Jan. 25, 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 1

January 25, 2002

January 25, 2002 Volume 10 t Number 19

Inside Catechists gain satisfaction in sharing Jesus with faith formation classes, creating atmosphere to experience God

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Rocky road to diaconate paved by faith

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Local News Translating the faith: Priest dedicated to Hispanic ministry

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Long History of Catholicism leads to diaconate

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Every Week Entertainment ...Pages 10-11

Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13

As Catholics, we are not to focus only on ourselves but are called by our baptism to reach out and share our time, talent and treasure with our brothers and sisters.

S e r v i n g C a t h o l i c s in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

2 The Catholic News & Herald hospital after suffering her second stroke on Dec. 24. Father Pacwa, 52, recently received approval from his Chicago provincial, Jesuit Father Richard Bauman, as well as the southern provincial, Jesuit Father James Bradley, and Bishop David Foley of Birmingham, in whose diocese the network is headquartered. Father Pacwa told the Texas Catholic, newspaper of the Dallas Diocese, that he will take over as host of Mother Angelica’s two live programs at the beginning of February.

Women religious share insights of months spent in prison PEKIN, Ill. (CNS) — After spending six months in identical garb and sharing the same living quarters, meals and other daily activities, Sisters Miriam Spencer, Betty Anne McKenzie and Gwen Hennessey reflected on the common vocation they shared — in prison. “I think being arrested is a vocation, which not everyone is called to, nor am I called to (it) every time,” Sister Spencer said. She is one of three nuns who recently completed sentences at the women’s federal prison camp in Pekin for trespassing at Fort Benning, Ga., home of the former School of the Americas. “There are other ways to protest, but sometimes this is the only way to be heard,” she added. On Jan. 14, Sister McKenzie, a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet from St. Paul, Minn., and Sister Hennessey, a Franciscan from Dubuque, Iowa, were released from prison after completing six-month sentences, as were four other women protesters. Sister Spencer, a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace from Bellevue, Wash., began her sentence later than the others and was to be released Feb. 7.

Daily prayer, desire for God as necessary as breathing, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II called daily prayer as necessary as breathing and said it should be fueled by an unquenchable desire for God. Illustrating his message at his weekly general audience Jan. 16, the pope drew on the Psalms’ famous image of a deer longing for running water. “The thirsty deer is, in fact, the symbol of the praying (person) who inclines with whole body and spirit toward the Lord, perceived as far away and at the same time necessary,” he said. “The search for God on the part of man is an undertaking that is

Photo by Joann S. Keane

BMHS students collect pro-life literature Students from Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem, read pro-life pamphlets as they begin their first-time participation in Washington’s annual March for Life Jan. 22. See the next edition of The Catholic News & Herald for full diocesan coverage from the March for Life.

Jesuit priest to fill in at EWTN for ailing Mother Angelica DALLAS (CNS) — Father Mitch Pacwa, a Jesuit who taught at the University of Dallas, will take a permanent role at the Eternal Word Television Network, including as the fill-in for the ailing Mother Angelica. Mother Angelica, 78, remained in fair condition at a Birmingham, Ala.,

Episcopal January 25, 2002 Volume 11 • Number 19 Publisher: Most Reverend William G. Curlin Editor: Joann S. Keane Staff Writer: Alesha M. Price Graphic Designer: Tim Faragher Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Sherill Beason 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Mail: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $15 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all other subscribers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237.

January 25, 2002

The World in

c a l e n-

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events: February 10 — Noon New Year’s Celebration St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, Charlotte February 11 — 2:30 p.m.

Concelebrant at bishops’ ordination Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington D.C. February 15 — 10 a.m.

Finance council meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte February 17 — 2 p.m.

Rite of election Our Lady of Grace, Greensboro February 19-20 Guest speaker at Newman University Wichita, Kan.

never finished because new progresses are always possible and necessary,” he said.

Jesuit priests concerned over U.S. treatment of Afghan prisoners VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While legitimately fighting terrorism, the United States must guarantee respect for human rights, even for suspected terrorists, two Jesuits told Vatican Radio. In

Diocesan

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cilitator, will help people deal with the emotions and grief that AIDS patients and their families feel during their illness and after death. If interested in RAIN ministry or grief education, call the church office at (704) 362-5047.

7 GUILFORD COUNTY — The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Guilford County Division 1, an IrishCatholic social and charitable interparish group, will be having a meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Ladies’ Cottage at Our Lady of Grace Church, 2205 West Market St. in Greensboro.

For further information, call Alice Schmidt at (336) 288-0983.

9 DENVER — The Knights of Columbus Council 10389 will hold its annual Italian Night Dinner at Holy Spirit Church parish hall, 537 Hwy. 16 North, tonight at 7 p.m. Chefs Pat and Marie Lisi will be cooking a feast of Italian foods including soups, pasta

separate interviews, Italian Cardinal Roberto Tucci, a Jesuit and former director of the radio, and Jesuit Father Pasquale Borgomeo, the radio’s current director, said one of the most worrying aspects of the continuing war on terrorism was the U.S. treatment of prisoners captured in Afghanistan. The U.S. government defined them as “unlawful combatants” rather than as prisoners of war with specific rights under international law and began transferring them Jan. 10 to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The fact that the men were transferred wearing shackles and hoods, that they were being held temporarily in shelters with chain-link fence walls and that they might face military tribunals raised the concern of several human rights groups.

‘Seismic shift’ changing U.S. into nation of minorities, priest says NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — The U.S. is in the midst of a “seismic demographic shift” that will lead to it becoming a nation of minorities, many of whom remain fearful of other ethnic and racial groups and uncomfortable with their differences, a keynote speaker told an audience at the Johannes Hofinger Conference in New Orleans. Father Bryan Massingale, associate professor of moral theology at St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, told religious educators and catechists from across the country that, despite growing ethnic and religious diversity in the United States, people tend to stick together in their own cultural, ethnic and religious groups, or “tribes,” instead of embracing and celebrating each other’s differences and building “solidarity” between all of God’s people. The priest, who spoke Jan. 4 on “Gifts We Want vs. Gifts We Need,” said the latest U.S. census shows that Americans are more ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse today than at any other time in history.

and dessert. The dinner is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For tickets or information, call the church office at (704) 483-6448 or Pat Lisi at (704) 896-7735.

9 MAGGIE VALLEY — Couples are invited to spend the weekend together in faith, love and marriage. The Overnight Retreat for Sweethearts is being held Feb. 9-10 beginning at 5 p.m. with a sweetheart dinner at Living Waters Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane. There will also be a Lenten conference, faith sharing, breakfast and a renewal of marriage vows. For further details, call the center at (828) 9263833 or e-mail lwcrc@main.nc.us.

Upcoming CHARLOTTE — All married couples are invited to participate in the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter the weekend of Mar. 1-3 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel. Marriage Encounter is a 44-hour period when couples can take time off from families, work and other responsibilities to focus on each other to grow spiritually and emotionally

January 25, 2002

Conference, report looks at how faith traditions address racism WASHINGTON (CNS) — The National Conference for Community and Justice hosted a round-table discussion Jan. 14 called “2002 Voice of Conscience: The Seventh Annual Conversation on Race, Ethnicity and Culture” to coincide with its release of a report examining the beliefs and practices of various religious traditions and how they address racism. The report, titled “Denouncing Racism,” devotes a section to each of 21 faith traditions — everything from Baha’i’ to Zoroastrianism. The conversation is held annually in January to commemorate the birthday of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Past conversations focused on themes such as mutual respect, the impact of education and diversity in the workplace, race and economic opportunities, and emerging leadership.

Pope says Palestinians, Israelis locked in ‘dead end’ of violence VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In yet another appeal for peace in the Holy Land, Pope John Paul II warned that Palestinians and Israelis were locked in a “dead end” of reciprocal violence. He called on the international community to make new efforts to get an effective peace process moving again. The pope made his appeal during a noon blessing at the Vatican Jan. 20. The same day, Israeli tanks raided another West Bank town in reprisal for an attack by a Palestinian militant that left six Israelis dead in a banquet hall. Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian cultural leaders marched in protest to a Palestinian broadcasting center destroyed by Israeli rockets Jan. 19.

ACLU report on conscience clauses draws strong Catholic reaction WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic leaders strongly objected to a new report which claims women’s lives are put at risk by conscience clauses that permit Catholic hospitals to refuse to perform certain medical procedures on religious grounds. The report by the American Civil Liberties Union’s Reproductive Freedom Project was released Jan. 22, the 29th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision legalizing abortion. Titled “Religious Refusals and Reproductive Rights,” the report said, “As more hospitals are managed by religious entities Porras will be celebrating a charismatic Mass at Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., tonight at 7:30 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation will be given at 7 p.m., and the laying on of hands will take place after Mass.

The next Mass will be celebrated on Mar. 4. For more information, call the church office at (336) 778-0600 or Jim Passero at (336) 998-7503.

6 CHARLOTTE — The Happy Timers of St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Rd., will be having a meeting with a luncheon and program with Linda Vaughan from Visiting Angels at 1 p.m. in the parish activity center. All adults age 55 and older are welcome.

For more information about the group or the Knights of Columbus Council 770-sponsored bingo held every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. also at the church, call Charles Nesto at (704) 398-0879.

6 CHARLOTTE — St. Gabriel Church will conduct a session on grief and AIDS tonight from 7-8:30 p.m. in the ministry center. Bob Robinson, fa-

The Catholic News & Herald 3

The World in

Photo by Joann S. Keane

Orthodox Jews protest abortion A group of Orthodox Jews display anti-abortion placards at the annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 22. Clergy of many denominations addressed marchers who came to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions to legalize abortion in 1973. and more states adopt broad refusal clauses allowing health care providers to deny treatment on the basis of religious or moral objections, more women are harmed and more physicians find themselves thwarted in their efforts to care for their patients.”

Annual prayer day for AfricanAmerican family set for Feb. 3 NEW YORK (CNS) — The 13th annual National Day of Prayer for the AfricanAmerican Family has been set for Feb. 3. This year’s theme is “Jesus Our Rock,” taken from Psalm 71. Families are asked to worship and prayer together at Mass; celebrate a meal together and share family stories; make a family resolution no matter how big or small; unite as a family to uphold the sacredness of life; and develop ways of ending all forms of violence in the family and the community. Catholic sponsors of the prayer day include the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for African-American Catholics, the National Black Catholic Apostolate for

Life, the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Sisters’ Conference, the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators and the National Black Catholic Congress.

Pope: Internet has potential, but can’t replace church communities VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Internet presents “magnificent opportunities” for evangelization, but it never can replace the deeper religious experience offered by living church communities, Pope John Paul II said in a message for World Communications Day. The pope urged the church to strike a balance in using the Internet, exploiting its communications possibilities but recognizing that it tends to deliver information, not values. It was the first papal message dedicated entirely to the Internet and its potential for the church’s evangelizing work. The text was made public Jan.

February 1 HAMLET — St. James Church, 1018 W. Hamlet Ave. (off of Hwy. 74 West), will be having its annual pit barbecue from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. today.

Attendants may choose to eat in or take out pork or chicken cooked on site with Cole slaw, baked beans and rolls.

Orders of 10 or more can be delivered. For further information, call the church office at (910) 582-0207.

2 BOONE — In an effort to prepare catechists for the responsibility of forming faith communities, the Boone Vicariate Faith Formation will sponsor a daylong training session at St. Elizabeth Church, 259 Pilgrims Way. There will be two CRP II as well as two CRP I workshops. All catechists and other interested people are invited to learn more about faith development. For further details about the Jan. 27 registration deadline and other information, call Peg Ruble, Central Regional Faith Formation Coordinator, at (704) 391-0445.

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CHARLOTTE — St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Rd., will have its annual attic and bake sale today from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (704) 523-4641.

3 CHARLOTTE — The St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order will be gathering today at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 2301 Statesville Ave. Those interested in learning more about the SFO and the Franciscan way of life are invited to attend. For more information please call Skyler Mood, SFO, at (704) 545-8133.

3 CHARLOTTE — The New Vibrations, an ecumenical choir with youth from area churches including St. Matthew, St. Luke and St. Vincent de Paul churches, will begin its concert season tonight at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, 7619 Idlewild Rd., with concerts at 5 and 7:30 p.m. All are invited to listen and experience the musical celebration. For further information, call Donna Shenoha at (704) 339-2118.

22. World Communications Day will be celebrated by most dioceses this year on May 12, the Sunday before Pentecost.

Bishops’ liturgy director urges Lenten fast from violence, apathy WASHINGTON (CNS) — This Lent, Catholics should fast not only from food but from violence, apathy and sin, said Father James P. Moroney, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Liturgy. In a reflection on Ash Wednesday he said the cross of ashes Catholics receive on their forehead this Feb. 13 may remind them of the “ashes before our eyes too often these past six months” from the grim destruction at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. While ashes “conjure up death and darkness and the end of things,” he said, Catholics are marked with ashes at the start of Lent “so that each of us might turn from all that is earthly, dark and sinful and return to the Gospel of life.”

Florida bishops ask Gov. Bush for death penalty commutation TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CNS) — Florida’s Catholic bishops have asked Gov. Jeb Bush to commute the death sentence of convicted murderer Amos King to life imprisonment without parole. King was scheduled to be executed Jan. 24 for the 1976 rape and murder of 68-year-old Natalie Brady after his escape from a work-release center. Brady lived alone in a one-story house near the center. King, then 22, was serving time for a parole violation and had a work-release job washing dishes at a nearby restaurant. He was sentenced to death after his 1977 conviction, but the sentence was vacated, and reimposed in a new penalty phase of his trial. On Jan. 15, he lost a bid for a stay of execution in a Florida court. The bishops said in their Jan. 17 statement issued in Tallahassee by the Florida Catholic Conference, said, that killing Amos King for this crime “cannot right the wrong that was done.”

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SALISBURY — Sacred Heart Church, 128 N. Fulton St., will be celebrating a charismatic and healing Mass today at 4 p.m. Prayer and worship with prayer teams will be available at 3 p.m., and a potluck dinner will follow the Mass. Father John Putnam, pastor, will be the celebrant.

For further information, call Bill Owens at (704) 639-9837.

4 CHARLOTTE — Churches in the Charlotte area will be having their regularly scheduled cancer support group meetings for survivors, family and friends on the following days: St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., tonight and every first Monday at 7 p.m. in the ministry center library and St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., on Feb. 5 and every first Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the office building conference room.

For more information, call: St. Matthew - Marilyn Borrelli at (704) 5422283 and St. Gabriel - Eileen Correll at (704) 362-5047, Ext. 217.

4 CLEMMONS — Father Adrian

4 The Catholic News & Herald

DSA 2002

Learning takes top honors at St.

By Joanita M. Nellenbach Correspondent FRANKLIN — Learning has a high priority at St. Francis of Assisi Church. They’re doing “good and innovative things,” said Mary Herr, regional faith formation consultant for the Smoky Mountain Vicariate. Thosee things include family activities and litergy-based faith fomation.

Herr’s 20-hour-a-week position is funded through the Diocesan Support Appeal. One of her focuses is teaching the St. Francis catechists.

“The Office of Faith Formation currently has two phases of catechist training, in what is called the Catechist Recognition Process, that I teach to the catechists in the Smoky Mountain Vicariate,” Herr said. “Phase I has five modules covering skills and theory, Scripture, sacraments, creed, and morality, each requiring about two hours of training.

Phase I was offered in all the parishes and missions in 2000-2001; 28 people in the Smoky Mountain Vicariate completed that. I am still doing training on Phase I for those who have not completed it.

“Phase II is more extensive. The two-hour sessions cover promoting knowledge of the faith, liturgical education, moral formation, teaching to pray, education for community life, and missionary initiation. All of the Phase II sessions are approximately two hours long. We have until 2005 to complete all 14 sessions in Phase II. To date, two sessions of promoting knowledge of the faith have been offered in most parishes and missions. On Jan. 21 in Franklin, I taught Session two: ‘At the Heart of Catechesis: Jesus Christ.’ “ “She’s such a great resource,” said Sharon Edwards, who, along with Ron Brahmer, is one of the parish’s catechist

life who isn’t accepted? OK. How do you change that? We always have one or two who say, ‘That’s wrong.’ We like to let them solve the problem.”

“Everybody gets along; it’s real close,” said Adam Woleslagle, an 11th grader. “It’s (what he’s learning) common sense, what you’re supposed to do.

For me, it gives me an incentive. Ron has a way of making everything right and gives you an incentive to be good. If anyone has a problem, everyone helps, and you know it stays in the class.”

Relationships and what Jesus would do are important parts of how to solve problems.

“We teach about Jesus an awful lot,” Brahmer said. “We teach about church and what it means to belong to God’s family.

We teach what the Gospel teaches.”

They talk about everything, including the importance of human sexuality.

“We do have a parent meeting to tell the parents what we’re going to talk about,” Brahmer said.

“We figured out what sexual interaction really is,” said seventh grader Kathryn Swany.

Brahmer wants the students to develop their own faith: “I tell them, ‘I’m not here to tell you about my faith. I want to help you develop yours. What do you believe on your own?’ Faith is about relationship with God.” The students are not the only learners, Brahmer said: “They are great teachers, magnificent teachers. They teach how to look at things very innocently and not to make things so complicated.

They teach us not to take ourselves so seriously. They look at things a lot more simply. I guess it’s like what Jesus said, that ‘Unless you become like a child, you cannot enter the kingdom.’ They’re so close to that.”

Contact Correspondent Joanita M. Nellenbach by calling (828) 627-9209 or e-mail jnell@dnet.net.

coordinators. “She goes deeper into our relationship with Jesus, giving us the opportunity to grow in our relationship with Jesus and ways to share that with the kids. She’s a tremendous link to other parishes and with diocesan information through e-mail. We’re so remote that we wouldn’t have those links otherwise.”

The parish sponsors family-oriented activities that give everyone a chance to learn and is working on a series of family nights. “We’ve been trying to organize a family night where we have a potluck supper, with games for the kids,” Edwards said. “The parents go to another room to hear a talk on subjects like family life and spirituality in the home.”

At the faith formation classes held after Mass on Sunday, the catechists help the children connect their lives to the Gospel readings they hear at Mass.

Edwards teaches when one of the Pre-K through six coordinators is not available and is on hand every week to oversee the program and answer parents’ questions. The catechists are Sarah Brown, preschool and kindergarten; Joan Hatch, first and second grade; Teresa Knippel and Kelly Long, third and fourth; and Donna Kimsey, fifth and sixth. Debbie Crunkleton teaches music during the last half-hour of the weekly faith formation class, preparing them to sing monthly at Sunday Mass. Jacque Brown and Roxanne Zemmin teach the first communicants, while Edwards and Brahmer work with their parents.

Some 50-60 Pre-K-through-six children attend the faith formation classes and learn through talking about the weekly Gospel readings, music and roleplaying.

“I guess the most satisfying thing is sharing Jesus with them and creating an atmosphere for them to experience God,”

January 25, 2002

Edwards said.

That atmosphere, for all the students—Pre-K through 12—is steeped in nurturing reassurance from the catechists and from youth ministers Carl and Patty Stickney.

“I do believe that the kids want to come, that they feel safe,” Brahmer said.

Seventh-grader Kathryn Swany certainly does: “When you’re in school, you might have a teacher you like a lot, but when you’re here with people like Ron and Bill (Matthews) and Mr. Carl and Miss Patty, you love them a lot because of the things they do for you. They’re always encouraging me. I do a lot of things at the church. I’m an usher and a lector; I’m in the choir, and I used to be an altar server. Even one day when I messed up on the reading, they gave me so much encouragement.”

Brahmer is the catechist coordinator for middle and high school classes, which have 20-25 students. Matthews teaches seventh and eighth grade; Brahmer teaches ninth through 12th. When he became catechist coordinator about 11 years ago, Brahmer also began teaching and “fell in love with the kids.”

“I like their honesty,” he said. “They say what’s on their minds.”

Although, he liked the instructional program the church was using, he found that the kids didn’t relate to it. He and Edwards switched to a liturgy-based approach. Pre-K through six use “Seasons of Faith”; seven through 12 use “Living the Good News.”

“It’s lectionary-based, but relates to where the kids are at,” Brahmer said. “It talks about things like ‘Why do I go to church? What do I do when I’m having a problem with a friend?’ We talk a lot about Scripture, and we take that and apply it to their everyday lives. [For instance] the Scripture reading about Zacchaeus: Nobody [in the story] likes him.”

For that one, Brahmer said, he asks questions like, “Is there somebody in your

January 25, 2002

DSA 2002

Another Eagle soars in

Kevin Burke Walker

BLOWING ROCK — Kevin Burke Walker was awarded the Eagle Scout rank by the Boy Scouts of America at a Court of Honor held on Nov. 13, 2001, in Blowing Rock, N.C. Walker started his scouting journey with the Cub Scout Troop at St. Patrick Cathedral in 1990.

Walker grew up in Lake Wylie, S.C., and Blowing Rock, N.C. He attended Catholic school in the diocese and is a 2001 graduate of Watauga High School in Boone, N.C. Walker is currently a freshman at Lees-McRae College. He attends church at St. Elizabeth in Boone and St. Patrick in Charlotte. He is the son of Everett and Linda Walker of Lake Wylie and Blowing Rock. His father is the president of the Diocese of Charlotte Board of Education.

Walker’s Eagle Scout project was the construction of three walkways in front of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. He had the support (location, equipment, materials) of Howard Gray of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, Terry Lentz of Terry Lentz Construction Company Inc., Johnny Lentz of the town of Blowing Rock and Susan Craig of First Citizens Bank.

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DSA 2002 —

How does the garden

By ALESHA M. PRICE Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — Seeds are planted each year as funds from the Diocesan Support Appeal (DSA) are scattered throughout the diocese in the hope that they will blossom into programs and ministries to serve those in need.

Many dedicated people tend the rate of growth and water the seeds to produce the fruit of people’s labor.

This year’s DSA will provide funding for four main areas of ministry: Catholic Social Services (CSS), Multicultural Ministries, Educational Ministries and the Vocations program.

Thirty-five agencies and ministries benefit from money collected from the DSA. According to William Weldon, diocesan chief financial officer, CSS generates approximately three-fourths of its total funding from sources other than the DSA and will benefit from an increase in funding of approximately $80,000 of the total DSA increase. The diocesan permanent diaconate program will receive approximately $55,000 in increased funding for 15 new candidate.

This year’s target amount is $3,550,000 — a 6.5 percent increase, or $217,000, from last year. The DSA goal is calculated through account-byaccount budgets for each of the agencies and ministries. By factoring in cost increases and program changes, department directors create their budgets. Monthly financial reports help to keep track of all DSA funds and to keep abreast of each agency’s activities, said Weldon.

This year’s goal is less than the

overall increase in the diocesan-wide offertory of 10.4 percent and less than the increase of 9.6 percent in the Catholic population in the diocese.

“We have tried hard to limit cost increases while expanding program services. We have been successful in this by focusing on other sources of financial support for DSA programs.

The budgeted amount of funding from other sources, other than the DSA, for 2002-2003 for DSA ministries (other than CSS) totals $786,000,” said Weldon who added that the program directors work diligently to develop other fund sources and use each dollar to its maximum limit.

“As the people of the Church entrust us with their gifts, we are then accountable to them for the prudent use of these resources,” said Weldon, who stated that the fiscal report of the previous year’s DSA is presented in The Catholic News & Herald every fall. “We are very conscious of the sacrifices people make, and we appreciate those sacrifices made to support the DSA, parishes and schools. It is not something we take for granted, and we have a strong sense of responsibility to use the funds as prudently as possible to achieve the goals of the various ministries and agencies.”

Over 85,000 people benefited from programs funded in part by last year’s DSA. Upcoming materials mailed to homes and parishes and a supplemental video will illustrate the need for continued support of the DSA for the benefit of people across the diocese.

Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or email amprice@charlottediocese.org.

6 The Catholic News & Herald

DSA 2002

Rocky road to diaconate, paved by

By Constance Holloway Correspondent CHARLOTTE — Men who aspire to be deacons in the Diocese of Charlotte share many things, but perhaps none is more important than patience. In this diocese, the men must go though approximately six-and-ahalf years of diaconate training.

“The church is always open to those that feel that the Lord has given them a calling to ordained life,” said Rev. Mr. Ben Wenning, an administrator in the diocese who oversees the diaconate program. “The process needs to start with their pastor. It should start with them discerning the call.”

This year, 15 men are embarking on the first phase of “aspirancy,” the initial step in the diaconate process.

But these men — who applied for training last January and were notified of their acceptance in November — already know how lengthy the diaconate journey will be.

“That (application) process was a lengthy one involving interviewing, collection of data, credentials, recommendations. They’re very, very thorough,” said Rick Hanners, one of the aspirants.

For about the next six months, Hanners and his fellow aspirants will

prayerfully reflect on their call to the ministry. The academic phase of the training begins in September for those who are selected to continue.

Minimum requirements for aspirants include being a Catholic for at least five years, “over (age) 35 and under 60,” and, Wenning added with a laugh, “tolerance for lots of study.”

Once ordained, permanent deacons may perform most of the sacramental ministries of the church except consecration of the Eucharist, anointing of the sick and hearing confessions. Even though the deacon is the only ordained man allowed to be married, if a deacon’s wife passes away, he is not allowed to remarry. If a man is single, he is not allowed to marry after ordination. Of the 13,000 deacons in the United States, over 85 percent are married and have families.

One may find these servants of the church performing baptisms, marriages, assisting on the altar at Mass, serving as RCIA and marriage preparation teachers, serving on parish councils and in various other parish and diocesan duties. The Charlotte diocese has 73 permanent deacons; they are not paid for their work.

Aspirant Rick Hanners has immersed himself in the Catholic faith since his conversion six years ago. The former Presbyterian, who’s mother was Catholic, is now an active member of St. Gabriel Church. Among other things, he is chair of the parish’s lectors and was involved in the RCIA. He wants everyone to know “how much the people of St Gabriel have meant to

me in the last six years.”

Born in Hogansville, Ga., Hanners contracted polio at age two but was free of the disease in five years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in counseling from West Georgia College. He also earned a doctorate in psychology from the University of Georgia and an Ed.D in counseling psychology. Hanners worked 30 years as a psychotherapist and school psychologist, retiring from private practice 10 years ago and from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in June.

Six years ago, the polio returned.

“I was skiing down Aspen Mountain,” Hanners recalled, “and my legs gave out.”

But in the years between his exposure to polio and that day on the slopes, Hanners enjoyed everything from ski trips to karate (he earned a black belt).

God, he said, gave him “40 years to run and play.”

Now 58, Hanners uses a wheelchair to get around. An affable father of two grown sons and a grandfather, Hanners’ days have been filled with ministry work and his pursuit of another master’s degree, this one in pastoral studies, through the Loyola Institute of Ministry Extension Program.

Wenning, head chaplain at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, has known Hanners for five years (Hanners is also a chaplain at the air-

January 25, 2002

port). Wenning, a fellow parishioner at St. Gabriel, said Hanners offers many strengths to the diaconate program.

“He brings in a very well-developed, rounded experience that probably will benefit both him, his formation and the diaconate because of his exposure to the many facets of other people’s lives that he has touched.”

Hanners also brings an understanding of the Native American culture. A self-described “half-breed,” he is the child of a Scotch-Irish mother and a Cherokee Indian father.

“There’s a definite effort on our part to look at (men from many) cultures,” Wenning noted.

As for those with disabilities, said Wenning, “We are open to all men that would meet the qualifications. We don’t look at limitations; we look at qualifications.”

Hanners is thrilled at the prospect of pursuing his calling.

“I’m so excited. It’s very hard to believe. I really felt that I was called to do something of this nature. ... It’s on my mind when I get up and when I go to bed because it’s becoming the focus of my life.”

The permanent diaconate is one of 35 programs and ministries that receives funds from the Annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

January 25, 2002

DSA 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 7

Seniors’ input guides diocesan Elder

By Dianne M.A. Riggs Correspondent MORGANTON — “I don’t drive and can’t get to doctors’ appointments.

Can the church help me?” “Many of our elderly are not getting the proper foods.” “How can our elderly stay healthier, longer?” “Is there a faithbased place where we can live after retirement? Our children all live far away.”

If you and your fellow parishioners have asked these and similar questions, you may want to know more about the Diocesan Elder Ministry.

This branch of Catholic Social Services is the direct result of a Task Force on Aging that took place in the diocese in 1998 according to Elder Ministry director, Sandra Breakfield. Consist-

ing of a broad spectrum of persons working with elderly as well as many seniors, they determined the need for a formalized Elder Ministry office with a Charlotte based director.

The Elder Ministry office is not a direct service agency. Rather, it provides support, assistance, education and referral for parishes ministering to seniors. Most of this work is done on a vicariate level, she said.

In the church at large, “(Seniors) are the ones who have trained us, taught us, set direction, set example,” said Breakfield. “As they continue their ministry, we can be an avenue of resource with them.”

Key in Breakfield’s thinking is the belief that seniors themselves possess a wealth of insight through their previous experiences and through what they are presently accomplishing within their parishes. “This isn’t about ‘reinventing the wheel,’” she said. Seniors have been key contributors to the program from its inception. She also believes that it is “Not what I dream up here...but what they want and what

works.”

New Elder Ministry Regional Coordinator, Jenny Robinson, of Hickory, said Elder Ministry is responsible for five broad areas of ministry to the diocese: transportation, general and psychological well-being, housing, pastoral care and health care/direct services. She cited examples for these areas: parish awareness programs on religious, psychosocial and educational and physical needs of elderly; on-site support groups for widows; increasing awareness of spiritual gifts/needs of elders; caregiver support groups.

She noted that Mecklenburg County has begun a task force looking into Catholic-oriented retirement housing.

Thus far, Robinson has focused on transportation, health care and health fairs, creating a database documenting various effective models used in U.S. parishes (including those here in North Carolina), with an eye towards their possible application within the Charlotte Diocese.

In a nutshell, Elder Ministry is about enhancing the lives of seniors who in turn enhance the lives of others, according to Breakfield.

Upcoming events include: a pastoral training event in February at St. Aloysius in Hickory for those working with elders; one workshop/presenta-

tion during the year for each vicariate

by Richard von Stamwitz, a certified gerontological counselor; “Spring Flings” (fun activities) in April, at St. Mark, Huntersville and St. Aloysius, Hickory.

Elder Ministry is one of 35 programs and ministries that receives funds from the Annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

8 The Catholic News & Herald

January 25, 2002

DSA 2002

A translation of faith

Priest dedicated to a ministry of Hispanic phone calls with special requests alter his schedule. Several days a week he visits the sick at Carolinas Medical Center and visits other local hospitals as requested. Every Tuesday evening he gathers with families for a home Mass. Another evening may find him blessing a home. Many hours are devoted to counseling: marriage, divorce, youth, as well as all sorts of problems, such as abuse and alcohol. If a youth group is meeting, you may find Father Elzi mingling with them. In November and December, he averaged 20 baptisms a week.

On Wednesday evenings from 8 to 9:30 p.m., Father Elzi can be found at the Charlotte - Mecklenburg Jail, holding Bible Study for the Hispanics.

“Nearly 40 Spanish speaking jailers gather to sing songs, share prayers and learn about the Bible,” said Father Elzi. “We form a circle praying for jailers’ requests which range from family members to those who are sick to the request for a fair trial. Often, two men from the Hispanic Catholic Center assist me with this ministry, reading scripture and conversing with those present. I read the previous Sunday’s Gospel, give a short homily, and we discuss it. Emphasizing that we are all sinners, my goal is to elevate their self-esteem, bestowing upon them a sense of dignity. Those in jail are very respectful and touched that I come.

I’m hoping to be able to have a Mass for them and hear confessions.”

It’s Thursday, and Father Elzi is visiting Hispanics who are at Carolinas Medical Center. First stop is the chaplain’s office where he picks up a list of Hispanic patients. He quickly sorts them according to floors and

heads for the elevator. Spotting a Hispanic person, he greets him, briefly converses with him and questions whom he is visiting.

Following Father Elzi on visits, one senses a gentle, kind, friendliness interspersed with a soft, peaceful tone of voice that is so receptive to those he meets. Often, he recognizes a patient from the Hispanic Catholic Center.

He converses with patients offering Catholics the opportunity to receive the sacraments of reconciliation, Holy Communion, as well as the sacrament of the sick. For non-Catholic patients, he offers a prayer. But it is his ability to converse with them in Spanish that brings a welcomed familiarity to the patient.

“Often, my hospital visit is people’s first opportunity for a one-on-one Spanish conversation with a priest since leaving their country,” said Father Elzi. “People may be new to the country or may have been here for months but are lonely, feel cooped up, and don’t know anyone. They open up; they tell me what is on their mind.

If they want to talk about something, I am ready to listen. It is a casual encounter. They are pleased to see me.

Many are unaware of The Hispanic Catholic Center. I explain to them what we have to offer, encouraging them to join us.”

In one instance, a woman had just been admitted and was praying that a priest would visit her. She was elated when Father Elzi walked in; his presence created a peaceful, calming effect.

Visiting a widow, he learns that she was baptized many years ago but never received the sacrament of Holy Communion. Father Elzi relates how easy it is to make the sacrament and encourages her to come to the Hispanic Catholic Center.

A smile crosses his face as he learns that a child with leukemia has gone home.

“This is good news,” said Father Elzi.

“The child is very ill. He is very receptive to Christ. We’ve talked about the

next life.”

As Father Elzi prepares to celebrate his 50th year as a priest, he continues to reach out to the Hispanic community with open arms and a loving heart. “I feel very fulfilled working here,” said Father Elzi. “In Panama, as the years went by,

Photo by Mary Marshall

I grew to love my work more and more.

Here in the states, as I serve the same culture with the same kinds of problems, I am able to continue my ministry begun in Panama. I feel right at home.”

Continued next page

January 25, 2002

from Previous page

By Mary Marshall Correspondent CHARLOTTE—Congregation of the Mission, Father Joseph Elzi, who is also known in the states as a Vincentian priest, spent forty-five years of his life as a missionary in Panama before his assignment to the Hispanic Catholic Center in Charlotte.

For twelve of his years in Panama, he worked with small groups in twenty-five outlaying villages traveling by horseback and eventually Jeep to minister to the village people. “These were some of the happiest years of my life,” said Father Elzi. “Once I was accustomed to the culture, language and food, I was able to relate well with the people. A lot of youth were working with me as lay people and played important roles in the church. These years helped me understand the Latin mentality, which today helps me relate with the people and situations at the Hispanic Catholic Center. When someone tells me about an experience, often I have seen that situation and understand the dilemma. My experiences help me understand why Hispanics do and say things an ordinary American wouldn’t understand.”

A native of Jackson, Mich., Father Elzi joined the Vincentians when he was 20 years old. Forty-five years later, with the number of priests growing in Panama and the increased need for

DSA 2002 Spanish-speaking clergy in the states, Father Elzi returned to the states asking to work with Hispanics. His first assignment was in Long Island, N.Y., followed by a year at St. Mary Churh in Greensboro where he worked with Hispanics in the Greensboro vicariate.

In 1998, he was assigned to the Hispanic Catholic Center, which is located on Shenandoah Ave. off Pecan St. near Central Ave. Over three thousand Hispanics, who are predominately from Mexico but also represent Columbia, Salvador, Equator, Cuba, Guatemala, Puerto Rico and Honduras, gather at the Hispanic Catholic Center on weekends for one of six Spanish Masses and the opportunity to receive the sacrament of reconciliation.

The ministries offered at the Hispanic Catholic Center are vast, ranging from counseling, youth programs, faith formation classes, retreats, and a Hispanic radio station which broadcasts several hours each day from a studio in the Hispanic Catholic Center office. Airtime is from 7 to 7:45 a.m. in the winter with additional airtimes of 6 to 8 p.m. in the summer.

Father Elzi, who is the priest in charge of Hispanic Ministry in the Charlotte area, is the guiding light at the Hispanic Catholic Center — the shepherd leading the flock. Although he has an agenda, no day is typical as Hispanic Ministry is one of 35 programs and ministries that receives funds from the Annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

In brief …

Rhode Island priest killed during vacation in Colombia PROVIDENCE, R.I. (CNS) — Father Guillermo L. Corrales Bedoya, a Colombia-born Providence priest, was found stabbed to death Jan. 14 in Medellin, Colombia, where he was vacationing. He was 41 years old. El Mundo, a Medellin newspaper, reported Jan. 16 that the priest had suffered 25 knife wounds. It said police had not established a motive for the killing. Associates and relatives in Rhode Island suspect he was assassinated by Colombian guerrillas. They are believed to have targeted him since 2000, when he spent part of his vacation working with the poor in remote Colombian villages. Providence Bishop Robert E. Mulvee asked people to pray for Father Corrales “and for an end to such senseless violence.”

Directing drama at hospital is payback time for former patient MILWAUKEE (CNS) — Nick Olszewski couldn’t resist an invitation to direct a special performance of “The Three Little Pigs, A Rock Musical” in the basement auditorium of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. It was payback time. A senior and drama major at Milwaukee’s Jesuit-run Marquette University, Olszewski directed the play — a fairy tale with a contemporary twist — for patients at the same hospital where he has undergone more than 45 surgeries in his 22 years. The operations started immediately after he was born — four weeks prematurely — with multiple birth defects so serious neither his family nor his doctor expected him to live.

Hers is a dual vocation — as woman religious and physician ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) — Sister Mary Felice gets up every morning and dons the navy blue habit of her religious order, the Daughters of Charity. Then she puts on a white lab coat for her work as a doctor. “If patients ask me, I tell them to call me ‘Sister Mary,’” she said, smiling. “But I became a doctor before I became a sister.” The soft-spoken, 38-year-old sister recently joined the staff of Seton Health’s Family Health Center in Cohoes. A specialist in internal

The Catholic News & Herald 9

medicine, she spent the past five years at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., after earning her medical degree from Syracuse University and completing her residency at the University of Rochester. She took her final vows as a Daughter of Charity last April.

Pope to make July trip to Mexico to canonize Marian visionary VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II will travel to Mexico in late July to canonize Blessed Juan Diego, the 16th-century peasant who saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Vatican said. The pope’s trip, his fifth to predominantly Catholic Mexico, probably will follow his appearance at World Youth Day festivities in Toronto July 25-28, the Vatican press office said Jan. 17. Sources said tentative plans called for the pontiff to celebrate the canonization Mass for Blessed Juan Diego on July 30. Vatican sources had no comment on reports that the pope also would stop to visit ground zero in New York, site of the destroyed World Trade Center, during his North American stay.

Polish cardinal says he hid Solidarity members during martial law WARSAW, Poland (CNS) — A Polish cardinal has described how he helped hide Solidarity union leaders after the 1981 imposition of martial law and illegally stored large sums of money for the movement. “Martial law didn’t only affect believers — we gave help and protection to everyone threatened with loss of freedom,” said Cardinal Henryk Gulbinowicz of Wroclaw. “Various Solidarity activists took refuge in my residence, and none were caught — thank God. Either the police didn’t want to catch them, or we were able to keep it secret,” he told Poland’s Rzeczpospolita daily newspaper in a January interview. Cardinal Gulbinowicz, 73, said he voiced immediate opposition to martial law when it was declared Dec. 13, 1981, and he looked for ways to help Solidarity members.

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald Book Review

January 25, 2002

Read-

Finding tranquility and peace in hustle and bustle and Buddhist temples. It describes arReviewed by Melody D’Ambrosio chitectural elements that distinguish Catholic News Service architectural styles such as Gothic, As a native New Yorker who has Romanesque, Wren-Gibbs, Georgian lived away for 20 years, I read this and Greek Revival, just to name a few. unusual travel guide as a way to reconStained glass and particular furnishnect with my hometown. ings within a house of worship also are “The Spiritual Traveler: New York explained.

City” describes hunChapters three dreds of sacred spaces. through eight exEach entry includes the plain all the spiritual address, the history and places by way of a architectural descripneighborhood-guidtion of the site and the ed tour in Manhatreligious denominatan. It begins with tion, if applicable. It is lower Manhattan a useful guide for travand the roots of elers interested in the New York City, or city’s history, religion New Amsterdam, as and ethnicity. Author it first was named.

Edward F. Bergman is The guide continchairman of geographic ues uptown to Harstudies at Lehman Collem and Washinglege of the City Univerton Heights. Chapsity of New York and a ter 9 is devoted to guest lecturer at the the Bronx, Queens, Metropolitan MuBrooklyn and Staten seum of Art. Island. The end of The book begins the book includes a with a map of Manglossary of terms, hattan and then one “The Spiritual Traveler: extensive bibliogof all five boroughs New York City” raphy and a list of of the city. This is an Web sites for further organizing feature research. for the reader since Being raised Catholic in New York all entries are presented by neighborCity, I approached the book with a spehoods. cific plan — first to learn more about In the first chapter Bergman lists the places that were in my personal Native American sacred sites on Manbackground, next to learn about my hattan and discusses the early relations immediate neighborhood, and last to between Native Americans and the learn about places that I have never Dutch. This chapter details the growth visited. I was happy to find them all in of religious life and how different this book. faiths prospered. This chapter includes This book is an excellent guide to a list of 41 sociological, theological or places of many different faiths. It is technological breakthroughs — places organized, historically sound and thoror events that are first or oldest in ough — a fine research tool for days of America — or even the world. exploration.

The second chapter focuses on architecture of houses of worship D’Ambrosio is assistant professor of — Catholic and Christian churches, teacher education at the College of Mount synagogues, mosques and Hindu, Sikh

Word to Life

Sunday Scripture Readings: Jan. 27, 2002 Cycle A Readings: January 27, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time 1) Isaiah 8:23-9:3 Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 2) 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 3) Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

By DAN LUBY Catholic News Service I imagine the scene as played

by The Three Stooges perhaps, or Lucille Ball or Jim Carey. The comedians sit in a beached sailboat, trying to imitate the seasoned fishermen nearby folding up their giant fishing nets but succeeding only in getting more and more tangled up in the complex webbing. The scene’s punch line comes when the captain of the fleet strides up and orders everyone to follow him. As the experienced fishermen march off in unison, my imagined comedians take one hilarious pratfall after another trying to get untangled from the net they’ve unknowingly woven around their own feet. The audience in my mental movie howls with laughter.

It’s funny in slapstick, but in real life such screamingly funny disasters end up in broken bones and broken hearts.

These images come to mind on hearing the story of Peter and Andrew, James and John working with their nets when Jesus invites them to follow him. They drop their nets,

and — “immediately” the Scripture says — follow him.

Most of us don’t work with nets, but many of us often find ourselves tangled up with the interlocking paraphernalia of daily life. The complex weave of work and family, of car pools and shopping and yard work and social obligations, of trying to be all things to all people, of keeping everybody happy: They wrap us up, tie our hands, tangle our steps so that when an opportunity for greater service arises, a call to deeper discipleship sounds, we stumble in our response.

Blessedly, Lent is near, with its emphasis on repentance and renewal. Let us prepare ourselves now to partake of its blessings by simplifying our lives, sifting our commitments to distinguish the important from the peripheral, the deep from the shallow, the life-giving from the deadly.

QUESTIONS: What is one way I could make my life less tangled during the upcoming season of Lent? Of all the elements which add stress to my life, what is one I could let go of ?

SCRIPTURE TO ILLUSTRATE: “They immediately abandoned their nets and became his followers” (Matthew 4:20)

Weekly Scripture Scripture for the week of Jan. 27 - Feb. 2 Sunday (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time), Isaiah 8:23—9:3, 1 Corinthians 1:113, 17, Matthew 4:12-23; Monday (St. Thomas Aquinas), 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10, Mark 3:22-30; Tuesday, 2 Samuel 6:12-15, 17-19, Mark 3:31-35; Wednesday, 2 Samuel 7:4-17, Mark 4:1-20; Thursday (St. John Bosco), 2 Samuel 7:18-19, 2429, Mark 4:21-25; Friday, 2 Samuel 11:1-4, 5-10, 13-17, Mark 4:26-43; Saturday (Presentation of the Lord), Malachai 3:1-4, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40 Scripture for the week of Feb. 3 - Feb. 9 Sunday (Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13, 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, Matthew 5:1-12; Monday, 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13, Mark 5:120; Tuesday (St. Agatha), 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14, 24-25, 30—19:3, Mark 5:21-43; Wednesday (St. Paul Miki & Companions), 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17, Mark 6:1-6; Thursday, 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12, Mark 6:7-13; Friday (St. Jerome Emiliani), Sirach 47:2-11, Mark 6:14-29; Saturday, 1 Kings 3:4-13, Mark 6:30-34

January 25, 2002

Video reviews

By Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are home videocassette reviews from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting. Each videocassette is available on VHS format.

Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating. All reviews indicate the appropriate age group for the video audience.

“American Pie 2” (2001) Coarse comedy sequel in which a group of college guys (including Jason Biggs, Chris Klein and Seann William Scott) reunite on summer vacation intent on increasing their sexual prowess by scheming and partying.

Director J.B. Rogers’ plodding, pathetic effort recycles plot points from the first film while again presenting sex as raunchy sport devoid of responsibility or consequences.

Positive spin on premarital sex, several sexual situations including masturbation and same-sex kissing, some nudity, objectification of women and much rough language, crass expressions and underage drinking.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. (Universal) “Babe” (1995) Live-action barnyard charmer in which a kindly Australian farmer (James Cromwell) enters his unusual piglet (voice of Christine Cavanaugh) in a sheepdog competition, unaware that his farm animals can talk to one another as they pull together to make the little pig’s dream of herding sheep come true. Director Chris Noonan’s enchanting comic fable is filmed entirely from the animals’ point of view, with delightful visuals and an endearing message of learning to live and work in harmony. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-I — general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G — general audiences. (Universal) “Babe: Pig in the City” (1998) Darker sequel to the 1995 hit in which the farmer’s wife (Magda Szubanski) takes the plucky title porker (voice of E.G. Daily) to the city, but, when she’s wrongly arrested, Babe and a gaggle of homeless animals he befriends have to fend for themselves against starvation and the machinations of nasty humans. Directed by George Miller, the less-endearing sequel retains the polite pig’s innocence and generosity, but some of the perilous situations may be a bit intense for very young children. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-I

Entertain— general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G — general audiences. (Universal) “Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story” (2001) Lackluster biopic covers the juvenile years of Twentieth Century Fox’s biggest star in the 1930s who was beloved by Depression audiences for her natural talent and unrestrained zest for life. Blandly upbeat and flatly directed by Nadia Tass, young Ashley Rose Orr is reduced to slavishly imitating the unique child star in a formulaic restaging of scenes from her films that fails to capture the era or the ups and downs of Shirley’s young life. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-I — general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Disney) “The Fast and the Furious” (2001) High-octane, low-interest action drama about an undercover cop (Paul Walker) out to nail a gang (led by Vin Diesel) of streetcar racers turned hijackers, but whose ideals are compromised when he begins an affair with the gang leader’s sister (Jordana Brewster). Director Rob Cohen’s formula race and chase scenes alternate with constant macho posturing for a dull but noisy tale of justice ignored. Some brutal violence, much mindless mayhem, justification of felony crime, implied affairs, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is O — morally offensive. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Universal) “Glitter” (2001) Pathetic musical drama set in the 1980s New York City club scene that tracks the rise of a young singer (Mariah Carey) from a childhood spent in foster homes to her discovery by a disc jockey (Max Beesley) and on to ultimate fame. Along with indistinguishable original songs, a pitiful narrative and contrived camera work, director Vondie Curtis Hall’s leading lady has no charisma to pull off the vanity vehicle. An implied sexual encounter, brief violence and some crass language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (Fox Home Video) “Jeepers Creepers” (2001) Foolish horror flick in which a brother and sister (Justin Long and Gina Philips) on their way home from college make a bloodcurdling discovery in an abandoned church and then are pursued relentlessly by

The Catholic News & Herald 11

CNS photo from Disney

Scene from movie ‘Snow Dogs’ Cuba Gooding Jr. stars in a scene from the film “Snow Dogs.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. an indestructible creature who wants them dead. The gaping holes in writer-director Victor Salva’s muddled plot are scarier than this preposterous monster movie which abruptly stops without wrapping up its many loose strands. Intermittent violence with much gore, shots of mutilated nude corpses and sporadic rough language and profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. (MGM) “Sound and Fury” (2000) Documentary examines the controversy over cochlear implant surgery for the deaf as the two related families of an infant and a 5-year-old girl debate whether the restoration of hearing will mean alienation from the close-knit deaf community and its expressive sign language. Filmmaker Josh Aronson’s two-year study of the families’ clashing feelings puts a compelling human

face on a crucial decision with life-altering consequences. A serious theme and several intense disagreements. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. (Docudrama)

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

January 25, 2002

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope says he hopes Assisi peace day sparks steps toward justice

By John Norton VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II said he hoped an interreligious day of prayer for world peace would result in concrete and courageous steps toward justice and forgiveness.

Speaking to pilgrims at the weekly general audience Jan. 23, he called the prayer gathering to take place the next day in Assisi, Italy, “a pilgrimage of hope in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi, prophet and witness of peace.”

More than 200 religious leaders from 12 major religions were to travel by train with the pope Jan. 24 to pray for peace and condemn the use of violence in the name of religion.

“I trust that this initiative, in addition to the spiritual effects that arise from the human actions, will contribute to orienting hearts and decisions toward sincere and courageous intentions of justice and forgiveness,” the pope said.

“If it does, we will have contributed to strengthening the foundations of an authentic and lasting peace,” he said.

The pope asked Catholics around the world to unite their prayers with those of the religious leaders in Assisi and to nurture “warm feelings for the followers of other religions gathered in St. Francis’ city to pray for peace.”

In his main audience talk, the pope used an ancient Hebrew hymn to illustrate the importance of maintaining hope in God even in times of suffering.

The text, a prayer from the Book of Sirach, was written in the third century B.C. while the Jews were living under occupation. Though included in the Catholic Bible, Sirach is not recognized as a scriptural text by Jews or Protestants.

The pope called the hymn a “model of prayer to use in times of persecution and oppression,” underscoring that God is never indifferent to evil or the suffering of his people.

“Even if his ways are not our ways,” the pope said, “(God) takes the side of victims and presents himself as a severe judge of those who do violence, those who oppress and those who conquer without mercy.”

Believers should maintain an unshakeable confidence in God even in times of great trial, he said.

“In the Bible, the lamentation of those who suffer never ends in despair, but is always open to hope. There is an underlying certainty that the Lord never abandons his children, never lets fall through his hands that which he molded,” the pope said.

The image of a farmer planting seeds is certainly appropriate for the 2002 Diocesan Support Appeal.

The farmer recognizes that the work done at planting time combined with the care taken during the growing season will result in a bountiful crop at harvest time.

The seeds are planted with a vision of a hope-filled future. Like the hopeful farmer, the ministries and agencies funded by the DSA are planting seeds of hope.

Jesus spoke in a language the people would understand, likening the Kingdom of God to the farmer sowing seed, the mustard seed, and the vineyard. Jesus knew that the work of spreading the Good News of Salvation and building the Kingdom would require many hands. He said, “The harvest is great, but the laborers are few.” He called others to join him in the work of his Father. He formed them and sent them out in his service. As your bishop, I have been entrusted with the same mission of spreading the Good News and building the Kingdom here in Western North Carolina. And, like Jesus, I am inviting the faithful of this diocese to join me in serving others in the vineyard of the Lord.

The DSA is an opportunity to participate in the very heart of God’s work. It is a way of helping our children grow in their faith through quality faith formation programs. Our Youth Ministry programs bring our middle and high school youth into a closer relationship with the Body of Christ. Our diocesan Lay Ministry program is one of the finest in the country.

Graduates of the program help fill our parishes with knowledgeable catechists, liturgical ministers, council and commission members, and lay leaders. When I consider the rapid growth of this diocese and the tremendous task of providing for the increasing needs of the people, I am ever so grateful for those who are eager to go forth and serve in the name of the Lord.

I depend on the loving service of holy and dedicated priests to serve the people of God in our 90 parishes and missions. I thank God for the 21 seminarians who have answered the call to serve others through the priesthood. Another vocational ministry planting

The Bottom Line Antoinette Bosco CNS Columnist

This great Jesuit publication warmly calls her their favorite “octogenarian.” A youthful 84 and a greatgrandmother who is still a lector at her church, Giordan more than ever maintains her gift of acute observation about life, writing still with wisdom and wit.

She had good news with this phone call. She said she had collected some of her good published work, several being columns she first had written for my newspaper, and produced a book. I immediately got a copy and read it all in one sitting, enjoying her gift of seeing wonder and beauty that most of us need to be prodded to see.

She calls the book “What This Old Hand Knows,” the title of a truly notable piece she wrote for America magazine, an ode to the remarkable gift that is the human hand, “our telltale lifeline.” The book is humorously illustrated with her husband’s legacy of sketches, many of which I remember well.

I think because we are both writers, Alma Giordan and I have shared an unusual, understanding friendship. And that’s a special gift that transcends words.

Planting Seeds of The Most Rev. William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte many seeds of hope is the Permanent Diaconate. With parishes growing in both numbers of people and ministries to serve those people, the permanent deacons will bring many gifts to the life of the parish. Your contributions to the Diocesan Support Appeal help provide education and formation for our future priests and deacons as well as our parish lay leaders. Each year countless immigrants come to this country and to our diocese seeking the hope of a new life. The offices of Catholic Social Services provide help and encouragement to people of all nationalities trying to adjust to life in a new country. These co-workers in the Lord are especially invaluable in responding to the everincreasing needs of our ethnically diverse population.

I am deeply gratified by the thousands of people who help me on a daily basis meet the needs of the growing number of Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte.

I see the DSA as a way that every parishioner can participate in the ministries so vital to the life of our diocese. The DSA provides an opportunity for others to join with me in reaching out to make Christ present in a world where His presence is so sorely needed. Each person who gives to the Diocesan Support Appeal can proudly say they, too, are “planting seeds of hope.”

A favorite octogenarian of mine Wonderful friendships often begin in coincidental ways.

I first came upon Alma Giordan’s byline and enjoyable articles some 40 years ago in reading Catholic magazines.

Then, 20 years ago, I accepted a position as executive editor of a new newspaper in Connecticut, The Litchfield County Times. Waiting for me that first week was a stack of articles for possible publication from free-lance writers. Surprising me, I saw a familiar name, Alma Giordan. It didn’t take long for me to call her.

It turned out that Giordan had lived in Watertown, Conn., all her life, still a member of St. John’s parish, as her grandfather and parents had been. She had been happily married to Bob Giordan, an artist, since 1939 and never had stopped writing for magazines, secular ones like Good Housekeeping, the Saturday Evening Post and McCalls, and religious ones like St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian and Catholic Digest.

I accepted much of her work, often illustrated by her husband until his death, finding that she had a special gift. She could take the ordinary, small things we encounter every day in life and make these vibrate with life with her observations and words. She painted the mundane elements of this world that we all encounter in a way that highlighted how truly profound these are — be they a chipmunk, a crocus, a shoe, a dogwood tree stump. She had the gift of seeing, as a poet expressed it, “the God of things,” and she could express this wonder beautifully, yet asking: “Are words really necessary at the instant of a scarlet poppy’s miraculous unfolding? Is not my involuntary gasp of delight perhaps a more genuine prayer?”

Without hesitation, I pronounced Giordan my garden columnist and had the joy of publishing many of her fine pieces, all subtly spiritual, for the 13 years I was editor of that paper.

Just a few weeks ago I called her to say, with a smile, that I’d seen her name in America magazine.

January 25, 2002

Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle MSGR. JIM LISANTE Guest Columnist

and self.”

• James O’Neill attends town meetings, writes letters and makes phone calls to let politicians know his views. “Why?” he asks. “I believe it is a part of living out my faith and showing concern for the poor and voiceless.”

“I want to do something” has become a common expression of the desire to reach out to others, to give of one’s self. I won’t pretend that carving time out of your schedule for what is, essentially, service to others will be easy, but I guarantee it will be worth it. Listen to the words of two people who are celebrated for their service to humanity: The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.

— Albert Schweitzer Not everybody could be famous but everybody can be great because greatness is determined by service.

— Martin Luther King, Jr. Both happy and great — what more could anyone ask? Offer your self, your compassion, your time and you will gain as immeasurably as you give.

For a free copy of the Christopher News Note, BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR, write: The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017; or e-mail: cal body of Christ began to appear on crosses, it was often the risen living Lord that was shown, rather than the anguished, dying Christ that became common later.

Interestingly, the more mystical, otherworldly vision of Christ triumphant and ruling over all creation, prevalent in early Christianity, largely continues to this day in the theology and iconology of the Eastern Catholic churches.

The more graphic realism, showing Jesus with the crown of thorns and disfigured with blood, began around the 10th century. With today’s renewed emphasis on the resurrection and its central role in the history of salvation, something like jeweled crosses and crucifixes with the body of the risen Christ are again not uncommon in Catholic churches.

No one to my knowledge has explained satisfactorily why Protestant churches customarily use crosses without the body of the Lord. Perhaps it was another way some Reformation leaders distanced themselves from Roman Catholic practice which, as I explained, by that time generally portrayed on its crosses a suffering and humiliated Christ.

Diocesan support appeal debate Q. Our bishop recently changed the annual diocesan appeal into an automatic assessment. If the people do not contribute the assessed amount, the parish must make up the difference from its weekly offerings. What gives a bishop the authority to impose such a tax? (Texas) A. Each diocese, certainly every diocese of which I am aware, has some form of parish taxation. Unless the local church has the advantage of enormous savings funds, this is one method which enables a bishop to fulfill his obligation to oversee the church in a financially responsible manner.

Each diocese is obliged, insofar as necessary, to establish a common fund enabling the bishop to satisfy responsibilities toward clergy and other persons who serve the church, and meet other needs — social service programs, diocesan tribunals, seminary education, etc.

A significant section of canon law, beginning with Canon 1274, provides detailed instructions on how the local bishop is to carry out this responsibil-

Time on your hands So, how are you spending all that leisure time you’ve got on your hands?

If your mouth just fell open or if the thought flitted through your head that this column must be meant for somebody else, give me a minute. I know that you’re busy. You have your job — you know, the one that lets you afford a place to live, put food on the table, and all the rest — work around the house, shopping and other errands. Don’t forget getting the children to school and, of course, their other activities, your obligations to parents, church, and the additional commitments you’ve taken on. Add in efforts at “quality time” with family and friends. And who would begrudge you an occasional night on the town - or on your couch? No doubt, you can come up with an even longer list of things you have to do.

No argument from me that you are busy. But I would like to point out that the English word leisure comes from the Latin for “to be permitted.” I want to encourage you to give yourself permission to spend your time as carefully — yet generously — as you do your money.

OK, I’m making some assumptions here. But most people are very concerned, if not actually worried, about finances these days. Layoffs, cutbacks, recession are some of the troubling factors on everybody’s minds as they stretch dollars and budgets.

The amazing thing is that there has never been a time when people have been as determined to help others in need. And folks are in need. Every town and every country has men, women and children lacking the most basic necessities. And, at the same time, every neighborhood still tries to meet social, educational and cultural demands that make life a little more human, a little more meaningful. Here are a couple of people who have decided to take time to do good: • Jean Zecha has grandchildren to care for, but makes time to volunteer at a soup kitchen once a month. She says, “I don’t feel that I’m especially talented or outgoing, but I can give of myself - and that is what faith is all about, sharing of one’s time

Question Corner Father John Dietzen CNS Columnist

Crucifixes or crosses?

Q. A Protestant friend asked why the Catholic Church uses the crucifix, with the figure of Jesus, while Protestants use a cross without the image of Jesus. I hope you can give us the information. (Mississippi) A. The difference between the two types of crosses is related to different ways Christians have honored the humanity of Jesus. It predates by centuries the differences between Catholic and Protestant customs.

During roughly the first 800 years of Christianity, the passion and death of Christ were viewed, in both theology and art, not so much as experiences of horror and pain as expressions of the triumph of God, in Jesus Christ, over suffering and death.

For example, the fathers of the church, recognized as among the greatest early bishops and theologians, saw the five wounds of Christ (hands, feet and side) as sources of grace, giving birth to his body, the church. This understanding of our Lord’s death explains why, during those centuries, Christian crosses rarely bore the image of the suffering Christ.

The conviction that the death of Christ was part of the entire paschal, or Easter, mystery expressed itself by predominant emphasis on the resurrection, even in the events on Calvary.

For the same reason, crosses frequently were adorned with precious jewels. Even when the physi-

The Catholic News & Herald 13

DSA 2002 Barbara Gaddy, Associate Director of Development Guest Columnist Tending the garden entrusted to me I have a little garden in my back yard. It’s not very big or exceedingly beautiful. It would probably never win the “Garden of the Week” award, but it does have a special beauty and charm of its own. Most of the plants growing in my garden were either given to me by friends, transplants from somewhere else in my yard, or rescued from certain death from the grocery floral department. But they all have one thing in common — they are gifts from God entrusted to my care. I have to make sure that I plant a sun-loving Gerber daisy in a location where the warm rays of the sun will reach it. Likewise, impatiens planted in direct , all-day sunlight will wither during the hot summer days. When the August drought arrives, I need to water the tender plants. I spend much of my summer weekend time weeding and pruning, mulching and watering. And every Fall I work to put the garden to bed for the winter months. I try to be a good steward of the garden God has entrusted to me.

My life as a steward of God’s gifts has certainly taken me beyond the monkey-grass borders of my garden. I have been called to venture out and nurture my other God-given gifts. My children, while now adults, required special care during their formative years. In addition to meeting their physical and emotional needs, spiritual seeds were planted that took root and are still growing into faith-filled young adults. Some of the tools helpful in their spiritual growth were the parish faith formation, sacramental preparation and youth ministry programs.

I know that one day I will be held accountable for my stewardship of God’s gifts. How did I nurture them and use them in service to others? I can see how DSA-funded ministries made a big impact on my life. I was certainly nourished by RCIA, Liturgy and Worship, Faith Formation, Justice and Peace, and Evangelization programs-all offered by DSA-funded ministries and agencies.

Then I used my newfound knowledge in parish and diocesan programs, thus continuing to plant seeds of hope in others. As a gardener I have special tools to prepare the soil for planting.

So, too, the many ministries funded by the DSA are tools for preparing the soil of our lives and planting seeds of hope I have learned a great deal from my garden.

If it’s green, then it is alive. I learned that where there is life, there is hope. A beautiful garden doesn’t just happen. It takes planning, work and sometimes even a little sacrifice. Stewardship of my life takes those same things. If I neglect my garden, the weeds will take over. Likewise, the weeds of my life will take over, if I neglect my commitment to stewardship of God’s gifts.

Yes, I can see many similarities between my backyard garden and the garden of my life.

When my garden is in bloom and I can sit on my garden swing and meditate on the many gifts of our God of creation, I am blessed with a sense of peace and fulfillment. Likewise, when I see a young person who has blossomed as a result of a DSA ministry, I can be assured that my gift to the DSA — my seed of hope — has sprouted into a beautiful plant. That, too, gives my a sense of joy, peace and fulfillment.

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

January 25, 2002

DSA 2002 DSA Supported Agencies and Ministries Social Services Ministries

704-370-3262

Diocesan Ministries 704-370-3228 Disability Ministry 704-370-3250 Disaster Relief 704-370-3228 Elder Ministries 704-370-3220 Family Life- 704-370-3250 Marriage Preparation 704-370-3228 Natural Family Planning 704-370-3230 Prison Ministry (beeper)704-581-7693 Respect Life 704-370-3229 Office of Justice and Peace 704-370-3225 Campaign for Human Development 704-370-3234 Catholic Relief Services 704-370-3231 Education - Issue Response 704-370-3225 Social Services / Western Regional Office 704-255-0146 Hispanic Social Services - Adoption - Counseling Crisis Intervention -Foster Care - Pregnancy Support Social Services / Charlotte Regional Office 704-370-3232 Adoption - Counseling - Crisis Intervention Foster Care - Pregnancy Support - Programa Esperanza Social Services / Piedmont-Triad Regional Office 336-727-0705 Casa Guadalupe - Adoption - Counseling Crisis Intervention - Foster Care - Pregnancy Support

Office of Economic Opportunity 828-835-3535 Hispanic Center-High Point

336-884-5858

Multicultural Ministries African American Ministry 704-370-3399 Hispanic Ministry 704-335-1281 Hmong / Lahu Ministry 704-327-2341 Educational Ministries Vicar for Education 704-370-3210 Campus Ministry 704-370-3212 Catholic Schools Administration 704-370-3270 Faith Formation 704-370-3246 Lay Ministry Training 704-370-3213 Media Resources 704-370-3241 RCIA 704-370-3246 Young Adult Ministry 704-370-3212 Youth Ministry 704-370-3211 Vocations Permanent Diaconate 704-370-3344 Seminarian Education 704-370-3353

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Bilingual (Spanish/English) Counselor: Full or part-time. Counseling Hispanic children and adults at Centro para Familias Hispanas in Raleigh, NC. Master’s required in counseling/mental health field. Send resume to CSM, 226 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603.

EOE. Caregiver: Seeking dependable caregiver to assist elderly with non-medical care in their homes. Part-time and fulltime. Top hourly fees. VISITING ANGELS. (704) 442-8881 Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Large vibrant parish seeks energetic, creative Coordinator of Youth Ministry. Successful candidate will plan and

implement spiritual growth, catechetical development and social involvement of grades 6-12, will show enthusiastic dedication to meeting the needs of young Christians and will exhibit honest delight in their presence. Ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to liturgical formation of youth. Candidate must be Catholic in good standing with church, with education (minimum, bachelor’s degree) and several years experience appropriate for youth ministry. Supportive staff.

Full-time position, starting July 2002.

Send resume by March 1 to Search Committee, St. Bridget’s Parish, 6006 Three Chopt Rd., Richmond, VA 23226, or email sellers@stbridgets.org.

Music Director: Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro is seeking a full-time director to be responsible for all music activity in a church with over 2,300 families.

Applicants must be fully competent in both organ and piano, and experienced in directing both adult and children’s choirs.

If you meet these requirements, please send your resume and salary requirements to: Music Ministry, Our Lady of Grace

Classified ads bring results! Over 116,000 readers! Over 47,500 homes!

Rates: $.50/word per issue ($10 minimum per issue) Deadline: 12 noon Wednesday, 9 days before publication How to order: Ads may be E-mailed to ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org, faxed to (704) 370-3382 or mailed to: Cindi Feerick, The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203.

Payment: Ads will billed. For information, call (704) 370-3332.

Church, 201 S. Chapman Street, Greensboro, NC 27403.

Principal: Experienced principal for St. Anthony’s Catholic School in Southern Pines, NC, to open Fall 2002. K-3. Minimum MA/MS. Expected to build curriculum faithful to the magisterium of Catholic Church. Salary based on experience. Please send resume to: St. Anthony Catholic School Principal Search, P.O. Box 602, Carthage, NC 28327.

Teachers: Our Lady of Mercy Catholic High School, located in Fairburn, Georgia,

is seeking teachers in all disciplines for the 2002-2003 school year. Mercy offers an excellent teaching environment and well as competitive salary and benefits.

Interested individuals should send resume and cover letter to: John Cobis, Our Lady of Mercy High School, 861 Highway 279, Fairburn, GA 30213.

Work from Home: Growing business needs help! Mail-order/E-commerce. $522+ per week part-time. $1,000$4,000 per week full-time. www.changeyourfuture4ever.com (888) 207-9771

January 25, 2002 CHURCH

Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish

Prince of Peace Mission

Holy Redeemer Parish

St. Barnabas Parish

St. Joseph Parish

Basilica of St. Lawrence Parish

St. Joan of Arc Parish

St. Eugene Parish

Queen of the Apostles Parish

Our Lady of the Americas Parish

St. Elizabeth Parish

Sacred Heart Parish

St. Joseph Parish

Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission

St. Matthew Parish

St. Joseph Vietnamese Parish

St. John Neumann Parish

St. Helen Mission

Our Lady of Consolation Parish

St. Luke Parish

St. Vincent de Paul Parish

St. John Lee Korean Parish

St. Thomas Aquinas Parish

St. Ann Parish

St. Gabriel Parish

St. Patrick Cathedral Parish

St. Peter Parish

Our Lady of the Assumption Parish

Centro Catolico Hispano Parish

Holy Family Parish

St. James Parish

Holy Spirit Parish

St. Joseph of the Hills Parish Immaculate Conception Parish

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

St. Michael Parish

St. Pius Tenth Parish

St. Paul the Apostle Parish

St. Mary Parish

St. Benedict Parish

Our Lady of Grace Parish

Sacred Heart Mission

St. James Parish Immaculate Conception Parish

St. Aloysius Parish Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

Christ the King Parish

Our Lady of the Mountains Parish

St. Jude Mission

St. Mark Parish

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

St. Joseph Mission

Holy Cross Parish

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish

St. Dorothy Parish

St. Margaret Parish

St. Andrew the Apostle Parish

Sacred Heart Mission

St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

St. Therese Parish

St. Charles Borromeo Parish

Our Lady of the Angels Mission

Holy Angels Parish

St. William Parish Immaculate Heart of Mary Mission

St. Joseph Parish

St. Stephen Mission

St. John Baptist de La Salle Parish

Holy Infant Parish

Sacred Heart Parish

St. Mary Parish

Christ the King Mission

St. Frances of Rome Mission

St. Bernadette Mission

St. Lucien Parish

St. Philip the Apostle Parish

St. Margaret Mary Parish

St. Mary Parish

Holy Trinity Parish

Our Lady of the Highways Parish

St. John the Baptist Parish

St. John the Evangelist Parish Immaculate Conception Mission

Our Lady of Mercy Parish

St. Benedict the Moor Parish

St. Leo Parish

Good Shepherd Mission

Our Lady of Fatima Parish

The Catholic News & Herald 15

DSA 2002 2002 Goal

City

2002 DSA MINISTRIES BUDGET

$20,638.00 $2,328.00 $3,644.00 $49,021.00 $27,747.00 $45,575.00 $24,662.00 $75,804.00 $33,971.00 $9,352.00 $40,074.00 $42,610.00 $6,015.00 $2,663.00 $281,663.00 $4,373.00 $86,704.00 $2,483.00 $39,202.00 $58,552.00 $105,955.00 $3,693.00 $107,805.00 $58,523.00 $297,146.00 $83,046.00 $71,579.00 $40,727.00 $5,383.00 $92,032.00 $61,086.00 $18,131.00 $10,074.00 $10,592.00 $19,539.00 $73,002.00 $80,287.00 $129,210.00 $22,325.00 $19,827.00 $122,577.00 $2,883.00 $10,719.00 $95,727.00 $79,495.00 $73,806.00 $15,832.00 $12,404.00 $11,646.00 $104,776.00 $8,537.00 $12,063.00 $43,267.00 $18,292.00 $14,411.00 $21,098.00 $16,548.00 $6,246.00 $3,529.00 $9,558.00 $25,585.00 $74,882.00 $32,431.00 $6,556.00 $12,696.00 $14,581.00 $11,687.00 $19,471.00 $6,612.00 $13,288.00 $14,515.00 $57,341.00 $24,224.00 $4,769.00 $5,772.00 $13,030.00 $5,769.00 $40,861.00 $25,085.00 $11,009.00 $7,260.00 $10,725.00 $31,456.00 $16,713.00 $3,208.00 $51,151.00 $11,573.00 $119,653.00 $9,144.00 $18,492.00

Albemarle Andrews Andrews Arden Asheboro Asheville Asheville Asheville Belmont Biscoe Boone Brevard Bryson City Bryson City Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Charlotte Clemmons Concord Denver Eden Forest City Franklin Gastonia Greensboro Greensboro Greensboro Greensboro Greensboro Hamlet Hamlet Hendersonville Hickory High Point High Point Highlands Highlands Huntersville Jefferson Kannapolis Kernersville Lenoir Lexington Lincolnton Maggie Valley Mars Hill Mars Hill Mocksville Monroe Mooresville Morganton Morganton Mount Airy Murphy Murphy Newton North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro Reidsville Salisbury Shelby Shelby Sparta Spruce Pine Spruce Pine Statesville Swannanoa Sylva Taylorsville Thomasville Tryon Waynesville Waynesville Winston-Salem Winston-Salem Winston-Salem Winston-Salem Winston-Salem

Catholic Social Services Diocesan Ministries Special Ministries

Natural Family Planning - Respect Life - Prison Ministry

Elder Pastoral Services (CRISM) - Elder Social Services Widowed/Separated/Divorced - Family Life - Marriage Preparation

Office of Justice and Peace

Campaign for Human Development - Catholic Relief Services

Parish Social Ministry - Voices for Justice - Legislative Network

$211,345

$160,437

Refugee Resettlement Program

$25,978

Catholic Social Service Administration

$99,588

Regional Services

Western Regional Office - Asheville $185,272

Hispanic Services - Adoption - Counseling - Crisis Intervention

Foster Care - Pregnancy Support

Charlotte Regional Office Adoption, Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Foster Care, Pregnancy Support, Programa Esperanza

$274,184

Piedmont Triad Office - Winston-Salem Casa Guadalupe, Adoption, Counseling, Crisis Intervention Foster Care, Pregnancy Support

$261,229

Multicultural Ministries

African American

Hispanic Ministry

Hmong Ministry Educational Ministries

Faith Formation

Catholic Schools

Campus Ministry

Evangelization

Lay Ministry Training

Media Resources

Vicar’s Office

Youth Ministry Vocations

Permanent Diaconate

Seminarian Education Campaign Expenses Total

$22,050 $323,440 $52,351 $367,592 $211,974 $435,749 $25,000 $49,919 $71,125 $42,664 $127,720 $128,406 $305,254 $168,723 $3,550,000

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

Living the

Long history with Catholicism sion: “I could not isolate what I wanted

By ALESHA M. PRICE to do strictly to priesthood. I wanted to Staff Writer pursue other areas and wanted to leave.

WINSTON-SALEM — John It was a very lonely and difficult decision, Hubbarth became a man at 15. As the but I was at peace with it.” oldest of the seven Hubbarth children, he He transferred to Lewis University became the head of the household after his to finish his degree in social studies edufather died of cancer in 1963. He and his cation and political science in 1970. Hubfather had been close, and it was a tough barth returned home for the summer, and time for the teen. However, he assumed at the same time, Jane, off for summer his new role and helped to take care of break from college, was visiting her parhis family. ents who had recently moved to Detroit.

“My father was a major influence on He had come home covered in grease my life, and it felt as if his passing was and tar from his summer job at Uniroyal almost taking my youth,” said Rev. Mr. when he spied his next-door neighbor Hubbarth. “He was a very loving man, cutting grass. Despite their outward apand family was everything to him. His pearances, they spotted one another and death was a tough time for all of us.” fell in love. “We saw each other at our His father had been a daily communiworst and at our best,” Rev. Mr. Hubcant, and Hubbarth began accompanying barth said. his mother to church. “I felt it was my Their whirlwind duty to go to church courtship was surwith her, and I fell rounded by the gusts into becoming a daily of the Vietnam War communicant. That is and the draft. Hubhow I became familiar barth enlisted in the with the church.”

Air Force for the next Hubbarth’s Cathfive years in active olic influence was and reserve duty. multisided. His maThey married ternal aunt and greatin Dec. 1970 in Deaunt were women troit in the midst of religious, and the famsnow showers at the ily would visit them, end of basic training. staying at convents Five days after their during their trips. wedding, they drove He attended Catholic to Wyoming where grade school, was an Hubbarth had been altar boy and would stationed. After servhelp wherever needed Rev. Mr. and Mrs. John ing his last years in at his family’s church Hubbarth the Air Force in Dayin Detroit, Mich. ton, Ohio, he decided He attended one to undertake another year at a high school challenge — working as an insurance staffed by Augustinian friars and spent agent. “I was very shy in college,” he said the next three years of high school at “and I was deciding what would help me an Augustinian seminary, graduating to break my shyness. I had a difficult time in 1965. Hubbarth set out on a course with it, but I ended up breaking the habit.” toward the priesthood — one he felt had In 1976, the Hubbarths moved back been charted during childhood. to Detroit, where he became a furniture “I had always had the calling and manager for Ethan Allen. From assistant wanted to be a priest. I saw that priests buyer to buyer, and from department were kind and gentle and that working manager to store manager, he found with people was the center of their minhis calling — working with people. He istry,” he said of his year of the novitiate enjoyed constant contact with the public at St. Monica’s Seminary in Wisconsin and the daily, personal interaction with and his three years of simple vows. “I the customers. had much influence from priests, which While living in Ohio and Michishowed me that it (the priesthood) was gan during these years of professional what I should have been doing.” growth, Hubbarth’s spirituality someDuring his junior year at Tolentine what lagged. However, he was about to College in Illinois, however, he began to make another transition. A newspaper wonder if the priesthood was the path for article nudged him toward the permanent him. He planned to take final vows in his diaconate. “I think that part of my becomsenior year, but he was unsure of his deci-

ing a deacon concerned my wanting to know more about the church,” he said. “I was intrigued with it (the article), but I put it away twice.”

Reading the article a third time led to his initial inquiry into the diaconate.

After moving back to Detroit, he applied and was accepted into the program. At first, his wife was not sure that it was best for them, but she was supportive of her husband.

“We went through the process,” Mrs. Hubbarth said, “and I met other wives and realized how much we were included.

I saw how it (the diaconate) respected family life, with faith topping the list of family, work and the diaconate as far as our lives were concerned. It was really beneficial to me to learn more, having converted to Catholicism several years before.”

The diaconate in Michigan also benefited from the Hubbarths’ new ministerial focus. While they lived in Kalamazoo, they worked to start the diaconate program there.

Wading through relocation and feelings of uncertainty, Hubbarth was ordained in 1983. His first baptism was the youngest of his three children, and it solidified his dedication to his role as a deacon: “There wasn’t a dry eye in the church that day. I held her up and said ‘This is our Christian and our daughter.’”

Human resources became his professional focus as he began 24 years in the finance industry. He learned about the inner workings of a bank and its employees and was promoted from assistant human resources manager to manager within five months at his first

January 25, 2002

place of employment. He worked at three banks over the next 20 years before joining Wachovia. The Hubbarths were relocated to Winston-Salem more than four years ago, but Rev. Mr. Hubbarth was laid off in May 2001 after Wachovia merged with First Union.

Rev. Mr. Hubbarth brought his experience with people in professional and spiritual settings to North Carolina and to Our Lady of Mercy Church, where his ministries include RCIA, hospital work, adult education and spiritual direction.

He says that his wife, a second-grade teacher at St. Leo School in WinstonSalem, has supported his ministry for the duration and has influenced him in positive ways including helping with homily preparation. The grandfather of four is focused on being available for people in any capacity possible. “(Being a) permanent deacon (involves) the ability to present Christ in a very silent mode and to allow the Holy Spirit to be present. Taking someone on a spiritual journey is beyond words, and the Holy Spirit has allowed me to be present in people’s lives.”

Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail amprice@charlottediocese.org.