Feb. 18, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 1

February 18, 2000

February 18, 2000 Volume 9 t Number 24

Inside Census 2000: Everybody counts in diocesan census

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

Family Center dedication St. Mark parish community celebrates new family center

Arden parish celebrates with multicultural event

By Joann S. Keane Editor HUNTERSVILLE — A vision, a community and population growth beyond expectations. These are the key elements that — once combined — resulted in the formation of the diocese’s newest parish, St. Mark.

On Feb. 12, St. Mark Family Center was dedicated with a standingroom gathering of nearly 900 parishioners, friends and members of the community at large. For the dedication Mass, Bishop William G. Curlin presided, with Msgr. Joseph Kerin, St. Mark pastor, and Father Peter Jugis, parochial vicar, concelebrating. Also concelebrating were Charlotte-area pastors Msgr. Richard Allen, pastor of St. Ann, Msgr. William Pharr, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, and Father Paul Gary, rector of St. Patrick Cathedral.

After just 30 months, St. Mark is making history as one of the fastest growing parishes in this and surrounding dioceses. In June 1997, St. Mark was established to serve a rapidly growing population in the

...Page 4

Local News Landings program gears up in Hickory ...Page 14

See FAMILY CENTER, page 3

Living the Faith

Catholic educators tell teachers to reawaken to vision of faith

...Page 16

Every Week Entertainment ...Pages 10-11

Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13

The feast of the Chair of Peter is celebrated Feb. 22.

Photo by Joann S. Keane

Msgr. Joseph Kerin observes Bishop William G. Curlin prepare the holy water used to bless the parishioners at the new St. Mark parish center. At left, he is assisted by Rev. Mr. Guy Piché as Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd looks on.

Western Regional CSS office expands, moves offices

By DIANNE RIGGS Correspondent ASHEVILLE — Sister Marie Frechette was searching the Internet. In rushed International Adoption social worker Carol Meyerriecks with the news that a large, century-old house, kitty-corner to the Catholic Social Services Western Regional Office in downtown Asheville, was for sale.

Sister Marie e-mailed the realtors, office manager Marie Bucher made an appointment and by that afternoon, a realtor was showing the staff the property.

“It was totally staff driven,” said Sister Marie, a Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity and CSS

Western Regional Office director, of the effort. In their small, current building, there was no more space for interns, no more space for grant proposals office space to write grant proposals, no more space for additional clients to be served.

Additionally, they couldn’t expand their services to the fastgrowing needs in the area. “We even had an office in a bathroom ... we had utilized every square inch of space,” said Sister Marie.

A call went to Elizabeth Thurbee,

executive director of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte.

Then the diocese sent Rev. Mr. Guy Piche, diocesan director of facilities. “Then we had to pray and wait for the diocese to make a decision,” said Sister Marie.

On Jan. 4, 2000, the modernized, 15-room house was purchased.

It was the opportunity they had been waiting for: to expand services, to provide

See WESTERN CSS, page 7

2 The Catholic News & Herald WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Senate bill addressing issues related to immigrant agricultural workers neglects critical needs and would make circumstances worse for employees, according to the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Migration Committee. In a letter to Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Camden, N.J., argued that the Agricultural Job Opportunity Benefits and Security Act lowers the level of wages and eliminates benefits, such as requirements for certain employers to provide housing for immigrants allowed to work in the United States temporarily. Smith is the prime sponsor of the bill, which has been assigned to the Judiciary Committee. As of Feb. 15 it had not been scheduled for hearings.

Colombians meet with Vatican officials to gain support for peace VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A Colombian delegation held talks at the Vatican as part of a European tour to gain support for the war-torn country’s peace process. Msgr. Giorgio Lingua of the Vatican’s Secretariat of State met Feb. 14 with Colombian government officials and members of the country’s largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym of FARC. “It was an informational meeting. We did not go into details,” Msgr. Lingua told Catholic News Service Feb. 15. “The delegation believes the role of the Catholic Church is important,” he said.

Namibian religious leaders warn against spread of Angolan war CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Namibian religious leaders expressed concern over the government’s increasing involvement in the conflict in neighboring Angola and stressed that the war be kept outside Namibia’s borders. Nine members of the Council of Churches of Namibia, including Catholic Archbishop Bonifatius Haushiku of Windhoek, met with Namibian President Sam Nujoma in Windhoek in mid-February and stressed their concern that “everything be done to regain control” of Namibia’s border with Angola “and to contain the spilling over of the war

CNS photo from Reuters

Vatican and PLO sign agreement on Jerusalem Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat presents a gift to Pope John Paul II during their meeting at the Vatican Feb. 15. The Vatican and the Palestinian Liberation Organization signed an agreement saying both view any unilateral decision affecting Jerusalem’s special character as morally and legally unacceptable.

Catholic rural life group endorses Rally for Rural America DES MOINES, Iowa (CNS) — The National Catholic Rural Life Conference has endorsed the Rally for Rural America, planned for March 2021 in Washington. “Rural life is being left out of the economic prosperity” now being enjoyed by many Americans, said Holy Cross Brother David Andrews, the rural life conference’s executive director, in a statement.

“We’ll be there in force, bishops, clergy, laity from across the country,” Brother Andrews added. “This is the Great Jubilee; rural life is at the heart of the heritage of jubilee.”

Guest worker bill said to take too much, give too little

Episcopal February 18, 2000 Volume 9 • Number 24

Publisher: Most Reverend William G. Curlin Editor: Joann S. Keane Associate Editor: Jimmy Rostar Staff Writer: Alesha M. Price Production Associate: Julie Radcliffe Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Jane Glodowski 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.

February 18, 2000

The World in

c a l e n-

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events: February 24 — 7 pm Confirmation at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Mount Airy February 26 — 10:30 am Meeting with Women Religious Catholic Conference Center, Hickory February 27 — 11 am Confirmation at St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville March 3 — 7:30 am Knights of Malta Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte March 3 — 7 pm Confirmation Hispanic Center, Charlotte March 4 — 11 am Diaconal recommitment day St Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

into Namibia.” Nujoma repeatedly has affirmed his commitment to helping the Angolan government. The Namibian government recently gave Angola permission for its troops to cross its border too crush pockets of resistance.

Vatican clarifies status of secretly ordained in Czech Republic VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican said clandestinely ordained priests and bishops in the Czech Republic who have failed to reconcile with church authorities are forbidden to celebrate Mass and the sacraments.

After several years of Vatican efforts to regularize those secretly ordained under communism — including more than 60 married priests — the time has come to clarify the status of those who

Diocesan

plan -

Lawrence. Tonight’s class focusing on St. Ignatius of Loyola takes place from 7:30-9 p.m. Upcoming classes include St. Theresa of Avila on March 7 and St. Eusebius of Caesarea on March 15.

Call the church faith formation office for further details at (828) 252-8816.

CHARLOTTE — The St. Gabriel Church Support Group is for those living with cancer and their family and friends. Tonight’s meeting takes place after Wednesday night dinner on the third floor of the ministry center, located at 3016 Providence Rd. For more information, call Bob Poffenberger at (704) 553-7000 or Eileen Correll at (704) 362-5047, Ext. 217.

WINSTON-SALEM — There is a preLenten Taize service taking place this evening at 5:30 p.m. at Joseph’s House, 1903 South Main St. For further information, call (336) 722-0028. Joseph’s House is a ministry of Our Lady of

have refused the Vatican’s terms, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said in a statement released Feb. 14. “Difficulties remain and a clarifying discussion is requested,” the statement said, without specifying when or where such a meeting would be held.

Report says hunger can be halved in 15 years WASHINGTON (CNS) — A new report from the Bread for the World Institute says world hunger can be cut in half over the next 15 years with the help of an extra U.S. contribution of $1 billion per year to nutrition programs.

The trends in hunger eradication are promising, said the report, “A Program to End Hunger,” released Feb. 10 by the institute, which works closely with Bread for the World, a Christian citizens’ anti-hunger movement. “The proportion of hungry people in the developing world has dropped from onethird to less than one-fifth since 1970.

The absolute number has also declined in spite of there being 2 billion more people to feed,” it said. The number of hungry people was estimated at 791 million in 1997.

Vatican confirms beatification date for John XXIII, Pius IX VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Pius IX and Pope John XXIII will be beatified in a Sept. 3 ceremony, along with three other churchmen. Archbishop Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, made the announcement Feb. 7 as he presided at a memorial Mass on the anniversary of Pope Pius’ death. Pope Pius, who reigned from 1846 to 1878, convoked the First Vatican Council, solemnly declared the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception and led the church during the rocky period in which the papacy lost its temporal control over Rome and the papal states.

Pope John, pontiff from 1958 to 1963, convoked the Second Vatican Council and presided over its first sessions. He wrote the landmark social encyclical “Peace on Earth.”

Mercy Church.

5 CHARLOTTE — The St. Gabriel Church Respect Life Committee hosts a rosary prayer session this afternoon at 3 p.m. in front of Our Lady’s Grotto, located at 3016 Providence Rd. In case of rain, the session moves to the daily chapel. Call the church office at (704) 364-5431 for further details.

6 CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., is holding a charismatic Mass tonight at 7:30 p.m. Call the church office at (336) 7780600 for more details.

Please submit notices of events for the Diocesan Planner at least 10 days prior to publication date.

February 18, 2000

Around the Di-

The Catholic News & Herald 3

Family Center dedication, from page 1

Photo by Joann S. Keane

Msgr. Joseph Kerin shared words of praise for the parishioners of the new family center of St. Mark parish.

northwestern corner of Mecklenburg County. Two hundred and ninety one families signed up as charter members.

Today, 1,204 families — more than 4,000 parishioners —constitute the St. Mark community.

Until Saturday’s family center dedication, St. Mark was a parish family on the move. Beginning with Mass in a nearby bowling alley, moving into gymnasiums and with benevolent support of the ecumenical community, St. Mark has been a mobile community.

“This was made possible through the graciousness of local churches and clergy in the area,” said Msgr. Kerin.

“We were fortunate to have the clergy from our neighboring faith communities,” said Pattie Fulford, chair of the parish’s pastoral council. “They welcomed us into their churches, which gave us the space we needed for worship, education and fellowship.”

“We had the benefit of starting our church without a facility,” said Msgr. Kerin. “Instead of being a detriment, this allowed our parishioners to build a church of people instead of concentrating on bricks and mortar.”

“It is powerful for a parish this large to feel that connected,” said Fulford. With a roster of 1,200 families,

Fulford adds, “That’s a lot of people to feel connected as a family.” However, the heart of the parish, she said, is its strong sense of community.

Now, 25,600 square feet in the form of a multipurpose facility will tether the community. And Msgr.

Kerin expects the church population to grow another 50 percent by virtue of the building alone. The multipurpose building will be home for Mass, with a separate chapel, rooms for receptions and meetings, 15 classrooms, a youth room, a kitchen and five offices.

The Family Center is not a formal church building, stresses Msgr. Kerin.

Rather, it is a building to host activities of the parish, including Mass. A formal sanctuary planned adjacent to the Family Center is expected to be built upon completion of the current debt.

St. Mark parish is located on 23 acres on Stumptown Road, near the intersection of Ranson Road in Huntersville. t Contact Editor Joann Keane by calling (704) 370-3336 or e-mail jskeane@ charlottediocese.org

St. Mark’s priest makes 50-year home in North Carolina Since 1957, he has worked with Catholics throughout the state including heading a mission in Boone; as a teacher and a principal at Asheville Catholic High School; as pastor of St. John’s in Tryon, Our Lady of Assumption in Charlotte and Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem; and as rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Charlotte. He also participated in a special project on behalf of the Charlotte Diocese in Mexico City for nearly three years, and was Chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte for seven years.

HUNTERSVILLE — It’s ironic that what attracted Monsignor Joseph Kerin to North Carolina in 1953 was the fact that so few Catholics lived in the state.

Today, Kerin, 68, is pastor of St. Mark Catholic Church, one of the fastest-growing churches in the state.

Born in Scarsdale, N.Y., Kerin graduated from Niagara University in 1953 with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in management and accounting. After graduation, he began theological studies at

Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and was ordained a priest May 30, 1957 in Wilmington, N.C. “I’ve been serving Catholics in North Carolina ever since,” said Kerin.

“I was originally attracted to the missionary character of the state and the scarcity of Catholics at the time. I remember hearing Bishop Waters of Raleigh say that there were less Catholics in North Carolina than in most foreign missions, less than 7/10ths of one percent.”

Kerin has found his challenge.

St. Mark is Kerin’s second start-up parish. He also oversaw the beginnings of St. Matthew in Charlotte from 1986 until 1996.

Kerin sits back and smiles as he reflects back on his more than 40 years of serving North Carolina Catholics.

“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said. “I never had a moment’s question in my mind about where I should be. I have been blessed by God in my work.” t

and other information, call Dorothy Menze at (888) 310-8040 or (704) 3646726.

27 HENDERSONVILLE — The St. Francis of the Hills Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order meets today from 3-5 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7th Ave. West, in the new office wing. Visitors and inquirers are welcome to sit in and participate.

For more information, call Pat Cowan at (828) 884-4246.

28 CHARLOTTE — The Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group meets today from 2-3:30 p.m. in rooms D and E of the St. Gabriel Church Ministry Center, 3016 Providence Rd. Activities are provided for the memory-impaired.

For more information, call Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135.

March 1 ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., is offering a course on the doctors, scholars and fathers of the Church. The series of classes are being held in the St. Justin Building across the street from St.

February 21 CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd, is hosting Ellen Bartanzetti, the author of two books about Blessed Padre Pio, the 20th Century Capuchin stigmatist.

Her talk and slide presentation, focusing on the life and works of Padre Pio, takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Aquinas Hall. Call the church office for more information at (704) 549-1607.

22 ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., is offering a course on the doctors, scholars and fathers of the Church. The series of classes are being held in the St. Justin Building across the street from St. Lawrence. Tonight’s class focusing on St. Thomas Aquinas takes place from 7:30-9 p.m. Call the church faith formation office for further details at (828) 252-8816.

23 CHARLOTTE — All families are invited to St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, for a Mass for those who have suffered a loss. The Mass is

being celebrated tonight at 7:30 p.m.

In order to have the name(s) of the deceased remembered during Mass and for further details, call the church office at (704) 334-2283.

25 CHARLOTTE — St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Rd., is hosting “Tales of Wonder,” a musical production featuring all of the church’s singing groups.

Drama and dance are also part of the performance as they tell the Biblical stories through song and dance. There are two performances, one at 7:30 p.m. tonight and on Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. Call the church office at (704) 545-1224 for more details.

HIGH POINT — Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 512 Montlieu Ave., is sponsoring a meeting for Catholic divorced, single moms tonight at 7:15 p.m. This serves as a time and place to share joys and sorrows, successes and challenges and questions and suggestions. On-site childcare is provided, so to reserve a space or share your story, call Betsy Strauss at (336) 885-5210.

26 CHARLOTTE — The St. Gabriel

Church Adult Education Department presents “Journey into Lent 2000” today from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

This year’s theme “Are there doors in my life that I have closed?” is being explored by Mercy Sister Jeanne Marie Kienast, pastoral associate at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. The theme will cover “the doors to reconciliations, unresolved grief and new beginnings.” Continental breakfast is being served, but please bring a bag lunch. For more information about registration, call Caryn Cusick, adult education coordinator, at (704) 362-5047, Ext. 276.

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Catholic Engaged Encounter is a weekend retreat allowing couples preparing for marriage to concentrate exclusively on each other free of tensions and pressures. This weekend’s retreat is being held at Winthrop University, 30 minutes south of Charlotte, today and tomorrow. For registration, directions

4 The Catholic News & Herald

Around the Di-

Census 2000: Everybody counts in diocesan census

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — With the focus on the new millennium and a new century, the arrival of another decade has become lost in the hype. After ten years pass, the U.S. Census takes place during the first 15 days of that April.

Along with this year’s national roll call of citizens and general information about their lives comes a census of Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The number of registered Catholics in the diocese has grown seemingly overnight; however, the exact number is not known. The census will determine that figure based on questions about religion within a household.

“We now have estimates of Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte based on what the parishes tell us, which is not always accurate, and we make the assumption that the Catholic population mirrors the general population based on household size,” said George K. Cobb, diocesan director of planning, who will receive the information and process the results.

The Catholic census will coincide with the national census so that statistical methods can be used in order to build correlations between the general population and the Catholic population. Estimates can then be made from that data, which will be tested for accuracy and completeness, explained Cobb.

The reasons for the Catholic census include having an accurate portrait of the diocese, concerning ethnic make-up, number of people, household size and other areas and providing accurate future estimates of that portrait. The census will also provide parishes and the diocese with basic information for long-term planning and grant applications and will answer specific questions that the laity and the Church hierarchy want to know, said Cobb.

Simple information about each member of the household is needed: age, marital status, ethnicity, sacraments received, religion, if not Catho-

lic, education level and occupation, if available.

Cobb stressed, “The information given to the diocese will remain confidential and will be reported as totals, not on an individual basis. People should feel comfortable about supplying honest answers to the questions because we are not asking anything of an overly confidential nature.”

“The purpose is to census is learn how we are similar or different from the general population - not to intrude on the privacy of our parishioners,” said Father Mauricio W. West, vicar general and chancellor. “After the initial responses are entered and checked, the names of the respondents will be removed from the census database to preserve privacy.”

The churches are doing most of the work by gathering the information about their parishioners already in their databases. Parishes with 300 families or less are submitting paper forms.

There are high numbers of people who attend church who are not registered in a particular parish. More work in gathering the unregistered population numbers, especially in the Hispanic community, needs to be done, said Cobb.

“Current estimates show that the number of unregistered Hispanic households will equal the total number of registered households in the future,” continued Cobb.

“We have no clear understanding of the ethnicity of Catholicism in the diocese,” he said. “We are increasingly becoming a multi-ethnic diocese, and the census will allow the Church to become more responsive to the minority population.”

“This Catholic census will give us information needed for our parishes and the diocese to plan well into the next decade,” said Father West. t Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail amprice@charlottediocese.org.

February 18, 2000

Korean-American Sharing Event

Arden parish celebrates with multicultural event ARDEN — The church was filled with beaming faces, colorful silk gowns embroidered with flowers, dancing and plenty of food. It may sound like the scene of a wedding celebration — but, in fact, it was the Korean-American Sharing Event at St. Barnabas Church in Arden Feb. 5.

Using the occasion of the Lunar New Year, the parish community of St. Barnabas celebrated the rich heritage of their Korean parishioners by incorporating Korean-language prayers and readings into the Sunday liturgy, offering an orientation for other parishioners on the Korean culture. Sister Theresa Mangieri led a dialogue for Korean members The event culminated with a presentation by members of the Korean community on their customs, a Korean dance and a potluck dinner featuring all the cultures represented by those in attendance.

It is the custom for Koreans to go from house to house on the New Year to offer a blessing to the elders of each family. In addition to demonstrating this custom for parishioners, the Korean community honored the pastor of the parish, Father Roger Arnsparger, as “father of the St. Barnabas family” by presenting him with a gift.

The featured speaker for the vent was Sister Anna Boland, a Maryknoll sister who has served in Korea for 30 years. Sister Anna had several

in-service sessions with lay leadership and staff to help them understand some of the misunderstandings possible when two cultures come together.

The event was one of several programs throughout the diocese this year supported in part by grants from Catholic Relief Services from funds collected from Operation Rice bowl.

Based on the concept of mutuality, this effort was designed to show how important this small group of Korean families is to parish life, and how important it is for the larger faith community to support and reach out to them.

As a result of the increased communication, a growing trust and a mutual dependence between the two groups, members of the parish community who speak English as a first language will be trained and become tutors for those learning English as a second language. Parish leaders note that many Korean Catholics end up in other churches because the language barrier is so difficult to overcome.

Parish leaders hope that a natural outreach to other Korean Catholics in the Asheville area will occur. t

February 18, 2000

In the

The Catholic News & Herald 5

6 The Catholic News & Herald Column on weddings in diocesan paper fills Ann Landers’ mailbox YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (CNS) — An Ohio bishop’s column on how priests struggle with many aspects of modern wedding preparations created a firestorm in Ann Landers’ advice column when she printed a letter about the issue, then invited clergy to share their views. The original column that sparked the reaction was by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Youngstown.

Writing last May in his “Without A Doubt” column in his diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Exponent, he pointed out that many priests are not happy with the secular practices surrounding wedding ceremonies and receptions.

POW bracelet links nun to presidential candidate WASHINGTON (CNS) — Sister Mary Leanne Leszczynski doesn’t consider herself a political activist. But there she was on stage with U.S. Sen. John McCain Feb. 7 during a presidential campaign rally outside Detroit.

It turns out the Catholic high school principal, who never met McCain before, had something very personal for him. She presented him with a metal bracelet engraved with his name and the date he was captured in the Vietnam War. She had worn it every day for nearly four years while praying for his release.

U.S. moral theologian Father Richard McCormick dies CLARKSTON, Mich. (CNS) — Jesuit Father Richard A. McCormick, 77, a leading U.S. Catholic moral theologian of the 20th century, died of respiratory failure Feb. 12. Following a severe stroke last June he had moved to the Colombiere Center, a Jesuit retirement and health care center in Clarkston. He was to be buried Feb. 17 at Calvary Cemetery in Toledo, Ohio, his hometown, after a funeral Mass at Gesu Church there. A specialist in medical ethics, from the 1960s through the

February 18, 2000

People in the

CNS photo by Stephen Steele

86 arrested in protest of Iraq sanctions A police officer escorts Catholic Worker Katie Krolczyk, holding a picture of an Iraqi child, away from the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York Feb. 14. Police arrested 86 demonstrators who were urging an end to economic sanctions against Iraq.

Congolese archbishop to his archdiocese, calling rebel authorities’ refusal to let him travel home a “a grave violation that painfully injures all Catholics.” The pope made his remarks following his Feb. 16 weekly general audience. He appealed for an end to Congo’s civil war and prayed that Archbishop Emmanuel Kataliko of Bukavu, Congo, “would return quickly to the flock that has been entrusted to him.” Archbishop Kataliko was on his way home from the capital, Kinshasa, Feb. 12 when members of the rebel group Congolese Rally for Democracy seized him and sent him to Butembo, his childhood home. He remained under house arrest. A Feb. 14 Vatican statement said, “The faithful of the diocese ask with grief-stricken insistence for the return of their pastor, who has been especially appreciated for his apostolic courage in defending the rights of all people.

1980s Father McCormick was one of the key figures in scores of far-reaching ethical debates over new medical technology, especially in the genetic, reproductive and end-of-life areas.

Prelate known for ARCIC work named Westminster archbishop MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — Bishop Cormac Murphy-O’Connor has been appointed archbishop of Westminster, succeeding the late Cardinal George Basil Hume. The appointment was announced Feb. 15 at Archbishop’s House, Westminster. It ended months of speculation following the death of Cardinal Hume in June.

Archbishop Murphy-O’Connor, 67, has been bishop of Arundel and Brighton since November 1977. He was once described by the weekly Catholic magazine The Tablet as “everyone’s favorite bishop: human, genial, collaborative, imposing.” He is known

in his diocese and beyond as “Bishop Cormac.”

Muslim, Jewish leaders say pope should repent in Holy Land JERUSALEM (CNS) — Two religious leaders — one Muslim, one Jewish — said Pope John Paul II’s visit to the Holy Land should be an opportunity to repent for the Catholic Church’s past wrongs. In a February colloquium sponsored by Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., and The Elijah School for the Study of Wisdom in World Religions in Jerusalem, Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen of Haifa, Israel, said the papal visit should be used to “repair and repent from age-long preaching of hatred” by Christians against Jews, he said. Ibrahim Sarsur, head of the Islamic Movement in Israel, said he would like the pope to use his visit to apologize to the Muslims of the area for wrongs of the past.

Archbishop hails journalists’ soulsearching after AOL merger ROME (CNS) — The Vatican’s top media official hailed evidence of professional soul-searching by many U.S. journalists after the announced merger of America Online and Time Warner.

Given the media’s huge impact in shaping public opinion, all press organs must continually ask themselves about the objectivity of their reporting, said U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Objectivity is a “question which is always important, but which becomes even more critical as the concentration of power in the media becomes ever greater,” he said.

The archbishop made his remarks Feb. 4 to the Croatian Association of Catholic Journalists meeting in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. His speech text was distributed to journalists in Rome.

Vatican demands return of Congolese archbishop to archdiocese VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II urged the return of a

February 18, 2000

From the

The Catholic News & Herald 7

Western Regional CSS Office Expands, from page other diocesan offices in the west, to access much-needed parking.

Much scrambling ensued: painting, repair, creation of four walls for three new offices, carpeting, a new phone system. The CSS staff, volunteers and painters are currently working evenings and weekends to beat the March 1 date when they have to vacate their current house.

“We’ve had so many answered prayers,” said Sister Marie. “Literal ones, like locks suddenly working, phone calls coming at the right moment.”

The diocesan chancery envisioned this new acquisition of property at 50 Orange Street as a “virtual Pastoral Center West,” to better meet the needs of the people in western North Carolina, Sister Marie said.

The Diocesan Support Appeal supplies substantial funding to the CSS Western Regional Office, said Sister Marie. “Last year we received $163,000 dollars — about 45 percent of our operating budget,” she noted.

“Without this money, we would be sorely strapped to meet the burgeoning needs of the people in this area.

We realize that the amount we receive is greater than what we would get in most other dioceses.”

CSS provides four main areas of service: sliding-scale counseling for families and individuals; Immigration and Hispanic Services; Adoption/ Pregnancy Support; and the Christmas Program.

Counseling Counseling for families, individuals, couples and marriage is a growing area, said Sister Marie. “There is a lack of affordable counseling in this

cial service skills as helping Hispanics deal with auto repair or product guarantees. “In a sense, (we are) a consumer advocate,” said Sister Marie.

Adoption/Pregnancy Support Adoption/Pregnancy Support has two main areas: International Adoption, which currently places infants and older children from Russia and China; and Domestic Adoption, which places infants within the Charlotte Diocese and assists birth parents with pregnancy concerns.

Recently, CSS sent workers to Vietnam to investigate the possibilities of adoption from that nation. “We can take referrals for the whole USA,” said Sister Marie.

An increasing number of requests come from couples who find themselves with an unexpected pregnancy, said Sister Marie, noting that “we are a Respect Life agency.”

Christmas Program The office’s Christmas Program provides selective resources assistance during Advent.

“Our hope is that this base here in Asheville will allow us to give services to a larger area of people — something like a home base,” said Sister Marie. “We would like to be able to expand to the west and be visible in the Smoky Mountain Vicariate.” CSS would like to be more sensitive to the needs and be more creative with funding sources to meet the needs in outlying areas, she added.

Sister Marie also envisions the development of volunteer assistance to free up office manager Bucher to address the concerns of the mission as an agency. “We have many generous

Photo by Dianne Rigge

Jerry Tudela, Sister Marie Frechette, and Marie Bucher prepare the new facility of Catholic Social Services’ Western Regional Office in Asheville. people who often want to volunteer their time and talent,” she said.

The CSS Mission Statement, approved in 1996, is one the Western Regional Office strives to live: “Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, Inc., is a Christian ministry of love, service and justice dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals, families and faith communities as they meet the challenges of life and address the conditions of society.” t Catholic Social Services is among the 35 ministries and agencies receiving funds from the annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

area, since several major organizations have closed their doors,” she said. CSS provides a sliding-scale fee for those needing counseling who want to make changes in their lives. These needs might be for families in developmental crisis, separation/divorce, teen crises, empty nest syndrome, grief, and so on.

Immigration/Hispanic Services Immigration/Hispanic Services provides for people of any nationality desiring assistance with immigration papers, green cards, naturalization and permanent residency and reunification of families. There is an emphasis on the Hispanic population, since the Diocese of Charlotte has the fastest growing number of Hispanic people in the nation.

CSS has submitted a grant proposal to the United Way in Buncombe County for a case manager to help Hispanics interface with the business community and with consumer society in WNC. This includes such basic so-

8 The Catholic News & Herald

In the

February 18, 2000

House approves Congressional Gold Medal for Cardinal O’Connor

By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — With just one dissenting vote, the House voted Feb. 15 to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on New York Cardinal John J. O’Connor “in recognition of his accomplishments as a priest, a chaplain and a humanitarian.”

In bringing the measure to a vote, Rep. Vito Fossella, R-N.Y., lauded Cardinal O’Connor for his commitment to education for all, his care for the sick, elderly and disabled, his involvement in interfaith understanding and his long career as a Navy chaplain, bishop and archbishop.

Senate approval and the president’s signature are necessary before the medal may be awarded.

Cardinal O’Connor, 80, was praised by members of the House for his prolife activities, his contributions to the Irish peace process and his sense of humor.

Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., said Cardinal O’Connor is “a good and holy priest who radiates Christ and the healing power of God to believers and nonbelievers alike.”

Smith praised the cardinal for working “tirelessly and effectively to bring an end to the culture of death.”

Rep. Spencer Bachus, R-Ala., said in recognizing Cardinal O’Connor with the Congressional Gold Medal, the House honored “all those men and women who each day put their faith into action.”

The same day, the House also approved a measure to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on the late Charles M. Schulz, the cartoonist who created the comic strip “Peanuts.”

In both votes, Rep. Ron Paul, RTexas, cast the lone dissenting vote.

Paul said in a statement about the vote that he opposed spending $30,000 for such a medal.

“Appropriating $30,000 of taxpayer money is neither constitutional nor, in the spirit of Cardinal O’Connor, who dedicates his life to voluntary and charitable work, particularly humanitarian,” the statement said.

Paul said he invited colleagues who asked for his vote to match his contribution of $100 toward the cost of the medal.

“To me, it seemed a particularly good opportunity to demonstrate one’s genuine convictions by spending one’s own money rather than that of the taxpayers, who remain free to contribute at their own discretion to the work of Cardinal O’Connor as they have consistently done in the past,” Paul said. None of the members he approached took him up on his offer.

In 1997, Mother Teresa received a Congressional Gold Medal. And one has been approved but not yet awarded to Holy Cross Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, former president of the University of Notre Dame.

President Clinton in December signed the law authorizing the honor for Father Hesburgh. That medal

is likely to be presented in an early summer ceremony, said Chris Mehl, spokesman for Rep. Tim Roemer, DInd., who sponsored the legislation to honor Father Hesburgh.

Mehl said it typically takes about six months to design the individual gold medals and have them cast.

There have been times when the recipient is honored before the medal is ready, however. Mother Teresa attended a June 1997 ceremony honoring her with the gold medal within weeks of the bill’s approval. Her medal was presented to the Missionaries of Charity in September 1998, about a year after her death.

In the past, some medal awards ceremonies have been held in the Capital Rotunda, and others at the White House. Mehl said secondary presentations near the recipient’s home also are common and that Father Hesburgh would probably have one at Notre Dame.

In addition to the legislation for Cardinal O’Connor and Schulz, bills have been introduced that would bestow gold medals on Pope John Paul II and a wide range of Americans.

Possible recipients include: the Apollo 11 astronauts; Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; 1960 Olympics three-time gold medal-winner Wilma Rudolph; civil rights activists Jesse Jackson and Rosa Parks; former Presidents Reagan and Ford and their wives; and John Walsh, victims’ rights advocate and

CNS file photo

Cardinal John O’Connor of New York was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the House on Feb. 14.

Senate approval and the president’s signature are necessary before the medal may be awarded. host of the TV show “America’s Most Wanted.

Some of those bills have languished more than a year without action. The House bill to honor Cardinal O’Connor was introduced Jan. 31. Both House and Senate versions of the bill honoring Schulz were introduced Feb. 10, two days before his death and three days before his last original “Peanuts” strip ran in Sunday newspapers. t

February 18, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 9

In the

Sick treated to musical festival at Vatican for jubilee

By Benedicta Cipolla Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall was transformed into a concert stage as artists from all over the world donated their time and talent to the Jubilee for the Sick and Health Care Workers.

Between performances from artists like Australian actress, singer and breast cancer survivor Olivia NewtonJohn and 92-year-old Cuban jazz sensation Compay Segundo, thousands of pilgrims listened attentively Feb. 12 to testimonials of spiritual triumph in the midst of physical pain.

U.S. volleyball player Kirk Kilgour, who led an Italian team to the country’s national championship in 1975, said the 1976 accident that left him paralyzed changed his life forever.

“I found out very quickly that as an athlete everything I did was physical,” he said.

“But I learned quickly that my arms and legs were not important. It was the mind that made me a man,” Kilgour said to thunderous applause from the audience.

Andrea, an Italian boy from Naples who has spent much of his young life in hospitals, recounted his admiration for Gian Luigi Buffon, the Italian national soccer team’s goalkeeper.

No sooner had Andrea pronounced Buffon’s name than the soccer star walked on stage, carrying an official team jersey and ball for the 9-year-old boy.

While Buffon was unable to stay long due to a big match the following day, he said he would not have missed the concert for anything.

“We cannot pass by in front of those who are sick. We must stop, bow down before their infirmity and generously share in it, thus lightening its burden and difficulties.” — Pope John Paul II

CNS photo from Reuters

A nun comforts a sick man in St. Peter’s Square during a special Holy Year service Feb. 11. Pope John Paul II presided over a Mass that drew some 35,000 ill people and caregivers.

“Faced with certain human issues, I think soccer can move into second place,” Buffon said.

The concert was broadcast live in Italy on state television and around the world via satellite.

Earlier in the day, jubilee celebrations brought the sick to the Colosseum.

Once the site of bloody Christian

sacrifice, the ancient Roman amphitheater was transformed into a symbol of hope.

Organizers rendered the Colosseum handicapped-accessible for the first time to allow wheelchair-bound pilgrims to take part in a Stations of the Cross service.

The previous evening, a torchlight

Marian procession illuminated Via della Conciliazione, the street leading from the Tiber River to St. Peter’s Basilica.

More than 60,000 people, including 4,000 sick pilgrims, thronged St. Peter’s Square, each holding a candle and a copy of the Gospel of Luke, for prayers in several languages.

Enormous television screens in the square showed a simultaneous procession at the French Marian sanctuary at Lourdes.

At the end of the service, Pope John Paul II blessed the crowd from the window of his private apartment and asked that Mary, “health of the infirm,” might make the Holy Year a true year of grace.

The pope concluded the three days of celebrations for the sick and health care workers Feb. 13 at his weekly Angelus.

Before reciting the Marian prayer, he said sickness helped all people to understand human fragility and the desire for healing.

In Christ, said the pope, suffering acquires meaning.

“Sickness does not cease to be a trial, but it becomes illuminated by hope,” he said.

Earlier in the celebrations, at an outdoor Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul told 35,000 faithful — including 4,000 sick pilgrims — that Christ’s incarnation gave meaning to suffering, so that “pain, illuminated by faith, becomes the source of hope and salvation.

“We cannot pass by in front of those who are sick. We must stop, bow down before their infirmity and generously share in it, thus lightening its burden and difficulties,” said the pope. t

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald Book Review

Plot, character appeal in Patterson’s latest, but little else

By Joseph R. Thomas Catholic News Service Although he impregnates his girlfriend in a moment of mutual exuberance — demonstrating anew that sex sometimes has untoward consequences — senior homicide detective Alex Cross, the creation of the best-selling author James Patterson, again comes across as an appealing character in his latest foray against crime in Washington, D.C., the main setting for “Pop Goes the Weasel” (Little, Brown and Co., $26.95).

A caring 41-year-old former psychologist who, despite his age, “looks like a young Muhammad Ali,” Cross calms crying babies, volunteers weekly at a parish soup kitchen, takes bus loads of inner-city boys to visit their imprisoned dads, and dotes on his own two children, left motherless when his wife was murdered — although why he would want to give boxing lessons to his daughter is beyond me.

I mention all this out of a compulsion to say something positive about “Pop Goes the Weasel” other than the fact that, at its core, the plot device is a clever one. However, once you get past the character of Alex Cross, there is not much left to be positive about if you discount the fact that reading the book doesn’t consume an undue amount of time.

“Pop Goes the Weasel” is Patterson’s 12th — and possibly his worst — book. At least I hope he hasn’t written anything worse than this because “Pop Goes the Weasel” is poorly written and poorly developed.

The dialogue is trite, descriptive passages are isolated and barren, the style is woeful, characterizations are perfunctory, inconsistent behavior is almost pandemic and events, as often as not, defy our sense of the rightness of things.

Is there, for instance, a court anywhere that would permit a clown to be called under one name but testify in full regalia as Silly Billy, or allow a defendant to make speeches in lieu of answering questions: Has television so corrupted our sense of the real that we are able to give credence to such silliness?

As for the plot, it revolves around an ongoing murderous fantasy game, “The Four Horsemen” (think in terms

February 18, 2000

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CNS Photo

of “Dungeons and Dragons” with the victims being unsuspecting real people), played by British agents, some retired and yearning for the excitement of being assassins again, with the play of each being dictated by a roll of the dice.

Death, the chief player (others are Conqueror, War and Famine), is in reality Geoffrey Shafer, a psychotic now working out of the British Embassy in Washington. The head of a family he loathes, Shafer is the Weasel of the title.

This is not giving anything away because Shafer/Death is identified by Patterson right at the start when he notifies his fellow players that “death is on the loose in Washington, the game is on,” then slashes the throat of a prostitute.

So this is not a whodunit because we immediately know who done it.

Rather, it is a prolonged chase with the question being whether Death will be brought to justice before Washington is depopulated. Well, he is. Or he isn’t.

Or is he? Aye, there’s the rub, as an old English hand at crime-and-punishment writing once put it in a quite different life-and-death context.

The trick in reading “Pop Goes the Weasel” is not to linger over such

See POP GOES THE WEASEL, page 15

Word to Life

February 20, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B Readings:

1) Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25 Psalm 41:2-5, 13-14 2) 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 3) Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

By Beverly Corzine Catholic News Service The Gospel story this week is about Jesus healing a crippled man whose determined friends lower him through the roof. I can no longer read this story without remembering the day I picked up my son Mark at school for his regular appointment with his orthopedic physician.

Our fondest dream was of the day when a doctor would say Mark could walk out of his office in freedom, unencumbered by his foot-tohip leg brace and built-up shoe. During our drive we assured each other we would not be utterly disappointed this time if the answer to our hopes and prayers was once again “not yet.”

The summer before Mark entered the first grade he had begun to experience excruciating pain in one leg and hip. An X-ray revealed a serious, progressive and painful deterioration of the head of the femur.

My fearless, rambunctious child was not only entering the first grade, but also a world of pain, limitations and ever-curious stares.

Our original physician had predicted Mark would be in his brace for 18 months. Four and one-half years had elapsed, almost half a lifetime for a child of 11, before we were seated in the crowded warmth of the

waiting room on a snowy December afternoon.

In the examining room we watched as more snowflakes swirled past the window. While the X-rays were being developed, we distracted ourselves with wishes for a possible snow day.

When the doctor came in he flipped the film up for us to see. We watched in silence, almost without breathing. With a subtle smile the doctor turned to Mark and said, “Son, I think you’re ready to walk out of here today!”

Neither of us moved for a moment. Final instructions are a blur. I remember our laughter. I remember our saying “Thank you.”

Peppered by blowing snow, Mark gingerly walked to the car in his socks; he had no shoes. The cold was brutal, but we hardly noticed. I’ll never forget the ride home that day. We laughed, we wept. The floodgates of pent-up emotion burst open.

In the midst of laughing and crying, the story of Jesus telling a man to take up his bed and walk filled my mind. We were living a variation of the story. I knew Jesus was telling us to go home and rejoice. He was saying enjoy the beauty and the gift of the ordinary — the gift of life.

Question: Do you take time to thank God for the ordinary goodness of life, for the gifts of walking, seeing and hearing?

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Feb. 20 - 26, 2000 Sunday (Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time), Isaiah 43:18-19, 21-22, 24-25, 2 Corinthians 1:18-22, Mark 2:1-12; Monday (St. Peter Damian), James 3:13-18, Mark 9:14-29; Tuesday (Chair of St.Peter, Apostle), 1 Peter 5:1-4, Matthew 16:13-19; Wednesday (St. Polycarp), James 4:13-17, Mark 9:38-40; Thursday, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:41-50; Friday, James 5:9-12, Mark 10:1-12; Saturday, James 5:13-20, Mark 10:13-16

February 18, 2000

Entertain-

The Catholic News & Herald 11

CNS photo from Disney

Tigger enjoys time with his young pal, Roo, in a scene from the animated feature “The Tigger Movie.”

“Tigger” is fun, musical adventure

By Anne Navarro Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — Tigger, Winnie the Pooh’s bouncing tiger friend, sets off for fun and adventure to find his family in the musically animated feature, “The Tigger Movie” (Disney).

Despite having great friends, Tigger (voice of Jim Cummings) begins to realize that being the one and only can sometimes be lonely. Young Roo, his springy kangaroo friend (voice of Nikita Hopkins), is a wonderful bouncing partner, but Tigger wonders if there are other tigers out there just like him — his own tigger family. Soon the ever-exuberant Tigger springs into action to search for his “gigantical” family tree.

After looking high and low, Tigger has not found any sign of his family.

Seeing their dear friend disappointed, Winnie the Pooh (voice of Jim Cummings also), Roo, Piglet (voice of John Fiedler), Rabbit (voice of Ken Sansom) and the rest of the gang decide to raise Tigger’s spirits by dressing up and pretending to be his tiger family. But when Tigger discovers the truth, he becomes more determined than ever to find his real family.

The spirit of A.A. Milne’s characters remains intact as a heartwarming story of love and friendship is told in the first original Pooh feature ever

created for the big screen. Milne’s lovable creatures leap out with vivid colors and artfully crafted animation as their adventure leads them through the Hundred Acre Wood and to the discovery of the meaning of family.

As directed by Jun Falkenstein, “The Tigger Movie” is at its whimsi“The Tigger Movie” The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. cal creative best when Tigger’s family members are portrayed in famous portraits such as “Whistler’s Mother,” Van Gogh’s “Self Portrait” and even the “Brady Bunch” squares. Acclaimed Disney songwriters Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman (“Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book”) have written six catchy new tunes for the film that will surely have young ones singing.

“The Tigger Movie” will surely have children bouncing while older ones will enjoy its clever and tender story. t Navarro is on the staff of the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting.

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

February 18, 2000

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

History is humanity’s path toward God, pope says

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — History is not a meaningless series of events, but is the path humanity travels toward God, Pope John Paul II said.

Already in the Old Testament, it was clear that God acted in history for the benefit of the people he created and chose, Pope John Paul II said Feb. 9 at his weekly general audience.

God’s actions on behalf of the people of Israel, especially freeing them from slavery and leading them to the Promised Land, proved that “the Lord is not an impassive emperor crowned with a halo of light and relegated to a golden sky,” the pope said.

God is a father who acts in history with tenderness and attentiveness to those who call upon him, he said.

“God the Father is not in any way indifferent to the things that happen to us,” Pope John Paul said.

“The depth of God’s love was fully revealed” when he sent Jesus into the world to save all men and women, he said.

When God the Son became part of human history he underlined history’s meaning as the path toward eternity with God, the pope said.

Often it is difficult to see God at work in history and to realize that “the kingdom of God is already in our midst,” he said. With the help of the Holy Spirit, people can understand the meaning of history and receive the strength they need to cooperate in building the kingdom.

“In the light of the Father, Son and Spirit, history ceases being a succession of events which dissolve into the abyss of death and instead becomes ground fertilized with the seeds of eternity, a path which leads to that sublime goal where ‘God will be all in all,”’ the pope said.

Outgoing emissary to Russia says popepatriarch meeting unlikely MOSCOW (CNS) — Hope for a meeting between the pope and the leader of the world’s largest Orthodox church is no greater today than it was five years ago, said the Vatican’s departing emissary in Russia. Archbishop John Bukovsky, the papal nuncio who was to retire Feb. 14 after a five-year stint in Moscow, believes a meeting of the two spiritual leaders could do much to ease tensions between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches in the former Soviet Union. “Such a meeting would give a terrific impulse to the resolution of problems. The Holy Father is ready to go tomorrow to meet the patriarch,” said Archbishop Bukovsky, a 76-yearold U.S. citizen. “But the Russians would like to see the problems resolved first.”

Justice for Jubilee 2000 Justice is often thought of in Old Testament terms: of a stubbornly just God constantly calling His people back to fidelity — faithfulness to the original covenant that God struck with the chosen people and the call to fairness and equity in dealings among the people. This biblical justice is expressed eloquently in Exodus: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.

You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry.” (Ex 22: 20-22) “If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors among my people, you shall not act like an extortioner by demanding interest from them. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it before sunset, for this cloak is his only covering for his body.” (Ex 22: 24) It is often difficult to make this transition from an early society of mainly personal relationships and individual acts of justice to our more structured, complex and organized society of today. Herein lies the value of the distinction between person-to-person justice in a simpler time and the virtue of “social justice” in our time.

The act of social justice today is the virtue of organizing or re-organizing systems or institutions with the goal of advancing the common good — that is, the commonweal or common good within the network and moral reach of organizations, of civic life, or in the overall society.

Justice is often thought of, then, as merely giving a person what is their due — a cold, arm’s-length virtue of being fair in our dealings — no more, no less. But it is much more than that, and it is warmed by a movement of the heart as well as the mind.

The act of social justice can mean that you care deeply about the people whom you may not know or ever meet. They may well live in a future generation. They may live in a distant country or continent.

The Bottom Line Antoinette Bosco CNS Columnist

lies become contenders. Everybody loses. Especially the children.

I may be accused at this point of being naive, not acknowledging that some grandparents may be miserable people who shouldn’t be around their grandchildren. I believe they could still have visits, quietly supervised by the parents, without the intervention of the courts. This, I believe, would be “in the best interests of the children,” who have the right to know who they came from.

If interference with child-rearing is the problem, parents should be able to control that without cutting the grandparents out of the child’s life. Even miserable people can be loving when it comes to their grandchildren. I’ve seen that a few times!

Before I started writing this, I called my sister Rosemary to ask how she felt about having courts decide the matter of grandparents’ visitation rights.

Between us we have 29 grandchildren and nothing but joyful times to remember. We agreed on one thing totally: It is a tragedy when families develop such hostilities that they cut one another off.

We need more love in this world, and the seedbed for growing love should be our families. Courts may be able to make decisions, but there’s no way to legislate what’s really needed when it comes to families: loving relationships.

Justice & Peace DR. BARNEY OFFERMAN Guest Columnist

Because there are usually no final victories on the road to justice, you will often not see the fruits of your handiwork or witness the gratitude of a people helped or empowered.

Social justice can be called the public forum of love. It reaches beyond personal relationships and the familiarity of friends and associates who would be there to thank us and even reward our efforts.

Acts of social justice may involve: — a just law or a more morally responsible budget; — a public or private policy of including people in the shaping of their own lives and screening them into (instead of out of) participation and opportunity in the workings of society; — working for solidarity and just relations within our community and our neighborhoods; — the priority of a living family wage in our work life.

A successful act of social justice removes a condition that contradicts the God-given dignity of the person — whether the condition is poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing, discrimination, educational deficiency, or an unfair or inadequate health delivery system. In removing the dependency that often accompanies these social or economic conditions, social justice enables people to claim and live

See JUBILEE JUSTICE, page 15 Grandparents’ rights: Law over love?

The U.S. Supreme Court has been handed a proverbial can of worms this season, and I gather the members will be engaged for quite a while in juggling questions and opinions. What’s the furor all about? Grandparents’ rights. What I would call sacred matters have entered the arena of law.

The bottom-line judgment will rest on how the Supreme Court justices view the current laws allowing grandparents and other relatives to seek visitation rights after divorce or some other disruptive circumstance. All 50 states have such laws. The justices are expected to make a decision by June.

This matter really hits home for the 60 million Americans who are grandparents. That number includes six of the Supreme Court’s nine justices. We must pray that these august professionals will wisely balance parental rights with grandparents’ rights, since it appears this issue is now to be settled by law and not by loving hearts.

That’s the problem I see. Look what we’re talking about from the grandparents’ perspective: our bloodlines; our descendants; our legacy to the future world; our love made flesh again through the children we brought into the world who now have given birth to their children.

All of this also is the proof of our incredible destiny: to be co-creators with the Lord. I don’t believe grandparents can look at their child’s child and not be overwhelmed with the wonderful mystery of life renewed.

This is why I feel it is a tragedy that the question of contact between grandparents and their grandchildren has now become a matter of law over love.

How sad when parents and grown children can’t get along or when in-laws get cut out of the lives of their grandchildren, nieces and nephews because of a bitter divorce. How pathetic when the hostility and power plays — with children the pawns in the action — lead to virtual hate and then to the courts for a decision with clout for the winner.

The winner? I can’t find any winners when fami-

February 18, 2000

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Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle FATHER THOMAS J. McSWEENEY Guest Columnist George Washington’s “Happy Nation” The foremost name in the history of the United States will always be that of George Washington.

For generation after generation, Washington has stayed a constant, not merely the hero of the American Revolution and the father of a new nation, but also the man who defined our national character.

At a time when so many citizens, particularly the young, have grown weary, if not cynical, of those associated with the government and public service, Washington remains a guiding beacon.

Washington’s sense of character is best expressed in his Farewell Address of 1796. At the age of 64 and after 45 years of public service, he declined to run again as a candidate for the presidency.

Rather than limit his announcement to a speech before Congress and government officials, he wrote it specifically for publication and distribution through newspapers in the hopes of reaching the American people directly. His Farewell is regarded as his most famous written work.

Washington singled out the “increasing weight of years” as his reason for retirement, then added, “Here, perhaps, I ought to stop.” But he went on, explaining that the occasion gave him the opportunity “to recommend to your frequent review some sentiments which are the result of much reflection.”

His concern focused on the question as to whethIn Exodus, for example, in one commandment, a man’s wife is listed as simply one of his possessions.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, it says, “nor his ox or ass or anything else that belongs to him.”

In Deuteronomy, however, which reflects a later time of Hebraic culture, the prohibition against coveting a neighbor’s wife is put first and is an entirely separate commandment from the prohibition about the rest of his household.

This also in part may explain the difference in numbering. Exodus combines the last two of the other list, but seems to divide the first commandment into two.

Other divergences can result, naturally, from differences in translation, though these should not affect the numbering or the meaning.

It is not entirely accurate to name this a CatholicProtestant problem. Following St. Augustine, some Jewish traditions and many fathers of the Western church, Latin-Rite Catholics and Lutherans normally use the enumeration in Deuteronomy.

St. Jerome and the Greek fathers, however, preferred the enumeration in Exodus. Protestants other than Lutheran have generally adopted that organization of the commandments.

A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask about ecumenism, intercommunion and other ways of sharing with people of other faiths, is available by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Box 325, Peoria, IL 61651.

Questions may be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address, or e-mail: jjdietzen@aol.com.

er the American people were capable of ruling themselves. Repulsed by the spectacle of factionalism and party politics, he urged his fellow citizens “to shape a common opinion that transcends self-interested differences that divide” the nation.

To do this, Washington stressed the need to strengthen the connection between morality and public happiness: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that National morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle. Morality cannot be maintained without religion.”

Here was someone who looked through the confusion of the moment and seeing the ethical issues involved, gave voice to them. For him, the only way to sustain good government is by making individual citizens aware of their moral obligation to create the conditions for “decent politics.” For those of us determined to restore character to our national life, the wisdom of George Washington urges us to be more resolute about weaving moral and spiritual fiber into the fabric of our democracy.

This year, our national election provides yet another chance to express fidelity to our principles. We could do no better than to consider a 1783 message from Washington which reminds us that each of us has a responsibility to God and neighbor to endow our country with good character, starting with our own: “I now make it my earnest prayer, that God would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and [peace-making] temper of mind, which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without a humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation.”

Rather than saying it’s impossible, we could just start by saying a prayer. Then we need only meet our own high standards to change ourselves and our country for the better.

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN CNS Columnist

What is the “right order” of the Ten Commandments?

Q. Our community, like many others today, I understand, is having a major controversy about placing the Ten Commandments in a local park. One of the objections is that people, religious groups in particular, cannot even agree on how the Ten Commandments should read.

I’m wondering, when did the fourth commandment become the fifth commandment, as it is on a card I obtained from a religious goods store? One priest told me it is a Catholic-Protestant problem. Is that true? Is there a “right” list of the commandments?

A. The confusion arises from the fact that there are two lists of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament, one in Exodus 20:1-17, the other in Deuteronomy 5:6-21. And there are differences.

In all major basics they are the same, of course, although some variations are noteworthy and perhaps reveal some information about the time in which each was written.

We welcome your letters and comments.

Send your Letters to the Editor to Joann S. Keane, The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 or e-mail jskeane@charlottediocese.org.

From the Bishop BISHOP WILLIAM G. CURLIN

The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord “He presented Himself alive to them by many proofs after He had suffered, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God. ...

As they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.” (Acts 1: 3-9)

F

or centuries, the celebration of holy days of obligation has been a part of Catholic life and worship. These feasts call us from our very busy lives to pause in celebration of major occasions in the life of the church, and they invite us to rejoice as a community of faith.

Sacrifice may be required to attend Mass on some holy days. Indeed, sacrifice is part of all our lives. We Catholics recognize occasions when illness or the demands of work legitimately prevent us from attending Mass on a holy day. But the holy days of the church — like all of her great devotional and historical observances — are truly teaching moments of grace for the faithful, and we are obliged as Catholics to participate joyfully in them.

Some holy days focus on various mysteries of salvation history, while others commemorate specific milestones involving the life of Jesus, Mary and the saints. For example, Pentecost commemorates the birth of the church and is celebrated 50 days after Easter. The Ascension celebrates Jesus’ ascent into heaven 40 days after His Resurrection. Both holy days are among the church’s most solemn observances.

Last year, during our annual November meeting in Washington, D.C., the Catholic bishops of the United States discussed the merits of transferring the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord from a Thursday to a Sunday. Some bishops expressed confidence that transferring our observance of the Ascension to Sunday would assure that more Catholics would celebrate this great solemnity of the church. Others felt the need to continue to celebrate the solemnity on the specific day — in this case, 40 days after Easter.

Discussion of transferring the solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension from Thursday to Sunday has long been an issue among U.S. bishops, and the topic continues to make headlines.

Last August, Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston, the president of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a formal decree approved by Pope John Paul II that authorized each U.S. province to transfer the solemnity of the Ascension from Thursday to the following Sunday. Two-thirds of the bishops within each province, or regional group of dioceses under an archdiocese, would have to vote in favor of the transfer in order to move the observance from Thursday to Sunday.

My brother bishops within the Province of Atlanta — which includes the Archdiocese of Atlanta and the dioceses of Charlotte, Charleston, Raleigh and Savannah — decided to keep the solemnity of the Ascension on Thursday.

Our faith permeates every day of our lives, and Ascension Thursday is one of those times

See ASCENSION THURSDAY, page 15

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

February 18, 2000

Around the Di-

Landings program gears up in Hickory week for eight to 10 weeks. At the end of the series of meetings, the group goes on a retreat together to focus on reconciliation. At this point, those who still wish to return to the Church are welcomed back as full participants in the Church family.

“Experience with Landings shows that those who return, sometimes after 25-plus years away, discover that they have never stopped thinking of themselves as Catholic,” said Vallie.

“They have the faith written on their hearts.... Many only needed a simple invitation to start the trip back home to the Church.”

One important feature of the program is that lay people, volunteers from the congregation, run it almost entirely by themselves, with minimal involvement of church staff and clergy. Although Father Sheridan participated in the training and in the first meeting of the group, he stayed in the background so that the parishioners could run the meeting.

“The parish is so excited that they can participate in bringing people back to God and the Church,” said Bonnie Tamrack, a St. Aloysius parishioner working with the group. “We’re very excited about the participation from both the people in our parish and the people coming back.”

She said that the parish had so many people interested in returning that they will be probably have to form two separate groups in the coming weeks. “People are really hungry for the connectedness ... for knowing God and loving God on an intimate level,”

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Choir Director, Part-time: St. Barnabas Catholic Parish in beautiful western North Carolina (680+ families) is seeking a practicing Catholic to direct our music program. Applicant to have: experience in liturgical music and a working knowledge of Church documents on liturgy and music; keyboard skills — organ and piano; skills in choir directing.

A college degree in liturgy, music or related field preferred. Responsibilities include: working with pastor, staff and liturgy commission; fostering parishioner participation; coordinating music and volunteer musicians for all liturgical services, primarily for our three Masses each Sunday and Holy Day; directing the adult and youth choirs; working with cantors and musicians; collaborating with an independent folk group. Salary: $10,000 - $12,000 range plus some benefits. Call Mary Ann Demelfy (828)684-6098 or write to the address below for a job description. Send resume and references to: Search Committee, c/o Fr. Roger Arnsparger, St. Barnabas Catholic Parish, P. O. Box 38, Arden, NC 28740.

Director of Development: The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time director of development for the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools. The candidate must be a college graduate with a degree in marketing, communications or related field. Appropriate experience in fund raising and marketing may be substituted for education. Must have ability to use computer software. Responsibilities include managing the annual giving campaign, handling all aspects of production of newsletters and annual reports, and serving as liaison to regional boards. Please submit resume by March 1, 2000 to Jim Kelley, Office of Development, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203-4003.

Director of Faith Formation: Growing 450-fam-

she said.

Each meeting follows a similar format. First, each person in the group briefly tells how he or she is feeling or how his or her week has been. Following that are “angel cards,” which are small cards printed with one word and a corresponding picture of an angel. Some of the words on the cards are strength, joy, power, simplicity, forgiveness, gratitude and obedience.

Each person takes a card at random, and then tells the group what that word suggests to him or her.

“By beginning to relate feelings about a little card with an angel and a word, the Landings group members begin to relax about speaking in a group,” said Vallie.

After this introduction, a member of the group conducts a 10-minute prayer service. Then, another member of the group tells his or her faith story, after which members of the group are invited to tell briefly what touched them about the story. A third member then introduces a topic about one aspect of the Church for discussion by the group.

Each week new people volunteer to do these three parts of the meeting, so that each person in the group has a chance to do each part during the eight to 10 sessions. A Landings participant manual is given to each person to guide him or her in preparing for each part of the meeting.

Telling faith stories is central to the program, because it gives those desiring to return a chance to say what is on their minds, and a chance to hear

Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Att: Very Rev. Michael Butler, V.F. Pastor, Youth Minister Search Committee. P.O. Box 510, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949-0510.

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Director: A triparish (including one Hispanic) Catholic community of 1800 families in a university setting is seeking a full-time Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry to implement comprehensive youth ministry as described in “Renewing the Vision.” Candidate should have prior ministry experience, and be able to work collaboratively with staff and members of parish community. Background in Theology, Christian Formation, and/or certification in youth ministry is desired. Please contact Rev. Bernard Campbell, CSP, P.O. Box 112, Clemson, SC 29633 or (864)654-1757.

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Photo by Ellen Neerincx Sigmon

Bonnie Tamrack, a parishioner of St. Aloysius church and a Landings facilitator, talks about an item she she placed on the prayer table. The table is set up at each landings meeting, and those assigned with the prayer service or telling their faith story bring items significant to their faith lives. the stories of the parishioners in the group. “This may be the first time they’ve ever spoken about what’s in their heart,” said Vallie.

Penny Atkinson, a parishioner at St. Therese Church in Mooresville and the other trainer of the group at St. Aloysius, advised the group not to ask participants to say more than they want to while they are telling their stories. “Encourage people not to go beyond their comfort zone,” she said. “You want people to heal, not be wounded.”

Mrs. May talked about how the first session went at St. Aloysius. “The people responded so well,” she said.

“They were open. They didn’t feel threatened. It seemed like we’d known each other all our lives.”

“I think that this program is very much needed,” she added, “not just in our parish, but in the whole diocese.” t

Continued next page

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Payment: Ads may be pre-paid or billed. For information, call (704) 370-3332. ily parish in Raleigh, NC, is seeking a full-time Director of Faith Formation. Responsible for directing pre-K through high school faith formation process and oversight of RCIA process and adult formation. Includes oversight of volunteer coordinators of formation processes for baptism, reconciliation, eucharist, RCIA, and adult Bible Study. Also includes collaboration with parish Faith Formation Council.

Strong people and communication skills a must, especially with middle and high school level youth.

M.A. in religious education or theology, or equivalent education and experience required. Salary mid-30s, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Also diocesan benefits packages. Send resume and references to: Search Committee, St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church, 12333 Bayleaf Church Rd., Raleigh, NC 27614.

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Music Minister: Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Community in the coastal area of the Outer Banks, NC is seeking an energetic, motivated, spiritual individual to develop a music program for a growing faith community. Candidate should be a practicing Catholic. Responsibilities will include: Choir Director, development of cantors, weekend liturgies, weddings,

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Salary negotiable with benefits package. Position available summer of 2000. Application deadline March 1, 2000. Send resume to: Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish, Att: Very Rev. Michael Butler, V.F., Pastor, Music Minister Search Committee. P.O. Box 510, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949-0510.

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February 18, 2000

Around the Di-

Landings,

Heart Church in Brevard and one of the people who trained the parishioners at St. Aloysius, said that was just the point. “You can go into this thing

BY ELLEN NEERINCX SIGMON after a brief training,” he said. “Once a Correspondent parish is trained, they are pretty well HICKORY — How long does it on their own to go ahead with it.” take parish members to learn a pro“The object is that people tell their gram for welcoming back returning story,” said Vallie. “We’re not telling Catholics? If they are using Landings, them what they need to know. When it just takes two to three days. you come to a Landings meeting, you A group of St. Aloysius Church paknow you are being listened to, because rishioners spent a Friday evening and you are being responded to.” Vallie has a Saturday learning the program, and worked with 11 differconducted their first ent Landings groups session with returnees at Sacred Heart, and in the following Wednes“Experience with 1995 became the first day, Feb. 9.

Landings shows that person in the diocese to “We had such a be certified as a facilitagood response with very those who return, to teach people in limited advertisement,” sometimes after 25-plus tor other parishes how to said Father Ed Sheriyears away, discover run the program. dan, pastor at St. AloyHe said that about sius. “I think that it’s that they have never 15 parishes in the dioa great move forward. stopped thinking of cese have been trained We need to have it in every parish. This is a themselves as Catholic.” to use the program so far, and that Father Jac non-pressure program, — Tom Vallie Campbell, the founder and I think it will help of the program, and a lot of people. We need Joan Horn, the Landto reach out to them, show them that ings National Coordinator, trained we’re concerned about them, and make about 12 of those parishes themselves them feel at home.” in 1995.

Bobbie May and her husband, According to its web site, LandRev. Mr. Hugo May, were two of the ings is “a safe harbor or landing place parishioners participating in the trainfor returning Catholics to explore ing program. “I’ve worked in a lot their faith and their future with the of programs,” said Mrs. May. “This, Church.” In this Paulist program of to me, was an easy, welcoming thing. reconciliation, a group of six to eight My husband and I both felt it was an active Catholics joins two or three evening well spent. It invigorated and returning Catholics to welcome them encouraged me to see how people reback into the Church. The program sponded.” consists of a two-hour meeting each Tom Vallie, a parishioner at Sacred

Pop Goes the Weasel, from page 10 killed anyway), someone else is “a prize catch,” another is “a lone wolf,” and Death “flies as high as a kite” when on drugs, just to cite some of the more banal phrases the reader encounters.

At one point, Cross, as narrator, tells of getting “an emergency call that blew off the top of my head.”

Arriving at “the nightmare scene,” he “moved forward as if floating in a

very bad dream.” Death seemingly had attempted suicide. “My mind,” Cross confides, “was unhinged.”

So was mine. t

Thomas, retired editor in chief of The Christophers and a former diocesan newspaper editor, is a frequent reviewer of books.

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Diocesan teachers and principal recognized for scholastic

CHARLOTTE — Several elementary teachers and a principal from the diocese were nominated for the 1999-2000 National Catholic Educators Association (NCEA) Distinguished Teacher and Principal Award.

The teacher nominees were: Maureen Nicholls — All Saints School in Charlotte, Carole A. Bell — Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte, Patricia Formichella — Immaculata School in Hendersonville, Julie H. Crover — Immaculate Heart of Mary School — High Point, Helen Horn — Our Lady of Assumption School in Charlotte, Betty Saunders and Marlene Mode — Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro, Sister of St. Joseph Mary Willmanns — Our Lady of Mercy School in Winston-Salem,

John Michael Thompson — Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, Judith Maskie Akins — St. Ann School in Charlotte, Emily Dunning — St. Gabriel School in Charlotte, Helen A. Rassmussen — St. Leo School in Winston-Salem.

The principal nominee was Gerald S. Healy from Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte.

Lorraine Malphurs from St. Pius X School in Greensboro is one of 11 teachers from the South Atlantic States region to earn the NCEA Distinguished Teacher Award. She will receive her award at the NCEA Convention in Baltimore in April.

All of the teachers and Healy were recognized and honored for their achievements during the liturgy at the religion in-service day at St. Gabriel School in Charlotte on Feb. 11. t

Ascension Thursday, from page 13

in which we should come together as a worshipping community — not just out of obligation, but with a true sense of thankfulness for what God has done in our lives.

Celebrating the great mysteries of our faith by taking part in the church’s holy observances — even with the sacrifices we must make from time to time — is one very important way we increase our

reverence for Jesus and His church.

I am convinced that our continued practice of celebrating Ascension Thursday will be a blessing for each of us and our diocese.

Justice, from page 12 questions as “How could this be?”, “Is this a rational thing to do?”, “Does C proceed from A and B?”, because this is the kind of story where one person can look another in the eye and somehow know what size shoe he wears.

This is also the kind of a story where “eyes go cold and hard,” a particular cop is “smart and tough and could go all the way” (but gets

the dignity inherent in being a creature of God. Justice is foundational to the virtue of charity. Charity responds to and treats breakdowns in society, often on an individual basis; social justice coalesces people to organize and change the more basic condition or causes of the breakdowns.

Dr. Offerman is diocesan director of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

Living the

February 18, 2000

Catholic educators tell teachers to reawaken to vision of

synergistic meaning “characteristic

By Alesha M. Price of a combined action,” the idea is that Staff Writer teachers must change from “either/ CHARLOTTE — Through anior” thinking to “both/and” thinking, mated storytelling and with a focus explained Ford. on celebrating God’s gifts, two leaders She said that children think in a in Catholic education challenged over “both/and” way, so teachers should 500 diocesan Catholic schoolteachers try to do the same in their classrooms. to analyze their teaching methods and Accepting differences and dealing with create innovative ways to help their changes are ways in which educators students academically and spiritually can begin to focus on a “both/and” way in the new millennium. of thinking and teaching.

Father Richard Fragomeni and Dr. She talked about the importance Elinor R. Ford led two discussions for of faith and how Catholic schools can teachers from throughout the diocese use that in educating their students. on Feb. 11 at St. Gabriel School in “We have the adCharlotte. The religion vantage of speaking in-service day was part of an ongoing series of “We have the advantage Christ to our young children,” she said. “We gatherings sponsored of speaking Christ to are all part of the euby the diocesan Cathocharisting community lic Schools Office. our young children. of Jesus Christ because During her preWe are all part of the we are still on a faith sentation, Dr. Ford assumed the identity eucharisting community journey.”

“If your students of “Mosetta,” while of Jesus Christ because see you living your faith expressing her ideas we are still on a faith with a great passion and about Catholic educafeel your love and conjourney.” tion to the teachers. cern, then you can teach — Dr. Elinor R. Ford The concept she conthem authentically, and veyed is that just as the we must give them an faith journey constantopportunity to practice their faith,” she ly evolves with different leaders along continued. “Every teacher has the seed the way, so does Catholic education of truth and faith within him or her, with its own continuous journey every and if they put their heads together, the school year.

Holy Spirit will speak and a new para“Just as Moses was shown the digm will be revealed.”

Promised Land but could not enter it, I Mercy Sister Maureen Meehan, will not live to see the dream of builddirector of religious formation for ing up the kingdom of God [through schools, coordinated the in-service day.

Catholic education],” explained Dr. “As in the past,” she said, “missionaries Ford. have come to the Diocese of Charlotte “We cannot teach children the same to give us the faith, and we are all way we taught them 20 years ago,” she called in the new millennium to spread stated. “We must change the paradigm the Gospel to others.” we use for Catholic education.”

The religion in-service day also feaDr. Ford repeated that mantra as tured Father Richard Fragomeni, associshe talked about her topic, “A Quantum ate professor of liturgy and homiletics at and Synergistic Creation.” With paraCatholic Theological Union in Chicago, digm meaning “model or pattern” and

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Mercy Sister Maureen Meehan, director of religious formation for schools, takes time for this photo with Dr. Elinor R. Ford, one of the featured speakers at the religion in-service day for diocesan teachers at St. Gabriel School on Feb. 11.

Ill. Using his latest book, “Gifts for a Lifetime: A Sacramental Preparation Series,” for teachers of sacramental preparation, he focused on the role of the sacraments in the lives of students and faculty during his talk, “The Language of God’s Gifts.”

A priest of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., Father Fragomeni has ministered in parish work, Christian initiation, catechetics and spiritual direction. Known for his engaging manner with his audiences, Father Fragomeni urges those he encounters in his ministry to seek a deeper union with Christ through the sacramental life.

“Father Fragomeni gave us the roots of our faith, while Dr. Ford gave us the wings to fly with our faith,” said Sister Maureen. “They came with a concept of taking ownership of our faith at the deepest level of the heart.”

With her home base in Fairview,

N.C., near Asheville, Dr. Ford travels all over giving seminars and talks.

This year she will be teaching at Seton Hall University and Sacred Heart University in Connecticut.

Father Richard also served as the celebrant and homilist for a liturgy, featuring David Anderson as the music director. Anderson is an Illinois parish director of music and liturgy and workshop coordinator of GIA Publications Inc. in Chicago. The day began with the “Our Sisters of Mercy Overture” performed by the Holy Trinity Middle School Band. The overture was composed and directed by Alan Kaufman, the school’s band director. t

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