Feb. 18, 2011

February 18, 2011

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

Building stronger bonds Eyeing the weakened state of marriage across the country, Diocese of Charlotte priests gather to learn how to improve marriage preparation efforts, 12-13 FUNDED by the parishioners of the diocese of charlotte THANK YOU!

A legacy of love

Can iPads, MacBooks help students learn?

Retired Winston-Salem doctor creates endowment fund for seminarian education,

Charlotte Catholic High School takes part in a pilot program to find out,

3 Calendar 4 Diocese 3-6

FAITH 2

7 mix 16-17 nation & World 18-21 Schools 7-10

Viewpoints 22-23

Call us: 704-370-3333 E-mail us: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

Our faith

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Pope Benedict XVI

Faith gives strength VATICAN CITY — Believing in Jesus Christ gives people strength to face the normal challenges of life and is not another burden to carry, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“Journeying with Christ – traveling the path with Christ – isn’t a burden added to the already heavy load that is our life, something that makes our burden even heavier,” the pope said Feb. 16 at his weekly general audience.

Drawing on the example of the life and writings of St. John of the Cross, a 16th-century Spanish mystic, Pope Benedict said faith in Christ “is a light, a force that helps us carry our burdens.”

“If a man has a great love, this love almost gives him wings, and he has an easier time supporting all the challenges of life,” he said.

The mid-February audience was the third that Pope Benedict dedicated to one of the “doctors of the church,” men and women who made important contributions to Catholic theological understanding.

Pope Benedict said it’s understandable that people look at St. John of the Cross, one of the greatest mystical writers in Christian history, and ask, “Does he have anything to say to us normal Christians?”

“The life of St. John of the Cross wasn’t all about flying around in the mystical clouds,” the pope said. His life was tough: He grew up in poverty, he met opposition in trying to reform the Carmelites and he was imprisoned under harsh circumstances on false accusations.

St. John of the Cross knew that an “increase in faith, hope and love goes hand in hand with purification” – a gradual process by which people loosen and finally conquer their attachments to sin and to anything that keeps them from experiencing God’s love.

Allowing oneself to love and be loved, he said, “is the light that helps us carry the burdens of each day.”

“Holiness is not an extremely difficult job we take on,” but consists of opening one’s heart to God and allowing him to carry out a work of purification.”

The Chair of St. Peter Feast day: Feb. 22

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter celebrates the papacy and St. Peter as the first bishop of Rome. St. Peter’s original name was Simon. He was married and was living and working in Capernaum as a fisherman when Jesus called him to be one of the Twelve Apostles.

Jesus bestowed on Peter a special place among the Apostles. He was one of the three who were with Christ on special occasions, such as the Transfiguration of Christ and the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemani. He was the only Apostle to whom Christ appeared on the first day after the Resurrection. Peter, in turn, often spoke on behalf of the Apostles.

When Jesus asked the Apostles: “Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?” Simon replied: “Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And Jesus responded: “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona.

For flesh and blood have not revealed it to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say to you, you are Peter [Cephas, a rock], and upon this rock [Cephas] I will build my Church [ekklesian], and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” (Mt 16:13-19) In saying this, Jesus made St. Peter the head of the entire community of believers and placed the spiritual guidance of the faithful in St. Peter’s hands.

However, St. Peter was not without faults. He was rash and reproached often by Christ. He had fallen asleep in the Garden of Gethsemani instead of praying, as Jesus had asked him to do. He also denied knowing Jesus three times after Christ’s arrest.

Peter delivered the first public sermon after Pentecost and won a large number of converts. He also performed many miracles and defended the freedom of the Apostles to preach the Gospels. He preached in Jerusalem, Judaea and as far north as Syria.

He was arrested in Jerusalem under Herod Agrippa I, but he miraculously escaped execution. He left Jerusalem and eventually went to Rome, where he preached during the last portion of his life. He was crucified there, head downward, as he had desired to suffer, saying that he did not deserve to die as Christ had died.

The date of St. Peter’s death is not clear. Historians estimate he was executed between the years 64 and 68. His remains now rest beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

— Catholic News Agency

Image courtesy of the Vatican Museums

“The Crucifixion of St. Peter” by Guido Reni, 1604-1605.

Your daily Scripture readings SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 20 - FEB. 26

Sunday, Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18, 1 Corinthians 3:16-23, Matthew 5:38-48; Monday (St. Peter Damian), Sirach 1:1-10, Mark 9:14-29; Tuesday, 1 Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19; Wednesday (St. Polycarp), Sirach 4:11-19, Mark 9:3840; Thursday, Sirach 5:1-8, Mark 9:41-50; Friday, Sirach 6:5-17, Mark 10:1-12; Saturday, Sirach 17:1-15, Mark 10:13-16

SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 27 - MARCH 5

Sunday, Isaiah 49:14-15, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Matthew 6:24-34; Monday, Sirach 17:20-24, Mark 10:17-27; Tuesday, Sirach 35:1-12, Mark 10:28-31; Wednesday, Sirach 36:1, 4-5, 10-17, Mark 10:32-45; Thursday (St. Katharine Drexel), Sirach 42:15-25, Mark 10:46-52; Friday (St. Casimir), Sirach 44:1, 9-13, Mark 11:11-26; Saturday, Sirach 51:12-20, Mark 11:27-33

Our parishes

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

In Brief Adult education seminar coming up CHARLOTTE — New Creation Monastery, 1309 Duncan Gardens Drive, Charlotte, will host a free adult education seminar entitled “Christ’s Sacred Mysteries: Contemplating Basic Christian Beliefs and the Sacraments,” starting at 9 a.m. Feb. 27, March 6 and 13. RSVP to Father John Vianney Hoover at 704-3440934.

Your old furniture could help a new family CHARLOTTE — The Refugee Resettlement Office of Catholic Social Services is in critical need of couches, loveseats, chairs, end tables and coffee tables, dining tables, and lamps to furnish apartments for arriving refugees.

The economic downturn has hurt their usual rate of donations, and they would appreciate any assistance.

Call Mary Jane Bruton at 704-3703283 and leave a message listing the items to donate, your complete address and telephone number, or e-mail the same information to maryjane.bruton@ gmail.com. Pickup is available for large items.

Talk on saving Catholic schools set for March 1 CHARLOTTE — Nationally known speaker and author Father Ronald Nuzzi of the University of Notre Dame will give a free public lecture entitled “Who Will Save Catholic Schools?” at 7 p.m March 1 at the Charlotte Catholic High School Chapel. Father Nuzzi will address the challenges facing many Catholic schools, such as dropping enrollments; financial shortfalls; and weakening community, parish and civic support.

The senior director of Notre Dame’s Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, Father Nuzzi will describe the nationwide effort under way to revitalize Catholic schools, promote Catholic education for all Catholic youth, and to help schools develop solutions to their most persistent problems.

RSVP to Zack Budzichowski at NDLecture@carolina.rr.com.

Father Nuzzi has written extensively about the multiple intelligence theory in Catholic education, the spirituality of leadership, and inclusion in Catholic schools.

Co-sponsored by the Notre Dame Club of Charlotte and Charlotte Catholic High School, the lecture is a presentation of the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s annual Hesburgh Lecture Series.

Lifetime of love inspires legacy for seminarian education Retired Winston-Salem doctor creates endowment fund SUEANN HOWELL STAFF WRITER

WINSTON-SALEM — Dr. William Rabil and his wife Rosalie enjoyed 61 happy years together as husband and wife until her passing a year ago in January. Their Catholic faith united them and sustained them all those years as they prayed the rosary together every evening before bed – starting on their wedding night.

“To give you an idea of how devoted she was, on our honeymoon night, she asked if we could say the rosary before we went to bed and we said it every night after that,” Rabil recalls.

During their married life, the Rabils traveled to more than 25 Catholic conferences around the country, meeting thousands of faithful people like themselves, being inspired to live their beliefs and being made aware of the need for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

“I am a native North Carolinian and I can remember when there were only 10,000 Catholics in the state and how the priests were scattered all over North Carolina,” says Rabil, a retired general surgeon.

Before Rosalie passed away, the couple discussed and prayed about how they could

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Belmont Abbey president to be inducted into Sports Faith Hall of Fame Christopher Lux Intern

Dr. William and Rosalie Rabil help their own parish of St. Leo in WinstonSalem and how they could help build up the Church and foster vocations.

The result of their prayers is the William C. Rabil, Sr. and Rosalie D. Rabil Family Endowment Fund, which will provide funds for seminarian education in the Diocese of Charlotte. The Rabils had set aside money in EDUCATION, page 5

Scouts earn their Catholic medals

photo provided by Marilyn Wilson

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point recognized several of the parish’s Cub Scouts on Scout Sunday, Feb. 6. Receiving their Catholic religious medals were Jimmy Yingling, Joseph Burns, Daniel Cowan and Peter Wilson, pictured with Father Vince Smith and Deacon Wally Haarsgaard. Cowan, Wilson and Yingling, all Wolf Scouts, received Light of Christ medallions, and Webelos I Scout Joseph Burns received the Parvuli Dei medallion.

Wolf Scouts Daniel Ballesteros and Jacob Fauzio (not pictured) also received Light of Christ medallions.

To earn these emblems, scouts must complete workbooks published with ecclesiastical approval by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.

BELMONT — Dr. William K. Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, will be inducted into the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame Feb. 27.

The annual awards ceremony honors world-class athletes known for outstanding dedication to both sports and their faith.

The Mass and induction ceremony will be held at the home of the Chicago Bears in Illinois.

Thierfelder will be inducted alongside Father Joe Freedy, the former University of Buffalo quarterback who now serves as a Catholic priest and vocations director for Thierfelder the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh; the late Art Rooney, patriarch of the Pittsburgh Steelers; Jamie Moyer, a veteran of 24 seasons in professional baseball and founder of a non-profit organization that helps children in distress; and Rich Donnelly, a long-time Major League Baseball coach.

Thierfelder is a former NCAA Division I coach, Olympian, national champion high jumper, and two-time All-American.

An accomplished speaker on the subjects of Catholicism, sports and faith, sports science and psychology, he is a leading voice for integrity and morality in sports.

He founded Sport Properly Directed, an effort to “reclaim the game” by putting sportsmanship back into sports, and he hosts a weekly podcast, “Playing With Fire,” focused on helping athletes improve their performance while living virtuous lives.

The Sports Faith Hall of Fame was created in 2008 by Sports Faith International to encourage excellence in sports and in the faith.

Bishop Thomas Paprocki, bishop of Springfield, Ill., also known as the “Holy Goalie,” will celebrate the Mass.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Diocesan calendar ARDEN ST. BARNABAS CHURCH, 109 Crescent Hill Road

Bishop Peter J. Jugis Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events over the next week: Feb. 18 – 10 a.m.

Finance Council meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte

— Women’s Lenten Program- “The Book of Judith: The Courage to Rise to the Occasion.” Teen and Spanish tracks available, 9 a.m.-1:45 p.m. March 26. RSVP by March 23 to Marcia Torres at johnandmarciatorres@ yahoo.com or 828-697-1235.

ASHEVILLE ST. EUGENE CHURCH, 72 culvern st.

— Healing Prayer, 9:45-10:45 a.m. Feb. 27

CHARLOTTE Feb. 19 – 4 p.m.

Mass for Knights of Columbus 1st Annual Men’s Day of Reflection Charlotte Catholic High School

new creation monastery, 1309 Duncan gardens dr.

— Christ’s Sacred Mysteries: Contemplating Basic Christian Beliefs and the Sacraments, 9 a.m. Feb. 27, March 6 and 13. RSVP to Father John Vianney Hoover at 704-344-0934. our lady of the assumption church, 4207 SHAMROCK DR. — Volando a La Luz Del Sol Que es Jesucristo: El Evangelio Según San Juan, 7:30 p.m. 22 de febrero ST. ANN CHURCH, 3635 park road — Pro-Life Mass, 9 a.m. Feb. 26 st. gabriel church, 3016 PROVIDENCE ROAD — disABILITIES Awareness Mass, hosted by the disABILITY Ministry, 5 p.m. Feb. 26. Contact Mary Kennedy at 704364-6964. st. luke church, 13700 lawyers road — Anointing of the Sick, sponsored by the HOPE Committee, 10 a.m. Feb. 19. Contact Mary Adams at 704-545-1224 or Virginia Horne at 704-823-0846.

ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 BALLANTYNE COMMONS PKWY. — St. Peregrine Healing Prayer Service, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 24 — Teaching Children With Autism, presented by Special Religious Development Program (SPRED), NLC Banquet Room, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 2. RSVP to Jan Clemens at 704-246-7102.

— “Back to Basics Catholicism 101: The Church,” presented

by Mercy Sister Mary Hugh Mauldin, NLC Room 203, 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. March 2 — Symposium on the Laity: Answering the Call to be a Bearer of Christ to All the World, Banquet Room, presented by Father Robert Conway, 7:30 p.m. March 3

February 18, 2011 Volume 20 • Number 12

1123 S. Church St. Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org 704-370-3333 PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte

EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Denise Onativia 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Cindi Feerick 704-370-3332, ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org STAFF WRITER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org

ST. PIUS X church, 2210 N. ELM ST.

This week’s spotlight: Defending the Faith Conference our lady of grace church, 2205 W. Market St., Greensboro, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12, apologetics conference presented by Gus Lloyd, Catholic evangelist and morning show host. Bring a Bible and a bag lunch. Contact Mike Gnaster at mgnaster1@yahoo.com.

ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 Dilworth Road E. — “Fertile Ground for God’s Work,” Family Life Center, sponsored by Catholics United for the Faith, 7 p.m. March 10. Contact Elizabeth Keating at ewkeating4@aol.com or Mary Sample at marysample5@aol.com or 704-341-9292.

— Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, following 12:10 p.m.

Mass-Benediction at 6 p.m. Wednesdays st. peter church, 507 s. tryon st.

— Jesuit Heritage Series, Biss Hall, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and March 3

— Seasons of Hope: A Support Group for the Bereaved, 1:45-4 p.m. March 6-April 10. Register no later than Feb. 27 at 336-272-4681.

HICKORY ST. ALOYSIUS CHURCH, 921 second st. n.e.

— World Day of Ecumenical Worship Service: How Many Loaves Have You?, 7 p.m. March 4. Child care available.

Contact Carole Marmorato at 828-256-8956.

HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 STUMPTOWN ROAD — Class: “Certain Classy Moms of Biblical Renown,” 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 23 — Active Older Adults Exercise, Parish Hall, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Wednesdays. This is a total body exercise class.

RALEIGH st. francis of assisi church, 11401 LEESVILLE ROAD — Come and See Weekend with the Franciscans, March 18-20, sponsored by the Franciscan Vocation Ministry, Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province, for men 21 to 40 years of age discerning a call to the Franciscan way of life. Registration required by March 11 to vocation@ hnp.org or 800-677-7788.

st. thomas aquinas church, 1400 suther road — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 19. RSVP required to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at cssnfp@charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3230.

— Annulment Workshop, 7 p.m. Feb. 22 ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, 6828 OLD REID ROAD — Catholics Returning Home Program, Faith Formation Center, 7:30-9 p.m. Feb. 21, and March 1 and 7. Register at 704-554-7088.

— Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group (CCWG) Reflection, with Father Patrick Toole, 10 a.m. March 7. Membership not required to attend. Contact Linda Granzow at jlgranzow@windstream.net or 704-847-7872.

GREENSBORO our lady of grace church, 2205 W. market St. — “Straight Talk ...For Men,” Our Lady’s Cottage, 6:30-8 p.m. Feb. 21, March 21, April 18 and May 16. Contact John Endredy at jendredy@gmail.com or 336-202-9635.

The Catholic News Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 35 times a year.

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photographs for publication in our print and online PDF editions.

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

ADVERTISING: For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Cindi Feerick at 704-370-3332 or ckfeerick@

SHELBY st. mary church, 818 MCGOWAN ROAD — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 26. RSVP required to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at cssnfp@charlottediocese.org or 704-3703230.

WINSTON-SALEM holy family church, 4820 kinNamon road — Natural Family Planning Introduction and Full Course, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 5. RSVP required to Batrice Adcock, MSN, RN, at cssnfp@charlottediocese.org or 704-3703230.

Is your PARISH OR SCHOOL hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Calendar is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or fax to 704-370-3382.

charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

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

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February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Deacon Nick Fadero passes away Deacon Nicholas T. Fadero, 82, of Charlotte, died Feb. 10, 2011, at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

He was born Aug. 19, 1928, in Phillipsburg, N.J., the son of the late Nicholas and Elizabeth Penzar Fadero. He is remembered as a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. Deacon Nick was ordained as a permanent deacon Aug. 17, 1985.

He served 25 years as a deacon at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, counseling couples through troubled marriages. Deacon Nick also loved Big Band music.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Irene.

Deacon Nick is survived by his six children, Patricia A. Reimler and her husband James, Michael T. Fadero, Nicholas S. Fadero and his wife Peggy, Nancy A. Fadero, Stephen J. Fadero, and Maria A. Crockett and her husband Fadero Gary; five grandchildren, Nicholas, Colin, Tanner, Kayleigh and Chandler Fadero, all of Charlotte; a brother, Edward L. Fadero of Greensboro; and two sisters-in-law, Margaret Arch and Helen Conn and her husband Don, all of South Bend, Ind. Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial on Feb. 18, 2011, at St. Patrick Cathedral. Entombment followed at Sharon Memorial Park in Charlotte.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Patrick Cathedral, c/o Debra Lemmon, Business Manager, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, N.C. 28203. Please include in the memo line: “In memory of Deacon Nick Fadero.”

Arrangements were handled by Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service of Charlotte.

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In Brief

St. Mark wraps up ‘Why Catholic?’ program

Dorice Narins | Catholic News Herald

Spiritual Adoption program kicks off at Sacred Heart Church Nancy Elliott, of the Respect for Life group of Community Life Commission of Sacred Heart Church in Brevard, presents a Spiritual Adoption certificate to Marilyn Siemens at the new parish program’s first event, a baby shower. The shower gifts were donated to a local women’s center to be used in baby bags given to new mothers. The Spiritual Adoption prayer campaign encourages parishes, schools and other communities to pray for babies in danger of abortion; educates people about the development of the pre-born child; and helps mothers in need with assistance of donated baby gifts from people who “spiritually adopt” babies and pray for them until birth. This is the first year that this Respect for Life Group is taking part in this national campaign, instituted by the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

HUNTERSVILLE — More than 100 parishioners from St. Mark Church in Huntersville recently attended a wrap-up social for the “Why Catholic?” program. Pictured from left are John O’Shea, Lisa Ritchie and Monsignor Richard M. Bellow, pastor.

Attendees also got a “sneak peak” of St. Mark’s CALL (Catholic Adults Learning and Living) bi-annual book study, using the same small faith community model that was so popular with “Why Catholic?”

Participants will gather in homes during Lent to study the popular book by Matthew Kelly, “Discover Catholicism.” To learn more, contact Donna Smith at 704-948-1306 or dsmith18@bellsouth.net.

Lady’s guild aids pregnancy support agency

EDUCATION

LEXINGTON — In recognition of January as Right to Life Month, the Lady’s Guild of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington distributed baby bottles supplied by the Alpha Pregnancy Support Inc. to parishioners, who then filled them with donations and returned them to the church. More than $2,300 was collected for Alpha Pregnancy, which provides formula, diapers and newborn necessities for the pregnant women who have chosen life for their babies.

FROM PAGE 3

an IRA and chose to roll over those funds at the end of last year to provide the resources for the endowment. Rabil has also earmarked separate funds in his estate plan for St. Leo Church and St. Leo School.

“Dr. Rabil’s gift to establish the endowment fund is a very special way to honor and remember his late wife Rosalie, as well as a tribute to his five children, 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren,” said Judy Smith, director of planned giving for the Diocese of Charlotte.

“The endowment is designated for seminarian education, a special passion for the family. Dr. Rabil is also including a bequest gift through his will to add to this endowment. His gift will help ensure that there will be funding for seminarian education for many future generations. With this legacy gift, Dr. Rabil joins the 860 members of the Catholic Heritage Society who have also included the Church in their estate plans,” Smith added.

For more information about endowment funds and bequest gifts for the Diocese of Charlotte, contact Smith at 704-370-3320 or jmsmith@ charlottediocese.org.

OUR PARISHESI

— Linda McAdam

Operation Rice Bowl about to begin

photo provided by Meredith Magyar

In service to others Students from St. John Neumann Church’s confirmation class recently helped with the Charlotte parish’s annual Loaves and Fishes food drive. The students helped unload, organize and package non-perishable food items for those in need.

Ash Wednesday is March 9, marking the start of Lent and the international Operation Rice Bowl campaign to end poverty and hunger.

Throughout Lent the Catholic Relief Services’ campaign encourages people to pray, fast, learn and give as ways to reach out in solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. A portion of Operation Rice Bowl contributions also remains in the Diocese of Charlotte for poverty reduction efforts.

Parishes interested in participating in Operation Rice Bowl for Lent can still order the free 2011 materials. Call 1-800-222-0025 or go online to orb.crs.org.

We welcome your parish’s news. E-mail items to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 OUR PARISHES

Celebrating their patron saint St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte celebrated the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, patron of universities and students, Jan. 28 with a special liturgy.

The Mass began with an opening procession led by the Knights of Columbus. Students representing different Catholic, private and public schools, along with members of the Squires, joined the procession. The children’s choir and adult choirs led the congregation in a special selection of hymns. The Mass was concelebrated

by Capuchin Father Remo DiSalvatore, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, and Capuchin Father Stan Kobel, parochial vicar. They were assisted

by Deacon Brian McNulty. A reception prepared by the parish’s events ministry followed Mass.

photo provided by Annette Morales and Fabian Araujo

Marching for life On Jan. 23, 53 Catholics from western North Carolina traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual March for Life. The group included parishioners of all ages from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin; Mary, Mother of God, Church in Sylva; and St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville.

photo provided by Julie Tastinger

Our schools

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

In Brief Students receive arts awards CHARLOTTE — The following Charlotte Catholic High School students recently received awards in the 2011 Mid Carolina Region Scholastic Arts competition: Art – Anja Roy, Gold Key; Sean Mueller, Honorable Mention; Photography – Daniella Helline, Gold Key; Caroline Smith, Silver Key. Gold Key recipients will receive their awards at the Gold Key ceremony in March. Their work will be displayed locally: Silver Key at the Mint Museum on Randolph, and Gold Key in a gallery location to be announced. The Gold Key works were sent to New York for national competition.

The Mid Carolina Region Scholastic Arts competition includes students from all public, private and parochial schools in Charlotte, along with Mecklenburg and eight surrounding counties.

There were 2,300 entries this year.

— Jennifer Johnson

Shamrock Run set for March 12 ASHEVILLE — Asheville Catholic School announces its annual Shamrock Run for Saturday, March 12. The start and finish will be at Asheville Catholic School, 12 Culvern Street, with the 1K Fun Run starting at 9 a.m. followed by the 5K and 10K runs at 9:15 a.m.

Details and registration are online at ashevilleshamrock.com.

We welcome your school’s news. E-mail items to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.

catholic news heraldI

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Can iPads, MacBooks help students learn?

Charlotte Catholic High School is taking part in a pilot program to find out Caroline McMillan South Charlotte News

CHARLOTTE — As part of a semester-long pilot program to test new technology in the classroom, Charlotte Catholic High School has given select classes iPads and MacBooks for use in the classroom.

About three weeks ago, two junior U.S. history classes and one senior math class began testing some of Apple’s best-selling products to see which is the most effective teaching tool.

DavidsonNews.net, a member of the Charlotte Observer’s Community News Network, reported Apple Inc. is working with Charlotte Catholic to create a program that can be used as an example for other districts nationwide. Apple wants school officials to see how the company’s technology can help modernize education.

“They want to see it in action, so we decided to slowly begin to integrate it,” said Assistant Principal Steve Carpenter.

Charlotte Catholic’s pilot program is funded by the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Education Foundation, made up of parents, friends, Catholic schools and alumni who donate money to projects that help advance educational missions in the Catholic schools.

With funding from the foundation, Charlotte Catholic bought 50 iPads, which start at $499 each, and 50 MacBooks, which start at $999 each.

“The MACS Education Foundation has focused on many grants over the last several years with special grant status on technology,” said diocesan Superintendent of Schools Linda Cherry. “With technology changing day by day, we want to ensure our students are prepared for the future. We are grateful to all donors to the foundation who help fund the many grants throughout the eight schools, and especially this unique technology pilot.”

U.S. history teacher Shawn Panther, whose classes are part of the pilot program, emphasized that the technology doesn’t change what the students learn; it changes how they learn it. Now, the students are researching the topics themselves, rather than just listening to a lecture.

“I can put up a PowerPoint with the four causes of World War II, and the kids can copy them down and regurgitate them on the exam,” said Panther. But with the iPads and MacBooks, “it’s student-discovered learning. ...Our students at Charlotte Catholic are really good at memorizing facts, but we’re trying to encourage critical thinking skills.”

U.S. history teacher Dana Zimmer said she has seen a significant increase in student engagement. In their next unit, students will use the new technology to produce videos of Calvin Coolidge’s life and 1920s magazines.

photo courtesy of Darci Lamar

Charlotte Catholic High School teacher Dana Zimmer works with junior Devin O’Rourke on the iPad. The school is piloting new technology from Apple courtesy of a grant from the MACS Education Foundation.

“Certain kids you have a hard time getting to do a worksheet,” Zimmer said. “But they’re used to devices like this.”

“That’s all part of the training process,” Carpenter said. “You teach the same information, it’s just what (the students) are getting from it. ...

It gives them more flexibility.”

Based on the results from Charlotte Catholic’s program, the proposed Christ the King Catholic High School, which hopes to open in August in Huntersville, will implement a similar program.

Carpenter said that, ultimately, Charlotte Catholic would like the whole school to incorporate new technology in the classroom.

But to implement it on a large scale would require both equipment and professional training for teachers.

So at the end of this semester-long test, the teachers and administration will re-evaluate and go from there.

“It’s still in its infancy,” Carpenter said. “You have to get the bugs out on a small scale.”

Panther said his students haven’t opened their textbooks since they got the iPads and MacBooks.

“It’s kind of neat; we’re talking of a day without textbooks,” he said.

“We haven’t opened them (yet), and we don’t have any plans to open the textbooks this semester.”

— Published Feb. 8 in South Charlotte News. Reprinted with the permission of South Charlotte News, a Charlotte Observer publication.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Catholic Schools Week 2011

A+ for America

See more photos from the Feb. 11 edition online at catholicnewsherald.com.

photos provided by Virginia White

Celebrating America at St. Gabriel School St. Gabriel School in Charlotte had lots of activities for Catholic Schools Week recently, including a visit from the Carolinas Medical Center rescue helicopter, whose on-board nursing staff dropped in to speak to students for Community Day. They ended the week with a talent show, “Star Spangled at St. Gabe’s.” Most of the acts had a patriotic theme, tying the celebration to Catholic Schools Week’s theme of A+ for America. Pictured are three first-graders performing a skit to the song “Party in the USA.” In addition, students Christopher Rinalidi and Cole Picarazzi were named the school’s winners of the Catholic Schools Week Prayer Card and Illustration contest.

Caring for soldiers Students at Charlotte Catholic High School wrote letters and prepared about 100 care packages for local servicemen and women as part of their celebration of Catholic Schools Week recently. Pictured with CCHS employee Mary Jayne Dawson are Felice Cunningham, C.J. Brodowicz and Nick Funck. Students also created and displayed in the school a giant flag compiled of names of family and friends of CCHS students who have served or are serving in the armed forces.

photo provided by Mary Jayne Dawson

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

photo provided by Jean Navarro

Celebrating Religious Vocations Week During the week of Jan. 10, kindergarten through eighth-grade students at St. Pius X School in Greensboro celebrated Religious Vocations Week. During this week, students wrote letters to the sisters of the Daughters of Charity. The Daughters of Charity, located in Emmitsburgh, Md., helped found St. Pius X School 55 years ago. Above, students stand in front of a picture of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, who founded the order of the Daughters of Charity, holding letters to the sisters. Pictured from left are Molly Branson, Uryelle Grandoit-Cadet, Gus O’Hale, Grace Knapke, Jack Lizotte and Carlos Simmons.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Photo provided by Mendy Yarborough

Students count 100th day Students at Immaculate Heart of Mary School in High Point celebrated the 100th day of school Feb. 11 by doing many creative activities. Kindergartners estimated where 100 steps would take them in the building, and made projects composed of 100 items. Pictured are pre-K students Becca Turner and Emelia Allred.

photo provided by Lisa B. Horton

100 days of school Kindergarten students at St. Ann School in Charlotte celebrated 100 days of school Feb. 11 by creating necklaces of 100 Fruit Loops, hopping 100 times, counting to 100, collecting 100 autographs, making 100-day hats, counting 100 pieces of chocolate, and above, collecting more than 100 cans of food for the local food pantry.

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

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iiiFebruary 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Arranging your Catholic wedding Before you set the date, here are some things to consider to ensure your opportunity to have a Catholic wedding: 1. CALL YOUR PRIEST: Contact your parish office and begin working with a parish priest or deacon at least six months before your anticipated wedding date.

2. OK THE LOCATION: Confirm that the location for the wedding is approved by the Church. Typically, wedding vows are exchanged during a nuptial Mass, so the ceremony is conducted in a Catholic church or chapel. No outdoor or secular locations are allowed for a Catholic wedding ceremony.

3. PREPARE, PREPARE, PREPARE: Couples must go through several marriage preparation initiatives.

You should meet together several times with your priest or deacon, complete and review a premarital assessment questionnaire, participate in a marriage preparation program (such as a parish-designed program, Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend, or the diocese’s one-day Marriage Preparation workshop offered through Catholic Social Services), and attend an introductory course on Natural Family Planning offered by the diocese.

4. GO ONLINE TO LEARN MORE: n Engaged couples are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the sacraments of the Church before, during and after their wedding. For more information about marriage preparation in the Diocese of Charlotte, call your parish office or go to cssnc.org/ engaged.html. n Another good resource to check out online is ForYourMarriage.org, created by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. It is full of advice and news for couples, whether you are newly engaged or you have been married for decades.

For more For more information about the marriage preparation program in the Diocese of Charlotte, go online to cssnc.org/ engaged or call 704-370-3228.

FROM TH

Building stron

Priests learn how

SUEANN HOW STAFF WRIT

HICKORY — Nearly 60 priests of the dioc about the state of marriage today, factors th the importance of thorough marriage prep The Feb. 8-9 colloquium for priests at the in Hickory was the first in a series of classe diocese for clergy and laypeople responsibl The training is now mandatory for everyon a marriage prep survey known as FOCCUS Communication, Understanding and Study Father Pat Hoare, pastor of St. John Neu chair of the Priestly Life and Ministry Co Council, planned the colloquium, whic on various topics.

“The topic was selected in light institution of marriage and the FOCCUS instrument – a key most of our parishes,” Fath “As parish priests, each importance of healthy an building up the Church. participation of 56 prie involving a disruption he added.

The FOCCUS surve that engaged couples they agree or disagr don’t thoroughly dis a wedding and excit together – such as c money, splitting hou children.

As trained FOCCU lay person helps the c when they meet for ma Dr. Gerard Carter, act Social Services for the dioc facilitator and trainer, condu Hickory.

Carter reviewed statistics on ma priests to illustrate the importance of

‘During my years of working in the tribunal, it has become clear that many of the marriage preparation. I would argue that marriage preparation is of utmost impo

HE COVER

nger bonds

w to strengthen marriage preparation efforts

WELL TER

cese met last week to learn more hat make or break marriages, and paration for couples.

Gateway Conference Center es that will be held around the le for marriage preparation. ne who works with couples on S – Facilitate, Open, Caring, y. umann Church in Charlotte and ommittee of the Presbyteral ch is held annually to train clergy

t of the recent USCCB focus on the e need for a training update in the component of marriage prep in her Hoare said. h of us is very aware of the nd faith-focused marriage in . That is reflected in the eager ests in the workshop despite it n in the normal week’s activities,”

ey is an in-depth questionnaire s fill out to help identify issues ree about, topics that many couples scuss while they’re busy planning ted about starting new lives competing values on managing usehold chores, or raising

US facilitators, a priest, deacon or couple review the survey’s results arriage preparation sessions. ting executive director of Catholic cese and a trained FOCCUS ucted the two-day colloquium in

arriage and family life with the f solid marriage preparation and

understanding the key issues affecting couples and families today.

“Couples with premarital education were significantly better off than 79 percent of couples who did not have premarital education,” he said. “Couples who had premarital education also had a 30 percent increase in positive marital relationship outcomes.”

Carter also encouraged the priests in their role of helping couples share their personal survey results and talk with each other, not trying to be marriage counselors.

“Sixty-one percent of problems couples have or bring into the relationship never get solved,” Carter explained. “It’s very important to facilitate a discussion on their emotional issues in order to help them.”

Father John Putnam, judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte Tribunal, sees the results of poor or non-existent marriage preparation. In 2010, the diocese’s tribunal granted 290 annulments out of 293 cases it heard.

“During my years of working in the tribunal, it has become clear that many of the marriage cases that come to the tribunal had little or no marriage preparation,” Father Putnam said. “I would argue that marriage preparation is of utmost importance in pastoral care.”

Those in attendance, including Father Brandon Jones, parochial vicar at St. Mark in Huntersville, said the training was useful in helping them do a better job to prepare couples for the sacrament of marriage and the responsibilities that come with it.

“Marriage preparation is one of the most important apostolates that a parish priest does because we are talking about the bedrock of our society and the bedrock of our Church,” Father Jones said.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis noted, “The whole Church is concerned about the state of marriage, from the Vatican down to our U.S. Conference of Bishops.

It is part of a general vision for the Church, how marriage needs to be paid some special attention, especially by the priests and deacons and those who are helping couples prepare for marriage.

“When I went to talk with Pope John Paul II for the ad limina visit in 2004, he asked me, ‘What is the status of marriage and family life in your diocese?

How are couples doing? How are families faring?’ It has been a long-time concern of the Church, the quality of marriages and how we are preparing couples for their commitment.”

As he thanked priests for attending the colloquium, Bishop Jugis said, “The training has been important because now we have better information and background to work with in serving the couples who will be entering into a very important commitment. It all helps us be better pastoral agents in preparing couples for the sacrament of marriage.”

Four or five more FOCCUS training sessions will be held for additional clergy and marriage preparation staff around the diocese over the next five months.

e marriage cases that come to the tribunal had little or no ortance in pastoral care.’

— Father John T. Putnam

judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte Tribunal

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnewsiii

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Marriage by the numbers Myths of modern marriage

Myth: FACT: Myth: FACT:

Your chances of getting divorced are 50-50.

35% of married couples ever get divorced.

Most married couples are unhappy together.

In 1973, 68% of couples reported being very happy and 30% pretty happy. In 1993, couples said they were 61% very happy and 36% pretty happy.

Whom do couples say is most helpful in their premarital education?

68.1% 67.1%

said their clergy

also said other couples

What was the most useful part of marriage preparation?

73.4% 66.5%

said discussion time with their partner

also said self-inventory surveys

Pew Research Center survey on marriage and family A renewed emphasis is being placed on diocesan programs for marriage education, support and preparation in an effort to stem the faltering institution of marriage in the U.S. According to a 2008 Pew Research Center survey announced in November:

52% 44% More than 60% 60% of respondents

of all adults were married in 2008, compared to 72 percent in 1960

of all adult respondents – and more than half of all adults aged 30 to 49 – say they lived together before getting married

of Americans, however, think

marriage is not becoming obsolete

marriage is an important institution

said they believed

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Louie Verrecchio

The Introductory Rite – it’s not just a holy ‘how are you’ During the Introductory Rites when the priest says, “The Lord be with you,” no longer will the people reply, “And also with you,” but rather by saying, “And with your spirit.”

“The Lord be with you” – One just kind of expects a priest to say this sort of thing, right? But what on earth can we say about the new response of ours: “And with your spirit”?

Something you’d never employ in an everyday situation? Entirely out of the ordinary?

You bet it is, and for good reason. You see, qualities such as these are inherent to the sacred. But where does this expression come from and what exactly does it mean?

The first thing you should know is that the response “And with your spirit” is documented as far back as the year 215 A.D. (Share that with the grumblers back in your parish who are upset with the “newfangled” translation.)

As for what it means, let’s turn to St. John Chrysostom for insight.

In his “Homily on the Holy Pentecost,” which dates to the end of the fourth century, he taught: “If the Holy Spirit were not in our Bishop when he gave the peace to all shortly before ascending to his holy sanctuary, you would not have replied to him all together, And with your spirit... You don’t first partake of the offerings until he has prayed for you the grace from the Lord, and you have answered him, ‘And with your spirit,’ reminding yourselves by this reply that he who is here does nothing of his own power, nor are the offered gifts the work of human nature, but is it the grace of the Spirit present and hovering over all things which prepared that mystic sacrifice.”

St. John Chrysostom makes it pretty clear that the priest isn’t simply saying, “Greetings in Christ, everybody!”, to which the people reply, “Same to you, Father!”

Unfortunately, this is how most of us tend to view the matter, and why shouldn’t we?

Solid liturgical instruction notwithstanding, the current translation does seem to lend itself to the perception that we’re simply exchanging holy pleasantries here, but as St.

John Chrysostom’s homily indicates, this is no mere greeting.

The priest’s words are really more akin to a blessing imparted by the spirit of Christ at the hands of his ordained minister, and our response is far more than a simple “back at you.” Rather, when we say “And with your spirit,” we are affirming our faith in the sacrament of holy orders; acknowledging aloud that we recognize the priest who leads us as one uniquely configured to Christ in such way as to act at Holy Mass in Persona Christi and most certainly not by his own resources.

Some folks may read this and think, “It’s that pre-Vatican II clericalism all over again!

Just 90 seconds into the Mass and already we’re tipping our hat to Father!” The truth, however, is just the opposite.

The response “And with your spirit” is not just important for what it says, it is timely for when we say it (a total of five times in all). We are acknowledging that Holy Mass and the various parts in it are not really about the priest personally at all. It’s not his Mass; it is Christ’s Mass.

Far from being a form of clericalism, our response is really best understood as a tangible expression of what St. John the Baptist said of himself: the priest must decrease so that the Lord Jesus Christ, the true High Priest, might increase.

All of this said, most of us realize that “The Lord be with you” isn’t exactly the typical way of blessing. For example, the priest blesses the people during the Concluding Rite using the far more familiar formula of “May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

So the question is, why does the priest bless us throughout Holy Mass with such words as “The Lord be with you,” and “The peace of the Lord be with you always”? What makes this blessing so unique?

Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is a liturgical blessing – one intended in a particular way for those incorporated into Christ’s Body through baptism, the gateway through which the laity are enabled to participate in the sacred liturgy (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1119).

When the priest says, “The Lord be with you,” he is urging the faithful to turn to, or to be with, the spirit of the Lord received in the waters of baptism, so that they may be personally conformed to His Divine Presence and properly disposed to unite themselves with the sacred action about to take place.

It is fitting that we should begin our union with Christ at Holy Mass by turning inward, for as the Church teaches, “Interior participation in the sacred liturgy is the most important; this consists in paying devout attention, and in lifting up the heart to God in prayer” (“Musicam Sacram” 22a).

Turning to the presence of Christ within, however, is not enough. Our desire to participate in the sacred liturgy also compels us to become “intimately joined with the High Priest” who makes Himself present in a unique way “in the person of the ordained minister” (“Sacrosanctum Concilium,” 14), so that “together with Him, and through Him we may offer the Sacrifice, making ourselves one with Him” (“Musicam Sacram” 22a).

This is where the response “And with your spirit” takes on an additional layer of meaning.

One may have noticed that St. John Chrysostom uses a subtle interplay between the words “spirit” as in “And with your spirit,” and “Spirit” as in “Holy Spirit.”

This reveals something important about our response as it relates to the identity of the priest.

The word “spirit” is often used in reference to one’s “inmost being.” For example, we read in Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching his innermost parts.” This “spirit” of man is also directly related to our share in Christ’s priesthood and thus to our participation in the Sacrifice of the Mass. And, “You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5).

Through holy orders, He who alone is able to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is made present to us in a unique way in the “spirit” of the priest who stands before us.

Learn more This is part 7 of a year-long series featuring the revised translation of the Third Missal. Our series will be compiled online at catholicnewsherald.com.

For even more resources, check out the U.S. bishops’ extensive material online at usccb. org/romanmissal.

The priest, in other words, is configured to Christ in a profound ontological way; i.e. not evident simply by what he does, but made manifest by who he is, and our response affirms it.

Furthermore, when we respond “And with your spirit,” we are also consciously saying that we hereby join ourselves in a particular way to Christ who dwells within, and acts through, the priest. This nuance becomes a bit clearer if we imagine giving our response with stress placed on the word “your” – the “spirit” of the priest who celebrates Holy Mass being that of Christ Jesus.

We might also consider our response on yet another level: as a prayer for the man who stands before us, that he be strengthened by God’s grace, in faith, so as to lose his identity in such way as to yield entirely to Christ to whom he is configured.

The corrected translation “And with your spirit” is a wonderful first step toward recovering a sense of the sacred at Holy Mass. With so much rich theological significance recovered in just a handful of words, all of us should be genuinely excited about the faithful translation to come and the great blessing it is certain to be. I know I certainly am.

Louie Verrecchio is a Catholic speaker and Catholic News Agency columnist. For more information go to harvestingthefruit.com. This series is excerpted from the book “And with Your Spirit – Recovering a sense of the sacred in the English translation of the Roman Missal – 3rd Edition.”

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

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Changes coming Some changes in wording at Mass that will come with the revised Roman Missal in English at Advent 2011

‘The priest’s words are really more akin to a blessing imparted by the spirit of Christ at the hands of his ordained minister, and our response is far more than a simple “back at you.”’

Pre-orders for new Roman Missal editions accepted as of March 1 WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pre-orders for the Altar and Chapel editions of the new Roman Missal will be accepted starting March 1 by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Both the larger Altar edition and the more versatile and compact Chapel edition are highly readable and beautifully designed and bound, consistent with USCCB versions of previous liturgical books.

Both editions will be printed on fine paper and feature striking four-color artwork from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Monsignor Anthony Sherman, executive director of the USCCB Secretariat of Divine Worship, praised the new Roman Missal.

“This Missal is a source of strength and spiritual development for Catholics throughout the United States,” he said. “The prayers within it lift up our hearts and minds to the Lord in song and prayer.”

The new Roman Missal will be used for the first time in U.S. parishes on the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 27.

The USCCB Roman Missal, Third Edition books will be available for pre-order starting March 1, atusccbpublishing.org.

Workshops planned St. Matthew Church is offering a series of workshops on adult faith formation using the U.S. bishops’ materials on the revised Missal. The next workshop will be held 7-9:30 p.m.

March 15. Contact Michael Burck at mburck@stmatthewcatholic.org or 704-541-8362, ext. 4.

Part of Mass

Present Wording

Revised Wording

People’s response at the Greeting, Preface Dialogue, Sign of Peace and Concluding Rites

And also with you.

And with your spirit.

...I have sinned through my own fault...

...I have greatly sinned... through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault...

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory...

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. ...

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen... ...one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. ...

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. ... ...consubstantial with the Father; through Him all things were made. ...

Sanctus

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. ...

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. ...

Mystery of Faith (Memorial Acclamation, form A)

Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.

We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

Penitential Act (form A)

Mix

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

In theaters

‘Gnomeo & Juliet’ William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about star-crossed lovers morphs into a clever animated comedy as rival families of garden gnomes face off in a battle for backyard supremacy. It’s love at first ceramic clink for Juliet Capulet (voice of Emily Blunt) and Gnomeo Montague (voice of James McAvoy), but differences in clan allegiance threaten to drive them apart. Until, that is, a wise pink flamingo (voice of Jim Cummings) assures them that love conquers all including, in this case, the Bard’s original ending.

Director Kelly Asbury’s slightly warped but ultimately winning film offers good, clean, wholesome fun for the entire family.

CNS: A-I (general patronage), MPAA: G

CNS | Paramount

Justin Bieber and his mother Patti Mallette are pictured in a scene from the 3-D movie “Never Say Never.” The film chronicles the North American leg of the performer’s first world concert tour. As a woman of faith, Bieber’s mother says she trusts in prayer and has turned to God and fellow believers to surround her son with people who will be a positive moral influence.

Mom of teen sensation hopes faith, fans’ prayers can keep son grounded David DiCerto Catholic News Service

NEW YORK — Few child stars’ ascents have been quite as meteoric as that of the YouTube curiosity turned global pop sensation Justin Bieber, who, in a little more than a year, has gone from playing guitar on street corners in his small Canadian hometown of Stratford, Ontario, to filling arenas and performing for President Barack Obama.

In that short time, he has sold more than 9 million albums and triggered a pandemic of “Bieber Fever.”

One wonders what effect this sudden success has had on the young mind beneath what are, currently, the world’s most famous bangs? What are the chances of the 16-year-old going down the same selfdestructive path as Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and other teen stars who have ended up in rehab, prison or worse?

It is a question that worries Bieber’s mother, Pattie Mallette. As a woman of faith, she has turned to God and fellow believers, surrounding her son with people who will be a positive moral influence, and trusting in prayer – lots of it.

“I’m very careful about who I allow into his life,” said Mallette, who attends a nondenominational Christian church, as does her son.

“I’m aware of the dangers,” she explained, having herself used drugs as a teenager and attempted suicide at 17 before she turned her life around. “Justin’s faith is strong, but he is young and hasn’t come completely into himself yet. So what I can do is pray and continue surrounding him with strong Christian influences.”

To that end, she has carefully chosen an inner circle of people who share her values, including a “travel pastor” and a manager, Scooter Braun, an observant Jew, who help “provide a great moral base” and keep Bieber grounded – making sure “Bieber mania” doesn’t go to his head.

Their family-like relationship is captured in “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” a new 3-D film that chronicles the North American leg of the singer’s first world concert tour and shows “Team Bieber” gathering in prayer before taking the stage each night.

Having raised Justin as a single mom, Mallette said she never prayed for Justin’s success, but prays that God will protect her

‘Justin Bieber: Never Say Never’ This genial 3-D profile of teen pop singer and musician Justin Bieber showcases home movies of his childhood, footage documenting his rise to stardom via social media celebrity. The resulting portrait is not only perfectly acceptable for audiences of any age, it also highlights his close bonds with his mother and grandparents and the Christian faith he shares with them.

CNS: A-I (general patronage), MPAA: G

son from the temptations and traps that often accompany fame.

And she’s not stopping there. She is asking that others pray for him, as well – believers and “beliebers,” as fans of the pop star are dubbed.

“He is on a wonderful journey and I love him and I am asking for people’s prayer support,” Mallette said.

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

On TV n Sunday, Feb. 20, 10-11 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Little Shepherds of Fatima.” A special featuring footage of Pope John Paul II’s trip to Fatima, Portugal, for the beatification of the two visionaries who died in childhood – Francisco and Jacinta Marto – during which he also met with the surviving visionary, Sister Lucia (1907-2005). n Wednesday, Feb. 23, 1 p.m.

(EWTN) “The Jeweller’s Shop.”

This film adaptation of the play, written by Karol Wojtyla (Pope John Paul II), tells the story of two sets of Polish spouses during World War II and the challenges that love demands of them. Through the years, each of the characters visits a Krakow jeweler, who provides them with wedding rings and profound wisdom. Re-aired at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26.

n Friday, Feb. 25, 8-10 p.m.

(TCM) “On the Waterfront” (1954). Classic labor film about a punched-out boxer (Marlon Brando) who, despite the machinations of his shifty brother (Rod Steiger) and with some encouragement from the woman (Eva Marie Saint) he loves, as well as a waterfront priest (Karl Malden), decides to stand up to the criminal boss (Lee J. Cobb) of a corrupt union of dock workers. Budd Schulberg’s fact-based script is directed by Elia Kazan with standout performances and a gritty realism grounded in a working-class milieu, abetted by Leonard Bernstein’s score and Boris Kaufman’s photography.

Much menace and some violence.

CNS: A-II (adults and adolescents), MPAA: Not rated n Saturday, Feb. 26, 2-3 p.m.

(EWTN) “Sudan: And You Do Not Cry With Us.” A look at the Sudanese civil war (19832005), focusing on the struggle of Sudan’s Christians to keep the faith in the midst of tragedy and injustice.

Revised Bible provides ‘more clarity, more detail’ for today’s Catholic

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In theaters

Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The revised New American Bible that will be released on Ash Wednesday, March 9, may seem most notably different to casual readers for its efforts at providing context and clarity in how the passages fit together, according to the coordinator of its publication.

“It will be like going from regular TV to high-definition,” said Mary Elizabeth Sperry, associate director of New American Bible utilization for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “You’ll have the same programs but more clarity, more detail.”

What is being called the New American Bible Revised Edition, or NABRE, will include the first revised translation of the Old Testament since 1970. The New Testament translation is the same as the 1986 Second Edition of the New American Bible.

The NABRE also will include the updated Book of Psalms, which was revised in three phases between 1991 and 2010 and has been included in Third Edition versions of the New American Bible published since 1991.

The new Bible will be available in an assortment of print, audio and electronic formats, from a variety of publishers.

Individual publishers will roll out their versions on their own schedules.

For instance, Oxford University Press announced its line of compact NABRE editions will be available by Easter, April 24, and its study Bibles will be on the market for fall 2011 courses.

The NABRE’s publication will not affect what Scripture texts are used for Mass. The Lectionary translation has already been updated recently.

Sperry explained that some of the updating in the Old Testament resulted from developments in biblical scholarship since the last time it was translated. For instance, recent archaeological discoveries have provided better texts, which affected scholarly views on how certain passages should be translated, she said.

The goal of retranslating the Old Testament was to “get it closer to the original language,” Sperry said. Scholars start with the original Hebrew or Greek text, for instance, rather than simply working from the 1970 New American Bible version, or from translations used in other Bible editions.

For the most part, the changes will be hard to spot, except by those who are serious students or scholars, she said.

In other places in the NABRE, even casual readers may catch the differences.

She and Benedictine Father Joseph Jensen, executive secretary of the Catholic Biblical Association and one of the scholars who worked on the translation, both gave two examples of the type of changes everyday readers might notice: the disappearance of the words “cereal” and “booty.”

The goal when possible was “to make the

‘The Eagle’ Vigorous screen version of Rosemary Sutcliff’s popular 1954 novel “The Eagle of the Ninth” in which a young Roman soldier (Channing Tatum) in second-century Britain goes in quest of the titular military symbol lost 20 years earlier when the legion his father commanded disappeared, under unexplained circumstances, in the wilds of Scotland. Though discouraged from venturing beyond Hadrian’s Wall – the northern limit of the Empire – by his cautious uncle (Donald Sutherland), the youth is guided on his daring foray by a native slave (Jamie Bell) whose mix of resentment toward Rome and personal loyalty toward his master makes for a fraught friendship. Considerable but largely bloodless combat violence, brief distant images of unclothed corpses, some crass language.

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

‘Just Go With It’

CNS | Bob Roller

Copies of the New American Bible, a Catholic Bible in English first published in 1970, are pictured in the bookstore at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., Feb. 2.

Revisions were published in 1986 and now this Bible has undergone its first major update since then, with a revised edition to be released March 9, Ash Wednesday, and made in available various print, electronic and audio formats. language more contemporary,” said Father Jensen. In today’s culture the phrase “cereal offering” conjures up images of Wheaties and Cheerios, not the bushels of wheat type of offering that the term is intended to mean, he said.

The word “booty” also has taken on the slang meanings of “buttocks” or sometimes, “sexual intercourse,” instead of its primary meaning of “plunder,” such as a marauding army might acquire.

Sperry said another change made for contemporary readers was the elimination of the word “holocaust” in favor of “burnt offerings.” Since millions of Jews were killed in German death camps before and during World War II, the word Holocaust has gradually come to specifically refer only to that period of history, she explained.

The completed Old Testament revision was approved by the bishops at their November 2008 meeting. In 2010 the bishops signed off on the latest revision of the Psalter, as the book of Psalms is called.

Very loose – and sloppy – remake of the classic 1969 farce “Cactus Flower” weighed down by stale writing and a seemingly endless parade of potty jokes. Adam Sandler plays a philandering plastic surgeon who escapes commitment by telling his many girlfriends he’s trapped in a bad marriage. So, once he decides to settle down with a schoolteacher (Brooklyn Decker), he needs to produce a “wife” he can divorce, the start of an increasingly complicated effort at deception in which he eventually enlists not only his sensible office assistant (Jennifer Aniston) but her two precocious kids (Bailee Madison and Griffin Gluck) as well. The resulting comedy is not only frequently distasteful, but comatose almost from the start. An implied premarital situation, considerable scatological humor, sexual banter, fleeting crude language.

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

‘The Roommate’ Bottom-of-the-class campus horror flick about an Iowa-bred University of Los Angeles freshman (Minka Kelly) whose obsessive roommate (Leighton Meester) secretly makes life difficult – and ultimately dangerous – for anyone who seems likely to come between them. Those discovering to their cost that three’s a crowd include a couple of the wide-eyed Hawkeye’s friends, her frat-boy love interest, a predatory professor and – perhaps most tragically – a kitten named Cuddles. Bloodless but occasionally deadly mayhem, nongraphic nonmarital sexual activity, cohabitation, same-sex kissing, brief partial nudity, crude language.

CNS: L (limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling), MPAA: PG-13

Our nation 18

charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Advocates urge Congress not to cut programs for poor Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The federal budget crunch should not be eased by cutting programs that help the poor, refugees and the unemployed in the U.S. or those struggling to survive in developing nations, warned Church leaders in letters to Congress and responses to President Barack Obama’s budget proposal.

“In a time of economic crisis, the poor and vulnerable are in greater need of assistance, not less,” said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in a Feb. 14 letter to Congress. “Preserving the national security of the country is without doubt imperative, but we cannot secure the nation while at the same time furthering the insecurity of the poor and vulnerable in our midst.”

Congress is simultaneously dealing with several budget-related efforts. First is ensuring that funding continues past March 4 for current federal operations to avoid a near government shutdown.

Congress is also beginning work on the budget for the coming fiscal year, which starts in October.

CNS | Bob Roller

Women listen to a presentation Feb. 13 by Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. He spoke on the first day of the 2011 annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering in Washington, D.C.

Cardinal urges social ministry workers to continue Church’s legacy Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Telling an audience of Catholic social ministry workers Feb. 13 that they are “still contributing to writing the book on Catholic social doctrine,” the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace offered historical context and encouragement for their efforts.

“We are the heirs and inheritors of ‘Rerum Novarum,’” the 1891 encyclical by Pope Leo XIII considered the starting point of modern social teaching, said Cardinal Peter Turkson, the council’s president, speaking to the annual Catholic Social Ministry Gathering.

The conference is co-sponsored by a dozen Catholic organizations, including various departments of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Charities USA, JustFaith, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, the Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Catholic Relief Services, among others.

Cardinal Turkson explained that his role at the Vatican is to apply “Rerum Novarum” and the related social teaching documents of the past 120 years to the current challenges of Church organizations that seek to address the world’s social needs.

Sometimes that means reminding organizations of the differences between political involvement and the Church’s social justice obligations, he said.

Church and state are distinct from one another, each serving its own sphere, he said. But the Church must also “scrutinize the signs of the times” to ensure that its efforts and resources are meeting people’s needs, he continued.

The former archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, and the first cardinal from his country, Cardinal Turkson was warmly greeted for his speech by an audience that included dozens of Ghanaians, many wearing colorful traditional woven fabrics and elaborate head scarves of their native country.

His talk was the opening plenary session of the four-day annual gathering of more than 300 social ministry workers from

around the country.

He traced the history of major social teaching documents since “Rerum Novarum,” noting that each arrived at a time of societal struggles in a changing world.

Quoting from “Gaudium et Spes,” the Second Turkson Vatican Council document on the Church and society, Cardinal Turkson reminded the audience that “the Church, which has long experience in human affairs and has no desire to be involved in the political activities of any nation, seeks but one goal: to carry forward the work of Christ under the lead of the befriending Spirit. Christ entered this world to give witness to the truth; to save, not to judge; to serve, not to be served.”

Church and state are distinct from one another, but since the Church “does dwell among men, she has the duty ‘of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel,’” he said, quoting the Vatican II document again.

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

In Brief Bishops: Don’t balance budgets on the backs of the poor WASHINGTON, D.C. — Catholic bishops around the country are reminding state legislatures and their fellow citizens that the nation’s budgetary problems are not over and must not be resolved on the backs of the poor.

“In the devastation of shrinking city and state budgets across the country, all face excruciating choices,” said the Massachusetts bishops in one of the most recent statements, issued Feb. 9.

“But we caution that while the temptation to turn away from the growing social needs confronting our cities and towns may seem attractive ... our capacity to move beyond the many complex problems we face today depends on our willingness to overcome that temptation.”

Cardinal: Immigration talk requires compassion LOS ANGELES — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles told an audience at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill Feb. 2 that some of the rhetoric about the immigration in the U.S. is “not worthy of the Gospel,” and that the ethical injunctions of Scripture require “compassion for the stranger, the alien, and the worker. Whatever economic, political or social policies we discuss – and whatever discussion of constitutional rights and liberties – we cannot turn our backs to this biblical legacy of hope.”

Review Board chair appointed WASHINGTON, D.C. — Al J. Notzon III of the Archdiocese of San Antonio has been appointed to chair the National Review Board by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the USCCB. He will succeed Diane Knight, the former director of Catholic Charities in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, at the close of the spring USCCB meeting in June and hold the post until June 2013. Notzon most recently chaired the Archdiocese of San Antonio’s review board.

The National Review Board, which Notzon joined in 2008, was set up in 2002 as a consultative body that reviews the annual report on implementing the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and its recommendations. It then offers its assessment to the president of the USCCB.

Archbishop, bishop installed Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Salina, Kan., was installed as head of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, Okla., Feb. 11. Bishop John B. Brungardt was ordained and installed as the sixth bishop of Dodge City, Kan., Feb. 2.

Ave Maria U. names president AVE MARIA, Fla. — The board of trustees of Ave Maria University has named Jim Towey as its next president, effective July 1. Towey was director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives from 2002 to 2006.

— Catholic News Service

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Our world

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

In Brief Vatican stats: Number of priests up VATICAN CITY — The number of priests in the world has increased consistently over the past decade and the “relative superabundance” of priests in Europe and North America has begun to attenuate, the Vatican said. The “relative superabundance” refers to the percentage of the world’s priests who live in Europe and North America compared to the percentage of the world’s Catholics there.

Anticipating some of the figures that would be released in the Statistical Yearbook of the Church later this month, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, said that in 1999, just more than 15 percent of the world’s priests lived and ministered in Central and South America while 42.4 percent of the world’s Catholics lived there. At the end of 2009, the percentage had changed slightly: Latin America had 17.3 percent of the priests and 42.2 percent of the world’s Catholics. The newspaper article focused on the statistics’ demonstration of 10 years of steady growth in the number of Catholic priests worldwide.

Ukrainian Catholic leader resigns VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Lubomyr Husar of Kiev-Halych, head of the Ukrainian church, Feb. 10, about two weeks before his 78th birthday. The cardinal, who as major archbishop of the Eastern Catholic church could have served for life, is almost blind and asked to retire. The 45 Ukrainian Catholic bishops from Ukraine and other countries of Europe, North and South America and Australia must meet within two months to elect a successor; Pope Benedict must assent to the election before the new major archbishop can be installed. The Ukrainian Catholic Church is the largest of the Eastern churches in full communion with Rome.

John Paul II Web site launches ROME — The Diocese of Rome launched a new Web site dedicated to the beatification and canonization of Pope John Paul II: www.karol-wojtyla.org. It offers news updates on the late pope’s sainthood cause, as well as a live webcam of his tomb in the grotto of St. Peter’s Basilica. The site also announced that the beatification ceremony in St. Peter’s Square May 1, Divine Mercy Sunday, will be open to the public and no tickets will be required to attend.

— Catholic News Service

Visitator to report that Irish Church is near collapse Michael Kelly Catholic News Service

DUBLIN — Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley reportedly will tell Pope Benedict XVI that the Catholic Church in Ireland is “on the edge” of collapse due to the fallout from clerical abuse scandals.

Cardinal O’Malley is one of several senior prelates charged by Pope Benedict with carrying out an apostolic visitation of the Irish Catholic Church following a series of highly critical judicial reports that revealed abuse by priests and a widespread culture of cover-up for decades among church leaders.

Father Tony Flannery, a leading member of the Association of Catholic Priests, revealed at a conference of laypeople Feb. 12 in the Irish capital that “Cardinal O’Malley told the association the Irish Church had a decade, at most, to avoid falling over the edge and becoming like other European countries where religion is marginal to society.”

Father Flannery said Cardinal O’Malley gave a commitment to the priests’ association that he would deliver the frank assessment to the pope in a confidential report to be submitted later this year.

Admitting to being previously skeptical about the apostolic visitation, Father Flannery said

that in light of Cardinal O’Malley’s undertaking, “there may be some gleam of hope.”

Cardinal O’Malley could not be reached for comment.

In a mid-November statement, the Vatican said it would issue a comprehensive summary of the investigations’ findings when they are completed.

The first phase of the visitation should be completed by Easter, and it is likely the visitators will meet with senior officials of the Roman Curia in the spring to discuss what Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, described as the next phase of the “path to renewal.”

Meanwhile, an Irish bishop has called on parishioners to “reform and renew” the Church toward a future that is more transparent and in which leaders are accountable. Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, the diocese based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, launched a new “listening program” for laypeople across the 88 parishes of the diocese Feb. 8.

While the process is seen as a response to the widespread sense of disappointment and anger felt by Irish Catholics, Bishop Treanor insisted that “even if the scandals didn’t happen, even if there were just as many priests now as there were 50 years ago, this process would still be necessary.”

The latest news about U.S. clergy abuse cases n PHILADELPHIA — A grand jury has indicted four priests and a teacher following a child sex abuse investigation and report released by the Philadelphia district attorney Feb. 10. Charged with rape, assault and other felonies related to minors, as recommended by the grand jury, are former archdiocesan priest Edward V. Avery, 68; Father Charles Engelhardt, 64, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales; archdiocesan priest Father James J. Brennan, 47; and former lay teacher Bernard Shero, 48. All four were arrested Feb. 10.

Monsignor William J. Lynn, 60, was charged on two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The charges stem from his role as archdiocesan secretary for clergy from 1992 to 2004, when he was responsible for recommending archdiocesan priests’ assignments. He is believed to be the first high-ranking archdiocesan official indicted under a criminal statute in the U.S. for charges related to the sexual abuse scandal that came to light in 2002.

Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia denied that any archdiocesan priests with “an admitted or established allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against them” remained in ministry.

Also, on Feb. 15, a 28-year-old man who says he was abused by clergy on two separate occasions filed a civil lawsuit against the two alleged abusers, the Catholic schools he attended, the Philadelphia archdiocese, the city’s past and present cardinal

archbishops, Monsignor Lynn and others who the unnamed man said failed to prevent the abuse. n WILMINGTON, Del. — Bishop W. Francis Malooly said he prays that the Diocese of Wilmington’s recent settlement with survivors of clergy sexual abuse will begin the healing process for survivors and help the Church “emerge purified and renewed.” The diocese late Feb. 2 reached an agreement to pay survivors of sexual abuse by priests more than $77.4 million to settle nearly 150 claims of abuse. The agreement will end pending lawsuits against the diocese and several parishes and commits the diocese to giving survivors its files on sexual abusers.

The settlement, pending approval of all creditors and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, could end the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process the diocese began in 2009 to settle the cases while continuing operations.

The diocese, its related agencies and foundation are liquidating all but $3 million of their unrestricted assets, as well as selling the bishop’s house. Layoffs are expected, and ministries will be curtailed, the bishop said. The agreement preserves the lay employee pension fund.

The $77.4 million settlement is $3.4 million higher than what the diocese offered last month. It does not settle suits against religious orders in the diocese.

— Cathollic News Service

Pope studying changes for worship congregation Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI is studying the possibility of slightly modifying the responsibilities of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments so that very technical marriage annulment cases would be handled by a Church court.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, told reporters Feb. 9 that “it is true” that Vatican officials were studying a document that would “transfer technical-juridical competency – for example that of the dispensation of a marriage that is valid but not consummated – from the Congregation for Divine Worship to the tribunal of the Sacred Rota.”

Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli wrote on his blog Feb. 9 that Pope Benedict had decided to “reorganize the competencies of the Congregation for Divine Worship, entrusting it with the task of promoting a liturgy that is more faithful to the original intentions of the Second Vatican Council with less space for arbitrary changes and with the recovery of a dimension of greater sacredness.”

However, Father Lombardi said, the proposed change aims only at giving the Roman Rota responsibility for technical administrative procedures such as those involved in releasing a couple from the obligations of marriage when they have not consummated their bond.

“There are no grounds or reasons to see in this an intention to promote a ‘restrictive’ control by the congregation over promoting the liturgical renewal desired by the Second Vatican Council,” the Jesuit said.

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Despite illness, Vietnamese priest planning hunger strike in prison Catholic News Service

BANGKOK —- A jailed priest in Vietnam undergoing medical treatment at a Churchrun home said he will begin a hunger strike to protest his sentence when authorities return him to a prison camp in March.

“The communist government plans to take me back to the camp on March 15,” Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly said in a statement Feb. 2, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. “I will go on indefinite hunger strike and refuse medical treatment to oppose the sentence.”

The priest gave copies of the statement to visitors ahead of the start of the Lunar New Year Feb. 3.

Father Ly, 64, has been under house arrest at a home for retired priests in Hue since his release from the prison camp in northern Ha Nam Province because of health problems last March 15.

A longtime supporter of religious freedom

and human rights, Father Ly said the government is forcing him to serve out the rest of his sentence. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of house arrest in March 2007 for alleged anti-government activities. He has denied the Ly charges.

Ordained in 1974, Father Ly has peacefully criticized government policies on religion and advocated for greater respect for human rights in Vietnam since the late 1970s. He has been imprisoned for his actions for a total of 17 years and held under house arrest for total of 15 years.

Last month, the U.S. State Department protested to the Vietnamese government after an American diplomat was beaten and dragged away by police for attempting to meet with Father Ly.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Letter to the editor

Injustice of abortion requires courageous response As a member of the pro-life movement, I am compelled to respond to the Feb. 11 letter to the editor, “Let’s be pro-life for all life.” The author wonders “if the pro-life movement considers the plight of the marginalized of our society who appear ‘different’ in their appearance and behavior.”

Sadly, many Catholics share similar sentiments.

Obviously, all Catholics and all pro-life people should be concerned with the marginalized members of society. But we should not equate the plight of marginalized citizens with that of the unborn. The Church has always instructed the faithful to weigh the moral gravity of sins as we consider our charitable responses.

In 1973, abortion became legal. Since then more than 50 million innocent unborn babies have been killed in the womb. Thankfully, there is no federal law that allows innocent, marginalized citizens to be killed. Nor are there national organizations set up with the express goal of institutionalizing the right to kill innocent, marginalized citizens. We can also be thankful that no taxpayer dollars are being spent to support the killing of innocent, marginalized citizens.

Abortion is a moral injustice of the highest gravity, and therefore, it requires a charitable response from the faithful of equal gravity. We should emulate those in the pro-life movement in their courageous response to the teachings of Christ and His Church.

Jason Beckert of Waxhaw is a member of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

By the numbers

Tucson shooting spree Guns: GUNS: Divided DIVIDEDViews VIEWS prompts renewed debate Q: What do you think is more important – to An increasing percentage of U.S. adults protect the right of Americans to own guns, or to on gun-control issue in U.S. think controlgun gunownership ownership? should be controlled.

PERCENT WHO RESPONDED protect right to own

control ownership 58%

55%

55%

49%

42%

46%

37% 37% ‘00

‘04

MEN

‘07 ‘08 ‘09 ‘10 ‘11

57%

WOMEN

37%

CATHOLICS

36%

40% 58% 62%

Data for 2011 from survey taken after the Tucson shootings. Breakouts are from Sept. 2010 survey. Don’t know and refused responses not included.

CNS | Emily Thompson Source: Pew Research Center ©2011 CNS

DETROIT — The shooting rampage at U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Jan. 8 community meeting in Tucson, Ariz., which left Giffords and 12 others wounded and six dead, has renewed debate on gun control.

Activists cite New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s report that investigators bought semi-automatic weapons without undergoing criminal background checks at a Phoenix gun show two weeks after the Tucson shooting. They are using the gun show example as a way to try to pressure President Barack Obama to weigh in on whether he plans to seek stricter gun control. So far he hasn’t had addressed the issue.

While bishops across the nation have decried the violence, few have recently addressed the issue of gun control.

In a phone interview with Catholic News Service, Tucson Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas said, “Whenever there’s a tragedy, we look at what can be done, what we can learn from it and that’s where we’re at in this time of grieving and sadness.”

In 2000, the U.S. bishops issued the statement “Responsibility, Rehabilitation and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice.” In it, the bishops called for “sensible regulation” for guns: “As bishops, we support measures that control the sale and use of firearms and make them safer – especially efforts that prevent their unsupervised use by children or anyone other than the owner – and we reiterate our call for sensible regulation of handguns.”

Louisiana’s bishops agreed to ban concealed handguns in churches following a 2010 law that also gave those in authority over places of worship the power to decide whether to allow them.

“There was no reaction whatsoever” to the bishops’ decision, said Danny Loar, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops. Louisiana is a stronghold for the National Rifle Association and one of the license plate offerings is “Sportsman’s Paradise,” a testament to the state’s hunting and fishing culture.

Guns in worship places was also the focus of a federal court action in Georgia earlier this year. The court dismissed a lawsuit brought by GeorgiaCarry.org and a Baptist minister challenging the U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing states to legislate their own firearms possession laws. Francis J. (Frank) Mulcahy, executive director of the Georgia Catholic Conference, said bishops there “haven’t taken a position on it one way or another.”

— Catholic News Service

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To be considered for publication, each letter must include the name, address and daytime phone number of the writer for purpose of verification. Letters may be condensed due to space limitations and edited for clarity, style and factual accuracy.

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E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

February 18, 2011 | charlottediocese.org/catholicnews

Deacon Jim Toner

The ‘magisterium of the mirror’ ‘It is [the] Magisterium’s task to preserve God’s people from deviations and defections and to guarantee them the objective possibility of professing the faith without error.’

— Catechism of the Catholic Church, 890

M

y father used to tell me that the chief reason for moral decline in America was the banning of prayer in public schools. I think, though, that the absence of prayer in our schools (except during tests) is more a symptom of moral disorder than a cause of it. Is there, then, a basic, a fundamental, cause of the ethical disorder that swirls around us? I think there is.

I was reading in my dorm room in college one evening in the terrible winter – terrible because of events, not weather – of early 1968, as the world around us turned to chaos: riots over foreign policy, rampant drug abuse, the sex revolution – and that was only the faculty! More seriously, the morality I had grown up with was, not slowly but very rapidly, eroding. Little did I know in January 1968 that it would get much worse in the years ahead: legalized abortion, for example, was on the horizon, and marriage itself would be under challenges which, in 1968, I could not have imagined.

The article I read that evening helped to give me a way of seeing, not just the isolated events of the day, but perhaps the signs of the times. It was a short piece

by Will Herberg, a Marxist-turned-conservative scholar and sociologist of religion, then at Drew University. His point was that the moral crisis of our day was not that people were violating moral standards. Someone, for instance, may do wrong “to get ahead,” knowing that he is committing a wrong. The problem, rather, was that, in our day, we have come to violate moral standards and to repudiate the standards themselves. Now we do what we choose, condemning the standard as utterly irrelevant to us. In fact, we think we are not “wrong” because there is no wrong, we arrogantly maintain.

Philosopher Peter Kreeft has said much the same thing: “We have lost objective moral law for the first time in history.” Moral relativism, he says, “has become the reigning orthodoxy of the intellectual establishment.

University faculty and media personnel overwhelmingly reject any belief in ... any universal and objective morality.”

If there is no standard for judging right from wrong, or virtue from vice, or good from evil, then there is no way

to know right or virtue or good. Everyone does whatever he chooses. (Similar points are made in Judges 17:6 and 21:25 and in 2 Corinthians 10:12). We make it up as we go along, pleasing ourselves, having no standard except the one we find in our reflection. That is what I call the “magisterium of the mirror.”

Catholics should know that wrong actually exists.

So do evil and vice. In fact, we are to hang on for dear life to what is good and to hate what is evil (Proverbs 8:13, 1 Thess 5:21-22). But how do we know these things?

Whom do we ask? Our friends smart enough to see things our way? The popular press or TV? Or do we consult Scripture, tradition and the teaching of the Magisterium? All of these reflect the Ultimate Standard: Jesus the Christ.

The world tells us that there is nothing constant, that everything changes. We read in Hebrews, however, that Jesus “is the same yesterday and today and forever.” The very next line is this: “Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings” (13:8-9; cf. Eph 4:14 and Col 2:8).

The great English writer G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “The Catholic Church is the only thing which saves a man from the degrading slavery of being a child of his age.” The Church gives us perspective – the ability to see through things. With perspective, we see, not just tissue in the womb, but a child; with perspective, we see not just the appearance of bread and wine, but the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus; we see, not just a book, but the Word of God; we see not just changing times but changeless eternity. There are enduring, permanent standards by which we can and must sort right from wrong and good from evil.

But moral perspective is what we too often no longer have. That standard of Christ and His Church is one we – even Catholics – too often no longer accept. The Vatican II document “Lumen Gentium” tells us that we must always be guided by a well-formed Christian conscience, for “there is no human activity which can be withdrawn from God’s dominion” (#36). And our conscience is – and must be – formed by the Bride of Christ (see, for example, CCC 407,408, 450, 892, 1269, 1783, 1811, 2032, 2039 and 2246).

When we seek to replace God – whether by politics, drugs, sex, money, moving images on electronic screens, sports or by the reflection in our mirrors – we create false idols which lead to sorrow, chaos and to hell. The root of our moral problems this last half century is that we have tried to rebuild the Tower of Babel (as in Genesis 11), arrogantly thinking that we can be our own god.

The Vatican II document “Gaudium et Spes” puts it best: “The Church firmly believes that [in] Christ ... can be found the key, the focal point and the goal of man, as well as of all human history” (#10). It was the 13thcentury writer Dante who told us that “In His will is our peace.” I do not think that good theology can often be taught by a bumper sticker but, this one time, perhaps, it can: “No Christ, no peace; know Christ, know peace.”

Deacon James H. Toner serves at Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro. He is the author of “The God Life: God’s Way” (K of C Veritas Series #315). His most recent book is “Worthy of the Promises: Building Catholic Character” (Borromeo Press).

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Denise Bossert

God calls each of us by name

W

hen I was a substitute teacher, I had a trick. I set aside precisely three minutes to familiarize myself with the seating chart. As the students were filing in and finding seats, I committed to memory the names of the students who were likely to give me trouble. They were the ones who saw a sub, and something changed. When their attitude shifted, I put their names into short term memory.

At the opening bell, I would put the seating chart down and begin implementing the teacher’s lesson plans – and then when one of the students acted up, I addressed him by name.

He would stare at me in shock. Did I know him? Well, that changed everything. Suddenly, things were on a personal level.

Anonymity – gone. Incognito no longer.

A name is like a ticket. It gains access to the person. It changes everything.

God disclosed His name to us. He gave it freely. We didn’t wrestle it out of Him, or crack the code, or lift the name from a seating chart. He gave it to us. God knew that, in giving us His name, we could draw closer. Our relationship could get personal.

As paragraph 203 of the Catechism says, “To disclose one’s name is to make oneself known to others; in a way it is to hand oneself over by becoming accessible... .”

Recently, I traveled to Alabama and Ohio and shared my conversion story. When I arrived, one of the first things I was asked was how I pronounce my name. “It’s bah – as in ‘bahhumbug’ – and cert – as in the breath mints. Bossert.” I could tell that they felt a little embarrassed that they did not know how to pronounce my name automatically. They certainly didn’t need to feel bad about it. Even before our first date, I asked John, “So how do you pronounce that last name, anyway?” Now it is my name, and I give the same answer to others that my husband gave to me.

There was a time when we did not know the name of our God. Once, we were strangers. We were very far from the One who made us. In ancient days, He offered His name to Moses, but for each of us, this name remained a mystery. And then He called to us personally, as He called to Moses: Draw closer. There is something I want you to do. And the key to your success rests in one name. My name. I Am. The I Am is sending you.

This Creator has known your name from the moment you were conceived in the womb. He knows you by name because He made you. It is a lesson I share with confirmation students.

The One who made you has also called you by name. When you were baptized, you were given a new name. Every time you have entered the Church, from the moment you were old enough to reach the holy water font, you have blessed yourself in that name.

But when you are confirmed, you will stand before God and before His shepherd, the bishop, and you will renew those baptismal promises. At your baptism, God called you as He did Moses. He gave you His name. Today, He asks you to claim that name – now and forever. He’s preparing to send you into the world, as He did Moses, to free the enslaved, liberate the captives, and share His good news with others. It is time for you to wear His name publicly. It is time for you to become Christ to the world.

When God gave us His name, He gave us more than a name.

The Creator reached out to the created ones and He said, Draw close to me. You are mine. I love you. And I have called you by name.

Go and bear witness to the name you have received.

Denise Bossert is a convert to the Catholic Church. She lives in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary in New Melle, Mo.

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charlottediocese.org/catholicnews | February 18, 2011 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD