May 27, 2022

May 27, 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

Maggie Valley parish celebrates anniversary of founding pastor’s ordination 10

Marian art series continues with ‘The Koimesis’ 11 El ciclo de arte mariano continúa con ‘La Koimesis’ 21 FUNDED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU!

Praying for peace In wake of recent mass shootings, churches and schools in the Diocese of Charlotte join the Church’s call to pray for an end to the violence

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish celebrates 80th anniversary

Con fiesta regional recordaron a la Virgen de la Encarnación

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‘Unity in diversity’

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Lending a hand Church responds as baby formula shortage hits food pantries, agencies 4

At a glance 2

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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May 27, 2022 Volume 31 • NUMBER 17

things you need to know this week

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

Upcoming events for Bishop Peter J. Jugis:

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

MAY 27 – 5 P.M. Charlotte Catholic High School Graduation Bojangles Coliseum, Charlotte

INDEX

Contact us.....................................2 Español....................................... 16-21 Our Faith........................................3 Our diocese.............................. 4-9 Scripture readings................. 3, 19 Arts & Entertainment.................23 U.S. news.....................................24 Viewpoints.............................26-27 World news................................. 25

COMMEMORATE MEMORIAL DAY: 1 Americans celebrate Memorial Day to recognize all U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

We mourn their loss and honor their sacrifice on the last Monday of May, which falls on May 30 this year. Attend Mass (St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte will offer a special Mass at 11 a.m.), visit a cemetery, or participate in a public Memorial Day observance.

PRAY FOR GRADUATES: Graduations are more than just photo ops with caps and gowns. They signal moving on to that next stage in life. Pray that our high school graduates continue to deepen their faith by participating in campus ministry, seeking out young adult groups or outreach ministries at a parish, signing up for a Bible study, or just staying close to the sacraments as they navigate adulting.

day of obligation, many dioceses – including here in the Diocese of Charlotte – have transferred the feast to the next Sunday to enable more people to attend Mass.

LEARN ABOUT ST. 4 CHARLES LWANGA: Charles Lwanga was a Ugandan convert to the Catholic Church who was martyred with a group of his peers in 1886. His feast day is celebrated on June 3. Read more about his amazing witness at www. catholicnewsherald.com.

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Subscribe today! Call:

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 HISPANIC COMMUNICATIONS REPORTER: Cesar Hurtado, 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

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

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

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

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

ASCENSION THURSDAY IS THIS SUNDAY: Wait, what? Let’s explain: The Feast of the Ascension is celebrated on the sixth Thursday after Easter – exactly 40 days after Easter Sunday – to commemorate Jesus’ ascension into heaven as witnessed by His disciples at the village of Bethany, near Jerusalem, and recorded in the Book of Acts (1:6-12). But because it is a holy

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READ ABOUT MARY OUR MOTHER: In this 50th anniversary year, as we honor Mary, the Mother of God, in our diocese, why not grow closer to her by reading about her life, her apparitions throughout history and her officially documented intercession across the ages? Catholic publishers offer books for all age levels. Try www.avemariapress.com, www. catholiccompany.com, www.tanbooks.com or www.ignatiuspress.com.

— www.catholiconline.org, www.wikipedia.com and www.ussb.org contributed.

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MAY 31 – 5 P.M. Christ the King Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass St. Mark Church, Huntersville JUNE 2 – 12 P.M. Foundation Board Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte JUNE 4 – 10 A.M. Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate St. Mark Church, Huntersville JUNE 7 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. James Church, Concord JUNE 9 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation Holy Spirit Church, Denver JUNE 11 – 9 A.M. Diocesan Synod Meeting St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Diocesan calendar of events ESPAÑOL VIGILIA DE LOS DOS CORAZONES: 8 p.m. ViernesSabado, Junio 3-4. 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.

PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS WOMEN’S 85TH CURSILLO WEEKEND: July 14-17, St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Road, Charlotte MEN’S 83RD CURSILLO WEEKEND: July 21-24, Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury VIGIL OF THE TWO HEARTS: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, June 3-4, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. An overnight vigil is offered twice each month to honor the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to offer penance and pray for the conversion of our nation. To sign up for Eucharistic Adoration times, go to www.prolifecharlotte.org/two-hearts.

MARY’S SONS KNEELERS: May 23-30: St. Leo Church, Winston-Salem, May 30-June 10: St. Mark Church, June 10-17: St. Patrick Cathedral, and June 18 (ordination day): St. Mark Church, Huntersville. For more information about Mary’s Sons kneelers, visit www.

MarysSons.org.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING PROTECTING CHILDREN: Protecting God’s Children (Protegiendo a los Niños de Dios) workshops educate parish volunteers to recognize and prevent child sexual abuse. For details, contact your parish office. To register for online training, go to www.virtus.org. Upcoming workshops: HUNTERSVILLE: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 25, Mark Church (Parish Center Room 220), 14740 Stumptown Road 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.

RETREATS EAST MEETS WEST RETREAT – ‘UNSEEN WARFARE IN THE EASTERN CHRISTIAN TRADITION’: 6 p.m. FridaySaturday, June 17-18, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. A program of Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke Ukrainian Catholic Mission. Retreat led by Father Ivan Chirovsky, who will present three talks on spiritual warfare in the Eastern Christian tradition and give the homily at Divine Liturgy (Mass) at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 19. He is a priest of St. Josaphat Eparchy and director of spiritual formation at Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh. The retreat is free and open to all. An offering is suggested. For details, contact ucmcanton@gmail.com.

WORKSHOPS ‘CATHOLICS & THE DEATH PENALTY’: 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, June 6, webinar with criminal defense attorney James Cooney, who will share his work on death penalty cases and his work with death row inmate Alan Gell, wrongfully convicted and eventually exonerated after being in prison for nearly a decade. Deacon Clarke Cochran will discuss what Catholic social teaching says about the death penalty. Learn about Catholic groups working to abolish the death penalty, as well as how you can get involved.

Sponsored by the St. Peter Social Justice Ministry. To sign up, go to https://forms.gle/semGAv5tDnWA89vw5.

Our faith

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Roman martyrs Sts. Marcellinus and Peter remembered June 2 On June 2, the Catholic Church remembers two fourthclear away a tangle of thorns and briars, which the two men did century martyrs, Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, who were highly cheerfully, accepting their death with joy. venerated after the discovery of their tomb and the conversion Both men were beheaded in the forest and buried in the of their executioner. clearing they had made. The location of the saints’ bodies Although the biographical details of these two martyrs are largely unknown, it is known that they lived and died during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. In 302, the ruler changed his tolerant stance towards Christians and pursued a brutal policy intended to eliminate the Church from the empire.

Diocletian and his subordinate ordered the burning of Catholic churches and their sacred texts, as well as the imprisonment and torture of clergy and laypersons. His goal was to force Christians to submit to the Roman pagan religion, including the worship of the emperor himself as divine.

It was at the mid-point of this persecution, around 303, that a Roman exorcist by the name of Peter was imprisoned for his faith. While in prison, tradition holds that Peter freed Paulina, the daughter of the prisonIllumination from the Passionary of Weissenau (c. 1170-1200) by Frater Rufillus, depicting the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and keeper Artemius, from Marcellinus demonic influence by his prayers.

This demonstration of Christ’s power over demons is said to remained unknown for some time, until a devout woman have brought about the conversion of Paulina, Artemius, his named Lucilla received a revelation informing her where the wife and the entire household – all of whom were baptized by priest and exorcist lay. the Roman priest Marcellinus.

With the assistance of another woman, Firmina, Lucilla After this, both Marcellinus and Peter were called before a recovered the two saints’ bodies and had them re-interred in judge who was determined to enforce the emperor’s decree the Roman Catacombs. Sts. Marcellinus and Peter are among against the Church. When Marcellinus testified courageously the saints named in the Western Church’s most traditional to his faith in Christ, he was beaten, stripped of his clothes and Eucharistic Prayer, the Roman Canon. deprived of food in a dark cell filled with broken glass shards.

Pope St. Damasus I, who was himself a great devotee of the Peter, too, was returned to his confinement. But neither man Church’s saints during his life, composed an epitaph to mark would deny Christ, and both preferred death over submission the tombs of the two martyrs. The source of his knowledge, to the cult of pagan worship. he said, was the executioner himself, who had subsequently It was arranged for the two men to be executed secretly, to repented and joined the Catholic Church. prevent the faithful from gathering in prayer and veneration — Benjamin Mann, Catholic News Agency at the place of their burial. Their executioner forced them to

Daily Scripture readings MAY 29-JUNE 4

Sunday: Acts 7:55-60, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20, John 17:20-26; Monday: Acts 19:1-8, John 16:29-33; Tuesday (The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary): Zephaniah 3:1418, Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 1:39-56; Wednesday (St. Justin): Acts 20:28-38, John 17:11b-19; Thursday (Sts. Marcellinus and Peter): Acts 22:30, 23:6-11, John 17:20-26; Friday (St. Charles Lwanga and Companions): Acts 25:13b-21, John 21:15-19; Saturday: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31, John 21:20-25

JUNE 5-11

Sunday (Pentecost Sunday): Acts 2:1-11, 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13, John 20:19-23; Monday (The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church): Genesis 3:9-15, John 19:2534; Tuesday: 1 Kings 17:7-16, Matthew 5:13-16; Wednesday: 1 Kings 18:20-39, Matthew 5:1719; Thursday (St. Ephrem): 1 Kings 18:41-46, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday: 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-16, Matthew 5:27-32; Saturday (St. Barnabas): Acts 11:21b-26, 13:1-3, Matthew 5:33-37

JUNE 12-18

Sunday (The Most Holy Trinity): Proverbs 8:22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15; Monday (St. Anthony of Padua): 1 Kings 21:1-16, Matthew 5:38-42; Tuesday: 1 Kings 21:17-29, Matthew 5:43-48; Wednesday: 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday: Sirach 48:1-14, Matthew 6:7-15; Friday: 2 Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20, Matthew 6:19-23; Saturday: 2 Chronicles 24:17-25, Matthew 6:24-34

Pope Francis

Elderly must share life’s wisdom with the young

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eeing all the violence and injustice in the world, people easily grow disillusioned and wonder about the meaning of life, but Christians must fight the temptation of weariness with faith and a passion for justice, Pope Francis said.

Progress in science and technology and knowledge in general continues to advance, but “the wisdom of life is something else entirely, and it seems to be stalled,” the pope said May 25 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

‘Elders rich in wisdom and humor do so much good to the young,’ Continuing his series of talks about old age, the pope looked at the Bible’s Book of Ecclesiastes and its refrain, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.”

Especially as they get older, the pope said, people naturally ask if their lives have made any difference and if anyone is capable of showing the difference between the just and the unjust.

The Christian response cannot be resignation or giving in to weariness, which early Christian monks identified as the vice of “sloth,” he said.

The author of Ecclesiastes, he said, reflects on how easy it is to grow disillusioned with life and to give up the struggle to make the world a better place, but the author also insists the best remedy is to “fear God and keep His commandments.”

“Elders rich in wisdom and humor do so much good to the young,” the pope insisted. “They save them from the temptation of a grim worldly knowledge devoid of the wisdom of life. And also, these elders bring young people back to Jesus’ promise, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’”

The pope, who is 85, said he and every other older person has “a very great mission in the world,” which is to “sow hunger and thirst for righteousness in the young.”

“It is no accident that ours is the season of fake news, collective superstitions and pseudo-scientific truths,” the pope said.

The only antidote is the wisdom that comes from devotion to God and to doing God’s will, he said.

Our diocese 4

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Vineyard of Hope raises over $118K for critical services CHARLOTTE — Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte held its 19th annual Vineyard of Hope gala in person April 21 at Sonesta Charlotte.

More than $118,000 was raised for Catholic Charities’ efforts to strengthen families, build communities and reduce poverty in the Charlotte region.

The annual gathering is an opportunity to raise funds for critical services needed in the community, to celebrate the life-changing work that has been accomplished over the past year, and to honor someone in the community who has made a difference.

This year’s Fruit of the Vine Award recipient was Coleman Russell, a volunteer with Catholic Charities for nearly three years. The Homemakers of Mercy were recognized as Volunteers of the Year. This group of more than 80 people in the Charlotte area helps collect home furnishings, sets up apartments and living spaces for Catholic Charities’ participants and makes each participant feel at home in their new surroundings.

To learn more about Catholic Charities and how to donate or get involved, go online to www. ccdoc.org.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

Our Lady of Consolation’s gospel choir will compete June 4 GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte will compete in the “How Sweet The Sound” Gospel Music Competition at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. The OLC choir will compete in the small choir finale against three other choirs. In a prior appearance they made it to the semifinals. “We are excited to represent our church and our Catholic faith to others,” says Deborah Bond, OLC choir chair. For more information, go online to www. howsweetthesound.com.

— Our Lady of Consolation Church

Erika Aguerrido, 42, member of La Colaborativa, checks out with 20 cans of formula as they gather formula supplies for the upcoming pantry openings in Chelsea, Mass., May 20. A shortage of baby formula sparked by supply chain problems and a major product recall have prompted Church and other aid agencies to respond in meeting the need.

JOSEPH PREZIOSO | AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Church responds as baby formula shortage hits families CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD STAFF

CHARLOTTE — A nationwide shortage of baby formula – coupled with rising prices – is putting pressure on mothers in need and the support agencies who serve them.

“The mothers we serve are very concerned about the baby formula shortage,” said Debbie Capen, executive director of MiraVia, which assists pregnant and young mothers in need in the Charlotte area.

For the past few weeks, agencies like MiraVia and Catholic Charities have been fielding inquiries about finding or donating baby formula. Parishes are also responding with formula drives and search networking.

National out-of-stock rates for baby formula soared to 45% for the week ending May 15, up from 43% the week earlier, according to the Virginia-based pricing data firm Datasembly.

The empty shelves – where gaps first emerged in July 2021 – are due to “inflation, supply chain shortages and product recalls,” Ben Reich, the company’s founder and CEO, told CatholicPhilly. com, the news outlet for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The shortage was triggered after one of the nation’s four major producers of formula – accounting for a little over 40% of the nation’s supply – was shut down in February.

Abbott Nutrition, maker of the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brands, issued a volunteer product recall, flagging powdered infant formulas from its Sturgis, Mich., plant after complaints of bacterial infections in four infants, two of whom later died. The facility has largely been shuttered pending FDA clearance to resume operations.

Meanwhile, the cost of formula has skyrocketed. In 2019, name brand baby formula cost parents anywhere from 9 cents to 32 cents per ounce, but the price has soared to a range of 54 cents to $1.15 per ounce or higher, reports the New York-based consumer financial research firm SmartAsset.

Mothers with limited financial means are most vulnerable to these price increases.

They can get help through the federal government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and FORMULA, SEE PAGE 22

Food pantries call for donations to feed families this summer SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

Baby clothes drive held MARION — Our Lady of the Angels Mission organized a summer baby clothes collection drive during the month of April. The initiative IN BRIEF, SEE PAGE 6

CHARLOTTE — Thousands of children will soon be home from school for the summer and facing food insecurity. And this year, inflation is taking a toll on many working families who are struggling with difficult decisions about how to use their limited financial resources.

In response, Catholic Charities is gearing up to provide nutritious food

and essential supplies to families in need this summer through its food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem.

Last year Catholic Charities provided 553,889 pounds of food to 9,918 people in need across western North Carolina, and the charitable agency is calling for help again this year – especially given the increased need.

“In the last four months, with inflation and rising gas and food prices, we’re serving 150 to 170 families on the second Tuesday of each month (at the Woodfin

Community Center), which is around 600 people in just two hours,” says Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities’ western region director in Asheville.

Individual donations at all three food pantry locations are always welcome, as is collections from food drives organized by parishes, schools and groups. For large donations, please schedule a dropoff in advance by calling 828-255-0146 in Asheville, 704-370-3228 in Charlotte, or FOOD, SEE PAGE 22

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Christ the King High School building project makes progress HUNTERSVILLE — The Christ the King Catholic High School community is getting its first glimpse of the new Fulford Athletic & Activity Complex. The facility is taking shape with more than 1,458,000 pounds of concrete now having been poured and 83.3 tons of steel going up for the building’s supporting structure.

The 21,800-square-foot building will include a full-size court and two cross courts in the gymnasium, expanded seating for more than 720 spectators, men’s and women’s locker rooms for home and visiting teams, and athletic director and trainers’ offices. The gymnasium will also be home to a full-size stage with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems for student performances and school-wide events.

This is the second major expansion in the high school’s 10-year history. The $6.6 million expansion project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

7,000 Catholics make their voices heard as local Church engages in synod SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — Over the past five months, thousands of people across the Diocese of Charlotte have taken part in nearly 350 listening sessions as part of the Church’s worldwide conversation on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”

Dr. Alessandro Rovati, department chair and assistant professor of theology at Belmont Abbey College, was appointed by Bishop Peter Jugis to serve as the official contact person for the diocesan phase of the unprecedented worldwide synod.

Last fall Rovati reached out to all 92 parishes and missions, schools and colleges, auxiliary groups, lay movements, third orders, charitable ministries, religious communities, minority communities, immigrant populations, campus and youth ministries, and more.

Local listening sessions started in January. To date, more than 6,000 people have participated in synod discussions across the diocese. Another 1,000 people responded to the survey questions online.

“I sat in on almost 30 sessions across the diocese,” Rovati said. “I tried to visit as many places as I could. I got to meet people, to listen to them and rejoice in the many testimonies which were shared.”

He reports that across the diocese discussions so far have included: 67 parishes and missions; 17 diocesan offices and ministries (including Catholic Schools and Campus Ministry); two religious orders (the Sisters of Mercy of Belmont and the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey), in addition to 18 lay associations, apostolates and groups.

As of May 20, Rovati has received 100 reports from the synod discussions so far and expects to receive at least 50 more.

“What is impressive is that behind these numbers are people who took time to consider the questions and share their testimonies and comments,” Rovati said.

Rovati noted that he has already begun sharing some of his findings with Bishop Jugis.

He will present a preliminary report at a common gathering scheduled for June 11 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte. The gathering will include the bishop as well as representatives of the different groups, who will have an opportunity to share some of the key results and testimonies from their listening sessions.

Looking back over the local synod process that is unfolding, Rovati emphasized, “It’s really moving that so many people expressed a desire to go deeper in a life of faith, to entrust their comments to the Church community and to respond to call of Bishop Jugis and the pope.”

A summary or “synthesis” of the diocesan-level synod will be sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops by June 30. The USCCB will then send a synthesis of all the U.S. dioceses’ work to the Vatican.

For more information At www.charlottediocese.org/synod2023: Learn more about the Synod 2021-2023

SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Faithful urged to pray for life, support moms in need SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to release its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson in June – potentially reversing the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states and instead returning abortion legislation back to the states.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization is a case that considers the constitutionality of a Mississippi state law limiting abortion after 15 weeks’ gestation.

The Mississippi law presents a direct challenge to the legal rule established in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) that says states cannot ban abortion before a fetus is viable – that is, when the unborn child can survive outside the womb.

A leak of the draft of the court’s opinion was published by Politico May 2. The draft indicated that a majority of the Supreme Court justices will rule to overturn Roe v. Wade. This has caused a flurry of heated protests by pro-abortion advocates, including protests in front of the private homes of the justices who have reportedly signed on to the majority decision.

The Diocese of Charlotte Office of Family Life is asking clergy and the faithful of the diocese to give a pro-life “White Rose Witness” on Wednesday, June 1. Everyone is encouraged to wear a white rose or an image of a white rose on their clothing that day, and to share their pro-life views when questioned about the symbol. Prayer and fasting that day for the legal protection of all human life – from conception to natural death – is also recommended.

Parishes are invited to offer Mass or a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration for the intention of legal protection of the right to life of all unborn children.

“This effort is a concrete way for our diocese to give prayerful pro-life witness as we await a decision from the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson,” said Father Peter Ascik, director of the Office of Family Life.

“It is a response to recent calls from USCCB prolife chairman Archbishop William Lori and USCCB

president Archbishop Jose Gomez for increased prayer and fasting in light of the leaked opinion and increased demonstrations by pro-abortion forces,” he said.

Bishop Peter Jugis, in a recent letter to diocesan clergy, addressed current events surrounding the Dobbs decision and our responsibilities as Catholics.

“No matter what is decided, however, it is important to remember that the Church’s work to protect the dignity of all human life continues. To that end, we must redouble our efforts to assist women in choosing life for their unborn children,” he wrote.

Bishop Jugis encouraged clergy to consider strengthening and expanding parish efforts to assist pregnant and parenting women in meaningful ways.

He provided information from the Office of Family Life about the USCCB’s “Walking with Moms in Need” program, designed especially for parishes to find new ways to reach out and address the needs of struggling mothers in the community.

The nation’s Catholic bishops launched the nationwide effort in March 2020 with a yearlong initiative.

The “Walking With Moms in Need” program uses a template to guide a parish in creating a list of local resources for mothers in need in the community. The guide is shared with the parish, so everyone knows where to refer moms in need.

Parishes determine how best to use their talents to “fill the gaps” and make a meaningful contribution toward building a culture of support for moms and families.

St. Matthew Church in Charlotte and St. Pius X Church in Greensboro already have active “Walking With Moms in Need” ministries.

— Catholic News Service contributed.

Learn more Find detailed information about how your parish can assist mothers and children in need at www.walkingwithmoms.com.

Questions? Contact the Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Family Life at 704-808-4507 or email familylife@rcdoc.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Office of Family Life Part-Time Administrative Support Specialist The mission of the Office of Family Life is to promote the teaching of the Catholic Church on marriage, family life, and respect for human life through education and outreach. The administrative support specialist will support this mission by providing administrative and clerical support to the activities and personnel of the Office of Family Life. This includes assistance in planning, publicity, communication, and execution of events sponsored by the Office, maintaining files and records, processing fees and stipends, and other activities as needed. The administrative support specialist will also provide bi-lingual support in Spanish and English for Office communications as needed. Strong organizational skills and a commitment to promoting the teachings of the Catholic Church are important for this job.

Interested candidates can send resumes to: recruiting@rcdoc.org.

SCREENGRAB FROM ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE SEMINARY VIDEO

Seminarians receive cassocks CHARLOTTE — St. Joseph College Seminary’s nine graduates received their Roman cassocks and collars after Mass at St. Ann Church in Charlotte May 15 – symbolizing their move up to major seminary and the next step in their ongoing formation for the priesthood. The nine men donning the Roman cassock and collar are Brad Loftin, Bryan Ilagor, Clement Akerblom, John Cuppett, Max Frei, Michael Camilleri, Michael Lugo, Peter Townsend and Robbie Bauman. They will continue theology studies at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati this fall.

At www.youtube.com/StJosephCollegeSeminaryDioceseofCharlotte: Watch the full video of the seminarians receiving their cassocks, produced by Bridget O’Boyle

Deacon, priest ordinations set for June 4, 18

Your Life’s Journey… how will you be remembered?

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

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.

CHARLOTTE — Five men are preparing for ordination next month, including two men who will become priests for the Diocese of Charlotte.

Darren Balkey and Aaron Huber will be ordained to the priesthood Saturday, Balkey June 18, during a special Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis starting at 10 a.m. at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Deacon Balkey is a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury. Deacon Huber is a member of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Waynesville.

Two weeks earlier, three of their fellow seminarians will take the next step in their formation for the priesthood when they will be ordained deacons. Bishop Jugis will celebrate the ordination Mass at 10 a.m.

Saturday, June 4, at St. Mark Church.

Seminarians Christopher Brock of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte, and Peter Rusciolelli of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte will be ordained.

Huber Everyone is invited to attend the ordination Masses to be held June 4 and June 18.

St. Mark Church is located at 14740 Stumptown Road in Huntersville.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

IN BRIEF

residents of the Margate Skilled Nursing facility as well as parishioners at Forest Ridge, Generations and other senior living communities in the area. Jim Kuszai, Pat Moran, Veronica Guzman and Blanca Juarez-Alejos, and Youth Group members Jaciell Palacios, Briana Angel-Lopez, Brenda AngelLopez, Anthony Garcia, Diana Ibarra-Orduna and Joshua Garcia participated. Parishioners donated items for the baskets. Due to the generous donations, baskets of treats were also provided for the Margate staff.

FROM PAGE 4

was organized to support the McDowell Pregnancy Care Center in Marion, which assists women in unexpected pregnancies. Pictured are Lizette Lampe (left), coordinator of Our Lady of the Angels Respect Life Committee, and Denise McCormick (right), director of the center after receiving the donated items.

— Lizette Lampe and Mike FitzGerald, correspondent

Easter baskets bring cheer to Jefferson area seniors JEFFERSON — Under the direction of Janine Budreau, St. Francis of Assisi parishioners put together and delivered 118 Easter baskets for

Coming in June Look for full coverage of both ordinations online at www.catholicnewsherald.com and in the June 24 print edition of the Catholic News Herald.

— Patrick Hession, correspondent

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

7

Moody retires as Holy Angels CEO after 40 years After June 30 Moody plans to spend more time with her husband of 44 years and her son’s young family.

“I’m looking forward to traveling, spending time with my family, playing golf and just enjoying life. (But) Holy Angels is my mission and my ministry. I am grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to lead, serve and care for the people we are called to serve our residents, their families, our dedicated staff and board of directors and the many volunteers and supporters who all care deeply for Holy Angels. It’s

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

BELMONT — Regina Moody has worked tirelessly for the differently able residents of Holy Angels for the past 40 years as both chief executive officer and president of the nonprofit as it has grown and developed.

On June 30 Moody will retire as CEO, yet still maintain an office on campus and continue to serve as president – using her experience and expertise in fundraising, marketing, public relations, special projects and Holy Angels business enterprises toward the organization’s continued growth, including a large-scale anticipated expansion of the campus in 2023.

“It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to lead Holy Angels and love the children, women and men that we serve,” Moody said. “Holy Angels isn’t just part of my life, but it is part of me, and I plan to continue serving this organization for as long as I am able.”

Kerri Massey, a devoted and faithful member of Holy Angels’ leadership team, will assume the role of CEO beginning July 1. She has 24 years of experience with Holy Angels, currently serving as its executive vice president and chief operating officer.

Since 2021, she has been transitioning into the leadership role under Moody’s tutelage.

Moody noted, “I have the utmost faith in Kerri as she takes the reins and

been a very rewarding both personally and professionally,” Moody said.

— Holy Angels contributed.

What is Holy Angels?

Holy Angels provides the highest quality care for differently abled children and adults, some with delicate medical conditions.

To donate to Holy Angels, go to www.

HolyAngelsNC.org. Questions about how you can get involved? Call 704-825-4161.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY HOLY ANGELS

Kerri Massey (left) will succeed Regina Moody (right) as CEO of Holy Angels effective July 1. responsibilities of CEO. She’s already shown an immense passion for Holy Angels in her decades of service. I know that enthusiasm will carry into her CEO leadership.”

The chairman of Holy Angels’ board of directors, Hans Lengers, shared his immense appreciation for Moody’s four decades of leadership and unwavering support. “It would take days to detail how much Regina has truly impacted Holy Angels, our differently able residents and the greater community. Her dedication and compassion have exceeded every expectation. We’re grateful that she’ll continue to play an integral role with our organization and we look forward to welcoming Kerri as our next CEO.”

THE ORATORY Center for Spirituality 434 Charlotte Avenue, P.O. Box 11586 Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586 rockhilloratory.org

(803) 327-2097

oratorycenter@gmail.com

Summer Bible Institute July 11- 14, 2022 This year’s Summer Bible Institute will be available both in-person and online. Please indicate your option when registering.

Schedule New Testament Tim Carmody Our Father / Our Bread: The Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Matthew Mornings: 9:30am – 11:30am

His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte requests the honor of your presence at the Liturgy of Ordination to the Diaconate Mr. Christopher Anthony Brock Mr. Chukwunonso Arthur Nnebe-Agumadu Mr. Peter Michael Rusciolelli Saturday, the fourth day of June Two thousand twenty-two at 10 o’clock in the morning Saint Mark Catholic Church 14740 Stumptown Road Huntersville, North Carolina Reception immediately following Parish Hall

Old Testament Alice Camille More Shiny Bits of Scripture Evenings: 7:00pm – 9:00pm

Registration Please register by email to: oratorycenter@gmail.com and include – • The course(s) you are signing up for • Your format option (in-person or online) • Indicate housing needs

Program Costs • $25 for an individual session • $100 for a complete course (Old or New Testament) • $175 for both courses Room & Board: $50 per night A limited number of overnight accommodations are available.

Payment Options and Information • Cash • Check payable to The Oratory Center for Spirituality (PO Box 11586, Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586) • Credit Card www.rockhilloratory.org/Donation/CenterforSpirituality More information available at www.rockhilloratory.org/Center for Spirituality/Events or by calling 803-327-2097

8

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Waging Penny Wars for a good cause GASTONIA — Students at St. Michael School count the money raised recently during six weeks of “Penny Wars.” Students in each grade competed for points by donating change. A penny was one point, and paper money was face value, so a dollar bill was worth 100 points. Silver coins were negative points that could be put into the box of another class. In all, the school raised $2,179.71, which was donated to Wells of Salvation, a Cross Catholic Outreach program that provides clean water, safe sanitation and Catholic education for communities in need in Ghana, Malawi and Zambia. The fifth-grade class had the most points, and the seventh-grade class raised the most money, earning both classes a pizza party.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL

Seventh-grader takes third at state science fair GASTONIA — Benedict Imparato, a seventh-grader at St. Michael School, shows the medal he brought home from the N.C. Student Academy of Science’s recent annual science fair. He won third place in middle school biology with his experiment on how sunlight affects the speed at which a Venus fly trap closes. Previously, “Watch Out for That Trap: Timing Venus Flytraps Exposed to Different Amounts of Light” won second place at the St. Michael School Science Fair, then took first place in the junior biological sciences category at the Regional Science Fair at UNC-Charlotte.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL

Student to attend leadership camp GASTONIA — Connie Okonkwo, an eighth-grader at St. Michael School, is attending the Junior Beta Summer Leadership Conference free of charge – thanks to one of two scholarships from the Junior National Beta’s Alumni Association. At the five-day camp in Greeneville, Tenn., this July, Okonkwo and other Junior Beta Club members will experience hands-on, adventure-filled activities that incorporate leadership skills, from canoeing and archery to using creative problem-solving techniques for collaboration. The National Beta Club is an independent, non-profit youth organization that promotes academic achievement, character, service and leadership in students in elementary and high schools. Junior Beta Club members are in grades 4-8.

Planned Giving Officer The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time Planned Giving Officer who reports to the Director of Planned Giving. The successful candidate must have an undergraduate degree and a minimum of 5 years’ experience in fundraising; experience in carrying out gift planning programs preferred; extensive fundraising experience may be substituted for a completed undergraduate degree.

Responsibilities include assisting parishioners throughout the diocese to develop and implement long range financial plans for their benefit, the benefit of their family, their parish, diocesan entities and/or the diocese itself. Additional responsibilities include working directly with parishes to develop planned giving committees.

Please submit resume by June 17, 2022 to: Gina Rhodes – Director of Planned Giving gmrhodes@rcdoc.org or by mail to 1123 South Church Street – Charlotte, NC 28203 The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. MICHAEL SCHOOL

Please pray for the following deacons who died during the month of May: John Doyle

5/16/1992

Josef Vandermeer

5/19/2000

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

9

Celebrating the sacraments

AMBER MELLON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Children at St. Elizabeth Church in Boone received their First Holy Communion May 14. They are pictured with their pastor, Father Brendan Buckler.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY RUTH CHARLESWORTH AND CRAIG ALLEN

Children at Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville received their First Holy Communion during Mass May 15 offered by Father Alex Ayala, pastor. The children then crowned a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pictured with Father Ayala and their teacher, Silvia Rivera, are: Maximiliano Colondrea, Karoline Suggs, Freidi Renteria Cortes, Yasmin Renteria Cortes, Chago Renteria Cortes, Alexis Mozqueda and Sandra Fonsera.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CONNIE RIES

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CONNIE RIES

Young people at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville received the sacrament of confirmation May 11 during a Mass offered by Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor. Confirmed were: Aiden Bennett, Riley Bennett, Maria Isabel Colunga, Caden Connolly, Dionicio Coronado Jr., Tania Echeverria, Riley Grant, Jasmine Gregorio, Kevin Grimaldi, Yarely Lopez, Yoselyn Lopez , Ashley Mancia-Pleitez, Annaliese Passant, Emely Perez Garcia, Daniel Pina, Katelyn Rinehimer, Valeria Salcedo, Kathy Garcia, Braeden Staples, Tomas Trevino, Tony Trifaro, Alan Vallejo, Christopher Vallejo and Manuel Vivas-Joya.

On April 30 Father Thomas J. Kessler, pastor, celebrated the sacrament of First Holy Communion at St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville. Immediately after Mass the 14 recipients participated in the crowning of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The ceremony was followed by a reception in the social hall for family and friends. Pictured are: (front row) Raúl Pérez García, Christian Villabona, Yeshua Medina, Bridget Trifaro, Jazlyn Ortiz, Jailyn CastilloAguilar and Julitza Villabona; and (back row) Ángel Geovany Carbajal Peña, Fernando Castillo-Aguilar, Donovan Pérez, Father Thomas J. Kessler, Jadiela Sophia Gonzalez, Sofia Pérez and Kate Dubon-Pleitez. Not pictured is Lisaleenne Ignacio.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY NICKI CONROY

Children at St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville received their First Holy Communion May 14. They are pictured with Father Paul McNulty, pastor.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KATHY MCKINNEY

Thirty-nine children at St. Luke Parish in Mint Hill received their First Holy Communion during two Masses celebrated May 14 by Father Paul Gary, pastor.

10

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 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:

HOLY ANGELS CATHOLIC CHURCH Friday-Monday, May 27-30 1208 N. Main St., Mount Airy, N.C. 27030

CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL BACCALAUREATE MASS 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 31 St. Mark Catholic Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078

DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE DIACONATE ORDINATION 10 a.m. Saturday, June 4 St. Mark Catholic Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078 The 50th anniversary pilgrim statue will be present for the June 4 ordination of three men as deacons – one of the steps on their formation journey to becoming priests for the Diocese of Charlotte in 2023. Being ordained are: Christopher Brock of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Charlotte, Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte, and Peter Rusciolelli of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Saturday-Thursday, June 4-9 512 W. Wainman Ave., Asheboro, N.C. 27203 For more information about these pilgrimage stops, go to the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary website, www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Margaret of Scotland Church, located in Maggie Valley, was built by Father Michael William Murphy before he became a priest. In 1972, he was ordained at the church by Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters, only a few months after the Diocese of Charlotte was founded. Father Murphy was 80 years old when he was ordained – likely the oldest man to be ordained in the United States at the time, and probably the first time in the United States that a man was ordained to the priesthood in a church that he himself had built. Also pictured is a painting of Father Murphy that hangs at the church, and his grave marker.

Maggie Valley parish celebrates anniversary of founding pastor’s ordination MAGGIE VALLEY — As part of the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary celebrations, members of St. Margaret of Scotland Parish recently gathered with their pastor, the Rev. Dr. W. Becket Soule, O.P., to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ordination of the first priest ordained in the diocese: Father Michael William Murphy.

Father Murphy helped found and build the church in Maggie Valley in the late 1960s, and his ordination to the priesthood at the church on Ascension Day – May 11, 1972 – was historic.

As the bishops and abbots present noted in their remarks at the time, Father Murphy was 80 years old when he was ordained – likely the oldest man to be ordained in the United States at the time, and probably the first time in the United States that a man was ordained to the priesthood in a church that he himself had built.

To commemorate this milestone, parishioners gathered on a warm spring evening May 11 to celebrate the anniversary, hear about the parish’s early history, and share stories to rekindle the vision of Father Murphy.

Murphy grew up on a berry farm near Detroit, rose to become a wealthy businessman, and came to North Carolina in 1950. He was a builder – concentrating his efforts on churches and structures

that gave glory to God. Throughout the next decade, the “Apostle of the Smokies” traveled about the mountain towns of Murphy, Sylva and Cullowhee, financing and leading construction of St. William Church, St. Mary, Mother of God Church and the Catholic Center on the campus of Western Carolina University.

Murphy bought 33 acres in Maggie Valley and converted a building on the site into a chapel that he furnished with religious items from his mother, the late Margaret Murphy.

He later received permission to build a church on the site from Bishop Vincent Waters of the Diocese of Raleigh, which encompassed all of North Carolina until the Charlotte diocese was founded in 1972.

St. Margaret of Scotland Church was consecrated on July 14, 1968, by Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, the Vatican’s apostolic delegate, assisted by Bishop Waters, Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler of Charleston, S.C., and Bishop John May (at the time auxiliary bishop of Chicago, but who became archbishop of Mobile later that year, and eventually archbishop of St. Louis).

During the consecration of the church, Murphy was also made a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a papal ANNIVERSARY, SEE PAGE 11

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ANNIVERSARY FROM PAGE 10

order of knighthood that recognizes extraordinary lay service to the Church on the recommendation of a diocesan bishop with the support of the apostolic delegate or papal nuncio.

Archbishop Raimondi said he hoped that the church would become “a mission center for the western part of the state.”

St. Margaret of Scotland Church remains a reflection of Murphy’s love for his mother, his love of the Catholic faith and his devotion to the Eucharist.

It was built large enough to seat 200 people, although there were only a handful of Catholics in Maggie Valley then. “I didn’t build this because of the demand,” Murphy said at the time. “I built it for the future – strong so it will last for ages. Someday, it will be full every Sunday.”

Now, the parish boasts more than 130 registered families.

As Bishop Waters oversaw Murphy’s various church building projects, he frequently urged the zealous layman to consider becoming a priest. Murphy had long wished to be a priest, since he was 3, but he later admitted he resisted God’s calling because he “was only a poor sinner and did not have much education.”

After prayerful discernment and support from Bishop Waters, Murphy studied at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in Indiana and on May 11, 1972, was ordained by Bishop Waters at the church in Maggie Valley.

The unusual ordination – of an 80-yearold priest in a small mountain church he had built himself – drew media coverage from all over the world.

After serving for a year at a parish along the North Carolina coast, Father Murphy returned to his beloved church in Maggie Valley, where he ministered until his retirement in 1984.

Father Murphy died on April 25, 1990, aged 98 in the rectory he had also built, but his legacy lives on in St. Margaret of Scotland Church, which remains an active and vibrant parish nestled amid the western North Carolina mountains.

— Catholic News Herald

More online At www.stmargaretofscotlandmv.org/ parish-history: Read more about Father Michael William Murphy’s work to establish a Catholic church in Maggie Valley, and his journey from lay missionary to founder and pastor of the church he built

‘The Koimesis’ (late 10th century) TRICIA KENT SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption of Mary – body and soul – into heaven although it has been long held as a central Catholic belief. Mary’s assumption is often challenged by Protestant traditions for the seeming absence of scriptural evidence. Catholics point to the “woman” of the Protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15, Mary addressed as “woman” by Christ at Cana, and again from the cross when He entrusts her to the care of St. John, who in turn gives us the vision of “the woman clothed with the sun” in chapter 12 of his Book of Revelation.

Scripture also consistently presents Mary as intimately united with her Incarnate Son. From the earliest centuries, the Church recognized the importance of Mary’s role and asserted that her Divine Son honored her body, which had conceived and bore Him in full humanity and full divinity. Thus, it is consistent to assert that her body was preserved from decay and taken to heaven, anticipating the stated promised to all who believe.

Non-Scriptural accounts of Mary’s life and the writings of saints such as John Damascene (d. 749) make it clear that this was the understood end of the earthly life for the woman who was the very ark of the New Covenant.

Eastern tradition speaks of the Virgin’s entry into heaven as her “Koimesis,” and in the West it became known as her “Dormition” with the imagery emphasizing sleep rather than death.

The feast honoring this event was first recorded in the late seventh century when Pope Sergius (687-701) decreed it be celebrated in Rome.

We have grown so accustomed to Baroque depictions of the Blessed Virgin Mary floating upward on clouds that this little Byzantine ivory seems to almost tell a different tale. Still, this visual account is in keeping with the earliest iconographic traditions of the Christian faith. Non-canonical authors tell of Mary having been visited by an angel three days before she was to die. This time of preparation or “Transitus Mariae” allowed the apostles to attend her on her death bed, with both Peter and Paul standing witness among the angels. Christ Himself descends from heaven to carry His mother’s soul aloft – depicted as a newborn babe.

This ivory is so small it was likely produced in the late 10th century Constantinople as a hand-held devotional image intended for personal prayer and contemplation. This is not the two-dimensional art customary for so many icons of the time. It is carved with incredible emotion with the angels and Christ in deep relief.

The provenance does not extend back far enough to tell us who carved this work or who commissioned it, but its skill as well as its survival point to the significance of its use.

In the tradition accounted in “Transitus Mariae,” the apostles would subsequently bear Mary’s body in solemn procession to her grave where on the third day, angels would carry her body to heaven. The very message of this work is that even in death, the Blessed Mother always mirrors and reflects the glory of her Divine Son. TRICIA KENT is a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

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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: 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!

May prayer intention For Mary’s intercession. May Mary, the patroness of our diocese, always look favorably upon our Church and pray unceasingly for every member of Christ’s faithful.

Saint of the Month St. Dymphna Feast Date: May 15

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 FROM THE COVER

‘Unity in diversity’ Our Lady of Lourdes Parish celebrates 80th anniversary SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

MONROE — May 10 marked the 80th anniversary of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. Nearly 1,000 parishioners joined their pastor, Father Benjamin Roberts, for a celebration at the Union County Agricultural Center throughout the day.

Parishioners of all ages were treated to complimentary food and beverages, familyfriendly games, an inflatable slide and bounce house.

Father Roberts has served the diverse community for a decade, guiding his flock through the pandemic by offering outdoor Masses rain or shine at the Lourdes Grotto on the church campus and hearing confessions on the steps of the parish activity center for the better part of a year.

The May 10 anniversary celebration was a time when the parish community of longtime Union County families and many newcomers from across Latin America could all finally enjoy some moments of levity in wake of the pandemic and a fire that destroyed the parish offices and damaged the original chapel and rectory.

“We had a wonderful celebration,” Father Roberts said. “We were celebrating unity in diversity and also, like the tree we used for the anniversary logo, that we are deeply rooted in Christ in Monroe.”

Our Lady of Lourdes Church was established in 1942 to meet the needs of Catholic servicemen and their growing families stationed at nearby Camp Sutton during World War II. Several religious orders staffed the parish over the years.

As Charlotte and the surrounding areas have grown, so this humble parish has swelled in enrollment over the past eight decades. It is now home to a predominantly Hispanic population.

It is interesting to note that while Bishop Peter Jugis was pastor of the parish in 2003, he received the call from Rome to become the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte.

He delivered a videotaped congratulatory message to his former parish at the May 10 celebration.

Nancy Arizmendi has been a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes Church since 1997, when she came to the parish with her family as a child. She remembers “Father Jugis” and appreciated his remarks.

“Bishop’s video was nice,” she said. “The celebration was like a family reunion. It was a joyous occasion. The turnout was amazing!”

Arizmendi is bilingual, and as a member

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL, CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD AND DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE ARCHIVES

(Above, clockwise) Our Lady of Lourdes Parish celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 12, 2021; Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, delivers a homily on Feb. 11, 2017; Father Martin Walsh, pastor, assists Bishop Michael Begley during the blessing of the education building at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in 1984.

ANNIVERSARY, SEE PAGE 14

Pastors 1942-1947

Father James F. Hudson, S.P.M.

1956-1957

Father Martin F. Reidy, S.P.M.

1972-1973

Father Edward J. Sheridan

2000-2001

Father Carlo Di Natale Tarasi

1947-1951

Father Thomas F. Corcoran, S.P.M.

1957-1960

Father Daniel J. Sheehan, S.P.M.

1973-1976

Father Donald J. Joyce, O.M.I.

2001-2003

Father Peter J. Jugis (prior to

1951-1952

Father John P. O’Brien, S.P.M.

1960-1962

Father Robert F. Shea

1976-1978

Father George Waggett, O.M.I.

selection as fourth bishop of Charlotte)

1952-1953

Father Raymond F. Borcino, S.P.M.

1963-1965

Father Albert J. Todd

1978-1982

Father Paul McCartin, O.M.I.

2003-2009

Father James J. Cassidy, O.S.A.

1953-1955

Father Julian F. Burt, S.P.M.

1965-1969

Father William N. Pharr

1982-1988

Father Martin Walsh, O.M.I.

2009-2012

Father Thomas Kessler

1955-1956

Father Joseph Burgdorf, S.P.M.

1969-1972

Father Joseph J. Lash

1988-2000

Father Edward J. Vilkauskas, C.S.Sp.

2012-present Father Benjamin A. Roberts

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com FROM THE COVERI

13

Historical highlights of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

1942

Camp Sutton, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers training site, is established on the east side of Monroe in March. The camp brings thousands of Catholic soldiers from all parts of the country. About 16,000 soldiers in 49 units train at the base throughout World War II.

1942 PHOTOS PROVIDED BY OUR LADY OF LOURDES PARISH

(Above, from left) Father Roberts and members of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish enjoy the 80th anniversary celebration May 10; a photo of the original church circa 1980s. (Below) Parishioners of all ages gathered for the anniversary celebration May 10 at the Union County Agricultural Center.

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish is established by Father James Hudson and Father Patrick Hanley on May 10. Father Hudson offers the first public Mass on May 31, 1942, in the Center Theatre on Main Street. About 500 Catholic soldiers and their families attend.

The parish’s first home is in a Maurice Street residence renovated to accommodate a chapel, an office and a living area for the priests.

1942

Father Hudson buys land in November to construct Our Lady of Lourdes Church at the corner of East Franklin and Deese streets.

1945

Construction of Our Lady of Lourdes Church begins.

1946

The new church is dedicated by Raleigh Bishop Vincent Waters on April 24.

1973

A parish activity center is built.

1984

The new Education Building blessed by Bishop Michael F. Begley.

2003

While serving as pastor, Father Peter Jugis is appointed the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte by Pope John Paul II.

After fire destroyed the parish office, new building nears completion

2004

SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

Twenty-four stained glass windows featuring various saints of special significance to the parish are installed inside the church.

MONROE — In the morning hours of July 27, 2020 the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Father Benjamin Roberts, got word that the church offices, chapel and original parish rectory were ravaged by a pre-dawn fire.

When he arrived at the church property on Deese Street, fire crews were still working the scene. No one was hurt in the blaze, but the parish office, including its archives, was a complete loss. The chapel and former rectory were also damaged.

Now, two years later, the effort to rebuild and restore the buildings is nearly complete – despite months of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Built in 1945, the chapel is the parish’s original church. It was built in 1945, and the former rectory was constructed two years later. An office space was built to connect those two buildings in the 1980s. It was those brick walls of the office which prevented the fire from spreading further into the former chapel and rectory.

The $1.6 million renovation project is being paid for primarily with insurance claim funds.

“We have been through so much. It still doesn’t seem real. It’s been such a long process with the fire and the pandemic,” Father Roberts said.

He and his staff have been without an adequate office space for nearly two years. They set up a temporary office for the staff in the parish activity center, while Father Roberts has worked from the dining room table in his rectory or at any available space he has been able to find.

He and staff members recently toured the nearly completed space, and he admits it was a bit emotional.

Bishop Peter Jugis dedicates a new 12,000 -square-foot church building on April 18 across Deese Street from the original church.

2013

2016-’18

Multiple Biblical murals are painted by local artist Lisa Autry to beautify the church’s interior.

2017

An outdoor Lourdes Grotto is dedicated by Father Benjamin Roberts, pastor, on the parish’s 75th anniversary, May 10.

2018

Parishioners celebrate their patronal feast day Feb. 11 with a Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis, their former pastor.

2020 PHOTO PROVIDED BY DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE OFFICE OF PROPERTIES

The repair of the original Our Lady of Lourdes Church is nearing completion as part of a fire restoration project at the Monroe parish.

“I’ve not had a settled place to work, and to be able to do that again is overwhelming. The completion of this building is the end of a very long and difficult journey.”

Father Roberts and parish staff will move into their offices in early June. The chapel restoration will take a little longer, with anticipated completion in mid-June.

— Kimberly Bender, online reporter, contributed.

Fire destroys the church’s office and damages the original church and rectory building.

2021

A mural featuring the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes and St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin – three saints of particular devotion to parishioners – is installed in the church’s narthex.

2022

Repairs to restore the original church and rectory are completed.

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter. Dr. Ralph Frasca contributed.

14

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 FROM THE COVER

ANNIVERSARY FROM PAGE 12

of the anniversary committee, she was instrumental in assisting parishioners at the event by helping to translate Spanish to English and vice versa as needed.

“Since Father Benjamin has been here, he has worked on blending our communities,” she explained. “(Before) we were each to own language (attending separate Masses). But now we have bilingual things. We can see each other more now that Father is offering the homily in both languages. I see all of us blending like a big family now.”

The anniversary committee chair, Laura Laurenzana, is thankful for Arizmendi’s efforts. “Of course, in a diverse parish, there are always challenges with language barriers. I appreciate that volunteers like

Nancy helped bridge those barriers. That is the true spirit of charity and love of neighbor.”

To inspire charity in the community and to commemorate the anniversary, the parish distributed a commemorative prayer card at the celebration. It features a quote from St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes and states, “Let us pray for each other that Our Lord will give us the grace to be saints.”

“That’s what Our Lord calls us for,” Laurenzana said. “It’s always in the end about Jesus and His message of redemption, and in getting to heaven in the company of all the saints.”

Learn more Read a detailed history of Our Lady of Lourdes Church on the parish’s website at www.ourladymonroe.org.

Employment Opportunities For full job descriptions, please go to www.stpetercatholic.org Assistant Director of Religious Education (6th Grade – 12th Grade) Full Time (40 hours/week) The primary responsibilities of this position are to coordinate all facets of Religious Education for Middle School (6, 7, 8th) and High School (9-12th) Grade within St Peter Catholic Church under the direct supervision of the Director of Religious Education. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, Faith Formation classes during school year, Confirmation preparation, summer activities for youth including Teen Service week. Work hours are flexible and include evenings and weekend hours, particularly Sunday.

To apply or for more information, send resume to csanjuan@stpeterscatholic.org

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd/Baptismal Coordinator Part-time (20 hours/week) This position will assist the Director of Religious Education with the coordination of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) Montessori education program and baptismal preparation. The twenty hours each week includes Sundays from September – May when class is in session and some hours in August in preparation for the year.

To apply or for more information, send resume to csanjuan@stpeterscatholic.org

Database Management and Accounting Assistant Full time (40 hours/week) To assist with dual control items, correspondence, financial and database recordings, volunteer document compliance, maintain the accuracy and integrity of data files, and other duties as assigned.

To apply or for more information, send resume to business@stpeterscatholic.org St. Peter Church is the oldest active Catholic Church and only Jesuit Parish in Charlotte, NC. We follow St. Ignatius through finding God in worship, spiritual formation, discernment of God’s plan for us, and an active service to others.

Embraced by God’s enduring love, we are a joyful, supportive, and welcoming community.

PHOTOS BY SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Above, clockwise) Bishop Peter Jugis greets parishioners in February 2018; The bishop served as main celebrant for the patronal feast day Mass on Feb. 11, 2018; Father Roberts, pastor, prays before the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the original church. (Below) Members of the Hispanic Music Ministry perform at the Lourdes Grotto in 2017.

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Durante la fiesta de la Virgen de la Encarnación se realizaron bailes típicos de Guatemala como el que aparece en la imagen. Una gran mayoría de parroquianos de la Iglesia San Carlos Borromeo en Morganton proviene del departamento de Huehuetenango, Guatemala, con aproximadamente 1.4 millones de habitantes, uno de los dos, entre los 22 departamentos de ese país, con mayor número de migrantes a Estados Unidos, según un estudio publicado por el Instituto de Política Migratoria (MPI) en marzo de 2022.

Padre Fabio Marín

La Biblia invita a orar en familia

E

n la Biblia, palabra de Dios, encontramos señalado un camino óptimo de oración, “el niño aprende a hablar porque sus padres hablan con él; aprende el lenguaje de los padres.

Nosotros aprendemos a hablar con Dios porque Él nos ha hablado y nos habla en la Biblia. En el lenguaje del Padre Celestial aprenden sus hijos a hablar con Dios.

Repitiendo las palabras de Dios, aprendemos a orar” (A. Guerra, La oración cristiana, EDE, p. 115.

Es la Palabra la que invita, alienta y estimula al ser humano a relacionarse con Dios; dicho de otra manera, la Palabra es la que dirige la marcha de una oración que a veces debe ser estimula, otras veces empujada y algunas veces corregida.

Desde el Antiguo Testamento la Biblia, como buena pedagoga, marca un proceso que el hombre debe cumplir para educar a la familia en relación amorosa con Dios: escucha, aceptación, transmisión y conservación del proceso que al ser recordado constantemente se va grabando en el corazón. Así nos señala estos pasos el libro del Deuteronomio 6:3-9: n Al pueblo elegido y a cada uno de los israelitas se le confía el deber de escuchar: “Escucha, Israel. Yahveh nuestro Dios es el único Yahveh” (6:4). n Se exige un amor único a Dios: “Amarás a Yahveh tu Dios con todo tu corazón, con toda tu alma y con toda tu fuerza” (6:5). n Fijación de lo escuchado en el corazón del hombre: “Queden en tu corazón estas palabras que yo te dicto hoy” (6:6). n Obligación de transmisión. Misión de los padres: “Se las repetirás a tus hijos, les hablarás de ellas tanto si estás en casa como si vas de camino” (6:7). n Permanencia constante de los preceptos de Dios en cada persona y en cada cosa: “Las atarás a tu mano como una señal y serán como una insignia entre tus ojos; las escribirás en las jambas de tu casa y en tus puertas” (6:8-9).

Ejemplo de esta pedagogía de oración, la encontramos en el libro de Tobías. Él siente la necesidad de comunicarse con Dios en todas las circunstancias de su vida. Su fidelidad en la oración le lleva a ser hombre cumplidor de la ley del Señor y así junto a su esposa Sara, hace de su hogar un templo de oración en donde el Señor es invocado a cada momento.

La oración de Tobías está llena de fe y confianza, en ella reconoce la justicia del Señor y suplica misericordia porque se siente débil y pecador. Se pone en manos de Dios y pide ser liberado de las aflicciones que lo atacan (cfr. Tb 3:2-6).

Aun en el momento de tomar a Sara por mujer, expresa sus sentimientos en la oración: no lo hace movido de total apetito de placer, ni por satisfacer sus pasiones, como lo hacen los que destierran a Dios de su corazón, sino por el solo deseo y noble pasión de perpetuar las generaciones de los santos y dejar hijos que bendigan el nombre del Señor todos los siglos (cfr. Tb 8:4-8).

La oración de Tobías resulta de la educación recibida de su padre Tobit, quien actuando conforme al esquema señalado anteriormente por el Deuteronomio, procura cumplir cabalmente y transmitir los mandamientos del Señor a la generación futura (cfr. Tb 4:5-7).

EL PADRE FABIO MARÍN, sacerdote redentorista, es párroco de la Iglesia San José en Kannapolis.

FOTO FACEBOOK RADIO ALÉGRATE MARÍA

Con fiesta regional recordaron a la Virgen de la Encarnación CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

MORGANTON — Con una celebración que se extendió por dos días, la comunidad de San Carlos Borromeo en Morganton festejó la fiesta de la Encarnación, que durante 2020 y 2021 fue suspendida debido a las medidas sanitarias adoptadas para prevenir la propagación de la pandemia de COVID-19.

La Encarnación es una advocación mariana de

amplio arraigo en Huehuetenango, departamento del oeste de Guatemala, limítrofe con la frontera sur de México.

La fiesta inició el viernes 6 de mayo a las 7 de la tarde con alabanzas y predicación de la Palabra.

El sábado 7, a las 6 de la mañana, el coro Renacimiento en Cristo ofreció Las Mañanitas a la ENCARNACIÓN, PASA A LA PÁGINA 22

Ordenaciones de diáconos y sacerdotes programadas para el 4 y 18 de junio CHARLOTTE — Cinco hombres Marcos. se preparan para ser ordenados el Serán ordenados los seminaristas próximo mes, incluyendo dos que Christopher Brock, de la Parroquia se convertirán en sacerdotes de la San Vincente de Paúl en Charlotte; Diócesis de Charlotte.

Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu, de la Darren Balkey y Aaron Huber Parroquia Santo Tomás de Aquino en serán ordenados sacerdotes el Charlotte; y Peter Rusciolelli, de la sábado 18 de junio durante una Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte.

Misa especial ofrecida por el Todos están invitados a asistir a Obispo Peter Jugis a las 10 de la las Misas de ordenación. La Iglesia Balkey Huber mañana en la iglesia San Marcos en San Marcos está ubicada en 14740 Huntersville.

Stumptown Road, Huntersville.

El Diácono Balkey es miembro de la parroquia — SueAnn Howell, reportera senior Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury, y el Diácono Huber de la parroquia San Juan Evangelista en Waynesville.

Dos semanas antes, tres de sus compañeros seminaristas darán el siguiente paso en su formación Busque la cobertura especial de ambas ordenaciones en para el sacerdocio cuando sean ordenados diáconos. www.catholicnewsherald.com y en nuestra edición impresa El Obispo Jugis celebrará la misa de ordenación a las del 24 de junio.

10 de la mañana del sábado 4 de junio en la iglesia San

Próximamente

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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El Dr. Rovatti se reunió, como parte del proceso local de escucha sinodal, con los coordinadores y el director del Ministerio Hispano. El 11 de junio se entregarán las conclusiones al Obispo Jugis, durante una reunión en la Catedral San Patricio en Charlotte, donde asistirán aproximadamente 150 delegados de las diferentes parroquias y grupos apostólicos diocesanos. El reporte final será enviado a la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos, que la enviará al Vaticano.

7,000 católicos hacen oir sus voces en proceso sinodal local SUEANN HOWELL REPORTERA SENIOR

CHARLOTTE — En los últimos cinco meses, miles de personas de la Diócesis de Charlotte han participado en cientos de reuniones de escucha como parte de la conversación mundial de la Iglesia, convocada por el Papa Francisco bajo el lema “Por una Iglesia Sinodal: Comunión, Participación y Misión”.

Las sesiones dieron inicio en enero, poco después que el Dr. Alessandro Rovati, jefe de departamento y profesor asistente de teología en Belmont Abbey College, fuera designado por el Obispo Peter Jugis para servir como persona de contacto oficial de la fase sinodal diocesana.

En otoño, Rovati pudo contactar las 92 parroquias y misiones, además de escuelas, universidades, movimientos apostólicos, grupos auxiliares, movimientos laicos, órdenes terciarias, ministerios de caridad, comunidades religiosas, de minorías, de migrantes, ministerios estudiantiles y juveniles, entre otros.

A la fecha, más de 6 mil personas han participado en estas conversaciones en los 10 vicariatos de la diócesis. Otras mil personas respondieron el cuestionario vía online.

“He estado en al menos 30 de ellas”, dijo Rovati. “He intentado visitar el mayor número de lugares que he podido. He conocido personas, las he escuchado y muchas veces he disfrutado los testimonios que han compartido”.

Informó que las conversaciones incluyeron a 71 parroquias y misiones; 18 oficinas diocesanas y ministerios (incluyendo las Escuelas Católicas y de Campus Universitario); dos órdenes religiosas (Las Hermanas de la Misericordia de Belmont y los monjes Benedictinos de Belmont Abbey), además

de 18 asociaciones laicas, apostolados y grupos.

Hasta el 20 de mayo, Rovati ha recibido 100 reportes de conversaciones sinodales y espera recibir 50 más.

Rovati subrayó que ya ha compartido algunos de sus hallazgos con el Obispo Jugis. Presentará un reporte preliminar ante el obispo el 11 de junio, durante un conversatorio de coordinadores, donde podrá compartir algunas conclusiones y testimonios de las sesiones de escucha.

A inicios de este mes, el Dr. Rovatti sostuvo una segunda reunión con el Ministerio Hispano que dirige el Padre Julio César Domínguez. En esta ocasión con los coordinadores de vicariato, donde pudo escuchar de primera mano el trabajo, desafíos y metas de su trabajo pastoral.

La primera reunión, realizada a fines de marzo, se llevó a cabo con la presencia de los directores espirituales de los diversos movimientos apostólicos en español para motivarlos a continuar con el proceso de escucha del sínodo 2021-2023.

El Dr. Rovati dijo haberse encontrado muy a gusto en estas reuniones motivadoras. “Veo a toda una comunidad muy interesada en profundizar en una vida de fe, ofrecer sus comentarios con amor y total entrega, respondiendo al llamado del Papa y de nuestro obispo”, dijo.

El Dr. Rovati enviará su reporte final a la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB) el 30 de junio. La USCCB, tras reunir los reportes de todas las diócesis de Estados Unidos, enviará su resumen al Vaticano.

— Colaboró César Hurtado, Catholic News Herald

Para mayor información En www.charlottediocese.org/synod2023: Entérese con mayor detalle sobre el Sínodo 2021-2023

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Taller diocesano de espiritualidad alcanza Nueva York CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Entre los más de 35 participantes del Taller de Espiritualidad que ofrece la Sra. Ibis Centeno, coordinadora del ministerio hispano del Vicariato de Salisbury, se encuentran participantes de seis vicariatos de nuestra diócesis, además de otras personas que asisten desde otros estados, el más lejano Nueva York.

El pasado miércoles 4 de mayo se llevó a cabo el Segundo Taller de Espiritualidad, ‘Encontrar a Dios en todas las cosas’, que inicialmente tiene programadas 10 sesiones.

La modalidad implementada es no presencial, lo que permite, según explicó Centeno, que la limitada asistencia tradicional -regularmente solo parroquialpueda extenderse y alcanzar a personas interesadas en otras parroquias, vicarías e inclusive fuera del territorio diocesano.

Centeno reconoce la riqueza del contacto personal y las relaciones que se producen en un contacto presencial, pero también agradece las posibilidades que ofrecen las reuniones virtuales.

“En la clase hay 35 personas registradas, y la mayoría de los que no asisten me avisan que no pueden entrar por varias razones. Eso indica su interés. Otras personas estaban conectadas desde sus centros de trabajo, escuchando por el teléfono. Otros comenzaron escuchando mientras conducían hacia sus hogares y luego, al llegar a sus casas, participaron enteramente”, dijo Centeno.

Respecto al contenido del taller de espiritualidad, la expositora aclaró que no se trata únicamente de espiritualidad ignaciana. “La gente lo asocia con la ‘ignaciana’ por mi (Ibis Centeno tuvo a su

Todavía hay tiempo para registrarse al taller de espiritualidad que se ofrece online.

Entre los temas que se desarrollarán se encuentra la oración, el examen diario, la oración con los sentidos, ciclos de desarrollos de fe, la fe e imágenes de Dios, discernimiento, principios y fundamentos de San Ignacio de Loyola, la escucha y ejercicios espirituales, entre otros. La modalidad no presencial permite la participación desde cualquier lugar de la diócesis, Estados Unidos o el planeta.

FOTO CORTESÍA IBIS CENTENO

cargo la oficina de Espiritualidad Ignaciana en la zona este de Estados Unidos por varios años), pero en realidad vamos a tocar varias”, dijo.

“Decidí explicar los diferentes acercamientos espirituales, como por ejemplo de otras órdenes religiosas, para que los estudiantes escojan la que los acerque más a Dios”, señaló, pero subrayó que “mayormente mis clases serán al estilo

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ignaciano, porque así es como yo abro mi puente con Dios, Jesús y demás”.

“El beneficio es para que las personas se den cuenta de todas las diferentes maneras de comunicarse y tener una íntima relación con Nuestro Señor y Creador. Para poder apreciar cómo el Espíritu Santo actúa en cada uno de nosotros y cómo diferenciarlo del maligno”.

El acercamiento a diferentes espiritualidades permite que las personas crezcan, dijo, “y no se queden estancados en sus grupos o movimientos, sino que tengan la oportunidad de explorar diferentes maneras de comunicarse con Dios”.

Después de desarrollar mensualmente los temas propuestos: la oración, el examen diario, orando con los sentidos, ciclos de desarrollos de fe, la fe e imágenes de Dios, discernimiento de espíritus, principios y fundamentos de San Ignacio de Loyola, la escucha, ejercicios espirituales, la

coordinadora dijo que se realizará un retiro en silencio de tres días en una casa de retiro fuera de la vida cotidiana y preocupaciones.

“Hemos pensado en un lugar diferente, para que los asistentes puedan sentirse libres, pasarlo muy bien con Su Creador e intimar su relación con Él. Queremos que tengan un encuentro verdadero, que crezcan en la fe y atraigan a otros a nuestra Iglesia Católica, para la salvación de las almas”, sentenció.

Las sesiones se llevan a cabo, vía zoom, todos los primeros miércoles del mes. La próxima será el 1 de junio, de 7 a 8:30 p.m.

Todavía hay cupo y todos están invitados a participar. Las personas interesadas pueden inscribirse por texto o mensaje de voz, dejando su nombre, número de celular y correo electrónico (si lo tuvieran) al teléfono 704-902-2242. Una vez registrado, se le enviará el enlace de la siguiente clase.

davidfuller.broker@gmail.com 704-530-2632

CCDOC.ORG Employment Opportunity with Catholic Charities Regional Director - Charlotte

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• Would you like to know more about the Cursillio Movement?

Visit us at http://charlottecursillio.com/ The Cursillio Movement is a recognized charism of the Catholic Church founded on small friendship groups.

The Charlotte Regional Office Director provides strategic direction and leadership to the regional office, including management of refugee resettlement services; secures resources needed to maintain and expand office and agency services and operations; directs the delivery of programs and services and implementation of community outreach in keeping with the mission of Catholic Charities; interprets and implements agency policy in the provision of programs and services.

Cover letter and resume (2-page maximum) must be submitted electronically to ccdocjobs@ccdoc.org. No phone calls, please.

Position open until filled.

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Pentecostés, el nacimiento de la Iglesia El próximo domingo 5 de junio se celebrará la Solemnidad de Pentecostés, que conmemora la venida del Espíritu Santo sobre María y los Apóstoles, cincuenta días después de la Resurrección de Jesucristo.

El capítulo dos del libro de los Hechos de los Apóstoles describe que “de repente vino del cielo un ruido como el de una ráfaga de viento impetuoso, que llenó toda la casa en la que se encontraban. Se les aparecieron unas lenguas como de fuego que se repartieron y se posaron sobre cada uno de ellos; quedaron todos llenos del Espíritu Santo”.

San Juan Pablo II, al reflexionar sobre este acontecimiento en su encíclica “Dominum et Vivificantem”, señaló que “el Concilio Vaticano II habla del nacimiento de la Iglesia el día de Pentecostés. Tal acontecimiento constituye la manifestación definitiva de lo que se había realizado en el mismo Cenáculo el domingo de Pascua”.

“Cristo resucitado vino y ‘trajo’ a los apóstoles el Espíritu Santo. Se lo dio diciendo: ‘Recibid el Espíritu Santo’.

Lo que había sucedido entonces en el interior del Cenáculo, ‘estando las puertas cerradas’, más tarde, el día de Pentecostés es manifestado también al exterior, ante los hombres”.

Posteriormente, el Papa de la familia cita el documento conciliar “Lumen Gentium”, en el que se resalta que “el Espíritu habita en la Iglesia y en el corazón de los fieles como en un templo (cf. 1 Co 3,16; 6,19), y en ellos ora y da testimonio de su adopción como hijos (cf. Ga 4,6; Rm 8,15-16 y 26). Guía la Iglesia a toda la verdad (cf. Jn 16, 13), la unifica en comunión y ministerio, la provee y gobierna con diversos dones jerárquicos y carismáticos y la embellece con sus frutos (cf. Ef 4,11-12; 1 Co 12,4; Ga5,22)”.

MISA EN DIRECTO

A pesar de que el Papa Francisco padece un grave dolor en su rodilla debido a una rotura de ligamentos, la Oficina de Prensa de la Santa Sede confirmó la presencia del Pontífice en la Misa de Pentecostés que tendrá lugar en la Basílica San Pedro a las 10 a.m. (hora de Roma) el próximo 5 de junio.

El pasado 3 de mayo, el Papa Francisco fue sometido a una intervención médica en su rodilla derecha debido a una rotura de ligamentos, lo que le impide caminar con normalidad.

MAYO 29-JUNIO 4

JUNIO 5-11

Domingo (Pentecostés): Hechos 2:1-11, 1 Corintios 12:3b-7, 12-13, Juan 20:19-23; Lunes (Bienaventurada Virgen María, Madre de la Iglesia: Génesis 3:9-15, 20,

received his first Holy Communion on May 7, 2021, at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.

Mass was celebrated by Father Paul Buchanan.

“Get your ducks in a row!”

‘Pentecostés’, óleo sobre lienzo de El Greco, (Candia, Creta, 1541 - Toledo, España, 1614). Imagen cortesía del Museo del Prado, Madrid.

Oración al Espíritu Santo Ven Espíritu Santo, envía tu luz desde el cielo.

Padre amoroso del pobre; don, en tus dones espléndido; luz que penetra las almas; fuente del mayor consuelo.

Ven, dulce huésped del alma, descanso de nuestro esfuerzo, tregua en el duro trabajo, brisa en las horas de fuego, gozo que enjuga las lágrimas y reconforta en los duelos.

Entra hasta el fondo del alma, divina luz y enriquécenos. Mira el vacío del hombre si Tú le faltas por dentro; mira el poder del pecado cuando no envías tu aliento.

Riega la tierra en sequía, sana el corazón enfermo, lava las manchas, infunde calor de vida en el hielo, doma el espíritu indómito, guía al que tuerce el sendero.

Reparte tus Siete Dones según la fe de tus siervos. Por tu bondad y tu gracia dale al esfuerzo su mérito; salva al que busca salvarse y danos tu gozo eterno. Amén.

Lecturas Diarias Domingo (Solemnidad de la Ascención del Señor): Hechos 1:1-11, Efesios 1:17-23, Lucas 24:46-53; Lunes: Hechos 19:1-8, Juan 16:1923; Martes (Visitación de la Santísima Virgen María): Sofonías 3:14-18, Lucas 1:3956; Miércoles (San Justino): Hechos 20:2838, Juan 17:11-19; Jueves: Hechos 22:30, 23:611, Juan 17:20-26; Viernes (Santos Carlos Lwanga y compañeros mártires): Hechos 25:13-21, Juan 21:15-19; Sábado: Hechos 28:1620, 30-31, Juan 21:20-25

Carter Robinson

He is the son of John & Erika Robinson of Gastonia and members of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.

Durante sus últimas apariciones públicas se ha disculpado por no poder levantarse de su silla y su agenda ha sufrido varios cambios.

Podrá seguir la Misa de Pentecostés, desde las cuatro de la mañana hora local, en directo, gracias a la señal de Vatican News en Español, www.youtube.com/c/ VaticanNewsES. — condensado de Aciprensa

Juan 19:25-34; Martes: 1 Reyes 17:7-16, Mateo 5:13-16; Miércoles: 1 Reyes 18:20-39, Mateo 5:17-19; Jueves: 1 Reyes 18:41-46, Mateo 5:20-26; Viernes: 1 Reyes 19:9, 11-16, Mateo 5:27-32; Sábado (San Bernabé apóstol): Hechos 11:21-26, 13:1-3, Mateo 5:33-37

JUNIO 12-18

Domingo (Solemnidad de la Santísima Trinidad): Proverbios 8:22-31, Romanos 5:1-5, Juan 16:12-15; Lunes (San Antonio de Padua): 1 Reyes 21:1-16, Mateo 5:38-42; Martes: 1 Reyes 21:17-29, Mateo 5:43-48; Miércoles: 2 Reyes 2:1, 6-14, Mateo 6:1-6, 16-18; Jueves: Eclesiastés 48:1-15, Mateo 6:715; Viernes: 2 Reyes 11:1-4, 9-18, 20, Mateo 6:19-23; Sábado: 2 Crónicas 24:17-25, Mateo 6:24-34

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WAITING COULD DEVASTATE YOUR FAMILY St. Matthew’s Parishioner

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

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Where are you going?

QUO VADIS DAYS 2022

June 13 -17, 2022 Belmont Abbey College Retreat is open to young men 15 thru 19 years old Registration Now Open A camp for Catholic men to learn more about the priesthood, deepen their faith, and help discern God’s call in their lives.

www.charlottevocations.org

PHOTO BY : Anina Puccio.

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

‘La Koimesis’ (fines del Siglo X) TRICIA KENT ESPECIAL PARA CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Peregrinación Mariana Una estatua de María, Madre de Dios, encargada especialmente, visitará más de 100 locaciones en la Diócesis de Charlotte durante el año del aniversario, realizando una peregrinación espiritual para visitar a los fieles en toda nuestra diócesis, tal como lo hizo en su visita a Santa Isabel. A través de la participación en esta memorable Peregrinación Mariana, nuestra familia diocesana se agrupa, uniendo parroquias, misiones, escuelas y otras instituciones Católicas en oración a Dios a través de la intercesión de nuestra patrona:

IGLESIA CATÓLICA SANTOS ÁNGELES Viernes a lunes, del 27 al 30 de mayo 1208 N. Main St., Mount Airy, N.C. 27030

MISA DE BACHILLERATO DE SECUNDARIA CATÓLICA CRISTO REY Martes 31 de mayo, 5 p.m.

Iglesia católica San Marcos, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078

ORDENACIÓN DIACONAL DE LA DIÓCESIS DE CHARLOTTE Sábado 4 de junio, 10 a.m.

Iglesia católica San Marcos, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville, N.C. 28078 La estatua peregrina de María, Madre de Dios, estará presente en la ordenación de tres hombres como diáconos el 4 de junio, uno de los pasos en su camino de formación para convertirse en sacerdotes de la Diócesis de Charlotte en 2023.

IGLESIA CATÓLICA SAN JOSÉ Sábado a jueves, del 4 al 9 de junio 512 W. Wainman Ave., Asheboro, N.C. 27203 Más detalles, visite el website del 50 aniversario de la Diócesis de Charlotte, faithmorepreciousthangold.com.

En 1950, el Papa Pío XII proclamó el dogma de la Asunción de María, en cuerpo y alma, al cielo, que se mantiene por mucho tiempo como una creencia católica central. La Asunción de María es cuestionada a menudo por las tradiciones protestantes debido a la aparente ausencia de evidencia bíblica. Los católicos señalan a la “mujer” del Protoevangelio de Génesis 3:15, como María llamada “mujer” por Cristo en Caná, y nuevamente desde la cruz cuando Él la encomienda al cuidado de San Juan, quien a su vez nos da la visión de “la mujer vestida del sol” en el capítulo 12 de su Libro del Apocalipsis.

Las Escrituras también presentan consistentemente a María íntimamente unida con su Hijo Encarnado. Desde los primeros siglos, la Iglesia reconoció la importancia del papel de María y afirmó que su Divino Hijo honraba su cuerpo, que lo había concebido y dado a luz en plena humanidad y plena divinidad. Por lo tanto, es consistente afirmar que su cuerpo fue preservado y llevado al cielo, anticipando lo prometido a todos los que creen.

Los relatos no bíblicos de la vida de María y los escritos de santos como Juan Damasceno (año 749) dejan en claro que este era el final entendido de la vida terrenal para la mujer que era el arca misma del Nuevo Pacto.

La tradición oriental habla de la entrada de la Virgen al cielo como su “Koimesis”, y en Occidente se la conoce como su “Dormición” con imágenes que enfatizan el sueño en lugar de la muerte.

La fiesta en honor a este evento se registró por primera vez a fines del siglo VII, cuando el Papa Sergio (687-701) decretó que se celebrara en Roma.

Nos hemos acostumbrado tanto a las representaciones barrocas de la Santísima Virgen María flotando hacia arriba entre las nubes, que este pequeño marfil bizantino parece casi contar una historia diferente. Aún así, este relato visual está en consonancia con las primeras tradiciones iconográficas de la fe cristiana. Los autores no canónicos cuentan que María fue visitada por un ángel tres días antes de morir. Este tiempo de preparación o “Transitus Mariae” permitió que los apóstoles la acompañaran en su lecho de muerte, con Pedro y Pablo como testigos entre los ángeles.

Cristo mismo desciende del cielo para llevar en

alto el alma de su madre, representada como un bebé recién nacido.

Este marfil es tan pequeño que probablemente se produjo a fines del siglo X en Constantinopla,

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Oración Para el 50 Aniversario 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.

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 al celebrar la fundación de la Diócesis de Charlotte. Santa María, Madre de Dios, ruega por nosotros.

Intención de oración de mayo

como una imagen devocional de mano destinada a la oración y la contemplación personal. Este no es el arte bidimensional habitual para tantos íconos de la época. Está tallado con una emoción increíble con los ángeles y Cristo en profundo relieve.

No se conoce lo suficiente como para saber quién esculpió esta obra o quién la encargó, pero tanto su calidad como su supervivencia apuntan a la importancia de su uso.

En la tradición narrada en “Transitus Mariae”, los apóstoles posteriormente llevarían el cuerpo de María en solemne procesión a su tumba, donde al tercer día los ángeles llevarían su cuerpo al cielo. El mensaje mismo de este trabajo es que, incluso en la muerte, la Santísima Madre siempre es espejo y refleja la gloria de su Divino Hijo.

TRICIA KENT es feligresa de la Iglesia Santo Tomás de Aquino en Charlotte.

Por la intercesión de María.

Que María, la patrona de nuestra diócesis, mire siempre favorablemente a nuestra Iglesia y ore sin cesar por cada miembro de los fieles de Cristo.

Santa del mes Santa Dimpna de Irlanda.

Día de fiesta: 15 de mayo

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

FORMULA FROM PAGE 4

Children program – better known as WIC. About half of all baby formula in the U.S. is purchased with WIC benefits, used to feed approximately 1.2 million infants each year, government data shows.

Yet WIC vouchers do not meet the needs of everyone. In North Carolina, for example, WIC vouchers cover only the Gerber Good Start brand, and not specialized formulas for infants with allergies or other nutritional needs.

Most of the mothers Mira Via serves receive vouchers for baby formula through WIC, Capen said.

If the WIC-provided brand is not suitable for their baby, mothers must pay full price for another formula, she said, adding, “Formula is at a premium price right now, which only puts more stress on their limited resources.”

Facing criticism from consumers, federal officials are responding to the crisis with legislation and policy changes.

Last week the White House announced a series of measures to address the shortage – including new FDA guidance aimed at boosting imports of formula not typically sold in the U.S., invoking the Defense Production Act to require suppliers to prioritize infant formula manufacturers before other customers, and arranging for shipments of formula from Europe.

The shipments, which began earlier this week, are expected to deliver roughly 1.5 million bottles worth of formula from Switzerland to Indiana for distribution, the White House said.

On May 21, President Joe Biden also

signed the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022, designed to let families use WIC vouchers to buy formula products outside what is normally designated for the program during times of crisis.

In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been helping manufacturers to boost production, prioritize the most needed product lines and streamline the importation process for some infant formula products.

Until supplies resume their normal level, people are being discouraged from panic-buying or buying formula in large quantities.

Local organizations are doing the best they can to help moms in need.

St. Mark Parish in Huntersville has organized a baby formula drive from now until next Friday, June 3. People can drop off their donations in the bin located in the church entrance. Donations will be distributed to several local agencies.

Organizer Donna Fodale said the parish felt impelled to act, living out the call to be the hands of Christ.

“We look around and there is so much suffering. Whatever the suffering is the Lord calls us to action – to be instruments of His love and mercy,” Fodale said.

“Knowing that parents are struggling just to feed their babies has been hard for all of us to see.”

At MiraVia, Capen and her staff are welcoming donations of formula and connecting with other area resources to match moms with the supplies they need for their babies.

“Our communities have found creative ways to communicate and share resources,” Capen said.

She recommends that people search social media and community apps like NextDoor or OfferUp to find formula or

identify agencies that would welcome donations of formula.

— Catholic News Service contributed.

Need formula? n Substitute with more readily available generic brands if possible, unless your infant has special dietary needs. Switching formulas isn’t without side effects, so contact your pediatrician if you need to find a different brand. n Reach out to your pediatrician or OB/GYN for recommendations and even free samples, especially if you need a brand for infants with sensitive digestive systems. n Call the United Way’s 2-1-1 to get connected to charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food, as well as other services such as medical resources and possible government benefits. n Do not water down formula, try to make formula at home, or use toddler formula to feed infants. Homemade infant formulas – recipes for which are widely available online – pose real health risks, from nutritional imbalances to contamination. n For more tips, go online to www.hhs.gov/ formula.

Want to help? n If you are pregnant and have received free samples of formula, donate what you won’t use to food pantries or programs for new mothers. n Catholic Charities’ food pantries in Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem accept donations of baby formula, but given the varied nutritional needs of clients and their babies, financial donations are preferred so they and agencies such as MiraVia, Room At The Inn and others can provide customized, direct support to mothers. Give online at www.ccdoc.org, www. miravia.org or www.roominn.org.

Room At The Inn

FOOD

would like to thank all the Knights of Columbus Councils from across NC that participated in this year’s raffle.

Knights of Columbus Councils 2829, 3498, 4507, 4600, 6600, 6650, 7184, 7232, 7450, 8680, 8857, 9249, 9365, 9499, 9549, 9570, 10504, 10505, 11103, 11180, 11234, 11266, 11406, 11817, 11848, 12017, 12167, 12281, 12481, 12610, 12921, 13236, 13532, 15265, 15752, 16839 and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Assembly 2254 Although the raffle is open to anyone, we were not surprised when it was Knights who won the $5,000 for the third time!

Congratulations Council 2829 from Winston-Salem who won with ticket #19!

Visit us at www.roominn.org

FROM PAGE 4

336-727-0705 in Winston-Salem.

At this time of year, the food pantries particularly welcome food items that young people can make at home themselves – such as individual serving cups of macaroni and cheese, individually wrapped snacks, cereal bars, and juice boxes.

Items needed year-round include juice, tea and coffee, rice, beans, spaghetti sauce, tuna, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, and canned soup.

Non-food items – including diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, laundry detergent, hygiene products and paper products such as toilet paper – are also always needed.

Catholic Charities’ Asheville Regional Office (in partnership with MANNA Food Bank) and the Charlotte food pantry can also accept refrigerated products such as milk, eggs, meat, yogurt, cheese and fresh produce.

Get involved At www.ccdoc.org: Learn more about how you can donate, volunteer or give to help Catholic Charities serve people in need across the Diocese of Charlotte

ENCARNACIÓN VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 16

Virgen. Luego, a las 10 a.m., el Padre Kenneth Whittington, párroco, ofició una Misa solemne en honor a la Encarnación.

Este fue el preludio al festival que inició pasado el mediodía, que contó con la participación de ‘Las Hijas de María’, la presentación de bailes típicos, y ofreció platillos y bebidas tradicionales de esta región guatemalteca.

Un concierto de alabanzas por los coros ‘La Encarnación’ y el grupo ‘Nueva Creación’’, dio paso a una Hora Santa que cerró las actividades del día.

LAS HIJAS DE MARÍA

Agustín Rodríguez, coordinador pastoral comunitario, dijo que las dos jóvenes seleccionadas como ‘Hijas de María’, Jenny Celina Vásquez Rodríguez y Jessica Pérez, fueron presentadas con anterioridad en una celebración realizada el 29 de abril.

‘Las Hijas de María’ son jóvenes de la comunidad elegidas por encarnar las virtudes de la mujer católica. Ellas representarán a su comunidad durante todo un año, en este caso entre 2022 y 2023, cuando entregarán la posta a otras muchachas.

Esta presentación inició con una liturgia de la Palabra celebrada por el diácono Miguel Sebastián. En ella, el diácono resaltó las palabras de la lectura del día. “vengan a mí”, señalando que muchos buscan la sabiduría y el conocimiento del mundo para alcanzar la felicidad, pero, “el único que puede traer alivio a los corazones se llama Jesucristo, el hijo de Dios”.

Luego declaró sentirse orgulloso de “haber nacido en Guatemala, de hablar un lenguaje maya que se llama aguacateco. Soy de Guatemala y punto.

Me apena los guatemaltecos que no reconocen el valor de su cultura. Ser humilde es aceptar quien eres, de donde provienes”, añadió.

Las Hijas de María; miembros de la cofradía; Miguel Rodríguez, coordinador de coros y miembro del consejo comunitario; Juan Salvador, Elvin y Marcelo Rodríguez, del Ministerio de Alabanza y Coro San Francisco Javier, patrono de la comunidad de Manzanillo en Aguacatán; recibieron una bendición especial del Diácono Sebastián, quien despidió esta ceremonia invitando, “a todos los que aún no pertenecen a un ministerio a que se integren”, pues, “hay muchas cosas que hacer”.

La comunidad católica guatemalteca en Morganton administra una radio online llamada Radio Alégrate María de Generación en Generación.

La mayoría de sus integrantes proviene del departamento de Huehuetenango, con aproximadamente 1.4 millones de habitantes, uno de los dos, entre 22 departamentos, con mayor número de migrantes a Estados Unidos, según un estudio publicado por el Instituto de Política Migratoria (MPI) en marzo de 2022.

Más online En www.radioalegratemaria.com: Visite para seguir las transmisiones ‘en vivo’ de Radio Alégrate María de Generación en Generación. También puedes encontrarlos bajo ese nombre en Facebook.

Arts & Entertainment

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

Book tells how artists turned St. Joseph into complex historical figure AGOSTINO BONO CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

‘Family Camp’ Leaden evangelical comedy in which the wife (Leigh-Allyn Baker) of a business-obsessed dad (Tommy Woodard) convinces him to sign their family up for a weeklong visit to the summer camp their parish runs in the hope of getting him to focus on being a spouse and father. Instead, he gets caught up in a rivalry with the eccentric patriarch (Eddie James) of the clan with whom they share their rustic accommodations. While almost squeaky clean, director and co-writer Brian Cates’ film is woefully inert when trying to be humorous and even more ineffective when the script he penned with Rene Gutteridge turns sentimental or preachy.

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

St. Joseph, the third member of the Holy Family, is overshadowed in the Gospels by the baby Jesus and Mary. He leads Mary to Bethlehem, is present at the birth of Jesus and has a protector role in leading Mary and Jesus to exile in Egypt to escape Herod’s wrath.

But he says nothing in the Gospels and has no role in Christ’s public ministry. At best, he’s a supporting player.

Not so in the more than 2,000 years of Christianity, where he has taken on a complex personality outstripping his Gospel portrait.

Christian art, theology and popular preaching have shaped him into various roles, often in keeping with the Christian needs of the times.

“The Silent Knight” tells how Christian art depicts him through the ages. Author Elizabeth Lev is an American art historian living in Rome where she conducts art tours.

The best parts of the book are the reproductions of famous art works and Lev’s explanations of how they convey views about Joseph. A pointed finger or an eye glance casts the viewer toward an important element.

Similarly colored clothing ties Joseph to other church figures, such as St. Peter to emphasize Joseph’s role as protector of the papacy.

So how has Joseph been portrayed?

Sometimes he is seen as a servant to his family, washing Jesus’ diapers or cooking the family meal, huffing on flames to keep the fire alive. At other times he’s portrayed as the loving father, feeding berries to his hungry son.

Renaissance artist Michelangelo had Mary – her back toward Joseph – sitting down, nestled between his legs as he hands her the baby Jesus over her shoulder in a show of family harmony.

To combat communist inroads with laborers in the late 1800s, he became Joseph the Worker.

The book title refers to the depiction of Joseph as a knight who during the Middle Ages – when the papacy was wracked with scandals – came to defend the Church as he had defended Mary and Jesus. Obviously, the title is also a play on words. When pronounced, it recalls the title of a famous Christmas carol about the nativity.

So, in the Gospels, Joseph is the strong, silent type while in Christian art and history he becomes the man for all seasons.

This is the book cover of “The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art” by Elizabeth Lev. CNS | COURTESY SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS

On TV n Friday, May 27, 5 a.m.

(EWTN) “Heart of A Missionary: The Story of Pauline Jaricot.” To mark her beatification, an inspiring documentary explores the life of Pauline Jaricot. Interviews, archival footage and dramatic recreations tell the story of this remarkable French laywoman who faithfully served others. n Saturday, May 28, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Thou Shalt Love.” A documentary about Cardinal Stephen Wsyzynski who served as Primate of Poland for 33 years, resisting Communism and guiding the Church in Poland through decades of Soviet occupation. n Sunday, June 5, 3 p.m.

(EWTN) “Solemn Mass of Pentecost from Rome.”

Pope Francis celebrates the Solemn Mass of Pentecost, live from St. Peter’s Basilica.

DISCOVER THE CATHOLIC DIFFERENCE

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Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

23

Our nation 24

catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Peter Jugis offers guidance after shootings CNH: How could God allow these senseless shootings to happen, especially to innocent children?

Bishop Jugis: God wills only good in the world; and one of the greatest goods He has given us is the gift of freedom. People can use this freedom to do good or do evil. When horrific acts occur like what we’ve witnessed in Texas, it is contrary to God’s will. It is an act of evil. When God became man in the person Bishop of Christ, He Peter J. Jugis entered into our world beset with abuses of freedom, evil and injustice. As seen on the cross, He is not a God indifferent to our suffering. He enters into our pain, our weakness and the ravages of sin. On the cross, in this great act of love, He shows us the way out of darkness and pain – lighting up for us the path of salvation, promising the righting of all wrongs, peace, and eternal life where there is no more possibility of sin and evil. Our Lord says to us, “I came so that (you) might have life and have it more abundantly.”

CNH: What words of comfort have you given people who have experienced such profound grief?

Bishop Jugis: The pain of loss is difficult in any circumstance.

When it is an act of malice against innocent children, it is especially heartbreaking. In the face of such tragedy, there are only two things that can bring some measure of peace: our faith in God and the love we share with one another. Let us turn to both.

And let us pray for the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and firmness of purpose to bring an end to such violence.

CNH: How should we respond as Christians to the increasing violence we are seeing happen around us?

Bishop Jugis: Peace begins in the heart. Our first responsibility is to make sure we never surrender this peace and allow darkness, isolation and discord to overcome us and, in turn, to those around us. Secondly, we can be more attentive and loving to our family members, friends and neighbors. We must pray for God to give us the courage and charity needed to reach out and help those around us who may be succumbing to despair, who may be on the verge of breakdown – for their sake and the sake of others.

— Catholic News Herald

Prayers, calls for stricter gun laws in wake of mass shootings Later on Wednesday, Archbishop García-Siller comforted families who waited outside a local civic center in Uvalde waiting for news of WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis and the U.S. Catholic bishops their loved ones. are decrying three mass shootings that happened within 12 days in “When will these insane acts of violence end?” the archbishop later the U.S. – calling for leaders to “search their souls” and find ways to said in a statement. “It is too great a burden to bear. The word tragedy end the “epidemic” of gun violence. doesn’t begin to describe what occurred. These massacres cannot be A May 14 shooting at a grocery store in a predominantly Africanconsidered ‘the new normal.’”

American neighborhood of Buffalo, N.Y., killed 10 people and injured “The Catholic Church consistently calls for the protection of all life; three more. The next day in a separate incident, one person was killed and these mass shootings are a most pressing life issue on which all and five others wounded in a shooting at a Taiwanese Presbyterian in society must act – elected leaders and citizens alike,” he said. “We church in Laguna Woods, Calif. Law enforcement officials made arrests pray that God comfort and offer compassion to the families of these and are investigating little ones whose pain both as hate crimes. is unbearable.”

On Tuesday, A May 24 statement a shooting at an from the U.S. elementary school in Conference of Catholic Uvalde, Texas, killed 19 Bishops said, “There children and 2 adults, have been too many with more than a dozen school shootings, others injured. too much killing of Texas authorities the innocent. Our said an 18-year-old Catholic faith calls wearing body armor us to pray for those evaded police after who have died and to crashing his truck near bind the wounds of the school close to the others, and we join our U.S-Mexico border prayers along with the and entered the school community in Uvalde building armed with and Archbishop two assault weapons.

Gustavo García-Siller.

Authorities named As we do so, each of Salvador Ramos as the us also needs to search shooter and said he our souls for ways was killed by police. that we can do more The May 24 shooting to understand this at Robb Elementary epidemic of evil and School was the violence and implore deadliest school CNS | BRENDAN MCDERMID, REUTERS our elected officials to shooting since the 2012 A boy writes a message on a sidewalk May 18 in Buffalo, N.Y., where a mass shooting took place May 14 at a Tops help us take action.” massacre at Sandy supermarket. The shooting was the first of three mass casualty events within the past two weeks in the U.S., The U.S. bishops’ Hook Elementary in prompting Pope Francis and Catholic bishops to issue calls for prayer, peace and an end to the violence. statement echoed one Newtown, Conn. issued just a few days On Wednesday, Pope earlier, in the wake of Francis prayed publicly for the victims of the Texas shooting and said the Buffalo and Laguna Woods shootings – offering prayers for the it was time to say “Enough!” and enact stricter laws on gun sales. dead and injured and urging support for the families, friends and “With a heart shattered over the massacre at the elementary school communities impacted by the violence. in Texas, I pray for the children and adults who were killed and for “The Catholic Church has been a consistent voice for rational yet their families,” he told the crowd gathered for his weekly general effective forms of regulation of dangerous weapons, and the USCCB audience. continues to advocate for an end to violence, and for the respect and “It is time to say, ‘Enough!’ to the indiscriminate trafficking of dignity of all lives,” the statement said. guns,” the pope said. “Let’s all work to ensure that such tragedies On Wednesday, some U.S. bishops spoke out against the easy never happen again.” accessibility to guns in the country.

Shortly before the audience, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of “Don’t tell me that guns aren’t the problem, people are. I’m sick of San Antonio, an archdiocese that includes Uvalde, tweeted: “Holy hearing it,” Bishop Daniel E. Flores of Brownsville, Texas, tweeted May Father Pope Francis, say some prayers for the souls of our little ones 25. “The darkness first takes our children who then kill our children, killed today and two teachers. Uvalde is in mourning. The families are using the guns that are easier to obtain than aspirin. We sacralize having a very dark time. Your prayer will do good to them.” death’s instruments and then are surprised that death uses them.”

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Parishes, schools in the Diocese of Charlotte join the Church’s call to pray for peace CHARLOTTE — Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte are responding to the recent acts of violence with prayer.

Bishop Peter Jugis is calling for a special prayer for peace during Masses this weekend in churches throughout the Diocese of Charlotte.

In the Prayers of the Faithful, the following prayer is suggested: “We pray for those affected by the recent shootings in Buffalo, Laguna Woods and now at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas …for the deceased and their families, that they may know Your heavenly peace promised by Jesus Christ; …for the perpetrators and those tempted by darkness and violence, that they may surrender to Your infinite mercy; …for all who feel vulnerable, frightened, or anxious by these acts of senseless evil, that they may find consolation in the promise of Your eternal kingdom.

We pray to the Lord…”

On Wednesday, the diocese’s three high schools simultaneously observed a moment of prayer to remember the lives of 19 students and two teachers killed Tuesday at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.

The schools held a moment of silence and then recited a special prayer for victims, their families, and the perpetrator and his family.

Elementary and middle schools across the diocese also offered special moments of prayer Wednesday at the principals’ discretion.

Father Timothy Reid, Vicar of Education for the diocese’s 20 schools in western North Carolina, wrote Wednesday in a message to parents: “As Catholic school communities, we are called to support one another in times of suffering. As you pray with your family in the upcoming days, I certainly encourage you to pray for all those affected by this tragedy, but also to pray for peace, healing and protection within our own school communities.”

— Catholic News Herald

Our world

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief Vatican confirms pope will visit Indigenous in Canada in late July VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will meet members of Canada’s Indigenous communities in late July, visiting the cities of Edmonton, Quebec and Iqaluit in Nunavut, the country’s most northern region. “Accepting the invitation of the civil and ecclesiastical authorities and the Indigenous communities,” the pope will be in Canada July 24-29, returning to Rome July 30, the Vatican announced May 13. The Vatican said a detailed program would be released later. “The pope’s visit will provide a unique opportunity for him, once again, to listen and dialogue with Indigenous peoples, to express his heartfelt closeness and to address the impact of colonization and the participation of the Catholic Church in the operation of residential schools throughout Canada,” the bishops of Canada wrote on a website – papalvisit.ca – launched for the visit. The papal visit, the bishops said, would be “a significant step on the road to truth, understanding and healing.” Pope Francis had promised to visit Canada during a meeting April 1 with representatives of Canada’s Métis National Council, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and Assembly of First Nations – three groups he also had met with individually. A delegation from the Manitoba Métis Federation visited the Vatican separately April 21 and also met with the pope.

Cardinal Zen pleads not guilty to charges in Hong Kong court HONG KONG — Cardinal Joseph Zen Zekiun and several others pleaded not guilty in a Hong Kong court to charges of failing to properly register a now-defunct fund to help anti-government protesters. The 90-year-old cardinal was detained May 11 under China’s national security law for “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces,” but he has not been charged with that. Instead, he and the four others were charged with failing to properly register the 612 Humanitarian Relief Fund, set up to offer financial assistance to those involved in anti-government protests in 2019.

It was disbanded last year after coming under scrutiny by authorities. The May 24 court hearing coincided with the feasts of Our Lady of Sheshan and Mary Help of Christians, a date marked by Catholics to pray for the Church in China. Later that evening, Cardinal Zen celebrated Mass for the feast. All five defendants pleaded not guilty. If convicted of the improper registration, each defendant could incur a fine of about US$1,300. Their trial will begin Sept. 19. The defendants’ arrests May 10 and 11 under the security law provoked an international outcry. The law made participating in or supporting the pro-democracy movement crimes of subversion and collusion with foreign organizations and allowed for those remanded to be extradited to mainland China. Punishment ranges between a minimum of three years and a maximum of life imprisonment.

Pope highlights need for evangelization, care for creation VATICAN CITY — Catholics of all ages are called to form strong faith communities, listen to and dialogue with others, reach out to share the Gospel and work to protect the

environment, Pope Francis said in a series of speeches May 21. Still using a wheelchair because of ongoing pain in his knee, Pope Francis had a busy day, meeting four separate groups in addition to holding three private meetings. The pope’s public appointments began with an apology to several hundred adolescents preparing for confirmation in the Archdiocese of Genoa; they had gathered in the small square between the pope’s residence and St. Peter’s Basilica. “I’ve made you wait 35 minutes. I am sorry,” the pope told them. “I heard the noise but had not finished the things I had to do first.” Pope Francis pleaded with the youngsters not to make their confirmation a “farewell sacrament” from active parish life, but to treasure the grace they receive, strengthen it with prayer and share it “because in the Church we are not ‘me alone,’ or just me and God; no, we are all of us, in community.”

Vatican foreign minister visits Ukraine in sign of solidarity VATICAN CITY — Seeing scenes of a war on television is one thing, “touching this reality is another,” Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, said in Ukraine. “I want to show support and solidarity, also in the name of the Holy Father,” the archbishop told Vatican Media while in Lviv. During his May 18-20 visit to Lviv, Kyiv and surrounding suburbs, Archbishop Gallagher met with bishops from the Latin- and Eastern-rite Catholic Churches as well as with local and national government officials. Before meeting May 20 in Kyiv with Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s foreign minister, he visited Resurrection Cathedral with Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and went to the nearby towns of Vorzel, Irpin and Bucha, where he prayed at the site of a former mass grave. Russian soldiers who occupied the town in March have been accused of committing war crimes there. “Heavenly Father, in your mercy we ask you to grant peace to all those who for some time were buried in this place,” he prayed. “We call upon you to change hearts, convert hearts, so that horrors like this may be always avoided and that the hearts of men may turn toward you and turn to each other in a spirit of understanding, a spirit of wishing to consolidate peace in this land of Ukraine and throughout the world.”

Pope: World in ‘profound anthropological crisis’

may be brought to a more adequate and mature life of faith.”

— Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church has a responsibility to address the pastoral needs of a world that is in a deep crisis that is disrupting humanity’s desire for peace, Pope Francis said.

In a message to participants at a conference sponsored by the Pontifical Gregorian University’s Institute of Psychology, the pope said the world “is going through a profound anthropological crisis, a crisis of meaning. Once again, before our eyes is the immense tragedy of war, which is the worst consequence of human destructiveness – both individual and systemic – that is not taken seriously enough and is not duly attended to and eradicated at its root,” he wrote in the letter released by the Vatican May 19. The theme of the conference, which coincided with the institute’s 50th anniversary, is “’Adam, where are you?’

The anthropological question today.” In his message, the pope congratulated the institute on its anniversary, noting that its founding was inspired by the Second Vatican Council’s call for the use of not only theological principles, but also of “secular sciences, especially of psychology and sociology, so that the faithful

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Mexican priest killed at border MEXICO CITY — A Catholic priest who directed a migrant shelter was killed in the Mexican border state of Baja California, reinforcing Mexico’s reputation as a murderous country for clergy. Father José Guadalupe Rivas Saldaña and another unidentified individual were found dead May 17 in the municipality of Tecate, east of Tijuana, after being reported missing May 15, according to local media. There were signs Father Rivas and the other victim suffered head injuries. The Archdiocese of Tijuana confirmed the deaths May 18. An archdiocesan spokesman was unavailable for comment. Father Rivas had served as pastor of St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Tecate and director of the migrant shelter since June 2021 and was involved with the Catholic charismatic renewal movement. Catholic communities working with migrants called for a proper investigation into the murder of Father Rivas and warned of rampant insecurity, which has put both migrants and their defenders at risk of violence. “We know that people who defend the human rights of migrants and refugees are exposed to contexts of great adversity and violence, so it is essential that the state guarantees the protection of people who exercise this commitment,” the Scalabrinian mission with migrants and refugees said in a statement May 19.

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Matthew Nelson

What makes humans so special?

F

ire up your imagination for a moment and imagine you are standing on a busy street corner with a handful of rosaries. Most people pass by hurriedly, but a stranger walks by and makes eye contact long enough for you to ask a simple question: “What do you think of the Catholic Church?”

What sort of responses would you receive?

My guess is that many, if not most, of the responses would be critical of the Church’s moral teachings, especially in the areas of sex, marriage and human life. Would you be prepared to confidently respond to those criticisms?

Sound arguments often begin with basic facts that one’s interlocutor is likely to agree with.

The late Catholic apologist Frank Sheed identifies one such key principle for defending the Church’s moral teachings.

He writes, “Our treatment of anything must depend, in the last resort, on what we think it is” (“Society and Sanity”). This is the first principle we must establish before entering the depths of rational argument. And from that follows another principle on which all moral arguments hinge: Our treatment of man must depend on what we think he is. So then: What are we that makes us so special?

‘Man is a union of body and spirit purposed for heaven.’

MAN HAS AN IMMORTAL SOUL

In his book “In the Beginning,” Pope Benedict XVI affirms that the inner unity between faith and reason is reflected in the revealed story of creation and the scientific theory of human evolution. Science can inform us about man’s development as a physical being, but alongside the discoveries of science the disciplines of theology and philosophy can tell us more about man: that he has an immortal soul infused by God. Therefore, man is a unity of body and spirit, which makes him utterly distinct from the rest of creation. “Man is not merely an evolution but rather a revolution,” muses G.K. Chesterton.

With this rational soul, man alone can know by his intellect and love through his will. Unlike the animals, we can freely choose, and we can deliberate before choosing.

Another difference is that human souls are incorruptible, which means they are immortal.

Death of the body is not the end for us. This potential to “share in God’s blessed life” for all of eternity sets us apart from animals (CCC 1).

MADE LIKE GOD

In the opening chapter of Genesis, God says: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” (1:26). But what exactly is God like? And what are the particular attributes of God that we similarly possess?

God is infinite and perfect. Therefore, to describe Him, we use words such as all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving. Although God thereby possesses power, knowledge and love without limit, we too are able – by virtue of the spiritual powers of our will and intellect – to exercise power, obtain knowledge and will the good of others, albeit to a finite degree. You can see these “likenesses” to God fully manifested in distinctly human activities, such as artistic endeavors, academic pursuits and charity work.

But that’s not all. The opening to Genesis also introduces us to a “theology of the body.” The Church, especially through the teachings of Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, teaches us that in our bodies we possess the sexual makeup through which we can enter into free, total, faithful and fruitful union with another. This nuptial love profoundly images the free, total, faithful and fruitful relationship between the three eternal persons of the Blessed Trinity.

SAVED BY GOD

“Christian, recognize your dignity” commands the Catechism (1691). There is perhaps no better and direct way to recognize your dignity than by looking at a crucifix.

“The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,” wrote St. Paul (Gal. 2:20). Just as Christ gave himself for Paul, so too did He suffer and die to save you. God desires for all to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4), and there is desire inside every man and woman to be saved. As C.S. Lewis puts it, “He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.”

Christ’s death on the cross both proves and symbolizes our human worth in addition to God’s undying love for us. We are not only loved by God, we are redeemed by Him. We are now free – with the necessary graces readily available – to fulfill God’s original plan for us: to “become partakers of the divine nature” and spend all of eternity in the bliss of heaven.

BACK TO THE STREET CORNER

Now, back to that imaginary street corner.

Do you feel a bit more prepared to respond to the objections you will undoubtedly encounter?

Remember: your objective in that scenario (or any evangelistic situation) is not to convert on the spot. Your task is to plant little mental seeds for consideration. If you find yourself at a loss for words, then I suggest starting with Frank Sheed’s first principle: that our treatment of anything must depend on what we think it is, from which it follows that our treatment of man must depend on what we think he is.

What is man? Man is a union of body and spirit purposed for heaven. Only from this starting point can the truths about what is right and good for man as man become clear.

MATTHEW NELSON is an apologist at the Word on Fire Institute and the author of “Just Whatever: How to Help the Spiritually Indifferent Find Beliefs That Really Matter” (Catholic Answers Press, 2018) and editor of the forthcoming volume “The New Apologetics” (Word on Fire Institute, 2022). He is also a scholar associate with the Society of Catholic Scientists.

Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit

Honor our elders creatively

A

s a Little Sister, I don’t usually follow pop culture trends, but something in the music world recently caught my attention.

Last weekend the Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s largest music competition, crowned Ukraine over 40 other countries for its unique song combining rap, hiphop and traditional folk music.

It was wonderful to see everyone gather around the Ukrainian musicians as they celebrated a rare moment of joy. But what really struck me was the subject of their winning song – “Stefania” is a tribute to the lead singer’s aging mother: “The field blooms but she is turning gray … She rocked me; gave me a rhythm. You can’t take willpower from me as I got it from her. She knew more than King Solomon….”

“Stefania” was not the only Eurovision song to honor family ties. Portugal’s entry, performed in subtle harmonies by an all-female group, expressed the composer’s pain at the loss of her grandfather, together with her joy in having known and loved him.

MARO, a Portuguese artist who attended music school in Boston, reflected on the meaning of her song, “Saudade”: “It’s about loss but it’s also celebration. It’s crazy how impactful our grandparents can be, and it’s a reference to so many values, including unconditional love.”

Yes, it’s amazing how impactful our elders can be and how unconditionally they love us!

These two songs brought joy to my heart as they reminded me of Pope Francis’ oft-repeated call for young people to remember and honor their elders.

Throughout the pandemic, the media emphasized dark stories of the suffering and isolation of seniors. Now on a daily basis we see images of elderly Ukrainians who find themselves alone amid the ravages of war.

We need a bit of “Good News” involving the elderly! Witnessing the love of these young Ukrainian and Portuguese musicians for their elders filled me with admiration and hope.

On July 24, the Church will celebrate the second annual World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if young people across America used their talents to create music and works of art in honor of their elders on this special day? They may not receive a prestigious trophy or

international acclaim, but God will reward them with the joy of those who know how much more blessed it is to give than to receive!

The theme of this year’s World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly is “In Old Age They Will Still Bear Fruit.”

In his message for the occasion, Pope Francis observed: “Old age is not a time of life easily understood even by those of us who are already experiencing it. … The more developed societies expend large sums on this stage of life without really helping people to understand and appreciate it; they offer health care plans to the elderly but not plans for living this age to the full.

This makes it hard to look to the future and discern what direction to take. On the one hand, we are tempted to ward off old age by hiding our wrinkles and pretending to be forever young, while on the other, we imagine that the only thing we can do is bide our time, thinking glumly that we cannot ‘still bring forth fruit.’”

He continued, “The fast pace of the world – with which we struggle to keep up – seems to leave us no alternative but to implicitly accept the idea that we are useless.”

Please do not allow your parents, grandparents or other elders in your life to accept this false idea, no matter how limited or disabled they may feel. No human being is ever useless or without value. No one is ever completely incapable of entering into relationship with others and making a difference in the world!

And so, as July 24 approaches, let’s be creative in finding ways to honor the elders in our lives. Let’s show them we are grateful for their unconditional love and all they have given us. Let’s help our elders to appreciate the many ways in which they still bear fruit!

Pope Francis told seniors that they have the responsibility of teaching the rest of us to regard others with the same loving gaze with which they regard their own grandchildren and that, having grown in humanity by caring for others, they are teachers of a way of life that is peaceful and attentive to those in greatest need.

Let’s show them that we have learned these lessons well as we accompany them with reverence and loving attention!

SISTER CONSTANCE VEIT is the communications director for the Little Sisters of the Poor in the United States and an occupational therapist.

May 27, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Kelly Henson

T

Where is the Lord’s abundance?

he past few years have hit many of us with the gentle touch of an avalanche. As I have watched my family and many close to me face illness, fear, financial worry, major life changes, loss and depression, a question lurks in the background: “Where is the Lord’s abundance?”

I was struck when reading Luke 5 recently by how much our suffering can blind us to God’s gifts and God’s calling in our lives. In that chapter, Luke tells the story of the calling of Simon Peter. Simon has just arrived at the shore after a disappointing night fishing and begins to wash his nets. There is a large crowd blocking his way home, and this Jesus character suddenly wants to use Simon’s boat as a podium. Then, after his speech, Jesus tells Simon to row the boat out on the lake again to fish, at the wrong time of day.

The fishermen catch such a multitude of fish that the nets begin to rip, and they need the help of another boat; then, both boats nearly sink under their load.

Simon and his fellow fishermen James and John were astonished and humbled by this surprising abundance. Jesus obscurely calls them to become “fishers of men,” and they leave everything to follow Him. How inadequate these simple men must have felt in the train of a teacher who quotes Scripture with ease and heals the sick with a word!

Everything familiar was taken out of their hands, and yet these tenacious men had exactly the characters necessary to be called into God’s most important work.

Imagine if Simon Peter had said “No” to Jesus’ request to use his boat. It would have been perfectly reasonable under the circumstances.

When we are similarly tired and disappointed, it’s easy to reject the gift of presence. We push others away, shrug off offers of help, neglect those dearest to us, and throw our attention into distractions and remote social networks that demand less authenticity. Sometimes Jesus shows up in our low moments in the face of a loved one, and we don’t receive Him well because we feel unworthy of attention or unequal to putting on a pleasant face for them.

Imagine if the fishermen focused so much on the breaking nets and the sinking boats that they couldn’t appreciate the wealth of fish that had been bestowed on them. Often, I have heard mothers murmur, “I’m not sure why God sees fit to trust me with so much!” Sometimes abundance can feel more like a burden than a blessing. Having a vehicle means it can break, having a roof means it can leak, having

children means you’ll be patching knees and hearts daily, and having the ability to invest in ministry or business or studies or whatever God is calling you to in this minute means that you will experience the brokenness of this fallen world in the midst of the particular abundance that God has given you. Acceptance and a cool-headed process of humility, curiosity, creativity and discernment before action in these moments is a grace rarely asked for, but it is the crux of true freedom.

Imagine if these straightforward fishermen had refused God’s call because they didn’t have enough information to weigh every pro and con that the Messiah’s request would bring about. We too will never have all the information we need to perfectly protect ourselves in this world. Faith, hope and love are not icing on the cake of control.

They are the crux and cross of the Christian calling. We have to make our choices with prudence, but we should also ask how faith, hope, and love figure into our choices.

Often in the lives of the saints, they habitually follow order and prudential behavior, but they reach a moment where Christ asks them to be a fool for Him, to forgo the tidy habits of the mechanized world and step into the riot of beauty in the land of the living. Only He perfectly sees that vision until the New Jerusalem is established, and we must trust His lead in those moments when we feel convicted in the silent dialog of our hearts with Him. Simon Peter learned that if he focused on broken nets and waterlogged ships, he would not receive fish and the even greater favor of God’s calling. If he feared the storm, he would not walk on water. And if he gave in to the uncertainty of his own betrayal and refused forgiveness in his weakness, he would not accept the keys of the kingdom and the grace to wield them.

No inflation index, virus, social upheaval or personal cross is more powerful than the Providence of God. He just has an odd way of showing His care, and we have to ask to have the eyes to see His Love bursting through our expectations of what ought to be. Because there, at the root of our deepest fear and most personal hurt, is where He is waiting for us with fullness and mission.

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

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catholicnewsherald.com | May 27, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Faith more precious than gold. — 1 Peter 1:7 fe más preciosa que el oro. — 1 Pedro 1:7 Mark your calendar for the 18th Eucharistic Congress August 5 – 6, 2022 — Charlotte Convention Center

Marque su calendario para el XVIII Congreso Eucarístico CIO P R1EPETER 1:7 US T

O RO

GOLD

Para información y voluntariado: www.GoEucharist.com

OSA E C1IPEDRO 1:7 QUE

EL

AN

For information and to volunteer: www.GoEucharist.com

PR

F E MÁ S

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Agosto 5 y 6, 2022— Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte FA I T H MO

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