March 11, 2022 by Catholic News Herald

March 11, 2022

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

Calls for prayer, peace in Ukraine

Spotlight on Marian art

5, 22-24

‘The Theotokos and Child between Sts. Theodore and George’

Men encouraged in their vocations at annual conference 5 En conferencia anual los hombres fueron alentados en sus vocaciones 15 FUNDED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU!

ASH WEDNESDAY ‘It is a time of grace we begin today’ 4 “Es un tiempo de gracia que iniciamos hoy”

Plant marigolds to celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation 3

At a glance 2

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

March 11, 2022 Volume 31 • NUMBER 12

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

INDEX

Contact us.....................................2 At a glance....................................2 Español....................................... 12-18 Our Faith........................................3 Our diocese............................. 4-10 Scripture readings................. 3, 17 Arts & Entertainment................. 19 U.S. news................................20-21 Viewpoints.............................26-27 World news........................... 22-25

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704-370-3333

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

things you need to know this week

SPRING FORWARD: Daylight Saving Time ends Sunday, March 13, followed by the first day of spring March 20. Daylight Saving Time is a 20th century invention, but did you know our modern calendar was actually established by Pope Gregory XIII? What’s now called the “Gregorian calendar” was introduced in October 1582 to update and replace the Roman-era Julian calendar. Calculated by the pope’s astronomers, it more closely approximates the “tropical” or “solar” year determined by the Earth’s revolution around the sun. It’s a long story, Pope Gregory XIII but the new calendar helped the Church more accurately determine the date for Easter each year. Remember to set your clocks forward one hour when you go to bed March 12, so you’ll be on time for Sunday Mass!

DON’T MISS THIS AMAZING GUY: Alan Ames, an internationally known Catholic evangelist and author, is coming to talk about his life and healing ministry: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, at St. Therese Church (217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville); 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at St. Mark Church (14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville); and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at Ames Our Lady of Grace Church (2203 W. Market St., Greensboro). Each evening begins with Mass, followed by a talk and healing prayer service. Learn more about him at www.AlanAmes.org.

FISH FRYS ARE BACK: On the Fridays of Lent when abstaining from eating meat, why not meet fellow parishioners and support your local Knights of Columbus and parish charitable efforts, while at the same time giving yourself a break from cooking? Check your parish bulletin for dates, times and pricing for dine-in and “to go” Lenten Fish Fry meals.

WEARING O’ THE GREEN: St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17. This commemoration of the patron saint of Ireland is a bright spot in the otherwise somber season of Lent. Break out your green attire, surf the internet for a tasty corned beef and cabbage recipe, and fire up your crock pot! Learn about St. Patrick online at www. catholicnewsherald.com/faith. For some tasty recipes, try www.allrecipes.com.

REDISCOVER THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Most parishes offer the Lenten devotion of praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday in Lent. If you’re in Charlotte, try the stunning outdoor Stations at St. Joseph Vietnamese Church (4929 Sandy Porter Road). Or, pray the Stations at your own church anytime, using an easy downloadable guide from the USCCB: www.usccb.org/prayers/ scriptural-stations-of-the-cross.

Diocesan calendar of events

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

CONFERENCES & TALKS

ESPAÑOL

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

LEARN ABOUT JOHN FISHER AND THOMAS MORE: Judge Robert Conrad Jr., author of “John Fisher & Thomas More: Keeping Their Souls While Losing Their Heads,” will speak at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at St. Pius X Church, located at 2210 N. Elm St., Greensboro. Register online at www.stpiusxnc.com/ events or call 336-272-4681.

VIGILIA DE LOS DOS CORAZONES: 8 p.m. Todos los Viernes, 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.

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.

CATHOLIC MEDICAL ETHICS ON SEXUALITY AND FERTILITY: Learn about sexuality and fertility in medicine from a Catholic viewpoint in “Converging Roads” on Saturday, April 2, at St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte. Continuing education credits offered for health care professionals. Presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation, the Diocese of Charlotte and Belmont Abbey College. For details, see www.forlifeandfamily.org/converging-roads. ENTERTAINMENT BISHOP MCGUINNESS HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI WEEKEND: FridaySaturday, March 25-26, 10 a.m. Bishop McGuinness High School, 1725 N.C. 66, Kernersville. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. Friday with a Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honoring lme Archibong, Class of 1999, and Katheryn Lyons, Class of 2007. Brunch to follow. At 5:30 p.m. Friday, members of the classes of 1962, 1967, 1972, 1977, 1982, 1987, 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 are invited to a Happy Hour in the courtyard. At 10 a.m. Saturday in Alumni Basketball Games, men and women will play in an odd vs. even format, with all alumni welcome. A family picnic in the courtyard will follow. To RSVP, contact Katie Williams at 336-564-1009 or kwilliams@bmhs.us.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS MARY’S SONS KNEELERS: People around the Diocese of Charlotte can pray for the men expected to be ordained – Deacon Darren Balkey and Deacon Aaron Huber – on special kneelers they will receive when ordained on June 18. For more info, see www. MarysSons.org. Upcoming parishes hosting the kneelers: MARCH 14-16: St. Ann Church, Charlotte MARCH 28-APRIL 4: Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury (Deacon Balkey’s home parish) SUPPORT GROUPS RACHEL’S VINEYARD: Are you or a loved one seeking healing from the effects of a past abortion? Rachel’s Vineyard weekend retreats are offered by Catholic Charities for men and women in the diocese. For details, contact Jessica Grabowski at 910-585-2460 or jrgrabowski@rcdoc.org, or Lorena Haynes at 828-585-0483.

Upcoming events for Bishop Peter J. Jugis: MARCH 12 – NOON Rite of Election St. Mark Church, Huntersville MARCH 21 – 10:30 A.M. St. Benedict’s Day Mass and Luncheon Belmont Abbey, Belmont MARCH 26 – 12 P.M. Rite of Election St. Barnabas Church, Arden

Our faith

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

‘... by the Holy Spirit (He) was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.’

Feast of the Annunciation: Celebrate by planting marigolds

he Feast of the Annunciation celebrates the Incarnation of Our Savior – “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1). God loved us so much that He chose to become one of us, taking on our humanity so completely that He became as utterly weak and dependent as an infant. Our celebration of the Annunciation and the Incarnation affirms that human life begins at conception. God became man not with His birth nine months from now on Dec. 25, but at the moment of His conception in the womb of His mother, Mary. Thus the Feast of the Annunciation teaches us important lessons about the inestimable value God places on human life from the moment of conception. It also reminds us that although we understand best what we can see, the invisible, the hidden, is no less real for our lack of seeing it. Try the beloved Catholic tradition of planting marigold seeds (named in honor of Mary) in your garden or in little pots on a window sill on the Feast of the Annunciation. Wait to see them sprout and grow. While you and your children are planting these seeds, talk about the importance of God’s “hidden” work. As a baby grows unseen within his mother’s womb, and as the sprouting seed invisibly grows under the soil, so is much essential and vital work people do not visible to most people, and may never be known except to God. Further meditate on the beauty of the Annunciation by reading the Gospel of St. Luke 1:26-56, the Gospel of St. John Chapter 1, Psalm 139 or the Catechism of the Catholic Church 430-511. — Sources: Diocese of Peoria Office of Respect Life and Human Dignity and the Respect Life Board; EWTN; Marian Devotions in the Domestic Church

Prayer for Life O Mary, bright dawn of the new world, Mother of the living, to you do we entrust the cause of life: Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born, of the poor whose lives are made difficult, of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy. Grant that all who believe in your Son may proclaim the Gospel of life with honesty and love to the people of our time. Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new, the joy of celebrating it with gratitude throughout their lives and the courage to bear witness to it resolutely, in order to build, together with all people of good will, the civilization of truth and love, to the praise and glory of God, the Creator and lover of life. — St. John Paul II, from his encyclical “The Gospel of Life” (March 25,1995)

“La Anunciación” by Francisco Goya (1785)

Daily Scripture readings MARCH 13-19

Sunday: Genesis 15:5-12, Philippians 3:17-4:1, Luke 9:28b36; Monday: Daniel 9:4b-10, Luke 6:36-38; Tuesday: Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, Matthew 23:1-12; Wednesday: Jeremiah 18:18-20, Matthew 20:17-28; Thursday (St. Patrick): Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 16:19-31; Friday (St. Cyril of Jerusalem): Genesis 37:34, 12-13a, 17b-28a, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46; Saturday (St. Joseph): 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24a

MARCH 20-26

Sunday: Exodus 3:1-8a, 1 Cor 10:1-6, Luke 13:1-9; Monday: 2 Kings 5:1-15b, Luke 4:24-30; Tuesday: Daniel 3:25, 34-43, Matthew 18:21-35; Wednesday (St. Turibius of Mogrovejo): Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday: Jeremiah 7:23-28, Luke 11:14-23; Friday (The Annunciation of the Lord): Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10, Hebrews 10:4-10, Luke 1:26-38; Saturday: Hosea 6:1-6, Luke 18:9-14

MARCH 27-APRIL 2

Sunday: Joshua 5:9a, 10-12, 2 Cor 5:17-21, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32; Monday: Isaiah 65:17-21, John 4:43-54; Tuesday: Ezekiel 47:19, 12, John 5:1-16; Wednesday: Isaiah 49:8-15, John 5:17-30; Thursday: Exodus 32:7-14, John 5:31-47; Friday: Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22, John 7:1-2,10, 25-30; Saturday (St. Francis of Paola): Jeremiah 11:18-20, John 7:40-53

Our diocese 4

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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In Brief

Multipurpose building completed at college seminary MOUNT HOLLY — St. Joseph College seminarians now have a space they can go to work out and relax on campus. Thanks to 272 donors, the college seminary has a multipurpose “barn” that houses an exercise room, a social space, and the office of the facilities team and their equipment. More than $239,950 was raised to build the 3,744-squarefoot building, which features a front porch and sits alongside Arctus Avenue. Tours of the college seminary are available upon request. To learn more about St. Joseph College Seminary, go to www.stjcs.org. — SueAnn Howell and Fredrik Akerblom

Latin institute launches degree program CHARLOTTE — Veterum Sapientia Institute has a new accredited degree program: the Diploma Latinitatis Ecclesiasticae, or Diploma in Ecclesiastical Latin. This program is launched in partnership with the Pontifical Institute for Higher Latinity, a faculty of the Salesian University in Rome, which shares the Charlottebased institute’s mission of promoting the study of ecclesiastical, or Church, Latin. The DLE is a three-year program designed especially for clergy and religious, to give them the necessary tools to become thoroughly familiar with the “wisdom of the ancients” contained in both the ecclesiastical and secular literature of the Latin language. Students will have the option to fulfill the course requirements in non-consecutive semesters, or to take on a reduced course load per semester. The program’s first semester will be offered this fall. For details, go to www.veterumsapientia.org. — Veterum Sapientia Institute

Pro-life group conducts training HUNTERSVILLE — On Feb. 12, people interested in pro-life advocacy attended a day-long sidewalk counseling training session offered by Sidewalk Advocates for Life Charlotte. The event, held at St. Mark Church and co-sponsored by the parish’s Respect Life ministry, aimed to train volunteers to be effective, peaceful and prayerful counselors who can minister to abortion-minded women in front of local abortion facilities. Sidewalk Advocates for Life is a nationwide organization dedicated to training and supporting communities in sidewalk advocacy to offer life-affirming alternatives. Learn more online at www.sidewalkadvocates.org. — Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY BURGER, JAMES SARKIS AND VIA FACEBOOK

(Above, clockwise) In these scenes from Ash Wednesday, Deacon Rich sprinkles ashes on a student’s head March 2 at Christ the King School in Huntersville; Father Melchesideck Yumo, parochial vicar of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, assists in sprinkling ashes at St. Mark School; Families brought their children to services at St. Mark Church March 2; and Father Ernest Nebangongnjoh sprinkles ashes upon the head of Bishop Peter Jugis at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

ASH WEDNESDAY

‘It is a time of grace we begin today’ SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — It’s been two years since Catholics have turned out in large numbers on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent by receiving ashes on their heads. As COVID-19 health restrictions have been relaxed, however, churches were filled with parishioners for this year’s observance on March 2. Bishop Peter Jugis celebrated Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte and, despite the liturgy’s somber tone, was pleased to welcome a church full of people – greeting them on the steps of the cathedral after Mass and wishing them a blessed Lent. During a brief homily before ashes were distributed, Bishop Jugis told everyone gathered, “The ashes which we receive today on our heads are a sign of our sorrow for our sins.” The ashes are similar to the spoken words of sorrow we recite in confession, when we say, “O, my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee,” referring to the Act of Contrition, he explained. “We give expression to our sorrow when we go to confession,” he said, and, likewise, Ash Wednesday is an occasion to express sorrow for our sins as we look forward to Easter.

On Ash Wednesday, “the whole season of Lent lies before us, which we have the occasion to purify our hearts, purify our minds and purify our souls through prayer, through fasting, through penance, through almsgiving – so that we are properly prepared at Easter with pure minds, pure hearts and pure souls in order to celebrate the great solemnity of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.” “So it is a time of grace that we begin today – beginning today, expressing our outward sorrow for our sins and, during the whole season of Lent, be about the good work of purifying our hearts, purifying our minds, purifying our souls – so that we are ready, properly prepared to enter the celebration of new life (with) the resurrection of Jesus.” He then blessed the ashes, sprinkling them with holy water before the parish’s parochial vicar Father Ernest Nebangongnjoh and Deacon Paul Bruck distributed them to the standing-room-only crowd. For the second year in a row, ashes were sprinkled on the head rather than placed on the forehead in the shape of a cross, following the bishop’s instruction. This alternative way of commemorating Ash Wednesday is still popular in Rome, and more closely resembles Old Testament tradition.

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

‘Pray for those suffering in Ukraine’ Ukrainian bishop leads prayers for peace during Charlotte visit PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE EDITOR

CHARLOTTE — During a recent visit to Charlotte, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bohdan Danylo led prayers for peace in Ukraine in response to the Russian invasion. “We are a people of prayer. Pray for those suffering in Ukraine, pray for the displaced people, pray for the Ukrainian armed forces … and pray for the international community,” Bishop Bohdan said. “And let us say also a prayer for the man who can stop this today... Russian President Vladimir Putin.” The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat was in Charlotte Feb. 26-27 for a previously scheduled visit to St. Basil the Great Parish. The Ohiobased eparchy, or diocese, encompasses parishes in 11 states including the Carolinas. During prayers at the end of Divine Liturgy (Mass) PAGES 22-24: Feb. 27, the bishop led parishioners in praying the More coverage Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the people of of the war in Ukraine. Ukraine and In his homily, he called for support of the people of the Church’s Ukraine, especially the 2 million people who have fled response the violence. For Ukrainians this Lent, he said, suffering is “no longer just theoretical.” He also encouraged people not to approach Lent with negativity or complaint, but with joy – because the 40 days of Lent will end with the Resurrection at Easter. “Soon we will sing, ‘Christ is risen, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life,’” he said, quoting the familiar and ancient Paschal troparion that comes from 1 Corinthians 15:20. The bishop praised Ukrainians’ resistance to the Russian invasion and defense of their democracy, and he criticized Putin for provoking the conflict. “It’s a war between David and Goliath,” he said. “But if you remember, who won that war? David, who was fighting for principles. Ukraine is fighting for those principles.” “Perhaps moments like this,” he said, are “a reminder for us to take faith seriously, to ask ourselves what is important in life. Is it the pursuit of another house, is it a new car? One day, each of us sooner or later will have to come to the time of golden age, and ask ourselves: ‘What did I do in my life? What is my contribution to society?’” He continued, “We as a Church like to talk about the cross. We are preaching the cross. But none of us wants to suffer, because it’s not

Special events planned for St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 CHARLOTTE — Laser lights, sacred art and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are anticipated highlights at area churches on the feast of St. Patrick Thursday, March 17:

LASER LIGHT SHOW

More inside

PATRICIA L GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For Ukrainians this Lent, suffering is “no longer just theoretical,” said Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bohdan Danylo, who called for prayers and aid in response to the war in Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Josaphat was in Charlotte Feb. 26-27 for a previously scheduled visit to one of his parishes, St. Basil the Great. natural to us humans to suffer. But when you experience suffering, you understand others better, because you know what they are going through. You understand the human pain, and most of the time, you are kinder and more loving.” He added that he is worried for his relatives in Ukraine, and he became emotional as he described the connections he has there. He oversees one of the Church’s largest seminaries in Ukraine, with hundreds of seminarians. “As the war started,” he said, “those seminarians had to leave. They went back to their fathers and mothers, and since they are of age that they can be called to defend, maybe the one who this morning was praying in a chapel tomorrow will be standing with a rifle and trying to SUFFERING, SEE PAGE 10

Men encouraged in their vocations at annual conference CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — More than 200 men attended the 12th annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the Carolinas, and many others followed it online, in a March 5 event that featured Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and talks by several gifted speakers. Keith Nester, a Catholic convert who was a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 20 years, was the first speaker at the conference, which was hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Another speaker, John Acquaviva, an author, father, and professor of exercise science at Wingate University, talked about sportsmanship and parenting. He hosts “Faith and Sport” on Carolina Catholic Radio Network as well as “The Fitness Doctor,” a TV program on Time Warner Cable in Union County. “Sport is beautiful,” he said, and it enriches life and lets us “experience the joy of competing to reach a goal together,” where “success and defeat is shared and overcome.” Playing with values such as loyalty, fairness, self-sacrifice, teamwork, perseverance, respect, honesty, responsibility, forgiveness and discipline make the competition “fun and natural.” Tim Staples of Catholic Answers also spoke

The annual Catholic Men’s Conference was a resource that “helps to practice the faith with greater intensity” and “rejuvenates spiritually and personally,” attendees said. The day-long event featured four speakers, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and more. CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

to conference attendees, describing his own conversion story from the Southern Baptist Church to the Catholic faith. He developed his speech with three basic questions: Why did God create us? What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a father?

He argued that the values in contemporary culture can sometimes demean and degrade the notion of manhood and fatherhood, effectively “destroying the image and notion of the fatherhood of God.” CONFERENCE, SEE PAGE 10

St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte will honor its patron March 13-19 with a sacred art laser light show each evening, illuminating the cathedral’s façade from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. The laser light show is a special event by the cathedral as part of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The unique 3-D laser projection, which uses digital mapping technology, will be produced by Highland Mediaworks of Asheville. During the Year of St. Joseph in 2020, the company created a sacred art laser light show on the façade of the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Charlotte. Considered a version of augmented reality, 3-D projection mapping is a rare digital art form using video projectors to project customized media onto a target sculpture. The cathedral’s patronal festivities will also feature Mass at 7 p.m. March 17. The cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road East in Charlotte.

MASS AT OLD ST. JOSEPH CHURCH A Mass in honor of St. Patrick will be held March 17 at Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly. All are welcome to attend the 9 a.m. Mass at one of North Carolina’s oldest Catholic churches, built in 1843 for and by Irish immigrants. It is an official state and U.S. historical site. Sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in the Charlotte area, the annual Mass pays tribute to the community’s first pastor, Father T.J. Cronin, who was Irish born and is buried in the adjacent church cemetery. Father Michael Carlson, parochial vicar of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, will offer the Mass. The church is located at N.C. 273 and Sandy Ford Road. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

‘Friends in Christ Jesus’: St. Ann Parish funds MOP chapel in India SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Thanks to a longstanding partnership between St. Ann Parish and the Missionaries of the Poor, one of its missions in Warangal, India, has a new chapel. Named in honor of St. Joseph, the chapel was dedicated Feb. 2. Based in Jamaica, the Missionaries of the Poor is a Catholic monastic religious order dedicated to serving the poorest of the poor. The order has more than 550 brothers serving in nine missions around the world, including a mission in Monroe, N.C. “For 30 years St. Ann’s Parish has enjoyed a warm relationship with the Missionaries of the Poor, and we’ve had dozens of parish mission trips over the years to MOP houses in Jamaica, Uganda and India,” said St. Ann’s pastor, Father Timothy Reid. “The first time our parish went to the mission in Warangal in 2016, we recognized right away their need for a chapel – among many other very pressing needs. Knowing that this mission receives very little outside help, we decided then that we would invest in it long-term as a special outreach program for our parish.” Over the past six years, using donations earmarked for the MOP and donations to the church’s poor box, the parish has already been able to provide tuition money for the orphans in the MOP’s care, rebuild a broken cistern that collects their drinking water, build homes and provide annual Christmas gifts for the poor, as

well as make repairs and upgrades to the brothers’ monastery and grounds, Father Reid said. “However, helping to build this new chapel has been our crowning achievement, and a dream come true for the Missionaries of the Poor and our parish,” he said. The 1,100 square-foot chapel can accommodate up to 70 people. “St. Ann’s is blessed to have an inspiring relationship with the brothers, residents and poor in Warangal,” said Terry Alderman, parish financial administrator. “I am very fortunate to have gone on the first trip, represent St. Ann’s at a jubilee, and take my husband there for his first mission trip.” Chris Brunhuber has also been on mission to Warangal. “Although it is the service the brothers provide to the people that is so important, the MOP are servants of Our Lord, and to honor Him with building a chapel where they could truly worship was much needed . The chapel is beautiful and I’m so glad St. Ann was a part of making it happen,” she said. Brother Benjamin Dungdung, who heads the Warangal mission, expressed his gratitude to the parishioners of St. Ann in a letter penned shortly after the Feb. 2 dedication. “Thank you so much for taking care of our spiritual life by supporting to build a chapel at our Warangal mission,” he said. “We are blessed to have you, our friends in Christ Jesus.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. ANN PARISH

Bishop Udumala Bala Showreddy, bishop of the Diocese of Warangal, India, opens the doors of the new St. Joseph Chapel Feb. 2 at the MOP’s mission in Warangal. The much-needed chapel, funded by St. Ann Parish in Charlotte, seats 70 people. “The mission has waited so long to have a place to pray but God (has shown His) favor to us through God seeing your spiritual life and making (you) an instrument to build a Chapel in a foreign land. We will always be united with you whenever will enter to pray in the chapel,” Brother Dungdung wrote. Father Reid added, “I’m humbled by and very grateful for the tremendous generosity of our St. Ann parishioners,

who’ve always had a heart for the poor. Whenever I ask our parishioners to help the poor and needy, they always exceed my expectations. “And I’m grateful as well for the opportunity to serve the good people in Warangal. My parishioners and I always come away from our mission trips with our hearts filled with the profound truth it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Couples find blessings at the wheel of St. Pius X meal ministry GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — After decades of making sure hot, nutritious meals were delivered to neighbors in need, the leaders of the St. Pius X Meals on Wheels team have passed their responsibilities – and blessings – to another couple. “For more than 20 years, Dolores and Stu Ahrens have let their light shine,” Martha Harvey notes in a recent tribute to the couple who coordinated the MOW volunteers each month. “On Dec. 6, 2021, a parade of cars lined up outside Senior Resources of Guilford to load their vehicles with hot meals for delivery to homebound seniors and disabled adults, as they have regularly done on the first Monday of each month,” she says. “On that day, the drivers and passengers from St. Pius X lingered for a few extra moments to express their love and gratitude to their retiring ministry leaders, Dolores and Stu Ahrens.” MOW’s more than 60 volunteers (40 regular and 20 substitutes) “know that the opportunity to engage in conversation with these neighbors is oftentimes equally as important as the meal they deliver,” she says. “The pandemic presented its challenges to the ministry, but under the Ahrenses’ guidance, volunteers continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus at a time when it is needed most.” Stewardship is always possible, says Delores Ahrens. “Giving of oneself to do good for others makes you a better person. It can make you humble, make you feel grateful and make you feel needed.” Stu Ahrens agrees. “Being associated with the St. Pius X Meals on Wheels Ministry for many years has been a true

Brian and Martha Harvey are taking over St. Pius X Parish’s Meals on Wheels ministry from longtime leaders Dolores and Stu Ahrens. Under their care, more than 60 volunteers are the hands and feet of Jesus, delivering hot meals to Greensboroarea homebound seniors and disabled adults. GEORGIANNA PENN | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

blessing for both of us. Like any ministry, you always receive more than you give.” For over two decades, the Ahrenses and the St. Pius X MOW ministry team have been the face of Christ for more than 300 clients along 20 routes throughout Greensboro. Sometimes, these volunteers

are the only human contact the clients have all day long. On two occasions, delivering a meal has even helped save a life, the Ahrenses note. Both times, they found a client in need of immediate medical assistance, called 911, then stayed until help arrived.

Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, Stu Ahrens accepted a teaching position at North Carolina A&T University in 1970, and the two began their life together in Greensboro. Upon arriving in Greensboro, Delores Ahrens started out as a “Playroom Lady” in the pediatric ward at Moses Cone Hospital in the 1970s. “Then I became a ‘Lap Mother,’” she says. “I’d hold and feed the babies who were in the hospital for HIV so their mothers could go home to shower and change clothes.” After the adoption of their son, John Martin – named for Martin Luther King Jr. and President John F. Kennedy – the couple began fostering newborns between the time of their birth to about 6 months, when the adoptive parents would receive them. They later fostered an older teen who is now like part of their family. “Dolores and Stu are the embodiment of the spirit of stewardship,” say Martha and Brian Harvey, who will be taking over for the Ahrenses. “Their dedication and commitment to the Meals on Wheels ministry has touched so many lives (meal recipients and volunteers alike) with love, joy, patience, kindness and generosity. As they retire and pass the torch of this important ministry to us, we are humbled and grateful for their friendship, support, and for their example.” Parishioner Patricia Gillispie has been delivering meals with her husband Rick for more than six years. She considers the ministry a “perfect extension” for the Harveys after their years of experience with Greensboro Urban Ministry’s Potter’s House. “Stu and Delores did such a wonderful job with the St. Pius X (MOW) ministry,” she says. “I know Brian and Martha will do the same.” — Martha Harvey contributed.

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Employee Scholarship Fund provides lasting legacy at Bishop McGuinness High School SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

KERNERSVILLE — Don Brady loved education. A faithful Catholic, family man and successful entrepreneur who died last June, he also had a special love for Bishop McGuinness High School. Less than a year before he died, Brady gave $500,000 to the diocese’s Triad-area high school with the hope that, in addition to matching gifts, an endowment could be created to make Catholic education more affordable for Catholic school employees whose children attend Bishop McGuinness. “He just loved Bishop McGuinness and was always looking for ways to connect people,” said Katie Williams, the school’s advancement director. “He wanted to connect and incentivize quality educators, too.” Last summer, Williams worked with a committee to

raise the funds to match Brady’s initial gift. Within six months they met the matching goal, collecting direct gifts and pledges. A total of $1 million is now committed to the Employee Scholarship Fund – $750,000 of which is set aside as an endowment to fund the scholarship over the long term. Staff at the Diocese of Charlotte’s Triad-area schools – Bishop McGuinness High School, as well as Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo schools in Winston-Salem, Our Lady of Grace and St. Pius X schools in Greensboro, Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, and Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point – are eligible for an award for their student attending Bishop McGuinness. Ten Bishop McGuinness students are already benefiting thanks to the Employee Scholarship Fund this year. Next year Williams anticipates 17 students – freshmen, sophomores and juniors – will receive scholarships. “The goal of the scholarship fund is to prioritize

accessible education for all teachers in the Triad as well as increase student enrollment,” Williams said. Mary Kate Brady Farley, one of Don and Mary Gay Brady’s five children, expressed her gratitude to those who helped match her father’s gift. “Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this dream come true,” Farley said. “We are encouraging growth, honoring our faculty, and ensuring a strong Catholic education for more students. My dad would be thrilled to know this was a part of his legacy.” “More and more Catholics across the diocese are making a difference with five-, six- and seven-figure gifts like the Bradys and those who matched their contribution,” said Jim Kelley, the Diocese of Charlotte’s development director. “This is a testament to the life-changing difference our Catholic institutions like Bishop McGuinness are making.”

‘Her engagement with our kids is enduring’ Endowment fund memorializes St. Pius X coach SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

GREENSBORO — Students at St. Pius X School will be blessed for generations thanks to a new athletic scholarship established in memory of one of its beloved girls’ varsity basketball coaches, Katelyn Mitchell. The Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment Fund honors Mitchell, who died in 2020 at the age of 33, after a long battle with cancer. Her parents, Stephen and Judith Mitchell, set up the endowment to provide tuition assistance for a student athlete at St. Pius X School on an annual basis. “St. Pius basketball teams meant so much to Katelyn,” Stephen Mitchell said. “We felt this was a great way to honor her.” He shared that his daughter was a driven young lady who was working full time and studying to earn her MBA even as she battled stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She lived long enough to accomplish that educational goal. “Katelyn never lost her sense of humor. She was always smiling,” he fondly recalled. “She was never going to let cancer define her.” Mitchell says their parish community at St. Pius X Church rallied around them during Katelyn’s illness and passing. Monsignor Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X, knew the family well, as he administered the sacraments to Katelyn and her family over many years and greatly valued her contributions to the parish community. “Katelyn was a strong, smart, thoughtful, successful, professional person,” Monsignor Marcaccio said. He believes her experience as a student athlete at St. Pius X School and being mentored during her time there greatly affected her Christian outlook.

“Katelyn, in turn, did the same thing for so many of our young girls. Many of our students held her in esteem and as a role model,” he noted. “Her engagement with our kids is enduring,” he added. “They still remember her with great affection, and we honor her legacy with this endowment. We hope to encourage that same level of engagement in our students.” Last year the Mitchells personally funded a $2,000 scholarship for a St. Pius X student athlete. At the end of this academic year, the Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship will be funded out of the endowment and awarded when the other school awards are presented. Applicants should be in the sixth or seventh grade. “The endowment fund will live on when we’re gone. It will be a lasting gift we can provide to the students,” Mitchell said. “What amazes and touches me deeply is that this family has suffered such a great loss, and they are still thinking of others,” said Jim Kelley, director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte. “Katelyn will have a major impact on students for generations to come – offering them the gift of a Catholic education. That will change those students’ lives.”

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

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GREENSBORO NEWS AND RECORD FILE PHOTO

St. Pius X School girl’s varsity basketball coach Katelyn Mitchell (above) used to say, “God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.” She passed away in 2020 after a courageous battle with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Her family established the Katelyn Mitchell Student Athlete Scholarship Endowment Fund to honor her memory.

Please pray for the following priests who died during the month of March: Rev. Robert A. Gibson – 1987 Rev. Francis Gorham – 1981 Rev. John Huston – 1976 Rev. Joseph P. Tobin, OSB - 1978

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SEMINARIAN SPOTLIGHT: Clement Akerblom CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte has 45 men enrolled in various stages of study and formation for the priesthood. Clement Akerblom, a member of St. Ann Church in Charlotte, is among those studying at St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. To help the faithful of the diocese come to know him and his discernment of the priesthood, the Catholic News Herald recently interviewed Akerblom: Akerblom CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood? Akerblom: I heard Our Lord call me to follow Him at World Youth Day in Krakow in 2016. At the time my family and I were living in Sweden, and that following year I grew deeply in my faith with my friends in our local parish youth group and the national Swedish young Catholic association. I didn’t hear Our Lord call me to the priesthood specifically until my fourth year here at St. Joseph College Seminary. It is clear to me now that Our Lord was preparing me to say yes, to become a priest one small step at a time. This was a great grace: I entered seminary not to become a priest but in order to continue following the Lord. This is very important because it gave me the freedom to enter seminary simply to be with Our Lord. My call to the priesthood came later, once I was ready to hear it.

Akerblom: I spoke to my father and mother when the idea of going to St. Joseph’s first came to me. As it became clearer that God was calling me to enter the seminary, I spoke with Father Timothy Reid, my pastor, and Father Jason Barone, the diocese’s vocations promoter at the time. I also spoke with my friends about it, but the seed grew slowly and I remember mostly keeping the idea between me and the Lord. CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore a possible vocation? Akerblom: As I began to believe with greater clarity that Our Lord was calling me to enter St. Joseph’s, I was drawn to spend more time with Him in silent prayer. I am deeply indebted to Mrs. Kathleen Potter, may she rest in peace, for the Perpetual Adoration Chapel at St. Gabriel’s. It was there that God prepared my heart and mind to say yes to Him. There I found the silence I needed to listen to Him. This was during the early spring of my senior year at Providence High School. I used to go to the chapel at night after work. CNH: How and when did you reach out to the diocesan Vocations Office? Akerblom: I was given the opportunity to meet with Father Reid, St. Ann’s pastor, for spiritual direction when I felt a draw to the priesthood after serving a Mass which he celebrated so reverently. This was during the late winter of my senior year in high school. He saw clearly that God was calling me to the seminary, and helped me set up a meeting with Father Barone. CNH: Tell us about your discernment process in the seminary. Akerblom: As Father Matthew Buettner, the seminary’s spiritual director, would be glad to hear me say, a daily Holy Hour in the presence

CNH: Who did you first talk to about your interest in the priesthood?

SEMINARIAN, SEE PAGE 10

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DARIEN CLARK

Campus ministers gather to learn best practices CHARLOTTE — The Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry partnered with the national Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) to host a professional development day Feb. 17 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. CCMA offers college campus ministers the opportunity to learn more about current issues and best practices in campus ministry from regional and national leaders. Twentyfive campus ministers from the dioceses of Charlotte, Charleston, Raleigh and Savannah engaged in the day-long conversation about student leadership development. Conventual Franciscan Father Michael Martin, director of the Duke Catholic Center and nationally recognized leader in Catholic Campus Ministry, facilitated the presentation and discussion. The day focused on best practices to identify, develop and support strong Catholic student leaders for campus ministry.

with Fr. Adrian Porras May 17 – 27, 2022

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March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Carmelites visit St. Joseph College Seminary PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRISTINE EAGAN

St. Michael School celebrates grandparents GASTONIA — As part of Catholic Schools Week, St. Michael School celebrated its students’ grandparents – or another significant person in the student’s life – by giving them a special time to spend together. The school treated the guests to a free lunch with their grandchildren on Feb. 2. More than 60 grandparents attended the event.

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MOUNT HOLLY — The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Charlotte Community of Discalced Secular Carmelites visited St. Joseph College Seminary Feb. 19. The seminary’s rector, Father Matthew Kauth, gave the group a tour, and Father Timothy Reid, the community’s spiritual advisor, explained the group’s charism to the college seminarians. The group prays daily for the priests and seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte, praying for each man by name. Seminarians were given specially made chaplets for prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus made by the Carmelites, as their founder St. Thérèse of Lisieux had a great devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus. The community meets every second Saturday of the month at St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

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SUFFERING FROM PAGE 5

defend the land.” He also described seeing a photo in the news of a young girl holding a teddy bear and her brother saluting as a convoy of Ukrainian tanks passed by. “Those soldiers are not going to Russia. They are going to protect those kids,” he said. He urged, “We know (how) to stop this. Ask for cease fire, and let’s talk. I believe we can still talk and find a peaceful solution.” The bishop’s calls for peace and support of Ukraine echoed those of Pope Francis, the U.S. Catholic bishops, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide, and Charlotte-area Ukrainians. Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement, “In times of trouble, we call on the tender mercy of God ... to guide our feet to the way of peace. May our prayers, joined with those of people around the world, help guide those waging war to end the meaningless suffering and restore peace.” Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church worldwide, said, “At this historic moment, the voice of our conscience calls us all as one to stand up for a free, united and independent Ukrainian state. Today we solemnly proclaim: ‘Our soul and body we offer for our freedom!’” Meanwhile, Charlotte-area Ukrainians took part in several days of

demonstrations in Romare Bearden Park. Besides praying for peace, they called on world leaders to tighten sanctions against Russia and provide greater aid to the Ukrainian government. Ukraine is a democracy that must be protected, they said. “Be united,” said Oksana Khariouk, a Charlotte-area Ukrainian Catholic who attended the Feb. 27 Mass. She remains concerned for her family members living near the Polish border. “Today it’s Ukraine. Tomorrow it can be you. It’s scary.” Catholics across western North Carolina have been joining in the prayer efforts. Churches in Charlotte, Huntersville and the Winston-Salem area, among others, have offered prayer vigils, Masses, novenas and rosaries to pray for an end to the escalating violence.

How you can help More than 2 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to Poland and other neighboring countries. Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations to aid relief efforts in response to this major humanitarian crisis. Among them are: n St. Josaphat Eparchy’s “Pray for Ukraine, Support Ukraine”: www.stjosaphateparchy. com/support-ukraine n Aid to Caritas Ukraine through its partner, the U.S.-based Catholic Relief Services: www.crs.org n Catholic Near East Welfare Association: www.cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine n Aid to the Church in Need: www.churchinneed.org

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SEMINARIAN FROM PAGE 8

of the Blessed Sacrament is necessary for the flourishing of a vocation to the priesthood. We enter seminary to follow Christ, and the first thing we should do every day is spend a substantial amount of time with Him. The breviary and the rosary are the foundation of my Holy Hour. These two, combined with the practice of Lectio Divina and daily spiritual reading, culminating in the silence of mental prayer, have become the structure for my spiritual life. It was in the silence of prayer that I first heard the call to seminary, and it is in that same silence today that my faith, hope and charity are strengthened. Silent prayer ought to be an integral part of every Catholic’s daily life. CNH: What advice do you have for a man who might be thinking about the priesthood? Akerblom: Firstly, formation at St. Joseph College Seminary is intended to recreate the man. To be a good priest, religious or husband, you must first be a good man. At the college seminary we are given the opportunity to be reformed as young men under the guidance of St. Joseph. You don’t need to be certain that God is calling you to be a priest. If you love Him and He leads you to St. Joseph’s, know that you will first have the opportunity to become a man. With such a foundation, you will be able to discern if God is calling you to be a priest. Secondly, it is important to remember that all young men have a natural vocation to marriage. Grace perfects nature, it does not destroy it. Young men should be attracted to young women, and the seminary is a wonderful place to order your loves so that you are free to love

CONFERENCE FROM PAGE 5

God first. The seminary’s motto is “Noli Timere” (“Do not be afraid”). Do not be afraid to follow the Lord; He orders all things sweetly. Finally, I encourage young men to come spend a day with us at the seminary. God’s will is not discerned in the abstract, it is particular and concrete. A day of prayer, sports, studies and good food in the house of St. Joseph will be good for you – regardless of your vocation. CNH: Looking back on your discernment journey to this point, what do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation to the priesthood? Akerblom: The relationship I have been given to Mary and the grace I have received from her through the rosary drew me to Our Lord’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Together the rosary and the Eucharist led me to desire to know and follow Christ, and are today the foundation of my spiritual life. Serving Holy Mass, moving to Charlotte from Sweden, the faith of my parents, St. Joseph’s intercession, my friends in high school (both in Sweden and Charlotte), youth group and soccer – to name a few – were and are important for my discernment, but they all flowed from the rosary and the Blessed Sacrament. — SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Your DSA contributions at work Seminarian education is funded in part by the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. Learn more about the DSA and how to donate online at www.charlottediocese.org/dsa.

conference and he found it very motivating, because “it helps you a lot to practice the faith with much more intensity.” Armen Boyajian, another participant, said thanks to the conference, he felt “very rejuvenated spiritually and personally.” “I would recommend any Catholic – and non-Catholic – men to attend the conference next year,” he said.

Ray Guarendi, the last speaker, recounted a series of anecdotes of what his personal life means as a married man with a wife and 10 adopted children. Guarendi is a clinical psychologist, author, professional speaker and national radio and television host. With his trademark humor, Guarendi highlighted discipline as the basis of sound teaching in any family. The day-long conference included Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis. In his homily, the bishop reflected on the conference’s theme, “Quo Vadis” (“Where are you going?”), and how it applies to Catholics this Lent. Lent is its own journey for us all, he said, and the answer to the question Jesus poses is: “We are going to Easter. We PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAMES SARKIS are going to the celebration of The men’s conference included Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis. The our new life in Christ.” bishop spoke on the conference’s theme, “Quo Vadis” (”Where are you He encouraged men to going?”), saying the answer to the question Jesus poses is: “We are going use the conference as an to Easter. We are going to the celebration of our new life in Christ.” opportunity to renew their personal relationship with Jesus and strengthen their vocations as husbands, More online fathers, and above all, as missionary At www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org: Get disciples. more information and a link to a replay of the Julio Linares, a parishioner of St. Vincent 12th annual Catholic Men’s Conference of the of Paul Church in Charlotte, said it was Carolinas the first time he had attended the men’s

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Marian Pilgrimage A specially commissioned statue of Mary, Mother of God is visiting more than 100 locations across the Diocese of Charlotte during the anniversary year. Upcoming visits include:

OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH March 11-16 4207 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28215

ST. JOHN LEE KOREAN CHURCH

PHOTOS PROVIDED

March 16-20 7109 Robinson Church Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28215

Letters of thanks sent to seminarians, religious

n Wednesday, March 16: 2 p.m. reception, 7:30 p.m. rosary, 8 p.m. Mass n Thursday, March 17: 10 a.m. rosary before Mass, 10:30 a.m. Mass n Friday, March 18: 7:30 p.m. rosary before Mass, 8 p.m. Mass n Saturday, March 19: 3-5 p.m. individual veneration n Sunday, March 20: 9 a.m. children’s Mass, 10 a.m. rosary before Mass, 10:30 a.m Mass, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Legion of Mary Acies

LINVILLE — Children in St. Bernadette Parish’s faith formation classes recently wrote cards and letters of support for seminarians and women and men religious serving in the Diocese of Charlotte. The students wrote a total of 57 letter and cards that were then mailed out to the diocese’s seminarians and consecrated men and women who serve in ministry throughout western North Carolina. “Some of our families got involved at home on snow days as well,” noted parish office manager Bobbi Havron. Havron said the students wanted to inspire and express gratitude to the seminarians and religious for their vocations. The lesson was also an opportunity for the classes to learn more about vocations in the Church and to explore how God might be calling them to spread the Gospel message.

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL March 20-22 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, N.C. 28203 n 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20: Outdoor procession followed by a prayer service n Monday-Tuesday, March 21-22: Individual veneration while the cathedral is open, until 10 a.m. Tuesday

SACRED HEART CHURCH March 22-25 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, N.C. 28147

ST. BASIL THE GREAT EASTERN CHURCH March 25 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28213 (on the campus of St. Thomas Aquinas Church)

‘Treasured Site’ spotlight for March

St. Peter Church

From Old St. Joseph Church, the first Catholic church built in western North Carolina, to Belmont Abbey Basilica, Monastery and College, our diocese is filled with decades of stories, architecture and landmarks of faith. Learn more about the history of Catholicism in western North Carolina by visiting these significant points of interest – treasured places that attest to the faith, hope and perseverance of people who helped plant the roots of our local Church:

Established in 1851, St. Peter Church is the oldest active parish in the diocese. Staffed in early times by the Benedictines and by the Jesuits since 1986, St. Peter has reflected the rich tapestry of the Catholic Church since its founding. The original building stood for 41 years before it became structurally unsafe, due to a munitions explosion at the close of the Civil War that damaged the foundation. In 1893, under the sponsorship of the Benedictines of Belmont Abbey,

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the cornerstone was laid for the current Gothic-style church. St. Katharine Drexel contributed to the purchase of pews for the church, contingent on a promise that they would be reserved for the “colored” people, in fulfillment of her mission’s order. In 1986, the diocese entrusted the parish to the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. The parish embraces the tradition of Ignatian spirituality. As Charlotte’s center city Catholic church, St. Peter serves the uptown Charlotte business community, young adults and families who live uptown, city visitors, and our brothers and sisters who struggle living on the margins.

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‘The Theotokos and Child between Sts. Theodore and George’

Prayer for the 50th anniversary The 50th anniversary year will bear great spiritual fruit if we ask God for the graces we hope to receive. Please offer the 50th anniversary prayer daily for many graces to be poured on our diocese during this jubilee anniversary:

(late 6th century) TRICIA KENT SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Monastery of St. Catherine at Mount Sinai, Egypt, is the oldest active Christian monastery in the world. It houses an extraordinary collection of Byzantine manuscripts and art including a piece known as The Theotokos and Child between Sts. Theodore and George, dating from the late sixth or early seventh century. As with many of the oldest icons, it is painted in encaustic, also known as hot wax painting. This wax technique produces a beautiful effect, enabling the use of gold and giving the painting a warm glow, but it also adds to the fragility of the work. Encaustic icons have suffered frequent damage from smoke and flame in a faith where devotion is marked by incense and candles. These factors make the survival of this striking ancient painting even more remarkable. The icon shows Mary and the Christ child flanked by two soldier saints, St. Theodore to the left and St. George to the right. Above these are two angels who gaze upward to the hand of God, from which light emanates. This icon, a meeting of styles and peoples, depicts a pivotal moment in the history of the Church, capturing her incredible growth and spread into a truly universal body. Clearly influenced by classical Roman art, the figures bear an unmistakably Egyptian quality hearkening to mummy mask portraiture of a slightly earlier era. The lack of dept depiction found in most traditional icons gives way at the top, where the angels pull back and away – in awe at the hand of God. The saints are steadfast and ready to intercede on behalf of the viewer/supplicant, while Mary and Christ are enthroned and elevated, inhabiting a space visually closer to the Father. They draw our eye toward His hand, which in turn shines divine light back on Our Lady. Our gaze goes from earth to heaven and God directs it back to Mary, the officially declared God-bearer, mother to all the faithful as she is mother to His divine Son. TRICIA KENT is a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

Heavenly Father, accept our humble prayer of praise and gratitude as we joyfully celebrate 50 years as the Diocese of Charlotte. Throughout our history the faithful of western North Carolina, under the watchful care of esteemed bishops and abbots, have been nurtured by Your providential hand. Confident that You invite Your children to implore Your constant blessings, we pray that You continue to pour forth Your heavenly grace upon us. With filial affection and devotion, we further ask that You look kindly upon the prayers we seek through the intercession of our venerable patroness, the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, who with motherly attention tends to the needs and concerns of the Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayers & Devotions The 50th anniversary theme, “Faith More Precious Than Gold” (1 Peter 1:7), encourages use of the Church’s tried-and-true prayers, devotions and sacramentals, which for centuries have brought people closer to God. Let us confidently ask for the graces we hope to receive from God as we celebrate the founding of the Diocese of Charlotte. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

March prayer intention For families. May God pour out an abundance of grace to every family in the diocese, that they may be domestic churches and dwellings of loving sacrifice.

Saint of the Month St. Katharine Drexel Feast day: March 3

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Read more about St. Katharine Drexel and how she helped the Church in western North Carolina

More online At www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com: Get anniversary details and see more Marian art, prayers and devotions

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Padre Julio Domínguez Con la celebración del Miércoles de Ceniza dio inicio la temporada de Cuaresma, cuarenta días de preparación para celebrar la Pascua el Domingo de Resurrección. El Obispo Peter Jugis celebró la Misa de distribución de cenizas a las 12:15 del mediodía, mientras que las iglesias a lo largo de toda la diócesis ofrecieron múltiples servicios en varios horarios.

La Cuaresma

on el Miércoles de Ceniza hemos dado inicio al tiempo santo de Cuaresma. Me gustaría explicar un poco más a profundidad el sentido de este tiempo para que no nos quedemos con solo la idea de “no comer carne” o “hacer el viacrucis viviente”, pues hay una riqueza más profunda y hermosa que nos puede llevar a la conversión y sobre todo a vivir con plenitud los misterios de Cristo. La Cuaresma en cuanto tal es un período de tiempo en que la Iglesia nos invita a la reflexión, la conversión espiritual y donde todos nosotros los cristianos nos reunimos en oración y penitencia para preparar el espíritu durante cuarenta días, como lo hizo Jesús y muchas otras personas del pueblo de Israel. La Cuaresma es un tiempo litúrgico de conversión que marca la Iglesia para prepararnos a la gran fiesta de la Pascua. Es un tiempo para arrepentirnos de nuestros pecados y cambiar algo de nosotros, o al menos hacer un plan de vida espiritual que nos impulse a una conversión gradual que nos ayude a erradicar un vicio, para ser mejores seres humanos y poder vivir más cerca de Cristo. En la Cuaresma Cristo nos invita a cambiar de vida, la Iglesia nos invita a vivirla como camino hacia Jesucristo, escuchando la Palabra de Dios, orando, compartiendo con el prójimo y haciendo obras buenas. La Iglesia también nos invita a vivir una serie de actitudes cristianas que nos ayudan a parecernos más a Jesucristo, a imitarlo, ya que como consecuencia de nuestros pecados nos alejamos de Dios. La Cuaresma es tiempo de perdón y reconciliación fraterna. El mensaje que el Papa Francisco dio para la Cuaresma en 2016 llevaba como título: “Misericordia quiero y no sacrificios. Las obras de misericordia en el camino jubilar”. “Misericordia quiero y no sacrificios” (Mateo 9 y 13). Si hablamos de esta Misericordia no hablamos de sacrificio, tenemos un montón de sacrificios, la vida es un sacrificio, pero la misericordia es lo que quiere Dios. Él quiere mirar nuestros corazones, no las apariencias. El Papa decía: “La Cuaresma de este Año Jubilar sea vivida con mayor intensidad, como momento fuerte para celebrar y experimentar la misericordia de Dios”. Hay que aprovechar este tiempo, no para decir “me voy a confesar para ser buen cristiano”, sino para reconciliarme con mi Dios y también con los demás. El Papa continúa: “La Cuaresma pues, es para todos nosotros un tiempo favorable para salir por fin de nuestra alienación existencial, gracias a la escucha de la Palabra y las obras de misericordia”. Mediante las corporales tocamos la carne de Cristo en los hermanos y hermanas que necesitan ser nutridos, vestidos, alojados y visitados. Hay un compromiso grande por este tiempo. Durante estos 40 días hay que orar para vivir esa comunicación con nuestro Dios. No es orar para hacer como los fariseos, sino orar en la discreción, porque Dios conoce lo que hay dentro de nosotros. Es un tiempo en que podemos ayunar. El ayuno que Dios quiere, es el que podemos hacer para manifestar el amor de Dios: la caridad. ¿Para qué voy a ayunar si no voy a acercar a los necesitados que han fabricado la sociedad? El ayuno no se hace para decir “no voy a comer carne”. Comer carne no es pecado, el verdadero pecado es cerrar nuestros ojos para no ver las realidades de nuestros hermanos, de este mundo. Lo mismo sucede con la penitencia o la abstinencia. Estas quieren decir “si tengo todo, voy a renunciar para dar otras personas para que puedan vivir”. Hay que dar a las personas que necesitan. La abstinencia, no es solamente no consumir carne los viernes, sino que puede ser el alcohol, la bebida, el juego, todo lo que es dulce, gaseosas, todo lo que hay para no vivir como la gente quiere. También podemos hacer abstinencia de malas palabras, que dañan a las personas. La mala palabra es hablar mal de mi hermano, también cuando no quiero el bien de mi hermano. Podemos hacer abstinencia del chisme o difamaciones. Podemos hacer el bien a nuestros hermanos. Queridos hermanos, ya hemos entrado en Cuaresma, debemos dejar que la Palabra de Dios transforme nuestras vidas. Todos los ejercicios que podemos hacer, como el Vía Crucis, leer la Palabra de Dios, ayunar y la abstinencia, nos ayudan a mejorar nuestra vida de fe, nuestra vida cristiana. EL PADRE JULIO DOMÍNGUEZ es Vicario Episcopal del Ministerio Hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

FOTOS PROPORCIONADAS POR DIVERSAS FUENTES

“Es un tiempo de gracia que iniciamos hoy” SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

CHARLOTTE — Después de dos años de restricciones, los católicos acudieron masivamente a sus iglesias el Miércoles de Ceniza para recibir cenizas sobre sus cabezas marcando el inicio de la Cuaresma. Siguiendo las indicaciones de las autoridades, se permitió a los feligreses asistir a los servicios sin mascarilla, si así lo preferían. El Obispo Peter Jugis celebró Misa el 2 de marzo en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte y, a pesar del tono triste de la liturgia, se sintió complacido de dar la bienvenida a una iglesia llena de feligreses, dando sus saludos desde los escalones de la catedral al final de la Misa. Durante una breve homilía, antes de la distribución de las cenizas sobre las cabezas, dijo que estas “son una señal de nuestro dolor por nuestros pecados”. Explicó que las cenizas son similares a nuestras palabras de pesar en confesión al decir, ‘Oh, Dios mío, siento de todo corazón haberte ofendido’, refiriéndonos al Acto de Contrición. “Expresamos nuestro pesar cuando vamos a confesarnos”, dijo, y de igual manera, el Miércoles de Ceniza es una ocasión para expresar nuestro dolor por nuestros pecados mientras esperamos la Pascua.

En esta fecha, “está ante nosotros todo el tiempo de Cuaresma, en el que tenemos la ocasión de purificar nuestro corazón, mente y alma a través de la oración, ayuno, penitencia y limosna, para que estemos debidamente preparados en la Pascua con mentes, corazones y almas puras para celebrar la gran solemnidad de la Resurrección de Jesús el Domingo de Pascua”. Señaló que, “es un tiempo de gracia que iniciamos hoy expresando nuestro dolor por nuestros pecados”. Luego bendijo las cenizas y las roció con agua bendita antes que fueran distribuídas por el Padre Ernest Nebangongnjoh y el Diácono Paul Bruck a una iglesia con todas las filas llenas y poquísimo espacio para estar de pie. Por segundo año consecutivo, y siguiendo las instrucciones del obispo, las cenizas se espolvorearon sobre las cabezas de los fieles en lugar de colocarlas sobre la frente en forma de cruz. Esta forma alternativa es popular en Roma y se parece más a la relatada en la tradición del Antiguo Testamento.

Más online En www.catholicnewsherald.com: Encontará fotografías y el video de la homilía pronunciada por el Obispo Peter Jugis el Miércoles de Ceniza

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com

FROM THE COVERI

Invitan a retiro Carismático de iniciación CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — La Renovación Carismática de la Diócesis de Charlotte llevará a cabo su retiro de iniciación ‘Seminario de Vida en el Espíritu Santo’, el próximo 25, 26 y 27 de marzo en el Centro Católico de Conferencias en Hickory, ciudad ubicada apenas a poco más de 50 millas al noroeste de Charlotte. Así lo informó el Diácono Ramón Tapia, director espiritual de este ministerio diocesano en español. El evento contará con la presencia de los oradores, doctor Carlos Barillas, Padre Antoine Coelho y el Padre Wilson Gonzales. El doctor Carlos Barillas, conferencista radicado en Nueva York, es un antiguo conocido de los 21 grupos de oración que componen la Renovación Carismática de Charlotte. El Padre Antoine Coelho, conferencista internacional, es fundador de la Casa del Espíritu Santo de Toulon, Francia. Poseedor del carisma de curación, interviene y organiza reuniones ecuménicas. Tapia El Padre Wilson Gonzales, conferencista colombiano radicado en Nicaragua, es miembro de la Comunidad de Misioneros Marianos en Nicaragua, una asociación religiosa católica cuyo objeto es la formación integral de sacerdotes, religiosas, religiosos, laicos consagrados y esposos consagrados comprometidos bajo la espiritualidad de la Renovación Católica Carismática. Para inscripciones e informes contacte a Belisario al 704491-4570 o Raquel Swierczewski al 704-880-7490. CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Como un recurso que “ayuda a practicar la fe con mayor intensidad” y que “rejuvenece espiritual y personalmente”, definieron algunos asistentes la serie de sesiones en la Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino, realizadas en el marco de la XII Conferencia de hombres católicos de las Carolinas. La cita contó con la presencia de cuatro oradores de primera línea y la celebración litúrgica del Obispo Peter Jugis.

Conferencia anual alentó a hombres a seguir sus vocaciones CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Más de 200 hombres asistieron a la décimo segunda edición de la Conferencia Anual de Hombres Católicos de las Carolinas, y muchos otros la siguieron online, en un evento realizado el 5 de marzo que además contó con Misa, Adoración Eucarística y charlas de varios talentosos oradores. Keith Nester, católico converso que fue pastor en la Iglesia United Methodist durante 20 años, fue el primer orador en la conferencia, que se llevó a cabo en la Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino. Otro orador, John Acquaviva, autor, padre y profesor de Ciencias del Ejercicio en la Universidad Wingate, habló sobre el espíritu deportivo y la crianza de los hijos. Él es presentador de ‘Faith and Sport’ un programa radial de Carolina Catholic Radio Network, así como ‘The Fitness Doctor’, un programa de televisión en Time Warner Cable en el condado Union. “El deporte es hermoso”, dijo, enriquece la vida y nos permite “experimentar la alegría de competir para llegar juntos a una meta”, donde “el éxito y la derrota se comparten y superan”. Jugar con valores tales como la lealtad, equidad, sacrificio, trabajo en equipo, perseverancia, respeto, honestidad, responsabilidad, perdón y disciplina hacen que la competencia sea “divertida y natural”. Tim Staples, de Catholic Answers, también se dirigió a los asistentes y describió su propia historia de conversión de la Iglesia Southern Baptist a la fe católica. Desarrolló su discurso con tres preguntas básicas: ¿Por qué nos creó Dios? ¿Qué significa ser hombre? y ¿Qué significa padre? Argumentó que los valores en la cultura contemporánea a veces pueden degradar la noción de masculinidad y paternidad, efectivamente “destruyendo

la imagen y la noción de la paternidad de Dios”. Ray Guarendi, el último orador, relató una serie de anécdotas de lo que significa su vida personal de hombre casado con esposa y 10 hijos adoptivos. Guarendi es psicólogo clínico, autor, conferencista profesional y presentador de radio y televisión nacional. Con su característico humor, Guarendi destacó la disciplina como base de la sana enseñanza en cualquier familia. La conferencia de un día de duración incluyó una Misa ofrecida por el Obispo Peter Jugis. En su homilía, el obispo reflexionó sobre el tema de la conferencia, “Quo Vadis” (“¿Adónde vas?”), y cómo se aplica a los católicos esta Cuaresma. La Cuaresma tiene su propio camino para todos, dijo, y la respuesta a la pregunta que plantea Jesús es: “Vamos hacia la Pascua. Vamos a la celebración de nuestra nueva vida en Cristo”. Animó a los hombres a usar la conferencia como una oportunidad para renovar su relación personal con Jesús y fortalecer sus vocaciones como esposos, padres y, sobre todo, como discípulos misioneros. Julio Linares, parroquiano de la Iglesia San Vincente de Paúl en Charlotte, dijo que era la primera vez que asistía a la conferencia y la encontró muy motivadora, porque “te ayuda mucho a practicar la fe con mucha más intensidad”. Armen Boyajian, otro participante, dijo que gracias a la conferencia se sintió “muy rejuvenecido espiritual y personalmente”. “Recomendaría a cualquier hombre católico, y no católico, que asista a la próxima conferencia”, añadió.

Más online En www.catholicmenofthecarolinas.org: Obtenga más información y un enlace a la repetición de la XII Conferencia Anual de Hombres Católicos de las Carolinas

DIRECTOR ESPIRITUAL

El Diácono Tapia fue nombrado director espiritual de la Renovación en el verano de 2021, después que el Padre Álvaro Riquelme, anterior director, fuera trasladado a servir en Newton Grove, Carolina del Norte, en julio de 2019. Nacido en la ciudad de Santiago de los Caballeros, República Dominicana, en 1953, fue ordenado diácono en 1997 por la Diócesis de Albany, Nueva York. Ingresó a la Renovación en 1975, después de asistir a un retiro preparado por cincuenta personas llegadas a la República Dominicana desde Puerto Rico. Como relata, al inicio del retiro, “la celebración de la Misa me enamoró”, pues pese a que había nacido en un hogar católico, “hasta ese momento no había abierto una Biblia”. Durante el fin de semana los charlistas lo impactaron y pidió oración para él. El domingo, el obispo, amigo de su padre, lo mencionó en Misa, y ese día “pude ver que las enseñanzas recibidas cuando niño en el catecismo tomaban forma” sintiendo que, “Jesucristo me conocía por mi nombre”, lo que avivó en él, “un hambre por la oración” y la necesidad de una participación plena en los sacramentos. Su vocación para el diaconado la despertó su párroco Thomas Connery y su esposa, Olga, con quien tiene cuatro hijos varones y once nietos. Tras cuatro décadas de “vivir con la nieve”, recibió la invitación de unos amigos para visitar Huntersville, donde junto con su esposa decidieron establecerse. Después de tomar contacto con la oficina de diaconado en febrero de 2021, dio los pasos necesarios para integrarse al servicio de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Actualmente asignado a la parroquia San Marcos, “como soldado del ejército de Dios”, recibió el encargo de asistir espiritualmente a la Renovación Carismática. La comunidad católica de Charlotte, en especial la hispana, la encuentra “maravillosa” y se siente impresionado por la devoción hacia Cristo, su “amor a la Iglesia, la vida de oración y ejemplo cristiano”. El Diácono Ramón Tapia espera seguir fomentando la evangelización de la comunidad hispana para “presentarles el evangelio” a través de la Renovación Carismática, así como también acentuar la formación de los servidores de la Renovación.

Más online En www.facebook.com/RCC.Charlotte: Mayor información sobre la Renovación Carismática de la Diócesis de Charlotte

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Festejaron Tercer Aniversario BOONVILLE — Miembros del grupo La Legión de María de la parroquia Divino Redentor celebraron el último sábado de febrero un año más de actividades misioneras. El encuentro reunió a nuevos y antiguos integrantes después de un largo receso de actividades presenciales debido a las restricciones sanitarias de reunión decretadas para prevenir el contagio de COVID-19. En una celebración especial realizada por el Padre Jean Pierre Swamunu Lhoposo, párroco de Divino Redentor, se entregó un distintivo especial a todos los miembros de la Legión. El festejo concluyó con un compartir con música, comida y rifas. La misión de la Legión es la de propagar la devoción mariana y promover el rezo del Santo Rosario en la comunidad latina. Sus actividades incluyen formación permanente que se ofrece una vez por semana en las instalaciones parroquiales. ARCHIVO CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

En la gráfica aparece una de las escenas representadas por el grupo de teatro de la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe durante la última representación del Vía Crucis realizada en 2019, antes que la pandemia de COVID-19 suspendiera todas las actividades presenciales.

Iniciaron ensayos del Vía Crucis en Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Retornando a la presencialidad, el grupo teatral de la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte arrancó sus ensayos para la puesta en escena del Vía Crucis, obra que será presentada el viernes 15 de abril, durante la celebración del Viernes Santo. Este año, explicó Esteban Chávez Moreno, director del grupo teatral, no se escenificarán las catorce escenas que montaron en 2019, y la representación se ceñirá exclusivamente a las estaciones del Vía Crucis. El proyecto convoca a cerca de un centenar de artistas en escena y más de cincuenta personas encargadas del vestuario, maquillaje, efectos especiales, iluminación, sonido, coordinación y atenciones para los artistas y equipo técnico. Respecto al apoyo del equipo “detrás de escena”, Chávez resaltó que ha invitado a numerosos jóvenes a integrarse al grupo para que “aprendan y vayan tomando la posta”, con el objetivo de hacer crecer el trabajo teatral a largo plazo. “Toda la comunidad nos ayuda”, señaló, refiriéndose al vestuario y arreglos necesarios para adecuar los trajes a cada uno de los actores y extras. “Tanto nuestro párroco, sacerdotes, personal de oficina y fieles están atentos para ayudarnos en nuestras necesidades”, dijo.

La iniciativa teatral de Semana Santa se viene realizando desde 2009 y sufrió una interrupción momentánea en 2020 y 2021 por la pandemia de COVID-19. “Estamos felices de reunir nuevamente a todos los integrantes que gustan del teatro e integrar a nuevos elementos para, a través de esta herramienta, promover nuestra permanente tarea de evangelización”, dijo Chávez. La parroquia también ha iniciado un grupo de danza para niños y jóvenes. De esta manera, explicó el director teatral, se ayuda a la socialización e integración de niños y niñas, “ayudándolos a crecer en conjunto y permitiendo que más adelante no se sorprendan de trabajar juntos”. Dos serán las representaciones del Vía Crucis el viernes 15 de abril, a las 12 del mediodía y a las 3 de la tarde, para acoger a un mayor número de asistentes. La obra también será emitida por el canal de facebook de la parroquia, www. facebook.com/NSGuadalupeCharlotte, para extender el alcance a quienes deseen seguirlo desde la comodidad de sus hogares. Los ensayos se llevan a cabo los viernes a las 7:00 de la noche en la parroquia. Si bien los roles principales ya han sido asignados, aún hay necesidad de extras. Si desea participar o registrar a alguno de sus hijos, contacte a Esteban Chávez durante los ensayos o déjele un mensaje con su nombre y teléfono en la secretaría parroquial, 704-391-3732.

SERGIO LÓPEZ | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Acompañantes matrimoniales recibieron entrenamiento HICKORY — Después de varias reuniones preparatorias, aproximadamente cincuenta parejas provenientes de todos los vicariatos participaron de la primera de tres sesiones de formación necesarias para integrar parte del equipo del ministerio de acompañantes matrimoniales. El evento tuvo lugar el pasado 19 de febrero en la Iglesia San Luis Gonzaga en Hickory y contó con la presencia de los expositores, la Dra. Megan Reilly Buser y el Dr. Steve Buser, especialistas en asesoría y consejería psicológica. También estuvieron presentes los coordinadores de cada uno de los vicariatos. En esta ocasión, los asistentes fueron capacitados en el tema de la comunicación, la base teórica y práctica, y desarrollaron actividades que los ayudarán a escuchar y a acompañar a matrimonios que se encuentren atravesando problemas de diversa índole. El ministerio de acompañantes matrimoniales ha sido recientemente creado por el Padre Julio Domínguez, director del ministerio hispano de la Diócesis de Charlotte, en respuesta a la necesidad de asistencia en diversas áreas para los matrimonios católicos. SERGIO LÓPEZ | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

FOTO CORTESÍA MARGARITA MCGOWN

Iniciaron Ministerio Provida HUNTERSVILLE — El pasado 25 de febrero, el Ministerio Provida ‘San Rafael Arcángel y Santa Gianna Beretta’ inició actividades en la parroquia San Marcos con un retiro en el que participaron más de 35 familias. Se contó con la presencia de la Madre Adela Galindo, miembro de la Comunidad de las Siervas de los Corazones Traspasados de Jesús y María. El objetivo del ministerio, dijo su coordinadora Margarita McGown, es el de “reconocer y dar valor a la vida humana desde el no nacido hasta la muerte natural”, rescatando la importancia de cada uno de los miembros de la familia. También dijo que cada domingo, después de la Misa de la 1 pm, se lleva a cabo la entrega de la imagen de la Virgen de la Dulce Espera, que recorre en peregrinación los hogares de las familias que así lo solicitan. Mayor información por texto al 704-941-0720.

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Patrono del Episcopado Latinoamericano En 1594, durante su tercera “visita” a la Arquidiócesis de Lima, escribiéndole al rey de España Felipe II, San Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo hacía un pequeño balance de su vida: 15.000 kilómetros recorridos y 60.000 confirmaciones administradas, entre ellas a tres santos: Santa Rosa de Lima, San Francisco Solano y San Martín de Porres. La situación de América Latina sería muy distinta de la actual si sus sucesores y todos los cristianos hubieran tenido el mismo impulso y la misma coherencia de quien fue llamado “apóstol del Perú y nuevo Ambrosio” y a quien Benedicto XIV comparó con San Carlos Borromeo. Toribio nació en España hacia el año 1538 de una noble familia; estudió en Valladolid, Salamanca y Santiago de Compostela, en donde obtuvo la licenciatura en derecho. Fue nombrado inquisidor en Granada y gracias a la relación que cultivaba con Felipe II fue nombrado por Gregorio XIII como Arzobispo de Lima, con jurisdicción sobre las diócesis de Cuzco, Cartagena, Popayán, Asunción, Caracas, Bogotá, Santiago, Concepción, Córdoba, Trujillo y Arequipa, un territorio muy extenso en el Nuevo Mundo. De norte a sur eran más de 5.000 kilómetros, y la delimitación tenía más de 6 millones de kilómetros cuadrados. Después de haber sido consagrado obispo en agosto de 1580, partió inmediatamente para América, a donde llegó en la primavera de 1581. Durante 25 años vivió exclusivamente al servicio del pueblo de Dios. Decía: “¡El tiempo es nuestro único bien y tendremos que dar estricta cuenta de él!”. Fue un verdadero organizador de la Iglesia en América, su actividad incluyó también diez sínodos diocesanos y tres provinciales. En 1591 fundó el primer seminario

de América, el Seminario de Lima, e intervino con energía contra los derechos particulares de los religiosos, a quienes estimuló para que aceptaran las parroquias más incómodas y pobres. Casi duplicó el número de las ‘Doctrinas’ o parroquias, que pasaron de 150 a más de 250. Estaba en Saña, un pequeño pueblo costero al norte de Lima, cuando se sintió enfermo. Ya moribundo pidió a los que rodeaban su lecho que entonaran el salmo que dice: “De gozo se llenó mi corazón cuando escuché una voz: iremos a la Casa del Señor. Qué alegría cuando me dijeron: vamos a la Casa del Señor”. Sus últimas palabras fueron las del

Domingo: Génesis 15:5-12, Filipenses 3:17-4:1, Lucas 9:28b-36; Lunes: Daniel 9:4b-10, Lucas 6:36-38; Martes: Isaías 1:10, 16-20, Mateo 23:1-12; Miércoles: Jeremías 18:18-20, Mateo 20:17-28; Jueves (San Patricio): Jeremías 17:5-10, Lucas 16:19-31; Viernes (San Cirilo de Jerusalén): Génesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a, Mateo 21:33-43, 45-46; Sábado (San José): 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16, Romanos 4:13, 16-18, 22, Mateo 1:16, 18-21,24a

A Lifeline for Marriage April 8 – 10, 2022 in Raleigh, NC

The Retrouvaille Program consists of a weekend experience combined with a series of 6 post-weekend sessions. It provides the tools to help put your marriage in order again. The main emphasis of the program is on communication in marriage between husband and wife. It will give you the opportunity to rediscover each other and examine your lives together in a new and positive way.

Construction Project Manager Diocesan Properties Office

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte is currently accepting resumes for the position of “Construction Project Manager” to work within the Diocesan Properties Office. The Construction Project Manager is responsible for providing professional Owner representation and guidance on Diocesan construction projects. The Construction Project Manager will work closely with Pastors and Principals, acting as their “Project Advocate” through the Diocesan Capital Construction Team process, assisting in all aspects of the planning and execution of construction projects from initial concept through final project completion. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: • Bachelor’s degree or greater in associated field preferred. • 5+ years minimum related experience. • Strong inter-personal communication skills – both written and verbal. • Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills. • Ability to work both independently and with a team. • Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of proper project management. • Advanced level of proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Project, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. • Strong knowledge of project delivery methods such as Negotiated GMP, Lump-Sum Competitive Bidding, and Design-Build methods.

Lecturas Diarias MARZO 13-19

Experiencing difficulties in your marriage?

Registration Deadline is April 1 www.helpourmarriage.org

salmo 30: “En tus manos encomiendo mi espíritu”. Toribio recibió el viático el 23 de marzo de 1606, un Jueves Santo, y ahí expiró. Su cuerpo, cuando fue llevado a Lima en 1607, todavía se hallaba incorrupto, como si estuviera recién fallecido. Después de su muerte se consiguieron muchos milagros por su intercesión. El Papa Benedicto XIII lo declaró santo en 1726. Su fiesta se celebra el 23 de marzo. — Condensado de ACIPRENSA y www.catholic.net

MARZO 20-26

Domingo: Éxodo 17:3-7, Romanos 5:1-2, 5-8, Juan 4:5-42; Lunes: 2 Reyes 5:1-15, Lucas 4:24-30; Martes: Deuteronomio 3:25, 34-43, Mateo 18:21-35; Miércoles (Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo): Deuteronomio 4:1, 5-9, Mateo 5:17-19; Jueves: Jeremías 7:23-28, Lucas 11:14-23; Viernes (La Anunciación del Señor): Isaías 7:10-14, Hebreos 10:410, Lucas 1:26-38; Sábado: Oseas 6:1-6, Lucas 18:9-14

MARZO 27-ABRIL 2

Domingo: 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a, Efesios 5:8-14, Juan 9:1-41; Lunes: Isaías 65:17-21, Juan 4:43-54; Martes: Ezequiel 47:1-9, 12, Juan 5:1-16; Miércoles: Isaías 49:815, Juan 5:17-30; Jueves: Éxodo 32:7-14, Juan 5:31-47; Viernes: Sabiduría 2:1, 12-22, Juan 7:1-2, 10, 25-30; Sábado (San Francisco de Paula): Jeremías 11:18-20, Juan 7:40-53

• Strong knowledge of church and school building construction preferred. • Ability to read and interpret Architectural / Engineering drawings and submittals. • Working knowledge of electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems. • Working knowledge of building codes, construction materials, and means and methods. • Working knowledge of accounting principles, and the reporting of financial data.

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and salary history to: PropDirector@RCDOC.org. The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

La Virgen y el Niño entre los santos Teodoro y Jorge (Finales del Siglo VI) TRICIA KENT ESPECIAL PARA CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Peregrinación Mariana Una estatua de María, Madre de Dios, encargada especialmente, visitará más de 100 lugares en la Diócesis de Charlotte durante el año del aniversario. Las próximas visitas incluyen:

IGLESIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA ASUNCIÓN 11 al 16 de marzo 4207 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, N.C. 28215

IGLESIA COREANA SAN JOHN LEE 16 al 20 de marzo 7109 Robinson Church Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28215 n Miércoles 16 de marzo: 2 p.m. recepción de la estatua, 7:30 p.m. Rosario antes de Misa, 8 p.m. Misa n Jueves 17 de marzo: 10 a.m. Rosario antes de Misa, 10:30 a.m. Misa n Viernes 18 de marzo: 7:30 p.m. Rosario antes de Misa, 8 p.m. Misa n Sábado 19 de marzo: 3-5 p.m. Tiempo de veneración individual. n Domingo 20 de marzo: 9 a.m. Misa para niños, 10 a.m. Rosario antes de Misa, 10:30 a.m. Misa diaria., 11:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. Legión de María.

El Monasterio de Santa Catalina en Monte Sinaí, Egipto, es el monasterio cristiano activo más antiguo del mundo. Alberga una extraordinaria colección de manuscritos y arte bizantino, incluida una pieza conocida como ‘La Virgen y el Niño entre los Santos Teodoro y Jorge’, que data de fines del siglo VI o inicios del VII. Como ocurre con muchos de los iconos más antiguos, está pintado en encáustica, técnica también conocida como pintura a la cera caliente. Este procedimiento con cera produce un hermoso efecto que permite el uso del oro y le da a la pintura un brillo cálido, pero también aumenta la fragilidad de la obra. Los iconos de encáustica han sufrido daños frecuentes por el humo y el fuego en una fe donde la devoción está marcada por el incienso y las velas. Estos factores hacen que la supervivencia de esta llamativa pintura antigua sea aún más notable. El icono muestra a María y al niño Jesús flanqueados por dos santos soldados, San Teodoro

a la izquierda y San Jorge a la derecha. Por encima de estos hay dos ángeles que miran hacia arriba a la mano de Dios, de la que emana la luz. Este ícono, un encuentro de estilos y pueblos, representa un momento crucial en la historia de la Iglesia, capturando su increíble crecimiento y expansión en un cuerpo verdaderamente universal. Claramente influenciadas por el arte romano clásico, las figuras tienen una calidad inequívocamente egipcia que recuerda a los retratos de máscaras de momias de una época ligeramente anterior. La falta de perspectiva que se encuentra en la mayoría de los íconos tradicionales cede en la parte superior, donde los ángeles retroceden y se alejan, asombrados por la mano de Dios. Los santos están firmes y listos para interceder en favor del espectador/suplicante, mientras que María y Cristo están entronizados y elevados, habitando un espacio visualmente más cercano al Padre. Atraen nuestra mirada hacia Su mano, que a su vez arroja luz divina sobre Nuestra Señora. Nuestra visión va de la tierra al cielo y Dios la vuelve a dirigir a María, oficialmente declarada portadora de Dios, madre de todos los fieles como lo es de su divino Hijo. TRICIA KENT es feligresa de la Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino en Charlotte.

A la luz, ‘Lugar valioso’ de marzo Desde la vieja Iglesia San José, la primera iglesia católica construida en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, hasta la basílica, monasterio y universidad Belmont Abbey, nuestra diócesis está repleta de décadas de historia, arquitectura y puntos de referencia de la fe. Obtenga más información sobre la historia del catolicismo en el oeste de Carolina del Norte visitando estos importantes puntos de interés, lugares preciados que atestiguan la fe, la esperanza y la perseverancia de las personas que ayudaron a plantar las raíces de nuestra Iglesia local:

n Domingo 20 de marzo, 2 p.m: Procesión desde el estacionamiento detrás del Family Life Center a la calle Buchanan, dentro de la catedral, seguida de un servicio de oración. n Lunes 21 y Martes 22 de marzo: Veneración individual disponible mientras la catedral está abierta, desde las 10 a.m. del martes.

IGLESIA SAGRADO CORAZÓN 22 al 25 de marzo 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury, N.C. 28147

IGLESIA CATÓLICA ORIENTAL SAN BASILIO EL GRANDE 25 de marzo 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28213 (campus de la Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino)

Oraciones y Devociones El tema del 50 aniversario, ‘La fe es más preciosa que el oro’ (1 Pedro 1:7), alienta el uso de las oraciones, devociones y sacramentales probados y verdaderos de la Iglesia, que durante siglos han acercado a las personas a Dios. Pidamos con confianza las gracias que esperamos recibir de Dios mientras celebramos la fundación de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ¡ruega por nosotros!

Por las familias. Que Dios derrame una abundancia de gracias sobre cada familia de la diócesis, para que sean iglesias domésticas y moradas de amoroso sacrificio.

Iglesia San Pedro 507 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, N.C. 28202 www.stpeterscatholic.org Fundada en 1851, la Iglesia San Pedro es la parroquia en actividad más antigua en la diócesis. A cargo de los Benedictinos en sus inicios, y de los Jesuitas desde 1986, San Pedro es un reflejo de la Iglesia Católica desde su fundación. El edificio original se mantuvo en pie por 41 años, antes que fuera declarado inhabitable debido a la explosión de municiones durante la guerra civil que dañó sus cimientos. En 1893, bajo el patrocinio de los monjes Benedictinos de Belmont Abbey, se puso la primera piedra de la actual iglesia de estilo gótico. Santa Catalina Drexel contribuyó con la compra de bancas para la iglesia, bajo la promesa que serían reservadas para la gente de color, en cumplimiento de la misión de su órden. En 1986, la diócesis confió la parroquia a la Sociedad de Jesús, los Jesuitas. La parroquia abraza la tradición de la espiritualidad ignaciana. Como iglesia ubicada en el corazón de Charlotte, San Pedro sirve a la comunidad empresarial del uptown, jóvenes adultos y familias que residen en el área, visitantes, y nuestros hermanos y

Padre Celestial, acepta nuestra humilde oración de alabanza y gratitud mientras celebramos con alegría los cincuenta años de la Diócesis de Charlotte. A lo largo de nuestra historia, los fieles del oeste de Carolina del Norte, bajo el cuidado de estimados obispos y abades, han sido alimentados por tu mano providencial. Confiamos en que invitas a tus hijos a implorar tus constantes bendiciones, te pedimos que sigas derramando tu gracia celestial sobre nosotros. Con afecto y devoción filial, te pedimos además que veas con buenos ojos las oraciones que pedimos por la intercesión de nuestra venerable patrona, la Santísima Virgen María, que con atención maternal atiende las necesidades y preocupaciones de la Iglesia. Te lo pedimos por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, Dios por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

Intención de oración de marzo

CATEDRAL SAN PATRICIO 20 al 22 de marzo 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, N.C. 28203

Oración Para el 50 Aniversario

Santa del Mes Santa Catalina Drexel Día de fiesta: 3 de marzo

hermanas que viven atravesando dificultades en los alrededores.

En www. catholicnewsherald. com: Lea más sobre Santa Catalina Drexel y cómo ella ayudó a la Iglesia del oeste de Carolina del Norte

Arts & Entertainment

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

‘Uncharted’ Tiresome treasure hunt tale, adapted from a series of video games by director Ruben Fleischer. The younger (Tom Holland) of two orphaned brothers, having grown up to be a bartender and petty thief, is contacted by a mysterious adventurer (Mark Wahlberg) who claims to have known his long-lost sibling and, partly in hopes of reuniting with the latter, agrees to assist the stranger in his search for a cache of Spanish gold hidden during the Age of Exploration. They’re later joined by a former associate of the freebooter (Sophia Ali) but the trio’s partnership is hampered by constant mutual mistrust and dogged by the opposition of a wicked mogul (Antonio Banderas) who, with the aid of a ruthless underling (Tati Gabrielle), is out to grab the booty for himself. Considerable stylized violence, some profanity and milder oaths, crude and crass language. CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

‘Studio 666’ ‘Don’t Look Up’ Clever comedy in which an astronomy grad student (Jennifer Lawrence) discovers a comet that her mentor (Leonardo DiCaprio) soon calculates is on a collision course with Earth. For those grown viewers willing to withstand constantly coarse dialogue, Mark Rylance’s hilarious turn as an eccentric billionaire will be the icing on the cake. Brief full nudity in a nonsexual context, an adultery theme, drug use, profanities and milder oaths, pervasive rough and crude language. CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: R

Deliberately over-the-top scenes of decapitation and dismemberment alternate with long periods of boredom in this comichorror vehicle for the rock band Foo Fighters. To work on their next album, the group moves to a Los Angeles-area house that, unbeknownst to them, was once the setting for a murder spree. Guitarist and drummer Dave Grohl behaves strangely while his mates become increasingly alarmed by a string of gory slayings. Revolting bloody violence, cannibalism, semi-graphic casual sex, gross-out humor, profanity, pervasive rough and crude language, obscene gestures. CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

Your Life’s Journey… how will you be remembered? Establish a legacy that responds to the many gifts God has given you.

On TV n Friday, March 11, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “Francis Xavier Seelos.” The life of Francis Xavier Seelos, a renowned confessor, spiritual director and leader of missions throughout the United States in the early 19th century, and the promising new miracle that’s being attributed to him. n Saturday, March 12, 6 p.m. (EWTN) “Explore with the Miracle Hunter: Lanciano.” Miracle Hunter Michael O’Neill travels to Lanciano, Italy, where in 750 AD, a Basilian monk is said to have experienced the transformation of the host and wine into the Real Presence of Jesus’ Body and Blood. n Saturday, March 12, 9:40 p.m. (EWTN) “Pier Giorgio Frassati: Get to Know Him.” A brief introduction to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: a young, joyful man whose devotion and charity toward the poor caused Pope Francis to encourage young people to look up to him as an example of holiness.

n Sunday, March 13, 7 a.m. (EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the world in the recitation of the Angelus live from Rome. n Tuesday, March 15, 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Saint Joseph.” Rev. Guy Noël Kouankam Tchapda offers his in-depth reflections on Joseph’s virtues in his important public role as the foster father of Jesus.

Office Manager

Diocesan Properties Office The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte is currently accepting resumes for the position of “Office Manager” to work within the Diocesan Properties Office. The Office Manager will be required to perform a wide range of administrative and office support activities for the Office of Diocesan Properties to facilitate the productive and efficient operation of the department. The Office Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining office procedures, communication protocols, streamlining administrative procedures, overseeing inventory control, and efficiently and effectively supporting all division leaders. The office manager shall be well organized, flexible, and professional in handling a wide range of administrative and executive support related tasks. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: • Associates degree or greater in associated field preferred. • 5+ years minimum related experience. • Strong knowledge of the principles and practices of proper office management. • Advanced level of proficiency in Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat Pro. • Strong knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. • Strong knowledge of accounting principles, and the reporting of financial data. • Strong inter-personal communication skills – both written and verbal. • Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills. • Ability to work both independently and with a team. • Must have a service oriented attitude that actively looks for ways to help others

For more information on how to leave a legacy gift to your parish, Catholic school, Catholic agency, the Diocese of Charlotte or the diocese foundation, please contact Gina Rhodes, Director of Planned Giving at / gmrhodes@rcdoc.org or Foundation of the 704-370-3364 Heidi Kelley, Planned Giving Officer at Diocese of Charlotte 704-370-3348 / hmkelley@rcdoc.org.

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume and salary history to PropDirector@RCDOC.org. ** The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer **

Our nation 20

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

New coalition, with Catholic members, will push Congress on immigration RHINA GUIDOS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives from the business sector, faith groups and grassroots organizations that support immigration reform sent Congress a letter March 2, a day after President Biden’s first State of the Union address, urging lawmakers to act on immigration because “simply put, the system is broken.” “Millions of workers, many of whom were indispensable to America’s COVID-19 response, are living in legal jeopardy. Apprehensions at the southern border are at historic highs. Employers are also struggling to find workers to fill jobs in many industries,” said the letter from the Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus. The coalition with members of at least 30 organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration, is hoping to build bipartisan support to salvage efforts that would bring legal relief for some, if not all, of the almost 11 million people who are in the country without permission. But coalition members also seemed to understand that it was a tall order given the political divisions in Congress. “I think we’ve recognized ... that comprehensive immigration reform,

one big package, doesn’t have much opportunity” to pass in this Congress, Rick Naerebout, CEO of Idaho Dairymen’s Association, said in a March 2 Zoom call organized by the coalition. But they urged Congress to find a solution and said they would enlist coalition members to visit Capitol Hill and talk to lawmakers. Efforts seem to be focused on getting relief for Dreamers, young adults brought into the country illegally as children; beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status; and, agricultural workers and others who have kept the country operating during the pandemic. From the faith perspective, Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, the USCCB’s migration committee chairman, said the Church seeks reform because it “recognizes the God-given dignity of every single person in our nation, citizens and noncitizens.” The Church would continue to advocate for them, he said, and urged both political parties to put differences aside and “work together to create an immigration system that is more sustainable, more humane and more in line with our country’s limitless potential.” He spoke of plans to gather a group of bishops to visit Capitol Hill in late April. Jon Baselice, vice president of immigration policy at the U.S. Chamber of

Commerce, said that “elected officials cannot continue to forgo the opportunities that are before them: to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.” The majority of the U.S. public wants to see something done, he said. Despite political rhetoric, a Public Religion Research Institute survey in February found that a majority of Americans – six in 10, or 62% – “support offering immigrants living in the U.S. illegally a way to become citizens, provided they meet certain requirements.” Naerebout, of the Dairymen’s Association, said Congress has the ability to find a solution but “it takes courage.” In his corner of the world, in Idaho, “we are tired of lip service. ... We want action,” he said. When it comes to the agriculture industry, something needs to be done to protect those whose work is in important to CNS | ADREES LATIF, REUTERS the nation’s food supply, he said. “The vast majority of the food Migrants near Roma, Texas, cross the Rio Grande into the United produced in the United States States Feb. 28. is produced on the shoulders of foreign-born workers,” he said. Walter Kim, president of the National advocate for migrants, Kim said. Christians Association of Evangelicals, said his are called to provide protection or live in organization’s interest in the immigration solidarity with the vulnerable, he said, issue is tied to Jesus’ experience as a because that’s what Christ did. refugee. Likewise, Bishop Dorsonville said the “Jesus Himself experienced life as Catholic Church helps migrants because refugee, escaping political oppression and “it is His face we see in Dreamers, persecution,” Kim said. undocumented agricultural workers and But Scripture isn’t the only reason to other immigrants.”

Controller The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte is currently accepting resumes for the position of “Controller”. This position is charged with managing the Accounting Department, which has responsibility for all accounting functions, financial reporting, accounting systems and internal controls, the annual budgeting process, the annual audit, tax compliance, and banking treasury operations. REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE: • Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field; CPA. • Seven years’ experience in accounting, internal auditing, and/or as controller. • Thorough knowledge of budgeting principles and practices, internal control systems, tax related legislation, treasury management, financial reporting methodologies, and of generally accepted principles as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board.

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to recruiting@rcdoc.org or mail to 1123 St. Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 by March 28th. ** The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer **

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Bishops: Senate rejection of ‘extreme’ abortion bill is ‘tremendous relief’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — The failure of the U.S. Senate Feb. 28 to advance an “extreme measure” to establish a legal right to abortion at any stage of pregnancy nationwide “is a tremendous relief,” said the chairmen of the U.S. bishops’ pro-life and religious freedom committees. “We must respect and support mothers, their unborn children and the consciences of all Americans,” the committee chairmen said in a joint statement, noting a provision in the bill likely would not have protected the conscience rights of health care providers who object to abortion. Passing the Women’s Health Protection Act, also known as H.R. 3755, “would have led to the loss of millions of unborn lives and left countless

women to suffer from the physical and emotional trauma of abortion,” said Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty. In a 46-48 vote, the Senate failed to approve moving forward to a vote on a bill. In addition to codifying Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion nationwide, the bill would have eliminated prolife laws at every level of government – including parental notification for minor girls, informed consent, and health or safety protections specific to abortion facilities.

Fla. bishops applaud state passage of 15-week abortion ban TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Catholic bishops of Florida praised the state Legislature for passing a measure to prohibit most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. H.B. 5 also includes provisions to improve infant health and analyze and reduce fetal and infant mortality. “While we continue to look forward to the day when the full protection of unborn life is recognized in law, we are encouraged that H.B. 5 further limits the grave harm that abortion inflicts

upon women and children,” said Christie Arnold, associate for social concerns and respect life at the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops. The conference, the public policy arm of the Catholic Church in Florida, said in a March 3 news release that Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has expressed support for this legislation and is expected to sign it into law. “In an incremental, yet important, step, the bill provides at least eight additional weeks of protection for children in the womb. Current Florida law prohibits abortion when a child is viable, or able to survive outside the womb – currently closer to 24 weeks,” the release said. H.B. 5 “closely tracks” the Mississippi law at issue in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case pending at the U.S. Supreme Court, which could reverse “the unjust ruling” in Roe v. Wade, the conference noted. “If the Supreme Court upholds Mississippi’s law, Florida’s legislation will likely be upheld.”

5.2 million children orphaned during pandemic, researchers estimate CLEVELAND — An estimated 5.2 million children in 21 countries, including the United States, lost at least one parent, a custodial

grandparent or a primary caregiver to COVID-19 during the first 20 months of the pandemic, social researchers and child wellbeing advocates said in a new study. Notably, the researchers estimated that the number of children orphaned because of the pandemic nearly doubled during the six-month period ending Oct. 31, 2021, a period corresponding largely with the surge in the delta variant of the coronavirus. The total number of orphaned children during the study period parallels the roughly 5 million COVID-19-caused deaths during the same time frame, the study said. “This finding means that, globally, for every one reported COVID-19 death, at least one child experienced orphanhood or caregiver death,” the researchers concluded. The study was published online Feb. 24 by the British medical journal “The Lancet.” The study defined orphanhood as the death of one or both parents, one or both custodial grandparents, or a primary caregiver. Catholic Relief Services representatives described the estimates as “eye-opening” and agreed with the researchers’ conclusion that “an evidence-based emergency response is becoming increasingly urgent” to meet the challenges faced by children pushed into orphanhood by the pandemic. — Catholic News Service

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFRENCE The DSA provides funding for 50 ministries and programs.

Christ throughout the diocese to do the Lord’s work – works of love and service that no one individual or parish can do alone.

WAYS TO GIVE ONLINE: charlottediocese.org/dsa ENVELOPE: mail pledge card to diocese or contact your parish office CALL: make a gift over the phone 704-370-3302 QR CODE:

Thank You for your 2022 DSA donation which will be credited to your parish!

Our world 22

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CALLS FOR PRAYER, PEACE IN UKRAINE

Pope Francis:

‘Rivers of blood and tears’ flowing in Ukraine Vatican mobilizes humanitarian efforts CINDY WOODEN AND JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — The Church “is ready to do everything to put itself at the service of peace” and mobilizing efforts to provide humanitarian aid to people fleeing the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis said this week. “Rivers of blood and tears are flowing in Ukraine,” the pope said March 6 as he led thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square in praying for peace. He condemned the war in Ukraine, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly called “a special military operation.” “It is not merely a military operation, but a war, which sows death, destruction and misery,” the pope said. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, said the Vatican stands ready to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. “The only reasonable and constructive way to settle differences is through dialogue, as Pope Francis never tires of repeating,” he said. “The Holy See, which in recent years has followed the events in Ukraine constantly, discreetly and with great attention, offering its willingness to facilitate dialogue with Russia, is always ready to help the parties to resume that path. “There is always room for negotiation. It is never too late!” His appeal followed Pope Francis’ visit to the Russian ambassador to the Holy See Feb. 25 in what was an unprecedented departure from diplomatic protocol. Diplomats are usually summoned by the Vatican’s Secretary of State or meet with the pope in the Apostolic Palace, media outlets noted, and no pope in living memory has gone to an embassy to talk to an ambassador amid a conflict. The pope went “to express his concern for the war,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office. The visit lasted about a half hour, he said. Ambassador Aleksandr Avdeyev told Russian media: “The focus of the conversation was the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Pope Francis expressed great concern for the situation of the entire population, both in the Donbas (in Eastern Ukraine) and in other areas, and called for the protection of children, the protection of the sick and suffering, the protection of people.” Since the conflict began, the pope has also spoken to Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church who remains in Kyiv, and to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering his encouragement and prayers. “In particular, the pope praised the decision to remain with the people and to be at the service of the neediest,” including by opening the basement of Resurrection Cathedral in Kyiv as a bomb shelter, which already was being used by dozens of people, including families with children, the Ukrainian Catholic press office said. Besides speaking out publicly and praying for an end to the conflict, Pope Francis has dispatched two cardinals to the region: Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who as “papal almoner” runs the office of papal charities, and Canadian Cardinal Michael Czerny, interim president of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. “The presence of the two cardinals there is the presence not only of the pope, but of all the Christian people who want to get closer and say: ‘War is madness! Stop, please! Look at this cruelty!’” the pope said. In a follow-up statement, the Vatican said, “The cardinals will bring aid to the needy and serve as the

CNS | HASNOOR HUSSAIN, REUTERS

A boy holds a placard that reads “Stop Putin” and “Stop war” during a protest outside the Russian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Feb. 28.

‘I plead for an end to armed attacks, for negotiations to prevail – and for common sense to prevail – and for a return to respect for international law.’ — Pope Francis presence not only of the pope, but of all the Christian people who express solidarity with the people of Ukraine.” The cardinals traveled to the Polish and Hungarian borders, which are the top two destinations of Ukrainians – mainly the elderly, women and children – fleeing the war. The U.N. Refugee Agency said that as of March 9 more than 2 million Ukrainians had fled the country since the Russian invasion began Feb. 24, and that total could rise to 4 or 5 million. As of March 9, nearly 1.3 million people had crossed into Poland and more than 200,000 had crossed into Hungary, the agency reported. Cardinal Krajewski traveled to the Polish-Ukraine border to visit refugees and volunteers in shelters and homes, before continuing on to Lviv and, he hoped, Kyiv. He said his goal was “to reach the people and show them the closeness of the pope, tell them he loves them, prays for them and wants to encourage them.” He also brought rosaries from Pope Francis “because

with prayer we can move mountains and even stop the war,” he said. Cardinal Czerny headed to Hungary “to visit some reception centers for the migrants coming from Ukraine,” the Vatican said. According to the Vatican, Cardinal Czerny also intended to raise concerns about the treatment of African and Asian residents in Ukraine. Many have reported acts of discrimination as they attempt to flee the country. “There are also worrisome reports of increasing activities of human trafficking and smuggling of migrants at the borders and in the neighboring countries,” the Vatican said. In his remarks this week, Pope Francis again praised the nations, charitable organizations and individuals helping the refugees. The need for humanitarian assistance in Ukraine, “that tormented country, is growing dramatically by the hour,” the pope said. “I make a heartfelt appeal for humanitarian corridors to be genuinely secured, and for aid access to the besieged areas to be guaranteed and facilitated in order to provide vital relief to our brothers and sisters oppressed by bombs and fear,” he added. “Above all, I plead for an end to armed attacks, for negotiations to prevail – and for common sense to prevail – and for a return to respect for international law,” he said. He also thanked the journalists “who put their lives at risk to provide information. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for this service, a service that allows us to be close to the tragedy of that population and helps us assess the cruelty of a war.”

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

CALLS FOR PRAYER, PEACE IN UKRAINE

U.N.: Ukraine exodus is fastestgrowing refugee crisis since WWII RHINA GUIDOS CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

CNS | MARTON MONUS, REUTERS

Children of refugees fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wait for transport at Nyugati railway station in Budapest, Hungary, Feb. 28.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A top United Nations official said March 6 that the world hasn’t seen a refugee crisis such as the one developing in Eastern Europe, caused by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, since the last World War. As of March 9, more than 2 million have fled Ukraine in the days following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of the East European nation, said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Grandi called it the “fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.” Most Ukrainian refugees fleeing from Russia’s February attacks have gone into neighboring countries, such as Poland, where Catholic organizations have been among the humanitarian groups helping. The crisis is expected to worsen as President Vladimir Putin continues to escalate attacks on the country of more than 44 million. It’s unclear how many of those will head for the U.S. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced March 3 that it would grant Temporary Protective Status, or TPS, to Ukrainians already in the U.S. for 18 months so they can remain in the country. TPS grants a work permit and reprieve from deportation to certain people whose countries have experienced natural disasters, armed conflicts CNS | KYIV POST or exceptional situations so they can remain The Kyiv Post on March 6 temporarily in the United States. posted this photo on Twitter By some estimates, about 75,000 Ukrainians in this showing a statue of Jesus being country may be eligible for the protections. taken out of the Armenian The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Cathedral in Lviv, Ukraine, Migration, Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville to be stored in a bunker for of Washington, praised the move. protection. The post said the “I have watched with deep concern, along with so last time it was taken out was many others around the world, the unfolding events during World War II. in Ukraine and the devastation facing the Ukrainian people,” Bishop Dorsonville said March 4. “Many Ukrainians have demonstrated incredible resolve and bravery in the face of danger over recent days,” he said. “Many others, especially children and the elderly, have been forced to seek safety, either within Ukraine or in neighboring countries.” Even before the conflict began, the Reuters news agency reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection began seeing a rising number of Ukrainians at the U.S.-Mexico border asking for asylum from October 2021 into January. During that same period, Russians also began seeking asylum, with both groups citing political repression.

Are any Ukrainian refugees coming to North Carolina?

CNS | UMIT BEKTAS, REUTERS

A large group of people wait to board an evacuation train at Kyiv central train station in Ukraine Feb. 25, after Russia launched a massive military operation against Ukraine.

Diocesan leaders say the U.S. government has not indicated it wants to resettle Ukrainian refugees through entities such as the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Refugee Resettlement Office. “We’re getting calls from people across the diocese who are so moved by what’s happening in Ukraine they are desperate to help. The U.S. has focused its efforts on supporting evacuees from Ukraine in the countries where they are taking refuge. At the moment, the federal government has not undertaken efforts to evacuate Ukrainians to this country – but Catholic Charities stands ready to help should that call come,” said Refugee Resettlement Director Sandy Buck.

Since 1975, the diocese has resettled more than 14,000 refugees fleeing war, political upheaval, or religious, economic or ethnic persecution. That includes more than 600 refugees from Ukraine in the Charlotte area over the years, as well as some in the Asheville area. Buck said people have been calling asking how they can help Ukrainian refugees. “Right now, the best way to help the Ukrainian people forced to flee their homes is by providing financial support through reputable aid groups such as Catholic Relief Services and many others,” she said. For a list of some of those efforts, see page 24. — Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

Prayer resources Pope Francis, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk (the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church) and other Church leaders are encouraging all people of goodwill to pray for peace in Ukraine. Suggested prayers include: n NOVENA FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE: Pray this novena among many others available on this website, which offers helpful reminders delivered daily to your email inbox: www.praymorenovenas.com/novena-for-peace-in-ukraine

n SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY FOR PEACE: The Rosary for Peace was first published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops following the attacks on 9/11. Pray the Sorrowful Mysteries online: www.catholicnewsherald.com

catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CALLS FOR PRAYER, PEACE IN UKRAINE Some ways you can help

CNS | SAM LUCERO, THE COMPASS

Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, owner of Door County Candle Co. in Sturgeon Bay, Wis., works on Ukrainian Candles which are being sold there as a fundraiser to support victims of war in Ukraine. Trapani is a Ukranian American who has family living in the Ukraine.

GIVE MONEY

BUY A ‘UKRAINE CANDLE’

HELP THE KNIGHTS IN POLAND

More than 2 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to Poland and other neighboring countries. Various Catholic agencies are collecting donations to aid the relief effort in response to this major humanitarian crisis. Among them are: n Aid to Caritas Ukraine through its partner, the U.S.-based Catholic Relief Services: www.crs.org n Two pontifical agencies: - Catholic Near East Welfare Association: www.cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine - Aid to the Church in Need: www.churchinneed.org n St. Josaphat Eparchy’s “Pray for Ukraine, Support Ukraine”: www.stjosaphateparchy. com/support-ukraine

STURGEON BAY, Wis. — “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” This ancient proverb – made famous by Maryknoll Father James Keller, after he founded The Christophers in 1945 – has taken on a new meaning for Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, owner of Door County Candle Co. in Sturgeon Bay. With war raging in Ukraine, home to many of Trapani’s relatives, the Catholic business owner came up with the idea of making and selling what is called the Ukraine Candle. The 16-ounce candle is made of blue and yellow wax, colors of the Ukrainian flag, with a vanilla scent. Trapani said 100% of the profits from sales will support relief efforts in Ukraine through the non-profit Razom. Razom, which means “together” in Ukrainian, is providing medical supplies for injured Ukrainians, according to its website, www.razomforukraine.org.

The Knights of Columbus fraternal organization, based in Hartford, Conn., has also launched humanitarian initiatives for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The Knights have committed $1 million for immediate distribution to support Ukrainians impacted by the Russian invasion and also launched the Ukraine Solidarity Fund, pledging to match funds raised up to an additional $500,000. As of March 2, the fund had raised over $747,000, for a total of more than $2.2 million in assistance; 100% of donations will assist internally displaced people and refugees from Ukraine with shelter, food, medical supplies, clothing and religious goods, and more – both in Ukraine and at refugee sites in Poland. To donate, go to www.kofc.org/secure/en/ donate/ukraine.html. — Catholic News Service

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Find a list and links to other Catholic organizations helping Ukrainians

of the Church is to reconcile everyone. To sow not hatred but love, fraternity,” he said, asking everyone to join in “this mission of condemning the war and of spiritual union and making peace with everyone.” Prayers and spiritual support from other countries have made it seem “as if we were the spiritual capital of the world” where both tragedy and “the beautiful response of humanity” come face to face, he said.

Centuries-old Marian icon offers solace, protection amid war CNS | PAUL HARING

Father Visvaldas Kulbokas, center, serves as translator as Pope Francis and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange gifts during a private audience at the Vatican in this 2019 file photo. Archbishop Kulbokas, now papal nuncio based in Kyiv, Ukraine, said he has no intentions of leaving the country.

‘My place is here,’ says pope’s representative in Ukraine VATICAN CITY — The pope’s ambassador, based in Kyiv, said he has no intentions of leaving. “We are not just an embassy,” Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas said March 2. “Here, I represent the pope for Ukraine, but also for the people and for the Church in Ukraine.” “My place is here. However, I always carry with me a backpack with the essentials – some water, important papers, mobile phone – to be ready for anything,” he added. The 47-year-old Lithuanian archbishop was appointed the pope’s ambassador, or apostolic nuncio, in June 2021. It is his first assignment as nuncio after entering the Holy See’s diplomatic service in 2004. He served in various capacities at the pope’s embassies, called nunciatures, in Lebanon, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation and Kenya. He also was the official translator when Pope Francis met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vatican in 2019 and 2015. Archbishop Kulbokas said his staff and a community of religious sisters have stockpiled provisions at the nunciature, located in a residential area of Kyiv, and set up mattresses for sleeping in the basement to be more protected from rocket strikes. They celebrate Mass “in a place that seems safer” than the chapel. He said many people have phoned him “and asked me to convey to the pope their immense gratitude for the attention, for the prayers and also for the attempts he has made – not just diplomatic, but also human, as a pastor.” “We are all brothers and sisters, and the work

DAYTON, Ohio — As Ukrainians turn to their faith amid the ongoing tragedy of Russia’s invasion of their nation, many are looking to an unusual icon of Mary as a symbol of the solace they seek. In news photos, clergy are seen holding the icon, depicting Mary holding a long piece of fabric in her outstretched hands. This sacred image is known in Ukraine and many other East European nations as the “Pokrova,” or the Intercession of the Theotokos CNS | COURTESY MARIAN (“Mother of God” LIBRARY, UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON in Greek), a title for This is an icon of Mary Mary used in both by Yulian Volyanyuk. Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic Churches. The Pokrova icon has its origins in a 10thcentury Marian apparition that occurred in Constantinople. Orthodox tradition states that on Oct. 1, 911, Mary appeared to St. Andrew the Fool for Christ during a vigil held at the city’s Church of St. Mary of Blachernae Church. The saint said he saw Mary spreading her cloak – some accounts say it was her veil – over the congregation as a symbol of her protection. At the time the city was under attack and according to tradition, after Mary’s appearance the attacking armies withdrew. Devotion to Mary is an intrinsic part of both Orthodox and Catholic spirituality in Ukraine, according to Father Silviu Bunta, an Orthodox priest from Romania and professor of Scripture at the University of Dayton. “We Orthodox call her by many titles, including ‘More Honorable than the Cherubim’ because to us, she is the greatest person who ever lived and will ever live.” — Catholic News Service

St. Anthony Catholic Church is pictured in Kharkiv, Ukraine, March 3, in the aftermath of Russian rocket attacks that hit three churches. CNS | COURTESY RISU.UA

CNS | PAUL HARING

People prepare humanitarian assistance to be sent to Ukraine at the Basilica of St. Sophia, the church of the Ukrainians in Rome, March 7.

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief Pope Francis says: Do good unto others, ditch digital addictions for Lent VATICAN CITY — Christians must persevere in generously doing good in the world, bolstered by prayer and by fighting evil in their own lives, including an addiction to digital media, Pope Francis said. “Lent is a propitious time to resist these temptations and to cultivate instead a more integral form of human communication made up of ‘authentic encounters’ – face-to-face and in person,” the pope said in his message for Lent. “Let us ask God to give us the patient perseverance of the farmer and to persevere in doing good, one step at a time,” and to know that “the soil is prepared by fasting, watered by prayer and enriched by charity,” the pope wrote. The pope’s Lenten message was titled: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity, let us do good to all,” which is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. Christians are called to sow goodness their entire lives, but even more so during Lent, he wrote. The first fruit “appears in ourselves and our daily lives,” radiating the light of Christ to the world, he wrote. And sowing goodness “for the benefit of others frees us from narrow self-interest, infuses our actions with gratuitousness and makes us part of the magnificent horizon of God’s benevolent plan.”

New report highlights Tigray atrocities, says Ethiopia could face famine NAIROBI, Kenya — As Catholic officials in Tigray continue to call for meaningful peace talks and an end to atrocities and the humanitarian aid blockade, an international refugees organization is warning that Eritrean refugees in the northern region have nowhere to run. Refugees International, a global organization advocating for displaced and stateless people, said in a March 3 report that the humanitarian situation in Tigray was abysmal, with atrocities similar to war crimes displacing at least 2.5 million people inside and out of the country. “The Ethiopian government has blocked virtually all food and medical shipments into Tigray, using food as a weapon of war,” Sarah Miller, a senior fellow with Refugees International, said in the report, “Nowhere to Run: Eritrean Refugees in Tigray.” With starvation deaths mounting each day, she said in the report, and nearly 900,000 people in famine conditions, there are fears that the

current situation in Ethiopia will mirror the Great Famine of the 1980s, when more than 1 million people died of starvation.

Honduran Church leaders seek investigation of priest’s murder MEXICO CITY — Honduran Church leaders have called for an investigation into the abduction and murder of a priest in the Diocese of San Pedro Sula, a crime causing outrage in the Central American country. Clergy, family and friends mourned Father José Enrique Vásquez at his March 4 funeral Mass, two days after the priest was abducted and murdered as he traveled to his parish for Ash Wednesday activities. “He has been a victim of the violence that does not cease in our country. It’s a violence so serious that it’s led to the killing of thousands,” Bishop Ángel Garancha Pérez of San Pedro Sula said. In a statement March 3, the Honduran bishops’ conference said, “If these events are not investigated, as has happened so many times, we will be condemned to suffer the consequences of impunity and forced to resign ourselves to the fact that this continues to be repeated in our country.”

El Salvador charges former president in 1989 murders of Jesuits, two women MEXICO CITY — Prosecutors in El Salvador have brought charges against a former president for the murders of six Jesuits in 1989, a crime carried out by soldiers during a brutal civil war in the Central American country. Former President Alfredo Cristiani and 12 others – mostly former soldiers – were charged with involvement in the slayings of the six Jesuits, their housekeeper and the housekeeper’s teenage daughter at their residence on the campus of the Jesuit-run José Simeón Cañas Central American University in San Salvador. Salvadoran Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado announced the charges Feb. 25, saying his office “is determined to bring to court those responsible for this unfortunate and tragic event that occurred during the armed conflict.” He added that the attorney general’s office “is promoting the search for the truth, the search for justice, reparation for the victims and that these kinds of unfortunate actions will not be repeated.” The charges against Cristiani and the other suspects apparently include murder, terrorism and conspiracy, according to The Associated Press. — Catholic News Service

PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN O Most Beautiful Flower of Mt. Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me herein you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in my necessity (make request.) There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (3 times.) Holy Mary, I place this cause in your hands (3 times.) 3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory Be Published in gratitude for prayers answered. Thank you, K.B.

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Deacon Matthew Newsome

The what and why of fasting D

uring the penitential season of Lent, the faithful are encouraged to practice additional prayer, fasting and almsgiving. A penance is a pious devotion that helps us to repent – that is, to reorient ourselves toward God. It is easy to see how prayer helps turn our minds and hearts to God. And by giving alms, or engaging in charitable works more generally, we show our love of God by loving our neighbor made in His image. But how does fasting help us grow closer to God? What is the spiritual benefit of abstaining from food? Fasting is a form of ascetical penance. Asceticism is self-discipline involving the denial of sensual pleasure, by which I mean pleasure relating to

‘By practicing self denial that literally “hits us in the gut,” we learn to rely on God to sustain us.’ the senses. Sensual pleasures include eating and drinking, listening to music, sleeping in a comfortable bed or wearing comfortable clothing, and also sexual pleasures. We often think of penance in terms of asceticism. We might imagine monks using stones for pillows, or medieval flagellants beating their backs with cords. Fasting was and is a much more common ascetical practice than these extreme examples. The idea is simple: by learning to deny yourself legitimate pleasure, it is easier to resist illegitimate pleasures when temptations arise. The practice of fasting is mentioned in several places in the Old Testament. The “Day of Atonement” described in Leviticus was a time to express repentance for sins by prayer, fasting and sacrifice. These penances were performed to make the community at one with God, hence the name (at-one-ment). In the Book of Tobit, the angel Raphael speaks of the importance of prayer, fasting and giving alms to the poor – the first time these three “pillars of Lent” are mentioned together in the Scriptures. In this passage, the angel says, “Prayer with fasting is good” (Tobit 12:8). In the Book of Esther, before she approaches King Ahasuerus to beg mercy for the Jewish people, Esther asks the Jewish community to make a three-

day fast for her intentions (Esther 4:16). The Old Testament thus teaches that fasting is something we can do to atone for sins, increase the efficacy of prayer, and that we can do for others as well as for ourselves. In the New Testament, we know that the disciples of John the Baptist practiced fasting. In fact, it was a point of scandal for some that Jesus’ disciples did not! In chapter nine of Matthew’s gospel, John’s disciples asked Jesus, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mt 9:14). Jesus responds, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast” (Mt 9:15). Jesus speaks of the importance of both times of feasting and fasting; in fact, our feasts are made all the more sweet by our fasts. Our Lord Himself fasted for 40 days in the desert before the start of His public ministry. His example is the model of our Lenten fast. The earliest postNew Testament documents, including the Didache and “The Shepherd of Hermas,” tell us that the early Christians continued to practice fasting as part of their religious observance. The current norms for fasting in the Roman Catholic Church are minimal by comparison to those of earlier ages, but the Church continues to encourage fasting as a spiritual discipline. So what constitutes fasting, exactly, and when are Catholics obliged to fast? Church law establishes Ash Wednesday and Good Friday as days of fasting for Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 (Canon 1251). That means most Catholics are only required to fast two days out of the year. However, the 1966 “Pastoral Statement on Penance and Abstinence” issued by the U.S. bishops recommends a “self-imposed observance of fasting” on all weekdays of Lent. That document was issued the same year Pope (now St.) Paul VI promulgated an apostolic constitution on fasting and abstinence, Paenitemini. There Paul VI states that “the law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing – as far as quantity and quality are concerned – approved local custom.” In other words, while the norm for fasting is one meal per day, there is no need to be scrupulous about it. If you need to take additional food, you may do so without breaking your fast, as long as it does not constitute another meal. I should add here that those with health concerns are not bound by the law of fasting. The Church, the Scriptures and Our Lord Himself attest to the spiritual benefits of fasting. By practicing self denial that literally “hits us in the gut,” we learn to rely on God to sustain us. As Christ said at the end of His great fast, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt 4:4). Rather than think of fasting as a penance Catholics must perform twice each year, consider it in the same vein as prayer and almsgiving: practices we give special attention to during the time of Lent, but which we strive to make part of our lives as Christians throughout the year. DEACON MATTHEW NEWSOME is the Catholic campus minister at Western Carolina University and the regional faith formation coordinator for the Smoky Mountain Vicariate.

Jesuit Father John Michalowski

‘Here I am, send me’

hen I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for Me?’ ‘Here I am, send me.’” In this verse from Isaiah 6:1-8, Isaiah has a vision of God and heaven, and though he knows himself to be a sinner, God’s mercy cleanses him of sin. Then Isaiah responds to God’s call: “Here I am, send me.” In First Corinthians, we encounter Paul, who had persecuted the Church but later responded to Jesus, who appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Some years after his conversion, Barnabas invites him to join him on a mission of evangelization, and Paul responds to Barnabas and to God with a “yes.” Paul’s response is such that he will become the “Apostle to the Gentiles” – the one who brings God’s saving word to large areas north of the Mediterranean Sea. In the Gospel of Luke, Peter is amazed by the great number of fish caught simply on a word from Jesus. He then examines himself and his own weaknesses. He falls at the knees of Jesus and says, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” But Jesus responds, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” Then Peter and Andrew, James and John leave their nets and follow Jesus (Luke 5:1-11). In each case, God is less worried about our sinfulness than most of us are. The call is to follow Him, for when we do, then we will grow in grace and our sins will diminish. We will get caught up in doing good, and so will have little time for sin. We seldom can overcome sin by ourselves – that is why Jesus came to bring us healing and lead us on the way to life and love. “Do not be afraid. Come and follow me”: These are Jesus’ words to each of us and to all of us. Leave your nets behind and follow Him. In many ways, this is counter-cultural. Our culture tells us that we are supposed to do things our way. It is all about freedom and “don’t tell me what to do.” The irony is that billions of dollars are spent telling us where to go, what to eat, what to wear, what to drive, what to look like, where to live, how to vacation, what to listen to, what smartphone to have – in other words, we are continually told what to do, what will make us happy, and who we are supposed to be. And somehow, if it can keep us busy enough, we will never stop to reflect and realize how unfree society makes us. Of course, much of the driving force behind all of this is money. So who really cares about us? God does. Jesus and the Father invite us: “Come and follow Me.” We are created not to follow every whim and fashion, or every new app or ideological ploy. No, we are created out of love and for love. We are created not as individuals but as persons. A person is only fulfilled in relationship – relationship to others and relationship to God. Only loving relationships can bring about peace, not billion-dollar military budgets or Otezla or Consumer Cellular or Kraft mac and cheese or having the Hornets win the NBA. Relationships leading to love, this is the key to fulfillment and peace. This is what Jesus calls us to. He wants to be part of our relationships. I came across a good example of this recently on South Carolina Educational TV, which was airing an interview with Dr. James Hildreth, president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn. Meharry Medical School was founded in 1876 at a time when no U.S. medical school would accept African-Americans. The initial money came from a man who remembered a good deed. In the 1820s, a 14-year-old white boy was driving a wagon near dusk and got stuck in the mud. He went to the nearest home for help, and the black family there took him in and fed him, gave him a bed and the next morning helped to get his wagon going again. He never forgot their kindness. Some 50 years later, now a wealthy man and a devout Methodist, he gave the money to found the medical college. Interestingly, Hildreth mentioned how in the 1930s through the ’50s, when medical schools in the South would also not accept Jewish students, Meharry did, and graduated a good number of Jewish doctors and dentists. This is grace at work. This is the response to God’s asking, “Whom shall I send?” May we not be afraid of our weakness and sins, but turn to Jesus and say, “Here I am, Lord, send me.” Often we will find that we are not alone. Like the apostles and so many others who followed their example through the ages, we will travel on together – the Body of Christ at work in the world. “Here we are, Lord, send us.” Amen. JESUIT FATHER JOHN MICHALOWSKI is the parochial vicar of St. Peter Church in Charlotte.

March 11, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Kathryn Evans

The Litany of St. Joseph

love to meditate on the many titles of St. Joseph. As I have grown in awareness and devotion to him over the last several years, his litany has become one of my favorite prayers. Different titles will resonate with me at different times and in different circumstances of life. I’ve also discovered that the litany can make for a good examination of conscious, drawing to the fore of my mind certain sins or vices with which I might be struggling, and with the added benefit that I can then immediately petition St. Joseph to aid me in overcoming them. We must be careful not to let his titles limit St. Joseph in our minds, however. One might think that he is only worth turning to if you are a father or if you work in manual labor or are nearing death. The truth is that the patronages of St. Joseph are universal, virtues that apply to each one of us – regardless of gender, age or circumstances. St. Joseph is Head of the Holy Family, Spouse of the Mother of God, and Foster Father of the Son of God. He is the Glory of Domestic Life and the Pillar of Families. We all come from a family, whether it is whole or broken, whether we knew our parents and had a relationship with them or not. Perhaps the family that you came from is a source of strength for you, or perhaps it is a wound that you need God’s grace to heal. St. Joseph is a model to all of us, because he shows us what true domestic strength looks like and what a husband and father are meant to be. In my own years as a single young woman, I turned to St. Joseph to show me what genuine masculinity was supposed to look like, I asked him to help guard my virtue as he guarded that of the Virgin Mary, and I prayed that he would lead me to my true vocation, whether it be to physical or to spiritual motherhood. Now, as God has revealed more of His plan for me and I prepare to start a family of my own, I continue to turn to St. Joseph and his Blessed Spouse to show me how to act and how to care for those in my life. St. Joseph is called Just, Chaste, Prudent, Valiant, Obedient and Faithful. When I meditate on these virtues, I must ask myself whether I am living up to them or not and if I need the strength of St. Joseph to show me the way. He was not a knight or a great warrior, yet he is called valiant for his heroic nature in protecting the Virgin Mary and Jesus, especially during the flight to Egypt when they were in such great danger and uncertainty. St. Joseph was valiant in a way that any one of us has the ability to be, in sacrificing and caring for those that we love. Are we willing to stand against the Herods of the world for the good of our family, to leave the comfort of a familiar life that we know and follow God’s call? St. Joseph was always faithful to the will of God, obeying immediately the counsel of the angel, first when told to take Mary into his home, then when told to flee to a foreign land and finally to return after what must have been many years away. He didn’t question or hesitate; he didn’t hedge his bets in case things went sour. He followed his own vocation, using the skills God had given him to provide for and protect the family which had been put into his care. God also formed each one of us with specific strengths and inclinations, knowing the trials that we would be facing in our lives, and the Lord gives certain people into our care, whether by a physical or spiritual relationship, and asks us to do His will in supporting them. Christ lives in all of us, and we are all called to care for Christ in others, as St. Joseph cared for the Christ Child on earth. Terror of Demons and the Protector of the Holy Church are among my favorites of St. Joseph’s titles, and are we not, by virtue of our baptism, called to be the same? If we aimed to live in such a way as to make the demons tremble, we would be well on our way to the holiness needed to reach heaven, which should be the goal for all of us. St. Joseph lived in daily communion with Jesus and with the Blessed Virgin Mary, and surely it was this sanctifying grace that made him so terrifying to the devil. In scripture, demons shuddered and fled at just the name of Jesus, and here we are able to be living tabernacles and carry Him with us by receiving the Eucharist. Evil should indeed be terrified of us every time that we receive Holy Communion. As members of Christ’s Holy Church, we are also meant to be its protectors, fighting and defending it against the heresies of the world. Perhaps that means speaking out when we experience untruth, propaganda or slander against the Church and God’s teachings. Perhaps that means being silent but loving witnesses to the Truth, as St. Joseph was. But let us always strive to be courageous in defending God’s Church and the Body of Christ. This Lent, I encourage you to take the time to pray the Litany of St. Joseph, to invite this great saint into your life and ask him to share his many virtues and love of Jesus and Mary with you. KATHRYN EVANS is an author living in Salisbury, where she keeps chickens, experiments with cooking, and reads too many books. Find her work at www.evanswriting.com, including her book, “An Adult-ish Toolkit: 30 Things I Have Learned in 30 Years.”

Letters to the editor

Church should be a welcoming community Most Catholics who attend Sunday Mass do not know the names of more than a few of the people praying with them. This affects the quality of the worship we give to God, the Father of our Church family, and the Body of Christ of which each of us is a vital member. As we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Diocese of Charlotte, let us resolve to introduce ourselves to one new family every Sunday, before or after Mass. We are not individual Catholics fulfilling our Sunday “obligation.” We are brothers and sisters of Jesus building relationships in our Church community of faith. At St. John’s first epistle 4:20 says: “Whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” Let us begin to build, together on this earth, the City of God where love reigns! A first step is to respond to Pope Francis’ invitation to every lay member of the Church

to learn synodality by listening deeply to each other, and share our best and worst experiences of being Catholic, leading to Church renewal. FATHER JOHN HOOVER lives at New Creation Monastery in Mount Holly.

A moving photo and story Your Feb. 25 story, “Community rallies after loss of Catholic Charities volunteer, Afghan refugee,” featured such a moving and poignant photo. The embrace of the two grieving widowers, Ahmad Rasoul and Peter Fernandez, said so much about mourning, comfort, heartbreak and consolation. So many of the beatitudes wrapped up in their brotherhood, in the stories of their beautiful wives who brought them together. The accompanying article reflected love’s light amidst the darkness. God bless all touched by the lives of these two families. ANNE MCDONALD COCHRAN lives in Indian Trail.

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‘Cling to the word of God like Jesus, and at most answer always with the word of God. And on this path, we will never go wrong.’ Pope Francis

From online story: “True freedom found in sharing, not possessing, pope says” Through press time on March 9, 6,438 visitors to www.catholicnewsherald.com have viewed a total of 9,655 pages. The top 10 headlines in March so far have been: n The customs of Ash Wednesday..............................................................................................................................................358 n Community rallies after loss of Catholic Charities’ volunteer, Afghan refugee..........................................................312 n Pilgrim image of Mary to visit 100-plus sites across diocese this year.......................................................................307 n Seeking God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving........................................................................................................ 267 n View the current print edition of the Catholic News Herald.............................................................................................251 n Parishes, groups begin local Synod conversations............................................................................................................245 n Ukrainian bishop leads prayers for peace during Charlotte visit...................................................................................203 n For Ash Wednesday, priests will ‘sprinkle’ ashes on heads again................................................................................... 197 n St. Katharine Drexel has local connection; Feast day March 3........................................................................................164 n Sacred Heart students embrace several acts of charity...................................................................................................147

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catholicnewsherald.com | March 11, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

THE BISHOP’S YOUTH

PILGRIMAGE

Faith More Precious Than Gold

APRIL 9, 2022 9:00AM-3:00PM

REGISTER ONLINE AT GOEUCHARIST.COM Bishop Peter J. Jugis invites middle and high school youth to join him at Belmont Abbey for a day of prayer and adoration of our Eucharistic Lord. The Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage is graciously hosted by Belmont Abbey College and Monastery and provides youth with an experience of the Catholic faith with uplifting music and dynamic speakers. The Youth Pilgrimage is the perfect

GOLD

$15/person, includes lunch

CIO P R1EPETER 1:7 US T

COST

opportunity to prepare the way for the Eucharistic Congress. FA I T H MO

goeucharist.com