July 8, 2022

July 8, 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

TAKE THE SURVEY: Choose our diocesan patron 17

RESPONDA LA ENCUESTA: Decidir nuestro diocesano patrono 18

Pennybyrn opens transitional rehab center 5

FUNDED BY THE PARISHIONERS OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE THANK YOU!

Post-Roe era begins Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in historic abortion decision 24-25 Corte Suprema anula fallo que permitía el aborto legal en Estados Unidos 26 Dieron calurosa bienvenida a nuevo sacerdote en Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

Synod reveals call to examine conscience, grow

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Read the full report from the diocesan Synod

At a glance 2

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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July 8, 2022 Volume 31 • NUMBER 20

things you need to know this week

CELEBRATE TWO GREAT SAINTS: The coming week features the feast days of two of the Church’s greatest saints: St. Benedict of Nursia (July 11) and St. Bonaventure (July 15). St. Benedict was a sixth-century abbot who founded the Benedictine order and gave Christian monasticism its lasting foundation in Western Europe, earning him the name “Father of Western Monasticism.” St. Bonaventure, nicknamed “The Seraphic Doctor,” was known for his leadership of the Franciscans and his intellectual contributions to theology and philosophy. His impact was so great that today he is sometimes referred to as the second founder of the Franciscan order. Learn more about them at www.catholicnewsherald.com/faith.

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PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

INDEX

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.

Day at Carowinds” on Sunday, July 24. The day features Mass offered by Bishop Peter Jugis and an all-you-can-eat picnic lunch.

See more info on page 14. Go to www. faithmorepreciousthangold.com (click on “Events”) to buy discounted tickets.

ROLLER COASTERS AND WATER SLIDES, ANYONE?: The Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary celebration rolls on with “Catholic Family

INQUIRE ABOUT CURSILLO: The Cursillo Movement is an official movement of the Catholic Church founded in Spain. The name “Cursillo” is

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“Saint Bonaventure” by Claude François (c. 1655)

Spanish, which means “short course,” and is often associated with a three-day weekend – but that is only one aspect of the Cursillo Movement. The Diocese of Charlotte Cursillo Movement includes groups in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. A weekend for women will be held July 14-17 at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, and a weekend for men will be held July 21-24 at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury. Learn more at www.charlottecursillo.com.

GOLD

704-370-3333

SIGN UP C I OUS PRE TODAY: T E 1 PETER 1:7 The 2022 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress is fast approaching!

Sign-ups are now open for 2022 First Communicants to take part in the closing Mass procession. Volunteers and ushers are also needed – sign up to help and enjoy a backstage view at this unforgettable diocesan “family reunion” set for Aug. 5-6. Get details and sign up at www.goeucharist.com.

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Detail of the head of St. Benedict from the fresco “Crucifixion and Saints” by Fra Angelico (1441)

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Contact us.....................................2 Español.......................................19-22 Our Faith........................................3 Our diocese............................. 4-18 Scripture readings................. 2, 21 Arts & Entertainment.................23 U.S. news................................24-27 Viewpoints.............................30-31 World news........................... 28-29

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

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RE-READ A CLASSIC: On July 11, 1960, Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” was first published. The fictional story of a white lawyer’s defense of a black man against a false rape charge by a white woman earned the 34-year-old novelist from Alabama a Pulitzer Prize, and it has gone on to sell more than 40 million copies worldwide. One of our favorite adages from Atticus Finch: “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

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— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor

Diocesan calendar of events PRAYER SERVICES & GROUPS PRAYERS TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: 8 a.m. Every first Saturday of the month, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte. Pray to help bring about world peace and the salvation of souls.

WOMEN’S 85TH CURSILLO WEEKEND: July 14-17, St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Road, Charlotte. For information, go online to www.charlottecursillo.com.

MEN’S 83RD CURSILLO WEEKEND: July 21-24, Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury. For information, go online to www.charlottecursillo.com.

PRO-LIFE ROSARY: After the 9 a.m. Mass, every third Sunday at the Mother Teresa Pro-Life Memorial, St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Road, Charlotte HOLY APOSTLE AND EVANGELIST LUKE MISSION OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH: Divine Liturgy (Mass) is offered Sundays at 3 p.m. at St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Road, Arden. All are welcome. For info, email ucmcanton@gmail.com.

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: ARDEN: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, July 23, St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr. HUNTERSVILLE: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, in Room 200 at the Parish Center WAYNESVILLE: 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, July 19, St. John Church, 234 Church St., in the Parish Hall 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 910585-2460 or jrgrabowski@rcdoc.org, or Lorena Haynes at 828-585-0483.

Upcoming events for Bishop Peter J. Jugis: JULY 12 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Joseph Church, Asheboro JULY 14 – 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. William Church, Murphy JULY 19 – 4:30 P.M. Catholic Charities Board of Directors Mass and Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte JULY 21 - 6 P.M. Sacrament of Confirmation St. Joseph of the Hills Church, Eden

Our faith

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Elderly called to be ‘teachers of tenderness,’ pope says JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — The elderly can find purpose in their old age by teaching future generations about the value and importance of tenderness, Pope Francis said.

Elderly men and women often have “a special sensitivity for care, for reflection and affection” that is sorely needed in today’s war-torn world, the pope said in a video message released by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network June 30.

“We are, or we can become, teachers of tenderness. And indeed, we can!” he said. “In this world accustomed to war, we need a true revolution of tenderness.”

At the start of each month, the network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention. For the month of July, the pope dedicated his prayer intention to the elderly to coincide with the Church’s celebration of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Pope Francis celebrated the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021 and decreed that it be observed each July on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. The celebration is July 24 this year.

In his message for this year’s celebration, Pope Francis asked older people PAGE 31: Sister Constance like himself to be “artisans of the revolution of tenderness.”

“We grandparents and elderly people have a great responsibility: to teach the Veit, L.S.P., writes about aging and the blessings that the women and men of our time to regard others with the same understanding and loving gaze with which we regard our own grandchildren,” he wrote. elderly bring to others’ lives Addressing younger people as well, the 85-year-old pope encouraged them to seek out and visit those who feel most alone. “Expecting a visit can transform those days when we think we have nothing to look forward to; from an initial encounter, a new friendship can emerge,” he said. “Visiting the elderly who live alone is a work of mercy in our time!”

In his video message, the pope noted the high number of older men and women in the world compared to young people and said that today, there are “many plans for assistance for the old age, but few plans for existence.”

Nevertheless, grandparents and the elderly can find meaning by passing along their wisdom to future generations, he said.

Younger Christians, he added, must cherish their elders who “are the bread that nourishes our lives, the hidden wisdom of a people.”

Concluding his prayer intention, Pope Francis prayed that elderly men and women can become “teachers of tenderness so that their experience and wisdom may help young people to look toward the future with hope and responsibility.”

Also inside

INDULGENCE OFFERED

Any Catholic who participates in the celebration July 24 of the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly can receive a plenary indulgence, the Vatican announced. (Editor’s note: See details at right.)

“Grandparents, the elderly and all the faithful who, motivated by a true spirit of penance and charity,” attend Mass or other prayer services for the occasion can receive the indulgence, which “can also be applied as a suffrage for the souls in purgatory,” said the announcement.

Announcing the indulgence May 30, the Vatican said it also can apply to those who “devote adequate time to actually or virtually visiting their elderly brothers and sisters in need or in difficulty.”

To receive a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment due for one’s sins, a person must show detachment from sin, go to confession, receive the Eucharist and pray for the intentions of the pope.

The indulgence also is available to “the elderly sick and all those who, unable to leave their homes for a serious reason, spiritually join” the celebrations, particularly by watching on television or the internet or listening on the radio, and “offer to the merciful God their prayers, sorrows and sufferings,” the Vatican said.

Daily Scripture readings JULY 10-16

Sunday: Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Colossians 1:15-20, Luke 10:25-37; Monday (St. Benedict): Isaiah 1:10-17, Matthew 10:34-11:1; Tuesday: Isaiah 7:1-9, Matthew 11:20-24; Wednesday (St. Henry): Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16, Matthew 11:25-27; Thursday (St. Kateri Tekakwitha): Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Matthew 11:28-30; Friday (St. Bonaventure): Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, Isaiah 38:10-12, 16, Matthew 12:1-8; Saturday (Our Lady of Mount Carmel): Micah 2:1-5, Matthew 12:14-21

JULY 17-23

Sunday: Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:24-28, Luke 10:3842; Monday: Micah 6:1-4, 6-8, Matthew 12:38-42; Tuesday: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20, Matthew 12:46-50; Wednesday: Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10, Matthew 13:1-9; Thursday: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Matthew 13:10-17; Friday (St. Mary Magdalene): Song of Songs: 3:1-4b, John 20:1-2, 11-18; Saturday: Jeremiah 7:1-11, Matthew 13:24-30

JULY 24-30

Sunday: Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:12-14, Luke 11:1-13; Monday (St. James, Apostle): 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 20:20-28; Tuesday (Sts. Joachim, Anne): Jeremiah 14:17-22, Matthew 13:36-43; Wednesday: Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21, Matthew 13:44-46; Thursday: Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 3:47-53; Friday (Sts. Martha, Mary & Lazarus): Jeremiah 26:1-9, John 11:19-27; Saturday: Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Matthew 14:1-12

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Our diocese 4

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Summer assignments announced for 26 seminarians CHARLOTTE — Twenty-six Diocese of Charlotte seminarians have been assigned to work at parishes this summer, the diocese’s Vocations Office has announced. They are serving until Aug. 7. Seminarians and their assignments are: n Clement Åkerblom: St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa n Christopher Angermeyer: St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Gastonia n Robert Bauman: Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury n Deacon Christopher Brock: St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte n John Cuppett: St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem n Anthony del Cid Lucero: St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Shelby n Matthew Dimock Jr.: Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro n Maximilian Frei: St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte n Christian Goduti: St. Mark Parish in Huntersville n Matthew Harrison II: Divine Redeemer Parish in Boonville n Nicholas Kramer: St. Joseph Vietnamese Parish in Charlotte n Bradley Loftin: St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte n Michael Lugo: Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville n Luke Martin: St. Bernadette Parish in Linville n Kevin Martinez: St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon n Kolbe Murrey: Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville n Deacon Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu: St. Mark Parish in Huntersville n José Palma Torres: St. Jude Parish in Sapphire n Deacon Peter Rusciolelli: St. Ann Parish in Charlotte n Noé Sifuentes: St. Francis Assisi Parish in Jefferson n Elliott Suttle: Holy Family Parish in Clemmons n Andrew Templeton: Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Winston-Salem n Peter Townsend: St. John the Baptist Parish in Tryon n Kevin Tran: St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte n James Tweed: Queen of the Apostles Parish in Belmont n Joseph Yellico: St. John the Evangelist Parish in Waynesville

Input sought on senior living community at Belmont Abbey BELMONT — The Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey are seeking input from area Catholics on a plan they have to build a senior living community on abbey property. The monks are asking anyone interested in potentially living in the senior living community in the future to provide ideas on its development. The monks are offering discussion sessions July 11-13 at the Lowry Alumni House, located on the Belmont Abbey College campus. Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. July 11; 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. July 12; and at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. July 13. Contact Gail Warlick at Belmont Abbey at 704-461-6675 or gailwarlick@bac.edu to reserve your space.

— Catholic News Herald

Perfect economic storm whips up increased demand for food pantry services Shelves emptying fast; donations urgently needed SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

CHARLOTTE — The long line of cars winding through the Diocesan Pastoral Center parking lot on Tuesdays and Thursdays to pick up free food from Catholic Charities volunteers is a telling sign of the food insecurity people across western North Carolina are suffering. The food pantry shelves are emptying as fast as they are stocked, and agency leaders are urgently calling for help.

All three of Catholic Charities’ food pantries – Asheville, Charlotte and Winston-Salem – are experiencing critical shortages of food to give out to local families in need.

“It’s post-COVID effects, inflation, the rising cost of gas and food, wages not keeping up with cost of living and the cost of housing getting more expensive – all of those things coming together” that are driving up the need, says Jesse Boeckermann, Catholic Charities’ Western Region Director.

The current rate of inflation in the U.S. is 8.6%, up from 7% last year at this time, according to federal government data.

According to AAA, people across the diocese are paying anywhere from $4.26 to $4.66 at the pumps for a gallon of regular gas – double the average price when the pandemic first hit in 2020.

Food costs are also dramatically up across western North Carolina. In Asheville food costs are now 9.3% above the national average, Charlotte’s are 11.1% higher, and WinstonSalem’s are 4.4% higher.

Boeckermann says his staff has seen an DEMAND, SEE PAGE 16

Balkey

Barone

Nolan Butler, Impact coordinator for VISTA, assists with distributing food at Catholic Charities’ Charlotte food pantry on Tuesday.

PHOTO PROVIDED

BY LIZ CHANDLER

How you can help Food donations needed now: Nonperishable items including rice, beans, spaghetti sauce, pasta, canned chicken or tuna, peanut butter, jelly, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and juice, tea and coffee. Non-food items are also welcome – including diapers, baby wipes, toiletries, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and toilet paper.

The Asheville and Charlotte food pantries can also accept refrigerated items such as milk, yogurt, cheese and produce.

Drop off donations: n ASHEVILLE: Drop off donations anytime 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday. Calling ahead to 828-255-0146 is recommended. n CHARLOTTE: Drop items off in the lobby

Bean

Diaz

Huber

of the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203, anytime 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. n WINSTON-SALEM: Drop items off in the lobby of the Catholic Charities office, 1612 East 14th St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27105, anytime 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Individual donations at all three food pantry locations are always welcome, as are collections from food drives organized by parishes, schools and groups.

Financial donations welcome: Your financial contribution will help Catholic Charities buy items it needs to supplement or fill in the gaps from other sources.

Go online to www.ccdoc.org (click on “Donate”).

Puthussery

2022 priest assignments announced CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the following priest assignments, effective July 12 unless otherwise noted: n Newly ordained Father Darren Balkey is assigned as parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Winston-Salem. n Father Jason Barone, parochial administrator of St. Jude Catholic Church in Sapphire, is assigned as pastor as of July 5 to coincide with St. Jude being

elevated from a mission of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Brevard to a parish in the Diocese of Charlotte. n Father Matthew Bean, parochial vicar at St. Mark Catholic Church, is assigned as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hendersonville. n Father Walner D. Diaz, C.M., as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Charlotte. Vincentian Father Diaz was ordained June 4 in

Philadelphia by his order, the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, and he began his ministry at the Charlotte parish on June 20. n Newly ordained Father Aaron Huber is assigned as parochial vicar at St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville. n Father Baiju Paul Puthussery, OSFS, is assigned to serve at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in High Point, effective July 1.

— Catholic News Herald

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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$56k in Foundation grants address hunger and cultural barriers SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

PHOTO PROVIDED BY BUSINESS HIGH POINT

Leaders and supporters of Pennybyrn gather June 27 to cut the ribbon and officially open the Lillian Congdon Transitional Rehab Center.

Pennybyrn opens transitional rehab center SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

HIGH POINT — With the snip of a red ribbon and smiles all around, the Sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, the staff of Pennybyrn and dozens of donors gathered June 27 to celebrate the completion of the latest in-patient/out-patient care facility to open at Pennybyrn over the past 75 years.

The new state-of-the-art rehabilitation center is named the Lillian Congdon Transitional Rehab Center, in memory of donor Earl Congdon’s late mother.

Earl and Kitty Congdon, longtime supporters of Pennybyrn, provided a $3.5 million matching challenge gift to help meet the initial $7 million campaign goal for the $35 million project.

Lillian Congdon, a wife and mother of two, was a trailblazer for women in business, founding the Old Dominion Freight Line in Richmond, Va., in the 1930s when women were not at the helm of corporations.

Her grandson, David Congdon, was present to speak on behalf of the Congdon family at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, touting the 5-foot tall matriarch’s business acumen. “Had she not made some really important decisions along those 45 years in the trucking business, we just wouldn’t be here,” he said. “Had she not been brave, gutsy, empowering and trusting of her sons, they may not have achieved all of their respective success.”

The Lillian Congdon Transitional Rehab Center has 24 patient suites featuring the comfortable, homelike model for which Pennybyrn is well known. It will offer innovative accommodations for in-patient rehabilitative care, a service Pennybyrn has provided for many years.

The rehabilitation center will take a multidisciplinary approach to physical, occupational and speech therapy to help patients recover more quickly while also helping to prevent complications or relapses in healing.

Rehab center staff will work strategically with medical partners such as High Point Medical Center, Cone Health, Novant and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

The length of stay for patients is estimated to be less than three weeks, and out-patient rehab will also be available.

The transitional rehabilitation program at Pennybyrn will be able to serve patients from throughout North Carolina, as well as other states.

Residents will receive expert care from a team of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech language pathologists. They will also enjoy access to Maryfield’s Perpetual Adoration Chapel next door, the Hallie and Tom Gibbs Therapy Garden and other spiritual services.

“In this magnificent sanctuary that we have created, we will be able to utilize that program, our program, to the fullest to promote healing of the mind, body and spirit,” said Vonda Hollingsworth, vice president of Pennybyrn.

“We want every patient to leave us with no intention of slowing down, but rather prepare to keep living their life to the fullest,” she added.

Sister Lucy Hennessy, SMG, mission leader, told those gathered, “Seventy-five years ago five SMG Sisters arrived in the Triad and brought that faith and vision of making life better for others with them. Today we continue their tradition and are pleased to offer the community a wonderful transitional rehab center for patients to experience healing and to return home.”

Learn more At www.pennybyrnliving.org: Find out more about the Lillian Congdon Traditional Rehab Center and all of the services offered at Pennybyrn

CHARLOTTE — Thirteen grants totaling $56,605 from the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte will provide tangible assistance to families in need and help bridge cultural barriers.

The annual awards, ranging from $2,000 to $5,000, are based on need and on the impact the funds are expected to have on local communities. This year, six parishes and two missions, two food pantries and three Catholic schools will benefit from these grants.

This year’s recipients include critical ministries working to provide food assistance during these challenging economic times.

Both the Sister Mary Robert Food Ministry at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury and the Casa Marillac Food Pantry at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte each received $5,000.

Holy Cross Church in Kernersville will use its $5,000 grant to break down language and cultural barriers that prevent parish families from interacting with each other. The funds will sponsor a parish-based program called “Deconstructing Babel.” This original program, created by parish staff in the education and formation office, is a bilingual, intercultural program that will bring parishioners together to share a meal and conversation each week.

During the mealtime, parishioners will have assigned seats.

Each table will have cards to help with simple conversation phrases and dialogue in both English and Spanish. After the meal, the groups will split into their preferred language group.

The Spanish-speaking group will learn about the traditions and cultural elements of the United States. The Englishspeaking group will learn about the traditions and cultural elements of Hispanic cultures and families.

“The spiritual life of our parishioners is directly tied to how much they identify as equal members of the same parish family,” said Father Noah Carter, pastor. “In my experience, there is a subtle and unspoken fear about experiencing a different culture and feeling out of place.

‘Deconstructing Babel’ is about bringing together our members in ways where they are free to ask questions, make mistakes, and learn about each other’s outlooks on life from their diverse backgrounds and experience.

“In the end, we hope that this program will bind up families from different cultures and make all of us proud to call all our fellow parishioners a brother or sister in Christ,” he added.

Since 2001, the foundation has awarded 409 grants totaling $1,152,509. These grants are distributed from four of the foundation’s 300-plus endowments.

“These grants have helped improve the lives of thousands of people. We are so thankful to the individuals and families who establish endowments to make it possible,” said Gina Rhodes, diocesan director of planned giving.

2022 Diocesan Foundation grant recipients n Holy Cross Church in Kernersville: “Deconstructing Babel – bridging the ESL and SSL communities,” $5,000 n Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Charlotte: Casa Marillac Food Pantry, $5,000 n Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte: “Spirit and Song” book grant, $4,080 n Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte: flexible seating for focused learning, $2,000 n Our Lady of the Mountains Mission in Highlands: mold remediation in the rectory, $5,000 n Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville: replace heating and cooling system, $4,025 n Sacred Heart School in Salisbury: school master garden and greenhouse, $5,000 n Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury: food pantry run by the Sister Mary Robert Food Ministry, $5,000 n St. Ann School in Charlotte: learning support resource enhancements, $3,000 n St. Ann School in Charlotte: 10 new iPads for the first-grade classroom, $5,000 n St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem: replace church and rectory doors, $5,000 n St. Mary, Mother of God Church in Shelby: construction of a children’s play area next to the parish center, $3,500 n St. Therese Church in Mooresville: faith formation restructuring curriculum, $5,000

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bodner estate gift helps give facelift to St. Benedict Church SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

GREENSBORO — St. Benedict Church is receiving much needed exterior repairs thanks to an estate gift from longtime parishioner Dr. William Raymond Bodner Jr., who passed away at age 81 in 2019.

Bodner and his wife Anne, who passed away in 2017, moved to Greensboro in 1973.

A psychiatrist, Bodner Bodner had his own medical practice and also worked with veterans at the Veterans Affairs hospitals in both Winston-Salem and New Bern.

In total, he and his wife left $130,000 to St. Benedict Parish: a $65,000 estate gift to be used for general purposes and a $65,000 endowment, which will continue to earn income over time to provide for parish needs.

Kim Garcia, a member of the parish’s finance council, said the parish is using funds from the estate gift to help restore the church’s exterior.

“We began the restoration several years ago, but the pandemic put it on hold and the craftsman we had on the project retired. The church was built in 1899 and the mortar had begun to break down, so we are using funds to replace the mortar. It is a very specialized craft and technique,” Garcia noted.

She says the funds from the Bodners meant the parish did not have to dip into its savings to finish the project.

“Our current plan for the Bodner Endowment Fund is to let it grow, so in the future when there may be a need, that will again be a tribute (to the family),” she explained. “We’re very grateful. It’s so inspiring when people leave something to a charity that they care about.”

Jim Kelley, diocesan development director, noted, “We are so grateful that so many are leaving gifts to the Church in their estate plans.

These gifts will go into endowments for parishes and other entities that will help provide financial security for the work of the Church for generations to come.”

Fund an endowment Interested in setting up an endowment or adding to an existing endowment at your parish or Catholic school?

Establish an endowment in the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation by leaving a bequest in a will; a beneficiary designation from a retirement plan; a gift of real estate; a gift of life insurance, cash or securities sufficient to set up an endowment; or a life income arrangement, such as a trust or annuity.

For details, contact Gina Rhodes at 704-370-3364 or gmrhodes@rcdoc.org.

The five days at Camp SOAR (Special Olympics Athletic Retreat) in Charlotte are a mixture of service and charity, of joy and transformation, available to anyone who answers the call.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

BY AL TINSON

A SOAR-ing tradition of service AL TINSON AND JEREMY KUHN SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CHARLOTTE — The spirit and enthusiasm were as high as the outdoor temperatures as Camp SOAR (Special Olympics Athletic Retreat) returned for its 21st year June 13-17 at Charlotte’s Levine Jewish Community Center.

Since 2000, the camp has provided campers with special needs a conventional summer camp experience, offering attendees a week of sports and activities – tennis, soccer, bocce, boxing, arts and crafts, Bingo and Zumba – culminating in a joyous dance party with everyone of every age returning on the last day of camp.

“For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, we were back in full operation,” said Camp SOAR’s founder and director, Bob Bowler.

Key to the program’s success is what Bowler unofficially refers to as the “buddy” relationship between the campers and the volunteers. “The campers look forward to meeting up with old friends and making new ones, and, due to the limitations caused by the pandemic, the excitement level was really high this year in anticipation of being back,” he added.

This year nearly 300 campers and more than 400 volunteers took part. The majority of volunteers were first-timers, such as Charlotte Catholic High School students Mary Katherine Burke and Olivia Roberson.

Burke reflected, “This camp gives people an insight of what it’s like to live with adverse abilities, allowing us to see each other as brothers and sisters created the same.” Roberson echoed this sense of community, praising the camp atmosphere for being “so

welcoming and treating everyone like family.”

Both young women came away passionate about revitalizing CCHS’s bond with Camp SOAR. Doing so, they hope, will provide a forum to share and reflect on the great time they had at camp, to work on projects during the school year benefiting individuals with intellectual disabilities and, most importantly, to recruit students to volunteer for next year’s 22nd season.

Long-time camp volunteer and 2018 CCHS graduate Alexi Strouse joins the CCHS science department this fall. At both CCHS and Camp SOAR, Strouse declared, “Everyone becomes one family.”

Strouse knows the SOAR experience “opens kids’ eyes” to the world of people with intellectual and sometimes physical disabilities, an essential take-away since it “takes us out of our comfort zone to build the character of family at Catholic.”

For Jeremy Kuhn, a veteran English teacher at CCHS, a 1990 graduate and the school’s volunteer coordinator for this season, Camp SOAR speaks to the school’s best traditions. “Our relationship with Camp SOAR is a joyous expression of CCHS’s charism of mercy, which is grounded in the life-affirming vitality of service,” said Kuhn.

“And this joy stems from the Church’s call to community, itself grounded in the Gospel’s call to see each other as sisters and brothers equal in the eyes of God.” Ultimately, the five days at Camp SOAR are a mixture of service and charity, of joy and transformation, available to anyone who answers the call. “A week at SOAR is worth a lifetime of love that will leave you changed forever,” Burke affirmed. “Inclusivity is within everyone’s ability.”

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

Church gathers donations, volunteers to help Haiti CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church is gearing up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive, which provides food and support to the hungry and the homeless locally and around the world.

The drive will be conducted in two parts. Part one, the fundraising campaign, will take place July 9-31. Part two is an in-person meal-packing event on Saturday, Aug. 13. Organizers plan to engage more than 1,200 energized volunteers from the parish to assemble 300,000 meals.

The hunger drive will benefit the people of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where 80% of the population lives on less than $2 per day. The effects of COVID-19, a failing economy, political instability, gang violence, droughts and hurricanes are raising the levels of hunger and leading to increased levels of severe child malnutrition. A monetary donation of $100 will help feed a child for a year and save him or her from starvation.

This year’s goal is to provide a minimum of 300,000 pounds of food and critical supplies to the Missionaries of the Poor for distribution in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Donations will fund sustainability projects and subsidize the education of children at St. Marc School in Tremesse, Haiti. The growing school has more than 370 students, with 16 additional classrooms now under construction.

This year St. Marc will graduate its first class of students to complete secondary school (high school). St. Marc also will open a new trade school to teach job skills that help students find employment. The initial plan is to offer training for sewing, which will support the growing fabric industry in Haiti.

Beyond support for the people of Haiti, and true to the mission of the World Hunger Drive, the current efforts allow continued support of feeding children at a parish in Venezuela and helping a boys’ hostel in India. The drive will also continue to provide food and funds to assist the local homeless through food banks such as Second Harvest and Mel’s Diner.

As St. Matthew celebrates the 20th anniversary of the drive, organizers are grateful for the exceptional generosity and efforts of their parishioners and friends in the community, enabling them to provide over 3,762,000 pounds of food and medical supplies. The meal-packing effort alone provided about 3 million packaged meals, shared primarily in Haiti and in our local community.

Additionally, they have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars for sustainability and education projects. In two decades, volunteers dedicated 44,000 service hours to our brothers and sisters who need our help and love.

— St. Matthew Church

Want to help?

To make a donation in support of the Monsignor McSweeney World Hunger Drive, go to www.rebrand.ly/WorldHungerDrive.

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SEMINARIAN SPOTLIGHT: John Cuppett CHARLOTTE — Recent St. Joseph College Seminary graduate John Cuppett, is an athlete turned seminarian who understands what it takes to make personal sacrifices to achieve a common goal.

Where Cuppett once applied his talent and attention to the game of baseball during his youth and his four years at Belmont Abbey College, now he is focused on pursuing a vocation to the priesthood.

A member of St. Leo the Great Parish in Cuppett Winston-Salem, he heads to Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati this fall to begin more formal studies in the major seminary.

CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?

Cuppett: I came to feel a desire to the priesthood at a young age, around 7 years old. The desire arose from altar serving when I was young and noticing the priest celebrate Mass.

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

Cuppett: Even though I felt the call at a young age, it was not until high school when I first mentioned to my parents that I may have a call to the priesthood.

My parents were always supportive of whatever path in life I chose. My interest in the priesthood was a bit of a surprise for them, but they said it definitely made sense given my personality and desire to bring Our Lord to others.

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

Cuppett: During high school I was interested in joining the seminary after I graduated; however, I did very little in pursuing it and soon it faded into the background. From then on and up until college it was a fun idea, but nothing more.

After high school I attended Belmont Abbey College on a baseball scholarship ,where I played as a second baseman for four years.

During my time at the Abbey, I met Matthew Harrison, a Charlotte seminarian.

I informed him of my past dream of becoming a priest and he invited me to visit St. Joseph College Seminary. I did, and then all my previous desires and hopes for the priesthood came crashing back. I quickly sought help in my discernment with the diocesan Vocations Office. My senior year at the Abbey, I started spiritual direction with Father Brian Becker, the diocese’s promoter of vocations, and he helped me tremendously by answering all my questions, fears and thoughts regarding my vocation. Together we discovered that my call to the priesthood was very real, and he referred me to Father Christopher Gober, diocesan vocations director, to begin the process of applying.

CNH: What have you been doing as you have discerned a priestly vocation?

Cuppett: As I entered the college seminary, I quickly discovered that prayer was the backbone of my discernment process. I was fairly certain of my vocation, but fear and doubt always has a way of creeping into the mind of a seminarian. I found that by developing consistent prayer from day to day and a healthy interior life, I could clearly see who God wanted me to be. I became more true to myself and not someone else. The man God made me to be is clearly a priest of Jesus Christ and until He instructs me

John Cuppett is a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem and a recent graduate of St. Joseph College Seminary.

PHOTO PROVIDED

otherwise, I will continue on this path.

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

Cuppett: I would advise every man who feels that they might have to call to the priesthood to develop a constant prayer life. Only until then will they see clearly who they truly are. After that, I would tell them to “be not afraid” of the life God is calling them to.

CNH: What are you doing over the summer?

Cuppett: I am happy to be assigned to my new home parish of St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem. My parents moved to Winston-Salem a year ago, and this summer I am taking the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the parish. In general, I will be assisting Father Gober.

I hope to bring a fresh set of hands to the youth ministry in the community with help in activities, events, etc. There is much to do in a big parish like St. Leo’s, and seminarian Marshall Bolling and I hope

to help out where we can. But most of all, we are here to learn how a parish is run and watch as the priests here live out their vocation.

It will be most exciting to see the diocese’s newly ordained priest, Father Darren Balkey, arrive at St. Leo’s July 12 for his first assignment. The energy that a young priest and two young seminarians will bring to St. Leo’s will be fun indeed!

— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter

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

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 July 2 2, 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

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Mary’s Hope brings more than food, education to Guatemalan children GEORGIANNA PENN CORRESPONDENT

GREENSBORO — A life-changing mission trip grounded in grace and prayer led to the birth of Mary’s Hope, a source of help to children and their families in Guatemala.

“God leads us where we need to go,” said Julie Ray, founder of Mary’s Hope and a fifth-grade teacher at St. Pius X School. In 2016, Ray embarked on a mission trip to Guatemala City to volunteer for Dories Promise Orphanage.

“We fed 400 kids at a soup kitchen and gave food baskets out in the community, walking from home to home,” she recalled. Ray witnessed generations of poverty; fathers risked their lives to find things to recycle for cash just to feed their families. “There’s got to be more we can do,” she thought.

So Mary’s Hope Inc. was created to help the residents of Santa Maria de Jesus, a poor village where families lived in one-room homes with no electricity and no running water. The central task was clear: education.

“Education really is the key to helping children,” Ray said. Students attend Mary’s Hope two days a week, with the grades taking turns. “Because of COVID-19, we were considered licensed as a school because no other schools were open,” said Ray. The students received credit each year and moved up in grades.

Most Mary’s Hope students are born into extreme poverty, where children are needed to help with household chores and have very few enrichment experiences outside the home. “We had to teach them how to be kids, teach them how to play and teach them what ice cream was,” she said.

Mary’s Hope has a broad reach on the ground at Santa Maria de Jesus, said Mary Cowan Lehman, MSW, CFSW, the organization’s operations coordinator. “We really focus on wrapping around the entire child,” not only through educational services, but also through supportive services and enrichment programs, Lehman said. Mary’s Hope reaches the entire child while providing a loving and stable school environment, she said.

“The educational program, our central task, supports the learning of our 60 children from the Santa Maria de Jesus community,” said Claudia Maria Roncal Duque, project manager in Guatemala.

The school meets year-round, except in November and December.

But Mary’s Hope is more than just a school. “We celebrate the end of each school year with a certificate and end-of-year experiences,” said Ray. “Rather than giving gifts, our project manager, Claudia, provides experiences like visiting museums, gardens, the zoo, day outings, ice cream and more.”

Mary’s Hope also is supporting a young woman to go to college by helping with transportation, books and food. “She wants to be a professional chef,” said Ray. Besides the school and academics program, Mary’s Hope helps mothers and infants through its Family Wellness Program, Lehman said. It provided emergency food assistance during the worst of the pandemic, and this Mother’s Day, Mary’s Hope provided food to more than 75 mothers and their families. The Family PHOTO PROVIDED Wellness Program provides diapers, baby Children in the Mary’s Hope program enjoy learning to play chess. Besides providing for items, over-the-counter medicine, doctor’s basic needs, the program aims to help these children simply to be kids, using structured care and audiology to mothers and babies. play that helps develop their reasoning skills and cognitive development.

Mary’s Hope students attend on Saturdays for extracurricular activities such as the MHI Chess Club. They train for eight weeks, then compete with neighboring villages, Ray said. “We lasting change, transformational change that will pull want to make sure we are providing enrichment that’s entire generations, in time, out of poverty through ‘play’ for children, but also educational structured play,” education.”

Lehman explained. Something like chess is ideal because “We have great support from Holy Family, Our Lady of it develops spacial reasoning, cognitive development and Grace Church and St. Pius X,” Ray said. “On Valentine’s fine motor skills.

Day, St. Pius X School and MHI students exchanged “We are very much focused on child-centered services,” valentines via Zoom. Maybe one day, St. Pius X students Lehman said. “We really keep a close eye on creating will compete with the Mary’s Hope Chess Club online.”

Administrative Coordinator The Diocese of Charlotte is currently accepting applications for a full-time Administrative Coordinator to support the Director of Planned Giving / Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte and the Office of Development staff.

This position requires a professional who can work independently, communicate well with donors, and can successfully work in an environment that requires extensive multi-tasking.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE: • Associates degree or greater in related field • Three years’ experience in administrative support • Preferred experience in Raiser’s Edge or other database software

It’s easy being green.

Get the Catholic News Herald delivered to your email inbox!

You’ll be able to read your newspaper earlier, and you’ll help save some trees.

It’s free, too – making it wonderfully easy to be green.

Contact us at catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3333 to sign up today!

• Competent in MS Office software • Solid planning and organizational skills • Ability to work both independently and as part of a larger team • Strong written, verbal and inter-personal skills Please submit letter of interest and resume by July 22, 2022 to: Gina Rhodes – Office of Development gmrhodes@rcdoc.org Or by mail to: 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 The Diocese of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. LUKE CHURCH

Vacation Bible School and sneak peek at new church MINT HILL — The children of St. Luke Church recently participated in a week-long Vacation Bible School focused on the theme “Concrete and Cranes: Building our Faith.” The week included learning about building a solid foundation of faith, singing lots of cool songs and having fun with various crafts, including their own tie-dyed T-shirts. The highlight of the week was visiting the construction site of the new church in Mint Hill and getting to meet with the project manager for a behind-the-scenes look.

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PHOTO PROVIDED BY NANNETTE GORMAN AND PATRICK RYAN

Girl Scouts celebrated at St. Matthew Church CHARLOTTE — Girl Scouts at St. Matthew Church kicked off Girls Scout Week earlier this year with their annual Girl Scout Mass. Father Miguel Sanchez was the celebrant, assisted by Deacon Joe Becker. After Mass, a banquet was held and religious awards were presented that were earned in 2021 and early 2022. The Mass had not been held the last two years due to the pandemic. The celebration this year was especially meaningful because the Diocese of Charlotte is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Girl Scouts are celebrating 110 years.

Catholic religious awards developed by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry in Washington, D.C., were earned by the following Girl Scout Troops: The God is Love Award for Daisies was earned by members of Troops 1487, 2584 and 3497; the Family of God Award for Brownies by members of Troop 1487; the I Live My Faith Award for Juniors by a member of Troop 2217; and the Marian Medal for Cadettes by Amanda Ladd Swan and Zoie Malecki, members of Cadette Troop 73.

The Marian Medal, developed in 1957, was the first religious recognition program developed for Girl Scouts of any denomination. Its goal is to inspire Catholic young people to become stronger members of their faith and to see Mary as a model for all stages of their lives.

The My Promise, My Faith Award developed by Girl Scouts of the USA was earned by members of Daisy Troop 1488, Brownie Troop 1487, Junior Troop 2062 and Cadette Troops 73 and 1768.

In addition, Donna Sams, who has served as the Girl Scout Ministry Leader at St. Matthew for the past three years, was recognized with the Girl Scout Outstanding Volunteer Award for her service and dedication.

Want to learn more?

St. Matthew Parish will hold a Registration Night in the fall (details will be in the parish bulletin). Charlotte-area girls in kindergarten through high school interested in Girl Scouts and their parents are encouraged to attend. Adult troop leaders are also needed. Christie Ryan has assumed the role of Girl Scout Ministry Leader at St. Matthew Church. Reach her at ctalley125@ aol.com.

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

Knights celebrate 25 years BOONE — On June 28, District Deputy Mike Furst presented Grand Knight Cameron Labrutto and Deputy Grand Knight Ross Gosky with a certificate commemorating the 25th anniversary of the founding of Council 11966, the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Council at St. Elizabeth Church.

— Amber Mellon, correspondent

Ann Mellon receives Gold Award for workshops on saints

St. Timothy Award winner announced MORGANTON — Maria Sic, a parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Church, was recently named the winner of the Diocese of Charlotte’s St. Timothy Award in recognition of her faithfilled service and example to others.

A recent graduate of Burke Middle College, she will attend Furman University this fall to pursue a career in medicine.

The St. Timothy Award is a diocesan award given annually to outstanding high school juniors and seniors who work zealously to improve their own parish ministry programs, high school ministry teams or youth ministry in the Charlotte diocese. Nominees must be Catholic and exemplify the qualities of moral integrity, prayer, good works and Christian leadership.

— Gail Watson

BOONE — Ann Mellon, a parishioner at St. Elizabeth Church, has achieved the highest honor in Girl Scouts. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a girl must point out an issue in her community and work to find a solution to it, completing at least 80 hours. Working with the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire, she created a series of badge workshops on the lives of four female saints. More than 20 girls from across the country attended her workshops to learn more about the saints. The badge series she created will be a part of the National Catholic Committee for Girl Scouts and Camp Fire’s badge series.

AMBER MELLON | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Synod reveals call to examine conscience, grow ‘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 the call of Bishop Jugis and the pope.’

Dr. Alessandro Rovati

Diocese of Charlotte Synod contact person

By the numbers The Diocese of Charlotte Synod involved:

7,000 400 76 19 16 5 5 2

people listening sessions parishes and missions (82% out of 92) Catholic schools, plus Campus Ministry lay associations, apostolates and groups out of 10 vicariates’ priests languages: English, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese, Korean

religious orders: the Benedictine monks of Belmont Abbey and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Also: n Nearly all Diocese of Charlotte offices and ministries, including Catholic Charities, Family Life, Youth Ministry, Faith Formation, Hispanic Ministry, Vietnamese Ministry, and Korean Ministry n Permanent Deacons n St. Joseph College Seminary n Eritrean Catholics of Charlotte

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questions as the focus of discussions: n What are the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in your life? n What are the biggest challenges or questions you face in responding to the Lord’s call? n What steps is the Holy Spirit suggesting to you and your community to respond more fully to the Christian vocation?

CHARLOTTE — With 7,000 people engaged, 400 listening sessions, and 76 parishes plus many more ministries and groups involved, the Diocese of Charlotte published one report on the sentiments shared and gleaned during its local synod, which began last fall after a worldwide invitation from Pope Francis.

On June 30, the diocese submitted its synod report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which now will synthesize reports from dioceses around the country, then share its findings with the Vatican.

Catholics from across western North Carolina participated the Diocese of Charlotte’s synod, to prayerfully listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another through conversations on the theme “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” The goal of the worldwide Synod: to listen and consult with the People of God about envisioning the future of the Church.

Bishop Peter Jugis said during a closing session in June he will SUEANN HOWELL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD study, digest and meditate on Representatives from parishes, schools, ministries and more gathered June 11 for the closing the testimonies and needs that session of the diocesan Synod in Charlotte at St. Patrick Cathedral’s Family Life Center. emerged during the synod, to add to his understanding “another dimension of my awareness of the the legacy of Vatican II in matters of liturgy and in the diocese’s needs” and provide “good input for my ministry.”

Church’s life.

Dr. Alessandro Rovati, a Belmont Abbey College n Pope Francis has clearly stated that synodality does professor who facilitated the diocesan synod, wrote the not involve changing “traditional truths of Christian diocese’s final report. He called the synod a beginning, doctrine.” Instead, internal disagreements about not an end. what the Church teaches are an invitation to examine “It is remarkable that 7,000 people engaged in the our conscience, grow in our understanding of what process,” he said, “because it is a sign that so many who the Lord calls us to, and more fully embody Christ’s have a desire to grow in their faith, to participate more fully commandments. in the life of the Church, and to entrust to their community The diocese’s synod ran from last October 2021 to June and the broader Church their joys and concerns.”

2022 and included parishioners, ministries, schools, lay Among highlights that emerged, Dr. Rovati said: associations and groups, religious orders and others. Dr. n The synod was an occasion to see with clarity the many Rovati stressed that while work remains to ultimately ways the Lord remains present and faithful to His people. embody the vision of the synod, “the diocesan synodal n Participants lamented they are often distracted, journey was profoundly moving and beautiful.” and the awareness of Christ’s presence often is not the It was particularly moving, he said, “to see how leading force in their lives. fruitful it is to listen to the testimonies of the ways n Participants reflected on elements of contemporary the Lord is at work in our lives and the lives of our society that are especially difficult to deal with. n There’s a need to get past barriers of language, race and communities and to the questions and challenges that people face. The Lord is calling us through all culture to deepen the sense of communion in our parishes. these things, asking us to take a step in our Christian n There are profound divisions caused by the vocation.” polarization and disunity within the Church over some — Catholic News Herald of its teachings and how to embody them in society.

The synod showed that we frequently let such internal divisions and disagreements completely take over our More online imagination and way of being together.

At www.charlottediocese.org/synod2023: Learn more and n Issues that appear to cause strife involve the watch Dr. Rovati’s keynote address from the final listening session Church’s public witness on abortion, homosexuality of the diocesan Synod and gender issues, the role of women in the Church, and

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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DIOCESAN PHASE IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE

October 17, 2021 - June 30, 2022

Diocesan Synthesis Introduction

W

hile with the publication of the Diocesan Synthesis the diocesan phase of the synod comes to a close, the process does not end in our local Church. Quite the opposite, the final report’s publication marks a beginning. Pope Francis explained at the synod’s opening that “encounter and listening are not ends in themselves, leaving everything just as it was before.

On the contrary, whenever we enter into dialogue, we allow ourselves to be challenged, to advance on a journey. And in the end, we are no longer the same; we are changed” (“Homily at the Holy Mass for the Opening of the Synodal Path,” October 10, 2021).

What now begins is the moment of apostolic discernment in which our local ordinary, the Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, will take the time to study, digest, and meditate on everything that emerged from the synodal journey in the diocese. Not only will he be able to look at the testimonies and needs that arose in the diocese as a whole, but he will also have a chance to learn about the many situations and needs that individuals, parishes, and various groups described in their synod contributions.

They were so diverse and rich that this report could not reflect on all of them. Sometimes, there was a very important and pressing need that was mentioned only by an individual group or parish. Having to choose what to include in this short report, though, the diocesan synthesis identifies and focuses on the most frequent answers that emerged in the process. It gives a sense of the most salient experiences and needs that characterize the Diocese of Charlotte and aids the USCCB in the work of synthesis that the Vatican asked for at this stage of the synod journey. Nothing of what emerged from the synodal conversations will be lost, though. In fact, Bishop Jugis has already asked to be briefed in greater detail on all the synod contributions to “add another dimension of [his] awareness of the diocese’s needs” and provide “good input for [his] ministry” (“Address at the Diocesan Gathering for the Synod,” June 11, 2022).

The synodal journey in the diocese also continues in the parishes, groups, and associations that participated in it.

The people who facilitated the synod and the leadership of the communities in which it happened now have the responsibility to pray about, understand, and respond to what they learned. There are already many initiatives starting around the diocese to respond to some of the needs that emerged in the synodal conversations. And there will likely be many other fruits that what began with the synod will bring to our communities. The coming months will be an exciting moment of ecclesial deliberation in which, by paying attention to the reality of our current situation, by having listened to all the members of the diocesan family, and by being docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, our local Church and all its communities will try to respond to what the Lord calls us toward to continue our journey of faith and missionary work. While the synod has national, continental, and global relevance, it was designed to work and be impactful at multiple levels, with the local level, ultimately, being the most important one. No matter what the Holy Spirit wants to do with our diocesan contribution to the global synod as the process continues, what remains for the Diocese of Charlotte is the journey we have made as individuals, communities, and diocesan family.

Participation in the Synod In the Diocese of Charlotte, 76 of the 92 parishes and missions organized synod sessions, and almost all the diocesan offices and ministries did as well. The diocese received synod reports from Catholic Charities, the Family Life Office, the Office for Youth Ministry, the Faith Formation Office, the Hispanic Ministry, the Vietnamese Ministry, and the Korean Ministry. Synod sessions were organized by the Campus Ministry Office in many of the college communities they serve and by the Catholic Schools Office in all the diocesan schools. The Permanent Deacons, the Saint Joseph College Seminary, and the priests in at least five vicariates organized synod sessions as well. Furthermore, 16 different lay associations, apostolates, and groups held synod sessions with a few more whose members participated in the synod process through their parishes. There were also two religious orders that organized synod sessions in their communities: the Benedictine Monks of Belmont Abbey and the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Finally, the Eritrean Catholics of Charlotte, an Oriental Rite Catholic community, participated in the process as well.

Between January and early June, there were more than 400 synod sessions in the diocese. The vast majority (about 350) met in person, while the rest met online. Approximately 6000 people participated in the synod by attending a listening session. Many different language communities participated in these gatherings, and sessions were held in English, Spanish, Tigrinya, Vietnamese, and Korean. Furthermore, both the diocese and more than 30 parishes and groups created and distributed online surveys to allow people who

could not participate in one of the listening sessions to contribute to the synod. More than 1000 people participated in the synod this way, which means that more than 7000 individuals were part of the synod process in our diocese.

The diocese has never conceived of the process as a matter of numbers. At the end of the day, nothing is more important in our life together than the individual person with her story, faith, and needs. Still, it is remarkable that so many people engaged in the process. What is touching is not the mere number of people but the fact that the participation is a sign that there are so many who have a desire to grow in their faith, to participate more fully in the life of the Church, and to entrust to their community and the broader Church their joys and concerns.

The Experience of Faith in the People of God The synodal journey was an occasion to see with clarity the many ways the Lord remains present and faithful to His people. So many stories of conversion, extraordinary testimonies of charity, and heartfelt descriptions of how Christ touched people’s hearts emerged during the synodal conversations.

“Me encanta,” a person said at one of the synod sessions in Spanish, “it fills me with delight, with joy, to live the relationship with Christ in the life of the Church.” “I was a soldier in Mexico,” another said, “and I did many things that I am not proud of. But the Lord’s mercy touched my life and transformed it completely. I thought I was lost, and yet here I am.” Here is another moving testimony: “When my wife died, I thought it would be the end. Instead, a new life of service and devotion to the Church opened up to me.” “To participate in the liturgy is like being in heaven,” a person reflected; “it is a moment in which we are in communion with God.” Another synod participant reflected: “Faith is not just the rules; it is a relationship with God. The Holy Spirit called me to be devoted to daily prayer, the examen, and journaling. I turn to Christ more often now for guidance and comforting.” Another individual said, “The Gospel touches me and transforms me through the friends in my community and the love they have for me.” “The friendships I have in the parish enrich me. There is a sharing of selves that happens by conversing about lives in light of our faith. It is deeply beautiful,” said a person capturing something that many pondered about. Here is one last testimony: “There have been so many instances where one of us has been put into a place because someone is searching for a Church to call home. Or have been in a place where an individual is seeking someone who is willing to listen and pay attention to what they’re saying. When we are in those moments, reaching out to others who are searching or in need, is when we know God is with us. When you’re truly ‘present’ with someone who is in need of help you feel that God is speaking to you and standing right by your side.”

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The testimonies abound. It is impossible not to be filled with awe and gratitude for God’s creativity in reaching out to His people. In fact, while the synod also uncovered a lot of challenges and difficulties that people face, thinking back on it, the dominant note is the realization of Christ’s faithfulness. If anything, the fact that there are so many challenges and difficulties makes it even more evident that the Lord has not abandoned us. Because one would think that in a world so filled with contradictions, the faith would simply cease to exist. And yet it does not, for, again and again, God takes a new initiative to conquer our hearts.

When asked about the most significant signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives and about things that nourish their faith the most, people most frequently identified the following: prayer (both individual and communal); life in the family and the testimonies of faith of spouses, children, parents, and extended family; participation in the liturgy, the Holy Mass in particular; the sacraments in general, with a special emphasis on the Eucharist and on Confession; being involved in works of mercy, acts of kindness and charity, opportunities for service, and occasions to minister to and be with those in need; the friendship and unity with other members of one’s parish or faith community; the testimony, example, and accompaniment of priests and deacons; the meditation on and study of Scripture both personally and in small groups; and, finally, Eucharistic adoration. Different language groups generally agreed on how the Lord is present in their midst. However, nonEnglish speakers added a particular emphasis on the possibility of experiencing God’s presence and closeness in suffering while facing life’s struggles and trials and in the practice of Marian devotions.

Challenges to Communion, Participation, and Mission By focusing on the signs of the Lord’s presence in their lives, people also realized the many ways in which following and giving space to such a presence is hindered by difficulties and challenges. In studying carefully all the synod contributions, it is possible to identify at least 123 different challenges and questions that people named in the conversations. It is impossible to give a complete account of all of them here. The focus will remain, instead, on the ones that emerged more often.

First, people realized that they are often distracted and do not let the awareness of Christ’s presence be the leading force in their lives. In some cases, such distraction is caused by the difficulty of giving space to personal prayer amidst the busyness of life. Other times, the struggle is caused by one’s work commitments, especially in minority and migrant communities whose jobs often keep them occupied for very long hours and even during the weekends.

Smartphones, the internet, and social media also came up a lot. Synod participants said that they create noise in one’s mind, represent a constant temptation to shy away from the tasks or the relationships at hand, and often cause loneliness and addiction. Finally, people recognized that they often fail to give the life of faith priority over other interests and activities. The result is a lack of participation in faith activities and parish or community life.

A second preeminent challenge that people identified is the culture and environment we live in. While different people highlighted different elements of contemporary society that are especially challenging to them, there was a widely shared sense of a profound tension between the faith and the world today. Many Christian commitments

about the world, who we are, and what we owe to each other, commitments that could have been taken for granted until relatively recently, are now questioned and actively opposed. We live in a secular environment whose individualism, relativism, polarization, and consumerism challenge us deeply. Our common life and people’s imaginations are shaped by a throwaway culture that constantly damages human dignity and hurts the vulnerable and creation, and we are not immune from absorbing the same cultural forces that are at play in today’s society. The result is that people find it hard to understand the faith and pursue what is right in a cultural context that often directs us in the exact opposite direction.

Many recognized that the culture frequently shapes us more than the Church, so we become confused about the truth.

Furthermore, it is extremely difficult to live our call to be missionary disciples in such a context. On the one hand, people feel inadequately prepared for such a call. On the other, many experience a fear of being judged, excluded, or rejected because of their faith and thus feel blocked.

The third preeminent challenge people described is the internal divisions the Church at large and our individual communities experience. These profound divisions come in three primary forms. First, our communities struggle to make an authentic experience of communion due to barriers created by language, race, and culture. These barriers manifest themselves especially in the interactions in parishes with both an anglo community and one or more minority communities. Because of such divisions, minority and migrant communities often feel forgotten and treated as an afterthought. There is a widespread perception that ethnic minorities lack support from and recognition by clergy and the diocese and that minority and migrant cultures and sensibilities are looked at with suspicion and, sometimes, outright hostility.

Furthermore, language barriers and the diocesan priests’ lack of foreign-language training make it difficult for non-English speakers to fully engage in worship and the faith community and receive the necessary pastoral care.

Second, even within minority and migrant communities there are divisions caused by the different countries of origin, the internal cultural divisions among people who come from the same country, and whether people are historic or brand-new members of a community. Third, there are profound divisions caused by the polarization and disunity within the Church over some of its teachings and how to embody them in society. In particular, the disagreements that appear to cause the most significant strife in our communities are the ones surrounding the Church’s public witness on abortion, homosexuality and gender issues, the role of women in the Church, and the legacy of Vatican II in matters of liturgy and in the Church’s life and spirituality more broadly. The faithful are profoundly split about such matters. People also wondered whether secular and political commitments, a worldly mentality, and the internalization of our age’s polarization rather than authentic theological commitments are the source of many of the internal disagreements that ail the Church. While contestation has always been part of the Catholic tradition, it might appear as though we have reached a stage in which disagreements are intractable and the very premises upon which they are based incommensurable. For example, some want to focus exclusively on pastoral experience and seem to be forgetful of the importance of Scripture, the Catholic tradition, and the Magisterium. Others, instead, have a mistaken idea of the immutability of the Church’s teachings and think that any attempt to reflect upon the signs of the times and discern whether the Holy Spirit is calling us to a deeper understanding of the truth of Divine Revelation is in and of itself a betrayal of the faith.

The synod showed that we frequently let internal divisions and disagreements completely take over our imagination and way of being together. Too often, the bonds of charity that should exist in our Christian community are broken because we reduce the other to the sum total of the things we disagree about. Rather than starting from our unity in Christ, we let the polarization and enmity that characterizes the broader culture poison our hearts and communities. Furthermore, the temptation of “othering” people who have a different sensibility or experience from ours, as the dominant culture does, is very present in our midst. It is a risk that cuts across the whole ecclesial spectrum, and we should all, no one excluded, pray for the grace to resist it. Scripture is clear that God will always elicit a multiplicity of charisms and gifts in the Church so that, all together and in their distinctiveness, they might contribute to the building of the kingdom. Accordingly, it is to our grave detriment and the detriment of the Church when we weaponize the theological, spiritual, or cultural sensibility or tradition with which the Lord touched our lives. The different gifts the Holy Spirit gives the Church are for building the one Body of Christ. It is truly a sin when we use them to fight with one another.

Pope Francis warned us against the temptation to turn the synod into a parliamentary battle in which one side defeats the other to affirm its positions. The Holy Father has been very clear about this. We must resist the temptation to reduce the synod to “the communication and comparison of our own opinions on this or that issue, or a single aspect of the Church’s teaching or discipline... The idea of distinguishing between majorities and minorities must not prevail” (“Address to the Faithful of the Diocese of Rome,” September 18, 2021). The Pope expanded on this vision in his book “Let Us Dream” to explain that synodality does not involve changing “traditional truths of Christian doctrine;” instead, it is concerned with “how teaching can be lived and applied in the changing contexts of our times” (“Let Us Dream,” pages 84-85). The synod is about reflecting together on how to embody more fully our Christian commitments so that the Church may face today’s challenges. Accordingly, rather than getting angry or frustrated with those who have difficulties or questions about this or that teaching of the Church, we should examine ourselves and the life of our communities to see whether we actually embody them fully.

For example, the Church is clear that its theology of the priesthood does not in any way imply a decrease in worth or dignity for the laity, in general, and women, in particular.

And it also affirms that everyone is called to participate fully in the life of the Church, each according to his or her role and charism. Yet, we might want to reflect on whether, in practice, we are still tempted to divide the Church neatly into leaders and followers or to let it function more as a bureaucracy than as a people who lives in communion (Pope Francis. “Address to the Faithful of the Diocese of Rome,” September 18, 2021). Similarly, the Catechism explicitly says that people with homosexual tendencies “must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity” and that “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided” (CCC 2348). Yet, are we truly embodying such stances? Is it possible that we need to grow in our ability to follow what the Lord wants of us in this and other matters?

The internal disagreements about what the Church teaches are an invitation to examine our conscience, grow in our understanding of what the Lord calls us to, and more fully embody Christ’s commandments.

There was also significant consensus among synod participants that reaching out and involving the youth in the Church’s life and providing them with adequate role models is a very pressing challenge. Many lamented the lack of ongoing formation and accompaniment of

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

young people beyond sacramental education and noticed how often adolescents and teenagers leave the Church after Confirmation. Furthermore, people identified the Church’s history of clergy abuse, its lingering effects, and its negative impact on the Church’s public witness, ability to retain its faithful, and moral authority in encouraging participation and giving as fundamental hindrances to the life of faith today. People also mentioned the disagreements among priests, pastors, and bishops in the Church, the scandals and lack of transparency caused by some of them, and the perceived emphasis on the importance of the clergy and the hierarchy over and above the laity as elements that create difficulties in the life of the faithful. Finally, the pandemic and its aftermath emerged as significant challenges as well. People felt isolated as many of the ministries that provided support and nourishment stopped and failed to restart in a timely fashion as pandemic-related restrictions eased.

The Synod Process: Fruits and Obstacles Overall, the diocesan synodal journey was profoundly moving and beautiful. It has already enriched the life of our diocese by planting so many unexpected seeds of friendship and communion within our communities and among them. Here is a sample of people’s reflections on the process and its fruits in their communities.

“The students who participated in our conversation agreed that these questions were worthwhile to consider and to discuss even apart from whatever impact our discussion may have on the synodal process. It was instructive for me, as the campus minister, to have this platform to listen to my students’ responses.” “The process of the listening sessions, although initially met with much skepticism, seemed to be a positive experience for all who participated. It helped to increase the understanding of each other within our community and was a good way to identify its needs.” “The Synodal process was at first a bit daunting. Would this be truly fruitful? What would we learn that others needed to hear? Will our responses have a real effect? I can say that the discussion with my brother priests was fraternally rewarding... I was moved by their responses; their candor, their humility, and genuine desire to share their truth, much of which was very personal.”

“Participants appreciated the synod process. Continuing the conversation would be beneficial on many levels, especially in increasing community spirit, nourishing each other in our faith, and sharing our struggles.” One more: “We gathered people of very different ages and backgrounds to sit down and discuss, something none of them had ever done in a setting like this. To hear the personal concerns and ideas of male and female, old and young, married and single, priest and deacons was a great opportunity. The fellowship was fantastic; it has opened doors to new members and participants in various Church organizations and groups, and now at Mass many of us who did not know each other reach out to greet and share.

Without this event, this would not have happened.”

What a beautiful testament to the gift the Holy Father has given us by summoning us to participate in the synod.

Yet, we should not give the impression that everything was perfect. The difficulties and struggles abounded, and the road to embodying the vision the synod aspired to is still very long. First, while participation in the synod far exceeded all expectations, we must recognize that there were a considerable number of parishes and groups that, for various reasons, decided not to participate in it. Second, even some of the parishes and groups that were part of the process seemed to be more concerned about “checking

the box,” so to speak, rather than investing the time and energy needed to participate fully in it. Third, there was considerable skepticism and, at times, outright opposition to the synod around the diocese. Fourth, and this was even more prevalent, despite all the best efforts of the various synod facilitators around the diocese, several months into the process, the majority of people still did not know about it. There are parishes and groups that genuinely tried to offer their members an opportunity to engage with the synod but whose people did not end up showing up at scheduled sessions or responding to the online surveys.

And even in many parishes and groups where the synod was well attended, it still involved a minute fraction of the overall membership. In fact, the synod revealed a profound disconnect and breakdown in communication that characterizes many of our communities. A driven, small group of people carry the bulk of our parishes and communities’ activities, while others seem to passively go through the motions. As some of the testimonies suggest, the synod certainly helped to enlarge such a circle of conversation and care. There are also moving examples of people who are usually marginalized and on the outside for whom this process opened a way to participate more fully in the life of their communities and to have their voices heard. Still, we must recognize that it did not happen on a very large scale and that steps must be taken to increase people’s active involvement in the life of the Church. Finally, one last difficulty that we encountered along the way is that organizing, leading, and capturing the fruits of synod sessions is not easy. The art of encountering and listening to people is a skill that needs to be cultivated rather than something that can be improvised. Accordingly, some of the richness that emerged from the synod was lost, as the descriptions of the synodal conversations the diocese received did not always do justice to what people actually expressed during the listening sessions. Such observations are not meant as a critique against the people that with incredible generosity helped steward the process in their communities. Instead, they are mentioned to recognize that if we want to become a synodal Church in which communal conversation is a habit, we will need to invest the resources necessary to form a synodal leadership as well.

The difficulties we encountered should not surprise us.

On the one hand, engaging in the synod in this way is a brand new endeavor, and it will take time and practice to become a Church that is truly capable of it. The process definitely felt like learning how to walk. We stumbled along the way, and our steps were a bit shaky at times, but we now know how to move more confidently and are eager to get better at it so that we may one day run. On the other hand, no “silver bullets” can take away the struggle in our journey of faith individually and as a Church. Not even the synod can bring people back in flocks into the pews, stop the youth from struggling with and often abandoning the faith, or make society recognize the truth of Christianity. As always in the Christian life, there is something that comes before. It is not simply a new way of having conversations among us that is the solution. Something must capture the hearts and minds of each one of us, of our contemporaries, and our fellow Catholics for everyone to feel the desire to participate more fully in the life of the Church. And what is true for the synod is true for a host of other ideas that we debate in the Church. It is not adding this or that catechetical course that will resolve our problems, nor will the solution be celebrating the liturgy one way or another, reforming this or that teaching, or changing this or that leader. Pope Francis has always been captivated by what Benedict XVI writes in the first page of his encyclical “Deus Caritas Est”: “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea [and it is not the result of new programs or

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projects, we could add], but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction” (Pope Francis, “Evangelii Gaudium,” 7). One thing that we learned from the synod is precisely the need to give greater space to the encounter with the Lord in our lives and to take steps to make the lives of our communities more open and attuned to such an encounter.

When asked to reflect on the steps that the Holy Spirit is suggesting to embody more fully our Christian vocation today, people focused on the following: the need to increase the silence and prayerfulness in our lives, especially by giving space to moments of Eucharistic adoration and of quiet listening to God; to organize the life of our parishes and communities so that there might be more and more easily accessible opportunities to pray and to grow in one’s Christian life through ongoing faith formation, Bible studies, small faith groups, and retreats; to be more bold and generous in our witness to the Gospel by sharing our faith with others and reaching out beyond the comfort of the parish or one’s faith community; to be better examples of Christ and models of faith for our families and for our broader community, especially in settings that are not explicitly Christian; to embrace the diversity of languages and cultures that make up our Catholic community and offer more frequent access to the Holy Mass, the sacraments, and faith formation in the native language of non-English speakers; to put greater emphasis on the formation and inclusion of youth in our parishes and communities by investing time and resources in encouraging faith in young people and reassuring them of their place in the Church; to provide greater support for families by nurturing them and by promoting activities that involve all their members; to take greater care of relationships within our parishes and communities by being more attentive to, honest, forgiving, patient, and humble with one another since too often we live as strangers when, instead, we are called to be brothers and sisters; to recognize and address the suffering that exists in our parishes, faith communities, and places where we live by reaching out and more intentionally ministering to the marginalized and the poor on an individual basis without simply delegating such a fundamental Christian calling to activities organized by the diocese; and, finally, to work for unity in our parishes and communities so that our public witness may be strengthened and we might grow in communion with one another and with the Lord.

Amidst the many challenges of today’s world, we must become a synodal Church, that is, a Church that is aware that the Lord is present in our midst and longs for unity with us and thus wants to follow in His footsteps. That is why we need to listen to the testimonies of the ways the Lord is at work in our lives and the lives of our communities and to the questions and challenges that people face. The Lord is calling us through all these things, asking us to take a step in our Christian vocation. Participating in the synod gave people a concrete sign that the Church cares for them, that their testimonies have value, and that their needs are heard and embraced. It is one thing to say that Christ reaches and takes care of us through the Church. It is entirely different to see that reality embodied in someone who prays with you, looks at you, listens to you, and desires to journey with you. In this time of confusion, difficulties, and divisions, we need to experience again the hand of Christ reaching out to us, the caress of the Nazarene touching our wounds and embracing our needs through the concrete presence of people who love us. May the Holy Spirit accompany us as we continue our journey together to become such a community.

DR. ALESSANDRO ROVATI is a Belmont Abbey College professor and the synod facilitator for the Diocese of Charlotte.

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More summertime fun coming this month

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

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY CATHOLIC CHURCH Sunday-Wednesday, July 10-13 619 S Main St., Lexington, N.C. 27292

OUR LADY OF GRACE CATHOLIC CHURCH Wednesday-Sunday, July 13-17 201 S Chapman St., Greensboro, N.C. 27403

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH Monday-Thursday, July 18-21 862 Yadkinville Road, Mocksville, N.C. 27028

ST. ELIZABETH CATHOLIC CHURCH AND EPIPHANY MISSION Thursday-Monday, July 21-25 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, N.C. 28607

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH Monday-Thursday, July 25-28 720 W. 13th St., Newton, N.C. 28658 For more information about these pilgrimage stops, go to the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary website, www.faithmorepreciousthangold.com.

CHARLOTTE — Attention all Catholic families! You will not want to miss Catholic Family Day at Carowinds Sunday, July 24.

Discounted tickets and an all-you-can-eat lunch are included in this special event for the Diocese of Charlotte’s 50th anniversary.

Start the day with Mass at 9 a.m. offered

by Bishop Peter Jugis in the Carowinds Theater. After Mass there will be an opportunity to meet and greet the St. Joseph College seminarians before heading out to the park to enjoy the rides and games with other Catholic families. The park opens at 10 a.m. and the water park opens at 11 a.m.

Take a break and fuel up with an all-youcan-eat picnic lunch in the Grove Picnic

Pavilion from noon to 1 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now and are discounted to $54 per person or $15 per person for Carowinds Season Pass Holders.

To take advantage of this discount, go to the diocese’s 50th anniversary website’s Events page and click on “Catholic Family Day at Carowinds.”

Please note that tickets are for purchase

by Diocese of Charlotte parishioners only and not for public sale; resale, distribution or bartering of tickets purchased through this website is strictly prohibited.

Carowinds is located at 14523 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. 28273.

— Catholic News Herald

Also coming up Upcoming 50th anniversary events also include the 2022 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress Aug. 5-6, and Catholic Night at the Charlotte Knights Sept. 9. For details, see www. faithmorepreciousthangold.com.

Uniting for a cause – college students make an impact across the diocese Uniting people to come together to serve a charitable cause can make a real impact.

In celebration of the diocese’s 50th anniversary “50 Acts of Charity” challenge, the Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry organized multiple donation drives across western North Carolina to support local food pantries and shelters.

The office inspired students and campus ministers at nine college campuses recently to collect and deliver at least 50 items for food pantries and shelters in their area.

They also invited the entire staff at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Charlotte to participate in this Act of Charity by donating non-food items most needed by their local Catholic Charities pantry, including toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning supplies.

Thanks to the leadership of the Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry, these donation drives collected over 500 items to help those most in need in 10 communities.

The Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry, Bishop Peter Jugis, and the many shelters and pantries served are sincerely grateful to everyone who came together to support this collective Act of Charity that has made a real impact by helping those most in need in our diocese.

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MARIAN ART SERIES CONTINUES

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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:

‘The Birth of the Virgin’ Giotto (c. 1300), Arena TRICIA KENT SPECIAL TO THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

In Padua, Italy, near an Augustinian monastery, a small church/museum known as the Arena or Scrovegni Chapel contains some of the earliest examples of a profound artistic shift that helped define Christian and Western art for centuries.

A cycle of frescoes commissioned to the late medieval artist Florentine Giotto do Bondone cover the walls inside the chapel.

Giotto, as he is known, was acclaimed even in his day as a master who drew “according to nature.” At its beginnings, much of Christian art took its style from Rome, but with the collapse of the empire, through war and iconoclasm Christian art was largely inspired from the East. For most of the first millennia Christian art was characterized by compositions that were generally flat and hierarchic, concentrating the viewer in prayer and veneration through contemplation of the divine portraiture of holy icons.

Giotto’s works ushered in a new standard, a new technique, and a new focus on sacred tradition and what it tells us about the role of Our Lady.

Giotto’s art was the art of fresco, a technique of mural painting usually done on wet plaster. This had been well known and popular among the Greeks and Romans, but persecution and portability had soon led Christians to a different approach.

It isn’t until the dawn of the 14th century that we finally see the large-scale return of fresco.

Giotto preferred fresco-secco painting on dry plaster using

a binding medium – usually egg. It gave him more time and freedom than an entirely wet technique, allowing him to paint expressive faces full of human emotion. His works became a glimpse into moments in the historic narrative of salvation, replete with blue skies, trees, birds and all the earthly realities of the Incarnation of Our Savior.

Among Giotto’s frescoes in Padua are a series of images depicting scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary – beginning with the non-scriptural narrative involving the tale of Mary’s parents, St. Anne and St. Joachim. These accounts had long been passed down in apocrypha and preserved as part of the deposit of our faith. Now, in a chapel dedicated to Mary, we see the historic story fully played out in time and space for perhaps the first time in a visual media. Long held Christian belief later proclaimed as dogma is brought alive on a scale for all to see and understand. Mary, chosen from the beginning to be the Theotokos, the Mother of God, is immaculately conceived in the womb of St. Anne and born into the world – an event of historic significance celebrated from the earliest centuries.

Presented in a polyscenic image, the frescoes show three moments in time: the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, the New Eve whose “yes” will lead to the Word made flesh, and the salvation of humanity.

TRICIA KENT is a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

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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!

July prayer intention For parishes. May God bless and enrich each and every parish in the diocese with His choicest graces and special protection, that they may be a visible expression of Christ’s Body at work in the world.

Saint of the Month St. Chi Zhuzi Feast Date: July 9

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increase in requests for food aid since February. He estimates that where $200 might have enabled clients to purchase 10 days’ worth of food, now the same amount appears to stretch for less than a week.

“Families are being affected, and a lot more children, because families don’t have enough money for food or the items that SNAP benefits don’t cover,” he notes.

Those items include everyday essentials such as toilet paper, laundry detergent, feminine hygiene products, paper products and toiletries.

Catholic Charities tries to supplement those items in addition to providing fresh meat, dairy products and non-perishable food items to help families in need stretch their food supply.

But just as consumers are spending more on food than ever before, so too are charitable organizations working to assist people in the community struggling to put food on the table. “With food costs going up, Catholic Charities’ purchasing power is struggling,” Boeckermann admits. “We are doing our best to maximize purchases from our vendors.”

Catholic Charities partners with The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), a federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans. Catholic Charities receives free food from TEFAP for its clients, but that amount has been reduced.

Boeckermann explains the need for cash donations is even greater in order for the agency to buy crucially needed items not covered by government food benefits.

At its three food pantries in May,

Catholic Charities served 3,123 people. In comparison, the agency served a total of 1,371 people in January.

‘Families are being affected, and a lot more children...’

Jesse Boeckermann

Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte In Charlotte alone, the number of people seeking help from the food pantry has nearly tripled since January. Staff assisted 665 people at the beginning of 2022 and closed out June by assisting 1,739 people. One day, the staff counted over 70 cars lined up waiting for food outside the pastoral center.

Catholic Charities’ staff in Winston-Salem have also seen a steady rise in the number of families coming to them for help over the past two months. They are averaging 55 families a week and are bracing for 60-70 families per week over the rest of the summer. They averaged 45 families per week last summer.

“We are in desperate need for household and hygiene items, as we have not been able to provide this service to clients requesting them for almost the last two months,” says Harley Elkins, case management coordinator.

She adds that many families are requesting food items for children, who are home from summer and not receiving school meals.

“Many of our clients have expressed stress due to inflation, and gratefulness for any items that can assist them during this time.”

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Our Diocesan Patron

W

hen the Diocese of Charlotte was founded in 1972, Bishop Michael Begley entrusted the diocese to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our subsequent bishops have also embraced Mary as our patroness, though none ever officially confirmed this with the Holy See. Now, on the occasion of the diocese’s 50th anniversary, Bishop Peter Jugis wants the Church to formally decree a patron saint for our diocese – and he is asking for input from the faithful.

Saints are men and women we know to be in the presence of God and in a position to intercede on our behalf. We don’t

worship the saints, but we do ask them to pray for us much like we ask friends to do so here on Earth. A diocesan patron is a special saint who has a connection to our area, is aware of our needs, and brings them before God. The process of selecting a patron saint starts with this survey where the faithful select a saint, continues with an approval by the bishop and a report to the Holy See, and ends with confirmation by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Please take a moment to participate in the short survey below. Bishop Jugis is grateful for your input.

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County of residence:

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Beginning with the list below, which saint would you like to see named as patron of the diocese?

(Each has an historical connection to the Diocese of Charlotte.) Check 1 box only, please:

Parish you attend most often:

Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Joseph

St. Katharine Drexel

St. Patrick

Catholics in western North Carolina hold a deep and long-standing love for Mary, the Mother of God and Mother of the Church. From the Irish immigrants who built our first permanent church, to the Benedictine monks who established Belmont Abbey, the people of the diocese have always embraced Our Blessed Mother and prayed to her for protection. More than a quarter of our 92 parishes and missions are named in her honor.

Born in the 12th century to a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy, St. Francis abandoned a life of luxury to follow Christ and help build up His Church.

Among the most popular saints, he is known for his vow of poverty, love of God’s creation, preaching and devotion to the Eucharist. He founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), Order of St. Clare (Poor Clares), Third Order of St. Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land. He was canonized in 1228 and is the patron of Italy, animals and merchants, among others. Four of our parishes are named in his honor.

The foster father of Jesus and protector of the Holy Family, St. Joseph is the patron of the Universal Church and the diocese’s college seminary. As a carpenter, St. Joseph taught Jesus lessons about the values of hard work and helped form his human nature. In 1843, the first permanent church built in Western North Carolina was named for St. Joseph and Mary, and remains today in Mount Holly as St. Joseph Church.

Seven of our parishes are named after St. Joseph.

Born to a wealthy Philadelphia family in 1858, St. Katharine Drexel could have lived a life of privilege. But her life took a profound turn when she nursed her stepmother during three years of terminal illness. She learned that her family’s wealth could not prevent pain and death. She went on to start the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to serve Native and African Americans and founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in America for African Americans. She is the first canonized American citizen and provided funds for pews at both the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians (Belmont Abbey) and St. Peter in Charlotte.

Born around the year 390, St. Patrick was captured by pirates at age 16 and forced into slavery in Ireland. He escaped after six years and became a priest, before returning to Ireland to evangelize. He later became a bishop, known as the “Apostle of Ireland,” and by the seventh century had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland. The Charlotte diocese’s cathedral is named for St. Patrick, patron of the seminary in Maynooth, Ireland, where many priests who brought the Catholic faith to the Carolinas were educated. These brave men left their homes and volunteered for mission work in the Diocese of Charleston, which initially encompassed three states including North Carolina.

Title of Mary If you selected Mary in #3, which of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s titles do you think is the most fitting for our diocesan patron?

Other saint:

Please clip this ballot and mail it to:

Diocese of Charlotte Attn: Chancery – Patron Survey 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203

Or vote online at:

www. surveymonkey. com/r/CLTPatron

One ballot per person, please. Ballots must be received by Aug. 15, 2022.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

RESPONDA LA ENCUESTA

Nuestro Patrono Diocesano

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uando se fundó la Diócesis de Charlotte en 1972, el Obispo Michael Begley confió la diócesis a la protección de la Santísima Virgen María. Nuestros obispos posteriores también han aceptado a María como nuestra patrona, aunque ninguno lo confirmó oficialmente con la Santa Sede.

Ahora, con motivo del 50 aniversario de la diócesis, el Obispo Peter Jugis desea que la Iglesia decrete formalmente un santo patrón para nuestra diócesis, y pide la opinión de los fieles.

Los santos son hombres y mujeres que sabemos que están en la presencia de Dios y en condiciones de interceder por nosotros. No adoramos a los santos, pero les pedimos que oren por nosotros como les pedimos a nuestros amigos que

lo hagan aquí en la Tierra. Un patrón diocesano es un santo especial que tiene una conexión con nuestra área, está al tanto de nuestras necesidades y las presenta ante Dios.

El proceso de selección de un santo patrón comienza con esta encuesta donde los fieles seleccionan un santo, continúa con la aprobación del obispo y un informe a la Santa Sede, y concluye con la confirmación por parte del Dicasterio para el Culto Divino y la Disciplina de los Sacramentos.

Por favor, tome un momento para participar en esta breve encuesta que le presentamos. El Obispo Jugis agradece anticipadamente su aporte.

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Su condado de residencia:

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Comenzando con la lista a continuación, ¿qué santo le gustaría ver nombrado patrón de la diócesis?

(Cada uno tiene una conexión histórica con la Diócesis de Charlotte). Seleccione solo uno, por favor:

La parroquia a la que asiste con más frecuencia:

Santísima Virgen María

San Francisco de Asís

San José

Santa Katharine Drexel

San Patricio

Los católicos del oeste de Carolina del Norte tienen un profundo y duradero amor por María, la Madre de Dios y Madre de la Iglesia. Desde los inmigrantes irlandeses que construyeron nuestra primera iglesia, hasta los monjes benedictinos que establecieron la Abadía de Belmont, la gente de la diócesis siempre ha abrazado a Nuestra Santísima Madre y le ha rezado para su protección.

Más de una cuarta parte de nuestras 92 parroquias y misiones llevan su nombre en su honor.

Nacido en el siglo XII de una familia rica en Asís, Italia, San Francisco abandonó una vida de lujos para seguir a Cristo y ayudar a edificar Su Iglesia. Es uno de los santos más populares, conocido por su voto de pobreza, amor a la creación de Dios, predicación y devoción a la Eucaristía.

Fundó la Orden de los Frailes Menores (Franciscanos), la Orden de Santa Clara (Pobres Clarisas), la Tercera Orden de San Francisco y la Custodia de Tierra Santa. Fue canonizado en 1228 y es el patrón de Italia, de los animales y de los comerciantes, entre otros. Cuatro de nuestras parroquias llevan su nombre en su honor.

Padre adoptivo de Jesús y protector de la Sagrada Familia, San José es el patrón de la Iglesia Universal y del seminario universitario de la diócesis.

Como carpintero, San José le enseñó a Jesús lecciones sobre los valores del trabajo duro y lo ayudó a formar su naturaleza humana. En 1843, la primera iglesia construida en el oeste de Carolina del Norte recibió el nombre de San José y María, y permanece hoy en Mount Holly como la Iglesia San José. Siete de nuestras parroquias llevan el nombre de San José.

Nacida en una familia adinerada de Filadelfia en 1858, Santa Katharine Drexel podría haber vivido una vida privilegiada. Pero su vida dio un giro profundo cuando cuidó de una enfermedad terminal a su madrastra durante tres años. Aprendió que la riqueza de su familia no podía evitar el dolor y la muerte. Luego fundó la orden de las Hermanas del Santísimo Sacramento para servir a los nativos y afroamericanos, y la Universidad Xavier en Nueva Orleans, la primera universidad católica en Estados Unidos para afroamericanos. Es la primera ciudadana estadounidense canonizada y proporcionó fondos para bancas de iglesias en la Basílica de María Auxiliadora (Abadía de Belmont) y San Pedro en Charlotte.

Nacido alrededor del año 390, San Patricio fue capturado por piratas a los 16 años y forzado a la esclavitud en Irlanda. Escapó después de seis años y se hizo sacerdote, antes de regresar a Irlanda para evangelizar. Más tarde se convirtió en obispo, conocido como el “Apóstol de Irlanda”, y en el siglo VII llegó a ser reverenciado como el santo patrón de Irlanda. La catedral de la diócesis de Charlotte lleva el nombre de San Patricio, patrón del seminario en Maynooth, Irlanda, donde se educaron muchos sacerdotes que trajeron la fe católica a las Carolinas. Estos valientes hombres dejaron sus hogares y se ofrecieron como voluntarios para el trabajo misionero en la Diócesis de Charleston, que inicialmente abarcaba tres estados, incluido Carolina del Norte.

Título de María Si la selección para P3 es María, entonces: ¿Cuál de los títulos de la Santísima Virgen María cree que es el más apropiado para nuestro patrono diocesano?

Otro santo:

Recorte esta boleta y envíela por correo a:

Diócesis de Charlotte Atención: Cancillería – Encuesta de nuestro patrón 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203

O vote online en:

www. surveymonkey. com/r/CLTPatron

Una boleta por persona, por favor. Las boletas deben recibirse antes del 15 de agosto de 2022.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com

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Padre Julio Domínguez

Al encuentro de la Eucaristía

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l Evangelio de San Lucas 24:13-35 nos presenta cuatro partes que vamos a meditar, cada dos semanas, con todos ustedes. En la primera, Jesús sale al encuentro de sus discípulos que se alejan desanimados.

Nos encontramos con unos discípulos que han vivido una fuerte experiencia del misterio de Jesús. Habían compartido con él varios años, lo habían visto crecer en fama por sus milagros, habían escuchado su hermosa doctrina y habían visto multitudes seguirlo.

Ellos lo vieron como profeta grande en obras y palabras y, sin embargo, ahora se iban. ¿Por qué? Porque vieron el momento fuerte de un Cristo levantado en alto en alto en el suplicio de la cruz.

No entendieron que el Mesías tenía que padecer mucho y ser rechazado por las autoridades y por el pueblo judío.

Jesús encuentra a sus amigos en esta situación de miedo y de falta de fe. Las fuerzas de la muerte, la cruz, habían matado en ellos la esperanza. Era la situación de mucha gente en tiempo de Lucas y la primera comunidad cristiana, y lastimosamente sigue siendo la situación de mucha gente hoy. Jesús se acerca y camina con ellos, escucha, habla y pregunta: “¿De qué estáis hablando?” La ideología dominante en ese momento, esto es, la propaganda del gobierno y de la religión oficial de la época, les impedía ver. “Nosotros esperábamos que sería él el que iba a liberar..., pero...”. ¿Cuál es hoy la conversación del pueblo que sufre? El primer paso de Jesús es éste: aproximarse a las personas, escuchar su realidad, sentir sus problemas, ser capaz de plantear preguntas que ayuden a las personas a mirar la realidad con una mirada más crítica.

Sin la esperanza que nace del Cristo Resucitado se van alejando y nos vamos alejando actualmente. Para ellos, como para muchos en nuestra sociedad actual, Dios había muerto y ya nada más podía hacerse; iban sin rumbo, pues en realidad no llevaban rumbo fijo.

Llevaban miedo, señal principal de que Dios no iba en sus corazones.

Iban desanimándose uno a otro, hablando de lo ocurrido, pero sin ninguna fe en las palabras que Dios había dicho y pronunciado.

Iban en la ignorancia, pues no reconocían en Cristo lo que ya el Antiguo Testamento había pronunciado.

Iban frustrados, pues a pesar de haber DOMÍNGUEZ, PASA A LA PÁGINA 20

En una Misa concelebrada por los sacerdotes Leo Tiburcio, párroco; Hugo Medellín, vicario, Luis Romero y el propio Warner Díaz, la comunidad de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe festejó el arribo de su nuevo sacerdote de origen salvadoreño.

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Dieron calurosa bienvenida a nuevo sacerdote en Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Con un templo completamente lleno, la feligresía de la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte recibió al Padre Walner Díaz en una Misa de bienvenida celebrada el martes 21 de junio.

El Padre Díaz, originario de El Salvador, fue ordenado sacerdote por la Congregación de la Misión (Vicentinos) el pasado 4 de junio en el Santuario de la Medalla Milagrosa en Filadelfia, PA. “Cuando supe la noticia donde me iban a enviar, mi corazón se llenó de mucha alegría puesto que en algún momento he tenido la oportunidad de compartir con ustedes”, dijo el Padre Díaz en su homilía.

Señaló que en sus estadías previas percibió que en esta comunidad “hay un espíritu de lucha muy grande”. Son personas emprendedoras, trabajadoras, dedicadas, responsables con la familia, “con mucha convicción y con un deseo en su corazón muy grande de agradar al Señor”.

Luego reconoció que es un novato, con mínima experiencia como sacerdote, pero “traigo conmigo un corazón abierto, dispuesto a amarlos, a servirlos y, sobre todo, dispuesto a crecer con ustedes”.

“Esta experiencia a la cual el Señor me llama, el orden sacerdotal, no meramente me pertenece a mí, le pertenece al pueblo. Nos hacemos sacerdotes para servir al pueblo,

renunciamos a nosotros mismos para poder caminar con ustedes, para poder acompañarlos en esta jornada”, precisó.

La Misa de bienvenida fue concelebrada por los sacerdotes Leo Tiburcio, Hugo Medellín, Luis Romero y Walner Díaz.

Al término de la liturgia, el Padre Leo Tiburcio, párroco de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, comentó que el Padre Díaz viene de una misión en Long Island. “Y al enterarse de que su destino era Charlotte, sus compañeros dijeron, ‘va a Charlotte porque allá son más pecadores’. No es así, yo le respondí a esta persona, ‘es que nosotros oramos más’”, sentenció, lo que provocó risas y aplausos de la feligresía.

Luego, dirigiéndose al Padre Díaz, le dijo que estaba muy contento, “muy feliz de tenerte aquí. Bienvenido a una comunidad muy variada, muy alegre, muy joven, con mucha fe, con muchas ganas”.

Finalmente, presentó al Padre Luis Romero, promotor de vocaciones de la Congregación de la Misión. Señaló que en estos tres últimos años, “el Señor ha ido cambiando nuestra comunidad”, refiriéndose al paso de los párrocos Vicente Finnerty y Gregorio Gay. Ello, dijo, “es una muestra de que nuestra propia comunidad sale a servir a su propio pueblo”, por lo que animó a los jóvenes a considerar la vocación sacerdotal”.

Más online En www.facebook.com/CNHEspañol: Vea más fotografías y videos de esta Misa de bienvenida

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Caridades Católicas recordó el Día Mundial del Refugiado Durante la sesión informativa de Caridades Católicas, con ocasión de la celebración del Día de Refugiado, se señaló que el trabajo de reasentamiento de refugiados ha sido un ministerio de esa entidad desde 1975, sólo tres años después de la fundación de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte, ofreció una jornada de reflexión sobre el Día Internacional del Refugiado que se conmemoró el pasado lunes 20 de este mes.

Durante el evento, que tuvo lugar en el Centro Pastoral Diocesano el jueves 23 de junio, los asistentes se informaron sobre el rol de Caridades Católicas y los Servicios de Alivio Católicos (CRS, por sus siglas en inglés) en la asistencia local y mundial a los refugiados.

Clare Pressimone, gerente de participación comunitaria de CRS, dijo que en la actualidad se desarrollan más de 20 conflictos a nivel mundial, lo que ha generado casi 28 millones de refugiados, la mitad de ellos niños.

Sin embargo, el problema es mayor. Mundialmente son 100 millones de personas las desplazadas por situaciones de hambre, cambio climático, enfermedades, violencia o conflictos armados. Agravando la situación humanitaria, solo el 0.5 por ciento de los refugiados son reasentados en alguna parte del planeta.

Ante esta realidad, CRS urge a los ciudadanos a manifestar su preocupación ante los legisladores del país enviado el texto ‘Call Congress’ al número 677-68. “Una vez que reciban una respuesta podrán enviar su inquietud a nuestros legisladores”, dijo Pressimone.

PRONUNCIAMIENTO

En Washington DC, el Obispo Mario E. Dorsonville, obispo auxiliar de Washington y presidente del Comité de Migración de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB), emitió una declaración en la que recordó que el Papa Pío XII, hace casi 70 años, proclamó en su constitución apostólica Exsul Familia, que la ‘Sagrada Familia de Nazaret, que huyó a Egipto, es el arquetipo de toda familia de refugiados’.

“Mientras trabajamos ahora para apoyar a los desplazados por la guerra en Ucrania, seguimos instando a un uso más sólido del Programa de Admisión

DOMÍNGUEZ VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 19

visto los grandes milagros de Jesús, sus grandes sermones y predicaciones, no entendieron que el Mesías haya sido derrotado de esa manera. ¡Cuántos de nosotros vamos siguiendo a Cristo de la misma manera! Y mientras que todo va bien sentimos que queremos ser buenos cristianos y muchas de las veces queremos que todo sea de color de rosa.

Buscamos con vehemencia los milagros y los encontramos en nuestra vida diaria, pues ciertamente, Dios nos los da en abundancia, para que sigamos teniendo fe y nos

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en el Sagrario y que le contemos todas nuestras batallas y luchas.

No habla mucho mientras que ellos van diciendo todo lo sucedido, sus esperanzas rotas y sus desánimos, tal cual sucede en el Sagrario, tan lleno de silencio que nos invita a desahogarnos diciéndole a nuestro buen Dios todas nuestras penas y frustraciones.

En palabras de San Agustín, podemos decir, cuida de este momento de gracia, que pasa y no retorna. ¡Qué abismo de riqueza es la ciencia y profundidad del Señor!, ¡qué insondables son sus juicios y qué profundos sus designios! ¿Quién ha conocido jamás la mente del Señor? ¿Quién le ha dado para que le devuelva?

Sabiendo el Señor que al alejarse de la comunidad encontrarían un vacío existencial, se acerca a ellos para devolvernos la esperanza, que en el ir y venir de la vida habían perdido.

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

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

de Refugiados, que está diseñado para garantizar la integración a largo plazo y la autosuficiencia de los refugiados recién llegados” Por ello, renovó el llamamiento de la USCCB para que “el Congreso apruebe una legislación que proporcione un camino hacia el estatus legal permanente para nuestros nuevos vecinos afganos”, reafirmando la importancia del asilo “como un mecanismo vital para la protección humanitaria”.

Concluyó rogando, “que la Sagrada Familia sirva como fuente de esperanza y fortaleza para todos aquellos que buscan seguridad, y que nosotros, que estamos llamados a conocer, amar y servir a Dios, lo reconozcamos en los desplazados”.

Más online En www.ccdoc.org: Podrá encontrar mayor información sobre los servicios que presta Caridades Católicas de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

Haga click en ‘services’ y siga el directorio que se le ofrece a continuación

quieres ser mi discípulo, toma tu cruz y sígueme.

Pero hay un momento de gloria para estos discípulos y para cada uno de nosotros: Jesús se acerca y camina con ellos al igual que lo hace con nosotros, quiere que le digan todas sus dudas y preocupaciones, al igual que con nosotros quiere que le visitemos

‘Dios nos da milagros en abundancia, para que sigamos teniendo fe y decidamos seguirlo.’

La ignorancia nos pervierte, pues al no conocer las Escrituras y meditarlas profundamente, se nos olvida que el camino a la Resurrección lleva de paso la crucifixión y que Cristo nos dijo: Si

Familia, Iglesia doméstica en San Pablo

as primeras comunidades cristianas se dejaban guiar por las enseñanzas escritas y prácticas de Pablo.

En sus cartas no encontramos un método ni un tratado riguroso sobre la oración, pero sí nos revela el perfil de un hombre orante, que con su ejemplo y permanente invitación, anima a la oración constante.

El comienzo de cada una de sus cartas demuestra su vida de relación frecuente con el Padre y con Jesucristo. Expresan una invocación filial a Dios, un agradecimiento a nombre de la comunidad o la persona a la cual le escribe y una referencia a Cristo que lo ha llamado a ese ministerio.

Entre otros podemos leer este texto: “A todos los amados de Dios que están en Roma, santos por vocación, a ustedes gracia y paz, de parte de Dios nuestro Padre y del Señor Jesucristo. Ante todo, doy gracias a mi Dios por medio de Jesucristo, por todos ustedes, pues su fe es alabada en todo el mundo.”(Rom 1:7b-8. Cfr. 1Co 1:3-4; 2Co 1:2-3; Ga 1:3-4; Ef 1:2-3) En las enseñanzas espirituales se presenta como padre, llamando “hijos” a sus discípulos más cercanos como, entre tantos casos, lo expresa en la primera carta a Timoteo: “Pablo, apóstol de Cristo Jesús, por mandato de Dios nuestro Salvador y de Cristo Jesús nuestra esperanza, a Timoteo, verdadero hijo mío en la fe. Gracia, misericordia y paz de parte de Dios Padre y de Cristo Jesús, Señor nuestro.” (1Tm 1:2. Cfr. 1Co 4:17; Tt 1:4). La paternidad espiritual se extiende a toda la comunidad reunida en las diversas casas donde meditan sus escritos y siguen su dotrina.

Pablo da gran importancia al concepto de casa y de familia en la constitución de la primera comunidad cristiana.

La comunidad de los primeros cristianos fue organizada en familias, en grupos familiares emparentados y en “casas”: la casa era, contemporáneamente, núcleo comunitario y lugar de encuentro.

Sus cartas revelan la importancia, que, para él, tiene la casa como lugar de encuentro. El término “Iglesia doméstica” brota de las cartas de san Pablo, ligado a un método apostólico, que hoy aparece con viva actualidad.

Podemos confrontar algunos momentos en los que Pablo se dirige a las diversas Iglesias reunidas en pequeñas familias: “Saluden también a la Iglesia que se reúne en su casa” (Rom 16:5); “Las Iglesias de Asia los saluda. Les envía también muchos saludos Aquila y Prisca en el Señor, junto con la Iglesia que se reúne en su casa” (1Co 16:19); “A Filemón y… a la Iglesia que se reúne en su casa” (Flm 1:1-2).

Para Pablo la familia es “transparencia divina” porque goza de la redención de Cristo. Exhorta a los cristianos a seguir viviendo en coherencia la nueva vida en Cristo, y pone la vida familiar como lugar privilegiado de esta vivencia cristiana, porque es signo concreto de la “novedad” traída por Cristo.

En la carta a los Efesios 6:1-4, Pablo se preocupa por hacer una doble invitación: de un lado pide a los hijos respetar a sus padres como deber justo en cuanto que son dadores de vida, y de otro lado invita a los padres a no exasperar a los hijos e insiste en la necesidad de educar en la virtud desde pequeños, en particular mediante la enseñanza de las Escrituras de tal manera que puedan establecer una comunicación fecunda entre Palabra de Dios y realidad presente.

Y en la primera carta a Timoteo 2:15 presenta el papel de la madre generadora de hijos y salvación en cuanto que persevera con modestia en la fe, en la caridad y en la santidad.

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decidamos a seguirlo.

Sin embargo, el camino de un buen cristiano estará siempre señalado por el camino de la Cruz, y es cuando muchos de nosotros sucumbimos y nos alejamos. Nos perdemos en la tristeza, nos da la tentación de renegar y lo más triste, de no seguir ya más a Cristo.

Padre Fabio Marín

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

¿Qué es la Lectio Divina?

CÉSAR HURTADO REPORTERO

CHARLOTTE — Conversamos con Alexander Arévalo Céspedes, costarricense especialista en Biblia, catequesis y Lectio Divina, entre otros temas, quien nos visitó para ofrecer dos conferencias sobre este último tema a los integrantes del movimiento apostólico ‘La Familia Emaús’.

Arévalo, de la parroquia San Diego de Alcalá en el cantón La Unión, Entre Ríos, localidad cercana a San José de Costa Rica, realiza talleres en toda Latinoamérica con la finalidad de promover el conocimiento de la Biblia y la Lectio Divina entre los católicos.

CNH: Para tí, en tus propias palabras, ¿qué es la Lectio Divina?

Arévalo: Para mí, la forma más fácil de decirle a la gente que es la Lectio Divina, es compararla con una película en 3D. Es como entrar en un cine para ver una película 3D y ponerse las gafas 3D. Si no te pones las gafas de 3D no ves nada, ves todo borroso. Si te ponen las gafas de 3D eso toma vida.

La Lectio Divina es ese encuentro con Dios, cuando la palabra toma vida y se hace el real para nosotros.

Antes puede ser una letra muerta, difícil de entender, que la vemos lejana, la vemos incomprensible. Pero cuando nos acercamos con el ejercicio de lectura orante, nos damos cuenta que está viva, que es actual y que es Dios el que nos habla a través de ella.

CNH: Así como en el cine 3D la herramienta son las gafas 3D, ¿cuál es la herramienta principal que se aplica en la Lectio Divina?

Arévalo: La fe, La Palabra, y obviamente la Sagrada Escritura. Pero lo que marca la diferencia del encuentro con la sagrada escritura es la fe. Si no te acercas con fe es como leer una una revista, un libro que está lleno de momentos interesantes pero que no te dice nada.

CNH: ¿Leemos la Biblia los católicos?

Arévalo: Fíjate que en nuestras comunidades la ignorancia bíblica es casi del 80 al 90 por ciento. Nuestra gente la ve desde un punto de vista muy estructurado, académico, en donde el clero lo maneja todo y ellos son los que lo saben, son los que lo conocen. Nosotros no sabemos, no podemos, no entendemos, lo vemos como si se estuviera estudiando medicina o astronomía, algo lejano.

Y cuando se pone en práctica el Concilio Vaticano II, con lo que nos dice para que la palabra verdaderamente sea transmitida, ya no la encuentran tan lejana, tan inaccesible y se hace parte de su realidad, de su vida diaria.

Han pasado más de 50 años del Concilio Vaticano II y es un despertar bíblico

el que estamos viviendo. Pero todavía en nuestros tiempos la Biblia sigue siendo mal leída, mal utilizada y hasta manipulada.

CNH: Si leemos la Biblia, ¿necesitamos que nos la expliquen?

Arévalo: Qué bonito sería que viviéramos la palabra escuchada y se nos explique, como Jesús con los discípulos de Emaús. Jesús les explicó todo lo que decían sobre Él las Escrituras.

Necesitamos que nos expliquen la Biblia, pero no con detalles absolutos de cuándo se formó, de quién lo hizo, qué género literario, un estudio histórico crítico feminista elevado.

Necesitamos algo sencillo, pero que vaya de la mano con el magisterio de la Iglesia, que sea la Iglesia la que nos enseñe, la que nos guíe.

CNH: ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre una lectura bíblica normal y la Lectio Divina?

Arévalo: En la Lectio Divina, cada uno de sus pasos nos lleva a una lectura diferente de la Biblia.

En el primer paso leo el texto, lo entiendo en su contexto, quiénes participan. Sin ver partes muy complicadas ni elevadas pero viéndolo.

Si Jesús está sentado, parado, en una montaña, en un valle, todo tiene un sentido para el evangelista que nos lo pone en esa forma. Hay que entenderlo así, de una forma sencilla.

Luego me pregunto qué me dice el texto hoy en mi vida. Cuando Jesús pasa, algo pasa, siempre nos va a decir algo.

Después, vamos a encontrar un punto de oración donde vamos a responder a Dios desde ese texto. ¿Qué le digo a Dios, cuál es mi respuesta después de que Él me ha hablado por medio de Su Palabra?

Luego vamos a un tiempo de contemplación en el silencio.

Interiorizamos el texto, lo vivimos, lo masticamos, lo saboreamos, ojalá que en comunidad pues la Lectio Divina nace en la comunidad. ¿Y cómo termina la Lectio Divina?: en una acción. Esto es lo hermoso.

Encontramos la Palabra, nos habla, le respondemos a Dios, guardamos silencio y terminamos con una acción. Porque tenemos que mostrar nuestra fe con obras, con acciones sencillas.

El texto siempre nos muestra acciones que estamos realizando, bien o mal. La diferencia es que, después de practicar la Lectio Divina, conociendo más de nosotros mismos, siempre Dios nos da paz.

Si después de la Lectio Divina Dios me exhorta, me disciplina o me felicita, siempre me genera paz. Esa es la belleza de Dios, que no necesita ponerte como una piltrafa humana de este mundo para hablarte, como lo presentan muchas personas que malinterpretan las Sagradas Escrituras.

La devoción al Divino Niño La Fiesta del Divino Niño se celebra en Colombia el 20 de julio, de manera especial en el barrio ‘20 de julio’, donde se encuentra un gran santuario en honor al Divino Niño Jesús, devoción que se ha expandido por muchos países del mundo. En la actualidad no existe lugar donde su imagen no esté expuesta en parroquias, capillas, iglesias o casas.

Esta advocación está unida a la labor pastoral del P. Juan del Rizzo, salesiano italiano y misionero en Colombia.

En una ocasión el sacerdote, estando en Barranquilla, tenía dificultad para salir a pedir limosna por ser muy tímido y sintió que el pequeño Jesús, que María Auxiliadora lleva en brazos, lo reconfortó y animó.

Luego prometió ser un gran propagador del Divino Niño Jesús.

Muchos años después, por el 1935 en Bogotá, mientras propagaba la devoción del Niño Jesús de Praga, encontró oposición por un grupo de asociados que decía tener la “exclusividad” del título de Praga.

El salesiano no se desanimó y continuó difundiendo el amor al pequeño Dios. Cierto día, buscando una imagen, le presentaron un Jesús infante parado sobre una nube con los brazos abiertos, túnica rosada y una enorme aureola en la cabeza.

Pero hubo algo que no le agradó al salesiano.

Detrás de la imagen del pequeño había una cruz, por lo que el presbítero pidió que se la retiraran al tratarse de la imagen de Jesús niño. Luego se la llevó a los campos de la obra juvenil salesiana en el barrio ‘20 de Julio’.

De esta manera los fieles empezaron a venerar la imagen como el Divino Niño y son muchos los que hasta ahora dicen que al acogerse a esta advocación, han obtenido muchos milagros y conversiones.

El P. del Rizzo dijo que hay varias condiciones para obtener favores del Divino Niño: ofrecer la Santa Misa durante nueve domingos, confesarse y comulgar al menos en uno de ellos; dar víveres, o su equivalente en dinero, a las familias pobres; y propagar la devoción al Divino Niño narrando a otros los milagros que Él hace a sus devotos, repartiendo novenas, estampas y almanaques.

DEVOCIÓN UNIVERSAL

Antiguos escritos indican que la devoción al Divino Niño empezó en el Monte Carmelo, Israel, donde, según la tradición, Jesús iba frecuentemente a pasear y a rezar con sus padres, San José y la Virgen María, y sus abuelos San Joaquín y Santa Ana.

Lecturas Diarias JULIO 10-16

Domingo: Deuteronomio 30:10-14, Colosenses 1:15-20, Lucas 10:25-37; Lunes (San Benito Abad): Isaías 1:10-17, Mateo 10:34–11:1; Martes: Isaías 7:1-9, Mateo 11:20-24; Miércoles: Isaías 10:5-7, 13-16, Mateo 11:25-27; Jueves (Santa Kateri Tekakwitha): Isaías 26:7-9, 12, 16-19, Mateo 11:28-30; Viernes (San Buenaventura): Isaías 38:1-6, 21-22, Mateo 12:1-8; Sábado: Miqueas 2:1-5, Mateo 12:14-21

JULIO 17-23

Domingo: Génesis 18:1-10a, Colosenses 1:24-28, Lucas 10:38-42; Lunes: Miqueas 6:1-4, 6-8, Mateo 12:38-42; Martes: Miqueas 7:14-15, 18-20, Mateo 12:46-50; Miércoles: Jeremías 1:1, 4-10, Mateo 13:1-9; Jueves: Jeremías 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13, Mateo 13:10-17; Viernes (Santa María Magdalena): Cantares 3:1-4b, Juan 20:1-2, 11-18; Sábado: Jeremías 7:1-11, Mateo 13:24-30

21

JULIO 24-30

Domingo: Génesis 18:20-32, Colosenses 2:1214, Lucas 11:1-13; Lunes (Santiago Apóstol): 2 Corintios 4:7-15, Mateo 20:20-28; Martes (Santos Joaquín y Ana): Jeremías 14:17-22, Mateo 13:36-43; Miércoles: Jeremías 15:10, 16-21, Mateo 13:44-46; Jueves: Jeremías 18:1-6, Mateo 13:47-53; Viernes (Santos Marta, María y Lázaro): Jeremías 26:1-9, Juan 11:19-27; Sábado: Jeremías 26:11-16, 24, Mateo 14:1-12

El Niño Jesús se ganó el aprecio y cariño de las personas que se reunían también a orar en el monte, quienes, después de la ascensión de Cristo, continuaron con la devoción al Niño Jesús.

San Antonio de Padua y San Cayetano fueron muy devotos del Niño Jesús, y por eso se les representa llevándolo en brazos. Otros santos que contribuyeron grandemente a difundir la devoción al Niño de Belén fueron Santa Teresa de Jesús y San

Juan de la Cruz.

En el año 1636, Jesús le hizo una promesa a una monja carmelita del convento de Beaune en Francia, conocida como la Venerable Margarita del Santísimo Sacramento.

Cristo le dijo: “Todo lo que quieras pedir, pídemelo por los méritos de mi infancia, y nada te será negado”.

La Venerable Margarita, que falleció a los 29 años, recibió la misión de propagar especialmente la devoción a la divina infancia de Cristo.

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CONTINÚA LA SERIE ARTE MARIANO

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.

Peregrinaje Mariano Una estatua de María, Madre de Dios, especialmente encargada para esta ocasión, está visitando más de cien locaciones en toda la Diócesis de Charlotte durante el año de aniversario. Las próximas visitas incluyen:

IGLESIA CATÓLICA NUESTRA SEÑORA DEL ROSARIO Domingo a miércoles, 10 al 13 de julio 619 S Main St., Lexington, N.C. 27292

IGLESIA CATÓLICA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE GRACIA Miércoles a domingo, 13 al 17 de julio 201 S Chapman St., Greensboro, N.C. 27403

IGLESIA CATÓLICA SAN FRANCISCO DE ASÍS Lunes a jueves, 18 al 21 de julio 862 Yadkinville Road, Mocksville, N.C. 27028

IGLESIA CATÓLICA SANTA ISABEL Y MISIÓN DE LA EPIFANÍA Jueves a lunes, 21 al 25 de julio 259 Pilgrims Way, Boone, N.C. 28607

IGLESIA CATÓLICA SAN JOSÉ Lunes a jueves, 25 al 28 de julio 720 W. 13th St., Newton, N.C. 28658 Para mayor información sobre las paradas de esta peregrinación, visite el website del 50 Aniversario de la Diócesis de Charlotte, www. faithmorepreciousthangold. com.

Oración Para el 50 Aniversario

‘El Nacimiento de la Virgen’ Giotto (c. 1300), Arena TRICIA KENT ESPECIAL PARA THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

En Padua, Italia, cerca de un monasterio agustino, una pequeña iglesia/museo conocida como La Arena o Capilla Scrovegni contiene algunos de los primeros ejemplos de un profundo cambio artístico que ayudó a definir el arte cristiano y occidental durante siglos. Un ciclo de frescos encargado al artista medieval tardío Florentine Giotto do Bondone cubre las paredes interiores de la capilla.

Giotto, como se le conoce, fue aclamado ya en su tiempo como un maestro que dibujaba “según la naturaleza”. En sus inicios, gran parte del arte cristiano tomó el estilo de Roma, pero con el colapso del imperio, a través de la guerra y la iconoclasia, el arte cristiano se inspiró en gran medida en Oriente. Durante la mayor parte del primer milenio, el arte cristiano se caracterizó por composiciones generalmente planas y jerárquicas, concentrando al espectador en la oración y veneración a través de la contemplación del retrato divino de los iconos sagrados.

Las obras de Giotto marcaron el comienzo de un nuevo estándar, una nueva técnica y un nuevo enfoque en la sagrada tradición y lo que nos dice sobre el papel de Nuestra Señora.

El arte de Giotto era el arte del fresco, una técnica de pintura mural generalmente realizada sobre yeso húmedo. Esta práctica había sido bien conocida y popular entre griegos y romanos, pero la persecución y la portabilidad pronto llevaron a los cristianos a un enfoque diferente. No es hasta los albores del siglo XIV que finalmente vemos el regreso a gran escala del fresco.

Giotto prefirió la pintura al fresco-secco, es decir sobre yeso seco utilizando un medio

adhesivo, generalmente huevo. Le dio más tiempo y libertad que una técnica totalmente húmeda, permitiéndole pintar rostros expresivos llenos de emoción humana. Sus obras se convirtieron en una mirada a momentos de la narración histórica de la salvación, repleta de cielos azules, árboles, pájaros y todas las realidades terrenales de la Encarnación de Nuestro Salvador.

Entre los frescos de Giotto en Padua hay una serie de imágenes que representan escenas de la vida de la Virgen María, comenzando con la narración no bíblica que involucra la historia de los padres de María, Santa Ana y San Joaquín. Estos relatos se habían transmitido durante mucho tiempo en forma apócrifa y se conservaron como parte de la fuente de nuestra fe.

Ahora, en una capilla dedicada a María, vemos la historia completa desarrollada en tiempo y espacio quizás por primera vez en un medio visual.

La creencia cristiana de larga data, más tarde proclamada como dogma, cobra vida en una escala para que todos la vean y entiendan. María, elegida desde el principio para ser Theotokos, la Madre de Dios, es inmaculadamente concebida en el vientre de Santa Ana y nace en el mundo, un evento de importancia histórica celebrado desde los primeros siglos.

Presentados en una imagen poliscénica, los frescos muestran tres momentos en el tiempo: la Natividad de la Santísima Virgen, la Nueva Eva cuyo “sí” conducirá al Verbo hecho carne, y la salvación de la humanidad.

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

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 julio Por las parroquias. Que Dios bendiga y enriquezca a todas y cada una de las parroquias de la diócesis con sus gracias más selectas y protección especial, para que puedan ser una expresión visible del Cuerpo de Cristo obrando en el mundo.

Santo del mes San Chi Zhuzi Fecha de la fiesta: 9 de julio

Arts & Entertainment

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

‘Our Lord loves us’

For the latest movie reviews: catholicnewsherald.com

In theaters

On TV

‘Sacred Heart Series’ uncovers the depths of Christ’s love for humanity SUEANN HOWELL SENIOR REPORTER

‘Elvis’ This highly entertaining, turbocharged biography of a music legend is a lavish, over-the-top production with all the creative hallmarks of its flamboyant director, Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”, “The Great Gatsby”). In rural Mississippi, young Elvis Presley (Chaydon Jay) is transfixed by the musical vibe and suggestive dancing of his African-American neighbors. Years pass, and Presley (Austin Butler) embarks on a musical career, drawing upon these styles. A carnival barker, “Colonel” Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), offers to be Elvis’ manager with the blessing of his parents. Suggestive dancing, several profane and crude oaths. n CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13

‘Lightyear’ The beloved astronaut (voice of Chris Evans) from the “Toy Story” franchise gets the backstory treatment in this gloomy animated adventure, directed by Angus MacLane.

Stranded on an alien planet, he is determined to help his crew escape by testing a new rocket fuel. When a fleet of robots invades, led by an evil emperor (voice of James Brolin), our hero assembles a motley crew and a robotic cat and plans an attack. What should be wholesome entertainment for the entire family is marred by the inclusion of a character in a same-sex marriage. Cartoonish action sequences, a same-sex kiss and a benign view of same-sex marriage. n CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG

SALISBURY — If anyone should know the depths and the riches to be found in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is Father John Eckert, pastor of Sacred Heart Church.

He has shepherded the parishioners and families of Sacred Heart Parish and School for the past eight years, sharing with them the great love the Sacred Heart of Jesus has for humanity.

“The Sacred Heart Series” is Father Eckert’s latest labor of love and the fifth series of reflections he has created with Good Catholic™ (an entity of The Catholic Company®). Writer and editor Peter Gohn joins him again in this series, offering articles to accompany Father Eckert’s video reflections.

In this 15-day series of reflections, the two help the faithful to experience the love of Christ – to hear His loving words – and show them how to practice true devotion to the Sacred Heart in a world that desperately needs it.

The series shares the true story and forgotten details behind the Sacred Heart devotion. It helps the listener discover the lesser-known saints who gave us the Sacred Heart devotion before the 17thcentury St. Margaret Mary Alacoque did.

The series also covers the exact promises Jesus made to those who practice this devotion and where the Sacred Heart devotion is hidden in the Gospels. It gives practical ways to learn how to devote oneself to the Sacred Heart.

“We can always learn more about our namesake and Our Lord and His Sacred Heart,” says Father Eckert. “The devotion to the Sacred Heart is more than sentimentality.

Our Lord loves us and wants to be a part of absolutely everything in our lives.”

He hopes that listeners will come to

n Friday, July 8, 5 p.m.

(EWTN) “Father Augustus Tolton.” Miracle Hunter, Michael O’Neill examines the sainthood cause of the first black priest in American history, Venerable Augustus Tolton, who overcame tremendous challenges both inside and outside the Catholic Church.

n Saturday, July 9, 2 p.m.

(EWTN) “Saint Benedict of Nursia.” An EWTN docu-drama examines the spirituality of St. Benedict, founder of the monastic order the Benedictines, who left his wealth and the decadence of Rome behind to dedicate himself to a life of prayer. n Sunday, July 10, 6 a.m. (EWTN) “Angelus with Pope Francis.” Pope Francis leads the world in the recitation of the Angelus, live from Rome.

understand the great treasure we have in the Sacred Heart and that the devotion is rooted in Scripture and supported by the writings of many saints.

“It’s lovely to have this ability to jump online (and delve deeper into the devotion).

It’s like having a retreat at home.”

Order the series “The Sacred Heart Series” is a go-at-your-ownpace program. The 15 episodes include both video and text for the participant. The series cost is $14.95. Order online at www.goodcatholic.com.

n Wednesday, July 13, 4 p.m. (EWTN) “John Paul II: Be Not Afraid.” An animated biography on the early life of St. John Paul II up to his election as pope. n Saturday, July 16, 2 p.m.

(EWTN) “I Shall Serve You: The Life of Saint Camillus of Lellis.” The extraordinary story of St. Camillus of Lellis, whose tireless devotion to the sick led him to create a religious order, the Camillans, and to develop nursing practices still in use today.

“Get your ducks in a row!”

Please pray for the following priests who died during the month of July: Rev. Stephen R. Dowd, OSB – 1985 Rev. Raymond Geyer, OSB – 2009 Rev. Conrad Kimbrough – 2011 Rev. Bebe Lightner, OSB – 2002

Estate Planning | Probate

Rev. Bertrand Pattison, OSB - 1992

WAITING COULD DEVASTATE YOUR FAMILY St. Matthew’s Parishioner

Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org

23

704.843.1446 | www.ncestateplanninginfo.com

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

Our nation 24

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

DOBBS V. JACKSON Statement from Bishop Peter Jugis on the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Most Rev. Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte, has issued the following statement in response to U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: Today’s Supreme Court ruling means the lives of countless unborn children will be saved from abortion, and for that we are profoundly thankful. The Catholic Church has always professed that every human life is a gift from God and holds inestimable value, and even with this step forward, our work to protect the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death, continues.

Today’s ruling also impels us to redouble our efforts to help women and couples facing unexpected or difficult pregnancies, and during their early years of parenthood.

The Catholic Church is one of the largest providers of social services worldwide, and in western North Carolina, the Church has offered pregnancy support and adoption services for decades. The Diocese of Charlotte also partners with hundreds of agencies across our 46 counties who provide direct services to pregnant women and new mothers, from health care and housing, to food and transportation, to parenting classes and college tuition. More recently, I have asked our 92 churches to strengthen and expand these efforts, for example, by implementing the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Walking with Moms in Need” program to inventory local services and explore ways to fill gaps in services within their communities. Our goal has been – and always will be – to enable and equip every woman with the support and resources she needs to welcome and care for her unborn child.

Sadly, another likely result of today’s ruling is that the number of women traveling to North Carolina to seek abortion may rise, given that our state’s laws continue to legalize abortion. So, as we increase our outreach to these women, we must also intensify our advocacy for laws that will put an end to the practice of abortion. Ultimately, we as a society must finally recognize, as science confirms, that life begins at the moment of conception, and that this is really a civil rights issue involving the right to life for the most vulnerable among us, the unborn child.

I invite everyone to join me in praying for the conversion of hearts, so that our communities might come together to protect and support both mother and child at every stage of life.

— Catholic News Herald

Pro-life demonstrators in Washington celebrate outside the Supreme Court June 24, as the court overruled the landmark Roe v. Wade abortion decision in its ruling in the Dobbs case on a Mississippi law banning most abortions after 15 weeks.

CNS | EVELYN HOCKSTEIN, REUTERS

Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in historic abortion decision CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court’s historic decision June 24 to overturn Roe v. Wade brings a sudden and dramatic end to nearly a half-century of nationwide legalized abortion in the U.S. The 6-3 opinion, in the Mississippi abortion case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is widely seen as the Supreme Court’s most highly anticipated and consequential ruling since Roe. It not only reverses Roe, the landmark 1973 abortion case, but also Planned Parenthood v. Casey, a 1992 decision that affirmed Roe. “Abortion presents a profound moral question. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority,” the opinion states.

“We now overrule these decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives.”

The Dobbs opinion was written by Associate Justice Samuel Alito. Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett

Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined the opinion. Thomas and Kavanaugh filed concurring opinions. Chief Justice John Roberts filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Associate Justices Stephen Breyer,

a new era of abortion politics in the U.S., with the battleground now shifting to state legislatures. Those democratically elected bodies are now free to debate and regulate abortion, as happened in American history before the Supreme Court federalized the issue.

“An entirely new pro-life movement begins today. We are ready to go on offense for life in every single one of those legislative bodies, in each statehouse and the White House,” Susan B. Anthony ProLife American President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement June 24. “Over the next few years we will have the opportunity to save hundreds of thousands, even millions of lives by limiting the horror of abortion in many states.”

President Joe Biden, a Catholic who opposes Church teaching on abortion, called the court’s opinion “a tragic mistake.”

The ruling marks a watershed moment for the Catholic Church and the wider pro-life movement in the United States.

Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented.

The decision does not ban or criminalize abortion, nor does it recognize an unborn child’s constitutional right to life. But in one breathtaking stroke, the court’s action sweeps away entrenched legal barriers, created and strictly enforced by the federal judiciary, that for decades have blocked states like Mississippi from heavily restricting or prohibiting the killing of unborn children in the womb.

In the process, the decision ushers in

CATHOLIC BISHOPS RESPOND

The ruling marks a watershed moment for the Catholic Church and the wider pro-life DECISION, SEE PAGE 25

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

25

DOBBS V. JACKSON

Biden rallies to promote abortion access

DECISION FROM PAGE 24

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision, the Biden administration announced it is taking steps to increase access to abortion and to codify abortion rights at the federal level.

President Joe Biden called the 6-3 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision a “terrible, extreme decision” and a “tragic reversal” of Roe v. Wade.

Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, said at a news conference June 28 that the Biden administration is taking five steps to protect access to abortion, including increasing access to medication abortion and training health workers.

Condemning what he called the court’s “despicable” decision, Becerra said, “There is no magic bullet. But if there is something we can do, we will find it and we will do it at HHS.” The HHS, Becerra said, “will take steps to increase access” by ensuring that federallysupported programs and services provide abortion pills – which allow women to perform early abortions without leaving their homes – in cases of rape, incest or to save the woman’s life, in compliance with federal law.

The department is also looking into protecting patient and provider privacy, supporting doctors’ “clinical judgment” when treating pregnant women in emergencies, and training providers on family planning and “helping patients navigate this new reality,” he said.

Becerra is also directing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to protect “family planning care,” including contraception.

When asked about the possibility of placing abortion clinics on federal land to

bypass state laws or helping women travel to different states to obtain abortion, Becerra responded that “every option is on the table.”

Meanwhile, Biden met via videoconference July 1 with a group of Democratic governors to discuss pro-abortion amendments to state constitutions, state funding for abortion, and using federal facilities and supportive Native American lands as possible venues for providing abortions.

Nine Democratic governors joined Biden for the videoconference: Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Kathy Hochul of New York, Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Jared Polis of Colorado, Ned Lamont of Massachusetts, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, Jay Inslee of Washington, Kate Brown of Oregon, and Dan McKee of Rhode Island.

Hochul called on Biden to use federal facilities to help provide abortions in states “hostile to abortion rights.” She suggested using veterans hospitals, military facilities, and other places under control of the federal government.

It is unclear whether such federal assistance would be legal. The Hyde Amendment bars most federal funding for abortion.

Cooper, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, characterized governors as the “last line of defense” for legal abortion. He said Planned Parenthood officials in North Carolina have told him they expect about 10,000 women seeking abortions from out of state in the next year.

“We are not backing down. We are ready to do what is needed to protect women’s health,” he said, using a common euphemism for abortion.

— Catholic News Agency

movement in the United States, which have painstakingly sought Roe’s reversal since the landmark 7-2 decision was handed down on Jan. 19, 1973.

“America was founded on the truth that all men and women are created equal, with God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore said in a joint statement. “This truth was grievously denied by the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized and normalized the taking of innocent human life. We thank God today that the Court has now overturned this decision.”

Gomez is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Lori is chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

“Today’s decision is also the fruit of the prayers, sacrifices, and advocacy of countless ordinary Americans from every walk of life. Over these long years, millions of our fellow citizens have worked together peacefully to educate and persuade their neighbors about the injustice of abortion, to offer care and counseling to women, and to work for alternatives to abortion, including adoption, foster care, and public policies that truly support families,” their statement continued.

“We share their joy today and we are

grateful to them. Their work for the cause of life reflects all that is good in our democracy, and the pro-life movement deserves to be numbered among the great movements for social change and civil rights in our nation’s history.”

DECISION CONFORMS TO LEAKED DRAFT

The outcome of Dobbs came as little surprise, since the final opinion substantially resembled a draft written by Alito that was leaked in May. In Roe v. Wade, the court ruled that states could not ban abortion before viability, which the court determined to be 24 to 28 weeks into pregnancy.

Nearly 20 years later, the court upheld Roe in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, stating that while states could regulate pre-viability abortions, they could not enforce an “undue burden,” which it defined as “a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus.”

Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act – the subject of the Dobbs case – directly challenged both decisions because it bans abortion weeks after 15 weeks, well before the point of viability.

“Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have inflamed debate and deepened division,” the court’s opinion said. “It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people’s elected representatives.”

Attacks on churches, pregnancy centers continue WASHINGTON, D.C. — In reaction to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, attacks on Catholic churches and pro-life pregnancy centers have been reported in approximately two dozen states – including North Carolina.

A pro-life pregnancy center in Asheville was vandalized last month, and a Catholic church near Durham was damaged last weekend.

Attacks have also been reported over the past several weeks in neighboring Tennessee and Virginia, as well as West Virginia, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New York, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, California and elsewhere.

Early on July 3, Holy Family Church in Hillsborough was vandalized with antiChristian and pro-abortion messages in bright yellow spray paint. Within hours, men of the parish gathered to clean up the damage while other parishioners prayed for the vandals, for pregnant women in crisis, and for the nation.

“Thanks to the men of our parish who helped to clean up this afternoon after our church was vandalized last night ….

At approximately 12:15 am our church received some spray paint, and after Spanish Mass, a big dose of Love,” the parish noted on its Facebook page.

Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, a Christian-based crisis pregnancy center in Asheville, was vandalized late June 6 or early June 7. Its windows were smashed and its building defaced with pro-abortion messaging. According to Asheville police, officers discovered red spray paint on the building with the words “No forced birth”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN AREA PREGNANCY SERVICES

Mountain Area Pregnancy Services, a pro-life pregnancy center in Asheville, was vandalized late June 6 or early June 7.

and “If abortions aren’t safe, neither are you!” Multiple windows were broken and an anarchist symbol was left on the front of the building, police said.

The incidents are among a surge of attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers and Catholic churches reported since the Supreme Court’s decision returned abortion regulation to the states.

The FBI said it is investigating the attacks and threats against pro-life pregnancy centers and faith-based organizations across the nation. “We would like to remind members of the public that if they observe anything suspicious or have information about potential threats to report it to law enforcement immediately, call their local FBI field office, or submit a tip to tips.fbi. gov,” the FBI National Press Office told CNA. — Catholic News Agency

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

DOBBS V. JACKSON

La Iglesia Católica celebra “día histórico” por anulación de Roe vs. Wade en Estados Unidos

Declaración del Obispo Peter Jugis respecto al fallo de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos sobre el caso Dobbs vs. la Organización de la Salud de la Mujer Jackson CHARLOTTE, N.C. — El Reverendísimo Peter J. Jugis, Obispo de Charlotte, ha emitido la siguiente declaración en respuesta a la decisión de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos sobre el caso Dobbs vs. la Organización de la Salud de la Mujer Jackson: El fallo de la Corte Suprema de hoy significa que las vidas de innumerables niños por nacer se salvarán del aborto, y por ello estamos profundamente agradecidos. La Iglesia Católica siempre ha profesado que toda vida humana es un don de Dios y tiene un valor incalculable, e incluso con este paso hacia adelante, nuestro trabajo para proteger la dignidad de toda vida humana, desde la concepción hasta la muerte natural, continúa.

La decisión de hoy también nos impulsa a redoblar nuestros esfuerzos para ayudar a las mujeres y parejas que enfrentan embarazos inesperados o difíciles, y durante sus primeros años de paternidad.

La Iglesia Católica es uno de los mayores proveedores de servicios sociales en todo el mundo, y en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, la Iglesia ha ofrecido servicios de adopción y apoyo durante el embarazo por décadas. La Diócesis de Charlotte, en nuestros 46 condados, también está asociada con cientos de agencias que brindan servicios directos a mujeres embarazadas y nuevas madres, desde atención médica y vivienda hasta alimentos y transporte, clases para padres y matrícula universitaria. Recientemente, he pedido a nuestras 92 iglesias que fortalezcan y amplíen estos esfuerzos, por ejemplo, mediante la implementación del programa ‘Caminando con las mamás necesitadas’ de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos para hacer un inventario de los servicios locales y explorar maneras de llenar los vacíos en los servicios dentro de sus comunidades.

Nuestro objetivo ha sido, y siempre será, habilitar y proporcionar a cada mujer con el apoyo y los recursos que necesita para recibir y cuidar a su hijo por nacer.

Lamentablemente, otro probable resultado de la decisión de hoy es que la cantidad de mujeres que viajan a Carolina del Norte en búsqueda de un aborto podría aumentar, dado que las leyes de nuestro estado continúan legalizando el aborto. Así, a medida que incrementamos nuestro alcance a estas mujeres, también debemos intensificar nuestra defensa de las leyes que pondrán fin a la práctica del aborto. En última instancia, nosotros como sociedad debemos reconocer, como lo confirma la ciencia, que la vida comienza en el momento de la concepción, y que este es realmente un problema de derechos civiles que involucra el derecho a la vida del más vulnerable entre nosotros, la del niño por nacer.

Invito a todos a unirse a mí en oración por la conversión de los corazones, para que nuestras comunidades puedan unirse para proteger y apoyar tanto a la madre como al niño en cada etapa de la vida.

— Catholic News Herald

KATIE YODER | CNA

En diciembre de 2021, personas de todo Estados Unidos se reunieron frente al edificio de la Corte Suprema de EE. UU. para los argumentos orales en el caso de aborto Dobbs vs. Jackson.

Corte Suprema anula fallo que permitía el aborto legal en Estados Unidos WASHINGTON, D.C. — La Corte Suprema anuló este 24 de junio el fallo del caso Roe vs. Wade, que hace 49 años abrió las puertas al aborto legal en Estados Unidos.

Si bien este fallo no convierte el aborto en ilegal en todo Estados Unidos, al menos en una docena de estados esta práctica será considerada un delito y entrarán en vigor leyes que protegen a la madre y al bebé en el vientre materno.

Seis jueces se mostraron en favor de anular Roe vs. Wade, contra tres que se opusieron.

A favor se mostraron los jueces Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas y el presidente de la Corte Suprema, John Roberts. En contra se mostraron Stephen Gerald Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor y Elena Kagan.

La decisión de la Corte Suprema anula también el fallo del caso Casey vs. Planned Parenthood de 1992, una decisión que en su momento reafirmó la sentencia de Roe vs.

Wade.

En la opinión mayoritaria de la Corte, escrita por el juez Samuel Alito, se asegura que “sostenemos que Roe y Casey deben ser anulados”, pues la Constitución de Estados Unidos “no hace referencia al aborto”.

“Tal derecho no está protegido implícitamente por ninguna disposición constitucional, incluida aquella en la que ahora se basan principalmente los defensores de Roe y Casey: la Cláusula del debido proceso de la Decimocuarta Enmienda”, se añade.

“Esa disposición se ha sostenido para garantizar algunos derechos que no están mencionados en la Constitución, pero cualquier derecho de ese tipo debe estar ‘profundamente arraigado en la historia y tradición de esta Nación’ e ‘implícito en el concepto de libertad ordenada’”, expresa la Corte Suprema.

“Es hora de hacer caso a la Constitución y devolver el tema del aborto a los representantes electos del pueblo”, añadieron los jueces, por lo cual la legislación en materia de aborto deberá ser definida en cada estado.

Tras la decisión de la Corte Suprema de anular el aborto legal a nivel nacional en Estados Unidos, en 14 estados esta práctica ya es ilegal, con algunas excepciones. En otros tres estados entran en vigor prohibiciones de realizar abortos desde que se detecte el latido del corazón del bebé en el vientre.

En 18 estados se han aprobado leyes para que el aborto siga siendo legal. En casos como Colorado, Washington, D.C., y Nueva York, se permite esta práctica hasta el momento del parto.

En cuatro estados – Alaska, Kansas, Iowa y Montana – las cortes supremas estatales han encontrado que existe un “derecho al aborto” en sus constituciones, mientras que en Nuevo México y en Michigan sus legislaciones permanecen ambiguas en la materia.

— ACI Prensa

WASHINGTON, D.C. — La Iglesia Católica celebró este 24 de junio como un “día histórico” por la anulación del fallo de la Corte Suprema en el caso Roe vs. Wade, que abrió las puertas al aborto legal en Estados Unidos en 1973, y aseguró que es hora de “construir un Estados Unidos post-Roe”.

En un comunicado, Mons. José Gomez, Arzobispo de Los Ángeles y presidente de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos (USCCB), y Mons. William Lori, Arzobispo de Baltimore y presidente del Comité de Actividades Provida de la USCCB, señalaron que “este es un día histórico en la vida de nuestro país, uno que conmueve nuestros pensamientos, emociones y oraciones”.

“Por casi cincuenta años, Estados Unidos ha impuesto una ley injusta que ha permitido que algunos decidan si otros pueden vivir o morir; esta política ha resultado en la muerte de decenas de millones de niños no nacidos, generaciones a las que se les negó el derecho a siquiera nacer”, expresaron los obispos.

Este 24 de junio, en una decisión de 6 jueces contra 3, la Corte Suprema anuló el fallo de Roe vs. Wade, defendiendo que la Constitución de Estados Unidos “no hace referencia al aborto” y “tal derecho no está protegido impllícitamente por ninguna disposición constitucional”.

Con la decisión de la Corte Suprema, la legalidad del aborto dependerá de la legislación de cada estado en el país.

Los obispos estadounidenses subrayaron que “Estados Unidos fue fundado sobre la verdad de que todos los hombres y mujeres son creados iguales, con los derechos dados por Dios a la vida, la libertad y la búsqueda de la felicidad”.

“Esta verdad fue gravemente negada por el fallo Roe vs. Wade de la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos, que legalizó y normalizó la toma de vidas humanas inocentes. Damos gracias a Dios hoy que la Corte ahora ha anulado esta decisión”.

“Oramos para que nuestros funcionarios electos promulguen ahora leyes y políticas que promuevan y protejan a los más vulnerables entre nosotros”, añadieron.

Los obispos señalaron que “nuestros primeros pensamientos están con los pequeños cuyas vidas han sido arrebatadas desde 1973”.

“Lloramos su pérdida y confiamos sus almas a Dios, que los amó desde antes de todos los tiempos y que los amará por toda la eternidad”, expresaron.

“Nuestros corazones también están con cada mujer y hombre que ha sufrido terriblemente por el aborto; rezamos por su sanación, y les aseguramos nuestra continua compasión y apoyo”, añadieron.

La USCCB destacó que el fallo de la Corte Suprema de este 24 de junio “es también el fruto de las oraciones, sacrificios y activismo de incontables estadounidenses ordinarios de toda forma de vida”.

“Este es el momento de comenzar el trabajo de construir un Estados Unidos post-Roe. Es tiempo de sanar las heridas y reparar las divisiones sociales; es un tiempo para una reflexión razonada y un diálogo civil, para unirnos para construir una sociedad y una economía que apoye a los matrimonios y a las familias, y donde toda mujer tenga el apoyo y los recursos necesarios para traer a su hijo a este mundo con amor”, aseguraron los obispos.

— ACI Prensa

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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In Brief New bishop named for U.S. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese in Chicago WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Jacob Angadiath, who has headed the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago for 21 years, and has named Auxiliary Bishop Joy Alappatt of the diocese as his successor.

Bishop Angadiath is 76 years old. Canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope when they turn 75. He was appointed the first bishop of the diocese by St. John Paul II, who established the diocese March 13, 2001. Bishop Alappatt, 65, has been auxiliary bishop of the diocese since 2014. The changes were announced July 3 in Washington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the U.S. Bishop Alappatt was born Sept. 27, 1956, in Parappukara, India, in the Diocese of Irinjalakuda, which is in the state of Kerala. He attended St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor and was ordained a priest Dec. 31, 1981. When Pope Francis named him auxiliary bishop, he was pastor of the Mar Thoma Sleeha Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral in Chicago, a post he’d held since August 2011. He has written lyrics for several Christian devotional songs and published a few music albums. He is well-known as a retreat preacher and a skilled pastor and administrator. The Chicago diocese was the first diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church to be established outside India, and it includes St. Mary’s Syro-Malabar Church in Charlotte.

Court endorses N.Y. health worker vaccine mandate without religious exemption WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court June 30 rejected a challenge to New York’s vaccine mandate for health care workers with no religious exemption. By denying the appeal, the justices left a lower court ruling in place that rejected the health care workers’ claim that the COVID-19 vaccine mandate violates a constitutional prohibition against religious discrimination. The justices did not explain why they chose not to take up this case, but the dissenters, Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, did. A dissent written by Thomas, and joined by Alito and Gorsuch, said: “The New York mandate includes a medical exemption but no religious exemption, even though ‘allowing a health care worker to remain unvaccinated undermines the state’s asserted public health goals equally whether that worker happens to remain unvaccinated for religious reasons or medical ones.’” Thomas also said that by taking this case, the court could “give much-needed guidance.” The order was issued on the last day of the court’s term. The high court also sent some cases back to lower courts due to its recent rulings on abortion and gun rights. Last December, the Supreme Court similarly declined to temporarily block the vaccine requirement for New York health care workers and the same three justices dissented.

Supreme Court allows Biden to end Trump-era policy on asylum-seekers WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic leaders praised the Supreme Court’s June 30 decision giving the Biden administration the go-ahead to rescind a Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” immigration policy requiring asylum-seekers at the southwest U.S. border to wait in Mexico

for their asylum hearings. The 5-4 decision in Biden v. Texas was written by Chief Justice John Roberts and joined by Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh. On his first day in office, President Joe Biden suspended the 2019 Migrant Protection Protocols, or MPP, put in place by former President Donald Trump in an effort to curb the influx of those arriving at the southern border seeking asylum in the U.S. Biden formally sought to end the program months later, but lower courts ordered that the policy be reinstated in response to a lawsuit from Republican-led Texas and Missouri. From January 2019, when the Trump administration started the program, to the end of 2020, nearly 70,000 migrants were sent back to Mexico to wait for their court hearings, according to the American Immigration Council. Immigration supporters, including many Catholic organizations, have spoken out against this policy. And during oral arguments in late April, activists held a rally outside the Supreme Court holding signs with the message “safe not stranded.”

USCCB committee chairmen raise concerns on proposed changes to Title IX WASHINGTON, D.C. — The chairmen of three U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees are raising concerns over a proposed rule to revise regulations governing the 50-year-old Title IX law that promotes women’s equality and opportunity in schools and colleges. The proposed revisions, released June 23 by the Department of Education, would enshrine the rights of LGBTQ students in federal law and would give victims of campus sexual assault new protections. However, the committee chairmen said in a June 29 statement that the proposal “contains many provisions of concern to the church and her ministries, to the faithful and the common good.” The proposed rule requires further study to better assess any future impact, said a joint statement from Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, chairman of the Committee for Religious Liberty; Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; and Bishop Thomas A. Daly of Spokane, Washington, chairman of the Committee on Catholic Education. “But even at this early stage, it is apparent that the rule’s provisions on discrimination based on ‘pregnancy or related conditions,’ which include ‘termination of pregnancy,’ are intended to have implications for abortion, and therefore, life in the womb,” the bishops said. “And by adding self-asserted ‘gender identity’ to the prohibition against sex discrimination, the rule may foreshadow a threat to women’s athletics, sex-separated spaces, and the right of students, parents, and teachers to speak the truth about the nature of the human person,” they said.

Supreme Court sides with coach in public school prayer case WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a 6-3 vote June 27, the Supreme Court ruled that a former high school football coach had the right to pray on the football field after games because his prayers were private speech and did not represent the public school’s endorsement of religion. “The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,” said the court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch. Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented.

The court’s majority opinion also emphasized that “respect for religious expressions is indispensable to life in a free and diverse Republic -- whether those expressions take place in a sanctuary or on a field.” It said the case focused on a government entity seeking to “punish an individual for engaging in a brief,

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quiet, personal religious observance doubly protected by the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment” and that the “Constitution neither mandates nor tolerates that kind of discrimination.” Joseph Kennedy, former assistant coach at Bremerton High School, outside of Seattle, said his postgame prayers on the field cost him his job. The coach had been told by school district officials to stop these prayers on the 50-yard line, and he refused. When his contract was not renewed, he sued the school for violating his First Amendment rights.

Guatemala and two were Honduran. Officials believe the tragedy is the deadliest smuggling incident of its kind in U.S. history. Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington, chairman of the U.S. bishop’s Committee on Migration joined Archbishop García-Siller in mourning the loss of lives.

San Antonio archbishop asks Church to be in solidarity with migrants who died in truck

BISMARCK, N.D. — Bishop David D. Kagan of Bismarck announced June 16 that the diocese will open an investigation into “the holiness of life and love for God” of North Dakota native Michelle Christine Duppong, who died of cancer Dec. 25, 2015. She was 31. At the time of her death, Duppong was the director of adult faith formation for the Diocese of Bismarck. Before that, she was a missionary for six years with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, or FOCUS. She mentored hundreds of students on college campuses and her final assignment with FOCUS was on its inaugural team at the University of Mary in Bismarck. “Michelle’s holiness of life and love for God certainly touched us here in the Diocese of Bismarck, at the University of Mary and throughout FOCUS, but hers is also a witness which should also be shared with the universal Church,” Bishop Kagan said. He announced the diocesan investigation into her life and faith at the FOCUS new staff training at the University of Mary. The investigation could lead to her beatification and canonization. “Michelle was a radiant, joyful woman with the heart of a true servant,” said Monsignor James Shea, president of the Benedictine university. “For the students on our campus, she was an inspiration and a treasured mentor, teaching them by her example the transformative power of friendship with God.” — Catholic News Service

SAN ANTONIO — The archbishop of San Antonio offered prayers for dozens of people found dead as well as more than a dozen survivors discovered June 27 in sweltering conditions in a semitruck. Authorities said June 28 the death toll had risen to at least 53.

Originally, first responders pulled 16 people alive from the rig, including 12 adults and four teenagers. “We pray for the souls of the ... people who died in such a cruel, inhuman manner this evening,” Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller said in a statement soon after first responders made the gruesome discovery about 6 p.m. local time. Authorities said the victims were migrants. They said the truck, found on a remote back road in San Antonio, appeared to be part of a smuggling operation. Rubén Minutti, Mexico consul general in San Antonio, said 27 of the people who died are believed to be of Mexican origin based on documents they were carrying, the Associated Press reported.

Roberto Velasco Álvarez, head of the Mexican government’s North American mission, said on Twitter June 28 that in addition to the Mexican nationals, seven victims were originally from

Diocese takes first step toward possible cause for former FOCUS missionary

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catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Amid war, reconciliation among Christians can foster peace, pope says

(Right) Pope Francis and Orthodox Archbishop Job of Telmessos, head a delegation from the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, pray in front of the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.

JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

(Below) Deacons ascend the stairs from near the tomb of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican June 29 as they carry palliums for Pope Francis to bless and distribute to archbishops named during the past year.

The pope blesses the palliums, woolen stoles worn around the shoulders, during Mass each year on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

CNS | VATICAN MEDIA

Pope at pallium Mass: Freedom comes from welcoming Christ JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

VATICAN CITY — Sts. Peter and Paul were great not just because of their zeal for the Gospel, but because they allowed Christ to enter their hearts and change their lives, Pope Francis said.

“The Church looks to these two giants of faith and sees two apostles who set free the power of the Gospel in our world, but only because first they themselves had been set free by their encounter with Christ,” the pope said during his homily at Mass for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.

The feast day celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica included the traditional blessing of the pallium, the woolen band that the heads of archdioceses wear around their shoulders over their Mass vestments.

The pallium symbolizes an archbishop’s unity with the pope and his authority and responsibility to care for the flock the pope entrusted to him.

The pope blessed the palliums after they were brought up from the crypt above the tomb of St. Peter.

According to the Vatican, 34 archbishops from 18 countries who were named over the past 12 months were to receive the palliums.

“This sign of unity with Peter recalls the mission of the shepherd who gives his life for the flock,” the pope told the archbishops before concluding his homily. “It is in giving his life that the shepherd, himself set free, becomes a means of bringing freedom to his brothers and sisters.”

Keeping with a long tradition, a delegation from the Ecumenical

Patriarchate of Constantinople was present for the Mass and, afterward, went with Pope Francis down the stairs below the main altar to pray at St. Peter’s tomb.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the lives of Sts. Peter and Paul, the “two pillars of the Church” who, after experiencing God’s love in their lives,

“became apostles and ministers of freedom for others.”

Because of Jesus’ unconditional love, Peter was set free “from his sense of inadequacy and his bitter experience of failure,” the pope explained. While Peter “often yielded to fear,” Jesus “was willing to take a risk on him” and encouraged him to not give up.

“In this way, Jesus set Peter free from fear, from calculations based solely on worldly concerns,” the pope said. “He gave him the courage to risk everything and the joy of becoming a fisher of men. It was Peter whom Jesus called to strengthen his brothers in faith.”

On the other hand, the pope continued, Paul experienced a different kind of freedom “from the most

oppressive form of slavery, which is slavery to self.”

Christ also freed Paul “from the religious fervor that had made him a zealous defender of his ancestral traditions and a cruel persecutor of Christians,” he added.

“Formal religious observance and the intransigent defense of tradition, rather than making him open to the love of God and of his brothers and sisters, had hardened him,” the pope said.

God, however, did not spare Paul from “frailties and hardships,” such as illness, violence and persecution during his missions, thus revealing to the apostle that “God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong,” he said.

Pope Francis encouraged Christians to be free from fear like Peter and, like Paul, to be free “from the temptation to present ourselves with worldly power rather than with the weakness that makes space for God” and “free from a religiosity that makes us rigid and inflexible.”

“Peter and Paul bequeath to us the image of a Church entrusted to our hands, yet guided by the Lord with fidelity and tender love,” the pope said.

“A Church that is weak, yet finds strength in the presence of God. A Church set free and capable of offering the world the freedom that the world by itself cannot give: freedom from sin and death, from resignation, and from the sense of injustice and the loss of hope that dehumanizes the lives of the women and men of our time,” he said.

VATICAN CITY — Now more than ever, divided Christians must reconcile with each other and become signs of peace in a time of war, Pope Francis said.

Meeting with a delegation from the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople June 30, the pope said that as war continues to rage in Ukraine, it is a time not for “talking and discussing, but for weeping, for helping others and for experiencing conversion ourselves.”

“Reconciliation among separated Christians, as a means of contributing to peace between peoples in conflict is a most timely consideration these days, as our world is disrupted by a cruel and senseless war of aggression in which many, many Christians are fighting one another,” he said.

Continuing a long-standing tradition, the delegation, led by Orthodox Archbishop Job of Telmessos, was in Rome to participate in the celebration of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

In turn, a delegation from the Vatican travels to Istanbul every year in November to commemorate the Orthodox feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.

In his address, the pope said the presence of the delegation at the June 29 Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica “was a source of great joy for me and for all present,” as well as a visible reminder of “the closeness and fraternal charity of the church of Constantinople toward the Church of Rome.”

The exchange of delegations each year, he added, serves as “a tangible sign that the days of distance and indifference, when our divisions were considered irreparable, is long past.”

Recalling the words of the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, the pope said that as “sister churches, brother peoples,” Orthodox Christians and Catholics must unite in answering the call to help those suffering in war.

Pope Francis subtly alluded to support by leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church for Russia’s war on Ukraine.

“We also need to experience conversion and to recognize that armed conquest, expansionism and imperialism have nothing to do with the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed,” the pope said.

It has “nothing to do with the risen Lord, who in Gethsemane told His disciples to reject violence, to put the sword back in its place, since those who live by the sword will die by the sword, and who, cutting short every objection, simply said: ‘Enough!’” he said.

The long-sought goal of Christian unity, he continued, can become a reality when both churches exemplify “a more fraternal humanity” and follow Jesus’ call “to be merciful and never violent, to be perfect as the Father is perfect, and not be conformed to the world.”

“Let us start anew from Him and recognize that it is no longer the time to order our ecclesial agendas in accordance with the world’s standards of power and expediency, but in accordance with the Gospel’s bold prophetic message of peace,” the pope said.

Pope Francis expressed his hope that the continuing theological dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox Church will help to promote “a new mentality” that can help both sides “look together to the present and future, without letting ourselves be trapped in the prejudices of the past.”

“Let us not be content with an ‘ecclesiastical diplomacy’ that would allow us to politely maintain our own points of view, but instead journey together as brothers and sisters,” he said.

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In Brief Catholics need better understanding of the Mass, pope says in new apostolic letter VATICAN CITY — The “sense of mystery” and awe Catholics should experience at Mass is not one prompted by Latin or by “creative” elements added to the celebration, but by an awareness of sacrifice of Christ and His Real Presence in the Eucharist, Pope Francis said.

“Beauty, just like truth, always engenders wonder, and when these are referred to the mystery of God, they lead to adoration,” he wrote in an apostolic letter “on the liturgical formation of the people of God.” Titled “Desiderio Desideravi” (“I have earnestly desired”), the letter was released June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. The title comes from Luke 22:15 when, before the Last Supper, Jesus tells His disciples, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” In the letter, Pope Francis insisted that Catholics need to better understand the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council and its goal of promoting the “full, conscious, active and fruitful celebration” of the Mass.

“With this letter I simply want to invite the whole Church to rediscover, to safeguard and to live the truth and power of the Christian celebration,” the pope wrote. “I want the beauty of the Christian celebration and its necessary consequences for the life of the Church not to be spoiled by a superficial and foreshortened understanding of its value or, worse yet, by its being exploited in service of some ideological vision, no matter what the hue.”

Pope asks Catholics to study Vatican II before Holy Year 2025 VATICAN CITY — Before celebrating the Holy Year 2025, Pope Francis is asking Catholics around the world to dedicate time in 2023 to studying the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Presenting the official logo for the Holy Year June 28, Archbishop Rino Fisichella also announced the pope’s plan for helping Catholics prepare for the celebration: focusing on the four constitutions issued by Vatican II in 2023; and focusing on prayer in 2024. The four Vatican II constitutions are: Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (“Sacrosanctum Concilium”); Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (“Lumen Gentium”); Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (“Dei Verbum”); and Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (“Gaudium et Spes”). Archbishop Fisichella, whom the pope appointed to coordinate planning the Holy Year, said, “A series of user-friendly resources, written in appealing language, are being produced to arouse curiosity in those who have no memory” of the council, which was held 1962-’65. Details about the 2024 year of prayer and spiritual preparation for the jubilee are still being worked out, the archbishop said.

The Vatican already had announced that Pope Francis chose “Pilgrims of Hope” as the theme for the Holy Year.

Pope tells Jewish group: Dialogue prevents religious extremism, encourages fraternity and peace VATICAN CITY — Interreligious dialogue is key to preventing “the extremism that, sadly, is a pathology that can appear also in religions,” Pope Francis said in a message to members of a Jewish group engaged in dialogue for more than

50 years. The pope had been scheduled to meet June 30 with members of the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations, but the Vatican press office said “a recurrence of knee pain” prevented him from doing so. Instead, the pope gave the group his prepared remarks. “Interreligious dialogue is a sign of our times and, I would say, a providential sign, in the sense that God Himself, in His wise plan, has inspired, in religious leaders and in many others, the desire to encounter and come to know one another in a way respectful of religious differences,” the pope wrote to the group. Dialogue, he said, “is a privileged path to the growth of fraternity and peace in our world.”

Pope Francis praised the groups that joined together in 1970 to establish the committee to engage in dialogue with the Vatican; the groups include: the American Jewish Committee, AntiDefamation League, B’nai B’rith International, Israel Jewish Council on Interreligious Relations and the World Jewish Congress. The committee now is also involved in dialogue with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and with the World Council of Churches.

Missionaries of Charity kicked out of Nicaragua MEXICO CITY — The Missionaries of Charity have been expelled from Nicaragua, the latest in a series of attacks on the Catholic Church and its ministries from the Central American country’s increasingly repressive government.

The order of sisters – founded by St. Teresa of Kolkata, known popularly as Mother Teresa – operates a home for abandoned adolescents, a home for the elderly and a nursery for lowincome families in Nicaragua. Several Catholic leaders reported and tweeted news of the expulsion June 28. Nicaraguan media reported the sisters’ exit as part of a crackdown on nongovernmental organizations by the ruling Sandinistas. Auxiliary Bishop Silvio José Baez of Managua, currently based in Miami due to safety concerns, tweeted, “It saddens me that the dictatorship has forced the (sisters) ... to abandon the country. Nothing justifies depriving the poor of charitable attention. I’m a witness to the loving service the sisters provide.

May God bless them.” Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his allies have increasingly persecuted the Catholic Church and civil society. The president, who won reelection last year in polls considered rigged by opponents and outside observers, is concentrating power; he continues to hold political prisoners and has closed outlets for political expression.

Vatican completes sale of controversial London building VATICAN CITY — The Vatican announced it has completed the sale of a property in London that is at center of a Vatican trial for 10 people, including Cardinal Angelo Becciu, accused of financial malfeasance. In a statement released July 1, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Holy See, known by its Italian initials APSA, said the building at 60 Sloane Avenue in London’s posh Chelsea district was sold to Bain Capital, an American investment company, for 186 million pounds ($223.3 million). Between 2014 and 2018, it is believed the Vatican Secretariat of State invested 200 million euros in purchasing the London property. In addition, payments to brokers and debts collected on the property raised the total investment to 350 million euros. APSA said the losses from the sale of the property were absorbed by the “reserves” of the Vatican Secretariat of State “without touching funds from the Peter’s Pence collection and donations from the faithful in any way.” However, some officials have argued that the “reserves” are, in fact, money set aside annually from the Peter’s Pence collection, which funds the charities of the pope and helps offset the costs of the Roman Curia and the Vatican nunciatures around the globe.

— Catholic News Service

Put faith into your work EDITOR The Diocese of Charlotte seeks a passionate, curious and innovative veteran journalist to become the next editor of the Catholic News Herald and catholicnewsherald.com, our growing and award-winning news outlets. This person will oversee content development and editorial direction for the Catholic News Herald’s print (60,000 circ.) and digital channels (website, social media, email and video) in alignment with the diocese’s overall communication and evangelization mission. At least 3-5 years of experience as an editor, plus a bachelor’s degree or higher in journalism or related field. Must be a Catholic and familiar with Church teaching.

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Father Peter Ascik

Debbie Capen

After having an abortion decades ago, I wish I knew more about other choices

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ith the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that has changed the practice of abortion in this country, I have great empathy for people on both sides of the debate – because I have lived on both sides. I got pregnant when I was 18, a sophomore at a Charlotte-area college. There were no plans to marry my boyfriend, and my widowed mother was under enough stress just putting me through school. I’ll never forget the panic I felt. I just couldn’t imagine how I could possibly raise a child at that time in my life.

The nurse at my college health clinic offered little help. When I told her I was thinking about termination, she did not discuss options or resources that might help me imagine another path. She simply said: “Look up abortion in the yellow pages.” This was 1992.

While the procedure was a dreadful experience, I felt immediate relief. The morning sickness was gone, and I could resume my normal life at college with the future I dreamed of. In my zeal, I happily became “pro-choice,” because I was proof that women needed the option of abortion for self-determination.

Fast forward a few years. At 25, I seemed to have it all: A marketing career on the rise, a man I would soon marry, and an uptown Charlotte condo where we frequently entertained. Yet something was wrong.

I had a knot in my stomach. I felt great regret and profound sadness. Some say post-abortion syndrome isn’t real, but I beg to differ. Finally, my feelings came to a head when I found myself sobbing on my bathroom floor. That’s when I realized that I hadn’t really “chosen” abortion – I did it because I felt I had no choice.

Over the years, I’ve heard countless women share similar stories: “I had no choice.” I eventually found healing through Rachel’s Vineyard, a ministry offered by Catholic Charities, and went on to dedicate my career to helping women like me. I wanted to help them see there are resources that open paths: Adoption.

Counseling. Housing. An array of services to accompany and help women welcome and care for a child.

My work led me to MiraVia, a Catholic pregnancy support program in Charlotte that has served more than 10,000 women and children since 1994. Its Outreach Program brings women together to learn important life skills and share experiences, and also provides food, clothes, diapers and supplies such as cribs, car seats and strollers.

MiraVia also offers an innovative residential program just for college students, which has served women from nine states attending 12 different colleges. Located at Belmont Abbey College, it’s a place where women of any faith (or none) can live and receive support during their pregnancy and for up to two years with their child. As these young mothers pursue their education, MiraVia provides free room and board, childcare, counseling and more.

Participants leave with lifelong friends and a college credential putting them on course toward a bright future.

MiraVia is only one resource to help women choose life. There are so many more – for pregnant women who are homeless, or victims of sexual assault or domestic violence, facing poor prenatal diagnoses, or who simply feel unprepared. If only I had found one of these lifelines, I might have seen a different path when I was 18.

I went back to my college, and visit many others, to share my experience and educate the health clinic staff about resources.

And while I know the Supreme Court decision certainly won’t end the abortion debate, I pray for the sake of young and vulnerable women that we can agree on one thing: women facing unplanned or difficult pregnancies deserve to know there are meaningful resources beyond abortion available to help them.

DEBBIE CAPEN is executive director of MiraVia, a Catholic nonprofit providing pregnancy support services in the greater Charlotte area. This commentary is adapted from one published in The Charlotte Observer on May 23.

Court’s decision is great step forward, but our work is just beginning

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ver since the Roe v. Wade decision imposed legal abortion on the United States, Catholics have joined other pro-life Americans in praying, educating and advocating for life.

On Friday, June 24, after 49 years, the U.S. Supreme Court finally overturned Roe v. Wade.

Their decision in Dobbs v. Jackson does not outlaw abortion in our nation, but rather restores the freedom of individual states to pass laws that protect the unborn child. As the Supreme Court declared: “the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.”

The Catholic Church stands unambiguously for the cause of the life. As the Catechism states: “Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person – among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life” (CCC 2270).

This teaching of our faith agrees with what we know from medical science: at the moment of conception a unique human individual comes into existence. Abortion is an attack on a profoundly vulnerable child who is still in his or her mother’s womb. As St. John Paul II wrote: “No one more absolutely innocent could be imagined.”

The Dobbs decision is a great step forward, but there is still much work to be done. While some states have already or will soon outlaw abortion, North Carolina continues to allow the procedure. Our prolife work must continue in advocating for pro-life

laws at the state level.

At the same time, we must recognize that many mothers feel pressured to choose abortion because of difficult social or economic circumstances. The pro-life teaching of the Church calls us to meet their needs with real help.

Bishop Peter Jugis has asked every parish in our diocese to support pregnant mothers by implementing the Walking With Moms in Need program. This initiative from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops calls on all parishes in the United States to “walk in the shoes” of pregnant and parenting mothers.

In particular, the project calls for making an inventory of local resources, discerning how we can help provide for needs that are not met, and intentionally building a parish-by-parish culture of support for mothers and families.

I hope all parishioners will embrace this call to action and get involved in this excellent program or do something else to help pregnant women, as Jesus expects of us. Detailed instructions in English and in Spanish for implementing the program can be found at www.walkingwithmoms.com.

Catholics should be grateful for the Dobbs v.

Jackson decision and hopeful about the future. But our pro-life work is far from over. We must continue to advocate for pro-life laws and work to build a society that truly welcomes and supports all human life.

FATHER PETER ASCIK is director of the Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Family Life and pastor of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in Shelby.

La decisión de la Corte es un gran paso adelante, pero nuestro trabajo recién comienza

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esde que el fallo Roe vs. Wade impuso el aborto legal en Estados Unidos, los católicos se han unido en oración a otros norteamericanos provida para educar y abogar por la vida.

El viernes 24 de junio, después de 49 años, la Corte Suprema finalmente anuló la decisión Roe vs. Wade.

Su fallo en Dobbs vs. Jackson no prohibe el aborto en nuestra nación, sino que restaura la libertad individual de los estados para aprobar leyes que protejan al niño por nacer. Como la Corte Suprema declara: “la autoridad para regular el aborto es devuelta al pueblo y sus representantes electos”.

La Iglesia Católica defiende sin ambigüedades la causa de la vida. Como dice el Catecismo: “La vida humana debe ser respetada y protegida absolutamente desde el momento de la concepción.

Desde el primer momento de su existencia, al ser humano se le deben reconocer sus derechos como persona, entre los cuales está el derecho inviolable de todo ser inocente a la vida” (CCC 2270).

Esta enseñanza de nuestra fe está de acuerdo con lo que sabemos de la ciencia médica: en el momento de la concepción, un individuo humano único llega a la vida. El aborto es un ataque a un niño profundamente vulnerable que todavía está en el vientre de su madre. Como escribió San Juan Pablo II: “No podría imaginarse a nadie más

absolutamente inocente”.

La decisión Dobbs es un gran paso adelante, pero aún queda mucho trabajo por hacer. Si bien algunos estados ya prohibieron o pronto prohibirán el aborto, Carolina del Norte continúa permitiendo el procedimiento. Nuestro trabajo provida debe continuar abogando por leyes provida a nivel estatal.

Al mismo tiempo, debemos reconocer que muchas madres se sienten presionadas a optar por el aborto debido a difíciles circunstancias sociales o económicas. La enseñanza provida de la Iglesia nos llama a satisfacer sus necesidades con ayuda real.

El Obispo Peter Jugis ha pedido a todas las parroquias de nuestra diócesis que apoyen a las madres embarazadas mediante la implementación del programa ‘Walking With Moms in Need’. Esta iniciativa de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos llama a todas las parroquias de Estados Unidos a “ponerse en los zapatos” de las mujeres embarazadas y las madres.

En particular, el proyecto pide hacer un inventario de los recursos locales, discernir cómo podemos ayudar a cubrir las necesidades insatisfechas, e intencionalmente construir una cultura de apoyo, ASCIK, PASA A LA PÁGINA 31

July 8, 2022 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Sr. Constance Carolyn Veit

Aging and a season of fruitfulness W

ith the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade, June 24 will no doubt be remembered as an historic day by pro-life advocates the world over. I have to admit that my thoughts were elsewhere that day – focused on life’s last stage – as my family bid farewell to a beloved uncle, our family patriarch.

As I tried to catch up on the news the day after his funeral, a column written by Kathryn Jean Lopez of the National Review Institute, a good friend, caught my eye.

Opining on what she believes to be

especially during the pandemic.

He was also an avid reader and consumer of local and national news and tried his best to keep his wife grounded in reality despite her advancing dementia.

In his message for this year’s celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis wrote that the ebbing of one’s strength and the onset of illness in old age, together with the fast pace of the world, can lead seniors to implicitly accept the idea that they are useless.

My uncle never succumbed to this temptation.

Pope Francis encourages seniors to remain active in their later years, especially from a spiritual standpoint.

“We ought to cultivate our interior life through the assiduous reading of the word of God, daily prayer, reception of the sacraments and participation in the liturgy,” he wrote.

“In addition to our relationship with God, we should also cultivate our relationships with others: first of all by showing affectionate concern for our families, our children and grandchildren, but also for the poor and those who suffer, by drawing near to them with practical assistance and our prayers. These things will help us not to feel like mere bystanders, sitting on our porches or looking out from our windows, as life goes on all around us. Instead, we should learn to discern everywhere the presence of the Lord. Like “green olive trees in the house of God” (see Ps 52:10), we can become a blessing for those who live next to us.”

Pope Francis has called old age “a season of enduring fruitfulness.”

He wrote, “The special sensibility that those of us who are elderly have for the concerns, thoughts and the affections that make us human should once again become the vocation of many.

It would be a sign of our love for the younger generations. This would be our own contribution to the revolution of tenderness, in which I encourage you, dear grandparents and elderly persons, to take an active role.”

My uncle never stopped bearing fruit; he was a blessing to all those who knew him.

As I thank God for his life and love, I look forward with joy to the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly on July 24.

I hope you too will celebrate this special day by opening your eyes and hearts to the seniors in your midst who are still bearing fruit for the Kingdom and who are eager to become a blessing for you.

‘The fast pace of the world can lead seniors to implicitly accept the idea that they are useless. My uncle never succumbed to this temptation.’ abortion’s most detrimental effects on our society, Lopez wrote, “We are violent; we do not look at human beings as unique creations made with purpose and plan.”

These sad words stood in stark contrast to my uncle’s farewell celebration the day before. My uncle lived every stage of his life to the full for nearly 92 years.

Though no one would have proposed him as a role model of healthy aging in terms of diet and exercise, his life was rich in relationships, purpose and faith until the very end.

An orthodontist for over 40 years, my uncle was remembered by former patients and their parents as kind, patient and genuinely interested in the young people he served. He was involved in numerous professional organizations, local causes and educational institutions, volunteered as a Eucharistic minister at a local hospital well into his 80s and attended daily Mass until COVID-19 closed his parish doors in 2020.

Despite all of his accomplishments, what struck me most about my uncle was his generous spirit, upbeat demeanor and unselfish love for his family and friends.

Nothing gave him greater pleasure than being surrounded by his children and grandchildren, yet his interest in others reached well beyond his family.

He was known to quietly assist people who could not afford dental care to obtain it from his friends, and he enjoyed mentoring young people in the pursuit of their dreams.

Although he never mastered the use of a computer, my uncle maintained ties with everyone he loved via telephone,

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

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ASCIK VIENE DE LA PÁGINA 30

parroquia por parroquia, que sirva a las madres y familias.

Espero que todos los feligreses acepten este llamado a la acción y se involucren en este excelente programa o hagan algo más para ayudar a las mujeres embarazadas, como Jesús espera de nosotros. Las instrucciones, en inglés y en español,

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para implementar el programa se pueden encontrar en www.walkingwithmoms.com.

Los católicos deberíamos estar agradecidos por la decisión Dobbs vs.

Jackson y tener esperanza en el futuro.

Si embargo, nuestro trabajo provida está lejos de terminar. Debemos continuar abogando por leyes provida y trabajar para construir una sociedad que realmente acoja y apoye la vida humana en su integridad.

EL PADRE PETER ASCIK es director de la Oficina de Vida Familiar de la Diócesis de Charlotte y párroco de Santa María Auxiliadora en Shelby.

catholicnewsherald.com | July 8, 2022 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Faith more precious than gold. — 1 Peter 1:7 fe más preciosa que el oro. — 1 Pedro 1:7 18th Eucharistic Congress

August 5 – 6, 2022 — Charlotte Convention Center Eucharistic Procession – Vespers – Holy Hour Confession – Sacred Music – Holy Mass

XVIII Congreso Eucarístico

CIO P R1EPETER 1:7 US T

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OSA E C1IPEDRO 1:7 QUE

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

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