At a glance
NOVEMBER 15, 2024
VOLUME 34 • NUMBER 3
1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@rcdoc.org
704-370-3333
PUBLISHER
The Most Reverend Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., Bishop of Charlotte
INDEX
Contact us 2
Español 20
Our Diocese 4-16
Our Faith 3
Scripture 3, 20
U.S. news 21
Viewpoints 26-27
World news 22-25
AsCATHOLIC ALL WEEK
Timely tips for blending faith & life
we approach Thanksgiving, a time to gather with loved ones and reflect on the blessings in our lives, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude, community and care for one another. Thanksgiving is more than just a holiday centered around a feast – it’s an opportunity to acknowledge God’s many gifts we sometimes take for granted: our health, our young ones, our elderly, and the chance to come together as a family. In the spirit of the season, we invite you to join us in prayer and reflection:
STAFF
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THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.
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Scan the QR code for more suggested prayers this Thanksgiving holiday:
Diocesan
calendar of events
EVENTS
MASS OF CONSOLATION AND TALKS: 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, Mass for all those who have miscarried or had a stillborn child, followed at 10 a.m. by a series of short talks, personal testimony, and more. Reception with light refreshments in the Kerin Center. St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville.
ARTS AT THE ABBEY WINTER CONCERT: 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at Belmont Abbey Basilica, Belmont. Vocal and instrumental students share their talents in this culminating performance of the season: The Abbey Chorus, Abbey Schola, Instrumental ensemble, String Class and organ students.
STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING – HOW OUR COMMUNITY CAN TAKE ACTION: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, Salisbury. Learn about the problem of human trafficking at this event sponsored by Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and the Sisters of Mercy. Because of the subject
matter, it is recommended that attendees be at least 16 years old. Parental discretion advised. Register at www.charlottediocese. org/event/human-trafficking-awareness.
SACRED MUSIC CONCERT FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS : 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. This annual concert by the Cathedral Choir, Children’s Choir and High School Choir will feature “Magnificat in C” by Antonio Caldara and works by Gallus, Fauré, Saint-Saëns and Holst.
PRAYER SERVICES
IGBO MASS : 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, St. Mary’s Church, 812 Duke St., Greensboro. For details, call 336-707-3625.
ADVENT TAIZÉ : Spend less than an hour in community prayer, song, silence and reflection after the 5 p.m. Mass Saturday, Nov. 23, at St. Pius X Church, 2210 North Elm St., Greensboro.
NOV. 18 – 7 P.M.
Confirmation
St. Barnabas Church, Arden
NOV. 19 – 1 P.M.
School Visit Immaculata Catholic School, Hendersonville
NOV. 19 – 7 P.M.
Confirmation
Sacred Heart Church, Brevard
Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv., will participate in the following events:
NOV. 20 Ministry of Acolyte Mass Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, OH NOV. 23 – 12 P.M. Confirmation St. Joan of Arc Church, Candler
NOV. 23 – 5 P.M. Mass and blessing of St. Andrew statue St. Andrew the Apostle Church, Mars Hill
NOV. 24– 9:30 A.M.
Installation Mass St. Joseph Church, Bryson City
NOV. 25 – 7 P.M. Confirmation and Pastor Installation Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Charlotte
DEC. 2-3 Atlanta Province Bishops’ Meeting Savannah, GA
— Amelia Kudela
Our faith
Pope Francis
Devotion to Mary leads people to Jesus
Mary is a model of the kind of openness to the Holy Spirit that all Christians should have, an openness that allowed her to say “yes” to God’s plan for the salvation of the world, Pope Francis said.
“Let us learn from her to be docile to the inspirations of the Spirit, especially when He suggests to us to ‘arise in haste’ and go to help someone who needs us, just as she did immediately after the angel left her,” setting out to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the pope said Nov. 13.
Continuing a series of audience talks on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church, Pope Francis looked at how the Holy Spirit works through devotion to Mary, the mother of Jesus.
“The true and only mediator between us and Christ, indicated as such by Jesus Himself, is the Holy Spirit,” the pope said. And “Mary is one of the means the Holy Spirit uses to bring us to Jesus.”
“Our Lady helps us see Jesus. She opens doors,” he said. “Our Lady is the mama who takes us by the hand and leads us to Jesus. Our Lady never points to herself; she points to Jesus, and that’s what Marian piety is.”
While some people think that Catholics worship Mary, Pope Francis said Catholic tradition is clear that Catholics seek her help in growing closer to Jesus, affirming the adage: “to Jesus by means of Mary.”
Mary’s words to the Angel Gabriel – “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” – show Christians simply and clearly what they must do and say to follow the Lord more closely: tell the Holy Spirit that they are available and accept God’s plan, the pope said.
“Mary is the one who said ‘yes’ to God,” he said, “and with her example and by her intercession urges us to say our ‘yes’ to Him, too, whenever we are faced with an obedience to perform or a trial to overcome.”
As he usually does, Pope Francis ended his audience by telling visitors and pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, “Let’s not forget the countries at war. Brothers and sisters, the beleaguered Ukraine is suffering; do not forget Ukraine.” He also urged prayers for peace in Palestine, Israel and Myanmar “and so many nations at war,” he said. “Let’s pray for peace. There is such a great need for peace.”
B‘The
Resurrection of the Body’
elief in an afterlife is not unique to Christianity. Almost all ancient pagan religions expressed belief that the human soul (that spiritual part of ourselves) continues to exist after the death of the body. Most held that our experience of the afterlife could either be pleasant or painful depending upon whether we lived a just life, had adequately appeased the gods, or other factors. And for most religions, that’s about as far as it went. The best one could hope for was to be a happy ghost in the fields of Elysium, to use the Greek name for paradise.
Some believed in reincarnation, according to which theory the deceased may be reborn into this world in a different body, not their own – and not necessarily even human! But among the tribes of Israel, as part of God’s revelation, there began to emerge a sense that human beings were destined for something more: not for an endless cycle of different lives, nor an eternal half-life as ghosts, but eternal life as fully human beings with the body God had given us. This was something new and radical!
It had been revealed in Genesis that God’s original plan for mankind was to live forever, and that death had entered human experience only after the Fall. The Book of Wisdom confirms that “God did not make death, nor does He rejoice in the destruction of the living. For He fashioned all things that they might have being” (Wis 1:13-14a). The prophet Daniel foretold that the dead would one day rise, some to everlasting life, others to everlasting disgrace (see Dn 12:2). That this everlasting life would include a restoration to our physical bodies is made evident when God tells the prophet Ezekiel in a vision to speak these words over a field of dry bones: “I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow over you, cover you with skin, and put breath into you so you may come to life” (Ez 37:6). “You shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and make you come up out of them, my people” (Ez 37:13)!
Belief in resurrection is what gave courage to the martyrs we read about in 2 Maccabees. Seven brothers are arrested along with their mother and forced to eat pork in violation of Mosaic law. Their refusal leads to torture and execution. As he is about to have his hands severed, one of the brothers says, “It was from Heaven that I received these … from Him I hope to receive them again” (2 Macc 7:11). Before he is killed, he tells his executioner, “It is my choice to die at the hands of mortals with the hope that God will restore me to life; but for you, there will be no resurrection to life” (2 Macc 7:14).
Credo
A 12-part series on the creed
by Deacon Matthew Newsome
EDITOR’S NOTE
This article is part 11 in a series exploring the Creed. Look for articles each month in the Catholic News Herald and online at www.catholicnewsherald.com.
‘Jesus affirms the resurrection of the dead not only by His words and miracles, but in His very person.’
Faith in resurrection was not universal among the Jewish people at the time of Christ. The Sadducees’ denial of the resurrection lies behind their interrogation of Jesus recorded in Mark 12 and Matthew 22. Among those who did believe in resurrection was the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus at Bethany. After Lazarus dies, Jesus comforts Martha by saying her brother would rise again. Martha replies, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day” (Jn 11:24). It is then Jesus reveals to her, “I am the resurrection and the life;
whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (Jn 11:25), and calls Lazarus forth from the tomb.
Jesus affirms the resurrection of the dead not only by His words and miracles, but in His very person. After suffering death Himself, Christ rose from the tomb. Unlike Lazarus and others Jesus raised from the dead, however, this was not a restoration back to this life, but a resurrection to a new glorified life. St. Paul calls Jesus “the first fruits” of the final resurrection (1 Cor 15:20). Our hope is that if we die with Christ – that is, as members of His mystical Body – we will also live with Him (see 1 Tim 2:11, Rom 6:8). “We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him” (Rom 6:9). And neither will death have power over us.
Quoting the fourth Lateran Council, the Catechism teaches that Christ “will change our lowly body to be like His glorious body” (CCC 999) and that this will definitively happen “at the last day, at the end of the world” (CCC 1001), when all of the dead will rise, “those who have done good deeds, to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds, to the resurrection of condemnation” (Jn 5:29).
This fundamentally changes how we relate to our bodies. Far from being mere shells we inhabit only for a time, to be discarded upon death, as the pagans teach, our bodies are integral to our identities both here and in the hereafter. This informs how we treat our bodies in this life, as reflected in the moral teachings of the Church, as well as how we treat our bodies after death, as reflected in our funeral rites.
Those who rise to new life in the resurrection will not only receive glorified bodies but will inhabit a new and glorified earth. But before this can happen, the old creation must pass away. Just as our bodies must experience death before rising again, so, too, the universe itself. What the Church teaches this heavenly existence will be like is the subject of the final installment of our series on the Creed. In the meantime, the Catechism reminds us that “in a certain way, we have already risen with Christ. For, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, Christian life is already now on earth a participation in the death and Resurrection of Christ” (CCC 1002).
DEACON MATTHEW NEWSOME is the Catholic campus minister at Western Carolina University and the author of “The Devout Life: A Modern Guide to Practical Holiness with St. Francis de Sales,” available from Sophia Institute Press.
NOV. 17-23
Sunday (33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time): Dn 12:1-3, Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11, Heb 10:11-14, 18, Mk 13:24-32; Monday: Rv 1:1-4, 2:1-5, Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6, Lk 18:35-43; Tuesday: Rv 3:1-6, 14-22, Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5, Lk 19:1-10; Wednesday: Rv 4:1-11, Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6, Lk 19:11-28; Thursday (Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary): Rv 5:1-10, Ps 149:1b2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b, Lk 19:41-44; Friday (St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr): Rv 10:8-11, Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131, Lk 19:45-48; Saturday: Rv 11:4-12, Ps 144:1, 2, 9-10, Lk 20:27-40
NOV. 24-30
Sunday (Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe): Dn 7:13-14, Ps 93:1, 1-2, 5, Rv 1:5-8, Jn 18:33b-37; Monday: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5, Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6, Lk 21:1-4; Tuesday: Rv 14:14-19, Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13, Lk 21:5-11; Wednesday: Rv 15:1-4, Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9, Lk 21:12-19; Thursday: Rv 18:12, 21-23, 19:1-3, 9a, Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5, Lk 21:20-28; Friday: Rv 20:1-4, 11–21:2, Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a, Lk 21:29-33; Saturday (St. Andrew, Apostle): Rom 10:9-18, Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11, Mt 4:18-22
DEC. 1-7
Sunday (First Sunday of Advent): Jer 33:14-16, Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14, 1 Thes 3:12–4:2, Lk 21:25-28, 34-36; Monday: Is 2:1-5, Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9, Mt 8:5-11; Tuesday (St. Francis Xavier, Priest): Is 11:1-10, Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17, Lk 10:21-24; Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a, Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6, Mt 15:29-37; Thursday: Is 26:1-6, Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a, Mt 7:21, 24-27; Friday: Is 29:17-24, Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14, Mt 9:27-31; Saturday (St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church): Is 30:19-21, 23-26, Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, Mt 9:35-10:1, 5a, 6-8
Our diocese College students shift mountain retreat to Helene relief
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@rcdoc.org
ARDEN — The first Saturday of November was crisp and clear across most of the Carolinas, the type of day when most college students’ minds turn toward football games and outings with friends.
For 28 campus ministry students from across the Diocese of Charlotte, the day had a different focus – helping people in western North Carolina affected by the ravages of Tropical Storm Helene.
The students and six campus ministry staff workers gathered early in the morning on Nov. 2 at a warehouse owned by the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM) that has become a hub for relief supplies.
Officials from the interdenominational ministry bought the facility on Brevard Road in Arden in July and were still determining how best to use it when Helene barreled through in late September – leaving thousands of people homeless in mountain communities from Spruce Pine to Chimney Rock.
They quickly converted the warehouse into a distribution center for supplies and now welcome truckloads of materials daily from around North Carolina and from as far away as Louisiana, Idaho, Ohio, New York, Florida, West Virginia and Maine. The day before the college students came, 17 aid trucks had arrived.
When they showed up that Saturday morning, the college students saw that the inside of the warehouse was stacked from floor to ceiling with everything from bottled water and sleeping bags to canned food, clothes, propane heaters, camp stoves, pet food and cleaning supplies.
Guided by warehouse staff, they immediately went to work.
Some labored at the front of the warehouse, loading supplies onto pallets that were then sent out to various community locations. Others worked feverishly in the back of the facility, sorting through boxes and piles of donated clothing.
The idea for a service workday evolved after the Campus Ministry’s annual discipleship retreat scheduled for that weekend was postponed, explained Darien Clark, the diocese’s director of Campus and Young Adult Ministry. The facility where they were going to have their retreat is now housing volunteers and workers who are responding to storm-related needs. Instead, Clark said, they decided it would be a better idea to get involved in the relief efforts – and the students responded with enthusiasm.
Students came in from Appalachian State University, Davidson College, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro, Wake Forest University and Western Carolina University. Joining them were campus ministry leaders from the different schools, including Father Innocent Amasiorah, campus minister at UNC-Charlotte, and Father Moses Njoh, campus minister at UNCGreensboro.
Although the work was not easy, the students and staff did it with plenty of smiles and laughter, joining in conversation with ABCCM staff members and other volunteers working in the warehouse that day. They moved at a steady pace from morning through the afternoon, only stopping for a quick
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
How to help
There has been an outpouring of assistance from people in the diocese, across the country and around the world. As of presstime, Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Charlotte have received more than $7.8 million in donations, including $1 million from Catholic Charities USA. Continued assistance is needed as the relief focus has shifted toward long-term recovery assistance, being led by Catholic Charities. Caseworkers are visiting 13 mountain parishes to identify and evaluate the needs of those most affected by the storm. They are helping people apply for and troubleshoot access to FEMA and other government and charitable resources. They also are evaluating people’s needs for food and water, shelter, improved safety, employment, childcare, medical and special personal needs – and linking clients to the services they need. Here’s how you can help people in need, or get assistance if you live in the affected areas:
Donate money
Monetary donations are the fastest, most flexible and most effective way to support emergency relief efforts. Local responders on the ground can use the funds to help people with immediate as well as long-term needs. Give securely online: www.ccdoc.org/helenerelief
Need help?
n Reach Catholic Charities via an online request form and/or local contact information at www.ccdoc.org
midday lunch break.
“I’d been wanting to contribute to the storm relief efforts, so I was glad when Campus Ministry reached out to me to do this,” said Catherine Major, a junior economics major at Wake Forest. “It feels good to be helping out, and it’s great to see people who have never met each other before today all working together.”
As they moved through the warehouse, the students passed pallets of donated goods that illustrate the range of charitable organizations that are responding to the continuing relief efforts in western North Carolina. There were boxes from national organizations such as Food for the Poor and Lutheran World Relief. A pallet of water and other goods from the neighboring Diocese of Raleigh bore the slogan, “North Carolina Strong!”
Connor Deitz, a sophomore parks and recreation major at Western Carolina University, knew he wanted to help storm victims after he saw how communities surrounding his college campus were affected.
“I’ve been wanting to help out the community, and just seeing how many people are here today to do this work is a great thing,” he said.
Ignatius Yawlui, a doctoral student in nanotechnology at UNC-Greensboro, spent part of the day sorting through massive bins of donated clothing, separating new and used items for men, women and children into bins to make it easier for recipients to find what they need.
Yawlui, whose home country is Nigeria, said being able to help out was a blessing.
“This is exactly what Christ asks us to do.”
n North Carolina 2-1-1: Use the state’s info hotline (call 211 and press 1, or go online to www.nc211.org) to find information about getting food, water and shelter; finding loved ones; checking current road conditions; filing damage and insurance claims; and other issues.
n FEMA assistance: Go to www.disasterassistance.gov, call 800-621-3362, or download and apply through the FEMA app.
Add your prayers
The diocese has an online prayer request form at www.charlottediocese.org/formprayer-request
More online
At www.catholicnewsherald. com : See more coverage of the impacts of Helene and recovery efforts underway.
On Nov. 2, 28 students and six campus ministry staff workers from across the Diocese of Charlotte gathered at a warehouse owned by the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry to help people in western North Carolina affected by the ravages of Tropical Storm Helene.
HELENE RELIEF EFFORTS
Members of the growing Vietnamese community in Greensboro who have been worshiping at St. Mary’s recently completed the purchase of a building nearby that will be known as Holy Family Vietnamese Mission Church. Vincentian Father Michael Nguyen, who is based at St. Mary’s, celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Nov. 10.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Vietnamese Catholic community in Greensboro celebrates having a space of its own
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@rcdoc.org
GREENSBORO — A new era has begun for Vietnamese Catholics in Greensboro.
Members of the growing Vietnamese community who have been worshiping at St. Mary’s Church recently completed the purchase of a building nearby that will be known as Holy Family Vietnamese Mission Church. The building previously belonged to the Korean Catholic community in the area.
Vincentian Father Michael Nguyen, who is based at St. Mary’s Parish and serves the community, celebrated the first Mass in the new church on Nov. 10.
He said the new church will provide both a worship space for the community, which numbers more than 500 people, and increased space for religious education, with two available classrooms. More than 100 young people in the Vietnamese community are enrolled in religious education.
“It’s a very good thing that this happened for us – God has blessed us as a community,” Father Nguyen said. “The Vietnamese community started growing here about 30 years ago, and we have many people who grew up in the church as well as newcomers. On Sunday it gets crowded at our Vietnamese Masses, and this will serve as a mission church for the whole community.”
Father Nguyen said eventually three Masses will be celebrated at Holy Family each Sunday.
The community started raising funds to purchase the building in October 2022, and members worked to raise the money by selling food on weekends at the church, holding parties and other activities, and going door-to-door among members to ask for donations. They completed the purchase for $585,000 this fall.
The added space will enable the community to expand cultural activities and education for young people, including Vietnamese language classes, and also
offer space for traditional Vietnamese celebrations such as the Tet lunar new year celebration in the spring and the Full Moon Festival, which falls in mid-autumn.
Father Nguyen said the next step for the community is to raise funds to purchase a house behind the new church to gain more space for continued growth. The community’s property already includes one house that holds kitchen facilities.
He currently will still live in community with his fellow Vincentians Father Jack Timlin, pastor of St. Mary’s, and Father Alexander Palacios, parochial vicar.
Father Timlin said the Vietnamese community plays “a very important and vital role” at St. Mary’s.
“They are a wonderful part of our diversity – the liturgies are beautiful and they are people of deep faith with a great sense of the joy in life,” Father Timlin said. “They have a wonderful
‘God has blessed us as a community.’
Vincentian Father Michael Nguyen
sense of community and family and are a very important part of our life here at St. Mary’s. They will still take part in activities here at the parish, but the new building will give them more space for ministry as well as help young people learn about their faith and their culture, and the culture of their parents and ancestors.”
The Greensboro-area Vietnamese Community is one of two Vietnamese congregations in the Diocese of Charlotte. The other is based at St. Joseph Church in Charlotte.
In Brief
40 Days for Life vigil ends with prayer in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — A small but faithful group of pro-life volunteers gathered Nov. 3 in front of the Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Charlotte to pray for an end to abortion and to mark the conclusion of the autumn 40 Days for Life campaign. Prayers were led by Father Peter Ascik, director of the diocese’s Family Life Office. Attendees also heard remarks from Hank Chardos, director of Birthright of Charlotte, a local pregnancy care center, on how it helps expectant moms in need.
— Mike FitzGerald, correspondent Marriage conferences coming up Saturday in Charlotte
and Arden
Together in Holiness is a marriage conference series designed to inspire spouses to grow together in holiness and empower parents to form their children in the Catholic faith. Presented by the St. John Paul II Foundation and the Diocese of Charlotte, this conference offers a place of encounter, where God’s plan for marriage and family is proclaimed and a desire for holiness is enkindled in the hearts of married couples. This year, the conference is being held Saturday, Nov. 16, in two locations: Charlotte and Arden. Go to www.forlifeandfamily.org/ together-in-holiness for details.
CCHD second collection fights poverty at the grassroots level
CHARLOTTE — The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is one of the Church’s primary means of fighting poverty at the grassroots level, both in the Diocese of Charlotte and across the United States. The annual collection, which will be taken up Nov. 24-25, is a source of both national and local funds to support organizations that address the root causes of poverty in America. Seventy-five percent of the funds collected go to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to support national grant funding, and the other 25 percent remain in the Charlotte diocese to fund local antipoverty efforts.
Since 1970, CCHD has funded more than 4,000 programs across the United States. Local CCHD funds are distributed to local non-profit organizations through Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s CCHD Program. Grants of up to $5,000 are awarded to non-profit organizations fighting poverty across the diocese, based on the proceeds gathered through the collection.
— Catholic News Herald
Give Catholic this ‘Giving Tuesday’
CHARLOTTE — As Advent quickly approaches, so does a day of great generosity. Reserve some money from shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to give to Catholicrelated charitable efforts on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
The Tuesday after Thanksgiving has become known as “Giving Tuesday.” Catholics can focus their charitable giving on this day in numerous ways. Campaigns such as #iGiveCatholic, originally launched in 2015 as a 24hour fundraiser to benefit the Catholic Community Foundation of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, have grown into a broader social media movement that resonates with people who want to combat the commercialization and consumerism that have attempted to overtake the true meaning of Christmas.
This year the Diocese of Charlotte is highlighting 21 opportunities to give through the website www.igivecatholic.org, including: St. Joseph College Seminary, Holy Angels, Veterum Sapientia Institute, Young Catholic Professionals and our Catholic schools.
There are several other local Catholicrelated charitable efforts you can consider giving to this season, too.
This year St. Joseph College Seminary is hoping to raise $35,000 toward a bronze statue of St. Joseph and the Child Jesus that will go atop a pillar above the main doors of the seminary. To learn about the college seminary, visit www.stjcs.org.
Also consider Holy Angels in Belmont, whose mission is to provide compassionate, dependable care and opportunities to people with intellectual developmental disabilities and delicate medical conditions. Find out more at www.holyangelsnc.org/donate. Another option is the Airport Chaplaincy at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While the chaplaincy is non-denominational in its mission to serve airport travelers and employees, deacons of the diocese are closely involved in its work. Chaplains provide support and assistance to thousands of people who travel and work at the airport, one of the nation’s busiest. Consider donating to this ministry at www. cltairportchapel.org.
— Kimberly Bender
Other options to ‘give Catholic’ on Giving Tuesday include:
Catholic Campus Ministry
Catholic Schools
Catholic Conference Center improvements Charlotte Catholic High School’s capital campaign
Christ the King High School’s capital campaign 2024 Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) Eucharistic Congress
Priests’ Retirement and Benefits Collection
Seminarian Education
Donate a one-time gift or set up a recurring gift to your parish
At www.charlottediocese.org/giving : Find these and other links to donate
Catholic health professionals in Triad explore faith, profession with new group
CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@rcdoc.org
WINSTON-SALEM — Catholic health providers in the Triad region now have access to an organization that will enable them to discuss issues related both to their profession and their faith. A new branch of the Catholic Medical Association officially launched in Winston-Salem in late October.
According to its website, the organization’s goals are to help Catholic medical professionals uphold Catholic principles in science and the practice of medicine, and to inspire physicians to “imitate Jesus Christ” in their work and lives.
Dr. Ursula Whalen, a physician specializing in general internal medicine and primary care at Atrium Health Wake Forest University, is the organization’s president. Dr. Faith Daggs, an OB/GYN, is the vice president, and Dr. Patrick Whalen, cardiology, is the treasurer.
Dr. Whalen said she first encountered the CMA while she and her husband, also a physician, were residents at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.
“We were part of the organization there and loved it,” Whalen said. “For us, the best thing about it was fellowship with other Catholic providers facing some of the challenges that we all face in living out our vocation and faith at the same time.”
Whalen said initial plans for the new CMA branch are to hold meetings five times a year, offering members a chance to hear speakers on a wide variety of issues facing Catholic health professionals, particularly bioethics, advocacy and the
right of conscience.
The new chapter’s first event was a “White Mass,” a liturgy dedicated to health care professionals, offered Nov. 12 by Father Christopher Gober at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. Father Gober, who is pastor of St. Leo Parish and vocations director for the Diocese of Charlotte, has been appointed chaplain for the chapter.
Father Gober said Dr. Whalen, a parishioner at St. Leo the Great, approached him about starting a CMA chapter in Winston-Salem, and he was supportive because of the large number of health care professionals and medical students who attend the parish and live in the area.
“We’re looking to create a support network for them through the CMA that gives them the ability to have some fellowship together, to have access to resources, and to learn how to be guided by the Church’s teachings on medical ethics,” Father Gober said. “My role as chaplain for the group will be to offer pastoral care and to work to strengthen and build up the Catholic health care community.”
The organization will provide an important outlet for information and spiritual support for Catholics working in health care in the Triad, according to Jessica Grabowski, director of the diocese’s Respect Life program.
In the Charlotte area, similar support has come from the Catholic Health Professionals of Charlotte, a group that hosts speakers and events focused on supporting and informing Catholics in the medical field.
“It has been wonderful to witness the banding together of Catholics across the diocese working in healthcare over the past decade,” Grabowski said. “We continue to see increased events, socials and continuing education opportunities for all specialties, and our office is honored to help foster that growth and support
our fellow Catholics on the front lines of medicine. I applaud these individuals for bringing their faith into their workplaces as it aids in building a culture of life.”
Those interested in learning more about the Catholic Medical Association can contact Dr. Whalen at whalenursula@ gmail.com.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DR. URSULA WHALEN
A branch of the Catholic Medical Association recently launched in Winston-Salem. The new chapter’s first event was a “White Mass,” a liturgy dedicated to health care professionals, offered Nov. 12 by Father Christopher Gober at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, followed by a reception.
A new 720-niche columbarium is a natural extension of the prayerful atmosphere at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville. The columbarium’s architecture was inspired by the bucolic setting and features four semi-circular stone walls, each housing three rows of niches. (Below) The space also features a 12-foot-tall aluminum cross built by artist and sculptor Jim Gallucci. Stonemason Rosali Rivera, Father Louis Canino, and supporters Ann and Joe Bauer pose near the “Celestial Waterfall.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Columbarium featuring local stone, local artistry opens at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center
GEORGIANNA PENN
Catholic News Herald
STONEVILLE — In keeping with Franciscan spirituality, the mission of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center has been to nurture contemplation. The latest addition to the prayer and retreat center nestled on 140 wooded acres about 30 miles north of Greensboro is a columbarium designed with reflection on the gift of life in mind. St. Francis Springs offers a serene setting for meditation, with outdoor prayer spaces including the San Damiano Glass Chapel, walking trails, a Stations of the Cross meditation, a labyrinth based on the winding walk at Chartres Cathedral in France, and a waterfall named “Celestial Waterfall” created by Franciscan Father Louis Canino and stonemason Rosali Rivera of Set in Builders in Stokesdale. The recently completed 720-niche columbarium is a natural extension of these spaces. Through prayerful reflection, “it became very clear to me a columbarium would fit in perfectly with the prayer center,” said Father Canino, whose vision inspired the building and growth of St. Francis Springs over the past two decades. Father Canino retired from St. Francis Springs in 2018 to work full-time at the Franciscan Center in downtown Greensboro.
Board president and a longtime friend of Father Canino, Margaret Burnham, worked for more than two years to navigate state and local approvals for the columbarium. “It was truly a labor of love,” said Burnham. It took many attempts to gain permission from the Cemetery Commission, since N.C. statute states that only licensed funeral homes, governmental agencies or churches can have a columbarium on their property, she explained. As a retreat center, St. Francis Springs didn’t fit the traditional definition of a church, so Burnham said the process required concerted effort and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They ultimately carved out one acre and deeded
it as the non-profit St. Francis Springs Columbarium and Memorial Garden Inc., fitted with its own access and unconnected to the property’s main building and mortgage. “It feels like holy ground,” Burnham said.
The expense of funerals and the rapidity with which parish columbarium niches have been selling out motivated Father Canino and the board to consider the addition. “It’s probably the most affordable option, and the setting is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen for a columbarium,” Father Canino said.
The architecture of the space was inspired by the bucolic setting of the retreat center. The columbarium is made up of four semi-circular stone walls, each housing three rows of niches. Rivera and his team gathered stone from the property, mixed it with rock from Tennessee and Pennsylvania, and then carefully placed every stone by hand.
“God made the stone on the land,” said Rivera, noting that gathering building material from the site was done as a sign of
gratitude for the beauty of God’s creation.
Rivera has been instrumental in shaping the natural appeal of St. Francis Springs, said Joe Bauer of New Age Builders, who built the outdoor chapel as well as the property’s St. Clare and St. Francis cottages and served as a consultant to Rivera.
positive. “We have sold 100 out of 720 niches,” said St. Francis Springs’ director, Steve Swayne.
“Over the years, Rivera built the brick sidewalks, helped create all the walking trails in the woods and along the Stations of the Cross and now has completed the construction of the columbarium,” Bauer said.
Inspiration for the columbarium’s placement came from an existing 12-foottall, gold-coated aluminum cross built by artist and sculptor Jim Gallucci. “The cross is transparent, thus symbolizing there’s room for you to enter the cross and be a part of the cross,” Gallucci explained. The response to having a place for loved ones in this natural sanctuary has been
While the columbarium operates under Catholic guidelines, it is open to people of all faiths, providing a sacred place where families can memorialize their loved ones. The center hosts Catholic retreats as well as those conducted by other faiths.
“Over 20 years ago, I was invited by Father Louis Canino to join the original steering committee to pray for what Father Louis hoped was not his vision, but the will of God to build a prayer center for all based on the love and charism of St. Francis of Assisi,” said Kathy Conowall. Today, she said, it is evident that God’s vision for the space continues to be fulfilled.
Young Catholic Professionals mark first anniversary
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael Martin spoke at the one-year anniversary celebration of the Young Catholic Professionals Nov. 6 at Providence Country Club. He is pictured here addressing the 125 members and supporters who attended the event and with the Charlotte chapter’s president, Santiago Cubillos.
Celebrating the Catholic Heritage Society
CHARLOTTE — Bishop Michael Martin celebrated Mass and joined members of the Catholic Heritage Society for dinner at St. Patrick Cathedral on Oct. 20.
The Catholic Heritage Society is the Diocese of Charlotte’s way of recognizing parishioners who have alerted the diocese of their intent to leave a bequest to their parish, Catholic school, Catholic agency, the diocese or the diocesan foundation. Membership also includes those who have established an endowment with the foundation. The society now has more than 1,700 members.
For more information about the Catholic Heritage Society, bequests or endowments, contact Gina Rhodes, director of Planned Giving, at gmrhodes@rcdoc.org or 704-370-3364.
of Raleigh
RALEIGH — The Diocese of Raleigh celebrated a Mass of the Faithful honoring the 100th anniversary of the Diocese on Nov. 8 at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh. The Mass was part of the culmination of a year-long celebration honoring the centennial.
Bishop Michael Martin joined Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama of Raleigh and many others for the celebration. Cardinal Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington shared the homily and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, offered remarks and a message from Pope Francis.
Bishop Martin has ties to the Diocese of Raleigh because he served there from 2010 until 2022 at the Duke University Catholic Center.
The full Mass may be found on the Diocese of Raleigh’s YouTube channel.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEPHEN DEY SIGNATURE PORTRAITS
PHOTOS BY AIDAN CRETER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Students at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro try out a new playground opening this month, thanks to a grant from Shea Family Charities and contributions from generous donors. The project was part of $921,000 in upgrades to improve the learning environment for all students, but especially those with learning differences.
“Things like this can make a huge difference in a child’s day,” says Principal Catherine Rusch.
‘LET THE CHILDREN COME’
Shea family teams up with local leaders to give the promise of Catholic education
ANNIE FERGUSON AND LIZ CHANDLER catholicnews@rcdoc.org
CHARLOTTE — A grim reality greeted Father Christian Cook when he arrived in Hendersonville to pastor Immaculate Conception Church – the parish school was in danger of closing.
Enrollment was at 90 students and falling. It was late summer, 2019, and five teaching positions remained open as did another critical position.
“They didn’t have a principal; they didn’t even have a candidate for principal,” Father Cook says of the circumstances he walked into in his first pastor role.
The situation seemed dire, but looking back, he says the steps they began to take created momentum with parents, teachers, staff and donors. Among those donors was Shea Family Charities, one of the most significant philanthropic supporters of Catholic education in the country.
Based in California, the organization represents a family with humble Irish
Catholic roots and an American success story grounded in hard work, education and faith – values the Shea family seeks to pass on by supporting Catholic schools in communities where they do business. Shea Homes has operated in the Carolinas since 1994.
The Sheas already had a budding relationship with the Diocese of Charlotte in 2019. Former homebuilder John Shea Jr. lives in Charlotte and helps guide the family’s charitable investments. Over the previous three years, John Shea and Shea Homes had supported projects large and small at Holy Trinity Middle School and Our Lady of the Assumption in Charlotte, St. Michael in Gastonia, and Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem.
Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville presented exactly the kind of challenge the Sheas gravitate toward: a diverse population, aging facilities, financial needs – and aspiration.
But a global pandemic was coming. And it remained to be seen whether the parish and the diocese could put together a plan that would persuade the Sheas and the Hendersonville community to resurrect the school.
“The Shea family has high expectations and is very thorough in evaluating their
investment opportunities,” says Jim Kelley, the diocese’s development director.
“They ask a lot of questions. They also have a way of igniting momentum with their contributions by requiring a certain amount of matching funds to prove the local commitment. They want to create a true partnership that is going to elevate the lives of children.”
‘SKIN IN THE GAME’
The Immaculata comeback began providentially, says Father Cook.
One day, soon after he’d arrived in 2019, he was talking with Father Patrick Cahill, who also runs a school.
“You know,” he recalls Father Cahill saying, “I have an eighth-grade teacher who really has potential to be a principal. It’s kind of an out-of-the-box idea, but you may want to at least interview her.”
The hiring committee agreed to interview Margaret Beale from Asheville Catholic School, who at 33 was quite young to become a principal. In the meantime, they received another applicant with excellent administrative experience.
“Margaret Beale had this fire to her, this love of Catholic education that you can’t
replicate in other candidates,” Father Cook says. “The hiring committee had a choice between two very different personalities – a great manager/administrator or an enthusiastic forwardminded candidate with no administrative experience.”
“We all agreed,” he says, “that Immaculata needed a shot in the arm from a motivation standpoint more than we needed a professional administrator.” It was the kind of risk the Sheas appreciate.
With Beale and Cook aboard, the school went to work shoring up finances and enrollment, then began looking toward the future. That’s when they learned of the Shea family and their reputation as good stewards of Catholic education and schools. They applied and were on track in 2019 for approval of a grant of up to $1 million from Shea Homes, to add to nearly $900,000 the parish had raised for school improvements.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY JULIA FERGUS
Cook
Beale
Building a brighter future
Shea Homes has partnered with donors at seven schools in the Diocese of Charlotte to improve the lives of teachers, staff, students and their families – making it the single largest supporter of local Catholic schools. The organization’s investments include:
n St. Ann School, Charlotte: Funding $3.5 million of a $4.9 million project for more than a dozen upgrades at the 400-student school expected to be completed by late summer 2025. Upgrades include renovations to the library, enhanced playgrounds for all ages, new lighting, a new HVAC system, new cabinetry and flooring, acoustic ceiling tiles, and other upgrades such as fire code enhancements and prevention of water intrusion in some classrooms.
n Holy Trinity Middle School, Charlotte: Funded $2.6 million of a $3.2 million stadium improvement project completed in 2017 that included stadium seating, press box, a major retaining wall, and parking lot improvements.
n Immaculata School, Hendersonville: Funded $2.24 million of a $3.6 million, two-phased project to renovate the school and add a STEM lab with a lecture-style teaching space and a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space. The renovation also included ceiling and lighting replacement, improvements to the school’s façade, relocated administrative offices, and a revamped teacher’s workroom. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2020 and Phase 2 in 2023.
SHEA
But the COVID-19 pandemic delayed things and by the time the parish re-engaged with the Sheas in 2021, construction costs had gone up by more than $1 million.
“We went back to the drawing board and then the Sheas came through with a larger grant ($2.2 million) than they had originally planned for us,” Father Cook says. “They also asked the parish to put more skin in the game, so we went out and raised another $440,000.”
Ultimately, the school debuted a $3.6 million makeover in 2023. The work was accomplished over nearly four years, split into two phases. It included a new brick entrance to match the architecture of the church, new technology, administrative offices, and a state-of-the-art STEM lab that facilitates student problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity.
“Immaculata will be forever grateful for the support of the Shea family and all of our donors,” says Beale. “Not only did these gifts provide a dedicated space for students to dive into hands-on learning, they also helped intensify the sense of pride in what it means to be an ‘Immaculata Star.’ It has been a joy and a blessing to see the excitement on students’ faces when they realize how much fun learning is.”
Since the summer of 2019, enrollment at Immaculata has nearly doubled. The school further demonstrated its tenacity in October when it became a critical relief site after Tropical Storm Helene devastated the
area. It’s this kind of teamwork the Shea family seeks to engage at schools across the Diocese of Charlotte – and the nation.
SHEA FAMILY LEGACY
Shea Homes has invested nearly $11 million in the Diocese of Charlotte’s schools – making them the schools’ most significant benefactor – and Shea Family Charities has contributed tens of millions more in the (arch)dioceses of Denver, Houston, Indianapolis, Louisville, Los Angeles, Monterey, New York, Oakland, Orange, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
Dorothy Shea and her husband, the late John Shea, former chairman of J.F. Shea Co. Inc., dove into supporting Catholic education in the 1980s because of the integral role they felt the faith has played in their lives. They focused their investments on inner-city and rural schools, or those with unique challenges and significant needs.
Dorothy Shea attended Catholic schools through college and continues to guide the family’s philanthropy, desiring to give to others a Catholic education like she was blessed to receive.
“My faith is the most important thing in my life,” she told the Catholic News Herald. “It’s very important for people because they can have a much nicer life if they can depend on God. The bond of religion strengthens families and helps them stay together. We want everyone to have these opportunities by making a Catholic education even more accessible.”
The Shea family first came to the United
States when Austin Shea – John Shea’s great-grandfather – arrived from Ireland to escape the potato famine of the mid-1800s. He settled in Ohio, and eventually the family moved to the West Coast.
In 1881, Austin’s son John Francis Shea started a plumbing business in Portland, Oregon, which expanded into pipeline and infrastructure projects as the city grew. This was the beginning of the family’s long history of large-scale projects in the U.S. John’s son Charlie took over the business and participated in the construction of major American landmarks, overseeing the construction of the Hoover Dam and helping build the Golden Gate and San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridges. Later, the family entered the home construction business.
As Catholics, charitable giving has always been a focus for the family. They typically invest in school renovations, scholarships, tuition assistance and professional development – with an eye toward making Catholic education available to more people.
“We believe the more kids educated in the Catholic system, the better our future world will be,” says John Shea Jr., whose family relies on his cousin Dan O’Melveny – executive director of Shea Family Charities – to help evaluate potential school investments. He studies proposed physical improvements and the
n St. Michael School, Gastonia: Funded $990,000 of a $1.6 million school renovation in 2019. The renovation included new floors, ceilings, cabinetry and furniture, relocation of administrative offices, and creation of a handson collaborative work and experimentation space.
n Our Lady of Grace School, Greensboro: Funded $621,000 of a $921,000 project in 2024 to improve the learning environment for all students, but especially those with learning differences. Upgrades included new acoustic ceiling tiles, flooring and furniture in the cafeteria, a new playground for the school’s youngest students, a new inclusive playground, a covered walkway, refurbished bathrooms, and parking lot resurfacing.
n Our Lady of the Assumption School, Charlotte: Funded $417,000 of a $555,000 project in 2018 to construct a new combined cafeteria/ auditorium space with a warming kitchen. The “cafetorium” now enables more use of the gym. Also included was a hands-on collaborative work and experimentation space.
n Our Lady of Mercy School, Winston-Salem: Funded a $43,000 technology improvement project in 2018, and $105,000 of a $126,000 project in 2023 to further upgrade technology, improve restrooms, and provide a new staff restroom and conference room.
PHOTOS PROVIDED AND BY TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
(Clockwise from above) Dorothy Shea and her husband, the late John Shea, embraced Catholic education as a charitable priority in the late 1980s. The Shea family is one of the nation’s largest benefactors of Catholic schools. Students enjoy hands-on learning in the STEM lab at Immaculata School in Hendersonville and a new playground at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.
Shea Jr.
people managing the schools, and helps find ways to enhance value for the schools.
“Supporting our Catholic schools not only has an impact on the lives of students and their families, it is also rewarding for donors,” Shea says. “I encourage any company or family or individual who has capacity to lend their support, financially or otherwise, to get involved. I believe they’ll find the results meaningful and fulfilling.”
Indeed, the diocese’s school system is thriving, thanks to such support – having won the prestigious national “Catholic Organization of the Year” title from the Catholic Education Foundation in 2023. Enrollment has swelled 22% in the diocese’s schools since the pandemic began in 2020, outpacing the growth of the Southeast, the nation’s fastest growing region for Catholic education.
Father Timothy Reid, the diocese’s vicar of education, says he’s awestruck by the generous families committed to improving Catholic education.
“Our schools not only provide a high-quality education, they focus on forming intentional disciples for Christ who can witness to the Gospel in the world,” he says. “That’s our mission. But it’s hard to do this solely with operational funds that come from tuition.”
That’s where the Shea family and other donors have offered relief.
Since their first donation to the diocese’s schools in 2016, the Sheas’ commitment has continued to deepen well into 2024 – with their most recent grant of $3.5 million for improvements at Charlotte’s St. Ann School their largest to date.
Yet the reason behind the Sheas’
philanthropy transcends growth rates and dollars.
“Learning Catholic values in school and, for me, at home – like loving your neighbor – is key,” Shea says. “We believe it tends to create a more benevolent citizenry as these kids mature into adults.”
In business, he says, it’s easier to trust people who have strong values.
“Trust helps business relationships, which then helps the business to thrive. If you don’t have that trust, it’s hard to get repeat business.”
‘ADVANTAGE FOR LIFE’
Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro is the latest school in the diocese to debut improvements made possible by the partnership of parishioners and the Shea family.
This month, they will cut the ribbon on nearly $1 million in upgrades including two new playgrounds, a newly paved parking lot, covered walkway and new acoustic ceiling tiles, flooring and furniture in the cafeteria.
Parishioner contributions of $300,000 unlocked a Shea gift of $621,000.
Principal Catherine Rusch said she was impressed by the depth of understanding the Shea family wanted about how each project would benefit her students’ educational experience.
“When they asked, I was able to tell them that our students with sensory issues have a hard time acclimating after coming indoors from the rain, and that the covered walkway would improve their ability to adjust and focus on their school day – since they
wouldn’t be distracted by the wet fabric on their skin,” she says. “Things like this can make a huge difference in a child’s day.”
Replacing the ceiling tiles in the cafeteria, Rusch says, lowered the volume of the room at lunchtime, helping students who may be overwhelmed by the noise remain calm and interact socially.
Rusch appreciates the Sheas’ “Catholic worldview,” she says. “Their generosity impacts children on a very individual level and is a beautiful reflection of the way Jesus loves each one of us.”
It’s a sentiment that was echoed by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles after John Shea Sr. died in 2022.
“It would be shortsighted to try measuring his impact on Catholic education in dollar figures,” school executive Paul Escala told Angelus News. “Each dollar is translated into a high-quality school environment where principals and teachers care and know each child like Christ knows everyone by name. That level of impact can’t be measured or quantified monetarily.”
John Shea Jr. says his family simply hopes that increasing exposure to Catholic schools for children in North Carolina and elsewhere
will help them build fulfilling lives.
“Ultimately, we hope to have a positive influence on students as they grow into the next generation of adults.”
At Shea Family Charities, Dorothy Shea adds, “We have a little thing we say here: ‘Catholic education is an advantage for life.’ ”
How you can help?
If you have interest in partnering financially with the Diocese of Charlotte’s Catholic schools, please contact Development Director Jim Kelley at jkkelley@rcdoc.org or call 704-608-0359.
Our aging religious need your help. Like those pictured, more than 24,000 senior sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have dedicated their lives to serving others through prayer and ministry. Today, their religious communities do not have enough retirement savings to care for them. Your support of the Retirement Fund for Religious helps provide care, medicine, and other necessities. Please give back to those who have given a lifetime.
Please donate at your local parish, December 7–8, or by mail at: National Religious Retirement Office/CHA 3211 Fourth Street NE Washington DC 20017-1194
TROY C. HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
Immaculata School’s new STEM lab facilitates student problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. It
renovation made possible by
grant from Shea Homes.
Rusch
‘The Light of Hope’
In Hendersonville, Father Nohé Torres, parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, receives the Guadalupe Torch and transfers its flame to light the Paschal candle.
CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
‘La luz de la esperanza’
The Guadalupe Torch left a message of hope and consolation
TheGuadalupe Torch crossed through the Diocese of Charlotte this past week, leaving a luminous trail of hope and consolation as it wound through nine parishes that joyously welcomed it on its way to New York.
The Antorcha Guadalupana (Guadalupe Torch Run) is a relay pilgrimage that travels each year through Mexico and the United States in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Marian fire symbolizes the light of faith, the love of Mary, and the hope of an immigrant community divided by a shared border.
The torch left the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Mexican capital of Mexico City on Aug. 30 and will reach St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan on Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. This year, the torch spent six days on a sojourn through the Charlotte diocese – starting with Hendersonville and Asheville, areas recently devastated by Tropical Storm Helene.
From Hendersonville to High Point, passing through Asheville, Newton, Charlotte, Mocksville, Lexington, Greensboro and Thomasville, the caravan of runners carrying the torch and images of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego was greeted for the role they played in uniting – through faith and prayer –family and friends separated by a common
border. They were met with prayers and songs for the Virgin of Tepeyac – the name for Mary that refers to her appearance to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City in 1531. Also known as Our Lady of Guadalupe, she has become a symbol of Mexico.
As expressed by Lucia Romero, a 67-year-old Mexican, one of the organizers who has been following the route since 2009, “Our Virgin of Guadalupe comes to visit her sons and daughters, to unite all our peoples as one family, the Mexicans, the sons of Mexicans in the United States, all Latinos, all their sons, all their daughters, without distinction. This torch has been carried by many hands, those of our relatives and friends on the other side of the border, and now it is carried by your hands. With the torch, we all become messengers for dignity and social justice.”
The Guadalupe Torch Run is organized by the Tepeyac Association of New York.
TURN TO PAGES 14-15 to see where the Guadalupe Torch went and the emotion that Our Lady inspired in the people who experienced it ...
LaEn
Antorcha Guadalupana dejó mensaje de esperanza y consuelo
Antorcha Guadalupana cruzó la Diócesis de Charlotte dejando una luminosa estela de esperanza y consuelo a su paso por nueve parroquias que generosamente la acogieron en su camino a Nueva York.
Desde Hendersonville hasta High Point, pasando previamente por Asheville, Newton, Charlotte, Mocksville, Lexington, Greensboro y Thomasville, la caravana de vehículos con los corredores que portan la Antorcha y las sagradas imágenes de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y San Juan Diego, recibieron muestras de cariño y admiración por la hermosa tarea de unir, a través de la fe y la oración, a pueblos hermanos separados por una frontera común.
Nueve fueron las parroquias las que visitó este año a lo largo de su estadía de seis días en la Diócesis de Charlotte, incluyendo su arribo por primera vez a Hendersonville y Asheville, zona montañosa afectada por el huracán Helene.
La Sra. Lucía Romero, mexicana de 67 años, una de las organizadoras que desde 2009 acompaña todo el recorrido, dijo que, “Nuestra Virgen de Guadalupe viene a visitar a sus hijos y a sus hijas, a unir a todos nuestros pueblos como una sola familia, a los mexicanos, a los hijos de mexicanos en Estados Unidos, a todos los latinos, a todos sus hijos, a todas sus hijas sin distinción. Esta Antorcha la han
llevado muchas manos, las de nuestros familiares y amigos al otro lado de la frontera, y ahora las llevan sus manos. Con ella, todos nos convertimos en mensajeros por la dignidad y la justicia social”.
La Antorcha Guadalupana es una carrera de relevos organizada por la Asociación Tepeyac de Nueva York, una organización sin fines de lucro que reúne a grupos para promover el desarrollo social y los derechos humanos de los inmigrantes latinos.
Desde 2002, parte desde la Basílica Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en la Ciudad de México y, atravesando numerosos estados de México y Estados Unidos, tiene como meta Nueva York, a donde arribará el 12 de diciembre, fecha central de la fiesta de María de Guadalupe. Este 2024, la Antorcha partió el 30 de agosto, ampliando su tiempo de viaje a 114 días, la mayor parte del tiempo en Estados Unidos.
EN LAS PÁGINAS 14-15 Vea por dónde pasó la Antorcha de Guadalupe y la emoción que Nuestra Señora inspiró en las personas que la vivieron ...
Hendersonville, el Padre Nohé Torres, vicario de la parroquia Inmaculada Concepción, recibe la Antorcha Guadalupana y traslada el fuego de la misma para encender el Cirio Pascual.
CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD
STORY BY CÉSAR HURTADO
At www. catholicnewsherald. com : See more photos and video highlights of the Guadalupe Torch’s pilgrimage through the Diocese of Charlotte
En www. catholicnewsherald. com : Vea más fotos y videos destacados de la peregrinación de la Antorcha Guadalupe a través de la Diócesis de Charlotte.
More online Más online
Hendersonville Newton Mocksville
For the first time in 22 years, the Guadalupe Torch visited the mountains of North Carolina, stopping first in Hendersonville, one of the cities recently devastated by Tropical Storm Helene.
Father Nohé Torres, parochial vicar of Immaculate Conception Parish, received the Marian light and celebrated a Mass in honor of the Madonna of Tepeyac and St. Juan Diego.
“We are blessed by the presence of the Virgin and St. Juan Diego. They have come to bring us consolation, to lift our spirits. What do we have to do? Pray and entrust ourselves to the Virgin so she will increase our faith,” he said.
Por primera vez en 22 años, la Antorcha Guadalupana visitó las montañas de Carolina del Norte, deteniéndose inicialmente en Hendersonville, una de las ciudades recientemente devastadas por el paso del huracán Helene.
El Padre Nohé Torres, vicario de la parroquia Inmaculada Concepción, recibió la luz mariana y celebró una Misa en honor a la Morenita del Tepeyac y San Juan Diego.
“Estamos bendecidos por la presencia de la Virgen y San Juan Diego. Han venido a traernos consuelo, a levantarnos el ánimo. ¿Qué nos toca hacer? Rezar y encomendarnos a la Virgen para que ella aumente nuestra fe”, dijo.
Asheville
Hundreds received the Guadalupe Torch at St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville. Everyone wanted to touch and carry the torch, including Marta Reyes. Reyes and her family were deeply affected by Tropical Storm Helene – going without electricity and water for two weeks after the storm. The first days were “very difficult,” she said, because they could not find water or food until caravans of aid trucks brought them needed supplies.
As a result of the storm, Reyes has lost her job, while her husband is finding hourly work. Her young daughter has needed counseling as she struggles to understand why her city has been destroyed.
Despite everything, Reyes came to thank the Virgin “because we are alive.”
Cientos recibieron la Antorcha Guadalupana en la Basílica San Lorenzo en Asheville. Todos querían tocar la Antorcha, también la Sra. Marta Reyes. Reyes y su familia resultaron damnificados por el paso de Helene. No tuvieron electricidad ni agua por dos semanas. Los primeros días fueron “muy difíciles” porque no encontraban agua ni alimentos, hasta que llegaron las brigadas de ayuda y les brindaron socorro.
Reyes ha perdido su trabajo y su esposo lo hace por horas. Su niña ha necesitado ayuda psicológica pues no entendía por qué su ciudad había sido destruida. Pese a todo, Reyes llegó a darle gracias a la Virgen “porque estamos vivos”.
St. Joseph Parish in Newton also hosted the Guadalupe Torch. The procession traveled through several city streets before reaching the church, where pastor Father James Collins received it.
During Mass, the response of the Responsorial Psalm seemed tailor-made for the occasion: “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
In his homily, Father Collins called parishioners “beautiful people” and said that for him “it was an honor to be able to celebrate this occasion with all of you.”
He ended by issuing a challenge to the community, asking if they would be willing to leave everything, “including their life of sin, to follow Christ.”
La parroquia San José en Newton acogió a la Antorcha Guadalupana. En procesión recorrieron varias calles para finalmente llegar a la iglesia, donde el párroco, Padre James Collins, la recibió personalmente.
Durante la Misa, el salmo responsorial pareció hecho a medida para la ocasión. La gente respondía “El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación”.
Durante su homilía, el Padre Collins calificó a los feligreses como “personas hermosas” y dijo que para él “era un honor poder celebrar esta ocasión con todos
Culminó lanzando un reto a la comunidad al preguntar si estarían dispuestos a
LS‘The Light
‘La luz de la esperanza’
you for bringing us this light that comes from the heart – the greatest, the heart of a mother who tells us, ‘Do not be afraid, I am here with you,’ ” he said.
“Today a new light must be illuminated for us, the light of hope, of truth. Mary, our mom, walks by our side,” he said in his homily.
Como es tradicional, la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe preparó una apoteósica y multitudinaria recepción para la ocasión. Oraciones, cantos, danzas, presentación de artistas y luces espectaculares crearon el marco adecuado.
En una Misa concelebrada, el Padre José Gregorio García, vicario, recibió, agradeció y bendijo a los corredores provenientes de Newton. “Gracias por traernos esta luz que viene del corazón, el más grande, el corazón de una madre que nos dice ‘No temas, yo estoy aquí contigo’”, dijo.
“Hoy se debe iluminar para nosotros una nueva luz la luz de esperanza, de verdad. María, la mamá nuestra, camina a nuestro lado”, aseguró en su homilía.
who the St. inside A the afterward
In the faith by light also
Padre Antorcha las Guadalupe
Una largo
En su Cristo
Torch
2002. On faithful of the procession streets church. Kowalski, to welcome the candle torch, Regardless language parishioners participate
llevarla donde bendecir Misa.
Sin platillos Virgen
Mocksville Greensboro
St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Mocksville has been a stop for the Guadalupe Torch since its first race in 2002. On Friday afternoon, the faithful waited on the outskirts the city to take the torch in procession through its main streets until they reached the church. There Father Eric Kowalski, pastor, was waiting welcome the torch, bless images, light the Paschal candle from the light of the torch, and celebrate Mass. Regardless of what language they preferred, all parishioners were invited to pray, share delicious traditional Mexican dishes, and participate in dances and songs in honor of the Virgin Mary.
La parroquia San Francisco de Asís en Mocksville es una parada obligatoria para la Antorcha Guadalupana desde que realizó su primera carrera en 2002. El viernes 8 por la tarde, numerosos fieles la esperaron en las afueras para llevarla en procesión por las calles principales de la ciudad hasta alcanzar la iglesia, donde su párroco, el Padre Eric Kowalski, la esperaba para dar la bienvenida, bendecir las imágenes, encender el cirio pascual con la luz de la Antorcha y celebrar Misa. Sin importar el idioma, todos los feligreses fueron invitados a orar, compartir platillos típicos mexicanos, y participar en las danzas y canciones en honor a la Virgen Morena.
Light of Hope’ esperanza’
STORY BY CÉSAR HURTADO
It has been 22 years since Deacon Enedino Aquino of St. Mary’s began receiving this light of love that the Virgin of Guadalupe brings people along its journey from Mexico to New York City.
When asked what is so attractive to so many about the Guadalupe Torch, he said, “The union of peoples through prayer and supplication. Despite the distance, the Virgin unites hearts.”
He said it enables him to feel connected to his mother, who every year went to the torch passing through Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico. “My mother’s hands touched the image. And I would receive it and touch it here in North Carolina. It’s an emotion that can’t be described.”
Ya son 22 años los que el Diácono Enedino Aquino lleva recibiendo esta luz de amor que nos trae la Virgen de Guadalupe desde la Basílica en México”.
¿Qué nos atrae tanto de la Antorcha Guadalupana?, le preguntamos.
“La unión de los pueblos a través de la oración, de la súplica. A pesar de la distancia, la Virgen une corazones”. Nos confesó que él mismo pudo conectarse con su madre, quien cada año acudía al paso de la Antorcha en Tampico, Tamaulipas, México. “Las manos de mi madre tocaban la imagen. Y yo la recibía y tocaba aquí en Carolina del Norte. Es una emoción que no se puede describir”.
Thomasville
In the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 10, the Guadalupe Torch arrived at Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville. The faithful, volunteers and Father Gabriel Carvajal, pastor, received the torch on the esplanade where at noon an openair Mass was offered for more than 700 people. The size of the crowd made it impossible to celebrate Mass inside the church.
Our Lady tells us we must entrust ourselves to God’s will, Father Carvajal noted in his homily: “I am the Mother of Heaven and I have come to your home to ask you to hold on to His hand. Today, He asks us to illuminate your hard heart that does not want to surrender.”
ET
here was no happier person at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Lexington than its pastor, Father Sabastian Umouyo, who received the torch and presided over procession that carried the images of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe inside the church.
A huge smile lit up his face throughout liturgy and during the reception afterward in the parish hall.
In his homily, Father Umouyo praised runners and thanked them for their faith and enthusiasm. “We are separated borders, but our faith unites us. May the light of Christ shine not only outside but also in our hearts,” he said.
No había persona más feliz en la parroquia Nuestra Señora del Rosario en Lexington que su párroco, el Padre Sabastian Umouyo, quien recibió la Antorcha y presidió la procesión que llevó imágenes de San Juan Diego y María de Guadalupe al interior de la iglesia.
Una gran sonrisa iluminó su rostro a lo largo de la liturgia y durante el agasajo que se brindó en el salón parroquial. En su homilía, el Padre Umouyo halagó a los corredores y les dio las gracias por fe y entusiasmo. “Nos separan fronteras, pero nuestra fe nos une. Que la luz de Cristo nos solo brille afuera sino también en nuestros corazones”, dijo.
l domingo 10 a las 7 de la mañana llegó la Antorcha Guadalupana a la parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Caminos en Thomasville. Los fieles, voluntarios, y el Padre Gabriel Carvajal, párroco, la recibieron en la explanada donde al mediodía se celebraría una Misa al aire libre que acogería a más de 700 personas. ¡Imposible recibirlas en la iglesia!
La Virgen nos dice que debemos confiarnos a la voluntad de Dios. “Yo soy la Madre del Cielo y he venido hasta tu hogar para pedirte que te agarres de la mano de Él. Hoy nos pide que alumbres tu duro corazón que no quiere entregarse”, se dijo en la homilía.
High Point
On Monday, Nov. 11, the Guadalupe Torch, the Light of Mary, departed from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish for Burlington, where the faithful of Holy Sacrament Parish in the Diocese of Raleigh will take over for the next leg of the journey.
As the torch left, the faithful said goodbye to Our Lady of Guadalupe, hope of her migrant people separated by a border. Yet her message remains in their hearts and carried out through the actions of those who touched and carried the torch. Mary’s words, “Do not be afraid, am I not here who am your mother?” continue to ring in the ears of those who were able to experience the torch in person, and its message of hope will continue to shine in our communities.
Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Long live St. Juan Diego! Long live Christ the King!
El lunes 11 de noviembre, la Luz de María partió desde la parroquia Inmaculado Corazón de María con destino a Burlington, donde los hermanos de la parroquia Santísmo Sacramento de la Diócesis de Raleigh tomarán la posta.
Adiós María de Guadalupe, esperanza de tu pueblo migrante separado por una frontera.
Adiós Madre Morena. Gracias por tu visita. Te quedas en nuestros corazones, en nuestros brazos que llevaron tu Antorcha que se mantiene brillando en nuestras comunidades.
Tus palabras, “No temas, ¿no esto yo aquí que soy tu Madre?”, resuenan todavía en nuestros oídos.
¡Que viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! ¡Que viva San Juan Diego”, ¡Que viva Cristo Rey!
Elder Ministry connects seniors, builds community
EDITOR’S NOTE
Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte is highlighting the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching as part of its year-long 75th anniversary celebration. This week, the focus is on “Call to Family, Community, and Participation.” The person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community, and marriage and the family are central social institutions that must be supported and strengthened.
Whatdoes it mean to be part of a community?
Webster’s Dictionary defines community, in part, as “a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society.”
The Church teaches that human lives are not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society directly affects people’s dignity and their capacity to flourish. The Church also teaches that family is a central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, and all people have a right and a duty to participate in society.
Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry is one key way this Catholic Social Teaching is lived out each day in the Diocese of Charlotte – connecting senior citizens with each other and with the broader community to live life to the fullest.
Elder Ministry’s mission reflects Pope Francis’ description of the elderly as “a treasure” for the vital role they play in a family and in a community – in part by passing down their faith, their traditions, and their wisdom to younger generations.
“It is true that old age is at times unpleasant, because of the illnesses it brings. But the wisdom of our grandparents is the inheritance we ought to receive,” he said during a 2013 homily extolling the elderly that became famously known as “Grandpa’s Table.” “A people that does not care for its grandparents, that does not respect its grandparents, has no future since it has lost its memory.”
Guided by this – as well as by Pope John Paul II’s vision of old age as a time for realizing what the psalmist calls “wisdom of heart” (Ps 90:12) – Elder Ministry enriches the lives of seniors while tapping into their life experience to benefit the entire community.
Sandra Breakfield has led the Elder Ministry program for more than two decades.
“Every stage of life is a cherished gift,” Breakfield said, “and our seniors are thriving and contributing wisdom and grace to our community.”
Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry hosts “Spring Fling” events in Charlotte and Hickory each year. At the 36th annual Spring Fling April 30 at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, nearly 200 people from 15 parishes came together for a day filled with fun, food and fellowship.
Breakfield organizes educational and social programs for seniors in various locations around the diocese – as well as online – to nurture their talents, increase their knowledge, and improve their wellbeing.
Programs run the gamut: fraud prevention awareness, navigating Social
Security and Medicare, senior living options and aging “in place,” home safety and fall prevention, health and wellness fairs, and more.
Popular “Spring Fling” events in Charlotte and Hickory bring together seniors for a day filled with fun, friendship, food, music, bingo, crafts, entertainment,
Get involved with Catholic Charities
Join Catholic Charities in its mission to serve others and spread the love of Christ:
LEARN MORE: Visit www.ccdoc.org/elder-ministry to find resources of interest, upcoming events, and more information about how Catholic Charities’ Elder Ministry program is enhancing the lives of seniors
DONATE: Consider donating funds to Catholic Charities at www.ccdoc.org/donate.
VOLUNTEER: Make a direct impact by volunteering at Catholic Charities’ regional offices in Asheville, Charlotte or Winston-Salem. Learn more about volunteer opportunities at www.ccdoc.org/volunteer.
educational classes, health and wellness programs, chair exercises, line dancing and Zumba. The event always concludes with Mass.
Elder Ministry also hosts retreats at the Catholic Conference Center, organizes outreach to parishes, and shares resources for caregivers.
During the pandemic, when so many seniors were homebound and isolated, Elder Ministry saw a need to keep seniors connected. Breakfield hosted educational webinars via Zoom and compiled a list of “virtual travel” experiences like visiting the Vatican Museums, taking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, touring the Louvre in Paris, or going to the zoo – all with the click of a mouse.
Elder Ministry is about more than programs and information, though, Breakfield said. It’s about building community.
“Our elders are storytellers, sharers of their life experiences and their faith,” she said. “Seniors are often the backbone in families and parish life, offering their experience and knowledge of how to live our Catholic faith. They can be an encouragement for others.”
— David Long and Patricia L. Guilfoyle
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE
FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND PARTICIPATION
“Blessed is the home in which the elderly are cared for! Blessed is the family that honors the grandparents!”
– Pope Francis
The love of Christ impels us (II Cor. 5:14)
(Deus Caritas Est, no. 25).
Tercer Encuentro de Coros será en Divino Redentor
SERGIO LÓPEZ selopez@rcdoc.org
WINSTON-SALEM — Con la finalidad de fomentar el encuentro, la formación, el compartimiento y la proyección de los diferentes coros de las parroquias, la oficina del Ministerio Hispano de la Vicaría se prepara para realizar la tercera versión de su encuentro anual de coros.
La primera edición se llevó a cabo el 10 de junio de 2022 en la Parroquia Nuestra Señora de la Merced en Winston-Salem. Participó como formador el Padre Alfonso Gámez, entonces vicario de nuestra Señora de la Merced, quien compartió algunas claves sobre la liturgia y el canto.
A nivel diocesano, se pretendía tener un estilo de “Guerra de Bandas” o competencia de coros, por lo que en algunas vicarías fue esta la dinámica que se utilizó. Sin embargo, otro fue el recurso implementado en Winston-Salem, donde se prefirió proponer el encuentro y la misión.
Ese encuentro trató de reunir a todos los coros de la vicaría para compartir y conocer a los diferentes equipos de cada parroquia, unificando un proyecto de un solo coro con la integración de todas las parroquias de la vicaría. Ese coro, compuesto por alrededor de 30 miembros entre instrumentistas y voces, representó a Winston-Salem durante el Congreso Eucarístico 2022 y compuso un canto con alusión al tema del Congreso, “la fe es más valiosa que el oro”.
Gracias a esa iniciativa, se lanzó la propuesta de tener estos encuentros anuales para también celebrar a la Santa Patrona de los músicos: Santa Cecilia, cerca a la fecha de su fiesta el 22 de noviembre.
El segundo encuentro se realizó el 18 noviembre de 2023 en la Parroquia Santa Cruz en Kernersville, lográndose la entrega de reconocimientos. Los participantes nominaron a personas o coros a los que deseaban reconocer. En esta edición se entregaron tres reconocimientos: al Coro Santa María del Divino Redentor por sus 8 años de servicio; al Coro Hosana de la Sagrada Familia por sus 6 años de servicio; y a la Señora Carmen Leyva, de Nuestra Señora de la Merced, por su entrega y liderazgo. La formación estuvo a cargo del Padre Noah Carter, párroco de Santa Cruz, quien se refirió a la liturgia y el servicio de los músicos. Para el tercer encuentro, programado para el sábado 23 de noviembre en la Parroquia Divino Redentor, nuevamente se contará con la entrega de reconocimientos. Las bases han sido enviadas y al momento ya se cuentan con varios nominados. Respecto a la formación, se contará con la participación de Óscar Hernández, director de música sacra de la Parroquia Santa Cruz en Kernersville, quien disertará sobre “Recursos y mejores prácticas para coros”. Quien desee atender al encuentro será bienvenido. La dirección es: Antiguo Cristo Rey, 1012 Hoots Road, Yadkinville, N.C. 27055. El evento comenzará a las 10 de la mañana y concluirá alrededor de las 4 p.m. Para mayor información envíe un texto al 336-529-3748 o escriba un correo a selopez@rcdoc.org.
Roque de Santa Cruz
Cada16 de noviembre la Iglesia celebra a San Roque González de Santa Cruz, sacerdote jesuita, mártir y primer santo paraguayo.
Nacido en Asunción, Paraguay, en 1576, fue ordenado sacerdote a los 22 años y posteriormente nombrado párroco de la Catedral de Asunción. En 1609 ingresó a la Compañía de Jesús y unos años después, el 25 de marzo de 1615, fundó la “reducción” de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciación de Itapúa (actual Posadas en Argentina), la que sería posteriormente trasladada a la ciudad paraguaya de Encarnación. Esta es la razón por la que San Roque González es considerado el fundador y patrono de ambas ciudades.
A lo largo de su vida misionera, San Roque fundó otras reducciones, las que también dieron origen a ciudades actuales en Brasil, Argentina y Paraguay.
El Padre Roque hizo de la Virgen María la guía y protectora de su obra evangelizadora. Siempre llevaba un cuadro de la Madre de Dios consigo y predicaba con él al frente; recorría los caminos llevándolo en las manos, algo que producía admiración entre los indígenas, quienes, conmovidos por la maternal figura de la Madre de Dios, solían abrir el corazón a Dios y a la fe, haciéndose cristianos.
Sin embargo, no todos los naturales fueron receptivos al anuncio del Evangelio, ni a las propuestas de los hermanos jesuitas. En la zona de Ijuí, el cacique Ñezú, jefe de la tribu guaraní del lugar, rechazaba la idea de vivir en una reducción y terminó enfrentándose al Padre Roque.
El 15 de noviembre de 1628, los encargados de la reducción, Padre Roque González de Santa Cruz y el sacerdote español Alonso Rodríguez Olmedo, fueron asesinados. Sus verdugos utilizaron un hacha de piedra. La misma suerte corrió el jesuita Juan del Castillo, también español, dos días después. Los cuerpos de los Padres Roque y Alonso fueron arrojados al fuego. Milagrosamente, el corazón del Padre San Roque quedó intacto mientras que el resto de su cuerpo quedó reducido a cenizas. Un grupo de indígenas se acercó a recoger el corazón, cuando, de acuerdo a los testimonios registrados posteriormente, algunos de los indígenas escucharon una voz que los llamaba al arrepentimiento. Quienes escucharon la voz quedaron estupefactos, sin saber cómo reaccionar, porque la voz parecía salir del corazón del jesuita. Todos y cada uno de los presentes que escucharon el llamado lo hicieron en su propia lengua.
Poco después, el corazón de San Roque, considerado una reliquia, fue recuperado por otros jesuitas, quienes corroboraron sorprendidos que este se mantenía en perfecto estado. Como el tiempo pasó y el corazón se mantenía incorrupto, fue llevado a Roma junto al hacha de piedra con la que el grupo de misioneros jesuitas fue martirizado.
NOVIEMBRE 17-23
Domingo: Deuteronomio 12:1-3, Salmos 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11, Hebreos 10:11-14, 18, Marcos 13:24-32; Lunes: Apocalipsis 1:1-4; 2:1-5, Salmos 1:1-2, 3, 4 y 6, Lucas 18:35-43; Martes: Apocalipsis 3:1-6, 14-22, Salmos 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5, Lucas 19:1-10; Miércoles: Apocalipsis 4:1-11, Salmos 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6, Lucas 19:11-28; Jueves (Presentación de la Santísima
Virgen María): Apocalipsis 5:1-10, Salmos 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a y 9b, Lucas 19:41-44; Viernes (Santa Cecilia, Virgen y Mártir): Apocalipsis 10:8-11, Salmos 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131, Lucas 19:45-48; Sábado: Apocalipsis 11:4-12, Salmos 144:1, 2, 9-10, Lucas 20:27-40
“San
Actualmente, el corazón de San Roque y el hacha se encuentran en la Capilla de los Mártires, en el Colegio de Cristo Rey en la ciudad de Asunción, Paraguay.
En 1988, el Papa San Juan Pablo II, durante su visita a Paraguay, canonizó a San Roque González, y a los españoles San Alfonso Rodríguez y San Juan Del Castillo.
“Ni los obstáculos de una naturaleza agreste, ni las incomprensiones de los hombres, ni los ataques de quienes veían en su acción evangelizadora un peligro para sus propios intereses, fueron capaces de atemorizar a estos campeones de la fe. Su entrega sin reservas los llevó hasta el martirio”, dijo el Papa Peregrino en aquella ocasión.
NOVIEMBRE 24-30
Domingo (Solemnidad de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Rey del Universo): Deuteronomio 7:13-14, Salmos 92:1ab, 1c-2:5, Apocalipsis 1:5-8, Juan 18:33-37; Lunes: Apocalipsis 14:1-3, 4b-5, Salmos 23,1bc-2. 3-4ab. 5-6, Lucas 21:1-4; Martes: Apocalipsis 14:14-19, Salmos 95, 10. 11-12a. 12b-13, Lucas 21:5-11; Miércoles: Apocalipsis 15:1-4, Salmos 97, 1. 2-3ab. 7-8. 9, Lucas 22:12-19; Jueves (Día de Acción de Gracias): Sirácides 50:24-26, Salmos 144, 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9. 10-11, 1 Corintios 1:39, Lucas 17:11-19; Viernes: Apocalipsis 20:14. 11–21:2, Salmos 83:3. 4. 5-6a y 8a, Lucas 21:29-33; Sábado (Fiesta de San Andrés, Apóstol): Romanos 10:9-18, Salmos 18:2-3. 4-5, Mateo 4:18-22
— Condensado de ACI Prensa catholicnewsherald.com | November 15, 2024
DICIEMBRE 1-7
Domingo (Primer domingo de Adviento): Jeremías 33:14-16, Salmos 24:4bc-5ab. 8-9. 10 y 14, 1 Tesalonicenses 3:12–4:2, Lucas 21:25-28. 34-36; Lunes: Isaías 2:1-5, Salmos 121:1-2. 3-4a (4b-5. 6-7) 8-, Mateo 8:5-11; Martes (Memoria de San Francisco Javier, presbítero): Isaías 11:1-10, Salmos 71:2. 7-8. 12-13. 17, Lucas 10:21-24; Miércoles: Isaías 25:6-10, Salmos 22:1-3a. 3b. 4.5.6, Mateo 15:29-37; Jueves: Isaías 26:1-6, Salmos 117:1. 8-9. 19-21. 25-27a, Mateo 7:21. 24-27; Viernes: Isaías 29:17-24, Salmos 26:1. 4. 13-14, Mateo 9:27-31; Sábado (Memoria de San Ambrosio, obispo y doctor de la Iglesia): Isaías 30:19-21. 23-26, Salmos 146:1-2. 3-4. 5-6, Mateo 9:35-10:1. 6-8
Lecturas Diarias
IMAGEN CORTESÍA ARTISTA PLÁSTICO SR. RAÚL BERZOSA
Roque González de Santa Cruz”, realizada por el artista para la Capilla Nuestra Señora de Belén en el Belen Jesuit Preparatory School en Miami, Florida.
Knights of Columbus surpasses $100 million milestone
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Knights of Columbus announced that its local councils have helped donate more than $100 million to seminarians, postulants and novices through its Refund Support Vocations Program (RSVP). Launched in 1981 in response to a vocations crisis in North America, RSVP encourages Knights to stand in solidarity with those pursuing religious vocations by providing financial, moral and spiritual support. Last year, more than 2,700 councils donated $4.1 million, an all-time high.
“For more than 40 years, RSVP has supported tens of thousands of men and women as they answer the Lord’s call to serve the Church and the people of God,” said Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly. He continued, “Our support for vocations speaks to the love Knights of Columbus have for the Eucharist, our parishes, and the Church.”
Through RSVP, for every $500 that a local council provides to a seminarian, postulant or novice, the Knights of Columbus Supreme Council refunds the council $100. The council must also provide non-financial support.
DePaul University president ‘appalled’ by attack on campus
CHICAGO — Two Jewish students were attacked on the campus of Catholic-run DePaul University in Chicago Nov. 6 and the school’s president said he was “appalled” by the incident. The attack was part of a wave of antiJewish hostility in the Chicago area.
DePaul’s president, Robert Manuel, said in a letter dated the same day to faculty and staff, “We are outraged that this occurred on our campus. It is completely unacceptable and a violation of DePaul’s values to uphold and care for the dignity of every individual.”
Manuel said in the letter the students were “visibly showing support for Israel,” which has been embroiled in a war with the Hamas militant group in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking nearly 300 hostages. He said the DePaul students were punched multiple times and “sustained physical injuries but declined medical treatment.”
“We recognize that for a significant portion of our Jewish community, Israel is a core part of their Jewish identity. Those students – and every student – should feel safe on our university campus,” he said.
— OSV News and Catholic News Service
Nuncio, USCCB president reflect on Eucharistic congress, synodality, duty to proclaim Gospel
LAURETTA BROWN AND GRETCHEN R. CROWE OSV News
BALTIMORE — The public session of the fall plenary assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opened Nov. 12 with remarks from Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, USCCB president, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the U.S.
In an address of a little less than 20 minutes, Cardinal Pierre spoke to the U.S. bishops about July’s National Eucharistic Congress, the Synod on Synodality, which wrapped up at the end of October, and the upcoming Jubilee 2025 in Rome – all through the lens of Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, “Dilexit Nos.”
“At the very time when the universal synod was coming to its completion, and with a Jubilee Year about to begin, the pope has somewhat ‘surprised’ us by returning to a very basic element in the Church’s piety, something that might even seem too ‘simple’: devotion to the heart of Jesus,” he said. “Isn’t it interesting that, of all things, the pope would give us, precisely at this moment, an encyclical on the Sacred Heart? I think this is something worth paying attention to. What meaning are we to derive from this call to return to the heart?”
Follow our coverage online
At www.catholicnewsherald.com : Read in-depth coverage from the U.S. bishop’s fall assembly in Baltimore, as well as an OSV News interview with Bishop Michael Martin about the Charlotte diocese’s Helene relief efforts in western North Carolina.
The National Eucharistic Congress was “a religious experience of the saving love of Jesus” – “an experience that is not an end, but a beginning. When we encounter Christ’s love in this way, we are compelled to share it with others. And this is what we are the shepherds of at this time in our country.”
“We must help the Church find the answers to the questions that were being asked at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Congress: How do we move from personal encounter to mission? Where are the new directions that the Spirit is leading us in our evangelization? What new avenues do we need to open in the life of the Church?” he asked. “After all, a broad Eucharistic revival can only occur if we are able to live the Eucharist in all its dimensions:
not only by gathering to adore, but also by going out on mission, so that Christ can encounter others.”
Cardinal Pierre acknowledged that “several years into our synodal journey as a Church, some are still asking, ‘What is synodality?’” He suggested that the “language of devotion to the Sacred Heart” can help people better understand the term.
“The synodal Church is a gathering of people who have come into relationship with the heart of Christ, and who are journeying together in order to share that relationship with others.”
Saying that the synod was never about “completing a to-do list” or “certain outcomes,” he said instead it is “about inviting more participation in the Church’s missionary discernment; while at the same time, deepening our shared participation with the Lord.”
Because of this, the success of the synod should not be judged by what decisions were made, but by “the way in which conversations are happening at various levels in the Church.”
“For those who feel disappointed about the Church’s synodal process to this point – either for what it has been or for what it hasn’t been – I would share the encouragement that I think Pope Francis is offering us through this encyclical,” he said. “Essentially the pope is saying to us: Look deeper for what synodality is about. Look to the heart: your own heart, the heart of Christ, and the heart of the other
person. From there, we can embark on a shared mission as Church.”
Following Cardinal Pierre’s remarks, Archbishop Broglio began his presidential address with a reference to the Book of Maccabees, recalling “the fidelity of the chosen people in a time of oppression, forced assimilation and rule by a foreign power.” This fidelity, he said, was “sufficient to ensure a temporary victory over the oppressors, but more importantly the preservation and handing on of the Jewish faith to the next generations right up to our time.”
Praising the “moment of unity and celebration” of Christ’s real presence at the Eucharistic congress, he noted that the revival “continues now in its phase of mission” to “help the faithful discover or deepen its meaning, and to prolong the positive effects of the first two years of the Eucharistic revival.”
Following the U.S. presidential election, he reflected on the way in which bishops can serve as examples and speak the truth amid division in society.
“As the successors of the Apostles and vicars of Christ in our dioceses, we never backpedal or renounce the clear teaching of the Gospel,” he said. “We proclaim it in and out of season.”
“Christians should be catalysts for a more humane and worthy approach to daily life,” he emphasized. “Nothing is truly ordinary, because it is open to be touched by divine grace.”
Bishops from around the country –including Charlotte Bishop Michael Martin – gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Nov. 11 for the opening Mass of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 2024 fall plenary assembly.
Dame Cathedral, which
in
is scheduled to reopen Dec. 8, to be followed by six months of celebrations, Masses, pilgrimages, prayers and exhibitions. (Left) The new liturgical furnishings – including the altar, tabernacle, cathedra, ambo and baptistery – were designed and crafted in bronze by sculptor Guillaume Bardet.
Inferno turned miracle:
The story of the resurrection of Notre Dame Cathedral
CAROLINE DE SURY OSV News
PARIS — In 2017, The New York Times reported that Notre Dame Cathedral was in dire need of a makeover. Weather and time had taken a toll on the edifice. Broken gargoyles were replaced by plastic and limestone crumbled at the touch, with a renovation expected to exceed $180 million.
The interest in saving it from misery, however, was minimal.
Little did anyone know that two years later, the icon of Paris would be burning, with shocked Parisians flocking to the streets April 15, 2019, praying for their heroic firefighters –one of the best fire brigades in the world – as they tried to save the soul of the city. Millions of people all over the world were glued to their television screens, many in tears.
Within hours after the fire was contained, donors pledged almost $1 billion to restore the Parisian icon to its former glory. But it has been a long and busy five years – and a budget of $760 million – that has led to the restoration of the beloved cathedral and its planned Dec. 8 reopening.
MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK
It was a Monday, 6:30 p.m. local time, when stunned passersby looked on from Parisian bridges as the fire engulfed the
spire and most of Notre Dame’s roof.
It was no ordinary Monday, however. It was Holy Week.
“Catholics should be commemorating Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection in its pews at Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday services. Instead, a massive inferno is threatening to destroy the culturally and religiously significant icon for good,” USA Today wrote as Catholics and non-Catholics around the world held their breath.
The cathedral burned until the next morning, Tuesday, April 16.
Europeans woke up to a painful hole in place of the cathedral’s spire and images of its devastated interior, with one heartbreaking picture going viral: ashes still smoking as sunbeams shone through the collapsed roof, spotlighting the rubble that used to be the main altar.
Paris’ fire brigade got the blaze under control, and the main structure – including the bell towers and rose windows – was saved. No one was injured, and the relics housed in the cathedral and priceless works of art were rescued.
Father Jean-Marc Fournier was a witness to the moment the fire began to attack the north tower. As chaplain to the Paris fire department, he was on the scene, taking part in the massive operation with the 600 firefighters mobilized.
SAVING WHAT MATTERS MOST
With the help of a team of colleagues, he had taken Jesus’ crown of thorns to safety – a relic particularly dear to his heart, and one of Notre Dame’s most valuable treasures. As a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, he felt an urgency to ensure its protection.
“After the crown of thorns, I helped save a number of works of art, paintings … and altar furnishings, and then I became concerned with the Blessed Sacrament,”
Father Fournier told OSV News.
“There was the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle of the high altar, but it was absolutely impossible to reach it! There were blazing infernos on the floor in front, with tangles of beams burning, showers of flames and molten lead falling from the roof. It was a furnace,” he said.
“Surprisingly, the statue of the Virgin Mary of the Pillar was immaculate, unharmed in this glowing atmosphere,”
Father Fournier pointed out.
There was a second reserve of consecrated hosts at the altar of St. George, one of the chapels around the choir, Father Fournier recalled. “There, on the contrary, there was a great silence, a great tranquility and an astonishing freshness. We found the keys, and I retrieved the Blessed Sacrament.”
At www.catholicnewsherald.com : Read more about Notre Dame’s upcoming reopening, including its new features and plans for its priceless relic of the Crown of Thorns
“I then thought of blessing the cathedral with the Eucharist,” Father Fournier recounted.
“It was an act of faith. I asked Jesus, whom I believe to be truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, to fight the flames and preserve this building, which is like a jewel box dedicated to His mother,” he said.
The 40-foot metal cross, designed in the 19th century – along with its spire – by the architect restoring Notre Dame at the time, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, is the only element of the choir roof to have survived the 2019 fire. It had fallen to the ground when the roof frame collapsed but was not badly damaged.
Agnès Poirier, the Parisian author of “Notre Dame: The Soul of France,” said that “to think that Our Lady may completely disappear from our view and our lives was simply unimaginable. What was impossible for us to process was that with Notre Dame on fire, we were watching NOTRE DAME, SEE PAGE 23 More online
OSV NEWS AND COURTESY ARCHDIOCESE OF PARIS, GUILLAUME BARDET
Notre
was ravaged by a fire
2019 (above),
NOTRE DAME
history burning. Our common history. Closely connected, of course, to the history of France, Notre Dame’s universalism however speaks to the whole of humanity.”
WORKING WITH JOY
For its five years of reconstruction, Notre Dame was sealed off from the public, with tourists patiently viewing the front towers of the cathedral from wooden risers installed in front of it.
The risers are placed not far from the place where Philippe Villeneuve, Notre Dame’s chief architect, found the copper rooster, usually perched atop the spire, that was feared lost on April 15. At dawn on April 16, Villeneuve found the battered rooster lying in the gutter of Rue du Cloître-Notre-Dame, a street along the cathedral square. Relics of Paris’ patron, St. Genevieve, were found intact inside.
After five years of intense work and installation of a new rooster – one he designed himself – on top of the new spire, Villeneuve emphasized that this magnificent project was made possible by the international outpouring of generosity and donations that followed the fire.
“I would never have imagined that Notre Dame could have aroused such emotion throughout the world, during and after the fire,” he told OSV News. “It was astonishing.” Those involved in the reconstruction emphasize that many American donors generously supported Notre Dame’s rebuilding.
“Notre Dame shows France’s influence in the world, and its extraordinary
heritage,” he said. “But the fire was not just a national issue. Notre Dame is also a (UNESCO) World Heritage site, and during the fire, we really felt that it was humanity that was seeing its heritage disappear.”
Villeneuve said every person working in
work project. He described the cathedral as if it were a human being.
“I would like to give people something that will touch them,” he said. “I would like to help Notre Dame Cathedral speak to people, as best as it can.”
the reconstruction had a symbolic task of passing on their knowledge and work for future generations.
Highly skilled carpenters from four companies were working together to rebuild the spire before the December reopening –with the new construction, identical to the destroyed one, unveiled in March. Workers were chosen from companies that followed a strict ethical code and were skilled in sacred art restoration.
“What has moved me so much over the years is precisely the joy that has animated all those involved in the project since the day after the fire,” Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris said.
Architect Villeneuve, like hundreds of professionals working on the cathedral’s reconstruction, didn’t treat it merely as a
Notre Dame’s reopening will include “six months of celebration and praise,” Archbishop Ulrich said in a Feb. 2 pastoral letter.
The archbishop announced that “this celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame deserves an octave: from Dec. 8 to 15, every day, we will have a solemn celebration with a particular theme.”
The festive “reopening” time will last until June 8, when Pentecost falls in 2025.
That way, the archbishop said, “many will be able to say: ‘I was at the reopening!’”
“It must in fact be taken into account that the number of seats in the cathedral is not very large: Notre Dame is certainly not the largest church in Paris!” Archbishop Ulrich said.
At the end of November, a procession will take place in the streets of the French capital to return the statue of the Virgin Mary to the cathedral.
Throughout the restoration period, it was housed in the church of Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois, directly across the street from the Louvre Palace. The sculpture, called the Virgin of the Pillar or the Virgin of Paris, dates to the mid-14th century.
The reopening celebration will begin Dec. 7, with representatives of the French state, which owns the cathedral, officially handing Notre Dame over to the archbishop of Paris.
The event will include the “awakening of the organ,” restored since the fire, followed by a “liturgical celebration with blessing, a Magnificat or a ‘Te Deum,’ then vespers.”
‘A SURE SIGN THAT THE LORD IS HERE’
The first Mass will be celebrated in Notre Dame Sunday, Dec. 8, the day when the new altar will be consecrated. The bronze altar, with a flared shape reminiscent of a cup, was designed by Guillaume Bardet. Based south of Lyon, Bardet was chosen from among 70 candidates vying for the project. He also is in charge of the other pieces of furniture, baptistery, ambo, pulpit and tabernacle.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception will be celebrated in the reopened cathedral Dec. 9, a day later than the actual feast. “We will have the joy of celebrating the Immaculate Conception, which the liturgy celebrates this year on Dec. 9, due to the Second Sunday of Advent,” the archbishop wrote.
“My very deep desire is to be able to welcome visitors,” the cathedral’s rectorarchpriest, Father Olivier Ribadeau Dumas, said. “Notre Dame is a place of worship that welcomes 15 million people every year. As a priest, I seek above all to enable these people to encounter Christ. This can be done through the witness of faith that is the Masses celebrated as visitors continue their tour of the cathedral.”
He added: “I would like this reopening to be the occasion of a spiritual awakening for France.”
Archbishop Ulrich said that “Like the Mother of God, the cathedral is not the Light, but it reflects the Light; it is a peaceful and sure sign that the Lord is here, in our lives, that He is present in our world and that He comes to meet each person along the way.”
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Be
the lookout for hope; keep moving forward in faith, pope writes
CINDY WOODEN Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Christians should make a practice each night of identifying signs of hope, even small ones, that came their way during the day, Pope Francis wrote.
Living the virtue of Christian hope means “knowing how to discern, everywhere, evidence of hope, the breaking through of the possible into the impossible, of grace where it would seem that sin has eroded all trust,” the pope said in the introduction to the book, “Hope Is a Light in the Night.”
In preparation for the Holy Year 2025, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican publishing house, prepared collections of Pope Francis’ writing and preaching about Christian virtues with new introductions from the pope.
Vatican News Nov. 6 published the English-language translations of the pope’s prefaces for the collection on hope and for one on faith, titled “Faith Is a Journey.”
For the theme of the Holy Year, which he will open Dec. 24, Pope Francis chose “Pilgrims of Hope.”
Reflecting on Christian hope, he wrote in the new book, is especially important “in times like the ones we are living, in which the Third World War being fought ‘piecemeal’ that is unfolding before our eyes can lead us to assume attitudes of gloomy discouragement and ill-concealed cynicism.”
Christian hope is not optimism, he wrote. Rather, it is “waiting for something that has already been given to us: salvation in God’s eternal and infinite love.”
God’s love and promise of salvation “gives flavor to our lives” and is “the hinge on which the world remains standing, despite all the wickedness and nefariousness caused by our sins as men and women.”
“To hope, then, is to welcome this gift that God offers us every day,” Pope Francis wrote. “To hope is to savor the wonder of being loved, sought, desired by a God who has not shut Himself away in His impenetrable heavens but has made Himself flesh and blood, history and days, to share our lot.”
But hope also is a gift that requires a response of letting oneself “be molded” by God’s love and sharing it with others, he wrote. In encouraging people to go on the daily hunt for hope, the pope
‘Let us train ourselves to recognize hope. We will then be able to marvel at how much good exists in the world.’
Pope Francis
said the signs can be simple: “a smile from someone you didn’t expect, an act of gratuitousness observed at school, a kind act encountered in the workplace, a gesture of help, even a small one.”
“Let us train ourselves to recognize hope,” he said. “We will then be able to marvel at how much good exists in the world. And our hearts will light up with hope. We will then be able to be beacons of the future for those around us.”
The pope’s introduction to the book on faith as a journey ties in closely with the practice of making a pilgrimage – especially one on foot – during the Holy Year.
“Walking is good for us: it connects us with what is happening around us, helps us discover the sounds, smells, and noises of the reality that surrounds us – in other words, it brings us closer to the lives of others,” he said.
A Holy Year pilgrimage also is a reminder that “faith is a pilgrimage and that we are pilgrims on this earth,” the pope wrote. “We are not tourists or wanderers; we do not move aimlessly, existentially speaking. We are pilgrims,” who take risks, put in effort and have a goal. Reaching God is the goal “that continuously calls us to move forward because He is always greater than the idea we have of Him,” the pope wrote. “But it is precisely this walking toward God that gives us the exhilarating certainty that He awaits us to give us His consolation and His grace.”
Pope: God’s love also comes through people being kind
VATICAN CITY — There is no such thing as people who only take and never give, Pope Francis told a group of visitors experiencing homelessness and volunteers who assist them.
“We are all givers and receivers, we all need each other and are called to enrich each other,” he said during a private audience at the Vatican Nov. 8. The group, called “Begegnung im Zentrum” (“Encounter in the Center”), is based in Vienna, Austria, and regularly meets at the residence of its archbishop, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn.
“You come from very different countries, you belong to different religious faiths and each of you has had your own unique life experiences, sometimes serious ordeals,” the pope told his guests. “But one thing unites us all: we are brothers and sisters, we are children of one Father,” he said.
The pope praised the group members for helping each other and sharing what each is able to offer. “Indeed, it is not true that some give and others only receive.” Giving and sharing are not just about material things, he said. They include things like “a smile, a small gesture of friendship, a kind look, a ready ear, a good deed.”
Rome’s cathedral marks
1,700-year anniversary
ROME — Nov. 9 marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome and the “Mother and Head of all the Churches in the City and the World.” The date is both a historical milestone and a required liturgical celebration on the Roman liturgical calendar. In each diocese, the anniversary of its cathedral’s dedication is observed as a feast day, so with St. John Lateran, that observance is extended to the universal Church, said Father John Wauck, a literature and communications professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.
As the first legally built public church in the world, it marks the legalization of Christianity and the advent of public Christian worship, said art historian Elizabeth Lev. “That church is built on the witness of 250 years of people willing to die for Christ,” she said. “It’s a reminder that we have this incredible privilege of being able to go out and proclaim our faith.”
Catholic nun among 10 killed in Indonesian volcano eruption
FLORES ISLAND, Indonesia — At least 10 people, including a Catholic nun, have been killed in a volcanic eruption on Indonesia’s predominantly Catholic Flores Island. Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki in the East Flores Regency spewed ash and lava Nov. 3, peppering the surrounding areas with fireballs. Sister Nikolin Padjo of the Servants of the Holy Spirit
congregation died when her convent in Boru collapsed.
San Dominggo Hokeng Middle Seminary in the Wulanggitang district was among the damaged buildings. Several seminarians were injured. Some church institutions, including the Society of Divine Word’s Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission, are mobilizing funds to help the victims. Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation, experiences frequent volcanic eruptions due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an area of intense volcanic and seismic activity. Government authorities have evacuated several villages and hiked the alert level in a four-tiered system to the highest.
Talitha Kum trains nuns, youth to fight against human trafficking
DHAKA, Bangladesh — Talitha Kum Bangladesh is empowering sisters and youth communities in the South Asian country to fight against human trafficking, child marriage and forced marriage with its new training program. One of the world’s leading groups combating human trafficking arranged its second national training program in Dhaka, the country’s capital, Oct. 24-26, with 20 nuns from different congregations, 25 youths from Bangladesh’s eight dioceses, and a religious brother. The first training program was held in 2023 with 19 sisters and 18 youth.
Sister Josephine Rozario of Salesian Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, coordinator of Talitha Kum Bangladesh, led both programs. “Bangladesh is the most vulnerable country in the world in terms of human trafficking, forced marriage, and child marriage ... all these crimes are more organized in Bangladesh due to poverty,” Sister Josephine told OSV News. She said that poor girls and boys are easily recruited by traffickers due to a lack of funds for living. According to a 2023 report by UNICEF –United Nations’ agency fighting for the rights of children – approximately 51% of girls under 18 in Bangladesh were forced into early marriage.
Red Wednesday to put Christian persecution in the spotlight
DUBLIN — From Sydney to Santiago, Chile, Catholics across the globe are coming together this November to stand in solidarity with those who suffer for their faith. Persecution and discrimination against Christians around the world is getting worse, that’s the stark warning from the pontifical charity that works with thousands of vulnerable Christian communities in 140 countries.
This Nov. 20 will mark “Red Wednesday,” a commemoration held annually by Aid to the Church in Need to highlight the fact that one in seven Christians face extreme hostility, violence and repression because of their faith in Christ. In some countries, the observance is being extended throughout the week and is called a “Red Week.” To highlight the plight of persecuted Christians and raise awareness of the need for world leaders to urgently act on religious freedom, cathedrals, churches and other public buildings and monuments will be highlighted in red, the traditional color of martyrdom.
In Ireland, the world’s tallest statue of St. Patrick – atop the mountain Slieve Patrick – will be lit in red for the week. Organizers hope the fact that the statue will be seen in red for many miles, will cause people to pause for thought about the suffering of their fellow Christians. Meanwhile, in Canada the largest shrine to St. Joseph in the world will be lit in red in commemoration. Throughout Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, approximately 300 ACN events will take place in hundreds of cities.
pray for the following deacon who died during the month of November:
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus www.kofcnc.org
John Zimmerle 11-27-2020
Padjo
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Bishop Robert Reed
The ‘month of the dead’ brings its own strange refreshment
Those of us who have experienced the death of a loved one, even if we believe that she or he has gone to a better place, still find ourselves struggling with the parting. It’s hard to let go. Sometimes it’s made a little easier if we have been present for someone’s last days, and at the moment of their death, when we experience the whole strange (and often quite beautiful) mystery of living and dying being played out before our very eyes.
Still, parting is, as Shakespeare wrote, “such sweet sorrow.”
In November, death seems uniquely before us Catholics. The month begins with the great memorial of our saints, followed the next day by the commemoration of all who have passed from this life before us.
And then the nights grow longer, and the winds come. The familiar and warm rustle of leaves diminishes and is replaced with the dry-bones clickety-click of bare branches. It all helps us to remember, and keenly, that “we have no lasting city” (Heb 13:14). At least not one here on earth.
Thanks be to God that we Christians know physical death is not an end to our lives, but a portal to what St. Paul calls “the city that is yet to come.”
The Gospels are an invitation to us to believe fully in the glory and power of God, to hand ourselves over in all things, to put our doubts and fears themselves to death!
Think of the emotion expressed in the 11th chapter of the Gospel of John, when Lazarus, Jesus’ close friend, has died. His sisters are devastated, and their heartache moves the Lord to tears. Jesus reaches into the situation. He touches the air all around it – a word through the Word – and transforms it. Death to life. The Messiah has revealed the glory and power of God, for whom all things are possible.
The focus of our good prayer this month is not directly on us, but on those who have gone before – our ancestors of genetic and spiritual oneness. It is a venerable tradition for us, as people of faith, to remember those whom we have had to let go: grandparents, parents, siblings, relatives and friends, and those whom we have come to know, love and pray with, within the great “cloud of witnesses.”
Time can soften our griefs, but our attachments remain, until we too must be mourned and then released.
And yet – never forget this! – we who have been baptized into Christ’s death live with a substantial hope; one that does not disappoint. As the book of Wisdom teaches, our hope is “full of immortality” (Wis 3:4).
That hope helps us to wonder at the depths of pain, grief and confusion that death can bring us to, until we begin to perceive the mysterious “rest of the story.” We are standing and grieving and growing and necessarily carrying on with our lives, while encountering a place of transition, a sacred passage – a gate through which we know with certitude we too must pass – into what Christ Jesus proved to us through his resurrection: the reality of eternal life.
“Baptized into his death … we were buried therefore with him,” St. Paul preached to the Romans (Rom 6:3-4), “so that as Christ was raised from the dead … we too might walk in the newness of life.”
That’s a refreshing concept, isn’t it? “The newness of life” encourages us to embrace all seasons of our time here and to open our minds, hearts and souls to Christ in everything that comes to us, because in all of it – the joyful and the painful and the uncertain – a kind of newness of life is revealed.
Things change; they do not end. And isn’t that a wonderful thing to contemplate as we approach the close of another liturgical year and look forward to the deep expectation of Advent?
BISHOP ROBERT REED is an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, pastor of St. Patrick and Sacred Heart parishes in Watertown, Massachusetts, and president of the CatholicTV Network. He is chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Communications.
A canticle of praise for media technologies
As the temperature outside drops and the leaves turn brilliant colors, our thoughts turn toward the annual celebration of Thanksgiving. What a wonderful tradition we have as Americans to not only gather on this festive day with loved ones, but to have a special opportunity to thank almighty God for all the gifts He has bestowed on us as individuals, as families, as communities, as a nation, as a Church. There is so much to be thankful for, right? Yes, we and society in general have our share of difficulties, but if we choose to see the world through eyes of faith, then we believe that God has plans for us even if it’s hard to understand those plans in the midst of our trials and tribulations.
As a member of the community of the Daughters of St. Paul, I spend Thanksgiving with my religious family rather than my biological family. We celebrate by going to Mass, having a lovely meal and praying together. We often invite friends we know would otherwise be alone to join us for the meal. It’s not until sometime in the late afternoon or evening that I do a video call with my parents and (if I’m lucky) my siblings, who are scattered throughout North America.
THANK GOD FOR VIDEO CHATS
What makes it possible for me to see my family with my own eyes, and for them to see me? Media technologies. Believe me, I thank God often for the ability to video chat with my family because I get to see them in person only once a year.
reviews.
We celebrate, Lord, the marvel of television, which brings into the heart of our homes the joy and pain of human living. Music, drama and laughter are shared in ways undreamed of in the past.
May you be praised, Lord God, for the radio, which soars on the wings of the wind and provides for each nation an immediate channel for news, views and entertainment, and a means of offering to the listening world its own distinctive voice.
We celebrate, Lord, the writers, artists, directors and all those whose gifts light both theater and cinema and provide audiences with a heightened awareness of their human condition.
We celebrate the wonder of digital communication, which manifests a new iconography and links people
‘Thank God for the many ways in which media technologies have benefited you personally and humankind as a whole.’
There are lots of other media technologies to be thankful for as well. In fact, as Daughters of St. Paul, we have a special prayer, based on the writings of our founder, Blessed James Alberione (1884-1971), called “The Canticle of Praise for the Media.” Vatican II’s document on media, “Inter Mirifica,” calls media “wonderful technological discoveries” and confirms that these technologies, “if properly utilized, can be of great service to mankind, since they greatly contribute to men’s entertainment and instruction as well as to the spread and support of the Kingdom of God.”
So, as you go about your Thanksgiving rituals this year, remember to thank God for the many ways in which media technologies have benefited you personally and humankind as a whole. For sure, abuses abound in digital media, and we offer prayers of intercession for that, too. However, let Thanksgiving be a time when we focus on the positive contribution media technologies make possible for us every single day.
PRAISE FOR BOOKS, TV AND MORE
“The Canticle of Praise for the Media,” based on the writings of Blessed James Alberione: May you be praised, Lord God, for the printed word – bread for our minds, light for our lives. We give thanks for the talents and dedication of all who serve the truth in love, and for all whose technical and professional skills make possible the production of books, newspapers, magazines and
around the globe in solidarity of faith, hope and love.
We give thanks for the gift of artificial intelligence, which can offer so much to the growth of the human family. May it always be used for building up the common good of all people and never for evil.
We thank you, Lord God, for the unending Pentecost of your creative Holy Spirit, which enables your sons and daughters to be afire with your truth, beauty and goodness.
May the blind see, the deaf hear and the poor receive justice through the proclamation of the Good News via today’s media.
Together let us rejoice in the God-given talents and the creative gifts of those who promote the dignity of the human person, and who build communion among peoples the world over through their dedication and love.
Amen.
This prayer and other media-oriented prayers can be found in the prayer book ”Live Christ! Give Christ! Prayers for the New Evangelization,” available from Pauline Books & Media.
SISTER HOSEA RUPPRECHT, a Daughter of St. Paul, is the associate director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies.
Sister Hosea Rupprecht
‘The
God wants to make us all saints
Who do you say that I am?
It’s the question Jesus posed to the men closest to Him, the one Peter answered with an unequivocal confession of faith in Him as the Messiah and Son of God: “Who do you say that I am?” The entirety of our Catholic faith rests on Peter’s response and, for 2,000 years, the Church has proclaimed the divinity of Jesus Christ and His eternal kingdom. But it is not enough for the Church to answer this question as a whole. “Who do you say that I am?” is directed to every Christian soul. It is the one question on life’s final exam each one of us will be required to answer.
The quality of our discipleship is largely a consequence of the response we give –not only in our words, but by how we live. That’s because Jesus is every Catholic’s most significant other. Our relationship to Him is the single most important relationship we have, because it defines and shapes all the rest of our relationships.
FROM MUSE TO MENTOR TO MASTER
Life is a pilgrimage toward holiness, and saints are made, not born. As we grow in our faith, who Jesus is becomes increasingly central to who we are. That transformation is invariably reflected in how we live. And as our answer to Christ’s question develops and deepens, a pattern of growth in the Christian spiritual life emerges and the path from muse and motivator to mentor and master becomes clear.
For nearly all of us, Jesus begins as a sort of “muse,” a source of inspiration for our creativity and our choices. We find power for our life’s work in the Gospel accounts of His life, death and resurrection. We are drawn by Christ’s goodness, intrigued by His truth, and elevated by the beauty of His grace. But we remain committed to our own self-will.
Those who move forward in faith adopt Jesus as a source of motivation. As a motivator, Christ brings out the best in us. He affirms all that is godly and good in us. He becomes a driving force behind our deeds and provides initiative, guidance and direction to our lives. He gives us the motivation we need to embrace change and growth. But we maintain authority over our lives according to our own priorities and preferences.
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Serious disciples make Jesus their mentor. The decision to place ourselves under Christ’s direction, to learn from Him, to exchange our own work and agendas for His mission and His will is the secret to growth in the spiritual life. This is what has the power to move us from consumer Catholicism to intentional missionary discipleship. But it does not put an end to self-will. Our evangelization efforts are focused on making more of these kinds of disciples. And there is little doubt that increasing the very small percentage of Catholics actively engaged in a mentoring relationship with Jesus Christ would transform both the Church and the world. But while that may be enough for us, it is not enough for God. God’s plan for us is nothing short of sanctity. He wants to make every one of us – without exception – a saint.
FROM SERIOUS DISCIPLE TO SAINT
So, what’s the difference between a serious disciple and a saint? It’s the grand canyon between seeing Jesus as a mentor and serving Him as a master. Saints surrender everything to Jesus. They let go of all other attachments because they know they cannot serve both God and something else. They do not seek to serve God in the way they desire to serve Him, but in the way He wants to be served. They accept everything from His hand as gift and commit to making a total and sincere gift of themselves to Him and to all they encounter. Saints are satisfied only by God Himself; nothing less than God or other than Him will do. And for those who are holy, God alone is enough. Nothing else is wanted, needed or required.
Regardless of where we are in the pilgrimage of faith, we can make progress simply by taking the next step in front of us. The heart that is inspired can become obedient. The soul that is trained by Christ can surrender itself entirely into God’s hands. Jesus Christ calls everyone to holiness, and He opens up the pathway to sanctity when He asks us, “Who do you say that I am?”
‘We are all givers and receivers, we all need each other and are called to enrich each other.’
Pope Francis
From online story: “God’s love also comes through people being kind to each other, pope says”
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JAYMIE STUART WOLFE is a Catholic convert, freelance writer and editor, musician, wife and mom of eight, living in New Orleans.
Jaymie Stuart Wolfe
FEMA is providing $750 to survivors of Tropical Sto rm Helene to help those in affected areas with essential needs, such as food, water, an d emergency supplies as well as temporary housing, home repairs, and other disaster -related needs. Even if you have received FEMA funds in the past, you can still appl y for assistance.
Call 800-621-3362 to apply by Nov. 27 or choose one of three convenient online options:
ONLINE
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Find a local disaster recovery center near you: ccdoc.org/fema-drc
Catholic Charities offers compassionate care and guidance for Tropical Storm Helene recovery. Reach out now.
