Feb. 14, 2014

February 14, 2014

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

MACS starts special needs program OLA to host specialized reading and writing assistance,

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St. Matthew teens team up with Serve Charlotte’s Homeless, 8

INDEX Contact us.......................... 4 Events calendar................. 4 Our Faith............................. 2 Our Parishes.................. 3-9 Scripture readings............ 2 TV & Movies.................. 16-17 U.S. news...................... 18-19 Viewpoints...................22-24 World news.................. 20-21

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Spectacular Holy Trinity mural crowns altar at Forest City church,

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THANK YOU!

Bishop Jugis thanks religious sisters, brothers for service, 3

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week, 14-15

Music therapy sessions making impact on residents at Holy Angels, 16

Our faith 2

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Brain-dead pregnant woman removed from life support

Pope Francis

Going to Mass should be a life-changing event

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oing to Mass and receiving the Eucharist should make a difference in the way Catholics live, Pope Francis said; they should be more accepting of others and more aware of their sinfulness.

“If we don’t feel in need of God’s mercy and don’t think we are sinners, it’s better not to go to Mass,” Pope Francis said Feb. 12 at his weekly general audience. The Eucharist is a celebration of Christ’s gift of Himself for the salvation of sinners, which is why the Mass begins with people confessing they are sinners and begging for the Lord’s mercy.

Continuing a series of audience talks about the sacraments, the pope asked people to think about how they approach the Mass and what difference it makes in their lives and the lives of their parishes.

Do you go to Mass because it’s a habit or a time to see your friends? the pope asked. “Or is it something more?”

“When we go to Mass, we find ourselves with all sorts of people.

Does the Eucharist we celebrate lead me to consider all of them as brothers and sisters? Does it increase my ability to rejoice when they do and to weep with those who weep?”

Pope Francis said it is not enough to say one loves Jesus; it must be shown in love for those He loved.

Ask yourself, he said, if going to Mass helps you reach out to the suffering or “am I indifferent, or am I gossiping, ‘Did you see how that one’s dressed?’

Sometimes people do that after Mass.

But this shouldn’t happen.”

Attendance at Mass also should lead to “the grace of feeling forgiven and able to forgive others,” he said.

Pope Francis said he knows some people wonder why they should bother going to church when the church is filled with people who sin like everyone else.

“In reality, those who participate in the Mass don’t do so because they think or want to believe they are superior to others, but precisely because they know they are in need” of God’s mercy, he said.

“We go to Mass because we know we are sinners and want Jesus’ forgiveness.

When, at the beginning of Mass, we say, ‘I confess,’ it’s not something pro forma.

It’s a real act of penance.”

In the Eucharist, Jesus truly gives us His Body and Blood for the remission of sins, he said.

Celebrating the Eucharist also should make a difference in the way a parish community lives, he said. At Mass, Christ gathers people around Him “to nourish us with His word and His life. A celebration could be perfect from an aesthetic point of view – it can be beautiful – but if it does not lead us to an encounter with Jesus Christ, it risks not giving any nourishment to our hearts and lives.”

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk

Difficult moral decisions in brain death and pregnancy

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NN recently profiled the case of a woman named Marlise Munoz, who was both pregnant and brain dead. Its report noted that Mrs. Munoz was “33 years old and 14 weeks pregnant with the couple’s second child when her husband found her unconscious on their kitchen floor November 26. Though doctors had pronounced her brain dead and her family had said she did not want to have machines keep her body alive, officials at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, argued state law required them to maintain lifesustaining treatment for a pregnant patient.”

The family sought a court order to have Mrs. Munoz disconnected from the ventilator because she had shared that she never wanted to be on life support. It remained unclear, however, whether Mrs. Munoz would have felt the same way about life support if she knew she were pregnant and nurturing a child.

As weeks on the ventilator turned into months, Mrs. Munoz began to manifest overt signs of death: her skin texture changed, becoming cool and rubbery like a mannequin’s, and her body began to smell of deterioration. Maintaining a mother’s corpse on a ventilator requires significant effort and expense, and imposes real burdens on family members, who would like to be able to grieve their loss, and are not fully able to do so while their loved one remains in a state of suspended animation – deceased, yet not quite ready to be buried because she is still supporting a living child.

Mrs. Munoz’s case raises challenging questions: should the continued use of a ventilator in these circumstances be considered extreme? Could such life-sustaining measures be considered abusive of a corpse? These are hard questions, in part because people can give their bodies over to a variety of uses after they die. Some donate them to science, so students can open them up, look around inside and learn about anatomy. Others donate their organs to help strangers who need transplants. Similarly, a mother’s corpse – no longer useful to her – may be life-saving for her child. Wouldn’t a mother, carrying a child in her womb, and having expended so much effort to foster that new life, naturally want to offer her child this opportunity to live, even after her own death? The medical literature documents several cases where such a child has been delivered later by C-section and fared well. Thus it can clearly be reasonable in certain situations for medical professionals to make a serious effort to shuttle a pregnancy to the point of viability, for the benefit of

the sole remaining patient, the child.

As Mrs. Munoz’s pregnancy approached 22 weeks (with 23 weeks generally being considered “viable” for life outside the womb), lawyers for the family declared that the child was “distinctly abnormal,” with significant deformities in the lower extremities. The child was also reported to suffer from hydrocephalus and a possible heart defect. Some commentators even speculated that the defects of the unborn child may have been “incompatible with life.”

In prenatal cases, depending on the likelihood of survival until viability, efforts may be made to at least offer a C-section and provide baptism.

Often the family, with the assistance of perinatal hospice, can hold and name their child right after such a delivery, even as his or her brief life draws to a close. This can provide valuable healing and closure for the family.

Whether Mrs. Munoz’s unborn child (later named Nichole by her father) had defects that were genuinely “incompatible with life,” or whether she would have simply been born with handicaps, is an important question. Extensive prenatal testing was rendered difficult by the machine-driven, ICU-bound body of Mrs. Munoz. The possibility that a child might be born with handicaps, of course, should not become the equivalent of a death sentence for the unborn, as members of the disability community are quick to remind us. We should love and welcome those with disabilities as much as anyone else.

Public reaction to Mrs. Munoz’s case ranged from strong support and hope that her child would be born, to claims that hospital officials were treating her deceased body as an incubator to “preserve the fetus she carried.” In the end, a judge in Fort Worth ordered Mrs. Munoz’s corpse to be disconnected from life support, even though the pregnancy had been successfully maintained for nearly two months and Nichole was a mere stone’s throw from viability. While it was clearly a difficult and heartwrenching situation for all involved, including the courts, this legal decision seemed questionable, given the uncertainty surrounding Nichole’s actual medical condition and her apparent proximity to being able to be delivered.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

See www.ncbcenter.org.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Following a Jan. 24 court order, a Fort Worth hospital two days later removed a 33-year-old brain-dead pregnant woman from life support.

Marlise Munoz, who was 14 weeks pregnant when she collapsed at home in November and was deprived of oxygen for up to an hour, was being kept on life-sustaining machines at John Peter Smith Hospital against the wishes of her husband and parents.

Hospital officials said they could not remove her respirator because of a Texas law that prohibits doctors from withdrawing “life-sustaining treatment” from pregnant women.

On Jan. 14, Munoz’s husband, Erick, sued the hospital. The motion filed in Tarrant County District Court states he “vehemently” opposed keeping his wife on life support, and would like to bury her. The court agreed with him and issued its order to the hospital to remove her from the machines that were keeping her alive.

Erick Munoz, who is a paramedic – as was his wife – said Marlise would not have wanted to be on life support in such circumstances.

The husband’s attorneys announced she had been disconnected from life support about 11:30 a.m.

Jan. 26.

In arguing for keeping the machines in place, the hospital’s attorneys cited a section of the Texas Advance Directives Act that reads: “A person may not withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment under this subchapter from a pregnant patient.”

Attorneys for Erick Munoz said the unborn child was 23 weeks old but suffered abnormalities and did not survive.

— Catholic News Service

Your daily Scripture readings FEB. 16-22

Sunday: Sirach 15:15-20, 1 Corinthians 2:6-10, Matthew 5:17-37; Monday (The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order): James 1:1-11, Mark 8:11-13; Tuesday: James 1:12-18, Mark 8:1421; Wednesday: James 1:19-27, Mark 8:22-26; Thursday: James 2:1-9, Mark 8:27-33; Friday (St. Peter Damian): James 2:14-24, 26, Mark 8:34-9:1; Saturday (The Chair of St. Peter): 1 Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19

FEB. 23-MARCH 1

Sunday: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18, 1 Corinthians 3:16-23, Matthew 5:38-48; Monday: James 3:13-18, Mark 9:14-29; Tuesday: James 4:1-10, Mark 9:30-37; Wednesday: James 4:13-17, Mark 9:38-40; Thursday: James 5:1-6, Mark 9:41-50; Friday: James 5:9-12, Mark 10:1-12; Saturday: James 5:13-20, Mark 10:13-16

MARCH 2-8

Sunday: Isaiah 49:14-15, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34; Monday (St. Katherine Drexel): 1 Peter 1:3-9, Mark 10:17-27; Tuesday (St. Casimir): 1 Peter 1:10-16, Mark 10:28-31; Wednesday (Ash Wednesday): Joel 2:12-18, 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday: Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Luke 9:2225; Friday (Sts. Perpetua and Felicity): Isaiah 58:1-9, Matthew 9:14-15; Saturday (St. John of God): Isaiah 58:9-14, Luke 5:27-32

Our parishes

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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Bishop Jugis thanks religious sisters, brothers for their service to the local Church Mary B. Richardson Correspondent

Catholic Men’s Conference coming March 1 Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

HUNTERSVILLE — The fourth annual Catholic Men’s Conference, “Transformed

by Christ, Men on a Mission,” will take place Saturday, March 1, at St. Mark Church, located at 14740 Stumptown Road in Huntersville. All men of the diocese are invited to attend this conference, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This year’s speakers will include Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, who will address the role of charity in evangelization. As the leader of the largest Catholic fraternal service organization of 1.8 million members, Anderson has overseen the donation of more than $1.4 billion and 653 million hours of service to charity. He is the author of many best-selling books and serves on various pontifical councils, meeting at various times with Blessed Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, one of the most sought-after Catholic speakers in the Church today, will also speak at the conference. Among other endeavors, he hosts the popular EWTN series “Behold the Man: Spirituality for Men.” Also speaking will be Dr. Allen Hunt, a bestselling author and Catholic convert. Hunt is a self-described former Protestant “megapastor” who now is vice president of strategy and content at the Dynamic Catholic Institute.

Bishop Peter Jugis will celebrate Mass during the conference, and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin will give a reflection during a period of Eucharistic Adoration in the afternoon.

Dan Trapini, a member of the conference’s core organizing team, considers the event “a rare opportunity to come together with hundreds of Catholic men to pray and enjoy fellowship for a day.”

“It’s a Catholic conference tailored specifically to our masculine spirituality,” he said. Registration fee is $40 at the door, or $35 in advance and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Discounts apply for seniors, students and Knights.

Sign up today At www.cltcmc.org: Get more information and register for the Catholic Men’s Conference

CHARLOTTE — Thirty-three sisters and brothers from nine of the 30 religious communities that serve in the Diocese of Charlotte recently joined Bishop Peter Jugis for a special Mass for the World Day for Consecrated Life.

Because the World Day for Consecrated Life fell on a Sunday this year, Bishop Peter J. Jugis celebrated a special Mass Feb. 8 at St. Patrick Cathedral for the brothers and sisters who serve in the diocese.

“Since the World Day for Consecrated Life is so closely associated with the Feast of the Presentation, I just want to reflect briefly upon that feast because it has something very beautiful to say to us about the consecrated life,” Bishop Jugis noted in his homily.

Each person present at the Presentation, he explained, “has something very beautiful to tell us about consecrated life, and maybe that’s why our late Holy Father was inspired to join the World Day for Consecrated Life to the Feast of the Presentation.”

The Holy Family, he explained, represents the vow of poverty and dedication to consecrated life; Simeon represents the hope and expectation of those who continue today to take Christ into their arms; and Anna symbolizes the proclamation that holy people make to everyone about Jesus through their lives of prayer and service.

“I look forward every year to show my appreciation to the women and men religious for their presence in our diocese and the wonderful work they do in our Church,” he continued. “I know the brothers and sisters themselves enjoy being together to share news about their different ministries.”

The fellowship and joy among the sisters and brothers of the various communities was evident throughout the luncheon the bishop hosted after Mass at the cathedral’s Family Life Center.

Communities represented included the Sisters of Mercy, Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Peace, Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, the Congregation of Notre Dame, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, the School Sisters of St. Francis, Sisters of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, the Missionaries of Charity, and the Missionaries of the Poor.

“Unfortunately, since we’re so scattered, we don’t get enough opportunities to support one another and remind one another that we’re not just working in High Point and Salisbury and Charlotte and New York, but we’re part of the great work happening now in the Church,” noted Sister Joan Pearson, SSJ, who serves at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Lenoir.

“I love being the parish nun!” she said with a smile, adding that she heard God’s call in the people and the work that needed to be done. “It was the people who gave me my vocation.”

“It is a privilege as a consecrated woman to serve in the Diocese of Charlotte,” said Mercy Sister Ann Marie Wilson, who

Mary B. Richardson | Catholic News Herald

Dominican Sister Ana Celestial (right), who serves at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Charlotte, congratulates Notre Dame Sister Therese Martin (left) for her 65 years of religious life. serves at the Sisters of Mercy motherhouse in Belmont.

Dominican Sister Myra Caylan, who serves at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury, noted the work her community does is seen by others outside the parish.

“While I was shopping for groceries at Wal-Mart, a girl came up to me and said, ‘I’m not Catholic, but can I hold your hand?

Are you a real nun? I believe I can get a blessing from you.’ It really made me realize the importance of my presence (in the community).”

The sisters and brothers in attendance also remarked on their hope and prayers for more vocations as a result of this annual observance.

Also at the celebration, Bishop Jugis congratulated Notre Dame Sister Therese Martin on her 65th anniversary of consecrated religious life, presenting her with an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis for her service.

Also celebrating their 60th jubilees this year are Benedictine Father David Kessinger and Sister Fran Grady, SCL.

Sister Therese Martin celebrates 65th jubilee Mary B. Richardson Correspondent

“I wanted to be a missionary as a kid,” recalls Notre Dame Sister Therese Martin.

“Sister Terry” reflected on her 65 years of religious life last week during the diocese’s annual celebration for religious brothers and sisters. “One of the sisters who taught in my high school was going to Japan, so I thought, ‘This is the community for me!’ ” She didn’t waste any time following that call. At age 18, she entered religious life with the same sisters who inspired her vocation, and she made her first profession of vows at age 20.

She was an educator for 25 years in parish schools throughout the New England area, going “wherever we were needed,” she explains.

“I have my masters in biology. It was more the biochemistry; I found it more exciting than looking at dead animals!” she says with a laugh.

Although she never was able to go to Japan like the sister who inspired her vocation, Sister Terry did blaze a missionary trail in the 1970s into Appalachia, serving poor women and children where no religious sister had never ministered before.

“In the 1970s, we were asked to return to the mission of our founder, St. Marguerite Bourgeoys. We went to Appalachia to a coal mining camp town. Since I had education and the Lord blessed me with all sorts of other talents – sewing and arts and crafts – we started a community center to respond to the needs of the people,” she recalls. “They didn’t know

what hit town – four Catholic nuns!”

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys founded the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal in 1653 to educate poor women and orphaned children, one of the first communities of non-cloistered sisters in the world. Until that time, vocations for women usually meant they remained behind the walls of their monasteries, even sisters who taught school.

After serving in Appalachia about 12 years, Sister Terry came to North Carolina where she is currently serving at Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission in Hayesville. Her current ministry is to aid the undocumented.

“I’m 85 years old, but God has blessed me with good health and plenty of energy!” she happily remarks, adding that she has no plans of retiring from ministry any time soon.

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catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar of events ASHEVILLE — Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat: Feb. 21-13. Retreat for women and men who want to begin their healing journey after an abortion. For details, contact Maggie Nadol at mnadol@charlottediocese.org

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following event over the coming weeks: Feb. 21 – 10 a.m.

Diocesan Finance Council Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES church, 503 North Main St. — Community Breakfast: 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the MAK Family Life Center. Everyone welcome.

CHARLOTTE

Feb. 22 – 5 p.m.

Holy Mass at Marian Rosary Congress St. Joseph Church, Kannapolis Feb. 24-25 Priests’ Continuing Education Colloquium Hickory March 1 Fourth Annual Charlotte Catholic Men’s Conference St. Mark Church Huntersville

ST. ANN CHURCH, 3635 Park Road — Pro-life Prayer Vigil: Saturday, Feb. 22. Mass at 9 a.m., followed by a Holy Hour and prayer vigil outside the Family Reproductive Health abortion mill. Sponsored

by Helpers of God’s Precious Infants. For details, call Mary Richardson at 704-813-0519.

ST. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Road — Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event: 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 15, hosted by Father Frank O’Rourke.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served.

Wear your favorite team’s jersey to the party. For details, call Jennifer Amico at 703-364-5431, ext. 214.

ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 Lawyers Road — Casino Knight Fund Raiser: 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Family Life Center. Several different games will be available. Heavy snacks and drinks will be served.

All monetary contributions are welcome. For details, call the parish office at 704-545-1224. st. Matthew church, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course: 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Topics include: Effectiveness of modern NFP, health risks of popular contraceptives, and what the Church teaches about responsible parenting. RSVP to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at 704-370-3230.

— Lectures on Africa entitled, “AIDS and Public Health”: 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, presented by Dr. Don Cox. Father Ambrose Akinwande will host the presentation. No registration required. For details, call the parish office at 704-541-8362.

— Called to be Mom Support Group: 10 a.m.-noon, meets biweekly on Thursdays. For details, call Kerry Long at 704-243-6319.

— Living the Faith Book Club: 7-8 p.m., second Thursday of the month. For details, call Kevin Berent at 803287-7898.

ST. Peter Church, 507 South Tryon St. — Ignatian Lenten Retreat “Impelled by the Spirit”: Opening, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, March 8; closing, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 5, in Biss Hall. For details, go online to www.stpeterscatholic.org.

February 14, 2014 Volume 23 • Number 9

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

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

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 GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson, 704-370-3333, catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org Hispanic communications reporter: Rico De Silva, 704-370-3375, rdesilva@charlottediocese.org

ST. Thomas aquinas church, 1400 suther road — Open Columbiettes meeting: 7 p.m. Monday, March 10. Any Catholic women aged 17 or older is invited to attend and find out more about who the Columbiettes are, what they do and how to get involved in the many outreach and social events of the Columbiettes. For details, email Gen Rollin at gen526@aol.com.

— “Divine Mercy Holy Hour”: Exposition and readings from the Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: 7-8 p.m. every first Friday. For questions, call Paul Deer at 704-948-0628.

— “Rosary for Life”: Join the Respect Life group to pray each Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. To participate, contact Gretchen Filz at gfilz10@ ses.edu or 704-919-0935.

HUNTERSVILLE St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road — Women of the diocese are welcome to join the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group for an evening reflection at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28, hosted by Dr. Allen Hunt and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. Light refreshments served.

For details, call Anita Di Pietro at 704-543-0314.

KING GOOD SHEPHERD Mission, 105 Good Shepherd Dr. — “Welcome Home Sunday”: 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. All Catholics with no home parish and those interested in the Catholic faith are encouraged to attend. Lunch reception following Mass. For details, call the mission at 336-923-7570.

MINT HILL

CLEMMONS HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, 4820 KINNAMON ROAD — Charismatic Prayer Group: 7:15 p.m. Mondays. All are welcome.

ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 LAWYERS Road — Anointing of the Sick: 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, sponsored by the HOPE Committee. For details, call Mary Adams at 704-545-1224.

GREENSBORO

MORGANTON

St. Mary Church, 812 Duke St. — Igbo Mass: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16. This Mass will be said in the native Nigerian language of Igbo.

Everyone welcome. For details, call 336-392-6840.

ST. CHARLES Borromeo CHURCH, 728 WEST UNION ST. — “Make a Move” Concert Tour: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 1. Catholic musician Lee Roessler will perform. Free admission. For tickets, call 828-437-3108.

ST. PIUS X Church, 2210 N. ELM ST. — Valentine’s Day Blood Pressure Check: Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 14-15, in the Kloster Center after each Mass.

— Luncheon Meeting for Seniors: 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the Kloster Center. Program presented by Eric Chilton, host of the “Good Morning Show.” RSVP to Eva Shea at 336-286-8469.

— Seasons of Hope Support Group: Will meet every Sunday starting March 23. This support group is offered for all those suffering from the loss of a loved one. For details, contact Margie Birge at 336288-8779.

HIGH POINT IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, 4145 JOHNSON St. — Pro-Life Rosary: 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, at 901 North Main St. and Sunset Drive, to pray for the end of abortion. For details, contact Jim Hoyng at 336882-9593 or Paul Klosterman at 336-848-6835.

— 19th Annual National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Interfaith Tour: Sunday, Feb. 23. The goal of the tour is to help individuals understand, respect and appreciate different religions. For details, contact Charles Jones at 336-272-0359, ext.

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— Six-week session of “Welcome Back Catholics”: 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6. Will meet once a week and it is free. This sessions are for Catholics who are not currently active in their faith. For more information or to register, call Jan Hitch at 336-884-5097.

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MOORESVILLE St. ThÉrÈse Church, 217 Brawley School Road — Parish Mission, “Open Wide the Doors of Faith through Word, Worship and Works of Mercy”: 7 p.m.

Feb. 24-26, in the church. Each night we will explore one of the three pillars of a solid spiritual life and be given practical ways to bring them more fully into our lives. Mission speaker will be author and retreat director Thomas Smith, former director of the Denver Catholic Biblical and Catechetical School. For details, contact Lisa Cash at 704-664-3992, ext. 105.

MURPHY ST. WILLIAM CHURCH, 765 ANDREWS Road — Grief Support Group: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the conference room. “Embracing Your Grief” should be helpful for those mourning the recent loss of a loved one.

LENOIR St. Francis of Assisi Church, 328 B Woodsway Lane — The rosary, led by Father Gabriel Meehan, is prayed every Monday evening at 7 p.m., in the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. All are welcome.

WINSTON-SALEM — Catholic Charities’ “Partners in Hope Dinner”: Feb. 27, at the Benton Convention Center. This year’s award recipient will be Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin.

Father Brian Cook will be the speaker. For details, call Donna Kronner at 336-655-2876.

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.

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February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

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AmeriCorps member Taneah Bryant, who is assisting the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Refugee Resettlement, is pictured during the AmeriCorps/Catholic Charities Winter Coat Drive in January. Catholic Charities accepts donations of clothing and household items for the men, women and children they assist. kathleen durkin | catholic charities diocese of charlotte

Catholic Charities, AmeriCorps volunteers team up to aid refugees in N.C. SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — In a modest cubicle inside the Catholic Charities office in Charlotte resides a team of quietly dedicated AmeriCorps members who are giving a year of their lives to help refugees resettle in western North Carolina. They are working closely with the Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement staff to see to the practical needs of more than 384 refugees who resettled in the Charlotte diocese last year.

The team is comprised of four young professionals with the AmeriCorps ACCESS Project. ACCESS stands for “Accessing Cross-Cultural Education Service Systems.”

The AmeriCorps ACCESS Project is a domestic Peace Corps national service initiative funded by the federal government and local partners. Its mission is to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services to refugee and immigrant communities in North Carolina.

This is the eighth year that Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has hosted AmeriCorps members.

The four AmeriCorps members who are working with Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Office, based out of the ACCESS program offered through the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, receive training in crosscultural human services for both immigrants and native-born residents. There are about 60 people per year who complete a year of service with the AmeriCorps ACCESS Project.

“The ACCESS Project is specifically geared toward refugees and immigrants, helping those communities integrate,” said Naomi Spencer, AmeriCorps member and employment program assistant. “The ultimate goal is to reach self-sufficiency.”

The AmeriCorps members’ daily duties include serving refugee children in grades one through eight in afterschool programs four days a week, recruiting other volunteers to help with special programs, arranging citizenship classes for refugees, and helping refugees apply for jobs, taking

them to job interviews, and conducting job orientation sessions.

“We get a small stipend,” Mary Hudson said. “But it’s very modest. It’s not a salary. It’s not work. We’re not employed by Catholic Charities. Three of us are living with family to help take care of housing and food. Our other volunteer is living with roommates.”

“I think AmeriCorps is really popular with people who are right out of college,” Spencer said. “But there are, even within the ACCESS Project, people who wanted to change their career paths. A lot of people in their 30s up to their 60s come and say, ‘The job before I was doing was not satisfying.

I want to give my time to something I feel is a good cause.’”

Spencer herself worked in the business world after college but said she felt called to doing more humanitarian work.

All of the AmeriCorps members agree that having an interest in international relations, social work and conflict resolution is an important aspect of working for the ACCESS Project.

“I think it’s important for them to know that the person working with refugees is going to be sensitive to their needs, what they’ve been through, not judging them. And my background is in social work, so all of our backgrounds are connected,” said Taneah Bryant.

The incentive for AmeriCorps members is a scholarship at the end of the year of service to the community.

“That’s a blessing, because I wanted to get some scholarship monies before I went back to school,” Bryant said.

AmeriCorps members are eligible for an award of $5,000 after completion of 1,700 hours of service. The funds can be used to pay off student loans of any kind. It can also be used to pay undergraduate, masters and doctorate degree tuition.

Susan Janssan, the facilitator of the youth program for Catholic Charities, is one of the supervisors working with the AmeriCorps members.

“The AmeriCorps members allow Catholic Charities to serve more refugee families through case management, employment and youth services. Additionally, they allow our office to provide a deeper level of individualized

Winter clothing drive Most refugees arrive in the Charlotte diocese with very few belongings. Many are from warmer climates where winter coats are unnecessary, or they are coming from refugee camps where clothing, food and supplies were limited.

The AmeriCorps members are conducting a winter clothing drive for the refugees they are assisting. They are requesting new or gently used coats, hats, gloves and boots for men, women and children.

All donated items will be distributed throughout the organizations that work with the ACCESS Project, including Catholic Charities’ Refugee Resettlement Office.

Call 704-370-3397 for more information or email Mary Hudson at mehudson@charlottediocese.org.

attention to those we serve.”

Janssan believes the AmeriCorps members impact the community in a variety of ways.

“They have engaged participants in the refugee youth program in community service projects that have benefited food pantry recipients, veterans and senior citizens. They lead and supervise volunteers at the youth program, so refugee youth can participate in tutoring and enrichment activities they otherwise would not be able to access. They assist newly employed refugees with navigating public transportation so they can get to work. Finally, our current AmeriCorps members all have a zest for service – and it is reflected in their work ethic and positive interactions with both staff and clients.”

For more information about the AmeriCorps Access Project, go to www.cnnc.uncg.edu/AmeriCorps-accessproject. Learn more about the work of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Charlotte at www.ccdoc.org.

6

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 OUR PARISHES

‘PRAISE THE LORD IN HIS SANCTUARY’

Photos by Father Herbert Burke, David Hains and David Exum | Catholic News Herald

The Holy Trinity is a breathtaking three-dimensional depiction of Mt. Calvary that now graces the Gothic arch above the altar at Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City. Concord-based artist Lisa Autry painted the mural over six months and, with the help of her husband Toby, climbed scaffolding to install the panels last week. They are also pictured talking with Father Herbert Burke, pastor, who commissioned the mural to inspire worshippers at Mass.

Spectacular ‘Holy Trinity’ mural crowns altar at Forest City church David Exum Correspondent

FOREST CITY — For artist Lisa Autry and her husband Toby, creating a breathtaking mural high above the altar at Immaculate Conception Church has been a way to use their talents to glorify God. “It’s humbling, and this has been a life goal for me,” says Autry, who was commissioned by Father Herbert Burke to create the 20-foot by 21-foot mural “The Holy Trinity” above the sanctuary of the Forest City church.

“It’s kind of a dream come to fruition, and it’s been a daunting and humbling task. It’s been wonderful working in the church and working with Father Burke.”

Autry has been busy creating spectacular works of art at Immaculate Conception, which was dedicated in 2010, as well as smaller works of art at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. At Immaculate Conception, she’s painted Scripture verses in several theologically significant places inside the church, as well as the Resurrection scene near the nave and the Holy Spirit depicted as a dove above the choir loft. She also painted vivid images of the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart in the church’s narthex.

At St. Ann, Autry has painted the walls and ceiling of the church’s Immaculate Conception chapel, as well as decorated the walls behind several life-sized saint statues in the nave.

As the visionary behind the mural, Father Burke says he was inspired by an image he recalls seeing often when he was a seminarian in the 1980s.

“The starting point of this mural is the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in Washington, D.C.,” says Father Burke, who has served as pastor of Immaculate Conception since 2001. He is also an artist and author. Inside that landmark church is the Altar of Mt. Calvary, which features a life-sized diorama of the Crucifixion scene.

“I just thought how much more realistic it was to not just have Christ on the cross, but the sky with Jerusalem behind the cross, the good thief and the bad thief, and the Pharisees. The way (Franciscan Monastery) did it would have been too costly for us. We only have three statues.”

Father Burke also explains that the full, threedimensional version of Mount Cavalry can be “overwhelming and sad,” so he didn’t think parishioners looking at the same image as what is depicted in the Franciscan Monastery’s altar painting was a good idea.

“It does kind of make you sad, and I kept thinking, ‘What could I do to fix it?’ ” His solution was to create a version of the scene on Calvary that included a depiction of the Holy Trinity, with light and dark colors emphasizing the triumph of good over evil, Jesus’ victory over death. The design echoes Albrecht Durer’s “The Holy Trinity” and Guido Reni’s “The Holy Trinity,” with God the Father and the heavens opened above the Son of Man hanging on the cross. The crucifix stands at the center of the arch, flanked by statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and John as described in the Gospel of John – giving the Calvary scene a distinctive three-dimensional look and feel. Besides God the Father and the Holy Spirit, the mural depicts St. Longinus,

apocryphally known as the Roman soldier who pierced Jesus’ side with a lance, as well as St. Mary Magdalene and two of the biggest Pharisees.

The artwork itself is immense, filling the Gothic arch above the altar and tabernacle, and drawing worshippers’ eyes upward as soon as they enter the church. The image of God the Father itself measures 6 feet by 8 feet. The mural was so large that Autry had to paint it in sections in her studio and then transfer the panels to the church. Last week the panels were hung into place.

“We decided to bump it up to the max,” says Father Burke. “It has both the good thief and the bad thief, the sun on one side and the moon on the other side. And there is the world in the middle behind Christ as He’s dying for the world. So it’s cosmic. And it has very strong rays from the sun, a lightning bolt, lambs and a snake.”

The powerful scene depicted above the altar was very deliberately chosen, Father Burke points out, to help fix worshippers’ attention to the purpose of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and God’s plan of salvation for all of us.

“I want our parishioners to see the love Jesus has for them when they see the cross,” says Father Burke, an expert on Scripture whose book “A Scriptural Catechism” has sold more than 30,000 copies. “Second of all, that love is shown more powerfully by having the realism of the figures that were all around.”

To cover the costs of the mural, Father Burke says, the parish received three generous donations of $20,000. The first came from former pastor Father Gabriel Meehan, who prayed for years that his Forest City parish would be able

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

OUR PARISHESI

7

‘PRAISE THE LORD IN HIS SANCTUARY’

St. Dorothy Church’s new pipe organ was designed and built by Lincoln Pipe Organs Inc. Owners John Dower and Stephen Spake and organ builder Daniel Compton, pictured at left, were on hand for the organ’s dedication, Mass and dinner celebration Feb. 6.

Patricia L. Guilfoyle | Catholic News Herald

New pipe organ dedicated at St. Dorothy Church Patricia L. Guilfoyle Editor

to worship in a new, larger space. The parish also received other numerous donations to cover the remaining costs of scaffolding and other supplies.

Autry’s work is becoming so in demand that Father Burke and Father Timothy Reid, the pastor of St. Ann Church, joke that they won’t share her.

“We run into one another and he says to me that I can’t keep her,” says Father Burke with a smile. “She’s just outstanding.

“Her first project here was the Resurrection. I saw a portfolio of her work and was immediately impressed.

I knew she was capable of doing this project. She had done so much religious art that I knew she had the talent.

She’s very interested in doing more, and hopefully some other priests in the diocese will hire her.”

Although the almost daily trips from her studio in Concord to the church in Forest City haven’t been easy over the past six months of working on the mural, Autry and her husband are extremely grateful and feel blessed to have been given the chance to work at Immaculate Conception.

“It’s overwhelming and I can’t put it into words,” says Autry, who is originally from Toledo, Ohio, and moved to North Carolina in 1990. The couple has been married since 2007.

“It’s been both humbling but very gratifying in the spiritual sense,” adds Toby Autry. “It’s been a marvelous experience for the both of us.”

Even though the Autrys work together and sometimes spend 24 hours together, they both agree that the art they create

More online At www.youtube.com/ dioceseofcharlotte: See a video of the inside of Immaculate Conception Church, including an up-close look at the new mural.

At www.catholicnewsherald. com: Learn more about Immaculate Conception’s spectacular stainedglass windows, custom designed for the new church, and look back on the church’s 2010 dedication.

At www.lisaartist.com: View more of Lisa Autry’s work at Immaculate Conception Church and St. Ann Church.

together is very gratifying.

“When one of us might take a hard right or a hard left in life, we just needed to be guided back on course. It’s just that easy because we’re always together,” says Toby Autry, who was born in Alabama and raised in south Georgia.

“We’ve been together for nine years and it was just love at first sight.”

Autry says working at both St. Ann and Immaculate Conception has been her way to bring “glory to God.” “It’s just great to be able to use the talents that He gave me. It’s most gratifying to see people like Father Burke be so happy and for (parishioners) to come into the church and say, ‘Wow.’ It’s just all very humbling, and I’m very grateful and blessed.”

LINCOLNTON — Worshippers crowded into St. Dorothy Church Feb. 6 and prayed along with Bishop Peter Jugis from Psalm 150: “Praise the Lord in His sanctuary, praise Him in the firmament of His strength.

“Praise Him for His mighty deeds, praise Him for His sovereign majesty.

“Praise Him with the blast of the trumpet, praise Him with lyre and harp.

“Praise Him with timbrel and dance, praise Him with strings and pipe.

“Praise Him with sounding cymbals, praise Him with clanging cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!”

The psalm, part of the blessing rite for a church organ, was the joyful beginning to Mass in what was a celebration on the parish’s patronal feast day for its new pipe organ.

It was a first in Bishop Jugis’ episcopacy, and he as well as Father David Miller, pastor, and Father Matthew Buettner, former pastor, were all smiles as the new pipe organ accompanied the choir and parishioners in hymns of praise to God. The evening marked the first time the organ had been played during the liturgy.

Organist Joshua Herman deftly fingered the console’s manuals and couplers to produce sometimes booming, sometimes gentle tones from the six ranks of zinc and wood pipes housed inside a swell box custom built to fit the choir area and complement the church’s beautiful new sanctuary.

The pipe organ was designed and built

by Lincoln Pipe Organs Inc., located just over three miles from St. Dorothy Church.

Owners John Dower and Stephen Spake and organ builder Daniel Compton were on hand for the Mass and dinner celebration.

“This new organ was intended from the beginning not to be a concert instrument to be listened to, so much as it was intended to be a parish instrument, to be sung with,”

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos from the organ dedication

Dower noted.

The organ has 457 pipes that originally came from an organ used at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Greenville, S.C. Lincoln Pipe Organs custom built the rest of the components, including a high-tech console with key and stop action controlled via fiber optic cable. The console sits on a platform with swivel casters, so that it can be easily rolled to any one of several positions near the organ box and placed so the organist can face in any direction, depending on the needs of any particular worship service, Dower said.

“The organ for St. Dorothy’s is the smallest instrument we have ever created, and as such, it presented several interesting creative challenges,” he said. “We hope that this organ’s sound will inspire and support congregational worship, as that has been the backbone intention of this project from the beginning.”

That point was emphasized by Bishop Jugis during his homily.

“Music adds so much beauty to the Mass,” he said, as it “helps us raise our hearts and minds to God.” An organist himself, Bishop Jugis said sacred music played on the organ adds nobility and solemnity to the liturgy, giving us a taste of the praises that the saints and angels sing eternally to God in heaven.

Music also unites us, with one voice lifting our hearts and our souls to God. Even if you cannot carry a tune, Bishop Jugis entreated with a smile, open those hymnals anyway and at least follow along silently. “God sees the singing heart, even if the voice cannot be raised in song.”

8

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 OUR PARISHES

St. Matthew teens help ‘Serve Charlotte’s Homeless’ SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — At a time on a weeknight when most teens are asking, “What’s for dinner?,” 12 youth volunteers and their adult chaperones from St. Matthew Lifeteen in south Charlotte served

a hot meal on a cold night to more than 100 of Charlotte’s homeless men and women near uptown.

Working with a grassroots non-profit organization called Serve Charlotte’s Homeless, the teens brought friendly smiles and much welcomed comfort food to the Hal Marshall Service Center on North

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February 22 – St. Matthew Catholic Church, Charlotte March 22 –Holy Family Catholic Church, Clemmons April 26 – St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Charlotte June 7th - St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Waynesville For more information visit our website or contact Batrice Adcock, MSN at 704.370.3230 or bnadcock@charlottediocese.org.

College Street. This was the third time members of the St. Matthew Lifeteen youth group and parish community prepared, transported and served a meal at the center as part of the REACH service connection ministry for youth and families.

Jeff Wilson, a parishioner at St. Matthew Church, has been volunteering with Serve Charlotte’s Homeless for two years. He addressed the teens and volunteers before the meal service began.

“This work that you are doing tonight is tremendous,” Wilson said. “My hope is that like the Holy Spirit touched me, it’ll touch you (by serving). Find something that you are passionate about that’s giving back, and it will change your life. I can guarantee you will get more out of it than you ever give.”

Wilson’s adult daughter, Rachel Harris, introduced him to the ministry and is also actively involved. She heads to the center after work each Thursday evening, greeting the guests and helping with the meal service which runs between 6 and 8 p.m.

“I came on board as a volunteer through Hands on Charlotte about two years ago and it really clicked with me right away,” Harris explained. “I invited both my parents to join me shortly after I got involved, and we all have been regular volunteers since then. I have gradually taken over running the group and coordinating the weekly meal service with the churches we have involved and with our volunteers.”

Harris says they serve around 100 people each week during the winter months.

During the summer they serve between 150 to 180 people each week. The number fluctuates with the seasons because during the winter months churches offer overnight shelters giving the homeless more options, which is why there are fewer people who come when it’s cold outside.

Ken Nickerson, who also volunteers weekly with Serve Charlotte’s Homeless at the center, does so out of gratitude for having survived a job loss and friends who helped him avoid homelessness.

“Four or five years ago I was at a rough place. I lost my home and I was almost homeless. I decided when I got a job I would give back to the community,” Nickerson said.

Kate Dennstaedt, a parishioner at St. Matthew Church whose family also volunteers with her at the center, serves as the parish contact helping to coordinate the donated meal items and enlist the teen volunteers every fifth Thursday of the month. This effort is part of a parishwide initiative to engage more members of St. Matthew Parish to volunteer in the community.

“One of the reasons I got involved in this

More online For more information about Serve Charlotte’s Homeless or to sign up to volunteer, go to www.SignUpGenius.com/ go/30E0D4BACAB29A20-serving.

Serve Charlotte’s Homeless can be found on Facebook at www.facebook. com/servecharlotteshomeless.

is because of a new ministry at St. Matthew called REACH ministry. It’s about opening the parish up to service opportunities; letting them know that there are service opportunities out there.”

Wilson presented information about Serve Charlotte’s Homeless to the youth ministry and Dennstaedt wanted to make the service opportunity available to the youth.

“The purpose of REACH is to introduce middle school and high school youth to service and hopefully they get more out of it than they give, as you usually do, and that they want to continue to do it. If not this particular service, then some service.

That’s what we’re called to do as Catholics and Christians.”

The youth helped served tacos in August, baked ziti in October and chicken and rice casserole this time around. Parishioners sign up to help donate and prepare the food.

“All of this was donated. It’s been a great experience for us to be a part of,” Dennstaedt said.

Several of the teens who participated are students at Charlotte Catholic High School.

“I just wanted to give back and do something nice,” Grace Fabian said.

“I’ve done this a couple of times and it’s really fun,” Ian Albuquerque added. “I am part of the REACH committee as a teen volunteer and I like to do service.”

Homeless men and women who came to the center for a meal also received individually prepared snack bags that also featured an inspirational message. Some messages inside the clear plastic bags were handwritten by children offering prayers and encouragement. Some messages were inspirational Bible verses.

“We had 260 people show up on Sunday to help put this together,” Wilson said. “All the items were donated by people at the parish. So far we have put 2,400 of these bags together.”

Another local church had volunteers on hand to help sort and hand out donated clothing to anyone who needed it after the dinner service was completed.

St. Matthew Church Lifeteen volunteers receive instructions from their parish volunteer coordinator Kate Dennstaedt (center) at the Hal Marshall Service Center on North College Street near uptown Charlotte Jan. 30. Twelve teens and their adult chaperones helped serve dinner to more than 100 homeless adults that evening. sueann howell | catholic news herald

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Attorney general to appeal judge’s ultrasound decision North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has announced that he will appeal the federal court decision that struck down part of the Woman’s Right to Know Act. In January, U.S. District Court Judge Catherine Eagles ruled that the ultrasound provision of the Act was unconstitutional. The Act requires that women who are seeking an abortion be shown the ultrasound of their unborn child. An ultrasound is already routinely performed during preparation for an abortion.

The Act was passed overwhelmingly by the state legislature in 2011.

Catholics across the state made a last-minute email plea to the attorney general through Catholic Voice North Carolina, the public policy arm of the state’s two bishops. More than 1,200 CVNC participants responded to an alert from Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge requesting that the attorney general seek the appeal.

— David Hains

a person or family who best exemplifies the virtues and charism of St. Francis de Sales, both in service to the Church and the local community. Honored this year were two couples: Mary Ann and John Danese and Geraldrine and John Patrick.

Our Lady of the Rosary Church celebrated the feast of St. Francis de Sales Jan. 25. A Doctor of the Church and a key figure in the Catholic Reformation in France, St. Francis de Sales is the patron of writers, journalists, the press and deaf mutes. He is also the patron of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, who staff the parishes of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lexington, Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point, Holy Cross in Kernersville and Our Lady of the Highways in Thomasville.

— Katherine French

— SueAnn Howell

No arrests one year after breakin at St. Thomas Aquinas CHARLOTTE — More than a year after someone broke into St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, parishioners are left wondering who desecrated their altar.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police report the person or persons broke a stained glass window, knocked over the crucifix that sat upon the altar, causing the baby Jesus statue in the Nativity to break, and dripped blood on the altar cloth on Jan. 11 or 12, 2013. The damage totaled about $2,600.

“At this point in the investigation there have been no arrests made in this case,” CMPD spokeswoman Jessica Wallin said.

A DNA profile was obtained from the blood evidence gathered at the crime scene, but no matches have yet been found in the state and national DNA databases, Wallin said.

— Kimberly Bender

Parish honors two couples LEXINGTON — Every year Our Lady of the Rosary Church presents a medal of honor to

Ken Altman

Call: 704-839-3755 or email: kaltman1@metlife.com Member: National Association of Insurance & Financial Advisors (NAIFA) St. Mark Catholic Church – Huntersville L0213304211(exp1215) NC

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SYLVA — St. Mary, Mother of God Parish recently welcomed the Mexican “Consulate on Wheels.” Consular officials from Raleigh spent two weekends helping people obtain IDs and passports needed to work and to apply for credit. Pictured (from left) are Julio Palcecios, Luis Muckinney, Muyra Justo, German Druz, Veronica Pevea and Francisco Guzman.

‘Choose Life’ license plates lose in appellate court

ROME — Deacon Paul Buchanan, who is studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, assisted at a papal Mass Feb. 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and met Pope Francis afterwards. He said later that the pope graciously greeted all of the seminarians.

“We told him we were praying for him, and he suddenly became serious and said, ‘Per favore!’ (‘Please!’) So, let’s all pray for him. After that, though, his typical smile returned. He really does exude the joy of the Gospel. You can tell you’re in the presence of the Vicar of Christ through his piercing, yet loving, gaze – the gaze of a father.”

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Buchanan meets Pope Francis

9

For the past 18 years it has been my pleasure to help the employees of the Diocese of Charlotte plan for a secure retirement.

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THE ORATORY Sylva welcomes Mexican consular officials

OUR PARISHESI

The ‘Choose Life’ license plate in North Carolina has been dealt another setback.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit has ruled the law issuing the plate is unconstitutional. The three-judge panel voted unanimously in favor of banning the distribution of the plate under the law as currently written.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia currently allow the distribution of the specialty license plate. The North Carolina version of the law was passed by the legislature in 2011.

A district court judge had ruled against the distribution of the plate in that same year.

The judges agreed with the plaintiffs in the case that the law allowing for the ‘Choose Life’ plate should have included language that promoted a pro-choice license plate as well.

The decision, written by Judge James Wynn of North Carolina, stated, “Because the specialty plate speech at issue implicated private speech rights and is not pure government speech, North Carolina’s authorizing a ‘Choose Life’ plate while refusing to authorize a pro-choice plate constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.“ The N.C. Department of Transportation issues dozens of specialty license plates that charge users a premium. A portion of the money raised from the sale of the plates would have gone to the Pregnancy Care Fellowship to provide women making reproductive decisions with choices.

Charlotte Bishop Peter Jugis and Raleigh Bishop Michael Burbidge supported the distribution of the plates and promoted the cause through Catholic Voice North Carolina, their public policy arm.

“I am naturally disappointed at the appeals court ruling prohibiting the issuance of the ‘Choose Life’ license plate in North Carolina,” said Bishop Jugis. “Since 30 states and the District of Columbia already allow these plates I hope that a way can be found, either through the legislature or the courts, for North Carolinians to express themselves in this way.”

— David Hains

Saturday, March 1, 2014 9:30 am – 12:00 noon

Presented by: Fr. Pat Earl, S.J. This program will introduce participants to St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) and the prayer form known as the Spiritual Exercises. The Exercises are used by both lay people and religious as the foundation of their spiritual life.

Cost = $15

Living the Lenten Message Saturday, March 8, 2014 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

Presented by: Kathleen Ciani Lent is a time when we pause and reflect on whether or not we are becoming the kind of person God made us to be. In this workshop participants will explore some of the wisdom of Catherine of Siena and look at the concrete ways we live in our ordinary life and can grow in virtue.

Cost = $15

Lenten Interfaith Series Monday Evenings 7:00 – 9:00 pm March 10, 17, 24 & 31, 2014 During these four sessions, we will spend one evening each on Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. We will study their similarities and differences.

No charge, but pre-registration is appreciated.

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 10

Predicador carismático Salvador Gómez a predicar en Charlotte el 1 y 2 de Marzo

José Pastor, último de la derecha, rezando el rosario durante un Entronamiento de los Dos Corazones en la casa de la Familia de Jerónimo y Maribel Reyes, sus tres hijos y amigos de la familia el pasado Enero.

José Pastor (pictured on the far right) prays the rosary during an Enthronement of the Two Hearts with the Reyes Family, Jerónimo and Maribel Reyes, their three children and a few friends of the family last month.

RICO DE SILVA | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y el Inmaculado Corazón de María Promotor de devoción ayuda a familias en Charlotte a consagrar sus hogares a los dos corazones

Charlotte man helps families consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — José Pastor tenía un fuerte deseo de consagrarse al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús pero no sabía cómo hacerlo. Paso el tiempo, y su deseo de consagrarse al Señor aumentó aún más. Pero, como sucede generalmente con las cosas de Dios, cuando llegó el tiempo indicado, Jesús le ofreció la oportunidad a Pastor no solo de consagrarse a él, sino a toda su familia al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y al Inmaculado Corazón de María por medio de un movimiento llamado la Alianza de los Dos Corazones (AOTH).

“Durante el 2008 y el 2009, yo iba a muchos retiros de la Renovación Carismática, y fue en ese entonces que el Señor me puso ese deseo en mi corazón de consagrarme al Sagrado Corazón,” dijo Pastor. Durante el verano del 2009, un amigo de la Iglesia invitó a Pastor a su casa para un “entronamiento” al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y al Inmaculado Corazón

CHARLOTTE — José Pastor longed for months to consecrate himself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but didn’t know how. With time, Pastor’s longing grew stronger. But, as usual, God’s timing was perfect, and the Savior gave Pastor much more than his heart desired: The Lord gave the Peruvian native an opportunity to consecrate himself and his family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary through a movement called the Alliance of the Two Hearts (AOTH).

“Back in 2008 and 2009, I used to attend a lot of Charismatic retreats, and the Lord kind of placed that desire in my heart back then to consecrate myself to His Sacred Heart,” Pastor said. He even asked his pastor, Father Timothy Reid at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, for help with the constant tugging at the time.

“Father handed me a Sacred Heart consecration prayer printout and told me to say it. But even after doing that, it just didn’t satisfy me. I felt like something was still missing.”

A few months went by, and in the summer of 2009, a church friend invited Pastor to come to his house for “a house enthronement” to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

CONSAGRARSE, SEE page 11

CONSECRATION, SEE page 11

Rico De Silva Hispanic Communications Reporter

CHARLOTTE — El predicador carismático, Salvador Gómez, visitará Charlotte, y predicará en la Escuela Charlotte Catholic High School en la 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, el sábado 1, y el domingo 2 de Marzo, de 8:30 a.m. a 4 p.m. ambos días.

El evento está auspiciado por la Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Gómez es un predicador católico muy popular en la renovación carismática, y hablará acerca de la familia y demás temas actuales.

Se ruega por favor a las personas que asistirán al evento que no se admiten niños menores de 10 años.

El Padre Vincent (Vicente) Finnerty, CM, Párroco Gómez de la Iglesia de Guadalupe, culminará el evento con la celebración de la Santa Misa.

El donativo para adquirir boletos es $10 por día, y habrá venta de comida durante el evento. Todos están invitados a asistir ambos días, o si el trabajo, o alguna otra obligación les impide asistir ambos días, también se puede asistir solo un día.

Para mayor información, o para adquirir sus boletos, llamen a la Iglesia de Nuestra Sra. de Guadalupe al 704-391-3732.

— Rico De Silva, Hispanic Communications Reporter

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

CONSAGRARSE:

CONSECRATION:

FROM PAGE 10

FROM PAGE 10

de María. Entronamiento es el término que usa el AOTH para referirse a las consagraciones de los hogares a los Corazones de Jesús y María.

En el entronamiento en la casa de su amigo, la Providencia Divina se manifestó, y la Directora Nacional de la Alianza, Gail Haas, la cual le dijo a Pastor ese día, “Quiero que vayas a un retiro de la Alianza de los Dos Corazones en Delaware.” “Y yo ni sabía en esos tiempos donde quedaba Delaware,” dijo Pastor sonriendo.

En Noviembre del 2009, Pastor fue al retiro del AOTH en Delaware.

Y cuál fue su sorpresa que, durante el retiro, el director espiritual de la Alianza, el Padre Edgardo “Bing” Arellano escogió a Pastor como el único Promotor de los entronamientos en Charlotte. “Yo estaba bien sorprendido porque no esperaba eso del retiro, pero me acuerdo que el Padre Bing nos dio a todos los Promotores una oración de envío poderosísima,” dijo él.

Desde ese entonces, el originario de Lima, Perú, y feligrés de la Parroquia de Santa Ana en Charlotte, Pastor calcula que ya ha registrado aproximadamente a más de 200 familias al Movimiento (AOTH). “Lo interesante es que yo no le hago ningún tipo de publicidad a esto. Es Dios quien me hace la promoción y me manda a las personas.

Generalmente las familias me llaman porque alguna persona de la Iglesia le ha hablado de mí,” dijo Pastor.

Los entronamientos siempre siguen el mismo formato. Primero, Pastor les da al Papá y a la Mamá una foto con la imagen de los dos Corazones, y se pone la foto en un lugar de honor del hogar, y se le hace ahí un pequeño altar a la casa. Después se reza el rosario, y al terminarlo entonces todos juntos dicen la oración especial del entronamiento del hogar. De ahí, la cabeza de la familia y el resto del hogar caminan por toda la casa cantando himnos, mientras Pastor los sigue roseando con agua bendita todo el hogar.

Después toda la familia hace el compromiso de rezar el rosario familiar por lo menos una vez a la semana. Confesarse por lo menos una vez al mes, y asistir a Misa y comulgar más de una vez a la semana si es posible.

“Siempre digo en los hogares a los que voy que la familia está siendo atacada constantemente por el Enemigo, y este entronamiento es algo poderosísimo para mantener a la familia unida. Desde que mi familia y yo hicimos este entronamiento, mi casa ha cambiado mucho,” dijo Pastor.

“Siempre digo y diré que la familia que reza unida, permanece unida!”

It was at that enthronement – the correct term used by the AOTH Movement when a household is consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary – that Pastor became acquainted with the Two Hearts Movement.

“The house consecration was conducted by third-order lay members of the Alliance, and after we were finished with the enthronement,

More online At www.allianceoftwoheartsgeorgia.com: Learn more about the Alliance of the Two Hearts

(National AOTH Coordinator) Gail Haas told me, ‘I want you to go to a retreat in Delaware,’ Pastor remembered. “I didn’t even know where Delaware was back then,” he said with a laugh.

Following Hass’ instructions, Pastor attended the retreat in Delaware in November of 2009.

The retreat was conducted by Father Edgardo “Bing” Arellano, spiritual director for AOTH. Surprisingly, Father Bing commissioned Pastor to be the only promoter to conduct house enthronements in the Charlotte area and vicinities.

“At the end of the retreat, Father Bing gave us a powerful sending prayer and told us to go and reclaim many households for the Two Hearts,” Pastor said.

Pastor estimated that since he began doing the house enthronements in 2010, he has registered approximately 200 families in the Charlotte area.

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“The Holy Spirit sends people my way because I don’t give the enthronements any kind of publicity. It’s entirely word of mouth,” he said.

And although the native of Lima, Peru, is fully bilingual, most of the home consecrations Pastor has done have been in Hispanic households.

The enthronement to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart follows a specific format.

All family members and Pastor gather around a designated “sacred” space in the household, usually the living room.

Families are encouraged to set up a home altar in a quiet area where they can pray together regularly. Pastor then places an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the newly designated home altar, lights a candle, and everyone begins praying the rosary.

Once the rosary is finished, Pastor leads all the household members in a consecration prayer to the Two Hearts. Then, they all follow Pastor around the house singing Marian hymns while he sprinkles holy water in each room of the house.

Once finished, Pastor then presents the household’s parents with an AOTH “Certificate of Enthronement,” a copy of which is also send to the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family.

After the enthronement, the family members pledge to recite the rosary together at least once a week at home, go to confession at least once a month, and attend Mass more than once a week if they are able, so they can receive the Eucharist as much as possible.

“This home consecrations are really Eucharistic-centered, and family-centered,” Pastor said. “I always tell people that the family is not only the domestic church, but also the foundation of society.”

“I can tell you that this movement has definitely changed not only me, but my entire family, and every family I have come in contact with through the Alliance of the Two Hearts,” Pastor said, reminded of the old adage, “The family that prays together stays together.’”

Our schools 12

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

MACS launches new special needs program OLA School to house PACE Program for students in grades 2-5

‘We want to make sure that we are meeting all needs to provide children with a Catholic, faith-based education.’

Kathleen Miller

MACS Assistant Superintendent

More info Learn more about the PACE Program: Contact Kathleen Miller at 704-370-3355 or Allana-Rae Ramkissoon at 704-531-0067. For grant details, go to the State Education Assistance Authority’s website, www.ncseaa.edu.

SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools is now accepting registrations for students in grades 2-5 who have been diagnosed with specific learning disabilities in reading and writing and who need a small, self-contained setting to achieve on their grade levels.

The new program, called PACE (Providing an Appropriate Academic Catholic Education), will begin in August and will be hosted at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte. The goal of the program is to help students who have learning disabilities such as dyslexia,

teaching them to adapt to and overcome their disability so they may return to regular classes.

“The goal of the PACE Program is to provide students with intensive, specialized instruction so that they can go back into the general classroom,” said Kathleen Miller, the new assistant superintendent of MACS. Miller has a background in special education and is helping to spearhead the PACE Program with OLA Principal AllanaRae Ramkissoon.

“This program is for students who, despite learning support services they are receiving, are continuing to struggle. It’s

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just for those who really need specialized instruction.”

The PACE Program uses the OrtonGillingham method of reading instruction, designed specifically to address languagebased learning disorders such as dyslexia.

It helps students master the 85 percent of the English language that is phonetic, then gives them ways they can analyze and understand the remaining 15 percent.

The PACE Program teacher at OLA School will be trained in this method and will be certified in special education

by North Carolina. A teacher assistant will also work with the PACE Program students. All OLA teachers of special subjects (art, computer, music) will also receive training in the Orton-Gillingham method.

Students in the PACE Program will be taught religion, language arts, math, social studies, science, art, music, physical education and media/technology. An individualized Student Accommodation Plan (SAP) will be designed to meet each student’s learning needs.

MACS students who transfer to OLA School for this specialized instruction will be able to transfer back to their original school when they are ready, Miller noted.

“In the past, students who required more support than we had to offer had to go to another school. Now we want to make sure

that we are meeting all needs to provide children with a Catholic, faith-based education – that’s our goal,” Miller said.

“We’re very excited about it.”

She noted that the new program came about thanks to the efforts of the MACS School Board.

“There’s a committee on the (school) board for special needs programs. Parents wanted a program offering small class sizes – small, self-contained classes for students with specific learning disabilities who needed specific instruction.”

Ramkissoon said she looks forward to hosting the PACE Program at OLA School.

“When we were approached by MACS to host this program, we didn’t give it a second thought. Simply because OLA is the type of school where we’re not just ethnically diverse, but there are so many diverse learners that the program puts the diverse learner at the center of the program.

“It’s going to work pretty well, because in all these special areas already we have things built into our classes to cater to the diverse learners we have. We feel like we already have so many things in place, that it will give the students in the PACE pace, SEE page 13

Annual Catholic schools survey aims for ongoing improvement SueAnn Howell Senior reporter

CHARLOTTE — Parents were recently asked to participate in an annual survey about the Catholic identity of their child’s Catholic school – an important part of the diocesan school system’s annual process for accreditation by AdvancEd, through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement.

AdvancEd is the world’s largest education community, serving more than 30,000 public and private schools and districts across the United States and in more than 70 countries that educate more than 16 million students.

The Charlotte diocese’s 19 schools are already accredited by AdvancEd, and this anonymous annual survey will evaluate how the schools are fulfilling their Catholic mission. Catholic teaching is integrated across all subjects in the diocesan schools system, reflecting the five marks of a Catholic school: inspired by a supernatural vision, founded on Christian anthropology, animated

by communion and community, imbued with a Catholic worldview throughout its curriculum, and sustained by Gospel witness.

This survey is an essential source of data for any organization that desires to “see itself through the eyes of its stakeholders.

They tell the schools what they are doing well and what needs to be improved,” said Donna James, the director of AdvancEd North Carolina.

James herself is familiar with the diocesan schools system. She formerly taught at the now-closed St. Joan of Arc School in Asheville and at Immaculata School in Hendersonville.

“Schools should purposefully seek internal and external stakeholders’ perceptions as a way to initiate and sustain communication, become aware of the stakeholders’ different viewpoints, improve relationships, and increase stakeholders’ knowledge of the school and its programs,” James said. “Administering the surveys provides all stakeholders (students, parents, and staff) the opportunity to SURVEY, SEE page 13

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

PACE:

SURVEY:

FROM PAGE 12

FROM PAGE 12

Program exactly what they need outside the core program.”

Students in the PACE Program will have the same opportunity as every other student at OLA School to participate in extracurricular activities, she added.

“We feel very good about having the PACE classroom here. This program is really designed to help the students learn the strategies that will help them move back into the regular education classroom with some accommodations, but well equipped to take on the grade-level content.”

Tuition for the PACE Program will be higher than regular tuition, but MACS offers tuition assistance and North Carolina is now offering a Children with Disabilities Scholarship Grant for up to $3,000 per semester for certain educational expenses.

The PACE Program is just the latest in an array of special education initiatives offered in the Diocese of Charlotte.

St. Ann School, Holy Trinity Middle and Charlotte Catholic High schools participate in the Modified Academic Program, formerly called the Learning Language Stimulation Program. The Grotto School in Hendersonville serves students aged 2 1/2 to 8 who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.

share their perceptions of the work of the school’s leadership and governance, the effectiveness of the instructional program, the resources and support available for students, and levels of stakeholder involvement with the school leaders.”

Like other principals across the school system, Bishop McGuinness High School Principal George Repass encouraged parents and others in the Kernersville school community to take part in the anonymous survey.

“We at Bishop McGuinness and the Diocese of Charlotte are committed to continued improvement in all aspects of providing a quality education to our students and doing so with an emphasis on maintaining a Catholic identity as a vital component of our environment and our approaches,” Repass wrote in a message posted on the school’s website in January.

“In order for us to measure how we are doing in this regard – and where there may be needs for improvement – it is very important that we receive input from those who are stakeholders in our schools: the students, the faculty and you, the parents of our students.”

The survey asked questions such as:

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whether stakeholders believe students in their school are encouraged, through all aspects of their school experience, to develop a closer relationship with Jesus Christ; whether the program of instruction in their school leads students to seek wisdom and truth, with a clear understanding of right and wrong; and whether their school helps guardians/ parents to fulfill their roles as primary teachers of the faith to their children.

“I do believe the survey is important because it allows us to maintain a

13

continuous cycle of improvement that strengthens and highlights our successes as well as identifies areas for review,” said Debbie Mixer, principal of St. Patrick School in Charlotte. “This feedback allows us to refine ‘best practices’ in the classroom and community.”

The diocesan schools office will conduct additional surveys on educational vitality in March or April.

No information was available on when the survey results would be analyzed or when the results might be announced.

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Grieving Loved Ones Are Not Alone Last year, Catholic Charities provided 118 individuals with a dignified burial in Mecklenburg County. Catholic Charities is the only such program in the Char-Meck area to help families who do not have the means to bury their loved ones. Without such a program, these individuals would be left unclaimed at the morgue.

The Burial Assistance program serves families who have no insurance, are unable to negotiate with a funeral home or do not have the finances to pay the costs associated with death expenses.

If you need assistance, call 704.370.3232 to speak with a social worker. The program relies on the generosity of individual donors and community supporters. To donate, visit the website ccdoc.org.

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catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Schools Week

Photo provided by Karen Hornfeck

Middle school students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro held a bake sale to raise money for charity during Catholic Schools Week.

Photo provided by Lorri Mercer

For Catholic Schools Week representatives from each class at Asheville Catholic School, pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade, held up signs describing what they have learned in their religion classes so far this year. They also presented gifts as tokens of appreciation to Father Patrick Cahill, pastor of St. Eugene Church and administrator of Asheville Catholic, and Deacon Michael Zboyovski for their guidance and support.

Photo provided by Angie Noonan and Anastasia Macaya

Students at St. Patrick School in Charlotte packed sandwiches, donated food and volunteered to serve meals at the Dilworth Soup Kitchen located nearby at First Christian Church. The volunteerdriven Dilworth Soup Kitchen serves approximately 250 meals each Monday and about 24,000 meals per year. St. Patrick School has been one of its strongest supporters since it opened in 2008.

Photo provided by Jean Navarro

St. Pius X students (front) Adam Miller, Connor Lemnios and Kenneth McDonald, and (back) Shyann McDonald, Samantha Pean and Jason Miller celebrated Catholic Schools Week in Greensboro by welcoming students and parents in the morning carpool with posters and balloons.

Photo provided by Anna Bragg

Photo provided by Michele Snoke

Each grade at St. Gabriel School in Charlotte created a Catholic Schools Week banner describing the theme for the week. This creative banner was made by the kindergartners.

Students from Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point made cards for police officers, fire fighters and other community helpers. Parent volunteers then delivered them with gift baskets during Catholic Schools Week.

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

‘Dear God, Thank you for giving us the ability to learn and the knowledge to make good decisions. Help us to stay strong in faith and stay loyal to you. Help us to use our gifts in doing service for the community and your church. Thank you for all that you do for us, God. Amen.’

During Catholic Schools Week in Huntersville, St. Mark students raised money for a parish and school in Illinois devastated by a tornado last fall. Prayer cards featuring an award-winning design by fourth-grader Elizabeth Murphy (left) and a prayer written by eighth-grader Carly Wilson (above) were also given to every student.

Photo provided by Denise Romaniello and Amy Burger

Photo provided by Mary A. Morales

Eighth-graders at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte engaged in serving the Church and participating in their faith by cleaning the statues on the campus grounds, planting, trimming and mulching.

Photo provided by Robin Fisher

Students at Sacred Heart School in Salisbury dressed up in different colors for each day’s theme during Catholic Schools Week. On Monday, kindergartners showed their love for Father John Putnam, pastor, and each other by wearing red.

Second-grade students at Our Lady of the Assumption School in Charlotte offered up a decade of the rosary at the opening assembly for Catholic Schools Week. This was part of the day that highlighted how Catholic school students honor their country.

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For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Opportunity Scholarships application process opens CHARLOTTE — Low-income families seeking assistance to send their children to a Catholic school can apply for vouchers as an additional means to defer tuition costs, thanks to the passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act by the state’s General Assembly in 2013.

Once a family meets the income guidelines and other requirements, a random lottery system may be used on a first-come, firstserved basis to award the 2,500 scholarships by the State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA). Scholarship amounts will be up to $4,200 and must not exceed the actual costs of tuition and fees.

Applications were made available Feb. 1 at www.ncseaa.edu, and the SEAA will begin notifying recipients by March 1. The SEAA will award approximately 2,400 scholarships the first year.

According to the SEAA, income requirements include that a child must live in a household with an income level that is not in the excess for the student to qualify for the federal free or reducedprice lunch program. Prospective scholarship recipients must also have attended public school in the spring semester of 2014. Grades 1 through 12 are eligible for the Opportunity Scholarships for the 2014-’15 school year. Kindergarten will be included thereafter.

“A lot of these families don’t think they can afford a Catholic education, but the truth of the matter is, we have a tuition assistance program which will provide a lot of those funds now. But a lot of (families) don’t apply because they don’t think they can afford it,” noted Michael J. Ford, director of marketing for Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools.

Get more information about the Opportunity Scholarship program and apply online at www. ncseaa.edu or call 1-855-330-3955 (toll-free).

MACS hosts first chess tourney

Photo provided by Allana-Rae Ramkissoon

Photo provided by Lara Davenport

Photo provided by Donna Birkel

Our Lady of Mercy School kicked off Catholic Schools Week with its annual pasta dinner and bingo night in the school cafeteria. Pictured is the Duhig family.

The Bishop McGuinness Guitar Ensemble performed for students at St. Leo School in Winston-Salem during Catholic Schools Week.

CHARLOTTE — Holy Trinity Middle School’s campus teamed up with more than 100 MACS students competing in the inaugural All-MACS Chess Tournament Jan. 20. After running into each other at local Charlotte chess tournaments, MACS chess club coaches and sponsors knew there would be enough interest to host an all-MACS event.

“We hoped that hosting an all-MACS tournament would introduce students and parents to competitive chess in a familiar environment would foster camaraderie and fellowship between the schools,” said Robin Siczek, Holy Trinity’s chess sponsor. The tournament included students from St. Ann, St. Gabriel, Our Lady of the Assumption, St. Patrick, St. Matthew, Holy Trinity Middle, Christ the King High and Charlotte Catholic High schools.

“It was a great success on so many fronts.

The kids enjoyed the competition, and the number of participants was nearly double our initial projection,” said Chris Hlebak.

Individual winners were recognized in Rated and Unrated sections, and St. Gabriel Chess Club took home the perpetual team trophy.

— Robin Siczek

Mix 16

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief

‘The Monuments Men’ George Clooney co-wrote, directed and stars in this fact-based World War II drama in which his character, a leading art historian-turned-Armyofficer, assembles an eccentric team of similar experts to trace and rescue the vast store of cultural treasures purloined by the Nazis during their fouryears-plus occupation of most of Europe. As these over-the-hill soldiers adjust to life in uniform and the perils of the Western Front, their attention focuses on a Paris museum curator (Cate Blanchett), who witnessed the Teutonic looting firsthand. Despite its honorable intentions and a cast of heavy hitters, Clooney’s picture, adapted from the book by Robert M. Edsel, falls well short of the monumental. Though the script’s comic byplay is amusing enough, a firm foundation is never laid for its more solemn moments. Possibly acceptable for mature teens.

Some combat violence with brief gore and a few crude and crass terms.

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

‘The Lego Movie’ This lively 3-D animated adventure, populated by the toys of the title, centers on an ordinary construction worker (voice of Chris Pratt) who finds himself taken for a prophesied hero and propelled on a crusade to thwart an evil CEO’s (voice of Will Ferrell) scheme to control the world. He’s aided in the struggle by, among others, a tough but fetching underground activist (voice of Elizabeth Banks), her self-centered boyfriend, Batman (voice of Will Arnett), and the pixilated mystic who predicted the champion’s arrival in the first place (voice of Morgan Freeman). Opposing them is the would-be dictator’s principal minion (voice of Liam Neeson), a police officer torn between the good and bad sides of his own personality. Colorful, fast-paced and diverting for both young and old, directors and co-writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s film is also surprisingly pointed in its satire of conformist consumerism. A format-shifting conclusion showing family bonds trumping selfishness is another asset. Cartoon mayhem, some peril, a bit of mild scatological humor.

CNS: A-I (general patronage); MPAA: PG

Additional reviews: n ‘Dallas Buyers Club’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R n ‘I, Frankenstein’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Labor Day’: CNS: L (limited adult audience); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘Vampire Academy’: CNS: A-III (adults); MPAA: PG-13 n ‘That Awkward Moment’: CNS: O (morally offensive); MPAA: R

Photos by JEFF WILLHELM of The Charlotte Observer

Music therapist Jessica Gutierrez leads the music therapy program at Holy Angels in Belmont. The music therapy program is a year old and has been getting remarkable responses from the residents at the center for children and adults with severe disabilities, run by the Sisters of Mercy.

Music therapy sessions making impact on residents at Holy Angels Joe DePriest The Charlotte Observer

BELMONT — He was a normal 12-year-old boy until a car smashed into his bicycle as he pedaled around an eastern North Carolina community.

Unable to speak or walk, and with only limited movement, he came to Belmont-based Holy Angels, a center for children and adults with severe disabilities, 2 1/2 years ago.

Doctors had low expectations for the boy’s future – until a new music therapy program struck a note.

The boy, whom center officials asked not to be named because of his condition, hadn’t spoken since the accident. But he recently astonished Holy Angels staff and volunteers by lip-synching the word “hello” during a therapy session.

“There were goose bumps on everybody,” said volunteer Lynn Leonard. “It was a red-letter day.”

Later, the boy would go on to mouth all words to a recording of The Temptations’ soul classic, “My Girl.”

As he learns to talk again, his selfconfidence has grown to the point he’s feeding himself once more.

The Holy Angels “Music Therapy Suite” rocks these days to the sounds of drums, bells, tambourines, guitars and tubelike “boomwhackers.”

Music brings joy and pleasure to the mostly nonverbal, wheelchairbound residents. But Holy Angels officials say the program is more

about communication, interaction and learning skills that can be used in daily life.

A melody may inspire someone with limited movement to raise a finger – an action that can be remembered and used to lift a fork at meal time.

In the special world of Holy Angels, where most of the 100 residents can’t speak, walk, feed or dress themselves, this is a small but important step.

Officials say music therapy is improving quality of life.

“Their needs are complex, and they rely on us for everything,” said Regina Moody, Holy Angels’ president and CEO. “We’re trying to figure out what they really want and need. We’re being innovative and cutting-edge for what makes sense for the population we serve.”

Founded in 1956 by the Sisters of Mercy, the private nonprofit Holy Angels provides 24-hour care for children and adults with intellectual development disabilities and fragile medical conditions. Based on individual needs, services may include medical, special education, physical therapy, vocation and daily skills training, speech, horticulture and creative arts therapy.

‘It’s given them a voice’

Basic music has been a part of the program for years, but a year ago Holy Angles hired its first professional music therapist, Jessica Gutierrez, 24, of

Want to help?

Support Holy ANGELS by shopping at Cherubs Cafe and Cherubs Candy Bouquet at 23 N. Main St., Belmont. For more information, go to www.holyangelsnc.org.

Charlotte.

The therapy sessions are part of the Don & Lynn Leonard Music program, a 2010 memorial named after two longtime volunteers at Holy Angels.

Don Leonard, who died of cancer in 2008, ran a Charlotte heating and airconditioning business and made music on the side at Holy Angels. Before he died at 61, he asked that donations in his memory be made to Holy Angels, where he was considered the “resident musician.”

Volunteer Lynn Leonard thought of her husband as she watched residents in music therapy “move in ways I’ve never seen them move.”

“It gave me better insight into Don’s love of music,” she said. “I can see this is what gave him joy.”

Before the therapy sessions started, she saw Holy Angels residents as “almost like they were trapped. You didn’t know what they thought.”

But the new program has created ANGELS, SEE page 17

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

On TV n Friday, Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “The King in Our Midst.” Host Charles Molineaux explores the powerful devotion of Eucharistic Adoration and how it has become more common in dioceses throughout the U.S. n Saturday, Feb. 15, 5 a.m. (EWTN) “Isabel the Catholic.” The life of Queen Isabel of Spain, whose zeal for the Church and complete dependence on God transformed the corrupt kingdom she inherited into the most powerful nation of 15thand 16th-century Europe. n Saturday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “Our Lady of Lourdes.” The history of the Virgin Mary’s appearances to St. Bernadette Soubirous at the Grotto of Massabielle in France in 1858. It was here that Mary proclaimed her Immaculate Conception and called for penance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. n Saturday, Feb. 15, 8 p.m. (EWTN) “Bakhita.”

Dramatic life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese-born slave who became a nun in the Order of the Cannossian Sisters and was canonized by Blessed John Paul II. Part 1. n Sunday, Feb. 16, 10-11 p.m. (EWTN) “EWTN Theology Roundtable – Eschatology: The Last Things.” Colin Donovan, Franciscan Father John Paul and others discuss the four “last things”: death, judgment, heaven and hell.

n Tuesday, Feb. 18, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “When Children Adore – God My Creator.” Father Antoine explains why we adore God and how we respect Him by kneeling just as Abraham and Moses did. n Thursday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Everyday Holiness: The Life of Father Muzquiz.” The story of Father Joseph Muzquiz, a Spanish priest who began Opus Dei’s activities in the U.S. and was a tireless worker with a passion for teaching people to find God in their everyday lives. n Thursday, Feb. 20. 5:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Fatima, Our Hope.” A history of the Fatima apparitions with a further background of that area of Portugal, the global spiritual response and Blessed John Paul II’s visit there in 1982. n Saturday, Feb. 22, 5 p.m. (EWTN) “Door to Hope.” Women come to terms with the emotional and spiritual effects of having had an abortion. n Monday, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m. (EWTN) “Men, Women and the Mystery of Love – The Foundation of Friendship.”Modern society’s views on love and marriage, Dr. Ed Sri tells us, have been the source of much heartache and woe. n Thursday, Feb. 27, 2 p.m. (EWTN) “Trustful Surrender to God: A Catholics Come Home Special Presentation.” Catholics Come Home founder Tom Peterson interviews a young father of four diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Learn incredible wisdom and gain from this impactful discussion about trusting God, reconciliation, and living in His will each day.

Emma, right, reacts to music with Felicia Jones during music therapy at Holy Angels.

ANGELS: FROM PAGE 16

more ways for them to show how they feel.

“It’s given them a voice,” Leonard said.

“Not a normal voice, but a voice.”

Gutierrez began working with special needs children when she was a choir member at Gilbert High School near Columbia. She majored in music therapy at Queens University of Charlotte.

At Holy Angels, she comes three times a week to work with groups made up of eight residents. A staff member and volunteer work one-on-one with each individual resident, helping them do such things as move an arm or hold an instrument of choice.

Learning to make choices is an important part of therapy because it builds a sense of independence.

Sessions open and close with “hello” and “goodbye” songs. This helps those residents who learn the two words to use them at the appropriate time.

Gutierrez began noticing improvement in some residents early in the program.

Others lagged behind. Only recently did she see a young girl reach up and strum a guitar by herself.

Getting more responses

Musical themes range from jazz to ’50s oldies and The Beatles. Gutierrez includes appropriate holiday material from Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

The oldest resident, 72-year-old Butch Zeigler, was already known as the Holy Angels’ “Piano Man” before the music therapy program began. Although he’s blind and disabled, if he hears a piece of music, he can play it.

Gutierrez said the program has improved Zeigler’s social skills, memory and pianoplaying. His first CD is just out: “Do You Hear What I Hear? Christmas Joy from Holy Angels.” Zeigler is on the front cover, dressed in a tux.

Gutierrez looks forward to another year, hoping to bring out even more words, movements and laughter from the Holy Angels residents.

“I use music to get a response,” she said.

“I’m not just singing to them. That’s not the point.

“Some think these people have no feelings, but they do. Working with them is awesome.”

— Reprinted with permission from The Charlotte Observer, Dec. 23, 2013.

17

Our nation 18

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief New study on abortion rate doesn’t tie drop to restrictions WASHINGTON, D.C. — Almost two weeks after the national March for Life rally in Washington, the Guttmacher Institute reported a 13 percent drop in national abortion rates from 2008 to 2011 – making for the lowest rate since 1973 when abortion on demand was legalized in the U.S. However, “no evidence was found” of a correlation between the declining rate and new abortion restrictions set between 2008 and 2011, said the study released Feb. 3. Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee, stated that the study “shows the long-term efforts of the right-to-life movement,” even though Guttmacher gave no credit to groups against abortion. Legislative efforts and pro-life campaigns “should not be minimized when discussing the decline in abortion numbers,” Tobias said in an NRLC news article.

The study reported 16.9 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15-44 in 2011, totaling almost 1.1 million abortions that year. The peak was in 1981 with nearly 30 abortions per 1,000 women, according to The Associated Press. Guttmacher wrote that “more effective contraceptive methods” may have contributed to the decline in unintended pregnancies, thus causing a decline in abortions.

Montana diocese files for bankruptcy over abuse claims HELENA, Mont. — The Diocese of Helena filed Jan. 31 for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana over sexual abuse claims dating back 60 years. The diocese said in a statement it took the action to resolve 362 claims of abuse of minors by diocesan priests, religious community priests, women religious and lay workers that have been filed. Under the terms of the bankruptcy protection sought by the diocese, there will be a settlement of $15 million to pay out to those victims that have already been identified, and a fund of $2.5 million to pay ongoing court costs and future bankruptcy proceedings as well as compensation to any victims who come forward later.

New complications in executions bring death penalty discussions WASHINGTON, D.C. — International law, the risk of using inhumane methods of execution and opposition to capital punishment by the survivors of murder victims are among issues that are bringing fresh energy to debate about the death penalty. In mid-January, Father Lawrence Hummer, of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Chillicothe, Ohio, witnessed the execution of Dennis McGuire for the 1989 rape and murder of 22-year-old Joy Stewart, who was 30 weeks pregnant. A week later, publications around the world were printing the priest’s account of watching what he called an inhumane procedure in which the convicted murderer struggled for

26 minutes while a previously untested mixture of drugs was used to execute McGuire. At about the same time, the execution of a Mexican citizen drew international attention and warnings from the U.S. State Department that the refusal of the State of Texas to review the man’s conviction in light of an international court ruling might put U.S. citizens at risk while traveling abroad.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, the parents of a prison guard who was beaten to death by an inmate in 2002 are battling the county prosecutor for the right to be heard at the retrial of the man who previously confessed to killing their son. While Robert Autobee supported the death penalty for Edward Montour at his first trial, he’s since had a change of heart. After meeting with Montour in prison, Autobee, also a former corrections officer, decided to forgive the repentant Montour and began working to save his life.

Officials say report on visitation of U.S. nuns expected soon VATICAN CITY — Before the year dedicated to consecrated life begins in November, the Vatican congregation for religious hopes to release its final report on the 2009-2010 visitation of U.S. women’s communities.

Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, said, “We are working intensely on the final report, and after careful study and consideration, we think it will be made public soon. We’re at a good point. I think we can conclude it before the beginning of the Year for Consecrated Life” in November.

The former prefect of the congregation, Cardinal Franc Rode, initiated the visitation in January 2009, saying its aim would be to study the community, prayer and apostolic life of the orders to learn why the number of religious women in the United States had declined so sharply since the 1960s. Archbishop Rodriguez

Carballo and Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz, the current congregation prefect, spoke to reporters Jan. 31 at the Vatican. Cardinal Aviz said the visitation of U.S. communities of women was completely separate from the Vatican-ordered reform of the U.S.-based Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The LCWR process, which is ongoing, he said, is not the responsibility of his office, but of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which in 2012 ordered a reform of the group to ensure its fidelity to Catholic teaching on abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination and homosexuality.

Report studies rise in solo minor migrants WASHINGTON, D.C. — Dangerous conditions in their homelands are leading tens of thousands more families in Central America and Mexico to send their children by themselves to cross the U.S. border illegally, according to a report by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Migration. Citing data from two U.S. federal agencies, the report estimates that, based on the dramatic increase in unaccompanied minors apprehended at the border over the past 10 years, as many as 60,000 children traveling without relatives could enter the country this fiscal year. The report, released Jan. 30, was drawn from the observations and data gathered during a trip to Mexico and Central America in November by a delegation representing various Catholic agencies that work with immigrants and immigration-related issues.

It delves into the reasons why families send their children away, the dangers the travelers face and how they are treated if they come to the attention of various countries’ government agencies along the way. Among other things, the report recommends two dozen steps for various governments, child welfare experts, local communities and nongovernmental agencies.

— Catholic News Service

Fourth Annual

Charlotte Catholic Men’s Conference

Transformed

by Christ

Men on a Mission Romans 12:2

2014 Catholic Camporee April 4-6, 2014

Saturday,

March 1, 2014, 8:00AM-3:30PM St. Mark Catholic Church 14740 Stumptown Road Huntersville, NC

Calling all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Venture Crews!

Attend or visit the 38th Annual Catholic Camporee for the Diocese of Charlotte

Featuring:

Camporee will conclude on Sunday with Holy Mass celebrated at 10 am by Bishop Peter Jugis. The Bishop will recognize all Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts who have earned the Religious Awards.

For Information visit our website www.cdccos.info

Supreme Knight Carl Anderson

More details:

Dr. Allen Hunt*

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers*

www.cltcmc.org

Sponsored by:

also Bishops Peter Jugis and William Curlin *Dr. Hunt and Deacon Burke-Sivers will also speak at the Women’s Night of Reflection February 28, 2014. Details at http://ccwg2014febeveningreflection.eventbrite.com

Belk Scout Camp 9408 Belt Road - Midland, North Carolina 28107

CCMC14ad.indd 1

1/6/14 10:18 AM

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

Cardinal Wuerl dedicates new mosaic at national shrine in Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington Feb. 2 dedicated a newly installed mosaic at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and the work is “the second to the last step” in completing the artistic vision of the shrine’s original designers. A news release said installation of the South Gallery Vault Mosaic, above the shrine’s M.P. Moller pipe organ, leaves just one area in the Great Upper Church unadorned – the Trinity Dome, which is the

interior of the blue dome that is one of the exterior hallmarks of the shrine.

The mosaic dedicated by the cardinal, who is chairman of the shrine’s board of trustees, was fabricated by Travisanutto of Spilimbergo, Italy, using a design by the Rambusch Co. of New York and New Jersey. Miotto Mosaics of Carmel, N.Y., and Rugo Stone of Lorton, Va., installed the work.

A simple cross is the mosaic’s primary feature.

“It is this mosaic and cross that leads one visually and purposefully,” the release said, “to the succession of mosaics through the nave of the basilica and thematically through salvation history: ‘The Incarnation,’ ‘The Redemption,’ ‘The Trinity,’ ‘The Descent of the Holy Spirit,’ ‘The Triumph of the Lamb,’ finally culminating with ‘Christ in Majesty.’”

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Submit application, available on the Charlotte Diocese web site, and resume, by March 5, 2014, to: Fr. Martin Schratz, OFM Cap., Pastor Immaculate Conception Parish 208 7th Avenue West, Hendersonville, NC 28791 icccwnc@bellsouth.net

Enjoy Western North Carolina Mountains…Every Day!

Our world 20

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

St. Matthew members support MOP’s relief efforts David Exum Correspondent

CHARLOTTE — In the span of just one weekend’s worth of Masses, parishioners at St. Matthew Church opened their hearts and collected an amazing $54,495 for the victims left in the wake of death and destruction caused by Typhoon Haiyan.

St. Matthew parishioners raised the funds during a second collection approved by the Diocese of Charlotte for all Masses the weekend of Nov. 16-17. All of the funds went directly to Missionaries of the Poor, a worldwide Catholic organization that serves the poorest of the poor. Missionaries of the Poor, founded in 1981 by Father Richard Ho Lung, has a community in nearby Monroe which St. Matthew parishioners enthusiastically support.

Monsignor John J. McSweeney, who has served as St. Matthew’s pastor since 1999, told the Catholic News Herald that this kind of generosity from his parishioners is “not an unusual event.”

“We have taken up similar collections previously, for example, the Hurricane Sandy relief,” Monsignor McSweeney said. “We have a very large Filipino community as well as the (Missionaries) of the Poor, and we responded to the need, which is a usual parish practice.”

Since the typhoon made landfall, the Missionaries of the Poor in the Philippines haves been working feverishly in Tacloban, considered the hardest-hit area from the typhoon. MOP has been evacuating survivors to Cebu City, an island in the Philippines six hours away from the most severe destruction.

Father Ambrose Kulandairaj, a member of the Missionaries of the Poor in Monroe, visited Tacloban in late November and wrote a compelling letter to St. Matthew parishioners about his visit entitled “Faith Amidst Ruins.”

“I don’t even know where to start or how to describe what I saw when I visited Tacloban City,” wrote Father Kulandairaj.

He described how thousands of victims have fled the area because of the overwhelming stench of death. “The remains of the dead (are) still being collected and buried in mass graves.”

“Perhaps the best way to put it is that the places look as if they’ve been bombed,” he wrote.

While thousands of Filipinos have evacuated from the worst-hit areas, Father Kulandairaj noted that thousands of others have stayed behind to help with clean-up efforts or search for lost loved ones.

He also described the deplorable living conditions victims are enduring. Necessities such as food, water, shelter and medical care were in short supply during his visit.

“Clearly these places and their people are rising from the ruins, but it’s a monumental task and they need all the help they can get,” he wrote.

Despite the overwhelming suffering and destruction he witnessed, Father Kulandairaj said he remains awestruck by the faith, spirit and resolve of so many Filipinos.

“What is so impressive is that you still see the beauty of their faith and joy even in this tragic situation.”

Although the super typhoon’s aftermath has interrupted Catholic services and programs throughout the hardest-hit areas, Father Kulandairaj noted that he witnessed the ordination of seven priests. “(It) was held at the badly destroyed Cathedral with no roof and they celebrated the Mass for the closing of the diamond jubilee of the Archdiocese,” he wrote.

Residents of Tacloban, Philippines, rummage through debris Feb. 5 left by November’s Typhoon Haiyan. According to the Philippine government, more than 500,000 homes were destroyed by the powerful typhoon.

CNS | Tyler Orsburn

Philippine cardinal: Haiyan recovery can show world a united Church Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

MANILA, Philippines — An emotional Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila welcomed U.S. Catholic leaders reviewing Typhoon Haiyan recovery efforts, saying the work to rebuild devastated communities can show the world a Church united in the service of people in need.

With tears welling up as he described the utter destruction he saw during a visit to Tacloban soon after the Nov. 8 typhoon swept in from the sea with 195-mile-an-hour winds and a tsunamilike storm surge, Cardinal Tagle reminded the international delegation Feb. 3 that storm survivors can teach visitors about the importance of perseverance and maintaining faith in God. “I don’t know how we could make the whole world realize how much we could help. For a few days (during my visit) we knew it was possible for humankind to be together, to be one, to feel for one another and to transcend the barriers, all the baggage, the history that religion, that politics, the financial economy has imposed on everyone,” Cardinal Tagle said in a meeting at the offices of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“In that regard we saw the response and demand here,” he told a delegation of more than a dozen representatives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Australia. “There is so much hope for the world. We just prayed that this will be sustained and will not become sporadic, only occasional. We hope it becomes a lifestyle to be spearheaded

by Christians.”

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., USCCB president, who was leading the delegation on its weeklong visit to the Philippines, told the cardinal that the U.S. Church wanted to work side-by-side with Filipinos in the long recovery process.

“We know there is one Church and we want to be partners with you,” he said.

U.S. parishes still are collecting funds, most of which have been designated for humanitarian needs. USCCB officials project that about $9 million will be raised in parish special collections for the recovery effort.

Meanwhile, CRS has raised about $48 million, including $28 million from private donors and $20 million from public sources, reported Joe Curry, the agency’s country representative in the Philippines. All of the funds are being used for humanitarian

needs, he said.

Cardinal Tagle acknowledged that recovery and rebuilding is likely to take years because the devastation was so great, reaching across 12 dioceses in the central part of the country with the Palo Archdiocese and Borongon Diocese experiencing the most serious damage. In some locales, 90 percent of buildings and homes – more than 550,000 in all – were smashed into matchsticks.

As of Jan. 29, more than 6,200 people had died and more than 28,600 were injured in the storm while nearly 1,800 remained missing, according to the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. More than 4 million people were displaced by the storm.

Damage was set at $877 million by the council.

Two tropical storms swamped parts of the same regions in January, forcing some who lost their homes in November and were living in tents to flee to higher ground again.

Cardinal Tagle said natural disasters are the norm for the island nation and that he has come to see how important local parishes have become in offering shelter and becoming centers for sanitation and hygiene, the distribution of food and support for displaced people.

“At least for me,” he told the delegation, “it has become a special lesson, because in moments like these a place of worship also becomes a place of charity. The place is made sacred not by sacraments and prayer but by the belief that we can find a refuge here. It is our home.”

Compounding the challenges, the cardinal added, is the trauma experienced by priests, women religious and lay leaders at parishes, who are struggling with their own losses of family, possessions and secure housing.

“The Church structure is in a state of shock,” Cardinal Tagle said. “We have been offering emotional and psychological first aid.”

CRS’ Curry explained during the 45-minute meeting that agency staff members are attempting to develop creative responses to the disaster because the devastation is so severe.

With a shortage of construction supplies and tools and a lack of capacity on the part of local and national governments to remove debris and improve infrastructure, the agency is attempting to find enough clear land to build temporary wooden shelters so people can move from tents into more secure housing, he said.

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief ‘Unjust’ criticism won’t force Vatican to drop treaty, spokesman says VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said it would continue to adhere to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and give an attentive response to the U.N. committee monitoring adherence to the treaty, despite what it views as unfair criticism and suggestions from the committee that would violate Church teaching. The Vatican will follow the procedures foreseen by the treaty “with openness to criticisms that are justified, but it will do so with courage and determination, without timidity,” said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman.

Father Lombardi issued the statement Feb. 7, after the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child insisted the Vatican was not doing enough to prevent clerical sexual abuse of children and even suggested that, for the good of children, the Church change its teaching on abortion, contraception and homosexuality.

The committee continued to insist that the Vatican compile and publish detailed statistics on clerical sexual abuse of minors and that the pope, as head of the Church, can and should order Catholic dioceses and religious orders around the world to implement all the policies of the U.N. Convention of the Rights of the Child, which the Holy See ratified in 1990.

Committee members went “beyond their competence and interfered in the doctrinal and moral positions of the Catholic Church,” Father Lombardi said, adding that the committee’s suggestions reveal an “ideological vision of sexuality.”

Pope clears way for beatification of 124 Korean martyrs VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of 124 Catholics who were killed during widespread persecution in Korea in the 18th through 19th centuries. He also approved a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Conventual Franciscan Father Francesco Zirano, an Italian priest killed in Algeria in 1603. The pope’s approval of the martyrdom decrees Feb. 7 opened the way for the martyrs’ beatifications on a date yet to be announced. A miracle is required before any blessed may be canonized.

The Korean cause, referred to as the cause of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and 123 companions, recognizes the sacrifices of those killed for their faith between 1791 and 1888. More than 10,000 Catholics in Korea were killed during that period, starting in 1785.

Legionaries of Christ elect new leaders, apologize to victims ROME — Representatives of the Legionaries of Christ, meeting to reform their troubled congregation nearly four years after it was effectively taken over by the Vatican, announced a new slate of leaders and formally apologized to victims of their disgraced founder. The statement by the congregation’s extraordinary general chapter, released Feb. 6, expressed “deep sorrow” for the late Father Marcial Maciel Degollado’s “reprehensible and objectively immoral behavior,” including “abuse of minor seminarians,” “immoral acts with adult men and women,” “arbitrary use of his authority and of material goods,” “indiscriminate consumption of addictive medicines” and plagiarism. Saying they were “grieved” it had taken so long to apologize to Father Maciel’s “many victims,” the members of the chapter acknowledged a “long institutional silence” in response to accusations against him, and offered a progress report in efforts to overcome the founder’s demoralizing legacy. The gathering of 61 Legionary priests from 11 countries, which opened Jan. 8 and is expected to last until the end of February, is the culmination of a reform process that began with a Vatican-ordered apostolic visitation in 2009.

That investigation was prompted by revelations Father Maciel, who died in 2008, had fathered at least one illegitimate child and sexually abused minors.

Pope names laity council members VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis reconfirmed Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko as president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and German Bishop Josef Clemens as secretary. Among the 14 new members named Feb. 6 were Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia; Cardinal Luis Tagle of Manila, Philippines; Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna; and Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, who is also part of the pope’s eight-member Council of Cardinals that advises the pope on reorganizing the Roman Curia.

Pope Francis also named 13 new consultants to the laity council, including Marguerite Peeters, a Belgian-American journalist, director of the Institute for Intercultural Dialogue Dynamics in Brussels and expert on culture and gender.

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Queen Elizabeth to visit pope MANCHESTER, England — The Queen of England will visit Pope Francis at the Vatican in April, Buckingham Palace announced. A Feb. 4 statement said Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, will meet the pope April 3. The 87-year-old queen, who has reigned since 1952, was the first British sovereign to welcome a pope to England when she greeted Blessed Pope John Paul II in London in 1982. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth also welcomed Pope Benedict XVI to Britain.

— Catholic News Service

Associate Director of Development The Diocese of Charlotte, Office of Development has an opening for a full-time associate director of development. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications or a related field, a minimum of 5 years experience in fundraising/stewardship and marketing, and experience with Microsoft Office programs. Knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge database is preferred. Must have excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and public speaking skills.

Responsibilities include coordinating all aspects of the Diocesan Support Appeal, the diocesan stewardship efforts, the priests retirement collection, the diocese combined collection program and grant writing. Some evening and weekend travel to all parts of the diocese required.

Please submit resume by March 7, 2014 to: Jim Kelley, Office of Development, jkkelley@charlottediocese.org or mail to 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203

21

ViewPoints 22

catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Father George David Byers

Allison Schumacher

The blemished Immaculate Conception?

Applauding an atheist caught off guard by irony

Y

ou may remember Italy’s most well-known atheist, Eugenio Scalfari, a journalist for La Repubblica newspaper, published recollections of his long interview with Pope Francis last fall.

His paraphrase of the interview was, he admitted, a personal interpretation of what he would like to think transpired in this exchange. Although many rebuked him for not recording the conversation or even taking notes, I think he is to be applauded for one particular sentence he attributed to Pope Francis. This sentence would have been quite impossible for him to invent on his own: “The one who is not touched by grace is able to be a person without-blemish (immaculate) and with no fear, as they say, but he will never be like a person whom grace has touched.”

The irony of the Holy Father is so incisive that Scalfari is without any response, at least not any he was willing to put into print. He simply left those words of the Bishop of Rome on their own, for all to see. No wonder. The joy of being at ease with such irony – the joy of evangelization which is so well loved by our Holy Father – demands Archbishop a difficult learning Fulton J. Sheen curve for the atheist, an upward climb that takes one right up to the cross and its self-sacrificing love. Nothing immaculate is obviously apparent on Calvary – just all the sin from Adam until the last man that is vomited upon Him who is Irony Incarnate, in whom justice and mercy kiss, by whom sin is destroyed with forgiveness.

American atheists of a generation ago were familiar with the Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. In his famous “Good Friday Radio Address” of March 22, 1940, just months before the United States entered World War II, Archbishop Sheen enunciated this most striking irony about the Soldier of the Church Militant, the “Ecclesia militans”: “That Figure on the Cross bore to the full not only the physical effects of sin which any man might suffer, and not only the mental effects of sin which all of us ought to feel, but the spiritual effects of sin which only He could feel because being sinless He was not part of it. Only the sinless know the horror of sin.”

Jesus and His Immaculate Mother were sinless.

They knew the Standard of Goodness, our

‘Only the sinless know the horror of sin.’

Heavenly Father, and could contrast the evil of sin. Mary did not give up her faith in God in the face of suffering. In seeing her Son blemished with the spittle of mockery, His flesh hanging like bleeding rags on the cross, she was thankful more than ever for her own redemption. Taking up the example of her thankfulness, the believer who has been touched by grace, aware of his own sin, aware of his being blemished by sin and of his need for redemption, freely gives up his freedom to sin, fearing sin so as to enjoy the fearlessness of self-sacrificing love. Like mother, like son.

Pope Francis is right to point out that the atheist who is not touched by grace thinks himself – quite unreasonably – as one who is without blemish, without fault, without sin, without fear. When there is no Divine Standard of Goodness, the tyranny of all that is merely self-referential will destroy one’s freedom, chaining oneself to whatever it is that feeds one’s idea of one’s place in history, condemning oneself to be detached from divine love, adrift in a sea of individualism.

But divine irony has its victory when, after the Immaculata has been pushed out of the way so that one might rail all the more against crucified Irony, one exclaims with the Roman soldier who had pierced the Heart of Christ with his sword – only to have his own heart pierced by the ironic truth of what has just taken place before him – “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Mt 27:54). One ironically enters life by death, in being “blemished” by the sprinkled blood of Jesus: “You have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering, and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect, and Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and the sprinkled blood that speaks more eloquently than that of Abel” (Heb 12:22-24).

One of the greatest Catholic writers of the 20th century, Hilaire Belloc, speaks of this irony with ease. Having fallen briefly into atheism, Belloc was no stranger to the evangelization of the darkest of existential peripheries, which is the central theme of Pope Francis’ pontificate. Belloc realized that although we have been blemished by sin, we can also be fearlessly thankful for the mercy and absolution which Mary Immaculate’s Son provides to us. Waxing poetic, Belloc venerates Christian irony in a way that one imagines he had the “blemished” Immaculate Conception, drenched in the blood of her Son, in mind when he wrote in his essay “On Irony”: “To the young, the pure, and the ingenuous, irony must always appear to have a quality of something evil, and so it has, for ... it is a sword to wound. It is so directly the product or reflex of evil that, though it can never be used – nay, can BLEMISHED, SEE page 24

E

An ideal of love

ach one of us has ideals, resulting in standards or goals that we set for ourselves and for others. Some of these ideals we deliberately choose. For example, I may like the way a certain musician plays, and I listen to his recordings and study his work diligently until I can replicate his style. There are, however, certain desires and values we experience as integral to our person – particularly the ideal love.

In his book “The World’s First Love,” Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen wrote, “That ideal love we see beyond all creature-love, to which we instinctively turn when flesh-love fails, is the same ideal that God had in His Heart from all eternity – the Lady whom He calls ‘Mother.’ She is the one whom every man loves when he loves a woman – whether he knows it or not. She is what every woman wants to be when she looks at herself.

She is the woman whom every man marries in ideal when he takes a spouse; she is hidden as an ideal in the discontent of every woman with the carnal aggressiveness of man; she is the secret desire every woman has to be honored and fostered; she is the way every woman wants to command respect and love because of the beauty of her goodness of body and soul. And this blueprint love, whom God loved before the world was made, this Dream Woman before women were, is the one of whom every heart can say in the depth of depths: ‘She is the woman I love!’”

At the beginning of Creation, God created man and woman and made them in His image and likeness. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were beautiful and holy. God had established man “in friendship with his Creator and in harmony with himself and with the creation around him, in a state that would be surpassed only by the glory of the new creation in Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 374). Man and woman did not suffer from concupiscence, but enjoyed complete mastery over self, and this state of “original justice” would have been inherited by future generations.

Adam and Eve, however, willfully chose to eat the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Through that Original Sin committed in the Garden of Eden, our first parents tragically lost their friendship with God and abandoned us, their future children, into the clutches of death. Estranged from God and bound by sin’s fetters, we were left orphaned and sick.

But God did not leave us orphans. On Calvary the new Adam, Jesus Christ, redeemed mankind through His death on another tree, the wood of the Cross. During His dying hours, He gave us His Mother to be our new mother, the new Eve; and through His Resurrection, He took the sting out of death (1 Cor 15:55) and opened up for us the gates to eternal life.

If Christ’s death and Resurrection give us cause for rejoicing, then we cannot separate the New Adam from the New Eve. Does devotion to Mary take away from the worship we give to God? This is not a matter of giving one more attention than another. The Divine Plan deliberately includes the role of Mary. Just as God chose Adam and Eve to be the first parents, so He has ordained salvation to come through Christ, Who came through the Blessed Mother.

St. Irenaeus said of the Virgin Mary, “Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.” Mary is indeed the cause of our joy!

Eve led us away from God by listening to the serpent, but through Mary’s conversation with the angel Gabriel and her obedient “fiat” to God’s will, humanity once again became “bride” to the Divine Lover – God. Hence, we find by example our ideal of perfect love in her.

True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary leads to an authentic and deep encounter with Christ. Mary always leads souls to Jesus, echoing again and again her words at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you.” Within the setting of a wedding feast, she teaches the bridal soul how to love.

She is the model of love for all souls. As the woman who crushes the head of the serpent, she leads the Church Militant and gives courage to the faint-hearted. As the Mother of Jesus, she gives the perfect of example of motherhood. She, the Virgin of all virgins, inspires consecrated souls in their vow of chastity. Priests, who give their lives to defend her as their queen, find that she holds them in her heart and forms them into the true “alter Christus.” Sinners become saints through the intercession of Mary.

Let us earnestly look to Mary and honor her as the perfect lover of God, who desires to lead each of us into that transforming union of our soul with the Bridegroom.

Allison Schumacher is a freelance writer who works with MiraVia in Belmont.

February 14, 2014 | catholicnewsherald.com catholic news heraldI

SueAnn Howell

The Poor Clares

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Forming beauty: Raising women of God

have never heard a clear answer as to whether boys or girls are easier to raise. Surely, each have their unique parenting trials and joys. Though not a parent myself, I would have to say that in my opinion, girls would be the bigger handful. Yes, boys may be wild and full of neverending mischief, but weigh that against the complicated intricacies of the feminine emotions, and I think the scales are tipped.

Let’s take a general look at the pattern of our modern day. The average little girl is born a princess, cooed over and dressed up like a little doll. The years pass, and she suddenly hits the mysterious moodiness and emotionfilled years of adolescence, becoming a mystery not only to her parents, but even to herself. Thanks to our culture’s remarkably violent war on women, there are huge hurdles of self-esteem to overcome and the focus quickly turns on being accepted by the world’s standards of beauty, weight and dress. Being pretty and popular becomes, sometimes desperately, the ultimate goal of a young woman’s heart.

With high school comes the heightened navigation of the world of guys while the parents hold their breaths and give a sigh of relief when the teenage years conclude without a crisis of moral values. Once an excellent college is pursued and found, the parents comfort themselves with the fact that their daughter is now an adult who is responsible for her own decisions. But, in the process, something has been missed. “Daddy’s little girl” may be a decent human being, or even a very good, lovable person: but is she more than that?

What do we really want for our daughters? Have we equipped them to be truly feminine, godly women in a warped world that disdains the very nature of womanhood?

Have we helped them to understand their beauty, inside and out, in a culture that demands they be deformed into pretty playthings for men? Have we taught them to be women?

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, better known as Edith Stein, honed in her passion for education on the principles and problems of the formation of young women. Writing and lecturing in the 1930s on this topic, she sought to give parents and educators the tools needed for the vital task.

Stein wrote in her far-reaching essay, “The Problems of Women’s Education”: “We see a three-fold goal prescribed by the nature of woman: the development of her humanity, her womanhood, and her individuality. These are not separate goals, just as the nature of a particular human individual is not divided into three parts but is one; it is human nature of a specifically feminine and individual character.”

Stein took this goal seriously, believing it was attainable and possible despite the difficulties of modern life and the breakdown of moral values.

She saw the formation of a young woman as inseparably

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tied to the family. She writes of the mother’s role: “If living with those who are what one should be is the basic and most efficacious factor in human development, then the most essential factor in the formation of pure womanhood must be growing up near a woman who embodies it. And the mother who does not embody this fails in her mission.”

Stein’s words are sobering, and should be. She speaks no less strongly of the father’s role as the young woman’s first encounter with the love of a man, and the necessity of her trusting reception of his cherishing protection.

Knowing the weight of her words, Stein found a wealth of wisdom and encouragement for parents in the study of “types” of feminine character. Rather than categorizing people into boxes, so to speak, these studies drew upon considerations of recurring patterns and attributes found in the human personality to aid the formation of each unique individual encountered.

She outlines five “types”: the maternal, sexual, romantic, practical and intellectual. Each represents different strengths and weaknesses of the nature of woman and each requires a slightly different framework for building upon.

The maternal type is quickly identifiable in the little girl whose favorite pastime is playing house and who naturally gravitates toward caring for others, especially younger children. This natural inclination towards motherhood needs the helping hand of an introduction to the beauty of feminine receptivity, in both body and soul. This is cultivated through a ministering love which is detached from others, yet deeply open to receive those who are in most need of her care, either physically or spiritually. It is more difficult for a girl of this type to avoid the extremes of dominant bossiness or a servile attention to others to the neglect of one’s own well-being.

The sexual type has a predominately male-directed mentality. A girl with these traits experiences a constant desire for the attention and love of men. Her personality may even appear to change when around them, because of the overwhelming neediness she encounters within herself.

She will need a firm guide to help her in the cultivation of the knowledge of her own dignity and worth as a woman.

She will blossom when she comes to understand the beauty of her own person, apart from any relationship with a man. She will find lasting fulfillment in an ever-growing awareness of God’s infinite love for her soul. Parents need to stand strong against the tides of our culture in matters of dress, behavior and curfews to truly help their daughters who are more vulnerable in this area.

The romantic young girl is one who is naturally drawn BEAUTY, SEE page 24

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The joy of celibacy

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t’s Valentine’s season and we’re being bombarded daily with ads and commercials for diamonds, chocolate, flowers and greeting cards. It seems like the whole world is being cajoled into finding or keeping that “special someone” to fulfill their lives.

As a woman who has chosen to live a life of celibacy for the past seven years, and chastity in a failed marriage for 14 years before that, it can be a bit overwhelming to constantly have the images of happy couples embracing one another and exchanging symbols of their love and affection for one another.

Now, before you start sending me dating website links or suggestions on “how to find a man,” let me share with you the joy and freedom that comes with deciding to opt out of the overly sex-charged society in which we live.

For anyone who has made this decision, even those whose religious vocations call them to a life of celibacy, it is a conscious decision to choose a greater good – a good that goes against our human nature in some ways, but reaps real and eternal benefits for oneself and for others.

For instance, in choosing to live celibately, I have the opportunity to offer this gift of self to God, for His glory. I give Him the gift of my whole self – body, mind, soul – including my sexuality, so He can use that to bring a greater good out of my life and that of others, especially those around me.

I set an example of self-control for my teenaged son. I set an example of joyful living for my family and friends and faith community. And because I am offering my very self to God, who is all good and deserving of all my love, He returns my gift a hundredfold.

He gives me the “peace that goes beyond all understanding.” He gives me clarity of thought and discernment when I am faced with temptations against purity. He comforts me and gives me tangible signs of His love – in graces He sends my way to help in difficult circumstances, consolations in prayer and people He sends across my path to encourage me.

Whenever I meet a person who is also living celibacy faithfully, I experience an immediate kinship of soul.

My heart swells with delight and our conversation is always lively and centers around what matters most: Our Lord and our faith. I detect a sparkle in that person’s eye and a strength of spirit, direct results of the pursuit of purity of body and soul.

Celibacy requires a radical departure from what the world values most. A vigilance is needed to shield oneself from impure media, literature, music and conversations. It requires living a Gospel life to the full, keeping the commandments and tenets of our faith, leaving everything to follow Him in Whom we live and move and breathe.

We’re not all called to celibacy and that’s OK. In the words of St. Paul: ”Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.” (1 Cor 7:7) He then qualifies things a bit, saying, “Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do.” (1 Cor 7:8) I have pondered those verses over the course of many years since my divorce and my annulment.

Which brings me to my final point – the decision to live a celibate life is not one to be made hastily.

Over the course of time, I have realized that it’s a decision to love more, not less. To love God more than self. To follow Him and not the world.

Yes, there is a “special Someone” in my life and the lives of those who live a joyful celibate life, and His name is Jesus Christ.

SueAnn Howell is the senior reporter at the Catholic News Herald. She is currently in formation for the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Group in Charlotte, and hopes to make her definitive promise in 2015.

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catholicnewsherald.com | February 14, 2014 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

BEAUTY: FROM PAGE 23

towards the ideal, and is most prone to daydreams and fantasies. She requires help to hold fast to good ideals, by learning to bring them to realization in concrete daily life. Applying herself to study on a topic of interest, delving into practical life-skills, and growing in her love and generosity towards those around her are essential keys to lasting joy and peace for her heart.

The practical and intellectual types both have the most similarities with the masculine nature, while remaining fully feminine. The intellectual are more capable of abstract thought and are guided by justice and principle by nature. They will need emotional formation to learn to express and be comfortable with their emotions.

With awe for the dignity of the human person and an incredible love for the

BLEMISHED: FROM PAGE 22

hardly exist – save in the chastisement of evil, yet irony always carries with it some reflections of the bad spirit against which it was directed. ... It suggests most powerfully the evil against which it is directed, and those innocent of evil shun so terrible an instrument. ... The mere truth is vivid with ironical power. ... The mere utterance of a plain truth

maturing soul of each one, Stein wove, through years of experience in working with young girls, a beautiful pattern for the development of womanhood. She saw clearly that becoming a woman is not a given, it is something that must be taught, nourished and cultivated.

Parents may find in her teaching a wealth of wise assistance in their role of forming their precious daughters into beautiful women who find joy and fulfillment in their God-given feminine vocation. In coming weeks, we will unpack Stein’s tried and true advice for raising girls who, in Christ and after the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may reach their full potential as women of God. It is time to take the helm and reclaim our daughters from the confusion of our society, that we may introduce them to the light of truth and beauty as God has intended for their souls.

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laboriously concealed by hypocrisy, denied by contemporary falsehood, and forgotten in the moral lethargy of the populace, takes upon itself an ironical quality more powerful than any elaboration of special ironies could have taken in the past. ... No man possessed of irony and using it has lived happily; nor has any man possessing it and using it died without having done great good to his fellows and secured a singular advantage to his own soul.”

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