scheduled on the feast of the beheading of St. John the Baptist to highlight the importance of standing up for God’s moral teachings in the public square.

— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

CHARLOTTE — St. John Neumann Church recently presented its 11th annual Jordan Michael Horeth scholarship to parishioner Lucero MartinezRodriguez.

The scholarship was established in honor of Jordan Horeth, a parishioner who tragically died in auto accident while driving to college classes in 2009. The award was presented by Mike and Karen Horeth, Jordan’s parents, and Bill Edelen, John Casasanta and Father John Starczewski, pastor.

Martinez-Rodriguez is attending the University of North CarolinaCharlotte this fall.

— Glenda Lliguicota

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER

Consecration to St. Joseph HUNTERSVILLE — St. Mark Church held its first Consecration to St. Joseph after Mass Aug. 22, the feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was organized by the Hispanic Ministry, which as a community had been preparing for the consecration since March. Most of the families were part of a group of “prayer warriors” praying at different hours from midnight through sunrise since the pandemic started. Many were praying through the WhatsUp app with their families in other countries and were able to join through the church’s livestreams. All parish families were invited to make the Consecration who had a sincere desire to acknowledge St. Joseph as their spiritual father. Father Alfonso Gámez gave a talk in Spanish and led the parishioners in the Consecration prayer in both English and Spanish. All who came received a blessed rosary, a printed prayer to display in their home, and a copy of the St. Joseph Prayer Book produced by the Diocese of Charlotte for the Year of St. Joseph.

At www.yearofstjoseph.org: Learn more about how to make a Consecration to St. Joseph and find other prayers, devotions and educational materials on the Diocese of Charlotte’s official Year of St. Joseph website

St. Matthew parishioners launch 18th annual Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church is holding its 18th Annual Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive starting this week and continuing until Oct. 4 – but this year’s effort will operate a bit differently.

Instead of truckloads of food donations and its traditional meal packing event, where parishioners pack upwards of 300,000 meals, this year’s Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive will be a virtual one. Contributors are asked to donate online towards the parish’s $220,000 goal, which will enable the parish to buy and ship more than 240,000 pounds of food and other needed goods, as well as provide funds for education and sustainable projects.

The parish-wide effort supports the Missionaries of the Poor, a religious order that serves the very poorest in Haiti and Jamaica. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living on less than $3 per day. The Missionaries of the Poor provide care and support for children at St. Marc’s School in Tremesse, Haiti, and at an orphanage in Venezuela.

Over the years, the campaign has provided more than 3.2 million pounds of food and supplies to those in need, as well as providing funds for education, agriculture and irrigation supplies, and stocking of tilapia and chicken farms in Haiti and Jamaica. For example, a gift of $130 through the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive feeds one child in Haiti for an entire year.

The annual campaign also enables St. Matthew Church to support local food banks such as Second Harvest and Mel’s Diner.

The south Charlotte parish has also come together to support local needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past five months, the parish has donated a total of $250,000 to five local charitable organizations that serve the hungry and the homeless in the greater Charlotte area.

In addition to the impressive amount of food and supplies provided to the underserved, the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive has established a worldwide family with those they serve, and St. Matthew parishioners have given 41,000 volunteer hours since the start of the program.

For more information, to donate and to view an inspiring video of this campaign and its impacts, go online to the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive page of St. Matthew Church’s website at stmatthewcatholic. org/world-hunger-drive.

— Catholic News Herald

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020

Padre Julio Domínguez

Congreso Eucarístico 2020

Q

ueridos hermanos en Cristo, Quiero escribir estas líneas para agradecer a todas las personas que me han llamado para decirme que sienten mucho que el Congreso Eucarístico se haya cancelado y que pedirán al Señor porque las cosas vayan tomando el rumbo de calma para poderlo celebrar nuevamente el próximo año.

Como ustedes saben, por mas de 15 años el Congreso Eucarístico se ha llevado a cabo gracias a la gran inspiración que el Espíritu Santo dio a nuestro Obispo Pedro Jugis de reunir a su diócesis anualmente para esta gran celebración.

Todavía recuerdo el primer año de nuestro Congreso. Teníamos un cuarto muy pequeño con capacidad para 800 personas en el área hispana y no llegamos a la capacidad del cupo. Pero a partir de allí, año tras año, se ha venido incrementando la participación hispana de tal manera que hemos llegado a un numero bastante mayoritario, y creo que seguirá creciendo con el tiempo.

Y si vemos las razones por las que ha sido tan importante este evento para nuestra comunidad, es precisamente porque somos una comunidad que nos encanta estar juntos. Somos tan amigables que no nos importa estar apretados en un salón si vamos a encontrar a nuestros amigos y conocidos.

Los movimientos apostólicos encontraron en el Congreso Eucarístico una buena oportunidad de encontrar a todos los miembros de diferentes parroquias y darles un abrazo de hermanos como todos decimos.

Los sacerdotes nos encontramos con gente de parroquias pasadas y nos da tanta alegría ver a todos los que ya conocemos.

Todo eso va creando un sentido de familia y generando una paz y una alegría inmensa, que no es otra cosa que gracias venidas del Espíritu Santo y de los frutos de la presencia viva de Cristo en la Eucaristía.

Aún para los niños y jóvenes se transformó en un momento de gracia, en el que se encuentran con otros jovencitos que también creen y profesan su misma fe. Para muchos de ellos, viniendo sobre todo de parroquias muy pequeñas, se les abrieron los ojos al ver que hay muchos más jóvenes viviendo su misma fe y eso los animó a seguir perseverando en la fe cristiana. No se diga el deleite de los grandes expositores que se les ha traído para ellos y que les ha mostrado el rostro de Jesús joven.

Y sobre todo nos encontramos todos juntos como Iglesia diocesana, con nuestro DOMÍNGUEZ, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

En esta foto de archivo de 2015, se aprecia a las hermanas dominicas Patricia Siemen, Margaret Mayce y Elise García, manifestándose en París solicitando justicia climática, uno de los puntos del llamado de los obispos norteamericanos manifestado en el documento ‘Formando la conciencia para ser ciudadanos’.

CNS | CORTESÍA VIA GLOBAL SISTERS REPORT

Obispos de Estados Unidos ofrecen guía de participación ciudadana CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE ­— Frente a la situación política nacional e inminente jornada electoral que definirá la presidencia del país, entre otras posiciones de gobierno, la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB) publicó una vez más el documento ‘Formando la conciencia para ser ciudadanos’, una guía de enseñanza sobre la responsabilidad política de los católicos.

La declaración, afirma la USCCB, “representa nuestra guía para los católicos en el ejercicio de sus derechos y deberes como participantes en nuestra democracia”. En ella instan a los pastores, fieles laicos, religiosos y “a todas las personas de buena voluntad” a utilizarla para ayudar a formar su conciencia, enseñar a quienes se encuentran ante su cuidado y protección, contribuir a un respetuoso diálogo público civil y seleccionar -siguiendo la enseñanza católica- las opciones políticas que se ofrecen en las próximas elecciones.

“La declaración eleva nuestra herencia dual como católicos fieles y ciudadanos estadounidenses con derechos y deberes como participantes en el orden civil”, añade la USCCB. El documento original, aprobado por el pleno de los obispos en noviembre de 2015 y publicado bajo la autorización de Mons. J. Brian Bransfield, por entonces Secretario general de la USCCB, fue elaborado por los presidentes y miembros de los Comités de Educación Católica, Comunicaciones, Diversidad Cultural en la Iglesia, Doctrina, Justicia Doméstica y Desarrollo Humano, Evangelización y Catequesis, Justicia y Paz Internacional, Migración, Actividades Pro-Vida; el Subcomité para la Promoción y Defensa del Matrimonio, y el Comité Especial para la Libertad Religiosa.

‘Debemos participar en el bien común.

A veces hemos oído decir: un buen católico no se interesa en la política. Pero no es verdad: un buen católico toma parte en política ofreciendo lo mejor de sí para que el gobernante pueda gobernar’.

Papa Francisco

16 de septiembre de 2013 El escrito está dividido en tres partes, una nota introductoria y una sección final donde se recogen las principales declaraciones católicas sobre la vida pública y cuestiones morales.

En la primera parte, el llamado aborda preguntas centrales como ¿por qué enseña la Iglesia sobre cuestiones que afectan a la política pública?, ¿quién en la Iglesia debería participar en la vida política?, ¿cómo ayuda la Iglesia a los fieles católicos a tratar las cuestiones políticas y sociales?, ¿qué dice la Iglesia sobre la doctrina social católica en el ámbito público?; así GUÍA, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Ayude a apoyar a nuestros sacerdotes jubilados Segunda colecta recolectará fondos para planes de retiro y beneficios de sacerdotes SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

FOTO CORTESÍA CANCILLERÍA DE VENEZUELA

Venezuela celebra 368 años de la aparición de la Virgen de Coromoto. Regularmente, antes de la pandemia, en el estado Portuguesa se realizaba una jornada. También había actos culturales en el Santuario Nacional y el Parque La Coronación. En Caracas, los fieles asistían a una Misa concelebrada en la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Coromoto.

Venezolanos recuerdan a la Virgen de Coromoto CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Los venezolanos celebran a Nuestra Señora de Coromoto el 2 de febrero, cuando se recuerda la Fiesta de la Presentación del Señor; el 8 (Natividad de la Virgen María) y 11 de septiembre.

La fecha especial no solo se festeja en territorio venezolano. Los migrantes de ese país, que hoy buscan una mejor vida fuera de sus fronteras debido a la crisis económica y política por la que atraviesa la otrora rica nación petrolera, están dispersos por todo el mundo.

Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro y otras ciudades de la Diócesis de Charlotte acogen a miles de hermanos venezolanos que han encontrado paz y ventura en este generoso estado.

El año pasado la parroquia San Gabriel celebró una Misa que convocó a cientos de venezolanos que acudieron a rendir su homenaje a la Señora de Coromoto.

Lamentablemente, en este año de pandemia las actividades se han visto reducidas o canceladas totalmente debido a las necesarias medidas sanitarias decretadas por las autoridades federales, estatales y locales.

PEQUEÑA RELIQUIA

La reliquia de la Virgen de Coromoto mide 27 milímetros de alto por 22 de ancho y es de un material tipo pergamino o “papel de seda”. La Madre de Dios aparece pintada de medio cuerpo y está sentada sosteniendo al Niño Jesús en su regazo.

La Madre y el Hijo miran de frente con sus cabezas coronadas. Dos columnas unidas entre sí por un arco forman el respaldo del trono que los sostiene. Su apariencia es como la de haber sido dibujada muy finamente como un retrato en tinta china a base de rayas y puntos.

La Virgen cubre sus hombros con un manto y un velo cae simétricamente sobre sus cabellos, cubriéndolos devotamente.

HISTORIA DE LA DEVOCIÓN

Los españoles llegaron a la región de Guanare hacia fines del siglo XVI. El 3 de noviembre de 1591, el Capitán

Juan Fernández de León, fundó la ciudad del Espíritu Santo del Valle de San Juan de Guanaguanare, hoy ciudad de Guanare. La villa fue trasladada al lugar donde se encuentra hoy en el siglo XVII. La historia del inicio de la devoción a la Virgen de Coromoto se centra en un grupo de indígenas de la región, la tribu de “los Coromotos”.

Esta tribu, con la llegada del hombre blanco, decidió partir del lugar para poder continuar con sus costumbres.

Abandonaron sus tierras y se dirigieron al noroeste de la ciudad de Guanare, a un paraje cercano a la ribera del río Tucupido, donde por muchos años vivieron apartados de la ciudad.

Según cuenta la tradición, en el año 1651 la Santísima Virgen se le apareció al cacique de los Coromotos y a su familia. Les habló en su idioma diciendo: “Salgan del bosque y vayan donde están los blancos para que reciban el agua sobre la cabeza y puedan entrar en el cielo”.

El cacique, impresionado por el suceso y queriendo cumplir con los deseos de la Señora, comunicó las noticias de la aparición al español Juan Sánchez, quien pasaba por ese lugar porque estaba de viaje.

Ambos se pusieron de acuerdo y los indígenas fueron a vivir en un sector de tierra formado por el ángulo de la confluencia de los ríos Tucupido y Guanaguanare.

El español informó a las autoridades de la Villa lo que había ocurrido y ellas dispusieron que los indígenas se quedasen en ese lugar, y nombraron a Juan Sánchez como su encomendero. Allí vivieron por un tiempo para ser instruidos en la religión cristiana. Pero el cacique no logró adaptarse a su nueva forma de vida y decidió volver al bosque, junto a su familia.

Antes que se marcharse el cacique, un suceso marcaría el comienzo de la devoción a la Santísima Virgen de Coromoto. El 8 de septiembre de 1652, la Virgen nuevamente se le apareció al indígena rodeada de un aura luminosa.

El cacique le dijo, “¿Hasta cuándo me quieres perseguir, ya no he de hacer lo que me mandas”. La Señora avanzó suavemente hacia él, el cacique trató de echarla de su choza VIRGEN, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

CHARLOTTE — El fin de semana del 19 al 20 de septiembre, los fieles de la diócesis tendrán la oportunidad de mostrar su apoyo a nuestros sacerdotes jubilados que han brindado toda una vida de servicio.

La segunda colecta para el retiro y beneficios de los sacerdotes, asiste apoyando los fondos diocesanos para los sacerdotes retirados y que se jubilarán en un futuro. Actualmente sirven a la Iglesia del oeste de Carolina del Norte 84 sacerdotes diocesanos, 23 de órdenes religiosas y un adicional de 29 están retirados.

“Cada año tenemos la oportunidad de responder generosamente y con corazones agradecidos a los sacerdotes que nos sirven fielmente en las 92 parroquias y misiones de nuestra diócesis”, dijo el Obispo Peter Jugis en su carta anual anunciado la colecta. Con esta colecta anual, “sostenemos económicamente a estos hombres que dan su vida para predicar el Evangelio, enseñar la fe católica, guiar al pueblo de Dios en amor y celebrar los sacramentos, especialmente la Sagrada Eucaristía”, añadió.

La mayoría de los sacerdotes retirados continúan sirviendo en el ministerio visitando enfermos en hogares de ancianos y hospitales, brindando consejo a los internos en prisiones, reemplazando a sacerdotes en parroquias cuando es necesario y mucho más.

“Los sacerdotes jubilados rezan a diario por la gente de la diócesis, ofrecen Misa por las intenciones de los feligreses y dan de su tiempo y talento para ayudar con las confesiones y Misas dominicales en las parroquias de toda la diócesis”, dijo el obispo.

La meta de fondos para el programa en 2020 es de $ 1,300,000. Esa cantidad se desglosa de la siguiente manera: 69 por ciento para contribuciones de pensión para planes de jubilación de sacerdotes diocesanos y gastos de beneficios de jubilación para planes de salud de sacerdotes diocesanos jubilados; 22 por ciento para contribuciones de pensión para planes de jubilación de sacerdotes de órdenes religiosas; 6 por ciento para gastos administrativos; y 3 por ciento para cubrir los costos de recaudación de fondos.

La cantidad tasada para cada parroquia es el 2.3 por ciento de sus ingresos anuales de ofertorio. En la mayoría de las parroquias, el monto asciende a un 20 por ciento más que el ofertorio dominical de una semana.

La mayoría de personas contribuyen a esta segunda colecta durante el ofertorio en Misa, pero debido a la capacidad reducida del número de Misas y asientos en nuestras iglesias debido a la pandemia de COVID-19, ello podría significar menos donaciones a este importante fondo.

A cambio, se ruega a las personas que envíen sus donativos online, envíen por correo sus sobres o los entreguen en las oficinas parroquiales.

“Su parroquia proporciona un sobre para esta colecta en el paquete del ofertorio parroquial que le envía por correo”, subrayó el Obispo Jugis en su carta. “Si no puede asistir a Misa el fin de semana del 20 de septiembre, considere hacer un donativo enviando su contribución por correo u online”.

Las personas pueden donar a través de las páginas web de sus parroquias si ellas ofrecen la opción, o hacerlo online en www.charlottediocese.org/donate, (click en la pestaña ‘Priests’ Retirement’). Las donaciones realizadas a través del website diocesano serán acreditadas a la parroquia del donante.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Lecturas Diarias

Celebran Misa en honor al Divino Niño HUNTERSVILLE — El Padre Alfonso Gámez celebró una Misa en conmemoración de la fiesta del Divino Niño Jesús en la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville, donde se desempeña como vicario parroquial. La devoción por el Divino Niño es muy popular en Colombia. La historia registra que el sacerdote salesiano P. Juan del Rizzo llegó a Barranquilla, Colombia, en 1914 y con gran esfuerzo se dedicó a recaudar fondos para la construcción de un templo, aunque sin éxito. Entonces sintió que debía pedirle este milagro al Señor por los méritos de su infancia. Desde entonces, el éxito del sacerdote fue extraordinario y se convirtió en un gran devoto del Divino Niño, dedicando su vida a la propagación de la devoción. En 1935 el P. del Rizzo fue trasladado a Bogotá, donde providencialmente se encontró con una preciosa imagen del Divino Niño. Luego, se la llevó a los campos de la obra juvenil salesiana en el barrio ‘20 de julio’. De esta manera, los fieles empezaron a venerar la imagen como el Divino Niño y son muchos los que hasta ahora dicen que al acogerse a esta advocación han obtenido muchos milagros y conversiones.

‘La Virgen Dolorosa’ óleo de Luis de Morales, España (1510, 1586). Imagen cortesía del Museo del Prado, Madrid.

SEPTIEMBRE 13-19

FOTO POR AMY BURGER, IGLESIA SAN MARCOS

Papa Francisco: “La Cruz no es un adorno supersticioso” CIUDAD DEL VATlCANO — La cruz de Cristo es un poderoso símbolo del amor de Dios por la humanidad y no una decoración o baratija, dijo el Papa Francisco.

Si bien los cristianos a menudo cuelgan un crucifijo en la pared o lo usan alrededor del cuello, debe usarse como una señal “de nuestro deseo de unirnos a Cristo” y no debe ser “reducida a un objeto supersticioso o joya ornamental”, dijo el Papa el 30 de agosto durante su discurso dominical del Ángelus.

“Cada vez que fijemos la mirada en la imagen de Cristo crucificado, pensemos que Él, como verdadero Siervo del Señor, ha cumplido su misión dando la vida, derramando su sangre para la remisión de los pecados”, dijo el Papa.

Antes de concluir su discurso, el Santo Padre pidió por la paz en “la zona del Mediterráneo oriental, afectada por varios focos de inestabilidad”.

Según la agencia de noticias Bloomberg News, las tensiones entre Grecia y Turquía por las aguas territoriales en disputa y recursos de hidrocarburos en el mar Mediterráneo continuaron aumentando.

El reciente estacionamiento de tropas griegas en la isla de Kastellorizo fue visto como una provocación por parte del gobierno turco, que exigió que se retiraran inmediatamente.

“Por favor, hago un llamamiento al diálogo constructivo y al respeto de la legalidad internacional para resolver los conflictos que amenazan la paz de los pueblos de esa región”, dijo el Papa.

LENGUAJE DE LA CRUZ

Pero antes de rezar el Ángelus con los peregrinos en la Plaza de San Pedro, el Papa reflexionó sobre la lectura del Evangelio del día, de San Mateo, en la que Jesús les dice a sus discípulos que lo matarán pero que resucitará al tercer día.

Los discípulos, dijo el Papa Francisco, no comprenden la necesidad de que Cristo sufra y muera porque su fe es “todavía inmadura y demasiado unida a la mentalidad de este mundo. Ellos piensan en una victoria demasiado terrena, y por eso no entienden el

El Papa Francisco dijo que al llamar a sus discípulos a negarse a sí mismos y tomar su cruz, Jesús también pide a todos los cristianos que experimenten “una inversión de mentalidad y valores” y que soporten las tribulaciones diarias “con fe y responsabilidad”.

“La vida del creyente es una milicia: luchar contra el espíritu malo, luchar contra el mal”, dijo.

ÚNICA Y VERDADERA ESPERANZA

CNS

La cruz debe usarse como un signo “de nuestro deseo de unirnos a Cristo” y no debe ser “reducida a un objeto supersticioso o joya ornamental”, dijo el Papa Francisco desde la ventana de su estudio hacia la Plaza San Pedro en el Vaticano el 30 de agosto. lenguaje de la cruz”.

La reacción de Pedro: “‘Dios no lo quiera, Señor; no te ocurrirá eso’. Cree en Jesús — Pedro es así—, tiene fe, cree en Jesús, cree; le quiere seguir, pero no acepta que su gloria pase a través de la pasión”, explicó el Papa.

“Para Pedro y los otros discípulos —¡pero también para nosotros!— la cruz es algo incómodo, la cruz es un ‘escándalo’, mientras que Jesús considera ‘escándalo’ el huir de la cruz, que sería como eludir la voluntad del Padre, a la misión que Él le ha encomendado para nuestra salvación”, dijo.

Sin embargo, Jesús le dice a Pedro: “Ponte detrás de mí,”, lo que indica que la tentación de huir “es propio del espíritu malo, es propio del diablo alejarnos de la cruz, de la cruz de Jesús”, dijo el Papa.

Con anterioridad, en sus palabras previas al rezo del Ángelus el 14 de septiembre de 2014, fecha en que la Iglesia celebró la Exaltación de la Cruz, el Papa Francisco dijo que “la Cruz parece decretar el fracaso de Jesús, pero en realidad, marca su victoria. En el Calvario, los que se burlaban de Él le decían: ‘Si eres el Hijo de Dios, baja de la cruz’. Pero era verdad lo contrario: precisamente porque era el Hijo de Dios Jesús estaba allí, en la cruz, fiel hasta el fin al designio del amor del Padre”.

“Y precisamente por esto Dios ha ‘exaltado’ a Jesús, confiriéndole una realeza universal”.

El Santo Padre señaló que “cuando dirigimos la mirada a la Cruz donde Jesús ha sido clavado contemplamos el signo del amor, del amor infinito de Dios por cada uno de nosotros y la raíz de nuestra salvación. De aquella Cruz brota la misericordia del Padre que abraza al mundo entero”.

“Por medio de la Cruz de Cristo el maligno ha sido vencido, la muerte es derrotada, se nos ha dado la vida y se nos ha devuelto la esperanza. ¡Eh! Esto es importante. Por medio de la Cruz de Cristo se nos ha devuelto la esperanza”. “¡La Cruz de Jesús es nuestra única y verdadera esperanza! He aquí el por qué la Iglesia ‘exalta’ la Santa Cruz, y he aquí el por qué nosotros, los cristianos, bendecimos con el signo de la cruz”.

El Papa subrayó que “nosotros no exaltamos las cruces, sino ‘la’ Cruz gloriosa de Jesús, signo del amor inmenso de Dios. Signo de nuestra salvación, y camino hacia la Resurrección. Y ésta es nuestra esperanza”.

— CNS y ACIPRENSA

Domingo: Ec (Sir) 27: 33–28, 9, Rom 14: 7-9, Mt 18: 21-35; Lunes (Fiesta de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz): Num 21: 4-9, Flp 2: 6-11, Jn 3: 13-17; Martes (Memoria de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores): 1 Cor 12: 12-14. 27-31, Jn 19: 2527; Miércoles: (Santos Cornelio, Papa, y Cipriano, obispo, mártires) 1 Cor 12: 31–13: 13, Lc 7: 31-35; Jueves: 1 Cor 15: 1-11, Lc 7: 36-50; Viernes: 1 Cor 15: 12-20, Lc 8: 1-3; Sábado: 1 Cor 15: 35-37. 42-49, Lc 8: 4-15

SEPTIEMBRE 20-26

Domingo: Is 55: 6-9, Fil 1: 20-24. 27, Mt 20: 1-16; Lunes: (San Mateo, apóstol y evangelista) Ef 4: 1-7. 11-13, Mt 9: 9-13; Martes: Prv 21: 1-6. 10-13, Lc 8: 19-21; Miércoles (San Pio de Pietrelcina): Prv 30: 5-9, Lc 9: 1-6; Jueves: Ec 1: 2-11, Lc 9: 7-9; Viernes: Ec 3: 1-11, Lc 9: 18-22; Sábado: Ec 11: 9-12. 8, Lc 9: 43-45

SEPTIEMBRE 27-OCTUBRE 3

Domingo: Ez 18: 25-28, Fil 2: 1-11, Mt 21: 28-32; Lunes: Job 1: 6-22, Lc 9: 46-50; Martes (Fiesta de los Santos Arcángeles Miguel, Gabriel y Rafael): Dn 7: 9-10. 13-14, Jn 1: 47-51; Miércoles (San Jerónimo, presbítero y doctor de la Iglesia): Job 9: 1-12. 14-16, Lc 9: 57-62; Jueves (Santa Teresa del Niño Jesús, virgen y doctora de la Iglesia): Job 19: 21-27, Lc 10: 1-12; Viernes (Santos Ángeles Custodios): Job 38: 1. 1221; 40: 3-5, Mt 18: 1-5. 10; Sábado: Job 42: 1-3. 5-6.

12-16, Lc 10: 17-24

A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“Be holy.”

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020

— 1 Peter 1:16

Eucharistic Congress 2020 16

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The Diocese of Charlotte’s 2020 Eucharistic Congress may have been canceled, but you and your family can still use this time to learn more about the Eucharist — the source and summit of our Catholic faith. We hope you enjoy this special Eucharistic-themed supplement with details about virtual celebrations with Bishop Jugis and upcoming parish activities, as well as information about Eucharistic Adoration, the science behind Eucharistic miracles, and special content for kids.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

The Eucharist is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life.’

— Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324, referring to Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), 11

‘How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes. You do see Him, you touch Him, you eat Him. He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment.’

— St. John Chrysostom

‘When you look at the Crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now.’

— St. Teresa of Calcutta

‘In the Holy Eucharist we become one with God like food with the body.’

— St. Francis de Sales

Bishop Jugis urges people to deepen their faith in the Eucharist CHARLOTTE — The large-scale Eucharistic Congress at the Charlotte Convention Center may be off, but several smaller events featuring Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Patrick Cathedral are being offered for the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte:

missions, when we come together for the Eucharistic Congress we are celebrating our unity in Christ.”

Baptism unites us to Christ and to each other, he

n Eucharistic Procession and Holy Hour of Reparation: At 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, Bishop Jugis will lead a candlelight Eucharistic Procession around the cathedral grounds. A Holy Hour of Reparation will follow from 8 to 9 p.m. inside the cathedral.

Nocturnal Adoration will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 7:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 12. n Votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist: Bishop Jugis will celebrate a votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, and again at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, at St. Patrick Cathedral, located at 1621 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte.

Because seating in the cathedral is extremely limited, both Masses will be streamed live for the faithful to attend virtually. The 5:30 p.m. Saturday Mass will be livestreamed to the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/ dioceseofcharlotte), and the 12:30 p.m.

Sunday Mass will be livestreamed to the cathedral’s Facebook page (www. facebook.com/ stpatrickcathedral).

St. Joseph speaker featured in virtual Eucharistic Congress You won’t want to miss a talk for the 2020 Eucharistic Congress about St. Joseph given by Marian Father Donald Calloway. The pre-recorded talk, “Consecration to St. Joseph,” will be available for viewing online Friday, Sept. 11, on the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel and on the Eucharistic Congress website, www. goeucharist.com.

Father Calloway, vocation director of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, recently published “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father.” The book is recommended for people who want to deepen their devotion to St. Joseph, especially during this “Year of St. Joseph” in the diocese.

“This year marks the 150th anniversary Calloway of when Blessed Pope Pius IX declared St. Joseph the Patron of the Universal Church, so this year is very significant,” Father Calloway said in an earlier interview. “I said to myself, ‘We have a real crisis today in families where the family has been redefined. We have these so-called “modern families” and there is gender confusion.’ I thought we could use a strong father to restore order to all of this chaos. I thought, ‘It has got to be St. Joseph.’”

After researching, writing and translating works into English over the course of three years, Father Calloway comprised the book drawing on the wealth of the Church’s tradition.

“All children resemble their parents.

As our spiritual parents, Our Lady and St. Joseph, we are called to resemble them in virtue. I am hoping that people will walk away from this consecration with a great knowledge of St. Joseph and how much he loves them and how much he wants to protect them during these crazy times,” Father Calloway said.

The Consecration to St. Joseph emulates the Marian consecration made popular by St. Louis de Montfort, highlighting many of St. Joseph’s titles, privileges and heroic virtues.

— Catholic News Herald

CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD FILE PHOTO

Bishop Peter Jugis leads Benediction at the 2017 Eucharistic Congress. This year instead of a largescale in-person event, the bishop will celebrate Mass streamed live from St. Patrick Cathedral for the people of the Diocese of Charlotte.

On the Diocese of Charlotte’s YouTube channel: Join Bishop Jugis for a votive Mass of the Most Holy Eucharist at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12

All events are open to the public. The cathedral asks attendees to wear a face covering and practice safe social distancing.

In his homily for Mass Sept. 6, Bishop Jugis encouraged people to find ways to celebrate during the weekend of the Eucharistic Congress, Sept. 11-13, to foster unity and devotion to the Eucharist.

“Jesus is really and truly and substantially present” in the Eucharist, he emphasized. “Jesus the Good Shepherd is really present in the Eucharist, and He’s bringing His flock together around Himself.”

The diocese’s annual congress is meant to bring “the whole diocese together as one family in Christ. Though we are separated in 92 parishes and

said, and “the Holy Eucharist serves to make our union with Jesus and make our union with our brothers and sisters even stronger. It’s strengthening that bond which begins at baptism. The Eucharist deepens it, renews it, and makes it even stronger.”

Through the various Eucharistic-themed parish celebrations across the diocese this weekend, he said, “it will be the Eucharist uniting us, even across the miles, as one Body in Christ.”

He encouraged people to celebrate our faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist – to deepen our devotion and closeness to Jesus, to give thanks for “this beautiful gift Jesus has given us,” and to “keep alive our desire to live holy lives so that we worthily receive the Body of Christ in Communion.”

— SueAnn Howell and Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald

About the cover The cover features a depiction of the Holy Family by the 17thcentury Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. The image was chosen by Bishop Peter Jugis to illustrate this year’s Eucharistic Congress theme, “Be Holy,” from 1 Peter 1:16.

“The Holy Family is a model for our families and for each individually of our vocation to holiness in Christ,” the bishop said. The in-person Eucharistic Congress has been canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte are being encouraged to celebrate our devotion to the Eucharist locally in parishes and at home.

— Catholic News Herald

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com EUCHARISTIC

Eucharistic Congress parish events 16

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In lieu of the large diocesan-wide event that brings together as many as 15,000 Catholics to the Charlotte Convention Center each year, Bishop Peter Jugis encourages the faithful across the Diocese of Charlotte to mark this year’s Eucharistic Congress weekend, Sept. 11-12, with local celebrations where possible.

Here is an overview of Eucharistic-themed events scheduled at parishes across the diocese. (Editor’s note: This information is what was available as of press time Wednesday, Sept. 9. Please check directly with your parish for additional and updated information.)

Good Shepherd Mission, King Saturday, Sept. 12: 8 a.m. Gather, coffee and muffins 8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer 9 a.m. Procession around King 10 a.m. Adoration, Homily, Confessions, Benediction Noon Lunch 1:45 p.m. Presentation: “Eucharistic Miracles” 3 p.m. Presentation: “Living the Eucharistic Life” 5 p.m. Mass 6 p.m. Cookout Holy Family Church, Clemmons Saturday, Sept. 12: 9 a.m. Mass 9:30 a.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 9:30-11 a.m. Confessions 10 a.m. “Consecration to St. Joseph” video by Fr. Donald Calloway (Family Center) 11 a.m. Rosary in Spanish 1 p.m. “The Real Presence” video by Bishop Robert Barron (Family Center) 3 p.m. Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3:30-5 p.m. Confessions 3:30 p.m. Rosary in English 4:15 p.m. Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament 5:30 p.m. Mass Immaculate Conception Church, Forest City Friday, Sept. 11: 7 p.m. Vespers, Talk: How to pray the Liturgy of the Hours Nocturnal Adoration Saturday, Sept. 12: 9:30 a.m. Eucharistic Procession and Benediction, followed by a DVD screening on related topics for parishioners of all ages Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury Friday, Sept. 11: 7 a.m. Mass All-day Adoration 3:30 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet Saturday, Sept. 12: 8 a.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic Procession, Talk

by Father John Eckert, Benediction and Confessions St. Ann Church, Charlotte Sept. 11-13 Forty Hours Devotion, begins 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, and ends 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. Eucharistic Procession after the 10:30 a.m. Mass St. Dorothy Church, Lincolnton Sept. 10-12 Forty Hours Devotion, begins 6 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 10, and ends 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 10 a.m. Mass, followed by Talk by Father David Miller

St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte Saturday, Sept. 12: 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Teen track, Spanish and English Tracks, Eucharistic Procession and Mass St. Mark Church, Huntersville Friday, Sept. 11: 7 p.m. Votive Mass, Bilingual (Church) 8-8:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Jean Whalen, “Hope in Our Eucharistic Lord” (Church) 8-8:30 p.m. Keynote Spanish Speaker: Emilio Gomez, “Hope in Our Eucharistic Lord” (Parish Hall) 8-9:30 p.m. Confessions (Church) 8:30 p.m. Praise and Worship (English – Church, Spanish – Parish Hall) 9 p.m. Holy Hour of Reparation (Church) 10 p.m.-8 a.m. Nocturnal Adoration (Church) Saturday, Sept. 12: 8 a.m. Mass (Church) 9 a.m. Eucharistic Procession (Outside) 10-11 a.m. Holy Hour, Rosary, Homily (Church) 11 a.m.-Noon English Talk: Mario Martinez, “St. Joseph and Holiness in Family Life” (Church) 11 a.m.-Noon Spanish Talk: Rosa Jimenez, “St. Joseph, Model of Holiness” (Parish Hall) Noon–12:30 p.m. Consecration to St. Joseph, Benediction, Reposition, and Farewell (Church) St. Mary, Mother of God Church, Sylva Friday, Sept. 11: 9 a.m. Mass (Bilingual) 9:30-10:30 a.m. Confessions 9:30 a.m.-midnight Eucharistic Adoration 11 p.m. Sermon: “Eucharist as Wedding Feast” with Litany Saturday, Sept. 12: Midnight Benediction 8 a.m. Holy Hour of Reparation 9 a.m. Mass (bilingual) 9:30 a.m. Sermon: “Miracles of the Holy Eucharist” 10 a.m. Eucharistic Procession and bilingual rosary 11 a.m. Concluding Benediction

St. Michael Church, Gastonia Friday, Sept. 11: 8:30 a.m. Mass 1:30 p.m. Eucharistic Procession to St. Michael School 3 p.m. 40 Hours Devotion, Divine Mercy Chaplet to start 7 p.m. Vespers and reflection by Father Lucas Rossi 10 p.m. Reflection by Father Jose Juya (Spanish) Saturday, Sept. 12: 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. Masses Sunday, Sept. 13: 7:30 a.m. Mass 9 a.m. Mass followed by Eucharistic Procession 11 a.m. Mass (Spanish) St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte Friday, Sept. 11: 6:30 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Talk by Father Joseph Matlak 7:30 p.m. Candlelight Eucharistic Procession with Bishop Jugis 8-9 p.m. Holy Hour of Reparation 9 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Nocturnal Adoration Saturday, Sept. 12: 7:30 a.m. Benediction and Confessions 8 a.m. Morning Mass 8:30-9 a.m. Refreshments and vendors (courtyard) 9-10 a.m. Talks: Rusciolelli and Hebert families (Cathedral) 10:05-11 a.m. Talks: Bryan Somerville (Men’s Track - School Cafeteria), Kathleen Lewis (Women’s Track Great Hall), Father Christopher Roux (Children’s Track - Marian Grotto) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Parish picnic 4-5 p.m. Confessions 5:30 p.m. Mass with Bishop Peter Jugis 7-10 p.m. Adult Evening Social 10 p.m. Compline Sunday, Sept. 13: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. (Byzantine rite) and 12:30 p.m. Masses St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte Saturday, Sept. 12: 9:30 a.m. Eucharistic Procession 10 a.m. Mass 11 a.m. Talk by Father Joseph Matlak 11 a.m. Youth Track with Sister Edeva (Aquinas Hall) St. Vincent De Paul Church, Charlotte Forty Hours Devotion Friday, Sept. 11: 12:30 p.m. Exposition 5 p.m. Talk and Vespers 6 p.m. Youth Holy Hour 9 p.m. Night Prayer Saturday, Sept. 12: Midnight Vigils 8 a.m. Lauds 9 a.m. Mass 1 p.m. Daytime Prayer 5 p.m. Mass 6 p.m. Vespers 7 p.m. Spanish Holy Hour 9 p.m. Night Prayer Sunday, Sept. 13: Midnight Vigils 7 a.m. Lauds 3 p.m. Procession and Benediction

HEY, KIDS: ENTER OUR ESSAY CONTEST! Write an essay of no more than 300 words on the following: What does Jesus’ gift to us in the Holy Eucharist mean to you personally?

This contest is open to children in middle school through high school grades. One entry per person. Essays may be submitted in English or Spanish.

Email your essays to catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org no later than 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16. Please be sure to include the author’s name, age or grade, parents’/ guardians’ names, and parents’ best daytime

phone number. Put as the email subject line “Eucharistic Congress essay.”

Catholic News Herald staff will judge the entries and select winners based on: how clearly, originally and persuasively the writer expresses themselves; their explanation of how their Catholic faith is important to them; and grammar and style.

Winners in each language category will each receive a $50 gift certificate to Chick-fil-A. Questions? Call the Catholic News Herald at 704-370-3333.

EDITOR’S NOTE: And be sure to check out the puzzles and coloring pages on pages 9-11.

CONGRESSI

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‘He is The Bread sown in the virgin, leavened in the Flesh, molded in His Passion, baked in the furnace of the Sepulchre, placed in the Churches, and set upon the Altars, which daily supplies Heavenly Food to the faithful.’

— St. Peter Chrysologus

‘Only through the Eucharist is it possible to live the heroic virtues of Christianity: charity, to the point of forgiving one’s enemies; love for those who make us suffer; chastity in every age and situation of life; patience in suffering and when one is shocked by the silence of God in the tragedies of history or of one’s own personal existence.’

— St. John Paul II

catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

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Eventos parroquiales por el Congreso Eucarístico En lugar del gran evento diocesano que reúne a unos 15.000 católicos en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte cada año, el Obispo Peter Jugis anima a los fieles de la Diócesis de Charlotte a celebrar el fin de semana del Congreso Eucarístico de este año, del 11 al 12 de septiembre, con celebraciones locales siempre que sea posible.

Les presentamos una lista de los eventos con tema eucarístico programados en las parroquias de la diócesis.

(Nota del editor: información disponible al cierre de edición, miércoles 9 de septiembre. Consulte con su parroquia por información adicional y actualizada.)

10 p.m.-8 a.m. Adoración Nocturna (Iglesia) Sábado 12 de septiembre: 8 a.m. Misa (Iglesia) 9 a.m. Procesión Eucarística (Alrededores) 10-11 a.m. Hora Santa, Rosario, Homilía (Iglesia) 11 a.m. Mediodía Conversatorio en inglés: Mario Martínez, “San José y la Santidad en la vida familiar” (Iglesia); Mediodía Conversatorio en español: Rosa Jiménez, “San José, modelo de santidad” (Salón parroquial) 12:30 p.m. Consagración a San José, Bendición, Reposición y Despedida (Iglesia)

Misión del Buen Pastor, King Sábado 12 de septiembre: 8 a.m. Reunión, café y pastelillos 8:30 a.m. Oración de la mañana 9 a.m. Procesión en los alrededores 10 a.m. Adoración, Homilía, confesiones, Bendición Almuerzo al mediodía 1:45 p.m. Presentación: “Milagros Eucarísticos” 3 p.m. Presentación: “Viviendo la Vida Eucarística” 5 p.m. Misa 6 p.m. Parrillada

Iglesia Santa María Madre de Dios, Sylva Viernes 11 de septiembre: 9 a.m. Misa (bilingüe) 9:30-10:30 a.m. Confesiones 9:30 a.m. Medianoche Adoración Eucarística 11 p.m. Sermón: “La Eucaristía como fiesta de bodas” con Letanía Sábado 12 de septiembre: Bendición de medianoche 8 a.m. Hora Santa de Reparación 9 a.m. Misa (bilingüe) 9:30 a.m. Sermón: “Milagros de la Santa Eucaristía” 10 a.m. Procesión Eucarística y Rosario bilingüe 11 a.m. Bendiciones

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Iglesia Sagrada Familia, Clemmons Sábado 12 de septiembre: 9 a.m. Misa 9:30 a.m. Exposición del Santísimo 9:30-11 a.m. Confesiones 10 a.m. “Consagración a San José”, video P. Donald Calloway (Centro de Familia) 11 a.m. Rosario en español 1 p.m. “La Presencia Real” video por el Obispo Robert Barron (Centro

de Familia) 3 p.m. Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia 3:30-5 p.m. Confesiones 3:30 p.m. Rosario en inglés 4:15 p.m. Reposición del Santísimo 5:30 p.m. Misa Iglesia Inmaculada Concepción, Forest City Viernes 11 de septiembre: 7 p.m. Vísperas, conversatorio La Liturgia de las Horas Adoración Nocturna Sábado 12 de septiembre: 9:30 a.m. Procesión Eucarística, Bendición y proyección sobre temas relacionados para todas las edades Iglesia Sagrado Corazón, Salisbury Vienes 11 de septiembre: 7 a.m. Misa Adoración durante todo el día 3:30 p.m. Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia Sábado 12 de septiembre: 8 a.m. Misa, Procesión Eucarística, Presentación del Padre John Eckert, Bendición y Confesiones Iglesia Santa Ana, Charlotte 11-13 de septiembre: Devoción de 40 horas, inicia el viernes 11 a las 3 p.m. y concluye a las 8 a.m. del domingo 13 Procesión Eucarística después de la Misa de las 10:30 a.m.

Iglesia Santa Dorotea, Lincolnton 10-12 de septiembre: Devoción de 40 horas, inicia el jueves 10 a las 6 p.m. y concluye a las 10 a.m. del sábado 12 10 a.m. Misa seguida de una presentación del Padre David Miller Iglesia San John Neumann, Charlotte Sábado 12 de septiembre: 12:30 p.m. a 6 p.m. Sesión juvenil, Sesiones en español e inglés, Procesión Eucarística y Misa Iglesia San Marcos, Huntersville Viernes 11 de septiembre: 7 p.m. Misa Votiva bilingüe (Iglesia) 8-8:30 p.m. Orador invitado: Jean Whalen, “Esperanza en Nuestro Señor Eucarístico” (Iglesia) 8-8:30 p.m. Orador invitado en español: Emilio Gómez, “Esperanza en Nuestro Señor Eucarístico” (Salón parroquial) 8-9:30 p.m. Confesiones (Iglesia) 8:30 p.m. Alabanza y Adoración (Inglés/Español) 9 p.m. Hora Santa de Reparación (Iglesia)

Iglesia San Miguel, Gastonia Viernes 11 de septiembre: 8:30 a.m. Misa 1:30 p.m. Procesión Eucarística a la Escuela San Miguel 3 p.m. Devoción de 40 horas iniciando con la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia 7 p.m. Vísperas y reflexión por el Padre Lucas Rossi 10 p.m. Reflexión por el Padre Jose Juya (Español) Sábado 12 de septiembre: 8:30 a.m., 4:30 p.m. Misas Domingo 13 de septiembre: 7:30 a.m. Misa 9 a.m. Misa seguida de Procesión Eucarística 11 a.m. Misa (Español) Catedral San Patricio, Charlotte Viernes 11 de septiembre: 6:30 p.m. Exposición del Santísimo y charla del P. Matlak 7:30 p.m. Procesión Eucarística (velas) con el Obispo Jugis 8-9 p.m. Hora Santa de Reparación 9 p.m.-7:30 a.m. Adoración Nocturna Sábado 12 de septiembre: 7:30 a.m. Bendiciones y Confesiones 8 a.m. Misa matutina 8:30-9 a.m. Refrescos y venta de alimentos (patio) 9-10 a.m. Charla: Familias Rusciolelli y Hebert (Catedral) 10:05-11 a.m. Charla: B. Somerville (Hombres-Cafetería), K. Lewis (Mujeres-Salón grande), P. Roux (Niños-Gruta) 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Picnic parroquial 4-5 p.m. Confesiones 5:30 p.m. Misa con el Obispo Peter Jugis 7-10 p.m. Tarde social de adultos 10 p.m. Rezo de las Completas Domingo 13 de septiembre: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m. (Rito Bizantino) y 12:30 p.m. Misas Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino, Charlotte Sábado 12 de septiembre: 9:30 a.m. Procesión Eucarística por los alrededores 10 a.m. Misa 11 a.m. Charla del Padre Joseph Matlak; Reunión de jóvenes con la hermana Edeva Iglesia San Vicente de Paúl, Charlotte 11 al 12 de septiembre: Devoción de 40 Horas Viernes 11 de septiembre: 12:30 p.m. Exposición 5 p.m. Conversaciones y Vísperas 6 p.m. Hora Santa Juvenil 9 p.m. Oración Nocturna Sábado 12 de septiembre: 12 a.m. Vigilia de medianoche 8 a.m. Laudes 9 a.m. Misa 1 p.m. Oración Matutina 5 p.m. Misa 6 p.m. Vísperas 7 p.m. Hora Santa en español 9 p.m. Oración Nocturna Domingo 13 de septiembre: 12 a.m. Vigilia de Medianoche 7 a.m. Laudes 3 p.m. Procesión y Bendición

El Obispo Jugis insta a las personas a profundizar su fe en la Eucaristía CHARLOTTE — El gran Congreso Eucarístico en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte puede estar cancelado, pero se están ofreciendo varios eventos más pequeños para los fieles de la Diócesis de Charlotte con la presencia del Obispo Peter Jugis en la Catedral San Patricio: n Procesión Eucarística y Hora Santa de Reparación: A las 7:30 p.m. del viernes 11 de septiembre, el Obispo Jugis dirigirá una procesión Eucarística a la luz de las velas alrededor de los terrenos de la catedral. Le seguirá una Hora Santa de Reparación de 8 a 9 p.m. dentro de la catedral.

La Adoración Nocturna comenzará a las 9 p.m. y finalizará a las 7:30 de la mañana del sábado 12 de septiembre. n Misa Votiva de la Santísima Eucaristía: el Obispo Jugis celebrará una Misa Votiva de la Santísima Eucaristía a las 5:30 de la tarde del sábado 12 de septiembre, y nuevamente a las 12:30 p.m. del domingo 13 de septiembre en la Catedral San Patricio, ubicada en 1621 Dilworth Road East en Charlotte. Debido a que los asientos en la catedral son extremadamente limitados, ambas Misas se transmitirán en vivo para que los fieles asistan virtualmente. La Misa de las 5:30 p.m. del sábado se transmitirá en vivo por el canal YouTube de la Diócesis de Charlotte (www.youtube.com/dioceseofcharlotte), y la Misa dominical de las 12:30 p.m. será transmitida por la página de Facebook de la catedral (www.facebook.com/ stpatrickcathedral).

Todos los eventos están abiertos al público. La catedral pide a los asistentes que utilicen mascarilla y practiquen un distanciamiento social seguro.

En su homilía de la Misa del 6 de septiembre, el Obispo Jugis animó a las personas a encontrar formas de celebrar durante el fin de semana del Congreso Eucarístico, del 11 al 13 de septiembre, que fomenten la unidad y la devoción a la Eucaristía.

“Jesús está real, verdadera y sustancialmente presente” en la Eucaristía, enfatizó. “Jesús, el Buen Pastor, está realmente presente en la Eucaristía, y está reuniendo a Su rebaño alrededor suyo”.

El congreso anual de la diócesis está destinado a unir “a toda la diócesis como una familia en Cristo. Aunque estamos separados en 92 parroquias y misiones, cuando nos reunimos para el Congreso Eucarístico celebramos nuestra unidad en Cristo”.

El bautismo nos une a Cristo y a los demás, dijo, y “la Sagrada Eucaristía nos sirve para afianzar nuestra unión con Jesús y hacer la unión con nuestros hermanos y hermanas más fuerte.

Fortalece ese vínculo que comienza al bautizarnos. La Eucaristía lo profundiza, lo renueva y lo robustece aún más”.

A través de las diversas celebraciones parroquiales en toda la diócesis este fin de semana, dijo, “será la Eucaristía la que nos una, incluso a la distancia, como un Cuerpo en Cristo”.

Animó a las personas a celebrar nuestra fe en la Presencia Real de Cristo en la Eucaristía, a profundizar nuestra devoción y cercanía a Jesús, a dar gracias por “este hermoso regalo que Jesús nos ha dado” y a “mantener activo nuestro deseo de vivir vidas santas, y así recibir dignamente el Cuerpo de Cristo en Comunión”.

— SueAnn Howell y Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com EUCHARISTIC

CONGRESSI

5

Ministerio Hispano prepara actividades virtuales para Congreso Eucarístico CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — El Padre Julio Domínguez, vicario del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, invitó a todos los fieles, “tanto de la diócesis como los que nos siguen en otras regiones y países”, a participar del 16 Congreso Eucarístico -edición virtual- que se transmitirá el viernes 11 y sábado 12 de septiembre por las redes sociales del periódico diocesano Catholic News Herald.

“Todos me preguntaban sobre el Congreso Eucarístico. Si iba a haber algo o nada. Y si pensaban que no iba a haber nada, déjenme decirles que hemos preparado algo maravilloso”, dijo el Padre Domínguez en conversación con CNH. Reconociendo que la edición del décimosexto Congreso Eucarístico será muy diferente a las ediciones previas debido a las restricciones sanitarias por la presencia de COVID-19, señaló que no desea que se pierda el entusiasmo este año, “por lo que nos vamos a unir, pero de una manera virtual”.

PROGRAMA VIRTUAL

El Padre Domínguez, quien desde hace algunos años desempeña el cargo de coordinador de la sección hispana del Congreso Eucarístico, dijo que el programa en español será el siguiente: Viernes 11 de septiembre, 6:30 de la tarde n Liturgia de las horas. Vísperas, a cargo de los sacerdotes Julio Domínguez y Gabriel Carvajal n Conversatorio sobre la Eucaristía, P. Julio Domínguez y P. Gabriel Carvajal n Hora Santa, P. Gabriel Carvajal Sábado 12 de septiembre, 2 de la tarde n Conferencia ‘Seamos Santos’, Padre Rafael Capó. n Conferencia ‘La Santidad’, Lupita Venegas, psicóloga.

Sábado 12 de septiembre, 7 de la noche n Hora Santa, celebrada por el P. Domínguez desde la Iglesia Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury Todas las sesiones serán transmitidas en las páginas YouTube y Facebook en Español de Catholic News Herald: www.youtube. com/catholicnewsherald y www.facebook.com/CNHespanol “Las conferencias no van a ser tan largas como solían ser en el Congreso Eucarístico, pero los conferencistas, que eran los que nos iban a visitar este año, van a estar con nosotros y nos van a

acompañar con una conferencia corta”, precisó el P. Domínguez.

ESPERANZA EN 2021

Regularmente, el Congreso Eucarístico reúne una multitud

El Padre Julio Domínguez conversa con el Obispo Peter Jugis durante la celebración del 15 Congreso Eucarístico realizado en septiembre de 2019.

El Obispo Jugis visitó sorpresivamente la sala de conferencias hispana, dirigió un mensaje en español a los asistentes y fue saludado por decenas de fieles que se le acercaron.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

de fieles del oeste de Carolina del Norte que participan de celebraciones litúrgicas, conferencias, Procesión Eucarística por las calles del Uptown y otras actividades en el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte.

Se calcula que en 2019 asistieron entre diez y quince mil fieles, siendo la participación hispana largamente mayoritaria pues la comunidad latina la ha convertido en su punto de encuentro entre parroquias y grupos apostólicos.

Gracias a un gran número de expositores, los asistentes se informaban sobre oportunidades de formación en la fe, los servicios educativos de las escuelas de Diócesis de Charlotte, el Seminario Universitario San José, instituciones religiosas, estaciones de radiodifusión católicas, además realizaban sus compras de literatura y artículos religiosos.

“Yo se que recordamos los abrazos que nos dábamos en el Congreso Eucarístico, las conferencias, la procesión con el Santísimo, la Santa Misa solemne, encontrarnos con todos nuestros sacerdotes, nuestros diáconos, nuestros amigos y todo lo demás”, expresó el Padre Domínguez, y prometió que en 2021 se volverá a vivir, Dios mediante, la hermosa experiencia de participar en el Congreso Eucarístico regular.

Más online En www.facebook.com/CNHEspañol: Vea la invitación del Padre Julio Domínguez al Congreso Eucarístico virtual y siga las transmisiones del viernes 11 y sábado 12 de septiembre

Conferencistas Lupita Venegas Guadalupe Venegas Leiva es Licenciada en Psicología en la Universidad Del Valle de México.

Cuenta con estudios de maestría en terapia familiar otorgado por la Universidad Iberoamericana. Es además Diplomada en Ciencias de la Familia por el Instituto Juan Pablo II y ha recibido formación católica en Regnum Christi.

Fundadora de Radio María México y Presidente de Valora, conciencia en los medios, es conductora de programas de formación integral en diferentes medios católicos así como columnista en ‘El Semanario’, órgano informativo de la Arquidiócesis de Guadalajara y autora de varios libros como ‘Despierta Mujer Dormida’, ‘Sin límites’, ‘Madres felices, hijos exitosos’, entre otros.

Esposa y madre de familia, imparte conferencias en México, Estados Unidos, Centro y Sudamérica.

Ha recibido diversos reconocimientos por sus contenidos propositivos en medios de comunicación.

Para mayor información visite www.valoraradio. org y la página de Facebook lupitavenegas.

P. Rafael Capó Nacido en Puerto Rico, es sacerdote de la arquidiócesis de Miami y Misionero de la Misericordia por nombramiento del Papa Francisco. Es Vicepresidente de Misión y Ministerio en St. Thomas University en Miami y líder de la pastoral hispana en los Estados Unidos, habiendo ocupado el cargo de director de la Oficina e Instituto Pastoral de la Pastoral Hispana de los Obispos del Sureste (SEPI).

Con estudios en liderazgo educativo, ha ejercido como maestro, director de pastoral escolar, juvenil y vocacional, así como director escolar.

Durante sus estudios de teología en México y Roma trabajó en la pastoral con niños de la calle y jóvenes migrantes.

Con estudios doctorales en teología práctica, enseña a nivel de estudios graduados. Participa en las principales organizaciones de la pastoral hispana de Estados Unidos y es miembro del comité asesor del Council on Foreign Relations en Nueva York.

El P. Capó es miembro del equipo nacional del V Encuentro de la Pastoral Hispana, del equipo nacional para la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud, es asesor de la Red Nacional de Pastoral Juvenil (La Red) y está presente en las redes sociales con un énfasis en la pastoral con jóvenes y la salud de espíritu, alma y cuerpo.

CHICOS, ¡PARTICIPEN EN NUESTRO CONCURSO DE ENSAYOS! Escribe un ensayo de no más de 300 palabras sobre lo siguiente: ¿Qué significa para ti el regalo de Jesús para nosotros en la Sagrada Eucaristía?

En este concurso pueden participar niños y jóvenes de middle y high school. Se recibe solo un ensayo por persona y puede estar escrito en inglés o español.

Los ensayos se reciben en el correo electrónico catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. La fecha límite de entrega es el miércoles 16 de septiembre a las 5 de la tarde. Por favor, no olvides de incluir tu nombre, edad, grado escolar, nombre de tus padres/tutores y un número de teléfono para llamar a tus

padres durante el día. En el espacio de “asunto” o “subject” escribe “Ensayo del Congreso Eucarístico”.

El equipo de Catholic News Herald juzgará los trabajos y seleccionará a los ganadores basado en cuán clara, original y persuasivamente se expresan los autores; la explicación de cómo su fe católica es importante para ellos; además de considerar gramática y estilo.

Los ganadores en las categorías de inglés y español recibirán un gift card de Chick-fil-A por 50 dólares. ¿Preguntas? Llama a Catholic News Herald al teléfono 704370-3333.

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iiiSeptember 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com

A message from h

‘We break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.’

The amazing science of recent Eucharistic miracles

— St. Thomas Aquinas

THE MIRACLES IN THE AGE OF SCIENCE

JEANNETTE WILLIAMS ASCENSION PRESS

— St. Ignatius of Antioch

‘The Sacrament of the Body of the Lord puts the demons to flight, defends us against the incentives to vice and to concupiscence, cleanses the soul from sin, quiets the anger of God, enlightens the understanding to know God, inflames the will and the affections with the love of God, fills the memory with spiritual sweetness, confirms the entire man in good, frees us from eternal death, multiplies the merits of a good life, leads us to our everlasting home, and reanimates the body to eternal life.’

EUCHARISTI

W

hen we think about Eucharistic miracles, we may be tempted to think that most of them are unsubstantiated stories that only happened in the “old days” and couldn’t happen today in our age of science.

The last few decades, however, have seen a surge in Eucharistic miracles which cannot be explained by science. And in most of these recent miracles, the Eucharist turns into human flesh and blood.

The consistency among the scientific results is startling. Let’s begin with the oldest-known verifiable case of the Eucharist transforming into physical flesh and blood – the Miracle of Lanciano, which took place in 750 A.D. and underwent testing in the 1970s. The facts of this case are stunning.

THE MOST REMARKABLE MIRACLE OF THE MIDDLE AGES

In 750 A.D., a priest experienced a terrible temptation to doubt the True Presence while he was saying Mass. As he pronounced the words of consecration, the bread and the wine transformed into what appeared to be flesh and blood.

In 1970, more than 1,200 years later, scientists began a thorough examination of the miraculous substances, and in 1973, the United Nations’ World Health Organization began their own barrage of five hundred tests, which took 15 months. The scientific tests revealed: n The coagulated substance is human blood, type AB, with the same protein distribution as found in normal, fresh blood. n The Host is human muscular striated tissue of the myocardium, left ventricle (heart); arteries, veins, the branch of the vagus nerve and adipose tissue all can be identified. n Like the blood, the flesh is also living tissue, because it “responded rapidly to all the clinical reactions distinctive of living beings.” n Most remarkably, the blood is divided into five unequal-sized parts, and yet each part weighs exactly 15.85g, and all parts together also weigh the same 15.85g.

After their tests, the Medical Commission of WHO and the UN reportedly published results in 1976, stating: “Science, aware of its limits, has come to a halt, face to face with the impossibility of giving an explanation.”

It’s hard to imagine the UN would get involved with a religious miracle nowadays, let alone admit defeat in explaining it away.

Until the 1990s, Lanciano was the only proven case of the Eucharist turning into human flesh. Other cases have not been tested with modern scientific equipment, nor have the many dozens of bloodstains on corporals and chalices that have been preserved and are venerated as having come from bleeding hosts. But in 1992, the miracles started happening again. n 1992 and 1996, Buenos Aires, Argentina: In 1992, consecrated particles left on the corporal were put into water to dissolve and locked in the tabernacle, as the Church prescribes for disposing of consecrated hosts. One week later, they had changed into a red substance. Then again in 1996 after a consecrated host fell to the ground and was also put in water to dissolve, it was found a few days later to have turned into a bloody substance. Both cases were sent to be tested by the archbishop of Buenos Aires, who was none other than our future Pope Francis. n 2006, Tixtla, Mexico: During a retreat, a religious sister who was distributing Communion looked down and noticed that one of the Hosts had begun to bleed and transform. n 2008, Sokolka, Poland: A consecrated Host fell to the ground during Communion and was put in water and locked in a tabernacle to dissolve. A week later, most of the Host was dissolved except for a red “clot” that remained. n 2013, Legnica, Poland: A consecrated Host fell and was put in water and locked in a tabernacle. Two weeks later a red spot covered one-fifth of the undissolved Host.

STARTLING SCIENTIFIC RESULTS

Each of these occurrences received intensive study with highly advanced technology. In several cases, doctors did not know the source of the material. And yet, in all the cases, the same results were found, and are consistent with the results of Lanciano, providing even more details due to more advanced science: n The blood is human, type AB; human DNA was found; white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and mycrophages were present, indicating fresh blood; in the Tixtla miracle, the blood clearly emanated from within, because the blood on the surface had begun to coagulate but the interior blood was still fresh, as with a bleeding wound. n The flesh is human myocardium tissue of the left ventricle of an inflamed heart. In the miracles from Argentina and Poland, there was evidence of trauma from the presence of thrombi, indicating repeated lack of oxygen; lesions present showed rapid cardiac spasms typical in the final phases of death. n In the Sokolka miracle, the remaining host is tightly interconnected with the fibers of human tissue, penetrating each other inseparably – as if the bread were transforming into flesh.

“Even NASA scientists, who have at their disposal the most modern

analytic a thing,” experts.

Dr. Fre who exa of the sa white bl at the m When and deep Why h in the pa refusing Jesus in touch an now doin So man So here’s believe i “reason.

But m blessed s with the the whol (Catechi Script 11:27. Ye It’s as to us, “I’ crucifixi have rem remain c thirst for

HOW SHA

If Our in order alone sh “Let us g Poor Jes Go to c Euchari so that y thirst.” A for – it w

Eucharistic Miracles: Evidence of the Real Pre RONALD RYCHLAK CATHOLIC ANSWERS

At every Catholic Mass, following the command of Jesus Himself, the celebrant raises the host and says, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it: for this is my body which will be given up for you.” Then he lifts the cup and says, “Take this, all of you, and drink from it: for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”

The doctrine of transubstantiation, the teaching that bread and wine are converted into the actual flesh and blood of Jesus Christ, is difficult. When Christ first told His followers of it, many rejected Him. But Jesus did not soften His statement or correct their misunderstanding. He simply repeated His command to the disciples at the Last Supper. Some Christians today still have trouble accepting this teaching.

Throughout history, though, many people have reported miracles that brought them back to the truth.

The Church has recognized over 100 Eucharistic miracles, many of which occurred during times of weakened faith in transubstantiation.

One of the earliest was recorded by the Desert Fathers in Egypt, among the first Christian monks.

One of these monks had doubts about the Real

Presence of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine.

Two of his fellow monks prayed for his faith to be strengthened, and they all attended Mass together.

According the account they left behind, when the bread was placed on the altar, the three men saw a small child there. When the priest put out his hand to break the bread, an angel descended with a sword and poured the child’s blood into the chalice. When the priest cut the bread into small pieces, the angel also cut the child into pieces. When the men drew near to receive Communion, the skeptical man alone received a morsel of bloody flesh. Seeing this, he became afraid and cried out: “Lord, I believe that this bread is your flesh and this chalice your blood.” Immediately the flesh became bread, and he took it, giving thanks to God. The other monks then had a great insight into the miracle that takes place at each Mass. They explained, “God knows human nature and that man cannot eat raw flesh, and that is why He has changed His Body into bread and His Blood into wine for those who receive it in faith.”

BLOODSTAINED CLOTHS

In 1263, a German priest known as Peter of Prague was struggling with the doctrine of transubstantiation.

While he was saying Mass in Bolseno, Italy, blood began to stream out of the host and onto the corporal

at the moment of consecration. This w and investigated by Pope Urban IV, wh that the miracle was real. The bloodsta still exhibited at the cathedral in Orvie Eucharistic miracles are like the one e Peter of Prague, in which the host turn blood.

Pope Urban had already associated w Eucharistic miracle. Years earlier, Bles Cornillon, in Belgium, had a vision in w a full moon that was darkened in one s voice told her that the moon represente at that time, and the dark spot showed feast in honor of Corpus Christi was m the liturgical calendar. She reported th local Church official, the archdeacon o became Pope Urban IV. Remembering Juliana’s vision as he bloody miracle reported by Peter of Pr commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to c Office for the Mass and Liturgy of the H new feast dedicated to devotion of the E liturgy of Corpus Christi (more fully d pretty much how we celebrate it today.

A BRIGHT LIGHT

With some Eucharistic miracles, the

IC CONGRESS

heaven?

cal techniques, would not be able to artificially recreate such ” affirmed Dr. Sobaniec-Lotowska, one of the examining

ederick Zugibe, a forensic doctor at Columbia University amined the Argentinian miracle, did not know the source ample and told the doctor who brought it to him: “If lood cells were present (in the heart tissue), it is because moment you brought me the sample, it was pulsating.” he learned the source of the sample, he was shocked ply moved. has the Lord suddenly multiplied Eucharistic miracles ast few decades? Are we, like Doubting Thomas, g to believe unless we see, touch and feel for ourselves? n His love for Thomas condescended to let him see, nd feel His wounds in order to believe. Perhaps He is ng the same for us. ny young people have rejected religion as “unscientific.” s the science to prove our faith. Others say they don’t in religion because it’s just opinion or contrary to .” Here’s quantifiable, measurable, physical evidence. more is going on here. The Church teaches: “in the most sacrament of the Eucharist ‘the body and blood, together e soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, le Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained’” ism of the Catholic Church 1374). turally, we see this in John 6:48-58 and 1 Corinthians 10:16 and et the Eucharist is transforming into human heart only. if Jesus, by transforming into a human heart, is crying out ’m here! I love you! My heart yearns for you! Was not my ion enough to prove my love for you? See, then, and believe. I mained hidden in the Eucharist for these 2,000 years that I may close to you. Please, approach me. Receive me. Quench my r your love.”

ALL WE RESPOND TO THIS PLEA FROM HEAVEN?

r Lord has condescended to make Himself so evident to us r to be heard above the noise of our modern world, gratitude hould impel us to respond. In the words of St. Gemma Galgani: go to Jesus. He is all alone and hardly anyone thinks of Him. sus.” confession. Receive Him in Communion. Spend time in istic Adoration. Learn more about the Mass and the Eucharist you may appreciate Him more. On the Cross, Jesus cried out, “I As many saints have told us, it was not water He was thirsting was you. Quench His thirst.

— Reprinted with permission from Ascension Press, available online at www.ascensionpress.com. Copyright 2020.

esence

was reported to ho concluded ained linen is eto, Italy. Many experienced by ns into flesh and

with a ssed Juliana of which she saw spot. A heavenly ed the Church that a great missing from his vision to a of Liège, He later

verified the rague, Urban compose the Hours for a Eucharist. This defined in 1312) is . host emits

a bright light. In 1247, for instance, a woman in Santarem, Portugal, was concerned about her husband’s faithfulness. She went to a sorceress, who promised the woman that her husband would return to his loving ways if the wife would bring a consecrated host back to the sorceress. The woman agreed.

At Mass, the woman managed to obtain a consecrated host and put it in a kerchief, but before she could return to the sorceress, the cloth became bloodstained. This frightened the woman. She hurried home and hid the cloth and host in a drawer in her bedroom. That night, the drawer emitted a bright light.

When her husband saw it, the woman told him what had happened. The following day, many townspeople came to the house, attracted by the light.

The people reported the events back to the parish priest, who went to the house. He took the host back to the church and put it in a wax container where it continued to bleed for three days. The host remained in the wax container for four years. One day when the priest opened the tabernacle door, he saw that the wax had broken into numerous pieces. In its place was a crystal container with the blood inside.

The house where the miracle took place was converted into a chapel in 1684. Even today, on the EVIDENCE, SEE PAGE 8

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.comiii

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‘Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament ... There you will find romance, glory, honor, fidelity, and the true way of all your loves upon earth, and more than that: death: by the divine paradox, that which ends life, and demands the surrender of all, and yet by the taste (or foretaste) of which alone can what you seek in your earthly relationships (love, faithfulness, joy) be maintained, or take on that complexion of reality, of eternal endurance, that every man’s heart desires.’ ­— J.R.R. Tolkien

‘If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.’

— St. Maximilian Kolbe

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

‘At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is eaten, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.’

— Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), 47

‘Holy Communion is the shortest and surest way to Heaven. There are others, innocence, for instance, but that is for little children; penance, but we are afraid of it; generous endurance of the trials of life, but when they come we weep and ask to be spared. Once for all, beloved children, the surest, easiest, shortest way is by the Eucharist. It is so easy to approach the holy table, and there we taste the joys of Paradise.’

— St. Pius X

Father Melchesideck Yumo, parochial vicar, genuflects during Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER

Eucharistic Adoration Prayer and meditation before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament are great ways to spend time with Him. Ask Him for graces for yourself or for loved ones, reflect on His Word, or just keep Him company.

All of our churches are open for people to come in and pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Many also have specific times during the day or week for adoration of Our Lord exposed in the monstrance, known as Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction.

This can include homilies by a priest, readings from Scripture, hymns such as “O Salutaris Hostia” and “Tantum Ergo,” and time for quiet adoration, after which the priest blesses the congregation in a Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by recitation of the Divine Praises.

Countless religious, including many saints and popes over the centuries, have extolled the great spiritual blessings and benefits we can derive from Eucharistic Adoration. St. John Paul II, calling it “a great treasure of the Catholic faith,” noted that “it nourishes social love” and encouraged all Christians to visit Jesus regularly in the Blessed Sacrament as “we are all called to abide in the presence of God.” — www.ourcatholicprayers.com

Looking for a virtual option?

Perpetual Adoration is also offered online! One exemplary site is Marytown – the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a pilgrimage site and sacred space in Libertyville, Ill. At the heart of Marytown is Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, considered one of the most beautiful pilgrimage sites in the nation. The chapel has been a sanctuary of perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament since 1928. Perpetual Adoration is available 24/7 on their YouTube channel and linked from their website, www.kolbeshrine.org.

EVIDENCE FROM PAGE 7

second Sunday of April, the incident is re-enacted in the Church of St. Stephen in Santarem. The reliquary that houses the miraculous host rests above the tabernacle in that church, and it can be viewed year-

Did you know?

Two Eucharistic-themed hymns you’ll hear at Exposition and Benediction were composed by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century: “O Salutaris Hostia” and “Tantum Ergo.”

The renowned saint and Doctor of the Church composed the text of “O Salutaris Hostia” for the feast of Corpus Christi, established by the Church in 1264 to honor Our Lord in the Eucharist (in His Body and Blood).

It actually comprises the last two stanzas of a larger hymn that he wrote about Our Lord’s institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper and His Passion. It is often sung during Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction. The text is given below in Latin with an English translation: O salutaris Hostia, Quae caeli pandis ostium: Bella premunt hostilia, Da robur, fer auxilium.

Uni trinoque Domino Sit sempiterna gloria, Qui vitam sine termino Nobis donet in patria. Amen.

O saving Victim, opening wide, The gate of heaven to man below!

Our foes press on from every side; Thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.

To Thy great name by endless praise, Immortal Godhead, one in Three; Oh, grant us endless length of days, In our true native land with Thee. Amen.

In “Tantum Ergo,” St. Thomas Aquinas pays homage to Our Lord both in the Eucharist and in His glory in the Trinity. It comprises the last two stanzas of “Pange Lingua,” a hymn he also wrote for the feast of Corpus Christi. This hymn plays an important part in the Rite of Eucharistic Exposition and Benediction. “Tantum Ergo” is usually sung before the Benediction when the priest blesses the congregation with the monstrance. It is given below in Latin with an English translation: Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui: Et antiquum documentum Novo cedat ritui: Praestet fides supplementum Sensuum defectui.

Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail, Lo! o’er ancient forms departing Newer rites of grace prevail; Faith for all defects supplying, Where the feeble senses fail.

Genitori, Genitoque Laus et jubilatio, Salus, honor, virtus quoque Sit et benedictio: Procedenti ab utroque Compar sit laudatio. Amen.

To the everlasting Father, And the Son Who reigns on high With the Holy Spirit proceeding Forth from each eternally, Be salvation, honor blessing, Might and endless majesty. Amen.

More online On www.catholicnewsherald.com: How to go to Eucharistic Adoration, how and when to genuflect, and other questions answered

round from a set of stairs behind the main altar.

Faith, of course, should not be based on miracles alone. Several of the recorded miracles are very old, and it may be possible to dismiss them. There is no doubt, though, that reports of these miracles have strengthened the faith of many in the instructions given by Christ and provided avenues for contemplation of the miracle

that takes place at every Mass.

— Originally published in June 2019.

Reprinted with permission from Catholic Answers (online at www.catholic.com).

More online At www.therealpresence.org: Learn more on the website of The Real Presence Association

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com EUCHARISTIC

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The Eucharist

The Mass

EDITOR’S NOTE: Answers are located on the back page.

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The Eucharist

EDITOR’S NOTE: Answers are located on the back page.

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

ANSWER KEYS TO PUZZLES The Eucharist

Spend time with Our Lord The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed to have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament offered in several chapels. All of the faithful, of any age, are invited to participate!

BELMONT

Belmont Abbey College’s St. Joseph Adoration Chapel (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily) 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road www.belmontabbeycollege.edu/about/community

CHARLOTTE

St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road Estelle Wisneski (704) 364-9568

HICKORY

St. Aloysius Church’s Immaculate Heart of Mary Perpetual Adoration Chapel 921 Second Street N.E. Barbara Hancock barbarahancock032@gmail.com www.staloysiushickory.org/perpetual-adoration

HUNTERSVILLE

St. Mark Church’s Monsignor Bellow Perpetual Adoration Chapel (located in the Monsignor Joseph A. Kerin Family Center) 14740 Stumptown Road Celi Anatrella (704) 948-0231 ext: 119 or email eucharistic.adoration@stmarknc.org www.stmarknc.org/adoration

The Eucharist

The Mass

Mix

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters ‘The Personal History of David Copperfield’

‘Tenet’ A cerebral thriller, a blockbuster accompanied by a heavy-handed science lesson, in this case about temporal mechanics and the possibility of time travel. The mysterious spy agency of the title enlists a CIA operative (John David Washington) and pairs him with a fast-talking partner (Robert Pattinson) to hunt down a crazed Russian billionaire (Kenneth Branagh) threatening to start World War III. Complex and confusing concepts aside, this is a satisfying adventure overstuffed with suave players, exotic locales, spine-tingling stunts and grandly staged explosions. Possibly acceptable for mature teens. Intense violence, including gunplay, occasional profane and crude language.

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

Of the numerous film adaptations of Charles Dickens’ autobiographical 1850 novel, this may rank as the happiest. The movie finds Copperfield (Ranveer Jaiswal and Jairaj Varsani as a boy, Dev Patel as a man) facing life’s challenges, which include child labor, rocky romances, financial instability and duplicitous colleagues, with a hero’s grace and the joy of a secular saint.

The large ensemble of characters he encounters on his path to success as a writer vary from the affectionate (Daisy May Cooper and Rosalind Eleazar) and the friendly (Aneurin Barnard) to the eccentric (Morfydd Clark, Peter Capaldi and Tilda Swinton), the unsettled (Hugh Laurie), the inebriated (Benedict Wong) and the malicious (Darren Boyd and Ben Whishaw).

Multi-ethnic casting emphasizes the point that stories about human survival and ambition are universal while Dickens’ sense of morality and belief that pure unselfish love and loyalty sustain lives remain unscathed by time. Mature themes, including mental illness, alcoholism and poverty.

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

Other Movies: n ‘Get Duked!’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: L n ‘The New Mutants’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: PG-13

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Catholic Book Pick

On TV

‘Wisdom of the Heart: The Good, the True, and the Beautiful at the Center of Us All’ by Peter Kreeft

n Saturday, Sept. 12, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Padre Pio: Miracle Man.” The distinctive life and holiness of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio. Because of his deep devotion to God, he receives the stigmata and eventually is canonized a saint. Part 1.

No word in our language is more misunderstood than the word “heart.” And almost no word is more important, for it refers to what is at the very center of our soul. We have mapped the outer world, in fact the whole universe, with amazing exactness ... but we have neglected the world within.

This new book by venerable Catholic thinker Peter Kreeft offers a map of that inner world, of the self.

This a psychological aid to understanding the philosophy behind St. John Paul’s “Theology of the Body” while exploring the three dimensions of persons – the will, the mind and the emotions – and their three loves – the good, the true and the beautiful.

A new masterwork by one of the foremost Catholic philosophers of our time, “Wisdom of the Heart” is essential reading for understanding ourselves, our God, and our relationship with him.

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

n Saturday, Sept. 13, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the world in the recitation of the Angelus, live from Rome. n Saturday, Sept. 19, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Padre Pio: Miracle Man.” Padre Pio’s exhibition of stigmata is met with skepticism by many, including the pope.

But as his fame grows, the inner faith and goodness of this friar, priest and mystic wins over his critics. Part. 2. n Saturday, Sept. 19, 11:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Journey Through Scripture: Genesis to Jesus.” In this episode, the golden calf changes everything. Moses breaks the tablets, the priesthood is reserved for the Levites, new laws are given to Israel, and Jesus is revealed as the new Moses. n Tuesday, Sept. 22, 11 p.m. (EWTN) “Solemn Mass in Honor of Saint Padre Pio.” Live from the Shrine of St. Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. n Wednesday, Sept. 23, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “The Miracles of Padre Pio.” Explore the extraordinary miracles of the greatest wonder-working saint in modern history, and the many intercessory cures and favors attributed to him. n Thursday, Sept. 24, 10:30 p.m.

(EWTN) “Defending Life: Holding His Son in the Palm of His Hand.” A key leader in the African American community explains how the birth of his son motivated his pro-life mission.

Catholic Charities Director of Development The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time Catholic Charities Director of Development. The candidate must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in fundraising; extensive fundraising experience may be substituted for a completed undergraduate degree. A knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or other fundraising database software is preferred.

Responsibilities include: creating and executing the annual development plan for Catholic Charities; engaging, retaining, nurturing and recognizing current donors; identifying and cultivating new donors.

Please submit cover letter and resume

by September 30, 2020 to: Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@charlottediocese.org

Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Time to go back to school!

More online At www. catholicnewsherald. com: See more photos from the start of classes at the Diocese of Charlotte’s 19 schools

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

SALISBURY— Sacred Heart School’s mascot greeted students on the first day of classes.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

CHARLOTTE — Holy Trinity Middle School students returned to school in staggered teams.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

KERNERSVILLE — Bishop McGuinness High School students spent the first days of school logging in to all the various e-learning accounts they will use this year for paperless classrooms, virtual learning and their MacBooks.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace students had very special visitors Aug. 31, Father Casey Coleman and Father Michael Carlson stopped by every classroom to say hello to the students and teachers and give them a special blessing to start the school year.

HIGH POINT— Students returned to Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point the week of Aug. 31-Sept. 4.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

CHARLOTTE — Students were excited to return to St. Patrick School.

PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief BMHS grad named Scholar All-America KERNERSVILLE — Lexi Marty, a recent graduate of Bishop McGuinness High School, has been named one of 69 girls senior soccer players nationally to be named 2019-’20 United Soccer Coaches High School Scholar All-America by the United Soccer Coaches association. She was one of three players selected from North Carolina, and was also named to the High School Girls Soccer Scholar AllRegion team.

Marty, a four-year starter at left back for the Villains, graduated with a 4.23 grade-point average and is Marty beginning studies this fall for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at James Madison University. Her gradepoint average was 14th highest among the 69 girls honored.

A senior team captain at Bishop McGuinness High School, Marty earned multiple all-conference and all-region honors, as well as Honorary All-State for the past season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. She also excelled outside of soccer in leadership roles as a member of the student council and various student organizations.

“Lexi was our starting left back from her first game as a freshman, and set a high bar for others with her determined play and team commitment,” said Ray Alley, girls soccer head coach.

Marty’s selection marks the third consecutive year a Bishop McGuinness senior has earned national girls soccer Scholar All-America recognition. Previous honorees were Rachel Klinke (2018) and Caroline Coyte (2019).

She will be honored during the annual United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony in January, in conjunction with the annual United Soccer Coaches Convention in Anaheim, Calif.

— Kimberly Knox

PHOTOS PROVIDED

BY ROBIN FISHER

Sacred Heart teachers earn grants to ’Go Outside’ ROBIN FISHER SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

SALISBURY — Hillary Shores and Callie Michaels, two teachers at Sacred Heart School, were recently awarded “GO OUTSIDE” grants of $5,000 each from the N.C. Outdoor Heritage Advisory Council – for a total of $10,000 for the school’s outdoor learning spaces and STREAM programs.

Shores, who teaches middle school science, received funding for Michaels a covered outdoor classroom that will be adjacent to the school’s existing Master Garden area. Picnic tables will be used as learner workspaces and installed pergolas will provide shade during hot weather. Shores also received funding for an outdoor weather station to record daily weather conditions and to create student discussions on climate change and weather patterns. She also plans to install Shores a magnifying station to allow for detailed investigations of natural items.

“I am thrilled to have been awarded this $5000 grant to continue to develop our outdoor learning opportunities at Sacred Heart. The SHCS administration continues

to encourage the creative use of our 100-acre property to ensure the COVID safety of our students.

‘Go OUTSIDE’ is a BIG theme at our school. Also, I am introducing a new 8th grade curriculum in Environmental Science for high school credit. The addition of a weather station and a magnifying station will help support this new curriculum,” Shores said.

Michaels, who teaches third grade, received funding for an outdoor learning space for the arts – music, art and theater. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Sacred Heart School must limit shared spaces and shared teachers. This $5,000 grant will help create an outdoor space where students can continue to grow in the arts in a safe outdoor environment. Michaels received funding for various outdoor musical instruments, easels, and chalkboards for art projects. In addition, she plans to add a shade system and stage for drama productions and other imaginary play.

“We plan to begin construction and installation in September, which will allow for our students to take advantage of the cooler fall weather. My plan is for our elementary students to utilize this outdoor arts area twice per week: once for using the art supplies, and once for drama performance and/or exploring the outdoor musical instruments,” Michaels said.

Principal Tyler Kulp said he is excited about these new outdoor areas. “I am so

proud of my teachers who continue to think outside the box – ‘OUTSIDE’! Our teachers have had a lot added to their plates this year, but they continue to step up over and over again – all for the safety of our students as well as creating incredible learning environments for our students.”

Sacred Heart School is using Sacred Heart Parish’s 100-acre campus for more STREAM learning opportunities –everything from explore a 5K nature and cross country trail which weaves throughout the property to gardening, in which they plant trees, flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs, as well as manage honeybee hives and a flock of chickens.

ROBIN FISHER is marketing and communications director at Sacred Heart School in Salisbury.

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Our nation 14

catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Louisiana priests provide hurricane relief to parishes in need PETER FINNEY JR. CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana priests that support each other with ongoing camaraderie and spiritual nourishment are now also providing very essential hurricane relief to priests and the parishes they serve in areas that were devastated by recent storm damage.

Just days after Hurricane Laura pounded the Diocese of Lake Charles in southwest Louisiana and damaged dozens of churches, eight members of a priests’ support group bolted into action to aid their ninth member – Father Jeffrey Starkovich of St. Pius X Church in Ragley.

On Aug. 31, priests from the Archdiocese of New Orleans and the Dioceses of Houma-Thibodaux, Lafayette and Baton Rouge arrived in Ragley, just north of Lake Charles, driving U-Hauls packed with donated water, food, soft drinks, paper goods, diapers, canned goods, ice and gasoline.

The relief help also included hundreds of hot meals – mostly jambalaya and red beans and rice – cooked by the parishioners of Annunciation Parish in Bogalusa, where support group member Father Daniel Brouilette is pastor. Those staples of Cajun cuisine were passed out to more than 1,000 cars lined up for donations.

“It’s simply the gift of the priesthood – people being generous to one another,” said Father Starkovich, the spokesman for the Lake Charles Diocese who was ordained in 2011. “In a very real way, I was moved by the gift of the priesthood, because the priests brought the message to the people, and the people responded. It’s just the beauty of the priesthood.”

Father Jonathan Hemelt, pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in New Orleans, and Father Bryan Howard, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Violet, drove their U-Haul trucks 200 miles to Lake Charles, and Father Colin Braud, pastor of Visitation of Our Lady Parish in Marrero, drove his car in the caravan so they could make their way back to New Orleans.

“I’ve never driven any truck like that before,” Father Howard said, laughing.

“It got a little hairy at times,” he told the Clarion Herald, archdiocesan newspaper of New Orleans.

Father Hemelt said what touched him were his memories of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when he was one of thousands of New Orleanians who needed help.

“I thought about it when I saw that line of people waiting to see all the volunteers,” Father Hemelt said. “Fifteen years ago, I was in one of those lines waiting for supplies. The amazing thing is the people volunteering are the same people who also

Two priests help unload trucks of supplies delivered Aug. 31 to St. Pius X Parish in Ragley, La., to help people in need in the wake of Hurricane Laura.

The pastor of St. Pius X, Father Jeffrey Starkovich, is a member of a priests’ support group that includes nine priests from five south Louisiana dioceses.

CNS | SEAN HARRISON, COURTESY ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS

lost their own stuff. They are unloading trucks and they are probably in the same position as those coming for help.”

After Laura hit Aug. 26, the support group members reached out to Father Starkovich and contacted their own parishioners about trying to mount a quick collection campaign. In addition to dropping off supplies, Our Lady of the Rosary parishioners donated about $10,000 in direct financial assistance.

The other support group members are Father Daniel Green, pastor of St. Maria Goretti Church in New Orleans; Father Garrett McIntyre of the Lafayette Diocese; Father Todd Lloyd of the Baton Rouge Diocese and Father Andre Melancon of the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese.

Father Hemelt said he hoped Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Maria Goretti parishes could work together on a plan for longterm support of St. Pius X in Ragley.

Despite being stationed hundreds of miles apart over five dioceses, the support group members meet monthly for a meal and fellowship – the venue rotates – and they also try to vacation together annually, Father Hemelt said.

Hurricane Laura destroyed the St. Pius X office building and religion education classrooms, badly damaged the church roof and damaged the roof of the parish hall.

But Father Starkovich celebrated the 8:30 a.m. Mass in the church on Sunday Aug. 30, and 65 people showed up.

“What really touched me is the people are so filled with hope and happiness,” Father Starkovich said.

“Today everyone was joyful. We were short on volunteers, and we sent out a text message, and 50 volunteers came to the church in 10 minutes. They all left their own homes, which they were working on, to give food and water and supplies to everyone else.”

He said the group planned to work from 12-2 p.m. but ended up helping from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead.

Because there is no water or power at the parish campus, Father Starkovich is living temporarily with nearly two dozen family members at his parents’ home.

In addition to donations from the respective parishes of each support group members, Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Chalmette and St. Luke the Evangelist Parish in Slidell also donated supplies.

“Most of our parishes are talking up

People in New Orleans displaced by Hurricane Laura look through items that had been dropped off on a curb Aug. 30.

CNS | KATHLEEN FLYNN, REUTERS

collections to help with financial assistance,” Father Hemelt said.

Father Howard noted that as one of his parishioners put it: “After Katrina, we were hit so hard, and help was coming from all over the country. Now it’s our turn to return some of that help and support them.”

That message is not lost on Lake Charles Catholics, Father Starkovich said.

“Our diocese helped New Orleans during Katrina,” he said, “and now receiving that gift in return is a beautiful reality.”

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September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief USCCB urges COVID-19 relief deal WASHINGTON, D.C. — A leader with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has urged Congress and the White House Sept. 8 to reach a deal on the next COVID-19 relief package that meets the urgent needs of the nation.

“Earlier this year, the leaders of our government reached a bipartisan deal that provided significant relief to those suffering from the health and economic crises that we continue to experience. Many of the good relief measures in that previous package are running out,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

In a statement, the archbishop stressed that “families and individuals are having trouble affording food, housing and health care, and hunger-related crises grow internationally.” He also pointed out that many private schools must choose between reopening and permanent closure and require additional assistance to safely reopen. “Hospitals are bracing for a spike of cases in the fall and continue to experience fewer preventative and elective health visits,” he said, while coronavirus cases are “spiking in detention centers, prisons and jails.”

Pope accepts resignation of Bishop-designate of Duluth, following accusation WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Father Michel

J. Mulloy – who had been appointed but not installed as bishop of Duluth, Minn. – after an allegation of sexual abuse was raised against him from the 1980s when he was a priest in South Dakota. The installation, which was announced June 19, was scheduled to take place Oct. 1.

The resignation was announced in Washington Sept. 7 by Monsignor Dennis Kuruppassery, representing Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. Father James Bissonette, diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Duluth – who will continue this role until the appointment of a new bishop – said the resignation announcement was accompanied by a notification from the Diocese of Rapid City of “an accusation of sexual abuse of a minor made against Father Mulloy as a priest of that diocese.”

San Francisco archbishop asks city to ease Mass restrictions SAN FRANCISCO — Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco has asked the city’s mayor and health officials to ease attendance restrictions on public Masses the archbishop says are unfair. Currently, Masses may be celebrated only outdoors in San Francisco, with only 12 attendees. According to archdiocesan spokesman Mike Brown, a dozen priests have been celebrating Masses simultaneously on Sundays at Cathedral Plaza in the city. “San Francisco is the only government in the entire Bay Area that restricts public gatherings to 12 people out of doors. Ours and others’ faith is being treated as less important than a trip to the hardware store, or a nice dinner out on the patio,” Archbishop Cordileone said in his Aug. 31 message to Mayor London Breed, Dr. Grant Colfax, the director of public health, and Dr. Tomas Aragon, a city health officer. “This denial of access to safe outdoor public worship is a serious deprivation of our rights as Americans under the First Amendment and our spiritual needs as people of faith,” the archbishop said.

Bishop: Viruses of corruption, injustice destructive as COVID-19 VATICAN CITY — The coronavirus pandemic not only has added to the many sufferings of the people of Puerto Rico but also has exposed decades of inequality that is deeply embedded in the island territory’s political machine, said Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves of San Juan. “There is another form of death that has caused as much or more destruction than the coronavirus and has installed itself in our Puerto Rican society for decades, at times in a stealthy manner and, at other times, shamelessly scandalously. It is the virus of corruption and social injustice,” Archbishop Gonzalez said in a pastoral letter published Aug. 28. The COVID-19 pandemic is the latest in a series of woes that have battered the U.S. Commonwealth’s residents since Hurricane Maria, a deadly Category 5 hurricane, devastated Puerto Rico in 2017 and caused the deaths of 2,975 people.

In August 2019, Puerto Rican Governor Ricardo Rossello resigned after massive protests erupted in response to scandals involving corruption and offensive private messages.

Vatican rep calls on U.S. to sign nuclear-test-ban treaty VATICAN CITY — The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the absurdity of “pouring valuable resources into the maintenance of weapons of destruction while so many on this planet are struggling to survive,” a Vatican representative told a U.N. meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. “It is impossible to make a moral case for continued nuclear weapon testing,” said Monsignor Fredrik Hansen, charge d’affaires at the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations. “There should never be another nuclear test explosion,” he told the online meeting Aug.

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26. The United Nations has designated Aug. 29 as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, and Monsignor Hansen used the occasion to call on China, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan and the United States to ratify the 1996 Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Visiting Hiroshima in November, Pope Francis said that “the use of atomic energy for purposes of war is today, more than ever, a crime not only against the dignity of human beings but against any possible future for our common home. The use of atomic energy for purposes of war is immoral, just as the possessing of nuclear weapons is immoral,” he said.

U.S. bishops to meet virtually, not in person, in November WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. bishops will conduct their annual fall general meeting virtually in November rather than meet in person as has been the bishops’ practice.

The move was brought about by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The bishops had canceled a spring meeting set for Detroit in June due to the pandemic. The cancellation was the first time since the formation of the bishops’ conference in 1917 that a meeting of all bishops had been called off. Bishops voted 2195, with one abstention, to change the format of the meeting from in-person to virtual. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also consulted with the Vatican prior to making the decision.

The USCCB’s Administrative Committee, which governs the activities of the bishops’ conference between meetings of the full body of bishops, will continue its practice of setting the agenda for the November meeting when the committee meets in mid-September. The original dates for the fall meeting, which would have been held in Baltimore, were Nov. 9-12.

No dates were announced in the Aug. 28 press released informing the public about the virtual meeting.

—­Catholic News Service

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope will sign new encyclical in Assisi Oct. 3 CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will travel to Assisi Oct. 3 to sign an encyclical on the social, political and economic obligations that flow from a belief that all people are children of God and therefore brothers and sisters to one another.

The Vatican press office, confirming the pope’s trip, said the document will be titled “Fratelli Tutti” in Italian. In English, the phrase could be translated as “Brothers and Sisters All,” but apparently it is inspired by what is known as St. Francis of Assisi’s “sixth admonition” to the friars, all of whom were men.

Conventual Franciscan Father Mauro Gambetti, custodian of the Assisi convent, said the document “will indicate to the world a style for the future and will give the Church and people of goodwill the responsibility for building it together.”

“The pope is clearly inspired by Francis of Assisi who, in following Jesus, recognized in fraternity, lived under the sign of mutual and loving service, the horizon of a fulfilled and happy humanity,” Father Gambetti added.

Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive at the Assisi convent at 3 p.m. to celebrate Mass at the tomb of St. Francis and sign the document. Because of ongoing concerns and restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mass and the rest of the pope’s visit will be private, the Vatican press office said.

The encyclical is expected to echo many of the themes Pope Francis has been discussing in his general audience talks on Catholic social teaching in light of the pandemic: human fraternity, the equal dignity of all people, the preferential option for the poor, the universal destination of goods and the obligation of solidarity. Care for the environment and the virtue of peacemaking also are expected to be part of the encyclical.

After Pope Francis signs the document on the eve of the feast of St. Francis, the text is expected to be published in a variety of languages the first week of October.

Young people have lessons to teach the Church, Pope Francis says CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Young Catholics are giving the Church a valuable lesson in the real meaning of “synodality,” Pope Francis wrote.

“They have asked us in a thousand ways to walk alongside them – not behind them or ahead of them, but at their side. Not over them or under them, but on their level,” he wrote in the introduction to a new Italian book of essays about youth ministry.

Salesian Father Rossano Sala, one of the special secretaries of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on young people, wrote the book, “Around the Living Fire of the Synod: Educating for the Good Life of the Gospel.”

“Discernment” was one of the key topics at the synod and in “Christus Vivit,” Pope Francis’ 2019 postsynod apostolic exhortation.

In Father Sala’s book, Pope Francis wrote that he is not trying “to transform every member of the people of God into a Jesuit,” the order that has specialized in teaching spiritual discernment or prayerfully reading the signs of the times and seeking to know how God wants individuals and the Church to respond.

Some people, he said, think “the pressing call to discernment is a fad of this pontificate and it is destined to pass quickly,” but Pope Francis insisted the spiritual practice is essential today when things are changing quickly, many people are struggling and so many need to hear the Gospel.

‘Too often, instead of being ‘experts in humanity,’ we end up being considered rigid and incapable of listening.’

Please pray for the following priests who died during the month of September: Rev. Msgr. Thomas Burke – 2001 Rev. Msgr. Arthur Duncan – 2002 Rev. Gregory Eichenlaub, OSB – 1975 Rev. James King – 1978 Rev. John J. Murray – 1997 Rev. Edward F. O’Doherty – 1998 Rev. Bernard Rosswog, OSB - 1999

CNS | VATICAN MEDIA

Pope Francis greets synod observer Yadira Vieyra of Chicago after a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, in 2018 at the Vatican. Looking on is Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago.

Listening and dialogue are the key first steps, the pope wrote. “It is more necessary than ever today to enter into an honest listening to the joys and struggles of every member of the people of God, and especially of every young person.”

“The Church as a whole still has a lot of work to do” in learning to listen, he said, “because too often, instead of being ‘experts in humanity,’ we end up being considered rigid and incapable of listening.”

But the Gospel shows that listening was the first attitude of Jesus, he said, and it should be one’s first response to encountering another person made in God’s image and loved by God. Dialogue is the natural second step, he said. “It is born from the conviction that in

the other, the one who is before us, there are always the resources of nature and grace.”

“Dialogue is the style that exalts the generosity of God because it recognizes His Presence in everything and, therefore, one must find Him in every person and be courageous enough to let Him speak,” the pope wrote.

The digital revolution, the climate crisis, migration and “the plague of abuse” already signaled to the Church that many things must change, Pope Francis wrote.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, “transforming everyone’s existence and we don’t know where it will lead.”

One thing is certain, he said: leaders and members of the Church must engage in “discernment to guarantee closeness to the people of God, to reform the economy and finance, to devise new forms of solidarity and service.”

Without studying the reality and considering it in prayer, the pope said, the response risks being just “the latest fashion, or we hide in past practices incapable of tapping into the unique situation of people and young adults today.”

Pope Francis said the choice to focus on “synodality” at the next general assembly of the Synod of Bishops, in 2022, is a natural outcome of the synod on young people.

There is an “urgent need to rediscover the baptismal grace” of all Catholics and their call to be “missionary disciples,” he said. Embracing “synodality” with all members of the Church “walking together,” sharing input while respecting the roles proper to each member, is one way to acknowledge that grace and respond more effectively.

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief Jubilee for the Earth a time for restoring bond with God, creation VATICAN CITY ­­— The exploitation and plundering of the Earth’s resources at the expense of the poor and vulnerable cry out for justice and the forgiveness of debts, Pope Francis said. In his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sept. 1 and the Season of Creation, which runs through Oct. 4, the pope said the observance is a time to renew, repair and restore humanity’s broken relationship with God and his creation. “It is a time for restorative justice. In this context, I repeat my call for the cancellation of the debt of the most vulnerable countries, in recognition of the severe impacts of the medical, social and economic crises they face as a result of COVID-19,” he wrote. Since 2020 included the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the ecumenical team organizing the Season of Creation chose “Jubilee for the Earth” as this year’s theme.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Read more about Church teaching on care for creation on page 18.

Pope: Lack of respect for life, for nature have same root VATICAN CITY — A lack of respect for human life from conception to natural death and a lack of respect for the environment are both signs of a person claiming power over something that is not theirs to control, Pope Francis said. “They are

the same indifference, the same selfishness, the same greed, the same pride, the same claim to be the master and despot of the world that lead human beings on the one hand to destroy species and plunder natural resources and, on the other, to exploit poverty, to abuse the work of women and children, to overturn the laws of the nuclear family (and) to no longer respect the right to human life from conception to its natural end,” the pope said Sept. 3. Pope Francis made his remarks in a speech written for a group of laypeople advising the French bishops’ conference on ways to promote and implement the teaching of “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” The group, which included the actress Juliette Binoche, traveled to Rome by train as a carbon-saving alternative to traveling by plane. The Vatican press office said the pope handed his prepared text to members of the group and then had an unscripted conversation with them, telling them that his own “ecological conversion” began in 2007 by listening to Brazilian bishops at the Latin American bishops’ meeting in Aparecida, Brazil.

Pope: Economy must place people above ‘idols of finance’ VATICAN CITY — As many people around the world face economic uncertainty due to the pandemic, a paradigm shift is needed that places the good of the many over the benefit of the few, Pope Francis said. As a general concept, economics should become “the expression of a care and concern that does not exclude but seeks to include, that does not demean but seeks to uplift and give life,” the pope said Sept. 4 in a message to participants at an international forum sponsored by the “European House – Ambrosetti,” an economic think tank based in Rome. Economics should be an expression of “care and concern that refuses to sacrifice human dignity to the idols of finance, that does not give rise to violence and inequality and that uses financial resources not to dominate but

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to serve,” he said. “Genuine profit comes from treasures accessible to all.” European House – Ambrosetti was holding its annual forum Sept.

4-6 in the northern Italian city of Cernobbio.

Visiting Lebanon, Cardinal Parolin says ‘you are not alone’ BEIRUT — Bringing a message of hope to Lebanon, a month after a double blast struck Beirut, Pope Francis’ closest collaborator assured the Lebanese: “You are not alone. The whole world supports you.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin’s Sept. 3-4 visit to the suffering country on behalf of Pope Francis coincides with the papal call for believers around the world to observe “a universal day of prayer and fasting for Lebanon” Sept. 4. Lebanon’s population, already exhausted by a collapsing economy that has plunged even the middle class into poverty, has been traumatized by the disaster, blamed on 2,750 metric tons of ammonium nitrate stored for years in a port warehouse. At least 190 people died, more than 6,5000 were injured and more than 300,000 people remain homeless. “I come to your historic city to express the nearness of the Catholic Church throughout the world. His Holiness Pope Francis has asked me to come and meet you after he launched his appeal for prayer, fasting and solidarity with Beirut and with Lebanon. The response to the pope’s appeal has been immediate, arriving from so many different countries, from all the continents,” said Cardinal Parolin, who serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state. He spoke at an interfaith welcoming ceremony Sept. 3 at the Maronite Catholic Cathedral of St. George.

Cardinal: Science, religion not opposing sides in progress VATICAN CITY — Although technology has made leaps and bounds over the past decades,

the scientific community must not isolate itself in its own advancements and exclude religion from the search for ways to overcome today’s challenges, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state. Citing Pope Francis’ call for an “interdisciplinary approach” on issues such as sustainability, Cardinal Parolin told participants at a scientific conference that science and religion must work together for the good of humanity. An interdisciplinary approach “should not be limited to the exact sciences,” the cardinal said Sept. 2 at the EuroScience Open Forum in Trieste, Italy. “It should also include, for example, religion – which cannot be relegated to the sphere of the irrational – in all those forms of wisdom that humanity has developed over the course of history.”

Polish bishops reiterate teaching on LGBT, gender ideology WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s bishops called on Catholics to show respect for people connected with the LGBT movement, but urged them to resist LGBT calls for a “social and cultural transformation” in conflict with Church teaching.

“The Church is not afraid to proclaim the duty of respect for everyone’s personal dignity, including those linked to LGBT+. For the same reasons, however, it must also show reserve and, in some cases, clear opposition to gender ideology and forms of activism by LGBT movements which negate the truth about humanity, as well as to their social projects and declared aims,” said a 27-page document released Aug. 28. The document said Pope Francis had personally demonstrated that the Catholic Church was open to dialogue with “every person of goodwill who seeks the truth.” However, this did not mean “uncritical acceptance” of LGBT views, the bishops added, or avoiding “a clear presentation of Church teaching on gender ideology and on practices against nature and human dignity.”

—­Catholic News Service

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Jesuit Father John Michalowski

‘Everything is connected’: Catholic care for creation

S

ome 35 years ago the Center for Concern published a book, “Catholic Social Teaching: Our Best Kept Secret.” It was updated a couple of times as St. John Paul II published some five social encyclicals and linked Eucharistic solidarity to our care for all of our neighbors. The Holy Father was simply echoing in modern times what is said in the First Letter of James: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” “So faith of itself, if it does not have works is dead.” (James 1:22 and 2:17). The pope was updating the tradition of social encyclicals that went back to Pope Leo XIII in 1891. As the world industrialized and commerce and movement became more and more internationalized, it became more and more important to recognize that the neighbor we are called to love may live 10,000 miles away.

One part of the secret of Catholic social teaching is the fact that for the past 50 years it has recognized the need to care for our environment. St. Paul VI in 1967 pointed out that ”God intended the earth and everything in it for the use of all human beings and peoples. …All other rights, whatever they may be, including the rights of property and free trade, are to be subordinated to this principle.” (“On the Development of Peoples,” 22). Four years later in his apostolic letter “Octogesima Adveniens,” the pope wrote: “Man is suddenly becoming aware that by an ill-considered exploitation of nature he risks destroying it and becoming in turn the victim of this degradation. Not only is the material environment becoming a permanent menace – pollution and refuse, new illness and absolute destructive capacity – but the human framework is no longer under man’s control, thus creating an environment for tomorrow that may well be intolerable. This is a wide-ranging social problem which concerns the entire human family” (21).

By the 1980s, it was clear to the Church that the problem was not just one of pollution, nuclear proliferation and the spread of diseases across continents, but a secular individualism and economic and technological systems that neglected the integral (fully human) development of present and future generations. As St. John Paul II said, “God is glorified when creation serves the integral development of the whole human family.”

In his 1990 World Day of Peace Message, the Holy Father stressed our need to be at peace with God, with one another and with all of creation.

“We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations. The gradual depletion of the ozone layer and the related ‘greenhouse effect’ have now reached crisis proportions as a consequence of industrial growth, massive urban concentrations and vastly increased energy needs. Industrial waste, the burning of fossil fuels, unrestricted deforestation, the use of certain types of herbicides, coolants and propellants: all of these are known to harm the atmosphere and environment. The resulting meteorological and atmospheric changes range from damage to health to the possible future immersion of low-lying lands” (6).

The ecological crisis is “a moral problem” stemming from a lack of respect for life, he added. “Respect for life, and above all the dignity of the human person, is the ultimate guiding norm for any sound economic, industrial and scientific progress” (7).

He said there is an urgent need for a new solidarity – an internationally coordinated approach to manage the earth, our common home. Further, “It is manifestly unjust that a privileged few should continue to accumulate excess goods, squandering available resources, while masses of people are living in conditions of misery at the very lowest level of subsistence” (8).

St. John Paul II continued to speak of the need for an integral humanism which fosters an ecological morality in his later CREATION, SEE PAGE 19

Dr. John P. Langlois

Being repotted: The deacon formation process

A

bout two years ago my son gave me a small bonsai tree for Father’s Day which I named “Firdinand.” For most of the first two years I just handled the basics: sunlight, water and protection from freezing. The tree survived and basically looked like a little shrub. As I looked at it more closely, I could see that the underlying shape of the trunk and major branches resembled a small weathered tree.

For it to reach its full potential, I knew it needed significant additional attention. Through the bonsai process, I began reflecting on how the care of these trees may be like deacon formation. The formation process requires significant change and growth while gaining new things and letting go of others. One must be willing to be shaped and guided in a new direction of growth. It is not easy, but it is essential.

Bonsai trees become root bound in their small pots. The pot becomes essentially full of roots with no room to grow, and at this stage the soil is depleted of nutrients. In a rather drastic procedure, Firdinand was removed from the pot, the roots were separated and about half of the root material was trimmed away. This allowed room for new soil and room for new healthy roots to grow.

As people we too become root bound. We become overly attached to our lives, our possessions, our patterns of thinking. Our habits leave us no room for new growth or the chance to put down different roots. Our soil becomes stale and lacks the nutrients of new ideas and new attitudes.

Ongoing spiritual formation requires a willingness to undergo these changes in our lives. While the changes may at times feel drastic, once completed there is a freshness and a new energy that allows for personal and spiritual growth into a new perspective.

When most plants are repotted, they are usually placed into a different, larger pot. Most of the time, however, bonsai trees are placed back into the same pot, and to keep it safe and secure in the pot, it is wired firmly in place. This is how Firdinand was repotted.

This repotting process parallels diaconate formation, as deacons do not prepare to move into a new place for their ministry – they serve in their homes, workplaces, neighborhoods and parishes. They are expected to bloom where they have been planted. Perhaps at times the bishop may decide to switch pots and assign them to a different parish, but for the most part they serve where they already live. Rather than rely on their own roots to hold them secure, deacons rely on Church teaching and their faith to form a firm foundation and support them in their journey and in their ministry.

The upper part of the bonsai tree needs special attention. One must look beyond the bushy, compact growth to look for underlying existing characteristics and the potential that lies within. In the formation process and in spiritual growth we ourselves, and those who are assisting us, must look beyond the external deeply into the core – to the trunk and major branches – to see where there is strength, beauty and potential. This inward, internal looking is not easy, but the information obtained guides the remainder of the process and the eventual outcome. We must understand fully what we are, before we can become something different and – hopefully – something more.

Once the tree is closely examined and its major characteristics and potential determined, it is time for pruning. Like the roots, this is a significant procedure, as about 40-50 percent of the growth is removed. As the gardener, it was a bit scary for me, and for the tree, perhaps a bit painful. Each snip of a branch was significant, permanent and irrevocable, and

contributed – for better or worse – to the final outcome.

Similarly, in the formation process, we have to prune our lives in order to grow in the direction God is calling us. There was no way we could do all the things we had been doing before we began formation, as well as taking on all that is required for formation. We have to give up previous activities, and things that seemed important earlier are no longer as necessary. Some dead and diseased branches – sinful or inappropriate behaviors, attitudes or patterns of thinking – need to be trimmed away as well.

The end result does not look the same. What was a formless bush-plant now begins to look like an ancient weathered tree. A directionless and stagnant life now has a new direction and appearance.

Once the tree is trimmed, one can more easily assess what else needs to be done. Firdinand appears to have survived the root-trimming, repotting and aggressive pruning. One of his main branches curves behind him and is not very visible. Using some aluminum wire, I will gradually but inevitably change the direction of this branch so that it will be more consistent with the habit of a tree and will show its beauty and potential more clearly. In formation and spiritual growth, even after aggressive pruning of our attitudes and activities, we still need continual and gradual shaping so we can grow in the desired direction and achieve our fullest potential.

One aspect of the art of bonsai is placement of the tree. One wants to place it in an area where its full potential can be appreciated, and also where it will get the sun, rain and air it needs to flourish.

Extending out from a dry-stack stone wall I had built, a single stone serves as a display shelf for Firdinand.

There he has support and protection, sun and rain, but he is also visible to all who pass by. Deacons must also not hide their light under a bushel. In formation we are preparing to be active and visible servants – the hands and heart of Jesus for others in the world.

In addition, we must position ourselves to receive the grace and power of God through prayer and participation in the sacraments and through the Holy Spirit, so that we can grow and flourish.

Of course, the process is not complete. Periodically I will need to repeat these steps to keep Firdinand healthy and growing in a way to achieve his optimal potential as a bonsai tree. If (God and the bishop will it) I hope to be ordained to the permanent diaconate.

Just like the bonsai tree, I will need continued pruning, reshaping, growth and grace – formation will not end but will require ongoing effort, close attention, and the assistance and guidance of others.

Bonsai and deacon formation are significant, sometimes difficult and challenging processes to find and bring out the best characteristics of the individual in a healthy, growth-oriented manner.

May we all benefit from the ongoing loving attention and work of the Master Gardener.

DR. JOHN P. LANGLOIS is a member of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville and a candidate for the permanent diaconate.

September 11, 2020 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

19

Deacon Matthew Newsome

In praise of old books

T

here’s something about an old bookstore. It’s a completely different experience from visiting a new bookseller with bright lighting and clean, colorful shelves hocking titles from the bestsellers list. That’s a commercial enterprise. Entering an old book shop, by contrast, is like embarking on a treasure hunt or an archaeological dig. You never know what you’ll discover hidden away on those dim, dusty shelves.

Our small town has one used book store in particular I have to be careful entering because I always exit poorer (at least by financial reckoning). The owner is straight out of central casting, a thin man with a mop of tangled hair, scruffy two-week beard, and wire-rimmed glasses perched on the end of his nose as he sits behind his desk thumbing through a leather-bound tome while you shop. He writes out paper receipts and keeps well-stocked history and religion sections.

Last December I was exploring the shelves looking for potential Christmas presents when among the old church hymnals and commentaries on scripture I discovered a small volume bearing the names of two of my favorite Christian writers: St. Athanasius and C.S. Lewis. It was St. Athanasius’ fourth century treatise “On the Incarnation,” with an introduction by the famous 20th century Christian apologist of Narnia fame. A beloved Church Father and one of my favorite modern Christian authors writing about the incarnation of Christ to inspire me as we entered the season of the Nativity… let’s just say I exited the shop poorer (but only by financial reckoning).

When I arrived home I opened to the first page to read the introduction by C.S. Lewis, which turned out not to be about the Incarnation at all (Lewis yielded the pulpit to his theological better on that subject).

Rather, Lewis begins his introduction by observing, “There is a strange idea abroad that in every subject the ancient books should be read only by the professionals, and that the amateur should content himself with the modern books.” He explains that if someone wants to learn Plato, the very last thing he’s likely to do today is to read Plato. Instead, he’ll read “some dreary modern book ten times as a long, all about isms and influences and only once in twelve pages telling him what Plato actually said.”

This impulse, he recognizes, springs from humility because the novice doesn’t feel worthy or equipped to meet the mind of a master, and so he thinks he needs an interpreter.

While this attitude is understandable, it is often misguided. As Lewis points out, “the great man… because of his greatness, is much more intelligible than his modern commentator. The simplest student will be able to understand… a very great deal of what Plato said; but hardly anyone can understand some modern books on Platonism.”

As a writer himself, Lewis is certainly not advocating against reading modern books.

But he suggests that we should, on the whole, have a preference for the old. “A new book,” he explains, “is still on trial.” Older books have passed the test of time. If an older book

is still being read centuries later, it must have lasting value. “It is a good rule,” he therefore states, “after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one until you have read an old one in between.”

Old books function like time machines, allowing us to hear voices from the past.

This is important not just to the study of history, but for human culture in general. “Every age has its own outlook,” Lewis observes, meaning that every age (including our own) is good at seeing certain truths, but also liable to certain mistakes. Becoming acquainted with the outlooks of other ages can inoculate us, to a degree, from the errors of our own. That means reading old books.

This does not make old books necessarily better than new ones. “People were no cleverer then than they are now,” Lewis admits, “they made as many mistakes as we. But they were not the same mistakes…

Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction.”

Regarding Christian books in particular, Lewis observes that spiritual classics, while often more challenging, can foster devotion better than most modern devotional books written for that purpose. I have also found this to be true. “I believe,” he writes, “that many who find that ‘nothing happens’ when they sit down… to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.” This is one reason, I believe, why St. Francis de Sales encouraged everyone to read every day not only from the scriptures, but also from a spiritual classic.

A great writer can explain a complex subject in simple terms. A mediocre writer, by contrast, often succeeds only in making the simple unintelligible. This is of special relevance when it comes to Christian literature, as the purpose of Divine Revelation is that God communicates Himself to us. Despite their best efforts and good intentions, mediocre writers can obscure the message with static, while great writers amplify the signal by filtering out the noise.

When Lewis first read St. Athanasius’ “On the Incarnation” in the original Greek, he expected to have difficulty due to his very basic knowledge of Greek. But a basic understanding was all he needed to appreciate the saint’s very simple, very profound prose. Athanasius, after all, was writing to share the gospel, not to impress future scholars of ancient literature.

This profound simplicity is a common characteristic of patristic writings and spiritual classics, which is why they are to be much preferred to most modern books of theology and why we should develop the habit of reading and re-reading them as an effective means of spiritual nourishment.

If you’ve ever felt that the wisdom of the great saints was beyond your reach, I encourage you to try something new – and read an old book.

DEACON MATTHEW NEWSOME is the Catholic campus minister at Western Carolina University and the regional faith formation coordinator for the Smoky Mountain Vicariate.

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encyclicals and in his preparations for the Jubilee Year of 2000. In 2002, he joined with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to publish a common declaration on a spirit of peace for all of humanity and all of creation: “If we examine carefully the social and environmental crisis which the world community is facing, we must conclude that we are still betraying the mandate God has given us: to be stewards called to collaborate with God in watching over creation in holiness and wisdom.” The pope and the patriarch went on to say that Christians are called to proclaim moral values and educate people in ecological awareness. There is a need for “an inner change of heart, which can lead to a change in lifestyle and of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production.” Only a conversion in Christ, they emphasized, can bring us to an ethics of solidarity and responsibility that promotes “a true culture of life.”

Before going on to the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, it is good to recognize that the Church’s concern for humans and the environment is based not just in the Bible and in theology, but also in science. Not only did the university system arise from the Church in the Middle Ages, but Catholic universities and

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colleges are spread throughout the world and some are among the finest schools in their nations. There is also a Papal Academy of Sciences which advises the Holy Father on issues of science. In 2017, the academy issued a “Declaration: Our Planet, Our Health, Our Responsibility.”

It was signed by nine Nobel laureates in science and medicine, and the primary authors hailed from the U.S., England, Argentina and Germany.

The Vatican has also worked closely with the United Nations on matters of sustainability, development and peace.

It is also a participant in the ecumenical “Season of Creation,” which goes from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 (the feast of St. Francis of Assisi). The Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is also sponsoring a seven-year program “to make communities around the world totally sustainable in the spirit of the integral ecology of Laudato Si’.”

In the next commentary to be published Sept. 25 , we will see why Pope Benedict XVI was often referred to as the “Green Pope,” and what Pope Francis has added to the call to care for our common home.

JESUIT FATHER JOHN MICHALOWSKI is parochial vicar of St. Peter Church in Charlotte. This is the first of a two-part commentary about Catholic teaching on care for creation. For more information, go online to www.catholicclimatecovenant.org or check out the information provided on St. Peter Church’s website at www.stpetercatholic.org (click on Get Involved, then Justice and Outreach, then Care for Creation).

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catholicnewsherald.com | September 11, 2020 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

GUÍA

VIRGEN

VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 8

VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 9

como los cuatro principios de la doctrina social católica: la dignidad de la persona humana, subsidiaridad, el bien común y la solidaridad.

La segunda sección resume las posturas de los obispos católicos de Estados Unidos respecto a la vida humana; la promoción de la paz; el matrimonio y la vida familiar; la libertad religiosa; la opción preferencial por los pobres y justicia económica; la atención de la salud; la migración; la educación católica; la promoción de la justicia y el contrarrestar la violencia; el combate contra la discriminación injusta; el ambientalismo como cuidado de nuestra casa común; las comunicaciones, los medios y la cultura; y la solidaridad global.

La tercera parte traza los objetivos para la vida política definiendo los retos para los ciudadanos, candidatos y funcionarios públicos.

El documento concluye con las principales declaraciones católicas sobre la vida pública y cuestiones morales, abordando temas como la protección de la vida humana, promoción de la vida familiar, búsqueda de la justicia social y el ejercicio de la solidaridad global. Además, incluye los discursos del Papa Francisco sobre cuestiones políticas importantes realizados durante su visita apostólica a los Estados Unidos en septiembre de 2015.

Más online En www.usccb.org/es/issues-and-action/ faithful-citizenship/formando-la-concienciapara-ser-ciudadanos-fieles-indice.cfm: Puede encontrar el documento completo que todo católico debe revisar y estudiar

DOMÍNGUEZ VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 8

Obispo a la cabeza que irradia tanta fe, con nuestros sacerdotes que nos representan como parroquias y con todos nuestros diáconos, religiosos y religiosas que nos muestran su consagración a Dios, su gran fervor y reverencia por la Eucaristía.

Queridos hermanos, yo sé que este año vamos a extrañar todo esto. Vamos a extrañar los abrazos compartidos, vamos a anhelar la procesión, la música de avivamiento, la Hora Santa, las conferencias tan ricas que nos dieron los conferencistas en el pasado.

Quiero pedirles a todos ustedes que no decaigan en la fe, sino por el contrario, que esto nos anime a ver la importancia que tiene nuestro congreso en nuestras vidas.

Que para el año que entra, Dios mediante, lleguemos con más fervor y mayor devoción a buscar al Señor de la alegría y a todos nuestros hermanos que tendrán tantas ganas de darnos un abrazo doble.

Por lo pronto, en este tiempo de dificultad, no hemos querido dejarlos solos.

Vamos a presentar el congreso de una manera virtual para que puedan recordar el pasado, pero recibir también bendiciones del Señor.

Los conferencistas que estaban propuestos para este año nos han enviado videos con una breve conferencia, nuestro Obispo celebrará la Misa y un servidor tendrá la Hora Santa en vivo.

Dios les bendiga.

EL PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ es el director del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Siga sus videos en la página YouTube de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

y extendió su mano como para atraparla.

Ella en ese momento desapareció, en el puño cerrado del indígena quedó una pequeña estampa con la imagen de la Virgen.

Después de ocurrir la aparición, el cacique partió al bosque, y la tradición nos dice que antes de morir se convirtió al cristianismo.

Al enterarse de lo ocurrido, Juan Sánchez mandó que fuese recogida la imagen, la cual colocó en su casa. Allí la Virgen era venerada por todos los pobladores de la región de Guanare.

En el año 1654, por orden del vicario Diego de Lozano, la imagen fue llevada al templo de la ciudad de Guanare.

El 1 de mayo de 1942 fue declarada Patrona de Venezuela por el Episcopado Nacional de ese país. El 7 de octubre de 1944 el Papa Pío XII la declaró ‘Celeste y Principal Patrona de toda la República de Venezuela’ y su coronación canónica se celebró tres siglos depués de la aparición, en 1952.

El Santuario Nacional a la Virgen de Coromoto fue declarado Basílica por Pío XII el 24 de mayo de 1949.

— Colaboraron EWTN y ACIPRENSA

Oración de San Juan Pablo II Y ahora con gran confianza en su maternal ayuda queremos hacer esta mañana el acto de ofrecimiento de todos los hijos de Venezuela a Nuestra Señora de Coromoto.

A Ti, Madre Santísima, que has sido la protectora de la fe del pueblo venezolano, te confío hoy la fe de este pueblo. Defiéndela contra los peligros del laicismo, de los ataques que la amenazan, del consumismo, de la visión horizontalista de la vida que atenta contra su vigor.

En tus manos, oh María, Madre de Cristo y nuestra, pongo las alegrías y las tristezas, las esperanzas y sufrimientos, los desvelos y necesidades de todas las familias venezolanas.

Cuida en ellas la vida, aún la no nacida, protege a sus niños y jóvenes, conforta a sus enfermos y ancianos, aumenta el amor de los esposos, para que caminen siempre en la luz de tu Hijo y busquen la estabilidad de su unión en el sacramento. Asiste asimismo a las familias emigrantes, especialmente a las venidas de Cuba, de la República Dominicana, de Colombia, del Ecuador y de Europa, que son las más numerosas.

Te encomiendo, oh María, Madre de la Iglesia, a los ministros de tu Hijo, a las almas consagradas, a los que sintieron la llamada a su servicio y al de sus hermanos. Alienta sus anhelos apostólicos, afianza su fidelidad, inspírales deseos de santidad, acompaña su generosa entrega eclesial. Te confío también el problema de la escasez de vocaciones.

Inspira a esta Iglesia para que redoble su vitalidad, suscitando en su seno abundantes y selectas vocaciones. Bendice a cuantos con su trabajo honrado procuran el bienestar de los hermanos: al campesino y al obrero, al empresario y al artesano, a los profesionales y a quienes tienen responsabilidades de dirección en la sociedad. Ayúdales a ejercer su misión con gran sentido de honradez, diligencia y moralidad, escuchando el fuerte clamor de justicia que brota de tantos corazones.

Virgen Santa de Coromoto, en unión colegial con mis hermanos obispos de Venezuela, te pido: ilumina los destinos de Venezuela; guía esta noble nación, por los caminos de la paz y del progreso cristiano; ayuda a todos sus hijos, para que de la mano con Cristo, nuestro Señor y Hermano, caminen hacia el Padre común en la unidad del Espíritu Santo. Amén.

CNS | COURTESY SHRINE OF ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINA

Pope Francis prays in front of the body of St. Pio in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie at the Shrine of St. Pio of Pietrelcina in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, in 2018.

PADRE PIO FROM PAGE 2

problems that forced him to live apart from his Franciscan community for the first six years of his priesthood. By 1916 he managed to re-enter community life at the Friary of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he lived until his death.

He handled many duties as a spiritual director and teacher, covering for brothers drafted into World War I. During 1917 and 1918, Padre Pio himself briefly served in a medical unit of the Italian army. He later offered himself as a spiritual “victim” for an end to the war, accepting suffering as a form of prayer for peace. Once again, he received the wounds of Christ on his body. They would remain with him for 50 years, through a succession of global conflicts.

Against his own wishes, the friar’s reputation for holiness, and attending miracles, began to attract huge crowds.

Some Church officials, however, denounced the priest and had him banned from public ministry in 1931.

Pope Pius XI ended the ban two years later, and his successor Pius XII encouraged pilgrimages to Padre Pio’s

MASKS FROM PAGE 5

their faith by connecting with fellow parishioners and our community during this difficult time of isolation. Through the mask project and Teen Serve Week, our youth were able to experience and share the hope and encouragement of Christ’s love for us.”

Deacon Clarke Cochran, who facilitated a session on Catholic social teaching on the first day of Teen Serve Week, added, “St. John Paul II tells us that solidarity is the virtue of determination to commit oneself to the common good – that is, the good of all persons and each person. Because we are all responsible for all. Making and wearing face masks in this time of pandemic is a deep expression of solidarity. It shows our love of neighbor in action.”

Regarding the parish’s commitment to purchase ethically-made face masks from Opportunity Threads with the Jesuit logo on them, Chiappetta explained, “By supporting local textile artisans and eco-friendly production

friary.

Known for patient suffering, fervent prayer and compassionate spiritual guidance, Padre Pio also lent his efforts to the establishment of a major hospital, the “Home to Relieve Suffering.”

Padre Pio died in 1968, and was declared a saint in 2002. Three years after his death, Pope Paul VI marveled at his simple and holy life in an address to the Capuchin order.

“A worldwide following gathered around him ... because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and was – it is not easy to say it – one who bore the wounds of our Lord,” Pope Paul explained. “He was a man of prayer and suffering.”

Among other patronages, St. Pio is the patron of adolescents and stress relief.

— CNA/EWTN News

Pray St. Pio’s favorite prayer of petition At www.catholicnewsherald.com: The “Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” a prayer composed by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, was St. Pio’s daily prayer for everyone who asked for his prayers. He would pray for their specific intention and many times this intention was answered by God.

in North Carolina, St. Peter is living its mission of social justice. We wanted to purchase masks from them because we know that it aligns with our mission – by protecting creation and having a living wage that respects the dignity and rights of workers.”

“Wearing the masks is an act of solidarity, protecting the people we serve as well as each other. Having the masks branded with the Jesuit sunburst embodies St. Peter’s commitment to Catholic social teaching,” she added.

Besides the mask-making project during Teen Serve Week, the teens and other volunteers worked at Catholic Charities’ Charlotte food pantry, Second Harvest Food Bank, Samaritan’s Feet, Irwin Creek Greenway and the parish rectory. They also made baby blankets for the Missionaries of Charity, gift bags for teachers at Druid Hills Academy (a partner school), and friendship bracelet kits for the Boys & Girls Club.

They also organized supply drives for A Roof Above, mothers in need served by the Missionaries of Charity, and the Charlotte Rescue Mission, Baby Bundles, Ronald McDonald House and Catholic Charities’ Charlotte food pantry.