March 17, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 1

March 17, 2000

March 17, 2000 Volume 9 t Number 28

Inside Embracing Stewardship

Regional workshop highlights giving of time, talent, treasure

...Page 3

St. Patrick scholar sees more than a saint for party Living the Faith

Philadelphia prepares to honor a saint of its own

...Page 16

Local News Getting to the bottom of Teen Summit 2000 ...Page 4

Bringing biblical women to life ...Page 5

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

With ‘mea culpa,’ pope culminates church’s examination of conscience

By John Thavis Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II made an unprecedented apology for the sins of Christians through the ages, the culmination of the church’s “examination of conscience” for the jubilee year.

The pope’s long-awaited “mea culpa” March 12 was echoed by local churches in the United States and elsewhere and generally welcomed by non-Catholics around the world.

The pope’s idea of a day of atonement, which met some resistance even inside the Vatican, was designed to acknowledge shortcomings in the church’s past, in order to give Catholics a sense of reconciliation and make future evangelization more credible.

“We forgive and we ask forgiveness!” the pope said during a historic Lenten liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica.

He and seven top Vatican officials pronounced a “request for pardon” for sins against Christian unity, the use of violence in serving the truth, hostility toward Jews and other religions, the marginalization of women, and wrongs — like abortion — against society’s weakest members.

The pope said the church has had many saints, but some of its members have shown disobedience to God and inconsistency with the faith — in the past and present.

“For the part that each of us, with his behavior, has had in these evils that have disfigured the face of the church, we humbly ask forgiveness,” he said.

Pronouncing the apology for Christian intolerance in the past was

CNS photo from Reuters

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger lights a lamp symbolizing one of the seven petitions for forgiveness at the jubilee “request for pardon” service in St. Peter’s Basilica March 12. Pope John Paul II solemnly asked for pardon for the past and present sins of Christians during the service.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which was created more than 450 years ago under a different name to run the Inquisition.

“Even men of the church, in the name of faith and morals, have sometimes used methods not in keeping with the Gospel in the solemn duty of defending the truth,” the cardinal said.

Other Vatican officials expressed regret for actions by Christians that have aggravated ecumenical divisions, increased discrimination against minority and ethnic groups, “humiliated and marginalized” women, and shown contempt for local cultures and reli-

gious traditions.

The pope called for “genuine brotherhood” between Christians and Jews, telling Jewish people that “we are deeply saddened by the behavior of those who in the course of history have caused these children of yours to suffer.”

At the conclusion of the apology liturgy, the pope embraced and kissed the crucifix and, in a final blessing, declared that “never again” should such sins be committed. Thousands of people attended the service, packing the basilica and watching on giant-screen TV in the square outside.

See “MEA CULPA,” page 8

E v e r y W e e k Network helps Greensboro families find their way home Entertainment ...Pages 10-11

Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13

The Season of Lent “Living Lent is a matter of attitude” A column by Father Terrance Hyland, O.S.A.

ule with the host churches using their facilities for five weeks during the year.

The network was created through the efforts of Bruce Bergen, now, the president of the GIHN Board of Trustees, and a parishioner of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Greensboro. He attended a meeting with members who wanted to start a local network, and because of his prior ecumenical work, he and others went to churches to pitch the idea.

“The churches are not shelters but are safe places. We aren’t just feeding them; we are having dinner with them and trying to bring some hope to their lives,” said Bergen. “For the people of the churches, this puts a gentler face on homelessness because of the many

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer GREENSBORO — In the early’80s, Karen Olson felt compelled to give a sandwich to a homeless woman in a subway station in New York. After she talked to the woman and learned about her life, she and her two sons began delivering sandwiches in and around New York and New Jersey.

When area churches became aware of Olson’s efforts, that is how the first Interfaith Hospitality Network came to be formed in October 1986 in New Jersey.

The National Interfaith Hospitality Network (NIHN) was later organized, which oversees the approximately 73 local networks throughout

the country. One of those 73 networks includes a group of Greensboro churches — the Greensboro Interfaith Hospitality Network (GIHN) — all trying to help homeless families in that area to find their own shelter from the storm.

“This is a grass roots organization in which churches pair together to provide housing for families and provide transportation for them and their belongings to and from the host church,” explained Jeanie Roberts-Wyatt, the GIHN director.

The GIHN began in October 1999 to accommodate up to 14 people, or about five families, in a rotating sched-

See INTERFAITH, page 14

2 The Catholic News & Herald backed the House action.

Religious leaders urge moratorium on federal executions WASHINGTON (CNS) — Representatives of more than 30 churchbased groups joined in a plea to President Clinton to impose a moratorium on use of the death penalty by the federal government. In a March 9 letter, religious leaders told President Clinton that “our nation is slowly realizing the truth of capital punishment: the death penalty, as applied in America today, threatens to shed innocent blood.” It was signed by leaders of Baptist, Quaker, Episcopal, Lutheran, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and Methodist organizations, among others. Columban Father Michael Dodd, director of the Justice and Peace Office of the Columban Fathers was among the signers.

Israeli officials pledge to keep politics out of papal visit ROME (CNS) — After meeting with Pope John Paul II, Israeli officials pledged to keep politics out of the pontiff ’s Holy Land visit and called on Palestinians to do the same. “I hope that politics will not shadow what is a very important spiritual and religious visit,” Haim Ramon, a Cabinet minister in charge of government planning for the trip, told reporters at a Rome press conference March 10. “I want to thank the Vatican, which is doing its best to make sure this visit is not used by anyone for political purposes. I hope the Palestinians will respect this. It is not just our request, but the request of the pope.”

Don’t just forgive debt, reorder economies as well, says priest WASHINGTON (CNS) — External debts of poor countries should be forgiven, but a reordering of the world’s economy is also needed, said a priest serving in Bolivia. Debts of poor countries should be forgiven “for moral reasons, but it’s not going to change things in the end,” said Oblate Father Gregorio Iriarte, author and specialist in Catholic social justice.

Father Iriarte spoke March 3 in Washington. “The problem of external

CNS photo courtesy Israel Antiquities Authority

Dead Sea Scrolls This ancient fragment of text contains commentary on the biblical verses of Hosea 2:8-14. It is part of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovered in 1947 in the Judean desert. Fifteen of the texts, believed to be the earliest surviving copies of the books of the Old Testament, are on display at the Field Museum in Chicago through June 11.

Two-year minimum wage hike has church support, but veto likely WASHINGTON (CNS) — A House measure to boost the minimum wage by $1 over a two-year period has the support of Catholic Charities USA and other church organizations, but President Clinton said he would veto it because the bill includes business tax cuts. The House approved a two-step $1 increase in the hourly minimum wage to $6.15 in a March 9 vote of 282-143. The Senate has approved $1 wage boost over three years and different tax cuts. Organizations including Catholic Charities that have pushed for the two-year increase instead of the Senate version’s three-year increase

Episcopal March 17, 2000 Volume 9 • Number 28

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.

March 17, 2000

The World in

c a l e n-

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events: March 20-21 LARCUM Ecumenical Meeting (Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Methodist) Catholic Conference Center, Hickory March 21 — 7 pm Confirmation Our Lady of the Annunciation, Albermarle March 25 Journeys to Justice Retreat St. Gabriel, Charlotte 5:30 pm Confirmation Immaculate Conception, Forest City March 28 — 6:30 pm Diocesan School Board Mass and Meeting Pastoral Center, Charlotte March 29 Priest personnel meeting

debt is related to the deterioration of commercial relations,” said the priest.

“The raw materials produced by the Third World are every day cheaper in relation to the intermediate products the people have to buy. So if what you produce is worth less every day and what you have to buy is worth more, obviously that’s going to lead to debt,” Father Iriarte said.

Bishops praise support for traditional definition of marriage SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) — California’s Catholic bishops praised voters for approving a measure March 7 that defines marriage as a union only between a man and a woman. The church leaders, speaking as the Cali-

Diocesan

plan -

teenage girls with Katy Volponi from Belmont Abbey. For more information or to pre-register, call Kathy Murray at (704) 849-0398.

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., invites everyone to “Theology on Tap ... Unplugged: A Christian Coffeehouse” tonight from 6:45-8:30 p.m. in the family room of the parish center. This is an opportunity for fellowship and socializing in an alternative Saturday night setting. Msgr.

John McSweeney, pastor of St. Matthew Church, is presenting a theology message “Get Ready ‘Cause Here I Come.” The music is being provided

by Redeemed, featuring Kathy and David. For further details, contact Kathy Piontek at (704) 614-9100.

DENVER — Holy Spirit Church, 537 North Hwy. 16, is having Irish Night 2000 tonight at 7 p.m. The din-

fornia Catholic Conference, said they were “saddened,” however, by passage of a measure extending the circumstances under which the death penalty is warranted. On another crime issue, the state’s Catholic Charities consortium voiced regrets at the voters’ decision to have more juvenile offenders tried and sentenced as adults “while allocating nothing for programs to prevent juvenile crime.”

Pakistani official confirms notice on blasphemy cases TOBA TEK SINGH, Pakistan (CNS) — A member of Pakistan’s National Security Council has confirmed a government notice that no blasphemy case will be registered without proper inquiry. Local papers reported council member Attyia Inayatullah said deputy district commissioners have been ordered not to register cases of blasphemy against the prophet Mohammed or the Koran without proper investigation. The council is a top-level body that advises the government on various matters, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Syed Zakir, spokesman for the rights group Solidarity International, welcomed the move to change the process of registering blasphemy cases and said those who make false accusations should be punished.

Maryland bishops support Spanish translation for courts bill BALTIMORE (CNS) — Concerned that Spanish-speaking Maryland residents are not always given equal access to the state’s justice system, Maryland’s Catholic bishops want the General Assembly to support a bill that would help eliminate the language barrier in the court system. S.B. 741 would require Maryland courts to provide certified language interpreters for Spanish speakers who are not proficient in English. The bill would prohibit a state department, agency or program from denying public services or discriminating against a person based on language ability.

ner includes corned beef, cabbage and beverages. The proceeds will benefit the diocesan seminarians. For more information, call the church office at (704) 483-6448.

31 HICKORY — To experience the presence of Jesus while walking down the road to Emmaus, there is a men’s Emmaus retreat at the Catholic Conference Center, 1551 Trinity Lane, beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m. and continuing this weekend until 3 p.m. on April 2. Space is limited. For more information about registration, call Joe Christian at (704) 543-1892.

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

March 17, 2000

By Joanita M. Nellenbach Correspondent FRANKLIN — Stewardship. It’s not just about money.

That was the message to 20-plus parishioners of the Smoky Mountain Vicariate at the Charlotte Diocese’s first Regional Stewardship Day March 11. Barbara Rohrman, the diocese’s associate director of development, spoke to representatives from Immaculate Heart of Mary, Hayesville; Our Lady of the Mountains, Highlands; St. Joseph, Bryson City; St. Margaret, Maggie Valley; St. William, Murphy; and St. Francis of Assisi, Franklin, which hosted the event.

Rohrman said she hopes to hold at least two more regional stewardship days in other areas of the diocese.

“I help parishes promote stewardship, to embrace stewardship as a way of life,” Rohrman said. “Too often, when I come into a parish to do a workshop like this, people get out their wallets, or (the pastor) brings the finance council for me to talk to.”

There’s much more to Christian stewardship than that, she added.

The Charlotte Diocese formed the Office of Development in 1986.

Its primary responsibility is to “help educate, encourage, and assist people in the diocese to use their gifts of time, talent, and treasure so that they may grow spiritually.” Charlotte was ahead of the game in another way. In 1989, it created a stewardship manual, one of the first dioceses in the country to have such a publication.

In 1992, the bishops of the United States were asked to address the church’s diminishing resources. The bishops drafted a pastoral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” which calls upon all Christians to embrace stewardship.

The letter does not talk about money, but rather, describes stewards as disciples of Jesus, who joyfully appreciate all that God has given them.

“These linked realities, discipleship and stewardship, then make up the fabric of a Christian life in which each day is lived in an intimate, personal relationship with the Lord,” it says. fail to accept. The facilitator and presenter is Dr. Patricia Kelly, counseling psychologist, therapist and mother of 12. For registration and other information, call the center at (828) 926-1997.

25 ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., is having a “Day of Retreat and Prayer” today, starting with 8 a.m. Mass and ending at 3:30 p.m. The spirituality of St. Louis Marie de Montford is being featured in the morning, and the revelations to Sister Faustina of the Divine Mercy are being featured in the afternoon. For reservations, call the church office at (828) 254-6042.

CHARLOTTE — “Women Saying ‘Yes’ to God” is the theme of an allday conference for women and teenage girls, ninth grade and up, being held at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, today from 9 a.m.4 p.m. The speakers include Mercy Sister Larretta-Rivera Williams and Joanna Case. There are going to be small group gatherings after each major topic and special sessions for

Around the

Embracing

Regional workshop highlights giving of time, talent, treasure Gone are the days when the pastor did it all. The bishops’ letter emphasizes that stewardship is integral, not optional. Everyone is called to be involved.

Motivations to give time and talent, as well as treasure, range from fear to gratitude, Rohrman said. Fear is at the bottom of the ladder. Next above fear is reward: giving to get something in return. Then comes social approval (“I’ll let people know what I did so they can appreciate how good I am”).

Need is next: People give to those in need, but when the need is over, the giving stops. Nearer to the top is sacrifice — giving until it hurts.

Some people give and give and then tell everyone how much it hurt. But, Rohrman said, if it is to be a real sacrifice, it must align the giver with Jesus.

The top reason for stewardship is

gratitude — giving until it feels good, until you feel good about your giving, whether of time, talent or treasure.

“Proportionate giving,” rather than tithing, is what the Charlotte Diocese prefers, Rohrman said, giving in proportion to what the person has been given. “And only you know what you’ve been given,” she added.

“Perhaps you’ve been given more time than others. Some people have been gifted with more talent. Stewardship is something we plan. It’s intentional, as in, ‘I’ll spend three hours this week working at the soup kitchen,’ rather than, ‘If I have any time left, I’ll work at the soup kitchen’.”

Rohrman suggested that each parish form a stewardship committee under the parish council. The stewardship committee would be responsible

“Perhaps you’ve been given more time than others. Some people have been gifted with more talent. Stewardship is something we plan. It’s intentional, as in, ‘I’ll spend three hours this week working at the soup kitchen,’ rather than, ‘If I have any time left, I’ll work at the soup kitchen’.”

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for helping the parish to be aware of stewardship through a program guided by an annual plan. Members of the committee would be spiritually motivated; exemplify stewardship in their own lives; envision where stewardship can take the parish; and have personal qualities such as accountability, optimism and creativity.

She said that moving fully into stewardship can take a parish seven to 10 years, but the results are worth it. Rohrman shared the example of Our Lady of the Assumption parish in Charlotte. Some of the fruits of its stewardship efforts are: • Weekday Mass attendance increased.

• Bible study groups increased.

• In 1990 the parish had no prayer group; now it has five.

• Invited to participate in community outreach programs, more than 60 parishioners committed to a six-week seminar, “Moving Faith into Action,” and are now involved in ministry to the hungry, elderly and immigrants.

Attendees at the Regional Stewardship Day were eager to get involved in their own parishes.

“She gave us a lot of good ideas,” said Carole Johnson of St. William Church. “We’re just getting started in stewardship. She gave us a lot of food for thought.”

Dan Lange is already involved in stewardship as a lector, lector chairman, eucharistic minister and member of the pastoral council at St. Francis of Assisi. “I just thought it was wonderful to have this workshop,” he said.

“So many people in the parish want to do things, but they don’t know who to ask.” K For more information about stewardship, contact Rohrman at the Office of Development, (704)370-3302 or e-mail stewardship@charlottediocese.org.

— Barbara Rohrman, associate director of development for the diocese

March 19 ASHEBORO — Everyone is invited to attend the Lenten parish mission at St. Joseph Church, 512 West Wainman Ave. A team of people involved in Catholic Renewal are presenting the mission and its theme “A Life in the Spirit,” beginning this morning at Sun. Masses at 8:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. and continuing tonight at 7 p.m. Rev. Mr. Ron Steinkamp, permanent deacon at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, is presenting the mission at the Masses.

The mission will continue through March 21 at 7 p.m. For details, call Doris Blase at (336) 629-7478.

20 CHARLOTTE — To learn more about techniques and tools that can be used to help people through a meaningful death, St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., is having a workshop entitled “Final Rights: How to Care for People in the Last Phases of Life.”

The morning session, designed for professionals, lasts from 9 a.m.-noon with registration at 8:30 a.m. The af-

ternoon session for family and friends lasts from 1-4 p.m. with registration at 12:30 p.m. Call the church office at (704) 364-5431 for more information.

HIGH POINT — Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 512 Montlieu Ave., is having its annual Parish Lenten Renewal featuring Tom Kendzia, a composer and lecturer. Beginning tonight at 7:30 p.m., Kendzia is leading an evening of song and reflection. Continuing through March 22 at 7:30 p.m., the renewal also includes a reconciliation service and a Eucharistic celebration.

For more information, call Wanda Garrett at (336) 884-5212.

21 GREENSBORO — The Franciscan Center is having a “Chrism Day of Reflection” today from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. with Mass followed by lunch and a talk

by Franciscan Father Louis Canino, director of the center. To make a reservation by March 16, call Mary Violante at (336) 282-4099.

24 HICKORY — “Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat: A Journey of Post-Abortion Healing” is taking place at the Catho-

lic Conference Center, 1551 Trinity Lane, this weekend. This retreat, facilitated by Dr. Martha Shuping, psychiatrist and pastoral minister, and Debbie Woodhams, licensed professional counselor and president of Transfiguration Ministries, focuses on a biblical healing process based on Dr. Burke’s book “Rachel’s Vineyard.” The weekend includes discussions, prayer, living Scripture exercises, private letter writing and a memorial service. For more information, call Dr. Shuping at (336) 659-1342.

MAGGIE VALLEY — Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, is having a special retreat today through March 26 for women, entitled “Women Healing and Being Healed.” In the context of prayer, dialogue and personal reflection, the focus of the retreat is on the unique role women enjoy as healers in relationships, the gifts women bring and those they often

4 The Catholic News & Herald

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March 17, 2000

Getting to the bottom of Teen Summit

teaching them, that they have to believe in God first and their friends and other things should come second,” said André Tompkins.

The musical interludes consisted of young popular R&B and rap artists Sammie, N-Toon, J-Shin and the Youngbloodz and a junior and senior high school step competition, an African-American fraternities and sororities’ art form.

The segment about sex and violence brought with it the many statistics that affect many youth and teens. Michelle Gay, community health educator, from the Mecklenburg Council on Adolescent Pregnancy said that there were 1,670 pregnancies reported in Mecklenburg County in 1998. The highest age range of these reported pregnancies were between 15- and 18-year-olds, and 67 percent of fathers identified were 20 Photo by Alesha M. Price years of age and older.

The Youth in Action group from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte One single 28-year-old mother of gather for a minute during Teen Summit 2000, sponsored by WPEG FM-98, three warned the audience about the on March 11 at Halton Arena on UNCC’s campus. dangers of unprotected sex and said that young women should be more careful about their lives. things from happening.”

By Alesha M. Price “The event was educational but Nanette Lide, one of the parish’s Staff Writer also fun. I thought that the session youth minister, thought that the event CHARLOTTE — A local radio about sex was the most important was important for her kids to attend. station decided to give area teens of the day,” said Bianca Graham, a “This gave them a platform to coma dose of discussions of social is16-year-old junior at municate their beliefs about abstinence sues violence with a Charlotte Catholic and other teen issues, like community sugar spoonful of a High School. “People awareness, social justice and drugs, and concert featuring na“It is important for me to think that the cool share their beliefs as Catholics. Most tional recording artsupport my children and to ists. WPEG FM-98 to thing to do now is to of what they are dealing with are issues have sex, but when be a part of everything they sponsored their first that seem to run rampant in the black the consequences do. I want to see if they are Teen Summit 2000, a community, and it is even harder for come, people aren’t them because there are so few young day of talks and perlearning what I am teaching formances geared to- black Catholics in this area.” ready to face them.”

Seventeen-year“They need to feel comfortable ward African-Amerthem, that they have to old Fernando Steele believe in God first and their ican middle, junior sharing what they experience in their said, “This was very lives, which is why they need to be high and high school friends and other things infor mational beexposed to environments like this,” students. cause it let kids know said Leslie Johnson, the parish youth “There are so should come second.” about things they minister. K many issues that the — André Tompkins should and should youth have to deal not do, depending on with on a daily basis, Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. their age. What hit home for me was the and this was a forum where they could Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail segment about violence in schools — address issues like sex, violence in six-year-olds shooting each other is rischools and drugs,” said Andre’ Cardiculous. We are here to live, learn, have son, WPEG program director. “Hopefun and praise God. You should look fully, we were able to further educate toward your religion and the groups you them and possibly change some vieware involved in to prevent those negative points.”

Of the many teen and young adult attendants who listened to the panel discussions and benefited from the statistical and social information, the Youth in Action group from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte participated in the event on March 11 at Halton Arena at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

The segments, with panelists from the Chemical Dependency Center, Teen Health Connection, Metrolina AIDS Project and other agencies and organizations, were hosted by the station’s DJ’s who gathered questions from the audience.

During the first segment about drugs, one of the youth from OLC, Ashley Grier, 15, a freshman at Charlotte Catholic High School, said that students should be tested for drugs at school to the boos and groans of the young crowd.

Thirteen-year-old Courtney Colon made a plea on behalf of her brother, a victim of drug experimentation.

She wanted to know what agencies could help him and her family with intervention. “I have experienced the negative side of drug experimentation because of what my brother has gone through,” said Colon. “I wanted to know how he can get help, and I think that we can definitely try to help him, even if he doesn’t want it.”

After a 21-year-old mother of two stated that there should be more parental involvement with children, one of the parents of two Youth in Action members, Celean Tompkins said, “Parents need to trust their children and trust that what they have taught them. You need to pay more attention to your children.”

The Tompkins attended the event as a family with their son, Nicholas, and daughter, Cerita. “It is important for me to support my children and to be a part of everything they do. I want to see if they are learning what I am

March 17, 2000

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Performer brings biblical-times women to

By Joanita M. Nellenbach Correspondent ASHEVILLE — Who were they — the women who surrounded Jesus and Mary? You can find out who one woman thinks they were.

Olivia Woodford has written “Faith and Hope: A Mother’s Story” and “The Heart of the Cross,” one-woman plays that bring to life some of the women who were — and who may have been — part of Jesus’ and Mary’s world.

“You watch the characters have spiritual awakenings,” she said. “Women are usually silent in Scripture, and in real life, their voices are often not a strong as men’s. So, to have a whole evening where women’s voices are heard affirms our place in the world and our relationship to the church and God. At the same time, men are not threatened.”

She has been performing “Faith and Hope: A Mother’s Story” for two years. Last Advent she gave performances at Grace Baptist, Emma United Methodist, and St. Eugene Catholic in Asheville; St. Margaret Mary Catholic, Swannanoa; St. John Catholic, Waynesville; and St. Margaret Catholic, Maggie Valley, among other churches.

The play is about Mary; although, Mary herself never appears. Instead, the characters are women who knew or might have known her: her cousin, Elizabeth; her mother, Anne; Anna, the prophetess; a shepherdess watching a flock of sheep on a hill above Bethlehem; and Leah, a young woman who was one of Mary’s schoolmates.

The audience can see how each woman changes because of her relationship with Mary.

“I think what I do is end up putting myself in their shoes,” Woodford said.

She uses few props. The most important is a shawl that she wears in a different way for each character. For

Elizabeth, it becomes an apron. For Anna, the prophetess, the shawl is bundled so that she seems to be carrying the baby in her arms as she pronounces about his future. Leah, involved in the world, starts out wearing the stole seductively but finally is blanketed in it.

“I knew I wanted someone who wasn’t caught up in the story,” Woodford said. “Leah’s attention is focused the same place as most people’s. Everybody has their own time and their own season. She ends up as an old woman, dedicating her whole life to Jesus.”

Woodford graduated from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in theater and worked as an actress in New York. She did mainly Shakespeare but left “because the quality and message of the theater didn’t speak to me,” she said.

Moving to Asheville, she started the Healing Theater. “I wanted to create a venue where the audience was impacted,” she said. “I wanted theater that initiated some kind of reflection.

In one play, the actors stepped forward to say how their characters were like them.”

Woodford began working on “Faith and Hope: A Mother’s Story” during six months spent recuperating from back problems. She read books, absorbing details about the time and place in which Jesus lived.

“I wrote the Christmas play in 10 days,” she said, “but I thought about it for six years and researched it for five months. When I was rehearsing it, I cried all the way through. In some scenes, I still cry.

The Easter play has a 10-year history. Just as Mary is not a character in the Christmas play, Jesus does not appear in the Easter play. The women in “The Heart of the Cross” include Veronica, Mary Magdalene, Martha and Jesus’ mother.

What was life like for Martha, who had to take care of the household details when Jesus and his disciples visited?

“I think, what if we just did what Jesus did and went from town to town thinking “God will provide”; well, somebody has to do the providing,” Woodford said. Referring to the Last Supper, she adds, “What would you do if 13 people suddenly showed up [for dinner]?”

And then there is Jesus’ mother. In this play, she does appear, standing at the cross, “not only losing her son, but losing him in such a violent, humiliating way,” Woodford said. “To watch someone you love die, the purest person you’ve ever met, [and he’s] not being embraced by the world. Am I safe in the world? Will God be accepted in my community?”

She wrote the play to perform at her own church and invited a friend who was a member of a Congregationalist Church to attend the program.

“You’ve got to have this at my church,” the friend exclaimed, which began a series of performances for people of various faith traditions, including a group of Hindus.

She believes that the stories of the women she portrays are the stories of

Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

Olivia Woodford prepares for a performance of one of her onewoman plays about Jesus and Mary and the people who knew them. all women.

“You’re already whole, and your story has a wholeness,” she said.

Woodford will perform “The Heart of the Cross” at St. Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville on March 26, beginning at 7:30 p.m. K

Archbishop says Catholics first to respond in Mozambique

By Benedicta Cipolla Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Missionaries and Catholic charities were the first to respond to Mozambique’s flood disaster, said a Vatican official.

“They know the (Mozambican) people and are close to them,” said Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, head of “Cor Unum,” the Vatican’s charity promotion and coordinating agency.

Archbishop Cordes held a press briefing March 14 to discuss his March 9-12 trip to the devastated southern African country, where floods have claimed 500 lives and left another 260,000 people homeless since January. While foreign countries reacted slowly, he said, Catholic agencies took immediate action, and Pope John Paul II was one of the first people to draw attention to the crisis.

In the Diocese of Charlotte, relief efforts are organized through diocesan contacts for Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency.

If your parish chooses to take up a special offering, you can contribute in that way. Alternately, individual donations may be sent to the Diocese of Charlotte - Mozambique Relief ” and mailed to the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203. All money collected will be forwarded

6 The Catholic News & Herald Archbishop predicts food crisis if farm crisis isn’t solved TOPEKA, Kan. (CNS) — America’s farm crisis may become a food crisis if state and federal governments do not halt the decline of family-owned farms, said Archbishop James P. Keleher of Kansas City. “Our (meat) lockers are filled with food and so are our grocery markets,” he said. “We don’t realize there’s a farm crisis. But I’ll tell you this; if we don’t solve our farm crisis, there will someday be a food crisis.” The archbishop was a featured speaker March 8 at the Kansas Farm Rally at the state Capitol, attended by about 200 family farmers, state legislators, clergy, agriculture activists and assorted lobbyists.

Pope says late Cardinal Kung showed ‘heroic fidelity to Christ’ VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The late Chinese Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-mei demonstrated “heroic fidelity to Christ amid persecution and imprisonment,” Pope John Paul II said. The cardinal, who was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late February, died in Stamford, Conn., March 12 at the age of 98. He was the Catholic Church’s oldest cardinal. Cardinal Kung, considered by the Vatican to be the legitimate bishop of Shanghai until his death, had spent more than 30 years in prison in China for his refusal to renounce his ties with the Vatican and with the pope.

Florida women mobilize for ‘sane’ gun laws WEST PALM BEACH, Fla (CNS) — Ann Nanni knows what the mother of the 6-year-old Michigan student killed Feb. 29 must be experiencing.

Nanni’s son was murdered in Florida more than a decade ago. “You literally step outside of yourself and there

People in the is nobody who can make you whole again,” said Nanni, a member of St. Luke Parish in Lake Worth. She is the organizer of the Florida chapter of the Bell Campaign, a nondenominational support group and grass-roots movement that is calling for greater gun-user education and controls.

Campaign members are organizing a Million Mom March for Mother’s Day, May 14.

Erie bishop travels diocese to welcome Catholics back home ERIE, Pa. (CNS) — If Catholics in the Erie Diocese have a complaint against the Catholic Church that has kept them from the sacrament of reconciliation, or if they simply have drifted away from the spiritual benefits offered

by God in the sacrament, Bishop Donald W. Trautman is inviting them back home. For the second consecutive Lent, the bishop will be traveling to parishes in the Erie Diocese to listen to their concerns and invite them to reconcile with the church. “We’re trying to reach out to those who are alienated from the church and help them understand that God loves them,” Bishop Trautman said.

Week of events to mark 20th anniversary of Romero’s killing SAN SALVADOR (CNS) — Up to 40,000 people are expected to participate in religious events in San Salvador during a five-day commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Processions, religious services, and an international ecumenical conference are among the events planned in the run-up to the commemorations, while books, posters and a CD are being produced for the occasion.

March 17, 2000

Courtesy photo

MACS spelling bee participants CHARLOTTE — Pictured above are the participants in this year’s

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools spelling bee, hosted this year at All Saints School in Charlotte. The annual system-wide event includes students in grades four through eight who finished first and second in their schools’ own spelling bees.

Participants were: Jessica O’Connell and Madison Tillman, St. Patrick School; Abby Hildreth and Kaitlyn Wutshel, St. Ann School; Diem Nguyen and Samantha Grzegarzewski, Our Lady of the Assumption School; Emily Sharp amd Catherine McCormick, St. Gabriel School; Bridget Farrelly and Madison Williams, All Saints School; and Katie Gigler, Katie Hildreth and Paul Lascara, Holy Trinity Middle School.

Also pictured, at far right, is Franciscan Sister Mona Wingert, assistant superintendent of schools in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The winner of the MACS Spelling bee was Katie Gigler of Holy Trinity.

Paul Lascara, also of Holy Trinity, was runner-up. Gigler went on to represent MACS at The Charlotte Observer Spelling Bee.

Advertise in The Catholic News & Herald! Call Cindi Feerick, (704) 370-3332.

March 17, 2000

From the

The Catholic News & Herald 7

St. Patrick scholar sees more than a saint for a

By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — Christopher Snyder wants people to understand a few things about St. Patrick.

First, the patron saint of Ireland wasn’t Irish. His ethnic background was probably Celtic, like the people of Ireland, but he was the son of a landowning British deacon. Patrick originally got to Ireland as a kidnapped teen-age slave, in fact. After escaping, he returned years later as a bishop.

Then there’s that “drove the snakes from Ireland” legend.

“There weren’t any snakes there before he arrived,” explained Snyder, an assistant history professor at Marymount University in Arlington, Va., and an authority on St. Patrick and his era in Britain. Scientific reports from the third century — more than 100 years before Patrick lived — reported an absence of snakes on the island.

Most likely, the legend that St. Patrick chased the snakes from Ireland was an allegory for his success in converting people to Christianity from the pagan druid beliefs, Snyder said.

There also is no proof that St. Patrick ever made a practice of teaching about the Trinity using a shamrock, according to Snyder. According to legend, St. Patrick explained the principle of three beings in one God by using the three-leafed shamrock as a model.

The story may well be true, but since the church’s history in Ireland at that time was largely handed down by oral tradition, there’s no way of knowing for sure, said Snyder. Shamrocks have long been reputed in folklore to

CNS photo by Michael Hoyt, Catholic Standard

A man dressed as St. Patrick, bishop and apostle to Ireland, waves from atop a float in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Washington March 12. Washington holds the annual parade on the Sunday prior to the saint’s actual feast day, March 17. agh Patrick, named for the saint, is a traditional pilgrimage site, with many people making the trek barefoot.

As for a more recent claim-to-fame linked to St. Patrick — that the Irish “saved civilization” — Snyder’s a little more reserved.

In his 1995 book “How the Irish Saved Civilization,” one of author Thomas Cahill’s central points is that St. Patrick’s evangelization of Ireland was the key to the preservation of the documents of Western civilization. It was the monks at Catholic monasteries in Ireland who copied Greek and Ro-

man books and scholarly works when barbarians overran Europe, destroying much of what had been written, according to Cahill.

“The notion of Patrick singlehandedly saving civilization is a big stretch,” said Snyder, who said he hasn’t read Cahill’s book but is familiar with its premise. “That the Irish alone saved ‘civilization’ is also a stretch.”

By inspiring his followers to learn more about the church, St. Patrick clearly helped improve literacy in Ireland, Snyder conceded. “So he may have contributed to the preservation of traditions.”

And finally, to burst another popular American myth, the traditional Irish celebration of the March 17 feast

have special powers, so the Trinity story could have been the cause of their origin, he said. But, just as likely, the Trinity story may have grown out of a pre-existing Irish affinity for shamrocks.

Two documents known to have been written by St. Patrick account for most of what Snyder and other historians of the “sub-Roman Britain” period know about the saint.

In one, his “Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus,” Patrick excommunicated the Christian and Romano-Briton soldiers who had kidnapped some of his new Irish converts and sold them into slavery.

In the other, his “Confessions,” Patrick told of his own faith revelations, of his escape from slavery and journey back to the continent, where he studied for the priesthood and was ordained.

Because Patrick only began to become famous 150 to 200 years after his death, the details of his life are unclear.

Snyder said by the time word of Patrick’s success in evangelizing Ireland became well-known, his life story was as much legend as fact.

Tales abound of dramatic battles with wizards and druids, of rainfalls of fire and of other outrageous events.

But some elements of the accomplishments of St. Patrick are clear, according to Snyder.

First, his monklike simple existence was an inspiration to followers, including several of Ireland’s homegrown saints.

St. Patrick’s practice of fasting and praying to this day inspires thousands of pilgrims to climb up a mountain in Connaught each July. Cro-

See ST. PATRICK, page 9

8 The Catholic News & Herald

In the

“Mea Culpa,” from page 1 Commentators inside and outside the church hailed the event as a historic step, and the pope was described by one Italian newspaper as a “voice in the wilderness” for his willingness to publicly ask forgiveness.

Jewish leaders also praised the pope, but some said he should have been more specific about the Holocaust. In Israel, where the pope was to visit later in the month, Chief Rabbi Israel Meir Lau welcomed the pope’s words but said the church needs to apologize for the actions of Pope Pius XII during World War II; many Jews think the wartime pope did not speak out strongly enough against Nazi persecution of Jews.

In New York, the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith said that in failing to specifically mention the Holocaust, the pope had “missed a historic opportunity to bring closure” to Christian responsibility for sins against Jews.

In the United States, local bishops took their cue from the pope and conducted Lenten services with public apologies for church actions against Jews, women, native peoples and other groups: — Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, in a Lenten message, asked forgiveness for any of his own actions or those of the archdiocese and its Catholics that have offended or hurt others. He made specific apologies to Jews, Muslims, women, ethnic and cultural minorities, organized labor, victims of clergy sex abuse, divorced and remarried Catholics and women religious. To gay and lesbian Catholics he apologized for “when the church has appeared to be nonsupportive of their struggles.”

— Boston Cardinal Bernard F. Law led a prayer service March 12 asking forgiveness for the faults of local Catholics throughout history, specifically regarding slavery, racism, antiSemitism, sex abuse by priests and the treatment of women.

— Bishop John S. Cummins of Oakland, Calif., invited survivors of clergy sexual abuse to a March 25 service of apology and reconciliation.

— Bishop Joseph L. Imesch of Joliet, Ill., presided over an atonement service, apologizing for the sins of church leaders.

Those attending were asked to express their own forgiveness by writing down names or situations of sin involving the church; the forms were then ritually burned, symbolizing atonement.

Similar services were held in Norwich, Conn., and Santa Fe, N.M., and other dioceses.

In Australia, bishops asked forgiveness for their failures in dealing with such issues as church unity, care for aborigines and sex abuse. Swiss bishops acknowledged that Catholics did too little to prevent persecution of Jews by Nazis.

Vatican officials emphasized that the church’s apology was not a political but a religious act, addressed first of all to God. On March 7, they presented a 19,000-word document titled “Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the Faults of the Past,” which examined several difficult theological questions and tried to eliminate some misperceptions about the apology movement.

The church’s “mea culpa” cannot be seen as a form of “self-flagellation” performed in public for the benefit of others, said French Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, president of the Vatican’s jubilee committee.

Cardinal Ratzinger, head of the International Theological Commission, which prepared the document, said the church was not setting itself up as a tribunal to judge the actions of past Christians. The aim was to “know ourselves and open ourselves to the purification of memories and to our true renewal,” he said.

The document said the church was holy and cannot sin, but that its members have sinned through the ages.

Acknowledging these faults can foster renewal and reconciliation in the present, it said.

The document, however, rejected any notion of collective guilt by Christians, saying that would be as unfair as blaming all Jews for Christ’s death.

“Sin is ... always personal, even though it wounds the entire church,” it said.

The church officials also said that the pope’s unprecedented gesture of confessing past sins could set a precedent — today’s Christians and church leaders can also expect to have their actions closely judged.

“What will the men and women of tomorrow think of us?” asked Dominican Father Georges Cottier, the pope’s personal theologian.

“We are no better than the men and women of the past. It is with modesty and ‘fear and trembling’ that we must judge their acts,” he said. K

March 17, 2000

March 17, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Around the Di-

CSS soaring high on “Wings of

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — The Catholic Social Services, Charlotte Regional Office’s, yearly fund-raiser and award dinner has undergone some major reconstruction.

The Col. Francis J. Beatty Award Dinner has become the Wings of Hope Annual Award Gala and Fundraiser, benefiting CSS. The name, location and program have changed, but the focus, spirit and intention have not.

“This is the major fund-raising event of the year for the agency,” said Geri King, CSS director of the Charlotte Regional Office. “It has become a social event in the Catholic community and other faith communities as well.”

“We wanted to give the event a face-lift and give it some new life. We wanted to make it a fun-filled evening,” continued King.

With that in mind, the event-planning committee, chaired by Bea Staub, worked with the CSS-Charlotte Regional Office Advisory Board and staff to make the changes. The first was the name of the event. Staub based her choice on her own experiences with CSS and their overall function.

Staub and her husband Pat adopted their son, Dylan, and daughter, Danielle, through CSS. “I wanted to be a part of something that provides opportunities within the community, and I wanted to tell the community what they had done for me and for others,” explained Staub.

Staub said of the new name of the reception, “‘At the same time we fly, sometimes we are able to give wings of hope’ — that is where the theme comes from. CSS gives hope to those in need.”

“She (Staub) suggested the theme which captures the heart and essence of the agency,” said King.

The fundraiser has honored members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community, regardless of religious affiliation, with the Col. Francis J. Beatty Award. Col. Beatty was the one of the founding members, co-chairperson and the first Catholic to be a part of the local National Conference for Communities and Justice, chairperson of the Belmont Abbey College Board of Trustees, and a U.S. Army officer in three wars. During his ‘80s, even until close to his death, he delivered meals to shut-ins.

This year’s recipient, who will be honored at the ninth annual April 1 banquet at Founders Hall in the Bank of America Corporate Center, is Gerald G. “Jerry” Fox, Mecklenburg’s County Manager for the past 20 years. One part of Fox’s job is to supervise the annual county budget of over $1.4 billion. The part-time Santa Claus for his office’s family Christmas parties is a parishioner at St. Peter Church, where he is a Eucharistic minister and lector, and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.

New additions to the evening gala include a silent auction, dancing with music by The Blue Moons and Larry Sprinkle, NBC 6 weather anchor, as the master of ceremonies. A video using the pictures and personal illustrations from this year’s annual report will also be shown during the evening event.

Brady Drummond-Ryan, director of development for CSS, said, “We’ve looked to expand the focus of the event to reach out not only to the Catholic community but to the greater Charlotte community as well.” K For tickets, call the CSS-Charlotte Regional Office at (704) 370-3232.

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

St. Patrick, from page 7

day is more along the lines of going to Mass or following the Stations of the Cross, than the Americanized day of parades and drinking parties, Snyder said.

That’s apparently changing, however. Since 1996, Dublin has been marking St. Patrick’s Day in a more secular style. A Web site for this year’s St. Patrick’s festival advertises “Four Days of Music, Madness and Magic,” including parades; a ceili, or Irish dance contest; a festival; and a carnival-style masquerade ball.

It does mention an ecumenical church service at Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral March 19, but that seems only a footnote to the “Xerox Night Parade,” the “Norah’s Ark, Community Pageant,” and the Trinidadian-style “Masquerade 2000.” K

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald

Read-

Word to Life March 19, Second Sunday of Advent, Cycle B Readings: 1) Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18 Psalm 116:10, 15-19 2) Romans 8:31b-34 3) Gospel: Mark 9:2-10

By Beverly Corzine Catholic News Service Secured hot-pink and white balloons sway almost imperceptibly in clusters. The glorious, triumphant notes of the Pachelbel’s “Canon” and Purcell’s “Trumpet Voluntary” resonate among the congregation.

I am immersed in the absolute joy and beauty of this familiar and muchloved music. The unexpected notes of “Silent Night” take on new meaning for me. Tears begin to escape and roll down my cheeks.

Those of us who have gathered here today have not come to witness a wedding, as the music might indicate, nor have we come to celebrate Christmas now long past. We have come to celebrate the life of a faithfilled Christian.

For the last few weeks my friend Carol and I exchanged e-mail messages as her illness advanced with a furious intensity. One day she wrote that she knew she would be going “home” soon. I asked her to pray for

me when she was finally enveloped in the glory of God. She quickly replied: “Oh, how I love those words!

‘Enveloped in the glory of God.”’ The minister sadly covers the casket with the pall. Carol was his friend as well. I wonder what it must be like to be enveloped in glory. The age-old questions about the meaning of life and death that we ponder at funerals fill my mind and imagination.

Then I notice a blue banner, hanging on the wall at the foot of Carol’s shrouded coffin and read the words, “God of Glory.” Obviously, the banner has been suspended there the whole time, but only now does the message speak to my heart. I smile. We can count on God. Here in the midst of balloons, music, grieving family and friends, I have experienced a moment of grace — a glimpse of glory that I know will sustain me in some future hour.

In this week’s first reading I feel Abraham’s relief when he sees the animal for sacrifice in the thicket. I am in awe of his great faith, for he has discovered that the Lord’s presence is often palpable if we are able to open our eyes to the unexpected — the God of glory. K

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Mar. 19-25, 2000 Sunday (Second Sunday in Lent), Genesis 22:1-2, 9-13, 15-18, Romans 8:31-34, Mark 9:2-10; Monday (St. Joseph), 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Luke 2:41-51; Tuesday, Isaiah 1:10, 16-20, Matthew 23:1-12; Wednesday, Jeremiah 18:18-20, Matthew 20:17-28; Thursday (St. Turibius of Mogrovejo), Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 16:19-31; Friday (Abstinence), Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13, 17-28, Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46; Saturday (The Annunciation of Our Lord), Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10, Hebrews 10:4-10, Luke 1:26-38 Readings for the week of Mar. 26 - April 1, 2000 Sunday (Third Sunday in Lent), Exodus 17:3-7, Romans 5:1-2, 5-8, John 4:5-42; Monday, 2 Kings 5:1-15, Luke 4:24-30; Tuesday, Daniel 3:25, 33-43, Matthew 18:21-35; Wednesday, Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday, Jeremiah 7:23-28, Luke 11:14-23; Friday (Abstinence), Hosea 14:210, Mark 12:28-34; Saturday, Hosea 6:1-6, Luke 18:9-14

March 17, 2000

Catholic Bestsellers for March 2000

Hardcover 1. “She Said Yes.” Misty Bernall (Plough Publishing) 2. “Lamb’s Supper.” Scott Hahn (Doubleday) 3. “Life of the Beloved.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad) 4. “Witness to Hope.” George Weigel (HarperCollins) 5. “Imitation of Christ.” Thomas a Kempis (Catholic Book Publishing) 6. “Reform of the Papacy.” John Quinn (Crossroad) 7. “Catholic Morning Prayers.” Michael Buckley (Servant Publications) 8. “Here and Now.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad) 9. “Lives of the Saints” Vol. 1. Hugo Hoever (Catholic Book Publishing) 10. “Eyes of the Heart.” Frederick Buechner (HarperCollins) Paperback 1. “Catechism of the Catholic Church.” (Doubleday) 2. “In the Name of Jesus.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Crossroad) 3. “Catholic Book of Prayers.” M. Fitzgerald (Catholic Book Publishing) 4. “Return of the Prodigal Son.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Doubleday) 5. “Together for Life with Nuptial Mass.” Joseph M. Champlin (Ave Maria Press) 6. “Workbook for Lectors & Gospel Readers” (RNAB translation — Year 2000).

Susan E. Myers (Liturgy Training Publications) 7. “Mission 2000 Cycle B.” Mark Link (Thomas More) 8. “Wounded Healer.” Henri J.M. Nouwen (Doubleday) 9. “The Awakening.” Friedrich Zuendel (Plough) 10. “At Home With the Word 2000.” Martin F. Connell (Liturgy Training) Children and Young People 1. “I Pray With Jesus.” Daughters of St. Paul (Pauline) 2. “Making Things Right.” Jeannine Timko Leichner (Our Sunday Visitor) 3. “Picture Book of Saints.” Lawrence Lovasik (Catholic Book Publishing) 4. “Children’s Way of the Cross.” Anne Joan Flanagan (Pauline) 5. “My First Missal.” Maria Luisa Benigni (Pauline) 6. “Catholic Children’s Bible.” Mary Theola (Regina Press) 7. “New Catholic Picture Bible.” (Catholic Book Publishing) 8. “Stations of the Cross Coloring Book.” Daughters of St. Paul (Pauline) 9. “My Picture Missal.” Lawrence Lovasik (Catholic Book Publishing) 10. “Children’s Book of Saints” Louis Savary (Regina Press) Spanish-language 1. “Juntos Para Toda la Vida.” Joseph M. Champlin (Liguori) 2. “El Bautismo de su Bebe.” A Redemptorist Publication (Liguori) 3. “La Planificacion Familiar.” Charles and Elizabeth Balsam (Liguori) 4. “La Primera Confesion de su Hijo.” (Liguori) 5. “Manual Para Proclamadores 2000.” Marina A. Herrera (Liturgy Training) 6. “Un Llamado a la Pureza.” Johann Christoph Arnold (Plough) 7. “Catecismo de la Iglesia Catolica.” (Doubleday) 8. “La Primera Comunion de su Hijo.” (Liguori) 9. “Palabra de Dios 2000.” Alejandro von Rechnitz Gonzalez (Liturgy Training) 10. “Setenta Veces Siete.” (Plough)

March 17, 2000

Entertain-

The Catholic News & Herald 11

CNS photo from Touchstone Pictures

“Mission to Mars” Kim Delaney and Gary Sinise star in the feature film “Mission to Mars.” The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested.

New at the box office “Mission to Mars” (Touchstone)

Sleek space fantasy set in 2020 when four NASA astronauts (led by Tim Robbins and Gary Sinese) head for Mars to rescue the sole survivor (Don Cheadle) of the first manned landing after a catastrophic but unexplained event on the barren red planet. Director Brian De Palma crafts an intriguing, visually alluring if quite fanciful tale of aliens and their connection to human life on Earth. Brief sci-fi violence and mild profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested.

“Erin Brockovich” (Universal) Fact-based tale of an earthy single mom (Julia Roberts) who persuades her litigator boss (Albert Finney) to pursue a class-action suit against a major California utility for contaminating local waters. As directed by Steven Soderbergh, Roberts vividly captures a foul-mouthed but good-hearted woman who makes something of herself in doggedly seeking justice for families beset by cancers.

An implied affair, some profanity and much rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

“The Ninth Gate” (Artisan) Atmospheric but dramatically dull satanic thriller in which a venal rare books dealer (Johnny Depp) becomes entangled in a demonic web while trying to authenticate a centuries-old book supposedly authored by Lucifer. Despite sumptuous cinematography, director Roman Polanski’s nonsensical plot goes nowhere with its callous characters intent on summoning the devil to their midst. Devilworshiping theme, intermittent violence, a few sexual situations with nudity and minimal profanity and rough language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

March 17, 2000

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope says priests called to lead by example

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Priests are called to lead their congregations by example, including the example of going to confession, Pope John Paul II said.

“The priest himself, minister of God’s forgiveness, needs to receive this forgiveness in a spirit of faith, humility and profound trust,” the pope told priests from the Diocese of Rome.

The priests’ March 9 audience, an annual appointment with the bishop of Rome, was expanded to become the Jubilee for Roman Clergy and included a procession into St. Peter’s Basilica, a penitential prayer service and individual confessions before the pope arrived.

Priests must be the first in their parish to heed the Lenten call to conversion, repentance, charity and reconciliation, the pope said.

Going to confession, he said, is a “great help for overcoming indulgence in those forms of self-justification, part of the mentality and culture of our day, which make one lose a sense of sin and prevent one from experiencing the consoling joy of God’s forgiveness.”

Although it is easy for a priest to get buried under a pile of pastoral commitments, he must not forget the importance for his personal and spiritual life of fostering a sense of communion with the bishop and his brother priests, the pope said.

Pope John Paul said supporting continuing education programs, reaching out to priests who are undergoing difficulties, offering support and friendship to elderly priests, “openness to dialogue and meeting those who have left the priesthood” all demonstrate a commitment to “the ways of communion and reconciliation.”

“A united and harmonious presbyterate able to work together is a strong witness for the faithful and multiplies the effectiveness of ministry,” the pope said.

Nothing can replace personal witness and contact, Pope John Paul said.

Even if they need to rely on using lay missionaries and foreign priests studying in Rome, he said, parishes should continue the practice of visiting every home in the parish boundaries during Lent.

“The visit reinforces the sense of belonging of many people who frequently live at the parish’s margins” and are awaiting a sign that someone is willing to listen, to offer friendship and to help them rediscover their faith, the pope said.

Pope John Paul said the priests must make a special, personal effort to reach out “to families in difficulty, those who are estranged from the church and those who have serious problems of faith or morals.”

The Holy Year, he said, “offers everyone the possibility of being listened to, accepted and encouraged to find the path of reconciliation with the Lord and with their brothers and sisters, even where everything seems lost or irreversible.”

Living Lent is a matter of attitude everal years ago, I was visiting patients in a Philadelphia-area hospital when I heard someone call out my name from a hospital room. I went in and found a young man named Ted whom I had taught in high school a few years before. Ted was wrapped in bandages, punctured by tubes and surrounded by electronic equipment. He had been in a car accident and had been told by doctors that he would most likely never walk again.

Ted surprised me by saying, “You know something, Father, I think they’re wrong! I think I will walk again because I have a good attitude. Everything in life is a matter of attitude!”

As Ted’s slow recovery continued, I visited him frequently at the rehab center. One day he grinned and pulled the blankets up from over his feet. He wiggled his toes and said, “See that, Father; everything in life is a matter of attitude!”

Shortly after that I was transferred to another state, and I never saw or heard from Ted again. I never found out if he was able to walk or not. To me, that’s not so important. What is important is that Ted learned a wonderful life lesson. Everything in life is a matter of attitude. And so, I believe that wherever life takes him, Ted will be okay because he has learned and lived the importance of attitude.

As we continue living our Lent, it’s helpful to remember that Lent is about attitude. It’s about the way we look at life, our relationships and our circumstances. As the prophet Joel reminds us, Lent is about our interior disposition: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning: rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God.” We sometimes use the expression “whole-hearted” to refer to living life with exuberance. When God invites us to return to Him with our “whole hearts,” the invitation implies an exuberant response. We are invited to “put God first.” A friend of mine likes to compare this generous attitude with what he calls

S

The Bottom Line ANTOINNETTE BOSCO CNS Columnist

the promise. Without Good Friday, Christmas would have been just another day on which another Jewish male child had been born. It would have gone quite unnoticed by history.

Unless we embrace the fact that Lent is about Good Friday, and Good Friday set the model for what it means to truly love, then we’re stuck in the deep purple. Jesus defined love in terms of what he was willing to give of himself for another. And on Good Friday he showed us that he set no limit on his love.

Strange, how we all yearn to be loved like that, completely, perfectly, no conditions attached. Strange, how difficult it is for us to love others that way.

I think Lent is the time for reflecting on love, as demonstrated by Jesus, by whatever method you choose: fasting, morning Mass or volunteering in a soup kitchen. Lent is the time for trying a little harder to say yes to his invitation to make this an ever-green world.

The Season of Lent FATHER TERRANCE HYLAND, O.S.A. Guest Columnist EGO — Easing God Out! St. Paul describes a whole-hearted response to God’s invitation in even more challenging words: “Your attitude must be that of Christ Jesus ... who empties himself ... and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.” Such is the extravagant love of God for us! In Sunday’s second reading, Paul describes this generosity as the foolishness of God that is wiser than human wisdom and the weakness of God that is stronger than human strength.

The lesson of the cross teaches us that Lent is about self-emptying. It is about imitating the extravagant generosity of God in our relationships. It is about the foolishness of the cross that encompasses the power of God and the wisdom of God. In short, it is about attitude — an attitude rooted in the selfemptying of Christ.

My friend Ted was right. Everything in life is a matter of attitude. This is true of life, and it is true of Lent. Once again this spring, we have a graced opportunity for an “attitude adjustment.”

Augustinian Father Terrance Hyland is director of Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley.

Lent: Invitation to create an ever-green world When I was very young, it was clear to me that Lent had a specific meaning. It was the time to chalk up sacrifices, like grades on a report card, so I would not forget how flawed a person I was.

Even as I got older, I thought this was solely a time to think about my mortality, my destiny of ashes. I thought the importance of Lent was to keep the reminder of my death ever fresh, and so I kept my body uncomfortable with self-denials and morning risings at 5:30 in order to make it to 6:30 Masses.

Lent for me was colored purple and fringed with black. The effect of the 40 days of Lent in the earlier years of my life was to put a focus on me, my soul and my salvation.

Then gradually, well into my adulthood, I found that I had misinterpreted the road signs from Ash Wednesday to Easter. Lent wasn’t deep purple; it was green, teeming with life. It wasn’t suffering and death; it was love and hope.

That required a readjustment in my thinking.

In my mind Christmas was the season of love and hope. The coming of God as an innocent baby was a natural for love-thoughts. Knowing that the baby who had come was the one who would jolt us into a new human and joyful way of interpreting life added to the excitement.

Then Lent came, with its Good Friday uneasy love, and we got so caught up in the mourning that we shrouded the impact of what had happened. In his preaching Jesus had said, “Greater love than this no man has, that he lay down his life for his friend.”

Christmas was the promise that Jesus would transform the world with his love, and it was peaches and cream. But Good Friday was the fulfillment of

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.

March 17, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 13

Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle FATHER THOMAS J. McSWEENEY Guest Columnist never imagine how hard they try to please us and how miserable they feel when they think they have failed.”

After she found out she was dying of cancer, Erma wrote: “If I had my life to live over, I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained or the sofa faded. I would have taken time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television — and more while watching life.

“I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute ... look at it and really see it . . . live it and never give it back.”

Thanks, Erma. Your words still make me laugh at and cherish my humanity at the same time. I think it’s safe to say you really did use everything God gave you.

I hope all of us will be able to say the same.

Father Thomas J. McSweeney is director of The Christophers.

ters for girls, and DeMolay for boys.

Other concerns naturally need to be weighed in making such a decision. As a 1985 background report for the American bishops noted, for example, “Although the possibility of scandal may exist, the fact remains that these women and young people do not swear Masonic oaths and are not considered Masons.”

“Other Catholic Churches” Q. Not long ago you discussed intercommunion with “other Catholic Churches.” You called them Eastern churches, but what are they? This seems to deny what I thought we always believed, that there is one Catholic Church. Who are these others? Are they really Catholic?

A. In the creed we recite together every Sunday, we do proclaim belief in “one, holy, Catholic and apostolic” church. Perhaps most Catholics are like yourself. They are unaware that there are 22 Catholic churches in the world who profess that faith. One of them, and by far the largest, is the Latin, or Roman, church.

They all have the same sacraments, profess the same basic Catholic doctrines and believe in the primacy of the bishop of Rome in the universal church.

The other 21 churches are called Eastern primarily because they trace their origins to the eastern part of the Roman Empire, which later became the Byzantine Empire. Many of their traditions and customs, therefore, reflect quite different cultures than the primarily Western European cultures which have heavily influenced the Roman church.

In other words, the differences go beyond simply different ways of celebrating the Eucharist. Each of them has its own rich heritage of feasts, devotions, church structure and other elements of faith life which deserve to be part of the continuing life of the church.

As the Vatican representative to an assembly of these churches said several years ago, the reason for the existence of the Eastern Catholic churches is that they might contribute their valuable and unique

Missing Erma “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, “I used everything you gave me.” So said Erma Bombeck, the housewife-turnedcolumnist, who spent the last 32 years of her life helping us laugh at ourselves and the everyday routines of family life.

“Too old for a paper route and too young for Social Security,” she started to write with such engaging humor that her columns quickly syndicated to 700 newspapers, and her books, like “The Grass is Always Greener over the Septic Tank,” became instant best sellers.

I do not belong to her official fan club, but I do miss Erma. Whether on TV or in print, she consistently taught me how to find humor in the people and values we cherish without ridiculing them. And there is a huge difference: Ridicule picks on and ultimately discriminates against an individual or group for the sake of a heartless laugh. Genuine humor has heart and actually celebrates our shared human response to life’s unending incongruities.

Enjoy a few samples of Erma’s vision and feel the bond between humor and humanity: “Never go to a doctor whose office plants have died.”

“Marriage has no guarantees. If that’s what you’re looking for, go live with a car battery.”

“Spend at least one Mother’s Day with your respective mothers before you decide on marriage. If a man gives his mother a gift certificate for a flu shot, dump him.”

“Giving birth is little more than a set of muscular contractions granting passage of a child. Then the mother is born.”

“The age of your children is a key factor in how quickly you are served in a restaurant. We once had a waiter in Canada who said, “Could I get you your check?” and we answered, “How about the menu first.”

“Good kids are like sunsets. We take them for granted. Every evening they disappear. Most parents

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN CNS Columnist

The Eastern Star and the Masons Q. My long-time friend is a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and has invited me to join. I know from your past columns that the Catholic Church still officially prohibits men from joining the Masons. But what is the position on women’s auxiliary groups? I’d like to join, but frankly would not want to do so if it is forbidden by my church.

A. As you say, the prohibition against Catholic men joining the Masonic orders remains in existence, even in our country.

However, without getting too technical, there is a principal of church law which states that any church regulation which restricts the right of a person must be interpreted strictly.

That is legal language for saying that such regulations must not be extended to cases other than those actually expressed in them (Canon 36).

Applied to your question, this means that the ban on joining the Masons means just that and nothing more. Thus, the restriction would not apply to the Order of the Eastern Star, which is an adjunct group, not a formal part of the Masons. In fact, as is well known I believe, women are not even eligible for membership in Freemasonry.

The same would hold for the other two major auxiliary groups related to the Masons, Job’s Daugh-

Economy of Faith FATHER JOHN S. RAUSCH Guest Columnist Fallowness: A spiritual alternative hree images help capture a daily part of our economic life. How many times do we see a car circling the mall parking lot looking for a place? How about a person using a cell phone in a store, on the street or in a car?

And what about those vibrations we feel from a car stopped beside us at a light rocking with the sound blasting from customized speakers?

We are a buying people, a busy people, and frequently, a boisterous people. In the process our spirits become dulled by bargains, distracted by phone calls and deadened by noise.

In the midst of this self-imposed perpetual motion, one biblical theme especially helps us discover ourselves and find the path to peace.

The theme points out a direction rather than a step by step formula. Yet, it contains the potential to change individuals and influence the way we do business.

“Rising very early before dawn, Jesus left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed” (Mk 1:35.) Evidently, Jesus occasionally had to withdraw from the demanding crowds, from the stress of his enemies, even from his own inner circle. In silence Jesus entered the mystery of Self and God. At rest Jesus could converse with his Father while he let his bodyspirit lie fallow. Fallowness, the key biblical theme, represents a movement from distracting noise to peaceful solitude.

In Leviticus 25, fallowness applies to the land. The land must rest every so many years in order to remain fertile. Theologian Maria Harris reminds us we are “dust and breath” (Gn 2:7) and allowing our “human land” to lie fallow, brings balance and perspective to work and life.

In contrast, the business world continually bombards us with music in shops and restaurants and commercial announcements from instore loud speakers. TV and radio have become so common they play as background noise even when people hold a conversation. Those watching prime time TV hear more than 20 commercials an hour telling them what to buy, invest and think.

The antidote to noise pollution comes with fallowness, allowing time for solitude and prayer. In everyday life it means making choices: less TV, fewer commercials, perhaps driving with the radio off. Biblical fallowness allows us to “waste time” with others building healthy relationships, encourages a day off and time for a hobby so our “dust and breath” can rest and our spirit can heal.

Since few can easily find the flexibility to take time for solitude, fallowness begs a communal effort. Mothers of young children might need a program like Mom’s Day Off to structure their time for fallowness. Married couples might consider Marriage Encounter or periodic retreats. Families could designate the Sabbath as a special day together with few outside activities.

Fallowness demands some structural changes, as well, since the business world thrives on activity and noise. Americans now

T

See RAUSCH, page 14

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

Interfaith Network, from page 1 children who are involved.”

There are 19 churches currently in the network with 12 host churches, which actually house the families, and seven support churches who help with cooking or supplying the necessary 50 to 60 volunteers a week, over 1,000 volunteers total, at each church. Those include A.M.E., Baptist, Catholic, Episcopal, Church of Christ, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Evangelical area churches, who all are working jointly to help homeless families.

“The ecumenical aspect is important because poverty and homelessness is an equal opportunity disease. Most major religions want to serve and assist the poor,” said Roberts-Wyatt.

“This transcends religious differences because our common ground is helping unsheltered families.”

With the network’s 15-passenger van purchased with the help of a local synagogue, volunteers transport the families from the Pathways Shelter of the Greensboro Urban Ministry during the day to the host church in the evening. Dinner is prepared, and the volunteers counsel and interact with the families or help the children with their homework.

The families sleep in either the parish center, if the church has one, or faith formation classrooms. “We try to make the sleeping areas as homey as possible. This is not the old mentality of a shelter with just a cot in the basement,” explained Roberts-Wyatt.

Breakfast is also served before the residents leave for work, the children

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Assistant Principal: Our Lady of Grace School, a K-8 Catholic school in Greensboro, NC, is accepting applications for an Assistant Principal for this school year. Applicants must possess the following qualifications: practicing Catholic; current teaching/administration license for the state of NC; master’s degree in education; and at least five years teaching experience. Please send resume and salary expectations to: Ms. Roberta Hutchcraft, Principal, Our Lady of Grace School, 2205 W. Market St., Greensboro, NC 27403. Deadline for applications: March 31, 2000.

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 Faith Formation: St. Philip Neri Church, Fort Mill, South Carolina, a growing Catholic parish of 700 families in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, is seeking someone to direct its parish formation programs. This person would be responsible for directing K-High School, RCIA, and developing an adult education program.

Person should have a master’s in theology, at least

March 17, 2000

In the go to school or the others are driven back to the Pathways Shelter.

The average length of stay for an individual family is 30 to 90 days, and the network can get most families into homes of their own within two months. Not only do they help with temporary housing but the GIHN also helps with debt counseling and management, budgeting, job-training skills and educational support for the children, explained Roberts-Wyatt.

“We are able to work with them intensely since there are four to five families. We try to give them a really good start in their own homes with donated furniture, clothes, food and other things. We provide food and shelter so that they can save their money to afford their own homes,” she said.

Patti Ross, the GIHN coordinator for St. Pius X Catholic Church in Greensboro, became involved with the network after a call from Bergen. St. Pius X Church has hosted 11 families since then with the help of their support church Bethel A.M.E. Church in Greensboro.

“I have seen this work, and we have had our eyes opened,” said Ross.

“Hopefully, other outreach programs will come out of this to change Greensboro for the better.” K Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail amprice@charlottediocese.org.

Catholic group condemns desecration of Montreal

By Art Babych Catholic News Service OTTAWA (CNS) — The desecration of a Montreal cathedral brought condemnation from the Catholic Civil Rights League and left a national newspaper wondering why there had not been more public outrage.

“These acts are those of terrorists, deliberately planned and executed on the people and property of Mary Queen of the World Cathedral, and those responsible should be charged to the full extent of the law,” said Thomas Langan, president of the civil rights league.

A group of vandals burst into the cathedral March 8, disturbing several afternoon worshippers. Witnesses said the group shouted anti-Catholic slogans, spray painted “Neither God Nor Master” on the altar, littered the church with condoms and sanitary napkins and tried to overturn the tabernacle.

The demonstration reportedly was organized by a group of feminist activists opposed to patriarchy and the Catholic Church’s stance against abortion.

Seven people were arrested and later released to appear in court on several charges, but a police official said hate crime charges would not be laid against the group. Such charges apply only to spreading hatred against specific groups, not for voicing issues of public concern or for expressing their opinions, said the official.

Langan disagreed, saying, “This was nothing less than a hate crime that meets the legal requirements for the extreme form of vilification.”

Similar desecration of a mosque or synagogue would be “a national outrage and would be energetically opposed by the Catholic Civil Rights League,” said Langan. “Catholics should be treated like anyone else.” K

Economy of Faith, from page 13

work 163 hours more each year than they did 25 years ago, and they spend 10 to 12 hours fewer each week with their children. Estimates range between 8 percent to 17 percent of the work force work longer hours than they desire because of employer demands. Fallowness has a justice dimension. In order to have time for fallowness, people need more flex time, less overtime, and above all, a living wage so they can avoid a mandatory second job.

With the wheels of commerce moving ever faster by office electronics, fallowness represents a salutary way of refreshing the human spirit and keeping it connected with the divine.

Father John S. Rausch writes, teaches and organizes in Appalachia.

three years’ experience, and three written recommendations. Person needs to recruit and train catechists and have good managerial skills. Send resume plus references to Search Committee, St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 292 Munn Road, Fort Mill, SC 29715.

Director of Religious Education: St. Jude Parish, Radford, VA, is seeking a full-time director for its religious education program, involving development of catechetical programs Pre-K through 12, sacramental preparation, adult education, RCIA within both parish and campus, catechist formation, and other related areas. Qualifications include: committed Catholic lifestyle, master’s or certificate in Religious Education or equivalent background, with strong interest in liturgical development. Available July 1.

Application deadline: May 1. Contact: Pastor, St. Jude Church, 1740 Tyler Road, Christiansburg, VA 24073; phone (540)639-5341; e-mail: Rjudgerad@aol.com Faith Formation Office - Diocesan Regional Coordinator: Charlotte Diocese seeks person with Master’s degree in Rel Ed/allied field, five years of demonstrable successful experience in parish/ diocesan work. Well-rounded in catechist formation skills. Collaborative. Sensitive to cultural minorities.

Good written/oral communication skills. Position is located in the Smoky Mountain and Asheville Region.

Please send resume and three letters of recommendation to: Dr. Chris Villapando, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte NC 28203. (704)370-3246. Application deadline March 24, 2000.

In-home or Skilled Nursing Care: Henderson/ Transylvania/Polk Counties. All workers with Personal/Professional Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurances and FBI checks. Licensed through Raleigh, NC. Please call (828) 696-0946 - COMPASSIONATE COMPANIONS, INC. Liturgy/Catechumenate Director/Adult Formation Coordinator: Dynamic college town parish.

Successful candidate will build on a well-established process that seeks further implementation of the Re-Membering Church. Parish in initial stages of learning Stewardship and all of its ramifications.

New church (1 year old) with excellent worship space (with adult immersion font). Need help in maximizing the full potential of the abundant gifts present in this community. Secretarial support provided.

Competitive salary and benefits. Contact Parish Ad-

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

Payment: Ads may be pre-paid or billed. For information, call (704) 370-3332. ministrator, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, by April 30, for position July 1.

Music Ministry Director: Dynamic college town parish. Successful candidate will build on a wellestablished program that includes hand bells, pipe organ, grand piano, tympani, etc. Select music for liturgies; direct/develop traditional and children’s choir; coordinate with contemporary choir. Parish in initial stages of implementing Stewardship and all of its ramifications. New church with excellent worship space. Secretarial support provided. Competitive salary and benefits. Contact Parish Administrator, St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514, by April 30; Position available July 1.

Music Ministry Director: St. Aloysius Catholic Church seeks energetic, motivated individual for full-time position in 1,100-family parish. Successful candidate will build upon a well-established program.

Responsibilities include planning and directing music for weekend liturgies, weddings, funerals, etc.; directing adult and children’s choirs; developing cantors.

Keyboard skills required; knowledge of other instruments helpful. Competitive salary and benefits.

Position available Summer 2000. Send resume and references to: Search Committee, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 921 Second St. NE, Hickory,NC 28601.

Teachers: Charlotte Catholic High School has the following full-time teaching positions open for the 2000-2001 school year: Spanish, English, Social Studies, Drama, and Religion. Must have NC Teaching Certification. Request application from: Charlotte Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte, NC 28226.

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Director: A tri-par-

ish (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 desired. Please contact Rev. Bernard Campbell, CSP, P.O. Box 112, Clemson, SC 29633 or (864)654-1757.

Lake Norman Waterfront Lot: Great main channel view but not ON main channel. Clubhouse, pool, tennis court. Great Schools. Located above Highway 50 in less crowded area of lake. Reduced REAL ESTATE to $130,000. Call (828)304-0300.

Queen Mattress Set: Brand name. Manufacturer warranty. Never used. New $399. Sell for $195. Call (704) 321-2646 FORBrand SALE name. Manufacturer King Mattress Set: warranty. Never used. New $599. Sell for $275. Call (704) 321-2646.

March 17, 2000

Around the Di-

The Catholic News & Herald 15

St. Leo the Great Church spreads Mardi

By Susan deGuzman Correspondent WINSTON-SALEM — Beads, balloons, games and prizes were all part of the festivities for Mardi Gras this year at St. Leo the Great Church.

Hosted by the St. Theresa Guild for the third year in a row, many parishioners gathered for this fun-filled family event March 7 — the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Mardi Gras — a French term meaning “Fat Tuesday” — is characterized by A new parishioner, Lyann Church, attended with parties, parades and other festivities in the her two sons and two nieces. She expressed her days leading up to Lent. fondness for St. Leo the Great Church, noting that Many Latin American it seemed to be a very family-oriented parish. and European countries call this merry “Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun,” she said. time “carnival.” New “This is something we can do for the family while Orleans, Rio de Janiero, Nice and Cologne are helping them learn Catholic traditions. It’s a little among the cities with party before Lent.” the best-known celebrations.

At St. Leo the Great Church, Marmade for the “King Cake” game, which di Gras was celebrated in a spirit of represents a traditional form played in fun, too — and with a variety of food.

New Orleans. Kathy Bryan, co-presiA light supper was served and dessert dent of the Guild and event organizer, came in the form of game prizes. The explained that those interested bought “Cake Walk,” a game of guessing the cupcakes to try their luck at finding a number to match that on the spinplastic baby inside (and because they ning wheel, gave entire cakes to winlooked delicious). If they found one, ners. Parishioner Gwen Schweighart they were allowed to reach into the reported that there were at least 25 paper maché “King Crown” for a prize. homemade cakes baked for this game.

In addition, finding a winning cupcake Several children reported the was supposed to bring a year of good “Cake Walk” to be their favorite part of the Mardi Gras celebration. Said third-grader Adam Morgan, “I almost won the ‘Cake Walk.’ My Mom did. I don’t know what the cake was. It was brown.”

Katherine Allen, a 10-year-old, shared, “Last year my family won three cakes, and I was really looking forward to winning one again, but I didn’t. I played the ‘Cake Walk’ as many times as I had tickets for.”

Cupcakes by the dozens were also

Photo by Susan deGuzman

St. Theresa Guild co-presidents Maggie Henning and Kathy Bryan of St. Leo the Great Church, shown at right with some of the attending children, organized the Mardi Gras celebration and festivities held March 7. fortune.

The children played a number of other games, including a duck pond, a fish pond, basketball and face painting.

Trinket prizes were given to participants of these booths.

David Bruce, a third-grader, shared that bingo was his favorite game. He said, “I played about five times. I wanted to win a golf chip game for my Dad.” Kody Kuhn, his classmate, agreed that bingo was his favorite: “I almost won, and I kept on trying and trying.”

Maggie Henning, also co-president of the St. Theresa Guild and planner of this event, expressed, “We keep the theme pretty light each year.”

Several substantial prizes were given

away by raffle, too: First prize was a television set, second prize was a Mardi Gras Special Edition Barbie, and third prize was a homemade quilt with matching pillow shams.

A new parishioner, Lyann Church, attended with her two sons and two nieces. She expressed her fondness for St. Leo the Great Church, noting that it seemed to be a very family-oriented parish. “Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun,” she said. “This is something we can do for the family while helping them learn Catholic traditions. It’s a little party before Lent.” K

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

Living the

March 17, 2000

Philadelphia prepares to honor a saint of its

By Lou Baldwin Catholic News Service PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — During a Mass celebrating the feast day of Blessed Katharine Drexel, Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia praised the woman who will soon be named a saint as “a brilliant example of unselfish and unconditional love.”

During the March 3 Mass, the cardinal announced that Mother Drexel, a native of Philadelphia, would most likely be canonized on Oct. 1. That date was confirmed by the pope during a March 10 meeting announcing the upcoming canonization of Mother Drexel along with 120 martyrs killed in China and a Spanish nun who was killed in 1912.

At a news conference following the Mass, Cardinal Bevilacqua explained that Oct. 1 isn’t the day Mother Drexel becomes a saint, but “an admission that she already is one. She will be a canonized saint.”

The canonization process for Mother Drexel started 36 years ago in Philadelphia. She was beatified in 1988 and has since been credited with two miracles through her intercession for two people suffering hearing disorders.

“The miracle part is the easy part,” the cardinal said. Saints must have led “heroic lives, not just ordinary holy lives but heroically holy.”

In his homily, the cardinal spoke of Mother Drexel’s devotion to the Eucharist. With some saints, he said, this devotion “was seen in the hours that they spent in contemplation and adoration of the Eucharist. For others the reality of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist led them to share his way of living and loving and therefore be truly like the bread that was broken in order to be distributed to those in need.”

He said Mother Drexel “seemed to fuse these two ways of understanding Jesus in the Eucharist. For her the

commandment to love God and to love one’s neighbor were interdependent and harmoniously fused in the consecrated bread and wine.”

Mother Drexel, who was born in 1885 and died in 1955, inherited a large fortune when her father died. She spent the money building and supporting schools and missions for AfricanAmericans and Native Americans with the congregation she founded, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

More than a half-dozen church communities in North Carolina are among the recipients of Mother Drexel’s benevolence. In 1904, Mother Drexel visited Belmont Abbey.

Cardinal Bevilacqua pointed out that with the many obstacles that Mother Drexel and her sisters faced, they often prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.

It was only after ill health forced her retirement from active ministry that she was finally able to do what she always wanted to do, he said, “to spend her hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.”

“For her, the Blessed Sacrament was a living, vibrant reality,” he added.

Among those present during the Mass honoring Mother Drexel were Robert Gutherman, whose 1974 cure of a serious ear infection and hearing impairment was the miracle approved for Mother Drexel’s 1988 beatification, and Amy Wall, whose 1994 cure of deafness was accepted as Mother Drexel’s most recent miracle.

Sister Monica Loughlin, president of the Blessed Sacrament Sisters, warmly welcomed Gutherman and the Wall family, all of whom have played an important part in the cause of Mother Drexel.

But she also stressed that Mother Drexel’s message is “not one of miracles but of mission.”

Her message speaks of quiet, sim-

Lent “If only you recognized God’s gift, and who it is that is asking you for a drink, you would have asked him instead, and he would have given you living water.”

— John 4: 10

A stone wine pressing, Copernum Photo by Joann S. Keane

CNS photo from Catholic Standard and Times

African-American and Native American children are depicted with Mother Katharine Drexel in a painting. Pope John Paul II, recognizing a second miracle attributed to the American nun, cleared the way for her canonization.

She will become the second U.S.-born saint. ple, everyday action that contributes to the accomplishment of goals,’’ Sister Loughlin said. “Her vision is a long way from being accomplished.”

“Let us resolve today to honor Katharine Drexel through our prayer and through our celebration,” she added, “especially through our work for social justice.”

Philadelphia’s African-American community was well represented in the overflow congregation and also in the ceremony. Chief Buffy Red Feather Brown, representing Native Americans, led the Blessing of the Four Winds.

Among those representing the Drexel family was Cornelia Biddle, a descendant of Anthony Drexel, who was Mother Drexel’s uncle and founder of Drexel University in Philadelphia.

“I am in awe of this woman,” said Biddle, adding that Mother Drexel’s miracle was the way she had lived her life for the “bettering of humanity.”

During her lifetime, Mother Drexel helped establish some 63 schools, including Xavier University of Louisiana, the first Catholic university in the United States for African-Americans.

It is still operated by her order.

Following the announcement of her upcoming canonization, Xavier University issued a statement describing their school as Mother Drexel’s “very first miracle.” K