July 30, 2021

July 30, 2021

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FFHL funds provide $173K in tuition help 5

Bishop Jugis responds to pope’s instructions on pre-Vatican II Latin Mass 17 INDEX

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Solidarity in Christ

Catholic parishes, ministries and community groups bring relief to pandemic-stricken families in Asheville area 3 Programa ‘Madrinas’ se extendió a Winston-Salem y Huntersville

Former clown, now a priest, brings Church to the circus 5

Sharing their wisdom St. Peter Sages shine light on parish’s history 8

Escuelas Católicas aumenta el número de embajadoras latinas

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Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Just as Christ laid down His life for us, so we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. My brethren, Lawrence understood this and, understanding, he acted on it. In his life he loved Christ; in his death he followed in His footsteps.’

— St. Augustine, in a sermon on the feast of St. Lawrence

Visit St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville “The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence,” by Palma il Giovane, painted between 1581 and 1582, on display at the Chiesa di San Giacomo dall’Orio in Venice.

St. Lawrence Feast day: Aug. 10 St. Lawrence was martyred in Rome on Aug. 10, 258, along with many other members of the clergy, during the persecution of the emperor Valerian.

He was one of seven deacons in Rome who were in charge of giving help to the poor and the needy, and he was the last of them to die. When the persecution broke out, Pope St. Sixtus II was condemned to death. As the pope was led to execution on Aug. 6, 258, Lawrence followed him weeping, “Father, where are you going without your deacon?” he said. “I am not leaving you, my son,” answered the pope. “In three days you will follow me.”

Full of joy, Lawrence gave to the poor the rest of the money he had on hand and even sold expensive vessels to have more to give away.

After the pope was killed, Lawrence became the principal authority of the Church in Rome, having been the Church’s treasurer.

The prefect of Rome, a greedy pagan, thought the Church had a great fortune hidden away. So he ordered Lawrence to bring the Church’s treasure to him. The saint said he would, in three days. Then he went through the city and gathered together all the poor and sick people supported by the Church. When he showed them to the prefect, he said: “This is the Church’s treasure!”

In great anger, the prefect immediately condemned Lawrence to a slow, cruel death. He was tied on top of an iron grill over a slow fire that roasted his flesh little by little, but Lawrence was burning with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked: “Turn me over,” he said to the judge. “I’m done on this side!” And just before he died, he said, “It’s cooked enough now.” Then he prayed that the city of Rome might be converted to Jesus and that the Catholic faith might spread all over the world. After that, he went to receive the martyr’s reward.

He is venerated as one of the patrons of Rome, along with Sts. Peter and Paul. He is also the patron of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville.

— CNA/EWTN News, www.catholic.org

More online

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Learn about more saints whose feast days we celebrate in August, including: St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Rose of Lima, St. Monica and St. Augustine.

All are welcome to attend Mass at St. Lawrence Basilica to commemorate its upcoming patronal feast day. While the actual feast date is Aug. 10, Bishop Peter Jugis is permitting the parish to transfer the feast to the prior Sunday. Bishop Jugis will offer the Mass at noon on Sunday, Aug. 8. Masses will also be offered at 9 a.m. Sunday in English and 4 p.m. in Spanish. The parish will have an outdoor picnic with food trucks, or bring your own lunch and drinks, starting at 1:30 p.m. St. Lawrence Basilica is located in downtown Asheville at 97 Haywood St. For details about the basilica, its history and architectural significance, and the plenary indulgence that may be obtained when visiting the basilica on one of its “basilica days,” go online to www. saintlawrencebasilica. org.

Daily Scripture readings AUG. 1-7

Sunday: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15, Ephesians 4:17, 20-24, John 6:24-35; Monday (St. Eusebius of Vercelli, St. Peter Julian Eymard): Numbers 11:4b-15, Matthew 14:13-21; Tuesday: Numbers 12:1-13, Matthew 14:22-36; Wednesday (St. John Vianney): Numbers 13:1-2, 25-14:1, 26-29a, 34-35, Matthew 15:21-28; Thursday (The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major): Numbers 20:1-13, Matthew 16:13-23; Friday (The Transfiguration of the Lord): Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 2 Peter 1:1619, Mark 9:2-10; Saturday (St. Sixtus II and Companions, St. Cajetan): Deuteronomy 6:4-13, Matthew 17:14-20

AUG. 8-14

Sunday: 1 Kings 19:4-8, Ephesians 4:30-5:2, John 6:41-51; Monday (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross): Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Matthew 17:22-27; Tuesday (St. Lawrence): 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John 12:24-26; Wednesday (St. Clare): Deuteronomy 34:1-12, Matthew 18:15-20; Thursday (St. Jane Frances de Chantal): Joshua 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17, Matthew 18:2119:1; Friday (Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus): Joshua 24:1-13, Matthew 19:3-12; Saturday (St. Maximilian Kolbe): Joshua 24:14-29, Matthew 19:13-15

AUG. 15-21

Sunday (The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary): Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10, 1 Corinthians 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56; Monday (St. Stephen of Hungary): Judges 2:11-19, Matthew 19:16-22; Tuesday: Judges 6:11-24a, Matthew 19:23-30; Wednesday: Judges 9:6-15, Matthew 20:1-16; Thursday (St. John Eudes): Judges 11:29-39a, Matthew 22:1-14; Friday (St. Bernard): Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14b-16, 22, Matthew 22:34-40; Saturday (St. Pius X): Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11, 4:13-17, Matthew 23:112

Our parishes

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief New priest assigned

An interdenominational partnership of 15 churches, community groups and ministries has banded together in solidarity to bring sorely-needed relief to local families in Asheville and surrounding areas.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Solidarity in Christ Catholic parishes, ministries and community groups bring relief to pandemic-stricken families in Asheville area ANNIE FERGUSON CORRESPONDENT

ASHEVILLE — Teamwork can make all the difference when responding to a crisis such as a global pandemic that strikes the most vulnerable among us.

This was the situation Nick Haskell of the Blue Ridge Organizing Project and other people of goodwill in Asheville faced last year.

Local families were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic – losing their jobs when businesses shut down and tourism evaporated, then finding it impossible to buy food, pay the rent or keep the lights on. More than 300 people in Buncombe County have died from the virus.

A broad coalition of churches and community groups has come together to act – and in the process, they have helped build up the Body of Christ.

Haskell, who has worked for nonprofits since 1989, explains, “To me, this isn’t charity, it is being brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Specifically as a result of the pandemic, the effort has grown from Haskell’s original intent with BROP – combating homelessness and drug addiction in West Asheville – into an interdenominational partnership of 15 churches banding together in solidarity to bring sorely-needed relief to local families. The group now includes Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, the five Catholic parishes in Buncombe County, the diocese’s Asheville-area Hispanic Ministry, other community groups, as well as Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Anglican and other Christian churches.

“We focus ourselves on what the Catholic tradition calls the

‘corporal works of mercy.’ Any day you can accomplish one of the corporal works of mercy is a good day,” says Father Pat Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Church, one of the participating parishes in the partnership.

“St. Eugene has a very giving spirit. The people always rise to the occasion, and the pandemic was particularly challenging. Our faith tells us that even if things don’t work out on our timeline, eventually everything is moving toward God’s greater glory.”

CATHOLIC MINISTRIES RESPOND

The partnership among BROP, churches and community groups has focused on helping low-income Hispanic families in the community.

It all started when Antonio Garcia, Hispanic Ministry coordinator for the Asheville Vicariate, and leaders at St. Eugene Parish contacted BROP about teaming up to raise money to provide grocery store gift cards for jobless Hispanic families in April 2020, soon after the pandemic began.

Many of the families served have five to seven people in their households and earn about $18,000 per year, which is considered deep poverty, Haskell notes.

“Initially, we raised money through local parishes and social media,” Haskell says. These efforts provided 173 families with $50 gift cards. However, “we quickly realized the need was much greater.”

As soon as that realization sank in, Haskell, Garcia and St. Eugene parishioners connected with Catholic Charities, which has SOLIDARITY, SEE PAGE 15

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces that Father Francis Olalekan Raji, of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, has been assigned parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, effective July 13.

Father Raji has ministered as a priest for 15 years, including serving as a parochial vicar in the Diocese of Minna, Nigeria; director of publications for the Missionaries of St. Paul; president Raji of St. Paul Ranch in Nigeria, where he enjoyed raising livestock and planting food crops; and rector of Our Lady of Undoer of Knots Shrine in Iperu, Nigeria.

He studied agribusiness, entrepreneurship and microeconomics at the Pan Atlantic University in Lagos, Nigeria, and the University of Oxford in London, respectively.

This education enabled him to focus on youth empowerment and food production in Nigeria. A promoter of the devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots over the years, he believes many problems can be turned around for good with a simple novena to Our Lady.

“I am impressed by the awesome orthodoxy, deep faith and piety I find among the parishioners of my new parish and I am happy to work in the Diocese of Charlotte,” Father Raji said.

— Catholic News Herald

Deacon named head of Airport Inter-Faith Chaplaincy CHARLOTTE — Deacon David S. Reiser has been appointed executive director of the Inter-Faith Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

He will oversee 18 chaplains of various faiths who provide spiritual and emotional support to the tens of thousands of passengers and employees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the nation’s sixth largest airport.

He succeeds Deacon George Szalony, who Reiser retired this summer after 12 years as head of the Inter-Faith Chaplaincy.

Deacon Reiser serves at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte, and has also served as a chaplain at the airport for 10 years.

He has four decades of experience in law enforcement, crisis response and aviation. He began his career as a police officer and then joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he worked as a special agent and pilot for teams investigating organized crime, arson, drug trafficking, financial crime and fraud. He later supervised ground and air surveillance IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 9

UPcoming events 4

catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following upcoming events: AUG. 1 – 10 A.M. Installation of Father Peter Ascik as pastor St. Mary, Help of Christians Church, Shelby AUG. 3 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Dorothy Church, Lincolnton

AUG. 5 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Jude Church, Sapphire

AUG. 8 – 12 P.M. Feast of St. Lawrence Mass St. Lawrence Basilica, Asheville

AUG. 12 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Benedict Church, Greensboro

AUG. 6 – 9 A.M. Mass and blessing of columbarium Our Lady of the Mountains Church, Highlands

AUG. 10 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Mary Church, Greensboro

AUG. 14 – 10 A.M. Mass for Affirmation of Promises for Deacons St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events July 30, 2021

CONFERENCES

Volume 30 • NUMBER 22

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: Friday-Saturday, Sept. 17-18, Charlotte Convention Center, 501 South College St., Charlotte. This spiritually unifying event brings together thousands of Catholics from across the diocese and the Southeast for spiritual talks, music, prayer and fellowship – all centered around the Eucharist. Everyone is welcome! Go to www.goeucharist.com for details.

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

RESPECT LIFE CONFERENCE: Saturday, Oct. 2, St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrews Place, Swannanoa.

This conference is open to all parish Respect Life coordinators and all who are involved in pro-life work in the Diocese of Charlotte. For details and registration, email Jessica Grabowski at jrgrabowski@charlottediocese. org or go online to www.ccdoc.org/respectlife.

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.

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

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

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

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

ESPAÑOL UNA VIGILIA DE ADORACIÓN POR LA PAZ Y LA JUSTICIA EN NICARAGUA: Los jueves a las 6 p.m., nos reunimos en la Catedral San Patricio para, que en estos últimos meses está pasando por momentos turbulentos y ataques físicos contra la Iglesia Católica, sus templos, y sus Obispos. Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a la Adoración, rezar el Santo Rosario y la corona de adoración y reparación, y terminando con la oración de exorcismo de San Miguel Arcángel. La vigilia de oración es en español. Las próximas fechas serán Agosto 5 y 12.

VIGILIA DE LOS DOS CORAZONES: Primer viernes y sábado del mes, en la Catedral San Patricio, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. Únase cada primer viernes del mes a una vigilia nocturna para honrar los Corazones de Jesús y María, orar por nuestras familias, ofrecer penitencia por nuestros pecados y pedir por la conversión de nuestra nación. Para inscribirse a una hora de Adoración, visite www.ProLifeCharlotte.org/dos-corazones.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS ANOINTING OF THE SICK MASS: 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Road, Mint Hill.

Anointing is typically presented to those who need healing from physical, mental illness, or someone who will be undergoing surgery. Refreshments after Mass. For details, call Mary Forgach at 704-545-1224.

Celebrate ‘Mary Days’ CHARLOTTE — Everyone is invited to attend a week-long celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary starting Sunday, Aug. 15, at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Each night from Aug. 15, the feast of the Assumption, to Aug. 22, the memorial of the Queenship of Mary, the Charlotte parish will host reflections on some of Our Lady’s titles in the Church, followed by recitation of the rosary: n 6-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15: “Gate of Heaven,” by Father John Putnam, pastor of St. Mark Church in Huntersville n 6-7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16: “Mother of the Church,” by Father Paul Buchanan, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont n 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17: “New Eve,” by Father Jason Christian, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon n 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 18: Ancient Devotion to Mary in the Christian East, by Father Joseph Matlak of St. Basil the Great Eastern Catholic Parish in Charlotte n 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19: “Virgin Most Powerful,” by Father Timothy Reid, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte n 6-7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20: “Seat of Wisdom,” by Dominican Father Ephrem Reese n 6:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21: “Mother of God,” by Father Jonathan Torres of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte n 6-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22: “Queen Mother,” by Father Innocent Amasiorah, Charlotte-area Catholic campus minister St. Thomas Aquinas Church is located at 1400 Suther Road in Charlotte. For details, go online to the parish’s website, www.stacharlotte.com.

HIGH POINT: 6-9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 4145 Johnson St. Meet in St. Edwards A.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING “Protecting God’s Children” (“Protegiendo a los Niños de Dios”) workshops educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register for training, go to www.virtus. org. Upcoming workshops are: FRANKLIN: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 299 Maple St. English only. Lunch provided.

HICKORY: 2-5 p.m. Friday, July 30, and 2-5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, at St. Aloysius Church, 921 Second St. N.E. Both sessions offered in Spanish only.

WORKSHOPS A MATTER OF BALANCE CLASSES: 1-3 p.m. Thursday Aug. 5, to Thursday Aug. 23, St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Charlotte. This program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. Classes are free and limited to 14 participants. For details, contact Sandra Breakfield, Elder Ministry program director, at 704370-3220 or sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org. Hosted by Catholic Charities and St. Matthew Church.

‘READING THE FINE PRINT – WHAT AM I EATING?’: The average grocery store has over 39,000 options to choose

from. How can you make sense of it all? In a free webinar with Margaret White, aging specialist with Centralina Area Agency on Aging, get information about tricks for reading food labels, nutrients we need as we age, ultra-processed foods vs processed foods and tips to make healthy choices. Sponsored by Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry. To register go online to www.ccdoc.org (Select Services, then Family Enrichment, then Elder Ministry). For details contact Sandra Breakfield, Elder Ministry program director, at 704370-3220 or sabreakfield@charlottediocese.org.

IS YOUR PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

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Former clown, now a priest, brings Church to the circus Living in tight quarters with co-workers, not to mention culture clashes and language barriers, can put a strain on performers’ spiritual lives. But prayer and study help them renew and refresh, so they can support each other.

Father Cancro brings to the circus community the sacraments that other Catholics would receive in a church, such as Holy Communion, confession, baptism, confirmation and marriage.

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Before he became a priest, before he served as pastor of a Belmont parish, Father Frank Cancro was a circus clown. That personal journey led him to spend his weekends ministering to the big top’s traveling performers – and now to a national role in the Church.

In June, he was appointed national advisor to the Catholic circus community by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers. He will serve in the role through November 2024.

Father Cancro worked as a circus clown in the 1970s before being ordained a priest in 1981. Last year he retired as pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.

Since then he has been devoting more time to what he loves most: ministering to circus performers as he travels with them around the United States.

“I’ve always felt a connection to people who travel down the road,” Father Cancro says.

In his new position he follows in the footsteps of his longtime friend Father Jerry Hogan, a former national advisor to the circus community who passed away in May. Father Cancro’s duties include sharing his pastoral experiences, especially communicating how best to evangelize the circus community and engage it in the life of the Church. He also will convey the needs of the circus community to the USCCB, so initiatives can be created to address them.

A MINISTRY OF PRESENCE

Since retiring, Father Cancro has also become chairman of the board for the Showpeoples Winter Quarters, an RV park for retiring circus folks or circus families between shows who do not have the resources for other options.

“We offer them space, utility hookups and community on a financial sliding scale,” Father Cancro explains.

“Also, now that I manage the circus ministry overall, there are meetings (and paperwork) that I now have more time for!” he says.

Besides his advisor and chaplain roles, Father Cancro works in conjunction with the USCCB’s Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in planning and coordination, and he serves on two different leadership teams for its “Journeying Together” initiative.

“It is often a misunderstood and misjudged lifestyle, but pastoral ministry in the circus (not just to Catholics) provides a ministry of presence to everyone in the shows. It is as fruitful as parish life,” Father Cancro says.

Did you know?

ON THE ROAD WITH THE CIRCUS

Father Cancro has been traveling with circus shows since 2010. While in active ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte, he spent a few days each month ministering as a circus chaplain.

“Retirement affords me the opportunity to increase that,” he explains. “I just returned yesterday from five days traveling with Garden Brothers Circus. I was at another circus in Wisconsin a few weeks ago, and later this month will be on the

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FATHER FRANK CANCRO

Father Frank Cancro, pictured here with Ringling Bros. circus clowns, has been named national advisor to the Catholic circus community by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. road for a few weekends in a row to take up Missionary Co-op collections in parishes in Indiana.”

He lives just like the performers when he is on the road, staying in RVs, trucks and circus trains while ministering to them.

Performers need a certain kind of spiritual guidance, Father Cancro told the Catholic News Herald in 2012. Circus work can be draining, as each stop on a tour takes energy and enthusiasm, without much time to recharge.

Approximately 300,000 people work in 50-60 circuses and 300-400 carnivals in the United States – and 40 percent of them are Catholic. The Church has a special outreach ministry to these circus performers and traveling entertainers, so that, despite not being able to be rooted in a parish, they can be fully integrated into the life of the Church.

Learn more at www.usccb.org/committees/ pastoral-care-migrants-refugees-travelers/ circus-and-traveling-shows-ministry.

FFHL funds provide $173K in tuition help SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Eight schools are receiving a total $173,400 to use for tuition assistance this fall, thanks to the Diocese of Charlotte’s “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign. It is the highest amount given out since the aid program began.

The $65 million FFHL campaign is funding capital projects, endowments and other needs across the growing diocese.

Included in the campaign is a tuition assistance endowment available to the diocese’s 19 schools. The endowment has more than $4.7 million in assets.

The $173,400 will go to eight diocesan schools that applied for the 2021-’22 school year. The funds are expected to help dozens of participating Catholic families who have the greatest financial need.

Tuition assistance funds were awarded to: Asheville Catholic School, $77,833; Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville, $22,963; Immaculata School in Hendersonville, $16,576; Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point, $18,432; Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, $3,470; Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, $21,734; St. Leo School in Winston-Salem, $5,492; and St. Michael School in Gastonia, $6,900.

“Devoting FFHL funds to tuition assistance makes a difference in our parish schools,” said Catherine Rusch, Our Lady of Grace School’s principal. “It makes a mission-driven Catholic education a reality for families who would not be able to attend otherwise.”

“The FFHL tuition assistance endowment allows principals to make Catholic education more accessible in their communities,” explained Allana Ramkissoon, assistant superintendent

of schools. “It is our goal to provide an environment where young people are formed through Gospel teachings and are able to pursue excellence as fully alive disciples of Christ. A partnership with parishes makes this possible through tuition assistance, and communities are enriched tenfold by the contributions.”

The FFHL tuition assistance endowment is administered by a committee consisting of the diocese’s schools superintendent, chief financial officer and members of the diocesan school board. Available income from the endowment is distributed to qualifying diocesan schools that apply each year for student financial aid.

An endowment is a permanent fund, the principal of which is never touched, but the income from which can be used according to the wishes of the donor organization or person. Endowments provide a way to generate income and help sustain the longterm strength and viability of the recipient parish, school or ministry.

To date, a total of $600,230 has been awarded to the diocese’s schools. In its first year in 2017, FFHL tuition assistance

totaling $49,372 was given out to four diocesan schools. In 2020, $152,213 was awarded to seven schools.

To qualify for the tuition assistance money, the school must receive local parish support of at least $500 per participating Catholic student and must have awarded all of its tuition assistance funds it already has for that school year. Schools that do not receive $500 per student in parish support may be considered if there are extenuating financial circumstances that preclude this level of support. Qualifying schools may request funds from the FFHL endowment for participating Catholic students with a financial need (determined to be 75 percent or more of the family’s full tuition and fees, as determined by a third-party company).

The tuition assistance endowment is one of seven endowments funded through the FFHL campaign.

“The FFHL campaign continues to have a significant impact on the work being done in parishes and in ministries across the diocese that provide services to parishioners,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan director of development.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 OUR PARISHES

Three seminarians instituted as acolytes July 17 SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis conferred the ministry of acolyte on three seminarians – Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli – during Mass July 17 at St. Patrick Cathedral.

In his homily, Bishop Jugis told them, “As men discerning the vocation to the priesthood, your institution to the ministry of acolyte is essential to the discernment of that vocation. By serving at the Eucharistic sacrifice as an officially instituted minister of the Church, you are participating in the Lord’s own sacrifice.”

He explained that they are being formed and prepared for that day of their priestly ordination, “when, on your knees and holding the paten containing the bread and the chalice containing the wine mixed with water for the celebration of the Mass, you are told: ‘Understand what you do, imitate what you celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.’”

Bishop Jugis noted that they now have a special role in the Church’s ministry. “It is your responsibility to assist priests and deacons in carrying out their ministry and, as extraordinary ministers, to give Holy Communion to the faithful at the liturgy and to the sick,” he said.

“Because you are specially called to this ministry, you should strive to live more fully by the Lord’s sacrifice and to be molded more perfectly in His likeness.

You should seek to understand the deep spiritual meaning of what you do so

Seminarians (from left) Christopher Brock, Peter Rusciolelli and Chinonso NnebeAgumadu are pictured with Bishop Peter Jugis after Mass July 17 at St. Patrick Cathedral, where they were instituted as acolytes.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

that you may offer yourselves to God as spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Him through Jesus Christ,” Bishop Jugis said.

“In performing your ministry, bear in mind that as you share the one Bread with your brothers and sisters, so you form one Body with them and show a sincere love for

Christ’s Mystical Body, God’s holy people, and especially for the weak and the sick,” he emphasized.

Bishop Jugis concluded his homily by telling the men, “Be obedient to the commandment which the Lord gave to His Apostles at the Last Supper: ‘Love one

another as I also have loved you.’”

Brock, Nnebe-Agumadu and Rusciolelli have two more years of theological studies and spiritual formation remaining at The Athenaeum, Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio, before being considered for ordination to the priesthood.

St. Ann’s Monsignor Allen Center begins much-needed renovation SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Costly, extensive renovations are underway at the Monsignor Allen Center on the St. Ann Church campus. Deterioration of the center’s stucco exterior since its construction in 1993 made the $2.4 million project necessary.

The 24,349-square-foot parish activity center houses the church offices and classrooms for parish and community meetings. It also serves as the St. Ann School kitchen, cafeteria and gymnasium.

“The Allen Center has long been in need of renovation, but because renovating the church was a higher priority, it’s been put off until now,” said Father Timothy Reid, pastor.

Visitors to the facility will observe that it is now completely wrapped in plastic. For safety, caution signs and fencing will surround the Monsignor Allen Center for the next three months.

Parking on the church campus is now very limited, and access to the main church parking lot via Willow Oak Road is allowed only on weekends.

Emmett Sapp, diocesan construction manager and St. Ann parishioner, said, “Continuous use of all areas of the building for nearly 30 years has naturally resulted in significant wear and tear. For years we’ve been battling a leaky roof, and the floors throughout the building are very worn, especially the gym floor.”

He noted that the HVAC units are original and in need of replacing, and the low-cost material used on the exterior of the building is easily damaged and has been repaired over the years.

“Unfortunately, rainwater has made its way behind that material over the years and caused damage to the metal stud wall framing,” Sapp said.

Inside the facility the stage area, kitchen and the upstairs bathrooms are all in need of updating, he said.

“The goal is to address all of these issues, while making the exterior of the building more attractive and architecturally cohesive with the church,” Sapp explained.

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Above) The Monsignor Allen Center on the St. Ann Church campus is completely wrapped in plastic July 12. The $2.4 million renovation (rendering, at left) is expected to be completed this fall.

The renovation’s high price tag has been a challenge coming on the heels of the pandemic.

“Fortunately, our parishioners have been so generous in giving to a monthly second collection that is providing funds for this project. At this time, however, we are about $500,000 short of what we need to pay for the project in full,” Father Reid said.

It is estimated that Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools will contribute $1 million to the renovation, as the Monsignor Allen Center is a hub for St. Ann School

activities during the academic year.

“Once completed, the Allen Center will not only be architecturally complementary to the church, but it will be a much stronger and well-built building that will serve both our parish and school for generations to come,” Father Reid said.

The project will also include a grotto in honor of Our Lady of Fatima that will serve as an outdoor devotional space for St. Ann Parish.

The Monsignor Allen Center renovation project started June 14 and is expected to be completed this fall.

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com

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SEMINARIAN SPOTLIGHT: Kolbe Murrey CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte is blessed with 45 men who are enrolled at three seminaries to study for the priesthood this fall.

To date, 24 men are enrolled to study at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. Fifteen men will study at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio. Five men will study at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

One man is taking a pastoral year.

Kolbe Murrey, a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon, is one of those studying at the college in Rome.

Murrey The Catholic News Herald recently asked Murrey to talk about his discernment process as a seminarian, to help people of the diocese get to know him: CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?

Murrey: I was always attracted to the priesthood even from a young age. It was not, however, until my high school years that I really began to deeply consider the call to priesthood. The calling came about very naturally since I had been an altar server since my first holy Communion in second grade. This consistent experience of being part of the sacred liturgy and near the priest as he celebrated the Mass slowly led toward a desire to pursue Christ in a more intense fashion.

Joining seminary was the obvious course of action.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Above) Father John Eckert receives a priestly blessing from newlyordained Father Joseph Wasswa on the kneeler provided by Mary’s Sons following the June 19 ordination Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

(Right) Father Juan Miguel Sanchez blesses his mother, who is using the kneeler given to him by Mary’s Sons to offer his first priestly blessings after his June 19 ordination.

CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?

Kneelers travel parish to parish, gather prayers for new priests DINA DEFABO WILSON CORRESPONDENT

HUNTERSVILLE — Two hand-crafted wooden kneelers stood in the early afternoon sunlight shining through the windows of St. Mark Church after the ordination of Father Juan Miguel Sanchez and Father Joseph Wasswa.

The kneelers had reached the end of a seven-month “pilgrimage” of hundreds of miles visiting parishes across the Diocese of Charlotte. In each location, the faithful prayed on the kneelers for the two men preparing to become priests. An engraved plaque expressed in words what could not be seen: “With our prayers for a joyful priesthood.”

Now, as the newly-ordained priests begin their ministry, they say they are grateful for the special gift of the kneelers – a reminder of their vocation and the people they have been called to serve.

“I very much appreciate having a tangible representation of the care and love I receive from the people,” said Father Sanchez, parochial vicar of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte and assistant chaplain at Charlotte Catholic High School.

“I know that whenever I use the kneeler, I will experience a particular connection with those who knelt on it, those who had the desire and couldn’t, and those who also are kneeling around the diocese to pray to God,” he said. “I want to use this kneeler in my room to pray to God for all those entrusted to me.”

The kneelers are gifts from Mary’s Sons, a lay apostolate dedicated to praying for priests. The apostolate also gave each priest a beautiful hand=sewn confessional stole and a leather journal containing written messages from people who had prayed on the kneelers.

“These things mean a lot to me,” said Father Wasswa, parochial vicar of Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

“It is really spiritually edifying to receive all of these wonderful well-wishes and prayers from the people across the diocese.”

“I think the kneeler is particularly a great gift and reminder that holiness is cultivated on our knees,” he said.

He plans to use the kneeler for his personal Holy Hour.

Since 2013, Mary’s Sons has given 19 kneelers to the diocese’s new priests, according to Director Robyn Magyar.

The apostolate started the Kneelers for Priests Pilgrimage program to give people across the diocese the opportunity to pray for priests in a personal way, she said.

“The kneelers symbolize God’s call to the laity to take these new priests into our hearts and to pray for them without ceasing,” Magyar said. “Our hope is that the kneelers provide a wonderful way to further connect the faithful to our new priests and, through the many prayers offered on these kneelers, our priests will be strengthened in their journey to ordination and sustained in their holy priesthood.”

Each year, the kneelers typically go to about 40 churches around the diocese, spending a week at each. Stops include each priest’s home parish and parishes where they served as seminarians.

Father Wasswa’s home parish of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury and Father Sanchez’s parish of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir both hosted the kneelers in May. Father John Eckert, Sacred Heart’s pastor, said it is important to pray for spiritual help for priests.

“Obviously, the devil doesn’t want there to be good and holy priests,” he said. “To support these men with your prayers is so powerful, especially as they get ready to lay down their lives to be a priest of Jesus Christ.”

Father Stephen Hoyt, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, said his parishioners were happy to have the opportunity to pray on the kneelers.

“To see the kneelers in church is very encouraging,” Father Hoyt said. “They remind us that men are still coming forward to serve as priests, and that is something that is certainly needed.”

“The kneelers, I think, can also be a powerful symbol to someone who might be called to the priesthood and inspire them to take the time to pray and to discern if that is their vocation,” he added.

The next kneeler pilgrimage will begin this September in anticipation of the ordination to the priesthood of Deacons Darren Balkey and Aaron Huber next year.

Get more info At www.maryssons.org: Learn more about Mary’s Sons and its kneelers for new priests

Murrey: The people who most influenced me to join the seminary were definitely the good priests that I knew (and still know) and the young men I met at Quo Vadis Days who were also discerning the priesthood.

CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?

Murrey: Once I actually realized I needed to look into seminary, I went to visit the college seminary for a few days. This was a great help to my vocation because I was able to meet the other young men there and just spend time living the life for a day or two.

During this time while I was gathering information and starting the application process, I started getting some consistent spiritual direction. This was a crucial part of my discernment before seminary, and remains important throughout my seminary formation. On a practical level, the establishment of St. Joseph College Seminary made going to seminary much more feasible. Instead of traveling across country right after graduating high school, I have stayed in North Carolina and in the heart of the diocese. This has been a great blessing and given me a unified and focused first four years of formation.

CNH: What advice do you have for a man discerning a call to the priesthood?

Murrey: The spiritual life can seem daunting – especially when you are in high school and you are given more and more responsibility, so make sure that you talk to your pastor and avail yourself of the sacraments of confession and the Holy Eucharist.

Confession will clear out the obstacles in order to discern with a clear conscience, while the Holy Eucharist will bring you closer to Our Lord. Lastly, those things which have most helped me and continue to help me pursue Our Lord are a daily Holy Hour and the rosary. Before I joined the seminary, I spent a Holy Hour in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament once a week, as often as I could. This was a big help while discerning my vocation. However, now that I am in seminary, I have developed the habit of a daily Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament and a daily rosary. Now, perhaps this seems like too much for your current schedule, but if you can start doing this at least in part, Our Lord and Our Lady will lead you where you need to be and give you peace while discerning. Do not be afraid to pursue Our Lord with your whole heart. Do not be afraid to give your entire self to Mary. Do not be afraid – “noli timere”!

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 OUR PARISHES

Jesuit Father Tim Stephens returns to Charlotte to pastor St. Peter Church

Members of the St. Peter’s Sages community are joined by their pastor, Jesuit Father Tim Stephens, and parishioners in the 20s/30s group July 25 at the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte for some time of fellowship and to celebrate the Church’s inaugural World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Two decades after coming to St. Peter Church as a newly-ordained priest on his first assignment, Jesuit Father Tim Stephens has returned as pastor – ready to help his flock heal from the pandemic and reconnect with their faith.

In the intervening years, his assignments have taken him many places and informed his ministry, especially his most recent assignment at what he Stephens calls “ground zero” of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. PETER CHURCH

Sharing their wisdom

AN UNFOLDING VOCATION

St. Peter Sages shine light on parish’s history Videographer Liz Egan films retired Charlotte bank executive, Hugh McColl Jr., during his interview with St. Peter parishioner Tim Funk.

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — A sage, by definition, is “a person who has wisdom that comes with age and experience.”

In the first endeavor of its kind in the history of the 170-yearold parish, the Sages of St. Peter Church – parishioners 59 and older – are pooling their collective wisdom, talents and life experiences to educate and connect younger generations to their rich Catholic heritage.

A team of Sages has created a video history of their parish, the first Catholic church in Charlotte. The St. Peter Sages History Project is a compilation of information, archival photos and video interviews with longtime parishioners, clergy, artists and patrons of the arts.

The goal is to paint a comprehensive understanding of how the parish has evolved over the decades, and acknowledging the Benedictine, diocesan and Jesuit priests who, together with the People of God, nurtured the Catholic community in Charlotte.

The Sages ministry began in 2018 with the support of thenpastor Jesuit Father Jim Shea. Now more than 450 parishioners are considered part of the Sages ministry.

“Our true mission, to use Father Shea’s words, is for older adults to have enhanced opportunities to stay connected, develop our spiritual sense by going deeper and sharing our collective wisdom with younger parishioners,” says the Sages chair, Louise Rice.

Rice, along with parishioners Tony Bucci and Joe Breen, spent countless hours researching and implementing the history project. All three are presenters in the video series.

Bucci, a retired educator with a degree in and love of history, saw this project as an opportunity to take up the challenge from his pastor to go deeper into his Catholic faith and in service to his parish.

“As Joe and I discussed the possibility of doing another history, we said that it had to ‘go deeper,’ that it had to be put in the context of Catholicism in the Carolinas as well as in the more immediate area,” Bucci says. “We also decided that it needed to be visual, and oral, as much as possible.”

They relied on the talents of videographer Liz Egan, interviewer Tim Funk, communications consultant Susan Long, technical advisor Gene Katz and parish communications coordinator Joan Guthrie.

Part I is “A History of St. Peter Catholic Late 18th Century to Early 21st Century,” and Part II is “A History of St. Peter From the Dark Ages to the Renaissance: Religious Art and the Arrival of the Jesuits.”

Artist Ben Long, who created the parish’s famed floor-toceiling fresco – a triptych that graced the sanctuary wall from 1989 to 2002 before it was seemingly destroyed by an earthquake – is one of those interviewed in Part II. Retired banking executive and Charlotte icon Hugh McColl Jr., a patron of the arts, is also featured. Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey shares how the monastic community in Belmont helped develop the parish through its early years.

An important part of the Sages History Project, Guthrie notes, was interviewing older parishioners who grew up attending St. Peter Church and who describe their memories of the small Catholic community that existed then in Charlotte.

“Every parish should be cognizant of recording the recollections of their elders for a lasting, living legacy of their church,” Guthrie says. “What a gift it is to have these conversations digitally archived.”

Organizers plan to release Part III, “A History of the Jesuits at St. Peter,” via a Sages Zoom call Sept. 25.

“Our team intends that this presentation will be archived, used and expanded upon by future generations,” Bucci explains. “The people of our parish love St. Peter. It would be great if more and more parish members can learn more about and be proud of our deep and wonderful heritage.”

The Sages History Project is just one component of their ministry, which encompasses spiritual, service and social outreach. Most recently, Sages attended Mass July 25, to celebrate the Church’s inaugural World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. A social gathering with participants in the 20s/30s Ministry was held after Mass at a local brewery.

“Our older adult ministry is vibrant, involved and always eager to ‘share our wisdom,’” Rice says.

Check out the Sages videos At www.stpeterscatholic.org/spiritual-resources: View the St. Peter Sages History Project videos online via the parish website or on the parish’s YouTube channel

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Father Tim had a solid Catholic upbringing, but he did not discern a vocation to the priesthood right away.

He was an altar server and lector at his home parish, and he attended parochial schools run by the Sisters of Mercy. He studied economics at Washington University and went on to earn a master’s degree at Northwestern University.

He then studied law at Emory University in Atlanta for a year before getting a job with the U.S. government in Washington, D.C. He first felt the tug of a priestly vocation while working in the nation’s capital. He was living on Capitol Hill when he met a Jesuit priest at the Catholic church he was attending nearby, St. Aloysius.

“That was the first parish I had been to in the Washington area where the priest came up after Mass and said, ‘You must be new here. I hope you come back,’” Father Tim recalls.

The Jesuits’ joy and spirituality intrigued him. He started getting involved at the parish, helping at an overnight homeless shelter on Saturday nights.

“I found that I enjoyed that and seemed to relate to people who were homeless and poor, and that made me ponder at a deeper level what I should be doing with my life. ... So, I took the giant leap and said I wanted to be a Jesuit.”

He entered the Jesuit order in 1989 at the age of 32. His training and studies took him to many locations around the U.S. during his formation period – from serving alongside the Missionaries of Charity at an AIDS care home in Manhattan to teaching high school calculus and computer science in Scranton, Pa. In between teaching and serving, he studied philosophy, theology and pastoral counseling.

Those years of teaching, serving and learning were formative, he says.

Ten years after entering the Jesuits, he and six other men were ordained at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore in 1999.

Then Auxiliary Bishop Gordon D. Bennett of Baltimore and the late Bishop George V. Murry of Youngstown, Ohio, both Jesuits, presided at his ordination.

TWO DECADES A PRIEST

After ordination he was assigned to St. Peter Church, where he served alongside his fellow Jesuits, the beloved late pastors Father Jim Devereux and Father Eugene McCreesh, as well as parochial vicar, Father Bob Paquet. At PASTOR, SEE PAGE 15

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com

IN BRIEF FROM PAGE 3

operations for the FBI’s anti-terrorism efforts in Puerto Rico before moving to Charlotte in 1990 to join the FBI’s Drug/Organized Crime Squad. There he was also responsible for the construction of a 50,000-square-foot field office for the Charlotte FBI. Before retiring in 2003, Deacon Reiser served as Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI’s Air Operations Unit/ Special Flight Operations Squad in Quantico, Va., where he was responsible for the FBI’s Multi Engine and Special Mission aircraft, supervising a team of pilots who respond on short notice with aircraft support to crises around the world.

“Deacon Reiser’s extensive background in crisis response and aviation, as well as his heart for ministry, make him an ideal leader for the Inter-Faith Chaplaincy, which provides emotional and spiritual support to people during emergencies at the airport, accompanies military families when a fallen service member is welcomed home, and helps ease the tension of travel as people navigate one of the nation’s busiest airports,” said Harry Dobrowolski, chairman of the Inter-Faith Chaplaincy Board of Directors.

Deacon Reiser and Dobrowolski both expressed gratitude to Szalony for building up the chaplaincy into a vital and valued resource at the airport. “His leadership over the past 12 years has been so important to the chaplaincy’s growth and success, and his support and mentorship to me has been an inspiration,” Deacon Reiser said.

Deacon assigned GREENSBORO — Deacon Richard Pinto has received faculties from Bishop Peter Jugis and been assigned as a permanent deacon to St. Pius X Parish, effective July 21.

Deacon Pinto and his wife Helen Ann moved from Morristown, N.J., to be closer to family after retiring from a floor covering business in Rockaway, N.J. Deacon Pinto came in to the church at 19, while he was serving in the military at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He became involved in Church life, especially with visiting residents in nursing facilities and the homebound.

He was also RCIA coordinator Pinto for 15 years. In 2001, he was ordained the diaconate for the Diocese of Paterson, N.J., by Bishop Frank J. Rodimer.

After ordination he served at the Church of the Assumption in Morristown, St. Virgil in Morris Plains, N.J., and a Carmelite Monastery in Morristown. He and his wife mentored diaconate classes for 10 years, and Deacon Pinto was director of formation for the Paterson diocese’s Diaconate Class of 2015. He also served in the ministry of the Word and Liturgy and was chaplain at Morris Hills Nursing Center.

“Being a deacon is a special grace and I enjoy all the aspects of this ministry, especially when I see the smiles and the unconditional love of parents at the baptism of their children,” Deacon Pinto says. “I feel privileged to be able to bring Eucharist to the elderly, sick and homebound and to spend time listening to them and sharing our faith.”

For the Diocese of Charlotte, Deacon Pinto said he is looking forward to working with the pastor and deacons and serving the parishioners at St. Pius X and the Greensboro community.

— Deacon John Martino

St. Pius X annual Knights of Columbus awards presented GREENSBORO — The Knights of Columbus

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Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

Council 11101 of St. Pius X Church recently announced the recipients of two annual awards. Caitlin Smith has won the Patriot Award, and Sienna Arnold has won the Christian Scholar Award.

In naming Smith the recipient of the Patriot Award, the Knights said, “Cheerful, kind, respectful and strong Christian values are attributes that can be used to describe the recipient of this award.

While at St. Pius X she has participated in many athletic, artistic and stewardship opportunities.

This student is a highly motivated, driven and considerate individual with a zealous determination to excel in all areas. In addition to her exceptional scholastic record, she is a positive role model, not only for her classmates, but also for the entire student body of St. Pius X Catholic School.”

In naming Arnold winner of the Christian Scholar Award, the Knights said, “This student has shown academic excellence for the past 9 years at St. Pius X Catholic School. Not only excelling in the classroom, this graduate has participated in a number of extracurricular activities such as volleyball and cheerleading.

This kind-hearted, amiable student is always willing to help faculty and staff members, as well as her fellow students. Her integrity, intelligence, Christian ethic and endearing character are evident in every aspect of her daily life.”

— John Russell

Donations, labor from Catholic Daughters help Habitat homeowners Two Habitat for Humanity homeowners are better off because of help from the North Carolina State Court of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

The first house was in eastern North Carolina in the Diocese of Raleigh, where the CDA worked with Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity to refurbish a house that had severe

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water damage from 2018’s Hurricane Florence.

Fourteen Catholic Daughters, including three state officers, worked one hot day in August to install insulation in the house.

The second house, in the Diocese of Charlotte, was a new build through Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County. Because of the pandemic, the Catholic Daughters were not allowed to work at the site, but they were in continuous contact with the Habitat staff and the homeowner, and kept Catholic Daughters throughout the state aware of the build’s progress.

The State Court donated $10,000 each to Crystal Coast Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity of Cabarrus County. National Habitat for Humanity funding of $10,000 was split between the Habitat affiliates, giving $5,000 to each. The State Court donated a little over $3,300 to each of the homeowners to help with new furnishings for their homes. On June 5, 11 Catholic Daughters including one state officer presented the last $3,300 check to the homeowner in the Charlotte area.

— Catholic Daughters of the Americas

Scholarship awarded JEFFERSON — Knights of Columbus Council 16839 recently presented its $1,000 Knights of Columbus Memorial Scholarship to Cecilia Oviedo Barcenas from St. Francis of Assisi Parish.

Pictured with her are Knights Butch Rodgers and Rick LaBonte.

The scholarship was originally established by the St. Francis Men’s Club, but the club was disbanded and integrated into the Knights of Columbus Council.

— Patrick Hession, correspondent

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 10

Comunidad hispana recibió a su nuevo pastor en Boonville SERGIO LÓPEZ CORRESPONSAL

Ibis Centeno

San Ignacio de Loyola

S

an Ignacio es uno de esos santos que a mí me dan mucha esperanza. Bautizado como Íñigo, nació en el castillo de Loyola el 23 de octubre de 1491. Tras quedar huérfano a los 16 años, rodeado de la realeza española, aprendió el arte de las armas y su valentía le llevó a convertirse en oficial del ejército del rey de España.

Era bebedor, de vestir elegante, mujeriego, peleón y muy vanidoso. Su juventud la pasó de fiesta en fiesta pretendiendo a las cortesanas.

Después de caer herido por una bala de cañón que le destrozó una pierna y dejó malherida la otra, fue llevado a la casa Loyola. Durante su convalecencia pidió libros de caballería, pero le entregaron uno de la vida de Cristo y otro de vidas de santos.

En reposo, Íñigo se imaginaba de brazos de una bella dama, lo que le hacía sentir muy bien. También se imaginaba imitando a los santos e igualmente se sentía bien. Se dio cuenta que cuando pensaba en lo primero se le olvidaba rápido, pero los proyectos de imitación y superación de los santos lo dejaban entusiasmado. Llegó el momento en que le interesó saber más de la vida religiosa que de las damas y comenzó su camino de conversión.

Dando un giro a su vida, pues regaló todo su dinero y cambió su ropa con un mendigo, Ignacio quería dejar de lado la vanidad y decidió entonces no cortarse las uñas ni el cabello.

Sus largas horas de oración las hizo en una cueva junto al río Cardoner. Pasó meses haciendo penitencia. Se encontraba triste tras darse cuenta de todo lo que había hecho con su vida. Tuvo períodos de paz, luchas interiores, dudas, escrúpulos y grandes ilustraciones.

Una vez, tomando el camino junto al río, se abrieron sus ojos entendiendo muchas cosas espirituales, de fe y de ciencia. En toda su vida, jamás alcanzó tanto como aquella vez. Le pareció ser otro hombre y tener otro entendimiento. Ese fue el principio y fundamento de sus Ejercicios Espirituales, los que empezó a transcribir en un cuaderno.

Estudió en varias universidades, en la última conoció a sus primeros seis compañeros con los que hizo votos de pobreza, se ordenó sacerdote y fundó la Orden religiosa Compañía de Jesús, que ha llevado el Evangelio y realizado misiones por todo el mundo.

San Ignacio murió en Roma el 31 de julio de 1556. Fue canonizado el 12 de marzo de 1622 junto con San Francisco Javier, Santa Teresa de Ávila y otros. De ser un joven despreocupado y vano, pasó a ser santo y fundador de la orden religiosa más grande del mundo.

Yo todavía estoy descubriendo mi camino de conversión, después de hacer los Ejercicios Espirituales, ando “buscando y encontrando a Dios en todas las cosas”, trato de “en todo amar y servir” y de no tener apegos desordenados para ser libre y elegir el camino de Jesús. Porque, “¿de qué sirve ganar el mundo, si al final pierdes el alma?”.

IBIS CENTENO es coordinadora del ministerio hispano en el vicariato de Salisbury.

BOONVILLE — El domingo 25 de julio, la comunidad de la parroquia Divino Redentor en Boonville dio la bienvenida oficial a su nuevo párroco, Reverendo Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo, quien reemplaza al anterior pastor, Padre Enrique González, quien tomará un año sabático.

Ya el sábado 24 por la mañana, un grupo de servidores ofreció una calurosa bienvenida al Padre Jean Pierre, presentándole una pancarta realizada por el grupo juvenil de la parroquia.

Alegremente los fieles saludaron y se presentaron con su nuevo pastor y, aunque para algunos de ellos era la primera vez que lo veían, para otros el Padre Jean Pierre es un viejo conocido que en muchas ocasiones asistió como invitado a colaborar en actos penitenciales.

Durante su primer fin de semana como pastor, el Padre Jean Pierre ofreció cuatro celebraciones. El domingo, después de la Misa de la una de la tarde, algunos parroquianos le ofrecieron un pequeño convivio en el que el nuevo párroco pudo probar la sazón de los platos tradicionales que le presentaron.

Marina Díaz, parroquiana de Divino Redentor y parte de los ministerios de música y lectores, dijo que tiene viva la esperanza que el nuevo párroco, “nos siga ayudando a crecer en la fe y mostrando el camino para ser mejores cristianos y poder llegar a la patria

Nuevo pastor en Divino Redentor en Boonville. celestial”. Entre risas, pidió al Padre Jean Pierre que, “nos tenga mucha paciencia a nosotros”.

Por su parte, Cesar Morales, también parroquiano y miembro de la Legión de María, resaltó la labor del anterior párroco, Padre Enrique, y pidió que el nuevo pastor, “continúe con el trabajo que ya se ha realizado”, por lo que se puso a las órdenes del nuevo párroco, “en lo que él necesite” y “tomando en cuenta que todo servicio que hacemos en la parroquia es para agradar al Señor”.

Luis Espinoza, parroquiano y miembro de la Renovación Carismática, espera que el Padre Jean Pierre sea un párroco santo, “que se mueva en el Espíritu Santo para que construya una comunidad santa”.

El Padre Jean Pierre Swamunu, quien se desempeñó anteriormente como párroco de la Iglesia San Santiago en Hamlet, Carolina del Norte, desde 2011, dijo sentirse a gusto en su nueva misión. “La comunidad me recibió con

los brazos abiertos y el corazón grande.

Juntos queremos trabajar para la Gloria del Señor”, señaló.

Como primera impresión de la comunidad, destacó la gran presencia juvenil, “el futuro de nuestra Iglesia”, que le anima a trabajar brindando su mayor esfuerzo.

Sus planes, anotó, inician con el reto de “ver crecer la hermandad de la comunidad, trabajar juntos conociendo a todos los hermanos y hermanas, y saber acompañarlos en todo momento”, aplicando su permanente lema de trabajo: “alma misionera”, que refleja el cometido de lograr que la comunidad atienda a los más necesitados.

Preguntado por su platillo favorito, dijo sonriendo que le encantan las carnitas asadas, pero “me pueden traer de todo”.

AÑO SABÁTICO

Después de haber sido ordenado el 7 de junio de 2003 por el fallecido Obispo de Charlotte, Reverendísimo William G. Curlin, y con 53 años de edad, el Padre Enrique González tomará un año sabático.

Originario de Querétaro, México, ha servido en las Iglesias San Carlos Borromeo en Morganton, San Leo el Grande en Winston Salem, Nuestra Señora de las Américas en Biscoe, San Luis Gonzaga en Hickory, San Gabriel en Charlotte, como capellán de las escuelas católicas de Charlotte y, desde 2007, como pastor en la parroquia Divino Redentor en Boonville.

— Colaboró Mariana Sandoval, de Cristo Squad TV

Papa Francisco reguló celebración de Misa en latín Obispo Jugis respondió a las nuevas disposiciones CHARLOTTE — El viernes 16 de julio, el Vaticano publicó el motu proprio ‘Tratidiones custodes’ (Custodios de la Tradición) del Papa Francisco, con el objetivo de “proseguir aún más en la búsqueda constante de la comunión eclesial”, y regulando la posibilidad de celebración de la Misa en la forma extraordinaria.

El Papa afirma que le “entristece el uso instrumental del Misal Romano de 1962, que se caracteriza cada vez más por un rechazo creciente no solo de la reforma litúrgica, sino del Concilio Vaticano II, con la afirmación infundada e insostenible de que ha traicionado la Tradición y la ‘verdadera Iglesia’”.

Francisco advierte de “los abusos de unos y otros en la celebración de la liturgia” y pide a los obispos “procurar que cada liturgia se celebre con decoro y fidelidad a los libros litúrgicos promulgados tras el Concilio Vaticano II, sin excentricidades que fácilmente degeneran en abusos”.

“Las celebraciones litúrgicas no son acciones privadas, sino celebraciones

de la Iglesia, que es el ‘sacramento de la unidad’, por lo que deben hacerse en comunión con la Iglesia”, recordó.

NUEVAS DISPOSICIONES

Se establece que el obispo diocesano será en adelante quien autorice el uso del Misal Romano de 1962, siguiendo las orientaciones del Vaticano.

Si en la diócesis hay grupos que celebran la Misa en esta forma, el obispo deberá comprobar que no excluyan la validez de la reforma de la liturgia, de lo establecido por el Concilio Vaticano II y del magisterio de los papas.

El obispo nombrará a un sacerdote delegado que acompañe pastoralmente a estos grupos de fieles e indicará los días y lugares donde se podrá celebrar la Misa en la forma extraordinaria, que no podrá ser la iglesia parroquial, debiendo proclamarse las lecturas en el idioma de cada lugar y no en latín.

Si algún sacerdote que se ordene después de la publicación del motu proprio quiere celebrar la Misa con el Misal de 1962, deberá hacer una solicitud

formal al obispo, que a su vez consultará al Vaticano antes de dar la autorización.

Los sacerdotes que ya celebran la Misa de esta forma deberán pedir autorización al obispo para mantener esta facultad.

RESPONDE EL OBISPO JUGIS

En respuesta a las nuevas instrucciones del Papa, el Obispo Peter Jugis envió una breve carta a los fieles el 17 de julio indicando que está estudiando la manera de implementar este nuevo enfoque.

En ella, asegura que, “a medida que estudiamos los detalles del nuevo motu proprio, Traditionis Custodes, consideraremos la implementación adecuada de sus disposiciones en nuestra diócesis”. Por el momento, autoriza a los sacerdotes que ya han estado ofreciendo la Forma Extraordinaria de la Misa a continuar haciéndolo, “a medida que avanzamos juntos como diócesis en una transición suave y ordenada al nuevo curso trazado por Traditionis Custodes”.

— Catholic News Herald

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Diáconos latinos celebran aniversario de ordenación CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Enedino Aquino y Darío García, diáconos permanentes de la Diócesis de Charlotte, cumplen este año 2021 diez y 35 años de ordenación diaconal, respectivamente. No queremos dejar pasar esta celebración tan especial sin dejar de agradecerles por su servicio, generosidad y dedicación por los fieles de los vicariatos que se encuentran a su cargo.

Estos años de ministerio no son tan sólo manifestación de la gracia recibida durante sus ordenaciones, sino también una expresión de su deber, responsabilidad, amor por la comunidad y fidelidad a Dios. Ellos dos son un reflejo de la misión de Cristo expresada en Marcos 10:45, “no vine a este mundo para que me sirvan, sino para servir a los demás”.

DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO

Nacido en Tampico, Tamaulipas, México, el 21 de mayo de 1958, es el cuarto hijo de siete hermanos, tres de los cuales son producto de la relación de sus padres, Enedino Aquino Guzmán y Juana Silva Porte.

La fe, nos contó, le viene de sus abuelos. “Mi madre tenía que Aquino trabajar todo el día y nos veía ya tarde a la noche”, dijo, por lo que sus abuelos fueron los responsables de su crianza y la de sus hermanos.

“Mi abuela era la de la fe, era una mujer religiosa”, que no pudo estudiar, “pero tenía una fe muy grande y se aprendía de memoria pasajes de la Biblia. Iba todos los días a las siete de la mañana a Misa y hacía su Rosario a las cinco de la tarde”. Ella le enseñó a rezar y “sembró la semilla de la fe en mí’’, nos relató.

Monaguillo y luego miembro del grupo juvenil de su parroquia, al crecer dejó temporalmente la parroquia del Espíritu Santo a la que regularmente asistía.

Al comprometerse con quien luego sería su esposa, María Luisa Aquino, retornó a la Iglesia y, por motivos de trabajo, abandonó la escuela. Contando solo 16 años contrajo nupcias.

Su esposa, un año menor que él, y con la que tiene 4 hijos -Ana Luisa, Ruth, Gisella y Luis- se convirtió en la fuente de motivación para el progreso de nuestro diácono. Ella lo motivó a concluir sus estudios en la escuela nocturna, a regresar a la práctica de su fe y, cuando ya residían en Estados Unidos, a obtener el GED. A finales de la década de los 80, con la idea de trabajar por algunos años y retornar a México, llegó a Carolina del Norte a trabajar inicialmente en el cultivo del tabaco, estableciéndose en Siler City, Sanford y posteriormente en Asheboro, desde donde pudo reclamar a su familia que había quedado en México.

Como migrante, conoció de cerca el trabajo duro que se realiza en la agricultura y las plantas procesadoras de pollo. También, con la experiencia de haber sido árbitro semi profesional en México, estableció la primera liga de fútbol hispana en el área.

Pero, desde su arribo a Carolina del Norte, buscó siempre congregarse en las iglesias católicas que ofrecían Misas en español. En Siler City se congregó en la Iglesia Santa Julia. “Yo ayudaba, éramos siempre muy poquitos. Nadie quería leer, pasar la canasta, inclusive un sacerdote americano me dió un librito para leer las homilías”, contó.

Ya en Asheboro, al congregarse en la Iglesia San José, conoce al Diácono Carlos Medina, quien lo invitó a participar del Cursillo de Cristiandad que significó un cambio radical y compromiso en su vida.

Posteriormente, el Padre Vicente Finnerty, por ese entonces director del ministerio hispano diocesano, un 1 de septiembre de 1998 lo recluta como agente de pastoral a tiempo completo.

Desde ese entonces las jornadas de capacitación y la organización de retiros y otros eventos crecieron de manera importante en el vicariato a su cargo. “Con ellos crecí también yo”, dijo Aquino.

Se espera que el sitio web sea una herramienta de comunicación al servicio de los fieles del vicariato. “Nos comprometemos a facilitar la integración plena de los Hispanos Católicos a la vida y misión de la Iglesia”, dijo el creador de la página.

Invitado también por el P. Finnerty, tras cuatro años de discernimiento, se presenta como candidato al diaconado y es aceptado en un segundo intento.

Cuatro años después de intenso estudio en inglés, un idioma que no domina completamente, fue ordenado el 29 de enero de 2011, junto con otros cinco candidatos, por el Obispo Peter Jugis en una Misa celebrada en la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville.

Desde entonces, es el servicio, el ver y oír la voz de Dios en sus hermanos lo que motiva la vocación de servicio del Diácono Aquino. “Es un fuego que no para de manifestarse y crece todo el tiempo dentro de mí”, dijo.

DIÁCONO DARÍO GARCÍA

Nacido en Sevilla, departamento del Valle del Cauca, Colombia, aunque de muy niño se trasladó a Belalcázar, es el menor de los siete hijos de Gerardo García y Oliva Ospina.

Nacido en un hogar católico, siguiendo el curso habitual de muchos jóvenes, Darío García se Garcia retiró de la vida de Iglesia muy joven, pasó “por todo lo que mucha gente no ha pasado” y fue protagonista de muchas experiencias, por lo que considera que es “diácono por la gracia de Dios y las oraciones de mi esposa”.

Sus estudios universitarios estuvieron dirigidos para obtener el título de maestro, y trabajó en esa ocupación por 32 años, “en todas las fases y niveles educativos”, en las ciudades de Belalcázar, Manizales y Pereira.

A los 24 años, después de cuatro años de noviazgo, contrajo nupcias con Adiela Restrepo, con la que tiene tres hijos, Adiela Silvana, Ángela Sabina y Moisés Darío.

Confiesa que el rol de su esposa en su vida es muy importante. “La mayor parte de lo que soy ahora se lo debo a ella, a sus oraciones y dedicación. Todo ese cambio grande que se me dió lo debo a Dios primero y luego a ella”, dijo.

Más tarde, “lo del diaconado aparece accidentalmente”, relató. “Yo era parte de un equipo de teatro y hacíamos la Semana Santa ‘en vivo’. Ella (su esposa) y yo éramos los actores principales”. Pero en una ocasión se presentaron unos seminaristas con un programa para trabajar con jóvenes. Ellos vieron que tenía madera para trabajar en el programa y me presentaron como candidato”.

Los años de formación para el diaconado son cuatro, “pero conmigo fueron ocho”, relató sonriendo, explicando que por una u otra razón el obispo, “me hacía esperar un año y otro más”.

Finalmente, el 30 de noviembre de 1986, el Obispo Darío Castrillón, Obispo de Pereira y ex presidente de la conferencia episcopal, lo ordenó diácono permanente y tomó, junto con su familia, el compromiso de acompañar, motivar y servir a la comunidad católica.

En 2004, con motivo de una visita a su hija, llegó a Estados Unidos, a Statesville, Carolina del Norte, donde su afán de servicio lo vinculó con la parroquia San Felipe.

En 2005, tras mantener algunas conversaciones con el ministerio hispano de la diócesis, y haber retornado temporalmente a su país de origen, se reintegra al servicio en San Felipe y en 2006 concreta su contratación a tiempo completo como agente pastoral para el vicariato de Hickory.

Durante el tiempo de espera, casi un año, trabajó en factorías, lo que le “sirvió bastante para entender el trabajo duro que nosotros los migrantes llevamos a cabo en Estados Unidos”.

Para Darío García, “lo más bonito del diaconado es que uno está haciendo algo por la gente, animando a las comunidades al servicio. El trabajo nuestro es pastoral, estamos para trabajar en la promoción y asistencia a la comunidad. Tenemos bautizos y bodas, pero lo que más nos anima es estar con la gente, tratar que sean mejores y asistirlos cuando tienen dificultades”.

“Sin la fe en Dios, sin la devoción a la Virgen y sin la Eucaristía no somos nada”, concluyó.

11

FOTO CORTESÍA ANTONIO GARCÍA

Ministerio Hispano en Asheville lanza website CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

ASHEVILLE — Buscando colocarse a la vanguardia de las comunicaciones, el Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Asheville ha puesto a disposición de todos los fieles un website que se espera sea una herramienta que difunda en toda la comunidad el trabajo que realiza la pastoral hispana en el área de Asheville.

Juan Antonio García, coordinador del Ministerio Hispano de ese vicariato y quien llevó adelante la iniciativa, indicó que se trabajó arduamente por más de dos meses en diseñar e implementar el sitio web, bajo la aprobación del director episcopal, Padre Julio Domínguez, y en coordinación y conocimiento de los sacerdotes locales.

La página, que en su pronunciamiento de misión declara que, “como miembros de la Diócesis de Charlotte, Hispanos y no Hispanos por igual, nos comprometemos a facilitar la integración plena de los Hispanos Católicos a la vida y misión de la Iglesia, a ser una comunidad, evangelizada y evangelizadora en servicio misionero en la sociedad, sin distinción de raza, cultura o lengua”, presenta contenido en español e inglés.

En sus diferentes secciones se explica su plan pastoral; informa sobre los diferentes ministerios que acoge y programas formativos que promueve; además de publicar un listado de parroquias que ofrecen Misa en español y un calendario actualizado de actividades.

Una sección de preguntas y respuestas en inglés, espera dar respuesta a las inquietudes de la comunidad anglosajona y de algunos sacerdotes que se preguntan sobre la actividad, importancia y desarrollo de la pastoral hispana en la diócesis.

García destaca que el website facilita el trabajo de comunicación con la feligresía, especialmente con el personal de algunas parroquias donde no se habla español. También, dijo que, debido a que también se han publicado podcasts, como por ejemplo sobre quinceañeras, a través de ellos se ofrecen pláticas y certificaciones a distancia.

El website incluye “programas que se desarrollan en la vicaría, retiros de evangelización, diferentes grupos apostólicos como cursillo, emaús; diferentes talleres que se ofrecen a la comunidad, como de enriquecimiento y preparación matrimonial, quinceañeras. Realmente todo lo que se refiere a evangelización de la comunidad está incluido”, agregó.

“La respuesta del clero ha sido positiva”, dijo García, satisfecho sobre un proyecto que él mismo explica “aún está en desarrollo”, pues en un futuro cercano planea crear una página de Facebook que complemente y contribuya con la difusión del website.

Por el momento, a través de Flocknote, una red social creada para facilitar la comunicación en iglesias, se está informando a los líderes y fieles registrados sobre las novedades e información que ofrece el nuevo sitio web.

“Hemos comprobado que lo que planeamos está funcionando.

Esperamos que sirva como herramienta comunicativa entre los diferentes ministerios, para la publicación de recursos y compartir documentos, entre otras cosas”, dijo García.

“Poco a poco se añadirán más recursos de evangelización y formación. Esperamos crecer en ese aspecto, ampliar nuestra cobertura, llegar a contar con una página en YouTube y expandirnos a otras plataformas sociales”, finalizó.

Más online En www.catolicoswnc.com: Puede visitar la página recién creada, encontrar la información que necesita y comunicarse con Antonio García, coordinador del ministerio hispano del vicariato

12

catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Tres seminaristas son instituidos como acólitos Pandemia y salud mental ¿Cómo identificar si necesito ayuda?

SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

El año 2020 estuvo lleno de incertidumbre por las consecuencias generadas por la pandemia de COVID-19.

Algunos tuvieron pérdidas importantes, no sólo de familiares sino también de su estabilidad física y económica, lo que ha provocado una merma en su salud mental.

Inclusive, se ha podido identificar que el hecho de haber padecido COVID-19 es un factor de riesgo para presentar trastornos de ansiedad, depresión y, en contados casos, episodios psicóticos.

Para los migrantes ha sido todavía más difícil dado que en muchas ocasiones se sienten solos, no tienen una red de apoyo suficiente, o no se sienten completamente incluidos dentro de la cultura y sociedad de los países donde radican.

Pero, ¿cómo podemos identificar los síntomas que va mermando nuestra salud mental?

Pensar que sólo debemos ser felices es simplista y genera estrés, ya que en el momento que una persona no se encuentra en ese estado se sentirá culpable o menos.

Es importante saber que todos podemos pasar de la tristeza al enojo, al miedo, al desagrado y a la felicidad, y no siempre mantenernos en un solo estado.

Cuando nos estacionamos en una de esas emociones por mucho tiempo, normalmente dos semanas, es cuando debemos buscar ayuda ya que podría ser síntoma del inicio de algún trastorno mental.

Al vivir en una cultura que en ocasiones no nos permite expresar esas emociones, algunas personas van a

desarrollar problemas de sueño, fatiga constante o hasta enfermedades físicas que no tienen explicación aparente.

Hay que poner atención a los cambios que podríamos llegar a tener en caso de estar desarrollando alguno de los trastornos mencionados. Por ejemplo, el dejar de hacer cosas que antes nos gustaban; la preocupación excesiva por situaciones o eventos; problemas físicos como dolores de cabeza, constante inflamación del colon, insomnio o mucho sueño a lo largo del día y fatiga constante; sentirse culpable constantemente; sentir que se pierde la realidad o que no somos la misma persona; dificultad para concentrarse y comer mucho o dejar de comer.

Este es el momento preciso para acudir a un profesional de la salud mental, no de recurrir a la toma de diferentes infusiones, hierbas o CBD, que pueden ayudar a sentirse mejor pero no atacan el problema de base. El especialista nos podrá guiar adecuadamente y prevenir que se agraven los síntomas.

Una recomendación para ayudar a evitar estos síntomas es realizar actividad física, comer saludablemente, expresar las emociones con personas cercanas, jugar, mantener una agenda para administrar los pendientes y disfrutar del tiempo libre.

Recordemos que buscar ayuda no es un signo de debilidad sino de fortaleza y madurez.

— Condensado del artículo del Dr. Guillermo Peñaloza en la Revista Casa de México, publicada por el Instituto de Mexicanos en el Exterior.

CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter Jugis confirió el ministerio de acólito a tres seminaristas, Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu y Peter Rusciolelli, durante una Misa celebrada el 17 de julio en la Catedral San Patricio.

En su homilía, el Obispo Jugis les dijo que, “como hombres discerniendo la vocación al sacerdocio, su institución al ministerio de acólito es esencial para vuestro discernimiento vocacional.

Sirviendo en el sacrificio Eucarístico como un ministro oficialmente instituído de la Iglesia, ustedes están participando en el propio sacrificio del Señor”.

Explicó que están siendo formados y preparados para el día de su ordenación sacerdotal, “cuando, de rodillas y sosteniendo la patena conteniendo el pan, y el cáliz conteniendo el vino mezclado con agua para la celebración de la Misa, se les diga: ‘Entiendan lo que hacen, imiten lo que celebran y conformen sus vidas al misterio de la cruz del Señor’”.

El Obispo Jugis señaló que ahora tienen un rol especial en el ministerio de la Iglesia. “Es su responsabilidad ayudar a los sacerdotes y diáconos a llevar a cabo su ministerio y, como ministros extraordinarios, dar la Sagrada Comunión a los fieles en la liturgia y a los enfermos”, dijo.

“Debido a que están especialmente llamados a este ministerio, deben esforzarse por vivir más plenamente por el sacrificio del Señor y ser moldeados más perfectamente a Su semejanza.

Deben tratar de comprender el profundo significado espiritual de lo que hacen para poder ofrecerse a Dios como sacrificio

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(De izq. a der.) Los seminaristas Christopher Brock, Peter Rusciolelli y Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu junto al Obispo Peter Jugis después de la Misa celebrada el 17 de julio, por la Institución al Ministerio de Acólito en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte. espiritual aceptable a Él a través de Jesucristo”, dijo el obispo.

“Al llevar a cabo su ministerio, tengan en cuenta que al compartir el único Pan con sus hermanos y hermanas, forman un solo Cuerpo con ellos y muestran un amor sincero por el Cuerpo Místico de Cristo, el pueblo santo de Dios, y especialmente por los débiles y los enfermos”, subrayó.

El Obispo Jugis concluyó su homilía diciendo a los hombres que “sean obedientes al mandamiento que el Señor dio a Sus Apóstoles en la Última Cena: ‘Amaos los unos a otros como yo os he amado’”.

A Brock, Nnebe-Agumadu y Rusciolelli les quedan dos años más de estudios teológicos y formación espiritual en El Ateneo, Seminario Mount St. Mary en Cincinnati, Ohio, antes de ser considerados a la ordenación sacerdotal.

Más ‘Madrinas’ en escuelas católicas CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — El programa ‘Madrinas’, que promueven las Escuelas Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte, se extendió recientemente a dos nuevas escuelas, siendo actualmente ocho los diferentes centros de educación diocesanos que participan de este novedoso sistema que promueve la participación de los padres de familia en la difusión de los valores de las escuelas católicas en sus comunidades.

Voluntarias de la escuela católica Pre K-8, Our Lady of Mercy (OLM, por sus siglas inglés) en Winston-Salem y la escuela católica K 9-12, Christ the King en Huntersville, finalizaron recientemente el entrenamiento que las capacitó como ‘madrinas’ para desempeñarse como embajadoras de sus escuelas y asistir a las familias latinas interesadas en obtener información para registrar a sus hijos.

Gracias al apoyo de la directora de OLM, hermana Geri Rogers, la iniciativa se desarrolló con gran entusiasmo y activa presencia de las voluntarias. El grupo de madres latinas, constituido por Rosalía Valiente, Lilia Vieyra, Sandra Carolina Rincón y Margarita Quiceno, está ahora encargado de apoyar a los padres de familia del área para que obtengan la información y guía para registrar fácilmente a sus hijos.

“Ellas son representantes latinas en todas las actividades que se realicen y donde se requiera de su presencia. La idea es que, con su colaboración, la integración y comunicación entre las diversas comunidades en OLM sea más fluida”, dijo Angélica Hurtado, coordinadora de

diversidad de las escuelas diocesanas.

Los padres interesados en registrar a sus hijos en una escuela católica del área de Winston-Salem, pueden acudir a las oficinas o llamar al 336-722-7204 para solicitar una visita a las instalaciones y conocer sobre el proceso de registro y las ayudas financieras existentes.

El mismo proceso se registró en la escuela católica Christ the King, donde se capacitaron Yahvilé Arias, Claudia Salazar, Rita García y Lina María Hernández. El director, Dr. Carl Semmler acogió con entusiasmo la presencia de las embajadoras.

Hurtado precisó que actualmente, “más voluntarias se preparan en otras escuelas católicas de la diócesis para llevar adelante este programa que refleja el interés por lograr una mayor diversificación e integración en nuestras aulas”.

El programa ‘Madrinas’ inició en 2019 con la participación de la escuela católica St. Michael en Gastonia, enfocándose inicialmente en la comunidad Latina, para luego extenderse a otras comunidades.

‘Madrinas’, es un programa creado en 2012 por el instituto Catholic School Advantage de la Universidad Notre Dame y su Instituto de Registro Latino.

Margarita Quiceno, madrina de la escuela OLM, dijo sentirse “muy contenta de poder ayudar y conocer los diferentes programas, actividades y el gran apoyo que tenemos en nuestra escuela. Me encanta poder unir la fe de la Iglesia Católica con la educación de los niños y permanecer en esperanza, amor y fe para un futuro mejor”.

Si desea conocer más sobre el programa, contacte a Angélica Hurtado a aahurtado@ rcdoc.org.

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

San Lorenzo y el Papa Francisco En más de una ocasión el Papa Francisco ha manifestado su particular cariño por el club argentino San Lorenzo de Almagro, del que es hincha desde pequeño. Hoy, recordando la vida del mártir San Lorenzo, patrono de los cocineros, mineros y bibliotecarios, recordamos cómo surgió este conocido equipo de fútbol.

El club fue fundado el 1 de abril de 1908 en la localidad de Almagro. Sin embargo, ahora se encuentra en lo que se conoce como Bajo Flores en Buenos Aires, la capital argentina.

Al ver a los muchachos que jugaban en las calles, el sacerdote salesiano Lorenzo Massa los invitó a jugar en el Oratorio San Antonio, a cambio de que fueran a Misa todos los domingos.

Originalmente se llamaban ‘Los Forzosos de Almagro’. Cuando el sacerdote sugirió cambiar el nombre se eligió ‘Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro’, en homenaje al P. Massa y también en recuerdo de San Lorenzo, el diácono mártir que murió quemado vivo sobre una parrilla.

La sotana negra con la que solía estar el P. Massa fue la razón por la que el equipo tiene el apodo de “los cuervos”, porque era así como llamaban al grupo de jugadores cuando los veían acompañados del sacerdote.

MÁS QUE SOCIO

El Papa Francisco es el socio N° 88.235, y como indicaron las autoridades del club, el Santo Padre ha pagado religiosamente su cuota de membresía.

En agosto de 2014, un grupo de directivos y jugadores del club San Lorenzo de Almagro viajó a Roma para presentarle la Copa Libertadores que el equipo ganó ese año.

En aquella oportunidad el Santo Padre dijo: “Para mí, el San Lorenzo es el equipo del cual toda la familia era fanática: Mi papá jugaba básquet en el San Lorenzo, era jugador del equipo de básquet. Y de niños íbamos, también mamá venía con nosotros, al gasómetro. Recuerdo como hoy la temporada del 46, un equipo brillante tenía el San Lorenzo, salimos campeones… lo saben, con gloria, lo vivo con gloria”.

En marzo de 2013 los jugadores de San Lorenzo rindieron homenaje al Papa Francisco, luciendo una camiseta especial con una foto del nuevo Obispo de Roma en el pecho.

En mayo de ese año, el club San Lorenzo pidió permiso para poner la foto del Papa en la camiseta, una autorización que recibieron por única vez.

Se confeccionaron 30 camisetas, dos fueron donadas y las restantes se subastaron para obras de caridad.

“El Papa nos dice siempre que no lo vayamos a ver, que no gastemos plata y que esa plata la ubiquemos para obras de

Full-time Elementary School Teacher St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Brunswick, GA caridad”, dijo Oscar Lucchini, encargado de la capilla en la que el entonces Arzobispo de Buenos Aires celebraba Misa en ocasiones especiales.

¿QUIÉN FUE SAN LORENZO?

Lorenzo era uno de los siete diáconos de Roma y encargado de distribuir las ayudas a los pobres. En el año 257 el emperador Valeriano publicó un decreto condenando de muerte a los cristianos declarados.

El 6 de agosto, el Papa San Sixto estaba celebrando la santa Misa en un cementerio de Roma cuando fue asesinado junto con cuatro de sus diáconos por la policía del emperador. Cuatro días después fue martirizado su diácono San Lorenzo.

La antigua tradición dice que cuando Lorenzo vio que al Sumo Pontífice lo iban a matar le dijo: “Padre mío, ¿te vas sin llevarte a tu diácono?” y San Sixto le respondió: “Hijo mío, dentro de pocos días me seguirás”.

Lorenzo se alegró mucho al saber que pronto iría a gozar de la gloria de Dios.

Entonces Lorenzo viendo que el peligro llegaba, recogió todo el dinero y demás bienes que la Iglesia tenía en Roma y los repartió entre los pobres.

Requerido de entregar los tesoros de la Iglesia al emperador, Lorenzo invitó a todos los pobres, lisiados, mendigos, huérfanos, viudas, ancianos, mutilados, ciegos y leprosos que él ayudaba con sus limosnas y le dijo al recaudador, “¡Estos son los tesoros más apreciados de la iglesia de Cristo!”.

Por ello, el 10 de agosto de 258 fue martirizado y quemado vivo sobre una parrilla. Se cuenta que los cristianos vieron el rostro del mártir rodeado de un hermoso esplendor y sintieron un aroma muy agradable mientras lo quemaban.

Después de un rato de estarse quemando, el mártir dijo al juez que ya estaba asado por un lado y pidió que le den vuelta, “para quedar asado por completo”. Luego, con una tranquilidad que nadie había imaginado rezó por la conversión de Roma y la difusión de la religión de Cristo en todo el mundo.

San Agustín afirma que Dios obró muchos milagros en Roma en favor de los que se encomendaban a San Lorenzo.

— Condensado de ACIPRENSA

Lecturas Diarias 1-7 AGOSTO

Domingo: Éxodo 16:2-4, 1215, Efesios 4:17, 20-24, Juan 6:24-35; Lunes: Números 11:4b-15, Mateo 14:13-21; Martes: Números 12:1-13, Mateo 14:22-36; Miércoles (San Juan María Vianney): Números 13:1-2, 25:14, 26a-29a, 34-35, Mateo 15:21-28; Jueves: Números 20:1-13, Mateo 16:13-23; Viernes (Fiesta de la Transfiguración del Señor): Deuteronomio 7:9-10, 13-14, 2 Pedro 1:16-19, Marcos 9-210; Sábado: Deuteronomio 6:4-13, Mateo 17:14-20

8-14 AGOSTO

Domingo: 1 Reyes 19:4-8, Efesios 4:30-5:2, Juan 6:4151; Lunes: Deuteronomio 10:12-22, Mateo 17:22-27; Martes (San Lorenzo): 2 Corintios 9:6-10, Juan 12:24-26; Miércoles (Santa Clara): Deuteronomio 34:112, Mateo 18:15-20; Jueves: Josué 3:7-10a,11,13-17, Mateo 18:21-19; Viernes: Josué 24:1-13, Mateo 19:3-12; Sábado (San Maximiliano María Kolbe): Josué 24:1429, Mateo 19:13-15

15-21 AGOSTO

Domingo (Asunción de la Virgen María): Apocalipsis 11:19a, 12:1-6a, 10ab, 1 Corinitios 15:20-27, Lucas 1:39-56; Lunes: Jueces 2:11-19, Mateo 19:16-22; Martes: Jueces 6:11-24a, Mateo 19:23-30; Miércoles: Jueces 9:6-15, Mateo 20:116; Jueves: Jueces 11:29-39, Mateo 22:1-14; Viernes (San Bernardo Abad): Rut 1:1, 3-8, 14-16, 22, Mateo 22:3440; Sábado (San Pío): Rut 2:1-3, 8-11, 4:13-17, Mateo 23:1-12

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, a PreK-8 grade National Blue-Ribbon School of Excellence in Brunswick, Georgia, is seeking an energetic, exemplary, and passionate full-time elementary school teacher who desires to work in a supportive faith community. Applicants will implement a STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, English, Arts, Math) curriculum while integrating Catholic faith and values, treating each student as a unique child of God in a safe, supportive, and challenging academic environment.

The ideal candidate will have elementary school teaching experience and will be tasked with promoting instructional engagement through stimulating presentations, active participation, assessment, and techniques that ensure mastery of content. This candidate must have an understanding of the nature and needs of a child between the ages of 7 and 9 and accept the challenge of nurturing the student’s intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual development.

INSTRUCTIONAL TASKS • Implement lesson plans consistent with curriculum guidelines and Diocesan standards utilizing techniques to motivate, challenge and engage students • Provide a grade-appropriate instructional program of engaging and interactive activities/lessons for elementary grade levels • Integrate technology effectively into the classroom NON- INSTRUCTIONAL TASKS • Be responsible for the safety and active supervision of students at all times and for strong classroom management • Assess and document student progress in coordination with resources, progress monitoring and assessments • Interact effectively and respond to all parent communication in a professional, empathetic, and timely manner • Participate in faculty meetings, committees, and professional development opportunities • Perform other duties as assigned by Principal ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS • Maintain high professional standards consistent with the mission of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School and the teachings of the Catholic Church • Work collaboratively with other teachers, staff, and administration • Maintain a high level of computer and technology skill; strong organizational skills and ability to multitask • Hold a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from an Accredited College or University • Possess a current Georgia Teaching Certificate in Early Childhood Education (P-5)

To apply please send resume and cover letter to tmermann@sfxcs.org

13

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film’s values, they can do so in conformity with the nuanced position that characterizes the treatment of same-sex attraction found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Despite the brief expression of an explicitly anti-clerical and more broadly anti-Catholic bias on the part of the protagonist, couched in vulgar terms, those taking the time to sift this earthy, overly-earnest movie as a whole will likely find at least a residue of positive morality. Mature themes, physical violence, some rough and crass language.

CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: R

In theaters

‘Escape Room: Tournament of Champions’

‘Joe Bell’ Somber, heavy-handed drama in which, following the suicide of his 15-year-old son (Reid Miller), a victim of anti-gay bullying, the grieving father (Mark Wahlberg) of the title begins a crosscountry trek on foot to deal with his loss and warn any group that will have him about the dangers of such persecution. Director Reinaldo Marcus Green and screenwriters Diane Ossana and Larry McMurtry present viewers with a panorama of unrelieved tragedy and raw psychological pain.

But they avoid romanticizing or glamorizing homosexuality. Instead, they focus on the kind of emotional abuse from which no one should have to suffer. Thus, while mature believers will have to bring careful discernment to bear in assessing the

In this follow-up to the 2019 original, the two survivors of the initial ordeal (Taylor Russell and Logan Miller), in which competitors were forced to use ingenuity to escape alive from a series of potentially deadly chambers, are joined by others who have achieved the same feat, and all are tested again by the seemingly invisible yet vastly powerful corporation that tormented them the first time. As helmed by returning director Adam Robitel, the proceedings mix marginally clever deduction with barely contained hysteria as Will Honley, Maria Melnik and Daniel Tuch’s script weighs altruism against self-preservation. The addition to the ensemble of a well-meaning, though imprudent, priest (Thomas Cocquerel) may prove mildly interesting to believers in the audience. But the vague sadism of the kickoff is still discernible as the filmmakers rinse and repeat. Much stylized violence, some gory wounds, a few uses of profanity, about a half-dozen milder oaths, at least one rough term, pervasive crude language.

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

Your Life’s Journey…

On TV n Friday, July 30, 11:30 a.m. (EWTN) “St. Francis of Assisi.” A docudrama on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, who renounced everything for God. n Saturday, July 31, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Ignatius of Loyola: Soldier, Sinner and Saint.” This very human account of “The Saint of Second Chances” follows St. Ignatius of Loyola’s journey from self-absorbed sinner to loyal soldier of Christ and founder of the Jesuits. n Saturday, July 31, 11:30 a.m. (EWTN) “The Doctors of the Church.” Part 1 of EWTN’s continuing series looks at influential theologian and philosopher, St. Augustine of Hippo. The story of his conversion, baptism and extraordinary life epitomizes the transforming power of grace. n Sunday, Aug. 1, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “Messiah: Ascension at the Right Hand of God.” With the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples develop an unshakable faith and the Kingdom of God is born. His plan is revealed and Jesus ascends to heaven to mount His throne. n Tuesday, Aug. 3, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Nigeria, Aleluya.” A documentary examining the plight of Christians in Nigeria, where the radical Islamic group Boko Haram has launched numerous attacks, resulting in more than 20,000 deaths and 2.6 million people being displaced.

n Wednesday, Aug. 4, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “John Paul II: Be Not Afraid.”

An animated biography featuring the early life of St. John Paul II up to his election as pope. n Saturday, Aug. 7, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Vianney Speaks.” Powerful sermons and prayers of St. John Vianney come to life in this dramatic recreation by actor Leonardo Defilippis. See how Vianney’s masterpieces of inspiration still cut straight to the heart today. n Saturday, Aug. 7, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Dominic: Light of the Church.” A dramatic portrayal of St. Dominic, a renowned preacher who tireless defender of the faith who was famous for his profound learning, heroic sanctity and apostolic zeal. n Sunday, Aug. 8, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the recitation of the Angelus live from Rome. n Monday, Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. (EWTN) “Edith Stein: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.”

Part one of this biography of philosopher and Carmelite nun focuses on her Jewish background, intellectual formation and increasing interest in Christianity.

DISCOVER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE

how will you be remembered?

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

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

Bob Gordon Field Agent

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

Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

For more information on how to leave a legacy for your parish, please contact Gina Rhodes, Director of Planned Giving at 704/370-3364 or gmrhodes@charlottediocese.org.

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PASTOR FROM PAGE 8

42, he was half their age.

“I think they thought they needed me in the interim to slow them down,” Father Tim jokes. “I helped with the sacraments. … You learn a lot in your first year as a priest, from baptisms to weddings to visiting the sick.”

His time in Charlotte was brief – about six months – before he was called to return to southern Maryland where he directed Loyola-on-the-Potomac Retreat House for four years before returning to the classroom as a high school teacher in Washington, D.C. He then became provincial treasurer, and over the next eight years visited different religious communities to celebrate Mass and minister to them.

He also celebrated Masses for “Radio Mass of Baltimore,” an apostolate the Jesuits started in the 1930s. Long before the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to tune in for Mass on TV and online, this

SOLIDARITY FROM PAGE 3

been providing assistance to the area for decades and has a successful food pantry.

Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities’ western regional director, says the partnership reflects the human spirit at its best.

“We have Catholic Charities working together with Hispanic Ministry in the Asheville Vicariate and then working together with the Blue Ridge Organizing Project to make this happen – to get food and other supplies to people in need,” says Boeckermann, marveling at what the teamwork has accomplished. “The project has taken on a life of its own.”

Because Catholic Charities’ food pantry isn’t accessible to families without transportation, the group then reached out to Comunidades de Base, faith leaders within the Hispanic community who host prayer groups in their homes. They developed a system in which leaders from Comunidades de Base contacted families in their neighborhoods and identified needs, particularly around food access but also personal hygiene products and baby-care items such as diapers and wipes.

Another team of volunteers meets at Catholic Charities and loads up SUVs and station wagons to bring the supplies to the mobile home community where each faith leader lives.

Over the past year, Catholic Charities, Hispanic Ministry and BROP have delivered food regularly to 322 families – serving nearly 1,200 people, half of whom are children.

“We feel like we’re doing what God called us to do and what Jesus called us to do,” says Boeckermann, noting the gratitude of those they serve and the depth of their struggles.

“They’re dealing with something that many of us don’t have to deal with in life. It’s really great to be able to provide this service to hopefully move them from needing basic necessities to the next step, and someday moving to a better situation in life.”

But providing food was just the beginning.

Access to health care and reliable medical information is a long-standing problem for many poor communities, but even more so during the pandemic.

Buncombe County Health Department recently had a supply of COVID-19 vaccines it wanted to get out to the local Hispanic community, so officials there reached out to

radio outreach served the homebound and those who were incarcerated and could not physically attend Mass.

In 2019, he started a new assignment – and little did he know that there he would use all of the pastoral skills he’d gained over the years.

The assignment was at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur, Ga., a suburb of Atlanta. The parish was a recent addition to the churches staffed by the Jesuits, at the request of former Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory.

One year after he arrived, the pandemic erupted.

“St. Thomas More was kind of like ‘ground zero’ during the pandemic,” he recalls. The church is located near the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Emory University Hospital, where clinical trials for the Moderna vaccine were being held.

Many of his parishioners worked there, literally on the front lines of fighting the pandemic.

Father Tim was enlisted to administer the sacraments to sick and dying COVID-19 patients at Emory University Hospital.

“As much as they would permit, I

would go to the hospital,” he says. “Sadly, the anointing of the sick went back to becoming extreme unction, as we were only let in when someone was close to death.”

The experience was heartbreaking, he says. “I could go in to anoint them. ... A nurse was there holding an iPad or an iPhone so the family could see their family member was being ministered to, but they couldn’t be there themselves. It brought consolation to people as best it could.”

He knew parishioners who died from the coronavirus, as well as fellow Jesuit brothers.

“I wasn’t worried for myself, in part because I trusted the medical people. I took inspiration from Jesuit saints of centuries before – in particular, St. Aloysius Gonzaga – who ministered to those dying. I felt that there is a long history of not just Jesuits, but priests and religious women being with people during their worst times. I thought, ‘What else should I be doing?’”

Garcia and the Hispanic Ministry for help.

He and another volunteer hosted podcasts with two physicians, translated forms and medical information into Spanish, and distributed the information into the community. The 14 faith leaders in Comunidades de Base worked to register anyone from their communities who wanted to receive the vaccine. Local churches, including St. Eugene, and a community college hosted vaccination clinics.

A St. Eugene volunteer involved with the effort said 3,000 people from the Hispanic community in Buncombe County – a population of about 18,000 – received the vaccine because of these joint efforts.

Teamwork and solidarity have been key to the successful effort.

“Blue Ridge Organizing Project was interested in this project because our focus has always been on building community and community leadership,” Haskell explains. “Everyone is busy and tends to live in their own silos, be it religious, economic, race or neighborhood. This limits people and their capacity to address concerns impacting their family, and oftentimes they just cope with problems on their own. Blue Ridge Organizing Project wants to bring people together across these different boundaries through their faith institutions to see that many of their problems are community problems that need a community solution.”

MANNA Express event July 8 hosted at St. Joan of Arc Church.

“By working together, we have increased capacity to make positive change that helps everyone. This is the answer when in the Gospels people ask Jesus what the Kingdom of God looks like: everyone coming together, building relationships and working on solutions to the problems impacting their community,” Haskell says. “This is completely congruent with Catholic social teaching, including life and dignity of the human person, call to family, community and participation, rights and responsibilities, option for the poor and vulnerable, and solidarity. Our program allows congregations to exercise these values in the public square.”

Haskell is quick to note the resiliency of the local Hispanic community. “They do so much with so little,” he says. “Before the pandemic, they very rarely looked for assistance outside their own community, and each community has a fund that they contribute to, to help out families in need.”

During the COVID-19 response, Haskell reconnected with several families he knew from when he worked at Catholic Charities from 2014 to 2018. During his time there, he helped two groups of families evicted from mobile home parks that were dismantled and redeveloped into apartments. Haskell says it was a joy to work with the families again and to support neighborhood-level efforts to strengthen civic engagement and

COMMUNITIES ON THE MEND

Although the pandemic has eased and the local economy is recovering, the team is discovering that many families still need help, including with paying rent and utility bills.

Many people haven’t been able to pay their bills while out of work during the pandemic, Haskell notes. During the height of the pandemic these bills were put on hold, but they are now due in large lump sums. Financial aid provided through grants and contributions is helping people to avoid eviction or utility shut-offs.

To help further, they are seeking to partner with other nonprofits to weatherize mobile homes, thereby lowering families’ utility costs and creating jobs, Haskell adds.

The group has also connected recently with Manna FoodBank, and with parishes in Candler, Swannanoa, Brevard and Burnsville to reach out and help more than 300 people in the more rural areas surrounding Asheville with free food, baby care supplies, masks and informational resources during a special

A RETURN TO ST. PETER

Returning to Charlotte, where his priesthood began, just as the pandemic is easing makes him reflect.

“I think to some extent, hardly a weekend

15

goes by that someone doesn’t come up after Mass and say, ‘This is the first time I’ve been to Mass in (place number of months here),’” he says. “I hear their stories of what it was like to watch Mass from home.

They say how grateful they are to see a priest they know celebrating Mass. In all that time away they wanted the Eucharist, and that was the piece we couldn’t give them at that time.”

“People say, ‘I missed Mass.’ The pandemic has brought that out – that they miss going to Mass. Part of it is the Eucharist. It is also being with fellow Catholics. It clearly is important to people, and it means a lot that they can come back.”

He thinks often about all the people who have not yet come back to Mass.

The parish is planning a homecoming to welcome people back, he says. Future challenges – including dealing with space needs and master planning – can all wait, he says. Right now, the new pastor is focused on the essentials of ministry as people emerge from the darkness of the pandemic. “How can we minister to them?

How can we encourage them to continue to build up the people of God?”

self-sufficiency.

“These folks are so generous and kind,” he says. “I like this project because it is not strictly charity but more self-help. These families are taking an active leadership role to make a difference in the lives of families in their community. It wouldn’t work without their leadership. It is also building stronger relationships among the families and connecting them to the Church.”

“Get your ducks in a row!”

Estate Planning | Probate WAITING COULD DEVASTATE YOUR FAMILY St. Matthew’s Parishioner

704.843.1446 | www.ncestateplanninginfo.com

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

Our nation 16

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Please pray for the following deacons who died during the month of July Patrick Vallandingham

7/6/2006

Edwin Rodriguez

7/1/2012

Robert Dotson

7/ 7/2016

Stephen Horai

7/11/2016

Richard Voegele

7/5/2021

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org

Director of Human Resources Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., a rapidly growing region, is seeking an experienced professional for the position of Director of Human Resources and Safe Environment. The position develops, plans and executes initiatives based on a strategic vision for HR aligned with the mission of the Diocese of Charlotte. The position supervises a department of five and is responsible for oversight of all HR functions, including the development of personnel policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legal and diocesan requirements, consultation with diocesan entities regarding HR matters, and management of employee benefit programs. The Human Resources Director also has oversight responsibility for the administration of the diocesan Safe Environment programs, including training, screening and recordkeeping functions.

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Management, or a related field; HRCI and SHRM certifications preferred; • Have a minimum of ten years’ professional experience in Human Resources management and benefits planning and administration, including three years supervising, managing and evaluating staff; • Knowledge of applicable employment laws, rules, regulations and payroll practices; •Knowledge of the Catholic faith and the structures of the Catholic faith; •Strong verbal, written, analytical, public presentation, computer and interpersonal skills; •Ability to maintain confidentiality.

For more information about the Diocese of Charlotte and this position, please visit https://bit.ly/3r90NRj. Interested candidates are invited to send a letter of interest with resume and salary history to employment@charlottediocese.org. The letter of interest should elaborate on why the candidate is interested in this position with the Catholic Church and explain (with examples) why they are uniquely qualified for the position.

Applications accepted through August 16, 2021

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

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In Brief Mississippi’s attorney general in brief urges high court to overturn Roe WASHINGTON, D.C. — Many would like to believe the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v.

Wade decision legalizing abortion settled the issue” once and for all, but instead “all it did was establish a special-rules regime for abortion jurisprudence,” said Mississippi’s Attorney General Lynn Fitch. This “has left these cases out of step with other court decisions and neutral principles of law applied by the court,” she said in an amicus, or friend of the court, brief filed with the high court July 22 in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case involving a 2018 Mississippi abortion law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

The U.S. Supreme Court said in a May 17 order that it will hear oral arguments during its next term on the Mississippi law.

The court should overturn Roe v. Wade, Fitch said, adding that a state can prohibit abortion before “viability” because “nothing in constitutional text, structure, history or

St. Jude Novena St. Jude Novena May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, glorified, loved and preserved throughout the world now and forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, pray for us. St. Jude, worker of miracles, pray for us, St. Jude, help of the hopeless, pray for us.

Published in gratitude for prayers answered.

Thank you, A.L.K.

tradition supports a right to abortion.” As a result of Roe and subsequent court decisions, “state legislatures, and the people they represent, have lacked clarity in passing laws to protect legitimate public interests, and artificial guideposts have stunted important public debate on how we, as a society, care for the dignity of women and their children.”

Numbers of unaccompanied minors at border setting record WASHINGTON, D.C. — With a surge in the first few months of 2021 of minors entering the United States without a parent or guardian, figures from fiscal year 2020 already have surpassed the total of unaccompanied minors who made border entries during the previous fiscal year. Statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that over 76,000 minors entered the U.S. during fiscal year 2019 (from Oct. 1 to Sept. 1). By July 6 of this year, the latest figures available show that entries for fiscal year 2020 already have surpassed that number, with the agency logging over 93,500 unaccompanied minors and with a little less than three months left to go in the fiscal year.

USCCB general secretary resigns; reports allege ‘possible improper behavior’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Monsignor Jeffrey D. Burrill, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops since November, has resigned from the post after the USCCB “became aware of impending media reports alleging possible improper behavior by Monsignor Burrill,” said Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, USCCB president. In a July 20 memo to bishops, Archbishop Gomez said he had accepted Monsignor Burrill’s resignation, effective immediately. “What was shared with us did not include allegations of misconduct with minors. However, in order to avoid becoming a distraction to the operations and ongoing work of the conference, Monsignor has resigned,” the archbishop said. “The conference takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and will pursue all appropriate steps to address them,” he said.

In a lengthy story, The Pillar, an online outlet that covers the Church and provides news and analysis, said Archbishop Gomez’s memo came after it had contacted the USCCB and Monsignor Burrill regarding evidence the news outlet claimed to have “of a pattern of sexual misconduct on Burrill’s part.” The Pillar said it did an analysis of commercially available app signal data correlated to Burrill’s mobile device showing he had “visited gay bars and private residences.” The data “does not identify the names of app users, but instead correlates a unique numerical identifier to each mobile device using particular apps.”

— Catholic News Service

Our world

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Appealing to need for unity, pope restores limits on pre-Vatican II Latin Mass CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Saying he was acting for the good of the unity of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has restored limits on the celebration of the Mass according to the Roman Missal in use before the Second Vatican Council, overturning or severely restricting permissions St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had given to celebrate the so-called Tridentine-rite Mass.

“An opportunity offered by St. John Paul II and, with even greater magnanimity by Benedict XVI, intended to recover the unity of an ecclesial body with diverse liturgical sensibilities, was exploited to widen the gaps, reinforce the divergences and encourage disagreements that injure the Church, block her path and expose her to the peril of division,” Pope Francis wrote in a letter to bishops July 16.

The text accompanies his apostolic letter “Traditionis Custodes” (“Guardians of the Tradition”), declaring the liturgical books promulgated after the Second Vatican Council to be “the unique expression of the ‘lex orandi’ (law of worship) of the Roman Rite,” restoring the obligation of priests to have their bishops’ permission to celebrate according to the “extraordinary” or preVatican II Mass and ordering bishops not to establish any new groups or parishes in their dioceses devoted to the old liturgy.

Priests currently celebrating Mass according to the old missal must request authorization from their bishop to continue doing so, Pope Francis ordered, and for any priest ordained after the document’s publication July 16, the bishop must consult with the Vatican before granting authorization.

Pope Francis also transferred to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the new rules.

In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI issued “Summorum Pontificum” on the use of the pre-Vatican II Roman liturgy. It said any priest of the Latin-rite Church may, without any further permission from the Vatican or from his bishop, celebrate the “extraordinary form” of the Mass according to the rite published in 1962. The Roman Missal based on the revisions of the Second Vatican Council was published in 1969.

The conditions Pope Benedict set out for use of the old rite were that there was a desire for it, that the priest knows the rite and Latin well enough to celebrate in a worthy manner and that he ensures that the good of parishioners desiring the extraordinary form “is harmonized with the ordinary pastoral care of the parish, under the governance of the bishop in accordance with Canon 392, avoiding discord and favoring the unity of the whole Church.”

The now-retired pope also insisted that Catholics celebrating predominantly according to the old rite acknowledge the validity of the new Mass and accept the teachings of the Second Vatican Council.

In his letter to bishops, Pope Francis said that responses to a survey of the world’s bishops carried out last year by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “reveal a situation that preoccupies and saddens me and persuades me of the need to intervene. Regrettably, the pastoral objective

Bishop Jugis responds to pope’s instructions on the Traditional Latin Mass CHARLOTTE — In response to the pope’s new instructions of “Traditionis Custodes,” Bishop Peter Jugis issued a brief letter to the faithful July 17 stating that he is studying how to implement the new approach: “Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has just issued new instructions regarding the use of the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. As we now begin to study the details of the new motu proprio, ‘Traditionis Custodes,’ we will begin to consider the proper implementation of its provisions in our diocese. At the moment, and until further notice, those priests who have already been offering the Extraordinary Form of the Mass may continue to do so, as we move together as a diocese in a smooth and orderly transition to the new course charted by ‘Traditionis Custodes.’”

Director of Internal Audit The Catholic Diocese of Charlotte is seeking an experienced auditor to audit diocesan parishes, schools and agencies. In addition, the Director of Internal Audit will report and make recommendations on audit findings; conduct workshops and meetings, and provide training and guidance to staff and to volunteer councils regarding diocesan financial policies, practices and procedures. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor Degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field; CPA or MBA; 3 years of experience in accounting and auditing; a thorough knowledge of accounting and tax related legislation, regulations and reporting procedures; strong verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills; proficiency with computers, word processing, spreadsheet software and Windows; and the ability to maintain confidentiality. To apply, submit cover letter and resume before August 16, 2021 to employment@rcdoc.org.

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

— Catholic News Herald of my predecessors, who had intended ‘to do everything possible to ensure that all those who truly possessed the desire for unity would find it possible to remain in this unity or to rediscover it anew,’ has often been seriously disregarded.”

“Ever more plain in the words and attitudes of many is the close connection between the choice of celebrations according to the liturgical books prior to Vatican Council II and the rejection of the Church and her institutions in the name of what is called the ‘true Church,’” Pope Francis wrote.

To promote the unity of the Church, Pope Francis said, bishops should care for those Catholics “who are rooted in the previous form of celebration” while helping them “return in due time” to the celebration of Mass according to the new Missal.

The pope also indicated he believed that sometimes parishes and communities devoted to the older liturgy were the idea of the priests involved and not the result of a group of Catholic faithful desiring to celebrate that Mass.

Pope Francis asked bishops “to discontinue the erection of new personal parishes tied more to the desire and wishes of individual priests than to the real need of the ‘holy people of God.’” However, he also said that many people find nourishment in more solemn celebrations of Mass, so he asked bishops “to be vigilant in ensuring that every liturgy be celebrated with decorum and fidelity to the liturgical books promulgated after Vatican Council II, without the eccentricities that can easily degenerate into abuses.”

The liturgical life of the Church has changed and developed over the centuries, the pope noted.

“St. Paul VI, recalling that the work of adaptation of the Roman Missal had already been initiated by Pius XII, declared that the revision of the Roman Missal, carried out in the light of ancient liturgical sources, had the goal of permitting the Church to raise up, in the variety of languages, ‘a single and identical prayer’ that expressed her unity,” Pope Francis said. “This unity I intend to re-establish throughout the Church of the Roman Rite.”

Regional Director Piedmont Triad, NC

Do you strongly believe it’s possible to disrupt the cycle of poverty?

Do you want a faith-based mission-driven job that directly impacts the lives of thousands of North Carolinians, most of whom live at or near the federal poverty level?

We are seeking a candidate deeply committed to the organized work of charity, highly skilled, and very energetic for this internaland external-facing position which is responsible for providing resource development, strategic direction, leadership, and constituent engagement to support staff and service delivery within a 10-county area.

For a complete job description visit: ccdoc.org/jobs.

Cover letter and resume (2-page maximum) must be submitted electronically to: dbfebles@charlottediocese.org.

No phone calls, please. Position open until filled.

ccdoc.org

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ViewPoints

catholicnewsherald.com | July 30, 2021 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

18

Brian Pusateri

Deacon Mike Zboyovski

Like prophets of old, we are called

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ow would you respond if, like the great prophets of old, you heard God’s voice calling you to be a prophet in the world right now? Today, many people are put off and annoyed by anyone sharing the message of Jesus Christ. In many ways, Christianity is being marginalized.

Would you be afraid to answer God’s call? Have you ever thought of yourself as a prophet? Do you think others see you as a prophet? They should!

1 Peter 2:9 states: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” My dear friends, the very fact that we are baptized Christians means we have been called to be prophets. We are called to go forth to spread the word of God. Are we doing this?

God made it crystal clear to Jeremiah that He was being called to be a prophet. God said this in Jeremiah 1:5: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”

Isaiah was also called by God. This is what it says in Isaiah 6:5-8: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ Isaiah responded, ‘Here I am, send me!’ How are we responding to our call to be prophets?

When God called Ezekiel to be a prophet, He said, as found in Ezekiel 2:1-3: “Son of man, stand up! I wish to speak to you.” Rising to his feet and standing in reverence to God, Ezekiel heard God say, “Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me.” As modern-day prophets, we will also face a rebellious people.

We must understand that these prophets were being sent by God to share God’s word. As prophets they were not called to share their personal opinions about what they thought God’s word should say. No, they were called to share the message of God. Ezekiel was told to say, “Thus says the LORD GOD!” Likewise, you and I are called to spread the truth from God, not some modernday, watered-down version of it.

When Ezekiel, who was living in exile in Babylon with the rest of the exiled Israelites, was called by God, he was called to preach God’s words to the people who had rejected God’s laws.

God told him to go to those who had revolted, the ones who were “hard of face and obstinate of heart.”

To whom have you and I been sent?

Have we been sent to our own people?

Are we being called to preach God’s word to our family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who have heard the

Gospel but have rebelled against it? If so, our work will not be easy.

People today tell us our Christian message offends them. They tell us to keep our faith to ourselves. Sadly, many of us have succumbed to the belief that religion and faith are private matters.

Christianity is not now, nor has it ever been, a private individual religion meant to be kept behind closed doors.

We have been commissioned by God to go forth with the message of Jesus Christ. Our actions and our words should always proclaim the glory and truth of God. We can’t put the light of our faith under a bushel basket. We mustn’t keep our faith to ourselves.

Jesus told us to expect persecution because of our faith in Him. In Matthew 10:16 we read, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves.” Matthew 10:22 continues with, “You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

We tend to think of Christian persecution as enduring insults from others on social media for our pro-Christian positions, having our Christian liberties eroded, seeing our churches and sacred spaces vandalized, or in the most extreme case witnessing Christians being martyred because of their faith. Thankfully, most of us will not experience extreme persecution, but some will!

Nonetheless, all of us experience the repercussions of following Jesus in small ways. Perhaps you had to clean up your language with your friends, tell your friends there are certain movies you refuse to watch because they go against your values, or stop hanging around with certain people because they still live in the way you did before you began to take your faith seriously.

1 Peter 2:15 tells us, “For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people.”

The world needs good prophets now more than ever. The job won’t be easy.

Keep in mind that it is only our job to share the good news. It is up to others to accept or reject God’s message. If we do our job well, “whether they heed or resist – for they are a rebellious house – they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”

Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus told us that everyone who acknowledges Him before others He will acknowledge before You. He also said whoever denies Him before others, He will deny before You. Grant me the courage to be a prophet and the conviction to never shy away from spreading your word. Amen.

BRIAN PUSATERI is the founder of Broken Door Ministries (www.brokendoorministries.com) and a member of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville.

Don’t surrender your God-given power and authority

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he Gospel passage we heard at Mass on Sunday, July 11, begins, “Jesus summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.” My message today deals with our perception of authority and the truth that should encompass our ideas regarding the exercise of Godly authority.

The words “power” and “control” are often used interchangeably with the expression “authority.” Jesus gave the apostles power and control over unclean spirits and the power and authority to heal people just as Jesus Himself healed others. In Matthew’s Gospel, before Jesus ascends into heaven, His parting words are, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

The question I have for all of us today is: Are we teaching the world what Jesus has commanded us? Or have we surrendered and abandoned our power, our control, our teaching authority, and are instead allowing something other than the design of God to exert its control over us?

Paul Harvey, a famed national radio commentator and columnist, remarked in a broadcast in 1965 (and later featured in a variety of media over the course of his long career) an essay he titled “If I Were the Devil”: “If I were the devil … if I were the Prince of Darkness, I’d want to engulf the whole world in darkness. And I’d have a third of its real estate, and four-fifths of its population, but I wouldn’t be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree. So, I’d set about however necessary to take over the United States. I’d subvert the churches first – I’d begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: ‘Do as you please.’

“To the young, I would whisper that ‘The Bible is a myth.’ I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what’s bad is good, and what’s good is ‘old-fashioned.’ And the old, I would teach to pray, after me, ‘Our Father, which art in Washington. …’

“And then I’d get organized. I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting, so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting. I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies. … I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

“If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, and nations at war with themselves; until each in its turn was consumed. And with promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames. If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions – just let

those run wild, until before you knew it, you’d have to have drug-sniffing dogs and metal detectors at every schoolhouse door.

“Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing, I’d have judges promoting pornography – soon I could evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, and then from the houses of Congress. And in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science. I would lure priests and pastors into misusing boys and girls, and church money. If I were the devil, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg and the symbol of Christmas a bottle.

“If I were the devil, I’d take from those who have, and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious.

And what do you bet that I couldn’t get whole states to promote gambling as the way to get rich? I would caution against extremes of hard work, in patriotism, and in moral conduct. I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be. And thus, I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure. In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep right on doing on what he’s doing.”

My final thoughts come from the Psalms, which were composed approximately 2,500 to 2,900 years ago. Here is a small portion of Psalm 80 as God speaks to His people: “Listen, my people, to my warning – O Israel, if only you would listen / But my people did not listen to my voice – and Israel would not obey / So I left them in their stubbornness of heart – to follow their own designs.”

It appears we have been following our own designs for a long, long time. At what point do we say enough is enough? God has given us His authority, through Jesus Christ, to lovingly heal and minister to this world of ours. We have been commanded by Christ Himself, to first observe, and then to live, and finally to teach the truth that God has shown us. We are to expel the demons of hatred and not let them control and consume us.

We are called to a personal conversion and repentance, and then to lovingly bring others to the truth of that very Gospel message. We are commissioned to drive out every demon – each and every one of the negative forces in and of the world that continue to make a mockery of the 10 Commandments and the two Great Commandments that Jesus gave us.

If we hold the authority of God in Jesus Christ to be true – and Jesus has passed that power and control on to His disciples – then a response from you and a response from me is required. It is time we collectively figure out what our response should be.

DEACON MIKE ZBOYOVSKI serves at St. Eugene Church in Asheville. This commentary is adapted from a homily he delivered at Masses the weekend of July 10-11.

July 30, 2021 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Father Connor Danstrom

‘Just Do It’: Go to Mass on Sundays

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friend of mine went to a small Catholic college in New England on a baseball scholarship. His coach was the kind of friendly, no-nonsense journeyman they don’t seem to make anymore. At the first practice of the year, he told all the players to take a knee. Then in a thick Massachusetts accent, he said to them, “Now fellas, this is important, so listen up. If you’re gonna be on this team, it doesn’t matter what you believe. But we go to Mass on Sundays.”

This happened almost two decades ago, but even at the time, it would have been considered more than a little politically incorrect. Fortunately, though, the young men understood that there was not an ounce of malice in him. He truly didn’t care about the players’ personal religious convictions.

All were welcome on the team, regardless of creed. But this was a Catholic school, and they represented that school when they wore its jersey, and with that privilege came certain expectations.

And go to Mass they did. Even on road trips, the team would skip batting practice if necessary to make it to a Mass in town.

Tiny parishes would see their congregations suddenly swell at early morning Mass as a line of athletic young men would file into a middle pew. And when the collection basket came, they each put something in it, even if it was only a dollar.

By insisting that they go to Mass every Sunday, regardless of how convenient (or inconvenient) it may have been in a given week, my friend’s coach was conveying one of life’s most valuable lessons. Besides the obvious lesson that one’s duty to God comes before everything else, even batting practice, he also taught them that, in life as in sports, consistency might cost you something, but it’s worth it.

Immediately after I was ordained a priest, I did a year of graduate studies that culminated in the writing of a 75-page thesis.

Intimidated by the sheer size of the project, I felt paralyzed. I did everything I could to avoid sitting down to work on it – other homework, cleaning my room, reading emails, mindlessly staring at my phone – anything to avoid confronting this beast that haunted me at every turn. I knew I had to do something at some point, but as long as I could put it off I would.

Then one day, I decided to get started. The first step was to go to the library. Then it was to check out some books. Then it was to read those books and take copious notes. Then it was to check out some more books. Rinse and repeat.

Before I knew it, I had pages of notes with citations and a pretty substantial bibliography. I started to cut and paste the notes in an order that resembled the structure of an argument. With the help of my thesis director, I outlined three chapters that would each amount to about 25 pages. Boom. I had a thesis.

Then I just sat and wrote. Day in and day out, I sat in a quiet corner of the library, or in a loud corner of a coffee shop, and I wrote in my own words the ideas that I had read in those books. I didn’t write a 75-page paper.

I didn’t even write three separate 25-page papers. I wrote 472 paragraphs, made up of 2,066 sentences, containing 22,418 words. And most of them made sense.

It wasn’t easy, but it was simple. I just had to do it.

Just like going to Mass.

My catechist in second grade said something to me that I have never forgotten: “Every time you receive Holy Communion, you get more of the life of Jesus in you.” I remembered this for years every time I went up to the altar to receive the Body of Christ from the hands of the priest. As I would return to the pew, I would almost feel the power flowing through me. And even if I couldn’t feel it, I still trusted in the truth of it. I knew it was doing something, and I knew the effect it was having on me was somehow cumulative. I wasn’t becoming a saint overnight, but because my mom was bringing me to Mass every Sunday, Christ was able to move the needle at least a little bit every time.

If you went to Mass every Sunday from the time you were in second grade to the time you were 80 years old, assuming you were in a state to receive Communion every week, you would receive the Eucharist 3,744 times. Throw in the five regular Holy Days of Obligation every year, and you easily top the 4,000-mark. The grace of the Eucharist is infinite because the Eucharist is Christ, and Christ is God. There is enough of God’s grace in just one consecrated Host to make any one of us into a saint. But for most sinners like you and me, the building up of that grace into real transformation is gradual, and it takes a long time.

Go to Mass on Sundays: This is the bare minimum the Church has set for the faithful to stay in the state of grace. God gives us 168 hours of life every week, and as long as we are physically able to get to church on Sunday, He asks us for just one of those hours back as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. But it’s not God who benefits from our attendance at Mass. God empties Himself so that we can receive the life-giving grace of the Eucharist.

It’s not always easy, but it’s simple.

We don’t always feel up to giving God thanks and praise, and other things will always compete for our time and attention. But if we’re consistent in the practice of going to Sunday Mass, the cumulative effect on our lives and relationships will be enormous.

As I initially did with my thesis, we make things more complicated than they need to be.

God doesn’t play tricks on us. He doesn’t give us a lot of riddles to solve to figure out His will for our lives. He reveals Himself plainly, and He makes His grace available to everyone who wants and asks for it in faith. When we get to heaven, we don’t want to say, “God, where were you when I was struggling? Where were you when I was sad? Where were you when you felt so distant?” He might just say, “I was at Mass on Sunday – where were you?”

It’s simple: go to Mass on Sundays.

FATHER CONNOR DANSTROM is the chaplain and director of the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is also one of the hosts of the podcast “Three Dogs North.” This commentary originally appeared on Word on Fire’s blog, online at www.wordonfire.org.

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As I have loved you.

Como yo los he amado.

— John 13:34

— Juan 13:34

Mark your calendar for the 17th Eucharistic Congress September 17-18, 2021 — Charlotte Convention Center

Marque su calendario para el XVII Congreso Eucarístico J UA N 1 3 : 3 4

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Para información y voluntariado: www.GoEucharist.com

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L O S HE A YO M

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For information and to volunteer: www.GoEucharist.com

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Septiembre 17 y 18, 2021— Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte CO

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