March 30, 2007

March 30, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 1

www.charlottediocese.org

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

Perspectives Columnists explore meaning of Easter; teacher reveals unwithering ‘bouquet’

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI March 30, 2007

| Pages 14-15 Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

Lawyers, advocates receive training to assist immigrants

Youths, young adults gather for prayer, reflection at Abbey

DEACON GERALD POTKAY

by

correspondent

KEVIN E. MURRAY editor

WINSTON-SALEM — Immigrants to the Southeast will soon have more legal assistance, thanks to Catholic agencies and volunteers.

Forty attorneys, paralegals, advocates and accredited representatives from across the Dioceses of Charlotte and Raleigh and the Archdiocese of Atlanta gathered in WinstonSalem for a two-day training seminar on family-based immigration.

The program, presented in conjunction with Catholic Social Services (CSS) in the Diocese of Charlotte and the Washington-based Catholic Legal Immigration Network (CLINIC), was held at the CSS Casa Guadalupe office in See TRAINING, page 4

no. 24

Lenten sacrifice

Welcoming the stranger by

vOLUME 16

BELMONT — Under a hot spring sun, amid sounds of prayer and the smell of incense, was the echoing of hammers.

Hundreds of youths, young adults and adults nailed purple pieces of paper containing pledges to a cross outside the Abbey Basilica in Belmont. The cross, covered in purple swatches, was then carried behind a eucharistic procession.

“The pledges represent what we’re offering to Jesus during our Lenten pilgrimage,” said Father Roger Arnsparger, pastor of St. Michael Church in Gastonia. “We take them with Photo by Kevin E. Murray Photo by Kevin E. Murray

Youths nail their Lenten pledges to a cross to be carried in a eucharistic procession during the third annual diocesan Lenten Participants nail theirtoLenten a cross Spiritual Pilgrimage Belmontpledges Abbey to March 25.during the annual Lenten Spiritual Pilgrimage to Belmont Abbey March 25.

Room to flex in Lexington Bishop Jugis blesses expanded parish hall by

KEVIN E. MURRAY editor

Courtesy Photo

Bishop Peter J. Jugis speaks during Mass at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington March 18. The bishop later blessed the new parish hall. Also pictured is Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Al Gondek, pastor (far left).

LEXINGTON — The Catholic church in Lexington now has a little more room to grow.

Approximately 300 people attended the dedication of the new parish hall at Our Lady of the Rosary Church March 18.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis blessed the newly expanded and renovated facility, and he celebrated a Mass during which 31 youths received the

sacrament of confirmation.

Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Al Gondek, pastor, concelebrated the Mass.

The parish demolished the building that was behind the old parish hall, allowing the structure to expand. The new parish hall is more than twice the size of the former hall and features eight classrooms, two conference rooms, two See HALL, page 5

See YOUTHS, page 9

Is there a (Catholic) doctor in the house?

Local Catholic medical guild will serve doctors, patients by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

CHARLOTTE — Last month, Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte and Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh granted permission for the establishment of the St. Gianna Beretta Guild, or local chapter, See GUILD, page 6

A lasting legacy

Youths in Action

Culture Watch

Endowment will benefit parish in years to come

Youths fast, raise awareness; students race, raise funds

New version of Judas’ story; using new media

| Page 7

| Page 8

| Pages 10-11

March 30, 2007

2 The Catholic News & Herald

InBrief

Current and upcoming topics from around the world to your own backyard

South Carolina House OKs bill mandating ultrasounds before abortions COLUMBIA, S.C. (CNS) — Members of the South Carolina House of Representatives have approved legislation that would make their state the first in the nation to require women to see the ultrasound images of their child before an abortion.

The vote was 91-23 March 21 after the House rejected two proposed amendments that would have made exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

After a mandatory third reading March 22, the measure was sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs.

South Carolina law already requires that ultrasounds be performed at abortion clinics in the state, in order to determine the gestational age of the child.

Doctors then must tell women the likely age, give them information about fetal development and alternatives to abortion, and wait at least an hour before performing the abortion, which must take place in the first trimester.

Divine inspiration

Diocesan planner CNS photo by Nancy Erikson, Catholic Universe Bulletin

Joe Cannon, a parishioner at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Cleveland, leads a crusade to “bring Jesus Christ to the streets” by putting up billboards of the Divine Mercy image on roads and highways in many locales, like this one behind him looming over U.S. Route 20 in Painesville Township, Ohio.

Ohio man gives fellow travelers signs from God CLEVELAND (CNS) — On the road of life, there’s nothing more comforting than getting a sign from God. Sometimes that sign is a feeling.

Other times it’s through Scripture.

Sometimes it’s a 30-foot-high billboard depicting Jesus.

Lately, getting a sign from God has become easier thanks to the efforts of 82year-old Joe Cannon.

Cannon, a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Cleveland, is the man behind the billboards around the Cleveland Diocese showing a large image of Christ as the Divine Mercy with the words “Jesus, I trust in you.”

He also has put up hundreds of billboards in other states.

“It’s a ‘wow’ thing,” Cannon said.

“It shakes you up. People don’t expect to see it.”

He puts his name and a toll-free number on the signs for people to call.

And they do. He claims to have received nearly 1,000 calls from people across the country since he started putting up billboards five years ago.

One of the first calls he received was from a woman whose son had died two years before. She called to tell Cannon that she had been praying for a sign that her son was in heaven. Then she saw the billboard — right at the spot where her son died. Those are the calls that keep Cannon going.

“My philosophy has always been to bring Jesus out into the street,” Cannon said.

Cannon was first inspired to spread the Divine Mercy message after hearing a priest talk about St. Faustina Kowalska at the Cleveland Marian Conference in 1992.

St. Kowalska was a Polish nun who in the 1930s received a vision of Christ as the Divine Mercy. In the vision, Christ told her that he would show mercy to those who prayed for it and who share that mercy to others. Catholics celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday a week after Easter.

Cannon began by passing out pamphlets about the Divine Mercy in his parish. A former Cleveland councilman, he eventually helped secure Cleveland’s Public Square in 1996 to display a 32foot banner depicting the Divine Mercy image.

Since then, the banner has been carried at parades and pro-life marches around the country. After seeing the positive response for the banner, Cannon decided to spread the Divine Mercy message via billboards.

He started with 40 in Cleveland.

Today, he has 570 billboards in six states.

His goal is to get them in every state.

“There’s a hunger for Jesus Christ out there,” Cannon said. “It just has to be tapped. I think this is one of the things that will save the world.”

ALBEMARLE VICARIATE MONROE — Father Shawn O’Neal, pastor of St. Joseph Church and Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission and diocesan liaison for the U.S. bishops’ Justice for Immigrants campaign, will speak on Issues Involving Resident Immigrants in our Community during Masses at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 725 Deese St., April 21 at 5:30 p.m. and April 22 at 9 a.m.

For more information, call the church office at (704) 289-2773.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE CHARLOTTE — All Polish-speaking Catholics are invited to attend a Mass in Polish at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., April 1 at 3 p.m.

The celebrant will be Father Bernard Potepa, a Franciscan retreat master from Poland.

Confession will be available from 1:30 pm.

For more information please call Elizabeth Spytkowski at (704) 948-1678.

Under the proposed legislation, women will have to sign a form saying they have seen the ultrasound image.

Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life and chairman of Rachel’s Vineyard, which ministers to women who have had abortions, praised the legislation in a statement.

“Every day we minister to women who first saw how well developed their unborn child was only after that child was killed,” said Father Pavone.

“They spend the rest of their lives in deep regret over that uninformed choice,” he said.

“This legislation will spare many women that kind of suffering, not to mention that it will save many lives,” Father Pavone added.

According to Americans United for Life, six states — Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin — already allow a woman to have and/or review an ultrasound before an abortion, but none mandates it. a short prayer session — a great way to recharge during the workweek. Sessions are free and everyone is invited. For more information, call the church office at (704) 332-2901.

CHARLOTTE — The St. Matthew Columbiettes will be awarding a $1,000 scholarship in memory of Gene Marie Alfaro to a graduating high school senior who will pursue a career in the nursing or health care field. The application deadline is April 10 and the scholarship will be awarded in May. For more information, call Diana Congdon at (704) 814-0624.

CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd., will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday April 15 with a Holy Hour at 3 p.m. including Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Reconciliation will not be offered. For more information, call Gail Abraham at (704) 786-0709.

CHARLOTTE — St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with a traditional solemn Benediction and recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet April 15 at 3 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (704) 543-7677.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE GREENSBORO — All practicing Catholic women of Irish birth or descent, or who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians are invited to participate in The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, a social, cultural and charitable group for an ongoing series of fun and informative activities. LAOH will meet April 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kloster Center of St. Pius X Church, 2210 N. Elm St. Please join us for refreshments and to learn more about our group. Any questions can be directed to Mary Driscoll at (336) 785-0693.

CHARLOTTE — Recharge with St. Peter Church’s weekday lunchtime spirituality program, 12-12:45 p.m. in the St. Peter’s Annex, 507 S. Tryon St. The program for April 19 will be “Experience the Presence of God through Group Reflection.” Bring your lunch, hear a short talk on spirituality and participate in

GREENSBORO — Faithful Stewards of God’s

GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace, 2205 W. Market St., invites all parishioners and friends to participate in a Divine Mercy Holy Hour and Benediction April 15 at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call the church office at (336) 274-6520.

March 30, 2007 Volume 16 • Number 24

Publisher: Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Editor: Kevin E. Murray Staff Writer: Karen A. Evans Graphic DESIGNER: Tim Faragher Advertising MANAGER: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Deborah Hiles 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 $23 per year for all other subscribers. The Catholic News & Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason deemed appropriate. We do not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. 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 30, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 3

FROM THE VATICAN

Vatican official says Holy Land religions can relaunch peace talks ROME (CNS) — By promoting respect, sympathy and dialogue among their members, the Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities of the Holy Land can help relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, a top Vatican diplomat said.

Msgr. Piero Parolin, Vatican undersecretary for relations with states, spoke at a March 22-23 conference in Rome sponsored by the U.N. Committee for the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.

Quoting amply from Pope Benedict XVI’s Christmas 2006 letter to Christians in the Holy Land, Msgr. Parolin highlighted religious attitudes that could make a “constructive contribution” to bringing peace to the region.

Religious leaders must help their members give up thoughts of revenge and avoid the temptation of cataloguing past wrongs to see who has suffered most, he said. Instead they must see that all are suffering the effects of violence

and insecurity, listen to one another and promote patient dialogue.

“In the name of the Holy See, I wish to state my firm conviction that the different religious confessions present in the Holy Land can make a decisive contribution to the relaunching of the peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, precisely by working to promote among their members the attitudes which I mentioned,” he said.

Msgr. Parolin also expressed the Vatican’s hope for the new Palestinian government, formed March 17 by representatives of the militant Hamas and moderate Fatah parties. The new government ended “several months of severe, armed and violent conflict.”

The Rome conference also included Muslim clerics, rabbis and Catholic priests from the Holy Land who agreed that stopping violence on all sides was an absolute requirement before any real dialogue could take place.

Creation will take place April 21, 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m., at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd. The conference will include presentations on church teaching on environmental justice, recent scientific findings, energy-saving ideas and how to become more effective advocates. Attendance is free. Call (704) 370-3228 by April 16 to register and reserve a lunch. Sponsored by Catholic Social Service’s Office of Justice and Peace through a grant from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Environmental Justice Program. Visit www.cssnc.org/justicepeace for a flyer and schedule.

prayer and song. For more information, call (828) 586-9496.

GREENSBORO — Theology on Tap, a speaker series for Catholics in their 20s, 30s and 40s, is a casual forum where people gather to learn and discuss the teachings of the Catholic Church. ToT will meet Wednesdays, April 18May 9, at 6:45 p.m. at Logan’s Roadhouse, 1300 Bridford Pkwy. For more informatiom, e-mail greensborotot@yahoo.com, visit www.triadcatholics.org or call Deb at (336) 286-3687.

HICKORY VICARIATE MORGANTON — Most new widows find grieving and other problems overwhelming.

Over time, widows gain wisdom about their options. Dr. Ronda Chervin will present “The Widows’ Walk: Encouragement, Comfort and Wisdom from the Widow-Saints” at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 728 West Union St., April 21, 10 a.m.–12 p.m. For more information, call Dr. Chervin at (828) 430-7634 or the church office at (828) 437-3108.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE SYLVA — St. Mary Church, 22 Bartlett St., will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday April 15, 3-4 p.m. We will observe this special feast with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, communal

Episcopal

calendar

MAGGIE VALLEY— A Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat for Post-Abortion Healing is a confidential opportunity for anyone struggling with the emotional or spiritual pain of abortion. The retreat is designed to help you experience the mercy and compassion of God. It is also an opportunity to surface and release repressed feelings of anger, shame, guilt and grief. This will help you to grieve the loss of your unborn child, to receive and accept God’s forgiveness, and to forgive yourself. The next retreat is April 2022 at the Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane. For further information, call Shelley at (828) 230-4940, e-mail sglan1234@aol.com or visit the Web site at www.rachelsvineyard.org.

Papal preacher says indifference is biggest sin against the poor VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The biggest sin committed against the poor and the hungry is indifference, the preacher of the papal household told Pope Benedict XVI and top Vatican officials.

Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, leading the traditional Friday Lenten reflection at the Vatican March 23, said Christians are called to help remedy the injustice of poverty, not turn away hoping others will resolve the problem.

“The parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus is being repeated today among us on a global scale,” he said, with wealthy nations representing the rich man living in splendor and the developing world representing Lazarus who longed to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table.

Just as the rich man’s gate kept Lazarus at bay, “We tend to put doublepaned windows up between us and the poor” that shield against and muffle the severity of the poor’s plight, Father Cantalamessa said.

“We see the poor on the move, writhing, screaming on the other side of our television screens, in the newspaper ... but their cries reach us as from afar.

They don’t reach the heart,” he said.

But, he said, “the biggest sin against the poor and hungry perhaps is indifference, to pretend not to see ... to ignore the immense multitude of people starving, begging, homeless, without health care and above all without hope for a better future.”

The “scandalous abyss” between the haves and the have-nots is “the most pressing and colossal task” that humankind has yet to remedy, the Capuchin priest said.

The Gospels encourage people to react to other people’s suffering with love, compassion and mercy, not indifference, he said. Also, the Gospels do not urge the poor to seek justice on their own, he added.

The preacher told the pope and Vatican officials that wealthier Christians must remember and concretely help their more unfortunate sisters and brothers.

“Among the millions of Christians who will go to Mass next Sunday there are some — and we are some of them — who have every gift of God at their disposal when they go back home and others who have nothing to feed their own children,” he said.

From Guam to Australia

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE WINSTON-SALEM — The Spirit of Assisi hosts a Wednesday Lunch & Speaker Series each Wednesday, 12:30-1:15 p.m., at the Fatima Chapel, 211 W. Third St. Secular Franciscan Joanne Jacovec will speak on “Contemplation: From Darkness to Light” at the April 18 program.. The sacrament of reconciliation will be offered at 12 p.m. in the chapel. For more information and to RSVP, call Sister Kathy Ganiel at (336) 624-1971 or e-mail kganiel@ triad.rr.com. Walk-ins are welcome.

Is your parish or school sponsoring a free event open to the general public?

Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Planner is 10 days prior to desired publication date (Fridays).

Submit in writing to Karen A. Evans at kaevans@charlottediocese.org or fax to (704) 370-3382.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events:

April 3 — 11 a.m.

Chrism Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

April 6 – 7:30 p.m.

Celebrating the Lord’s Passion St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

April 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

April 7 — 8:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

April 6 – 3 p.m.

Stations of the Cross St. Joseph Vietnamese Church, Charlotte

April 8 — 11 a.m.

Easter Sunday Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

CNS photo by Tony C. Diaz, The Pacific Voice

Youths of San Dionicio Church in the southern village of Umatac on the island of Guam carry the World Youth Day cross in early March. The Archdiocese of Agana in the Mariana Islands welcomed the cross and an icon of Mary March 8-11 with a pilgrimage that had youths carrying the cross from parish to parish, spanning a distance of about 24 miles.

Archbishop Anthony S. Apuron of Agana, Guam, is pictured at left.

Thousands of Catholic youths and young adults welcomed the cross and the icon to Guam.

Guam was the first stop in the Mariana Islands for the symbols of the world’s largest youth event which have traveled tens of thousands of miles around the world.

The symbols will travel through 20 nations in Asia and Oceania and then through 28 Australian dioceses before they arrive at the World Youth Day opening Mass July 15, 2008, in Sydney.

ATTENTION READERS! HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?

Do you have a story to share with The Catholic News & Herald? Do you know of people who are living the tenents of the Catholic faith? Do you have photos of a parish- or ministrybased event? If so, please contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans at (704) 370-3354 or kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

catholic social services

Lawyers, advocates receive training to assist immigrants TRAINING, from page 1

Winston-Salem March 21-22.

Casa Guadalupe assists the Hispanic community in the Piedmont-Triad region with immigration and legal assistance.

“Casa Guadalupe was chosen for this presentation because it has been accredited by the Board of Immigration Accreditation and it has one of the best programs for immigrants, especially those of Hispanic/Latino origin, in the nation,” said Peggy Gleason, a senior attorney with CLINIC. Gleason of CLINIC, which provides legal and support services to Catholic programs working in the United States with poor immigrants and refugees, and Caitlin Brazill, an attorney with Immigration Legal Services of Catholic Charities, presented the two-day seminar.

It included training for family-based immigration, preparation for legalization and pending legislation. The attorneys, paralegals and advocates who received the training will be able to better assist Casa Guadalupe in its mission to the Hispanic community, whose needs are in a constant state of growth.

During the last several years, North Carolina has seen a 200 percent increase in immigration, said Gleason.

“While there are not a lot of programs available, Casa Guadalupe has made a valuable impact on the Hispanic/Latino

Photo by Deacon Gerald Potkay

Attorney Caitlin Brazill of Catholic Charities USA gives a presentation on immigration law during a seminar on family-based immigration at Casa Guadalupe in Winston-Salem March 21-22.

immigrants in the area,” she said.

In addition to immigration services, Casa Guadalupe offers a wide range of assistance, including adoption, counseling, pregnancy support and marriage preparation services.

“Casa Guadalupe has a good, strong program to handle the growing immigration problem,” said Brazill.

“They certainly need more resources, which we are hoping to provide today, as well as practical support for the area leaders who are in need of it,” she said.

“Because of the influx of immigration in the region, there is much concern about the scarcity of help available and the possibility of getting more proactive workers in the field to help in case of the passage of the Immigration Reform Act, which seems inevitable,” said Gleason.

Among the bills recently introduced in Congress that deal with immigration in some form, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2007, which seeks “to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for more effective border and employment enforcement, to prevent illegal immigration and to reform and rationalize avenues for legal immigration.”

“Should that pass, we will need a vast number of volunteers to handle the situation. And it is always better to be prepared than to be caught off guard,” said Gleason.

Richard Cruse, a pro bono attorney in Winston-Salem, said he found the training helpful and looks forward to offering his assistance to Casa Guadalupe.

“I don’t know a whole lot about immigration, but everyone is obliged to give something back,” said Cruse.

“Fortunately, I am able to give a little something back by helping where I can.”

Members of the Casa Guadalupe staff said the extra assistance will be most helpful.

“With the addition of attorneys and legal professionals, as well as law students to help me with claims, we will be able to process all the future applicants,” said Nilda Cardenas de Lara, immigration specialist at Casa Guadalupe.

“This is a great opportunity for these new volunteers to help our Hispanic community to overcome the tremendous amount of abuse and injustice experienced in this area,” said Ana M. Carpio Vasquez, an advocate who assists immigrant families in Charlotte.

“This seminar was a wonderful experience in that it brought to the forefront many issues and answered many questions about immigration reform,” she said.

Adrianna Priden of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Raleigh, a nonprofit social service agency, attended the training to learn about how pending legislation may affect those served her agency.

“If the Immigration Reform Act does pass, a lot of my clients may not be eligible (for assistance),” she said. “But, according to this seminar, there is a lot more hope than either my clients or I had realized.”

WANT MORE INFO? For more information on Casa Guadalupe, visit www.cssnc.org/casaguadalupe.

March 30, 2007

On the green

Courtesy Photo

Missionary Servant of the Most Blessed Trinity Sister Eileen McLoughlin (second from right) is pictured during Catholic Social Services’ fourth annual golf tournament at the Palisades Country Club golf course in Charlotte March 26. Sister McLoughlin joined 107 other players to raise funds to support the services of the CSS Charlotte office, including adoption, burial assistance, counseling and pregnancy support.

In her 20 years of ministry at CSS, Sister McLoughlin expanded the counseling program and touched the lives of many people. She left CSS in 2002 and, as an avid golfer, became the inspiration for the spring fundraiser on the green. She is now a pastoral associate for St. Matthew Church in Charlotte.

Also pictured are (from left) Peter and Rose Bergen and Fran Baltmiskis.

March 30, 2007

around the diocese

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Knights of Columbus receive distinguished award

Star Council Award recognizes outstanding achievements LEXINGTON — Knights of Columbus Council 12481 of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington was recently honored with the organization’s most prestigious recognition.

State Deputy Bob Grabasky presented the Star Council Award to Paul Thornton, Council 12481’s deputy grand knight, who stood in for the late Grand Knight Dan Biron.

Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Al Gondek, pastor and council chaplain, celebrated Mass to commemorate the occasion. A formal sit-down dinner was also held in the parish hall, the first event held in the facility after its reconstruction.

The Star Council Award recognizes excellence in membership, insurance and volunteerism.

For the 2006 fraternal year, only 1,541 of more than 13,000 councils achieved Star Council status. Council 12481 is one of the smallest in North Carolina with only 47 members.

Those members focus on five main areas of activity: church, community, council, family and youth.

Council 12481 members participate at Mass as extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, ushers, readers and choir members. They also prepare and serve meals at a Lexington homeless shelter, participate in Meals on Wheels and volunteer at the hospital, nursing homes and the Veterans Administration Hospital.

The council also sponsors a first Sunday breakfast each month and holds fish fries and other events during the year.

Courtesy Photo

Bishop Peter J. Jugis blesses the new parish hall at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington March 18. Also pictured is Oblate of St. Francis de Sales Father Al Gondek, pastor (far right).

Bishop Jugis blesses new parish hall in Lexington HALL, from page 1

offices, a kitchen, a storage room and two showers.

The $264,000 facility, which can accommodate 300 people, was completed in early January.

“The goal was to renovate and update the facility,” said Father Gondek.

“Now, the goal is to initiate programs to accommodate the changes in the parish and the community.”

With a growing parish and Hispanic community, Our Lady of the Rosary Church now has more space for its faith formation program, Bible study and other activities, said Father Gondek. The new hall also serves as a meeting and retreat center for diocesan Hispanic ministry.

But, he said, “It’s my hope and dream that it will be used by the public.”

The new facility will provide more outreach to the community, said Father Gondek, who hopes to share it with other organizations in the community that may be lacking appropriate space for meetings and celebrations.

“The hall is modern, updated and practical for various area activities in addition to church functions,” said Father Gondek.

Renting out the hall also will help the parish meet its capital campaign to pay off the reconstruction, said Father Gondek.

“The hall is modern, updated and practical for various area activities in addition to church functions.”

— Oblate Father Al Gondek Completing the hall was the final project on a list Father Gondek hoped to complete since his arrival in 1998.

Throughout his tenure, the church has purchased a new rectory, has converted the old parish hall into an office and renovated the church.

There are a few jobs left to be done, such as purchasing furniture for the hall’s offices and some landscaping, but the parish is very enthused about its new facility.

“They are elated and very excited about it,” said Father Gondek.

Since its reopening, the parish hall has been used for meetings, fish fries, quilters’ activities and more.

“Every weekend something new is going on,” said Father Gondek.

6 The Catholic News & Herald

FROM THE COVER

March 30, 2007

Local Catholic medical guild will serve doctors, patients GUILD, from page 1

of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) in North Carolina.

The CMA is a national professional association, founded as the Catholic Physicians Guild by Cardinal William O’Connell in Boston in 1912.

The original guild was established in order to educate Catholic physicians in church doctrine relating to the practice of medicine.

To d a y, t h e C M A p r o v i d e s professional and spiritual support to Catholic physicians and medical students in order to maintain their Catholic values in their medical practices.

“The biggest benefit of membership for physicians is the camaraderie and support,” said Dr. David Ramsey, a member of the St. Gianna Beretta Guild and parishioner of St. Mary Church in Sylva.

On the local level, guild activities include networking and support opportunities, an annual White Mass of St. Luke for Catholic Physicians, seminars and civic and private volunteer programs. A White Mass is being planned for the fall of 2007, to be celebrated in the Diocese of Raleigh.

The CMA also gives doctors a forum to explore and discuss “edge-of-ethics” issues, Dr. Ramsey said.

“Often, Catholic doctors deal with issues that go against our faith — abortion, contraception, end-of-life issues,” he said. “These are things that are unhealthy for people and for society.”

Physicians can be members of the CMA in areas without guilds, or without belonging to the local guild. However, the guild provides cohesiveness for its

“Catholic patients know their doctors who are CMA members will uphold Catholic doctrines.”

— Dr. David Ramsey members and a vote in issues brought before the CMA. Patients also benefit from physicians’ membership in the CMA, Ramsey said.

“Catholic patients know their doctors who are CMA members will uphold Catholic doctrines,” he said.

“Even non-Catholic patients can be assured their doctors will have Christian, charitable views towards their practice of medicine.”

The CMA provides instruction about the Catholic position on health-related issues such as physician-assisted suicide, abortion and natural family planning.

The CMA also sponsors a Medical Missions Program, which recruits volunteers for service in health care projects overseas.

Contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

WANT MORE INFO? For current individual members and those newly interested in the St. Gianna Beretta Guild, please fax your contact information to Dr. James Nolan at (910) 485-2963.

For more information on the Catholic Medical Association, visit its Web site at www.cathmed.org.

CNS photo from Salt and Light TV

St. Gianna Beretta Molla is pictured with son Pierluigi and daughter Mariolina in an undated photo.

When she was pregnant with her fourth child, doctors discovered a large ovarian tumor that required surgery. Surgical procedures at the time called for removal of her entire uterus, which would have aborted her two-month old fetus.

St. Gianna, herself a pediatrician and general practitioner, insisted surgeons remove only what was necessary and allow her baby to live and reach term. St. Gianna died seven days after giving birth to her fourth child in 1962.

She had pleaded with her family and doctors before the birth: “If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate. Choose the child, I insist on it, save the baby.”

St. Gianna was canonized by Pope John Paul II at the Vatican May 16, 2004.

March 30, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 7

around the diocese

‘We wanted to recognize Father Connolly for his lasting contribution to the diocesan priesthood.’

A lasting legacy

Endowment will benefit parish in years to come Church and to the community of Boone,” by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

CHARLOTTE — During nearly 10 years as pastor of St. Elizabeth of the Hill Country Church in Boone, Father Frank Connolly became well-known for his work within his parish and in the local community.

To show their appreciation for his years of dedicated service to the parish, Father Joseph Mulligan, current pastor, and the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Church announced the establishment o f t h e R e v. F r a n c i s C o n n o l l y Endowment Fund.

The announcement was made Jan. 21 when the parish gathered to celebrate Father Connolly’s 80th birthday.

“We wanted to recognize Father Connolly for his lasting contribution to the diocesan priesthood, to St. Elizabeth

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION The diocesan foundation was incorporated in 1994 to provide endowments for the Diocese of Charlotte and its parishes, agencies and organizations. An endowment is a permanent fund in which the principal is never touched. The income may be used in accordance with the wishes of the donor organization or individual.

Once an endowment is established, anyone may add to the fund.

Over the past 12 years, more than $3.4 million has been made available for distribution by the foundation to parishes, schools and agencies.

said Father Mulligan, who originally conceived the idea for an endowment in Father Connolly’s name.

Father Connolly first celebrated Mass in Boone in 1960-61, when he would travel regularly from North Wilkesboro, where he served as parochial vicar. Although St. Elizabeth Church was established in November 1958, the parish had no resident pastoral staff until 1963.

In 1979, Father Connolly returned to St. Elizabeth Church as pastor. During his tenure, outreach programs for the poor and disabled were accelerated, as well as efforts to reach Catholics not attending church. Birth Choice and Peace and Justice groups were organized.

Father Connolly also worked with Boone’s Hospitality House, a local homeless and crisis ministry.

When a fire destroyed the church building in 1984, he oversaw the construction of a new church.

During his years as a priest in North Carolina, Father Connolly served in North Wilkesboro, Laurinburg, Asheboro, Lenoir, Concord and Boone, among other cities.

Born in Plainfield, N.J., Father Connolly graduated from Rutgers University and Duke University. He worked in the plywood and furniture industries for two years before deciding to become a priest.

He began his studies in 1955 at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y. In 1956, Father Connolly transferred to the North American College in Rome, where he was ordained Dec. 20, 1959.

File Photo

Father Frank Connolly is seen in an undated photograph. An endowment fund was recently established in Father Connolly’s name by the parishioners of St. Elizabeth Church in Boone.

Father Connolly retired in July 2000.

The Rev. Frank Connolly Endowment Fund currently has $6,825 on hand.

Disbursements from the endowment will be used for the educational and pastoral needs of the St. Elizabeth Church.

“More and more people are making the decision to establish a named endowment during their life or in their estate plan as a way to honor or remember a family member or other loved one,” said Jim Kelley, director of the diocesan development office and director of the Foundation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte.

“We have worked with more than 800 parishioners who are remembering the church in their estate plans,” he said About one-half of the 152 endowments in the diocesan foundation are named in honor or memoriam of a specific person.

The foundation is a non-profit

organization established to provide endowments for the diocese and its parishes, schools, agencies and organizations.

An endowment is a permanent fund placed in the diocesan foundation that earns income over time. The original amount is not spent, but the income can be used in a manner stipulated in the donor’s estate plan or in an endowment agreement, according to Kelley.

A committee of three-to-five members is set up for each endowment to determine how funds will be distributed.

Contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

WANT MORE INFO? For more information on the diocesan foundation and endowments, call Jim Kelley at (704) 370-3301 or e-mail jkkelley@charlottediocese.org.

ATTENTION READERS! HAVE A STORY TO SHARE?

Do you have a story to share with The Catholic News & Herald? Do you know of people who are living the tenents of the Catholic faith? Do you have photos of a parish- or ministrybased event? If so, please contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans at (704) 370-3354 or kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

8 The Catholic News & Herald

youths in action

March 30, 2007

Youths participate in 30 Hour Famine

Courtesy Photo

More than 400 people prepare to take part in Asheville Catholic School’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Run in downtown Asheville March 17.

Asheville Catholic holds first Shamrock Run by

CAROLE McGROTTY correspondent

ASHEVILLE — Even a blustery wind failed to slow down the runners making their way across downtown Asheville.

More than 400 people took part in Asheville Catholic School’s inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Shamrock Run March 17.

“It was a way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the school and the 175th anniversary of the order of the Sisters of Mercy, who first staffed the school,” said Sheila O’Connor, president of Asheville Catholic’s parent faculty association.

The race, said O’Connor, was also “to promote health and fitness and a way of getting families together to exercise.”

The race consisted of 5K and 10K events, as well as a 1K “fun run,” which many parents entered with their children.

Mercy Sister Maria Goretti Weldon started the race, and Father John Schneider, pastor of St. Eugene Church, led the way on his bicycle as Irish music

played over loudspeakers.

More than 100 students from local schools and several home-schooled students from outside Asheville ran with Asheville Catholic students. Mercy Sister Anita Sherrin of Asheville walked in the 5K race.

The race’s primary sponsors were the Sisters of Mercy and the Asheville Parks and Recreation Department. Forty-five parents and volunteers from St. Eugene Church provided refreshments.

Mascots for the Asheville Panthers, Sparky the Fire Dog from the Asheville Fire and Rescue and Teddy from the Asheville Tourists baseball team entertained the crowd, followed by a performance of the Gallagher School of Irish Dance.

Registration fees from the race raised approximately $4,000 for the school.

Participants received commemorative long-sleeved t-shirts at registration.

Joel Collier of Asheville crossed the finish line first in the 10K. Fifteen-yearold John Harwell of Asheville took top honors in the 5K.

Crossing the finish line

Courtesy Photo

Runners finish the 12th annual 5K race and 1-mile “fun run” at St. Leo the Great School in Winston-Salem March 24. The Wake Forest University Demon Deacon was on hand to cheer on the participants. A student assembly was held March 26, at which students received awards for their participation in the race.

CHARLOTTE — After 30 hours with no food, Pedro Cortes has a better understanding of what so many youths experience every day.

“It can make us thankful for what we have, and hopefully can impact us to commit ourselves to something meaningful,” said Pedro, a junior at Audrey Kell High School in Charlotte.

Pedro was among a group of 26 youths and 16 adults to participate in World Vision’s annual 30 Hour Famine held at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte Feb. 23-24.

The program helps young people learn about global hunger and poverty while they raise funds to fight hunger.

Through sponsor pledges, the group raised $4,390 for World Vision, a Christian relief agency that works in nearly 100 countries. The group also performed community service projects.

“Not only are starving children’s stomachs being filled, but it can also

be seen as a sacrifice to God, and what better time for a sacrifice then Lent?” asked Pedro.

“The youths fully immersed themselves into the experience of fasting from food in solidarity with those who go hungry every day,” said Kathy Diener, youth minister at St. Vincent de Paul Church. “Their witness helped educate not only themselves but the public as to the plights of our brothers and sisters around the world who are less fortunate.”

Pedro looks forward to participating in next year’s 30 Hour Famine.

“If there’s one thing to take away from this experience, it is that while we live comfortably, there are those living in utter misery — and they are the ones whom God smiles upon the most,” said Pedro.

“Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but in the kingdom of heaven, the poorer are the richer,” he said.

Courtesy Photo by Jeff Narus

Pictured are participants of the 30 Hour Famine held at St. Vincent de Paul Church Feb. 23-24.

March 30, 2007

from the cover

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Youths, young adults gather for prayer, reflection YOUTHS, from page 1

Photo by Kevin E. Murray

Bishop Peter J. Jugis carries a monstrance in a eucharistic procession during the third annual diocesan Lenten Spiritual Pilgrimage at Belmont Abbey March 25.

“If we really pray and focus on God, he does touch us and answer us.”

— Dr. William Thierfelder, Belmont Abbey College

Over half full—call today!

us on our journey with Christ.”

Bishop Peter J. Jugis led the eucharistic procession around Belmont Abbey College as part of the diocese’s third annual Lenten Spiritual Pilgrimage at Belmont Abbey for youths and young adults March 25.

The nearly 300 participants included youths from high schools and colleges across the diocese, as well as youth ministers, other adults, diocesan deacons, monks from Belmont Abbey and women religious.

The pilgrimage, a day of prayer and reflection, was part of the diocese’s preparation for the third diocesan Eucharistic Congress, themed “To Know Jesus Christ,” to be held at the Charlotte Convention Center Sept. 21-22.

The pledges on the cross were made to help the pilgrimage participants prepare for Easter and to know Jesus.

“The students make a commitment during Lent — such as praying, fasting — and nail it to the cross,” said Ruth Payne, campus minister at Belmont Abbey College.

Payne and Gloria Schweizer, Catholic campus minister at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, helped organize the annual pilgrimage, which included exposition of the Eucharist, evening prayer and Benediction.

New to the program this year were youth musicians and student speakers,

who joined Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Dr. William Thierfelder, president of Belmont Abbey College, discussing different aspects of the Eucharist.

“Stories of eucharistic miracles are not the basis of our faith, but they do inspire me,” said Thierfelder.

He spoke about the eighth-century eucharistic miracle in Lanciano, Italy, where a monk who doubted the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist saw the host change into flesh and the wine into blood during a consecration at Mass.

“If we really pray and focus on God, he does touch us and answer us,” said Thierfelder.

The spiritual pilgrimage helped many to focus on God and experience the Eucharist together.

“This pilgrimage brings youths and young adults together to see the universality of the church and to meet each other around adoration of the Eucharist,” said Father Arnsparger.

“It helps them get in touch with and recognize the traditions of our faith,” said Mary Wright, director of diocesan Catholic campus ministry. “They get to share in this experience with other youths and young adults.”

“It’s important to come together as a community,” said Thierfelder.

WANT MORE INFO? More details about the upcoming diocesan Eucharistic Congress are available online at www.goeucharist.com.

Photos by Kevin E. Murray

Bishop Peter J. Jugis and Dr. William Thierfelder(below) listen to youths perform spiritual music (above) in the Abbey Basilica during the diocesan Lenten Spiritual Pilgrimage at Belmont Abbey March 25.

March 30, 2007

10 The Catholic News & Herald

Culture Watch

A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more

Curiosity prompts novelist to write new version of Judas’ story Although fiction, book gives ‘primacy of place’ to Gospel truth

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

ROME — Curiosity about the New Testament figure of Judas and a feeling that his reputation as the worst sinner in history “isn’t fair, isn’t right” led British novelist Jeffrey Archer to attempt a new version of the story.

Archer, presenting “The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot” at a March 20 press conference in Rome, said he is a practicing Anglican who wanted his new book to be backed up by solid biblical scholarship.

So he convinced Father Francis Moloney, provincial of the Salesians in Australia and a former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, to collaborate.

Father Moloney, who served on the International Theological Commission for 18 years when it was under the presidency of the future Pope Benedict XVI, provided scholarly criticism of the text and wrote the bulk of the theological notes and clarifications found at the end of the book.

The text in the gilded pages of Archer’s book is organized into chapters and verses, like a real Gospel, with the words he attributes to Jesus written in red.

Archer’s main thesis is that Judas tried to prevent Jesus’ arrest and execution by enlisting the help of a scribe to get Jesus out of Jerusalem and back to Galilee where the Romans supposedly would ignore him.

In the end, the scribe betrays Judas, which means Judas unwittingly betrays Jesus. Both Archer and Father Moloney doubt that Judas committed suicide, a story recounted only in the Gospel of St. Matthew.

The Benjamin Iscariot in Archer’s title is Judas’ fictitious son, who — years after the death of Jesus — finds his father living in an ascetic community near the Dead Sea. His father reluctantly gives his version of what happened to Jesus and the son writes it down.

Father Moloney told reporters in Rome that none of the things in Archer’s account that differ from the accounts of the New Testament can be certain.

“Most of it may be improbable, but none of it — in my judgment — is impossible,” he said.

Whatever really happened between Jesus and Judas, Father Moloney said, he believes Judas was a “tragic” figure, but not one who was forced to betray Jesus in order to fulfill God’s plan for the salvation of humanity.

“We are all free to say, ‘yes’ and ‘no,’” Father Moloney said, and that had to have been true for Judas as well.

Father Moloney said he agreed to

collaborate with Archer because although he has written 40 books about the Bible they have “made little impact on the increasing skepticism surrounding the Christian church” while “deeply flawed and uninformed works like Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ and Richard Dawkins’ ‘The God Delusion’ have become best-sellers.”

“The message of ‘The Gospel of Judas’ never betrays the teaching of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospels,” Father Moloney said.

However, Father Moloney points out in the notes that in his description of Jesus as the biological son of Joseph and Mary Archer’s interpretation differs from the official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church.

Archer told reporters that he first brought the idea for the book to his publisher in 1992, but could not find the right scholar to help him.

The author said he was attracted to the topic because Judas was not the only disciple who failed Jesus.

All of the disciples ran away from Jesus in his hour of greatest need, and Peter denied Jesus three times, Archer said.

“All of them showed their human failings, but every one of them ended up as a saint. And Judas, who showed his failings, ends up as the most vilified person in history. It was the extreme black and white that annoyed me,” he said.

Father Moloney said he hoped Archer’s book would prompt people to read the New Testament and to understand that the Gospels were not written “to communicate the brute facts of history”; rather they assemble historic facts “to communicate a message about what God has done for humankind in and through Jesus Christ.”

He said Archer’s book, although fictitious, gives “primacy of place” to the truth found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, while telling “the traditional story through the eyes of Judas.”

Father Moloney also told reporters that he knows Pope Benedict “has an interest in the enigma of Judas” and would not be surprised to learn that the pope has read Archer’s book.

The book presentation was moderated

by Jesuit Father Stephen Pisano, rector of Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute, which later hosted a scholarly discussion about Judas in the Bible.

Father Pisano told reporters that the institute “is not concerned with modernday fiction” and absolutely did not endorse Archer’s book, but Father Moloney’s scholarship provided an opportunity to discuss “what we know and what we do not know about Judas from the way he is portrayed in the New Testament.”

WORD TO LIFE

Sunday Scripture Readings: April 8, 2007

April 8, Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord Cycle C Readings: 1) Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Psalm 118: 1-2, 16ab-17, 22-23 2) Colossians 3:1-4 3) Gospel: John 20:1-9

God should be with us so we can be with him

by JEFF HENSLEY catholic news service

My dad died Feb. 25 at the age of 91.

He was ready to go home. His wife, my mom, had taken leave of him five-and-ahalf years before, and he had experienced the most profound loneliness ever since.

But he had only grown gentler and kinder in the intervening years. Not that he had reached perfection, mind you. But he had grown to be the best image of the love of God that who he was allowed him to be.

And it was a pretty inspiring image at that.

A nurse who had attended him wept when my sister informed her that he had died. She told her that it was not a pleasure to attend to everyone in their last days, but that it had been a pleasure

to attend to my dad.

Aging was good to my dad.

For the last six years of my mom’s life, she was dealing with congestive heart failure and the beginnings of either senile dementia or Alzheimer’s. In that time, my dad was unfailingly kind and gentle, growing into the role of caregiver in ways we, his children, would not have expected.

The good effects of his years in the Presbyterian Church teaching Sunday school, studying Scripture and serving in various ways seemed to show more and more in his final years. Questions of theological significance, particularly as they related to seeing my mom once again and his obligation to take care not to harm his physical body surfaced again and again in thoughtful, pondering ways.

In the end, the passing of this loving, gentle old man was a happy occurrence, with my sister holding one of his hands and me the other, each of us speaking words of love and encouraging him on into the next stage of his existence — the place to which he was going not in doubt for either one of us.

For as Paul put it in his Letter to the Colossians, “When Christ our life appears, then you shall appear with him in glory.”

Questions: What can you do now to help you grow in love of God and others so that when your time arrives to become part of the resurrected body of Christ, you will be ready?

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of April 1-7 Sunday (Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion), Luke 19:28-40, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Luke 22:14--23:56; Monday (Monday of Holy Week), Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11; Tuesday (Tuesday of Holy Week), Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 36-38; Wednesday (Wednesday of Holy Week), Isaiah 50:4-9 Matthew 26:14-25; Thursday (Holy Thursday), Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15; Friday (Good Friday), Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, John 18:1--19:42; Saturday (Easter Vigil), Exodus 14:15-15:1, Exodus 15:1-6, 17-18, Romans 6:3-11, Luke 24:1-12.

Scripture for the week of April 8-14 Sunday (The Resurrection of the Lord), Acts 10:34, 37-43, Colossians 3:1-4, John 20:1-9; Monday (Easter Monday), Acts 2:14, 22-33, Matthew 28:8-15; Tuesday (Easter Tuesday), Acts 2:36-41, John 20:11-18; Wednesday (Easter Wednesday), Acts 3:1-10, Luke 24:13-35; Thursday (Easter Thursday), Acts 3:11-26, Luke 24:35-48; Friday (Easter Friday), Acts 4:1-12, John 21:1-14; Saturday (Easter Saturday), Acts 4:13-21, Mark 16:9-15.

Scripture for the week of April 15-21 Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday), Acts 5:12-16, Revelation 1:9-13, 17-19, John 20:19-31; Monday, Acts 4:23-31, John 3:1-8; Tuesday, Acts 4:32-37, John 3:7-15; Wednesday, Acts 5:17-26, John 3:16-21; Thursday, Acts 5:27-33, John 3:31-36; Friday, Acts 5:34-42, John 6:1-15; Saturday (St. Anselm), Acts 6:1-7, John 6:16-21.

The Catholic News & Herald 11

March 30, 2007

Communicating Catholicism

Pope, Catholic media workers strategize on how to best use new media

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

VAT I C A N C I T Y — Ta k i n g advantage of new media to spread the Gospel, the Catholic Church also has an obligation to point out areas where the media has a harmful effect, especially on children, Pope Benedict XVI said.

The pope called on media operators “to safeguard the common good, to uphold the truth, to protect individual human dignity and promote respect for the needs of the family.”

Meeting March 9 with members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Pope Benedict spoke of the benefits of greater access to quality entertainment, information and educational opportunities through the media.

But he also expressed concern about the “increasing concentration” of the media in the hands of a few multinational conglomerates and said that “much of what is transmitted in various forms to the homes of millions of families around

the world is destructive.”

Strategies for using new technology to communicate the Gospel message and for counteracting the negative impact of the media dominated the council’s March 5-9 meeting at the Vatican.

U.S. Archbishop John P. Foley, council president, told members that the church must fulfill its responsibility to share with all people “the message of their origin in God, their destiny with him in heaven and their redemption in Jesus Christ.”

The problem, he said, is that the message of salvation “must compete with thousands of other messages — messages that perhaps appear immediately more appealing or more tempting.”

Faith in cyberspace U.S. Sister Judith Zoebelein, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist who works in the Vatican’s Internet office, said the church must expand its presence on the Internet.

But it must do so in a way that helps lead people from a “virtual” experience

of faith and community to a personal encounter with the Lord and participation in a parish, she said.

The Vatican’s Web site has helped people who were already part of a real community connect in a virtual community with the Vatican, accessing documents and even sending e-mail greetings to the pope, she said.

The next step must be using the Internet to reach those who are not part of any concrete community, she said.

In an attempt to ensure that an Internet search of things Catholic leads to finding a real experience of the church, Sister Zoebelein said, the Vatican’s Internet office is running a trial e-learning site.

“Perhaps the biggest reason for choosing e-learning is that young adults today live and learn on the Internet more than any other particular place,” she told the council.

The topic chosen for the first course was the meaning of suffering, using Pope John Paul II’s 1984 apostolic letter along with “photos, music, images, questions and additional reflections,” she said.

But unlike most Internet courses, the Vatican proposal includes regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings of participants.

“The anonymity of the Internet must at some point lead to the desire and opportunity for an actual human encounter,” Sister Zoebelein said.

The hope, she said, is to use the “virtual” community created through the Internet “to nourish the actual community” and a desire to participate in parish life.

Required research Irish Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin said diocesan newspapers and contact with religion reporters from secular newspapers continue to be important ways for the church to get its message out and “on the public record.”

But he suggested the church invest in professionally organized focus groups to study how much of the church’s message is being heard and by whom.

Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco told the council that “one size does not fit all” when communicating in the modern world; the church needs specific projects aimed at the young, the elderly, active Catholics, the alienated and those who are indifferent.

And, he said, the council should act as a clearinghouse for the best church communications practices.

Bishops from Africa, Asia and Latin America urged the council not to assume their people have the same kind of media access that people in Europe and North America have.

Radio is hugely important in Africa; the Internet is dominating the media scene in much of Asia; and Latin America still has a stable television audience.

Tony Spence, director and editor in chief of Catholic News Service, also encouraged the council to support research on what is being done and what is working.

He told the council that a recent survey demonstrated that adult Catholics in the United States have access to Catholic media and use it on a regular basis, although there is much room for improvement.

And while the Internet “gives new opportunities for a tried-and-true medium such as print to reach new audiences,” it is not without its problems, particularly because “good scholarship and good journalism can be eclipsed by punditry and misinformation disguised as an authentic voice in the church.”

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office and Vatican television center, outlined several communications priorities, including efforts “to make the pope’s thoughts and the position of the church known in the Muslim and Arab-speaking world.”

He also suggested the Vatican form a small group of consultants to help it evaluate the mountain of requests it receives from media outlets wanting to interview Pope Benedict XVI. “The interviews given so far by the Holy Father have been very effective,” he said, and Vatican Radio, the television production center and the press office have ensured they were widely distributed in many languages.

12 The Catholic News & Herald

March 30, 2007

around the diocese

100 years young

Catholic Daughters give prizes to education contest winners by

CAROLE McGROTTY correspondent

Courtesy Photo

Pictured is Kathleen Fitzpatrick, who turns 100 years old March 31. The oldest member of Court 1199 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Charlotte, Fitzpatrick will be honored at a Mass and reception at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte on her birthday.

ASHEVILLE — Court 412 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Asheville recently awarded prizes for the local first-place winners in the organization’s National Education Contest.

Local courts sponsor the contest, which offers contestants a choice of categories: art, essay, poetry, poster, computer art, music and photography.

Contestants also choose a theme: “The Beauty of God’s Creation” or “Taking Time for Others.”

The themes “encourage lively imagination and freedom of thought when student talent and application go hand in hand,” according to the Catholic Daughters Web site. “The contest enables students of our communities, schools and CCD classes to compete and strive for awards while following certain fixed rules.”

The four Asheville-area winners, who all chose “The Beauty of God’s Creation” theme, each received $25

prizes for coming in first place in their respective age groups.

Gwen Hobson, chairwoman for the local contest, said the winning entries had been sent to the state chairperson for judging at that level. Winners at the state level will in turn compete on the national level this summer at the national workshop.

First-grader Katrina Krulikas and ninth-grader Sarah Belanger, who are both parishioners of the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville, won first place for art in their age divisions.

Ninth-grader Adam Meis, who also attends the basilica, took first place for poetry in his age division.

Tenth-grader Rebekah Torres, a parishioner of St. Barnabas Church in Arden, won for photography in her age division.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas, formed in 1903, has about 90,000 members in 1,400 courts in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Celebrating the Mass will be Father Mark Lawlor, pastor, and concelebrating will be Father Paul Gary, rector of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, and Father Frank O’Rourke, pastor of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.

The daughter of an Italian immigrant father and German-American mother, Fitzpatrick realized a lifelong dream at 93 by visiting the Vatican.

An active member of the Catholic Daughters since 1933, Fitzpatrick still attends meetings and participates as she is able.

Photo by Carole McGrotty

Sarah Belanger (center) accepts a prize from Gwen Hobsob (left), contest chairwoman, and Marjorie Maxwell, regent of Court 412 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Asheville, at the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville March 25.

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March 30, 2007

Honoring life

respect life

The Catholic News & Herald 13

Donor drive

Courtesy Photo

Members of Knights of Columbus Council 7184’s honor guard are pictured during a Mass to show solidarity with the unborn celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville March 15. Nearly 200 people attended the Mass, which gave special focus to the sanctity of all human life.

Bishop Jugis, whose homily centered on “our creation at the hands of God in his image,” thanked all those mobilized, whether in prayer, in activism and/or as counsel for women who have had abortions. He reminded them all how important their work is.

The Knights honor guard escorted Bishop Jugis at the start and end of Mass. Deputy Grand Knight Don Franz, respect life committee chairman, facilitated the bishop’s visit and organized a reception in his honor.

Courtesy Photo

Chris Curran (left) and Melanie Feeny Lewis (second from right) test two prospective donors during a bone marrow typing drive at Holy Cross Church in Kernersville March 10. Curran is the father of 9-year-old Joseph Curran, who is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Lewis helped organize the typing drive, during which 14 volunteers typed 103 people.

For more information on the National Marrow Donor Program, call (800) MARROW-2 (627-7692) or visit the National Marrow Donor Web site at www.marrow.org.

March 30, 2007

14 The Catholic News & Herald

Perspectives

A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints

Bringing flesh into social ministry

Overcoming fear will help bring Jesus to those in need How far are many of us from the poor? It is a question I have been asking myself all week.

I write a stewardship newsletter for my church, so I ventured over to the parish school’s sixth-grade classroom to interview a few students. I planned to include some of their Lenten resolutions in my next newsletter.

I got typical responses — giving up candy, cookies, TV. Someone had pledged to say a rosary daily.

And here’s a thoughtful one: “I’m not going to go to a particular strip mall during Lent because my presence there causes problems with my parents.”

Then I glimpsed the huge stack of boxes the students were delivering that afternoon to various social service agencies around town. I thought it was a good idea that the students who collected these items were actually going to see the charities and perhaps meet some of the recipients.

But the boy who was explaining it all to me told me more.

The students visited the Brother Francis Shelter, a large homeless shelter for adults, and as part of their visit, they scrubbed all the sleeping mats.

Wow. I think my mouth fell open and the first words that came out were, “Did you wear gloves?”

Yes, he replied, everyone wore latex gloves.

I was immediately ashamed of myself. What a question to ask of this boy who was learning about being present to the poor. And what a wonderful teacher they must have to encourage not just a “tour” of the Brother Francis Shelter, as often happens, but an activity that made them more aware of the lived experience of the poor.

Next I had a long conversation with our associate pastor, Father Ben Torreto, who is on loan to our archdiocese from our sister archdiocese in Cotobato, the Philippines. We are part of a global solidarity partnership, and we are fortunate to have Father Torreto, a softspoken man who heads up the social action ministry in Cotobato.

In the Philippines, the life of the church is based on the Latin American

For the Journey EFFIE CALDAROLA cns columnist

concept of “comunidades eclesias de base” — base communities. Parishes in the Philippines are huge, but are divided into these small faith-based communities that unite people not just in faith but in commitment to social action.

How differently he must see our large, wealthy parish, I noted.

But no, he replied, “I see great generosity here. Whenever there’s a call for help, people respond overwhelmingly.

Each week people bring food to be distributed to agencies that feed the poor.

You are very generous.”

But then he added something I will not forget.

Often, he said, he sees people donate things at the church, then the church brings these goods to the poor. It would be better if there were more direct interaction between people.

Jesus’ ministry, he told me, was a ministry of the heart. Associating with the other “brings flesh into our ministry.”

Why don’t we interact with the poor?

He guessed “security.” I guessed “time.” But in my heart, I recalled that question I asked of the sixth-grader: “Did you wear gloves?”

Maybe in part it is fear — fear of the unknown, fear of what the lived experience of poverty might expose us to on many levels.

My consolation as I write these words is a beautiful holy card of St. Francis of Assisi on the desk in front of me. Francis had to overcome great fear to embrace the leper.

Did it change the leper’s life?

We really don’t know. But we know it changed Francis.

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A bouquet that never withers

‘Little prayer warriors’ learn value of prayer, serve as inspiration Sifting through mementos from my Guest youth, I smiled at the glittery shamrocks and the lace hearts I had made for Column my parents through the years. Amidst these cookie-cutter crafts, I found one exceptionally meaningful gift: a bouquet.

It was quite different from those that are carefully displayed in vases until they wither. This was a “spiritual bouquet.”

Mrs. Gallagher, my second grade teacher at St. Michael School, made a great impact on my life. I remember, even as a seven-year-old, being impressed by her gentle nature and holy life. Her devotion to God and to prayer inspired me, and she is the reason that I am a Catholic school teacher today.

She also gave me the gift of the spiritual bouquet.

What is a spiritual bouquet? It’s a collection of prayers and offerings made for the recipient.

Over the years, I had forgotten about this wonderful gift, but I rediscovered it at an opportune time. I had been asked to lead my students to pray during the school year for two seminarians studying for the priesthood in our diocese.

I realized a spiritual bouquet would be a great gift for the seminarians, so I decided to share the idea with my students as Mrs. Gallagher had shared it with me.

I explained the project to them — we would offer prayers and sacrifices for the seminarians and keep track of our progress. Over time, we would tally the offerings and share them with the seminarians.

I told them prayer is the best gift they can give — it doesn’t cost much, it doesn’t require a lot of time, and prayers can be said anytime and anywhere.

At first my seventh graders were not too excited. I reminded them that the seminarians are our future priests and that these men could, possibly, be the priests who bless their marriages, baptize their babies or say a Mass of Christian burial for a loved one. It began to hit home.

So I put up a chart in the classroom with the students’ names to keep track of their prayers and offerings, and we were off. By Christmas, they were experts at it. They offered up rosaries, Masses, hours of eucharistic adoration, “heart prayers” and even learned about making sacrifices for the good of someone else.

As a class, we had said more than 100 rosaries; 1,600 Hail Mary prayers; more than 500 Our Father prayers; nearly 200 Glory Be prayers; and nearly 200 personal prayers, and we had offered more than 100 Masses, more than 120 hours of eucharistic adoration and nearly 50 sacrifices for the seminarians.

Each student made a “flower” that listed his or her personal prayers and offerings and added it to the class bouquet, which was mailed to the seminarians.

As the school year continued, this

CHRIS OSTROM guest columnist

Courtesy Photo

simple project took on a life of its own.

Our list of intentions began to grow, and every morning the students took great reverence in praying for each other and for people they didn’t know who had asked for prayers: a 2-and-a-half-yearold child overseas in a coma, a friend of one of our teachers, parents heading overseas to Iraq and many more.

I challenged them to pray a spiritual bouquet for a dear friend of mine whose mother was having major surgery. For a whole month, they said rosaries, offered up Masses and said heart prayers.

On the evening of the surgery, I got a call from my friend. She asked me to tell my students that their prayers had been answered and that her mother didn’t need the surgery as expected. When I shared this news, they cheered and clapped! One was so excited, she exclaimed, “Who else can we cure?”

I explained that our prayers may not always be answered the way we would like them to be, and that we have to pray that God’s will shall be done and that our recipient will have peace with God’s will.

I have nicknamed them my “little prayer warriors,” and it is something of which they are proud. They have not only learned how to pray, but also that, with prayer, we can overcome obstacles in our lives that keep us from God. During this Lenten season, we have been getting many requests for prayer, and so my little prayer warriors continue to persevere in prayer. As they prepare to reenact the Living Stations of the Cross, they are learning that Jesus Christ himself prayed to his heavenly Father when times were hard, when he was abandoned by his friends and while he was hanging on the cross to save each one of us.

So during this Lenten season, let us all learn from my little prayer warriors that we must continue to pray for each other and become closer to God. Chris Ostrom teaches religion, social studies and history at Our Lady of Grace School in Greensboro.

March 30, 2007

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Easter, a season for life

Catholics can be renewed in life-affirming efforts Lent starts with a sobering reminder of our mortality: “You are dust … and to dust you shall return.”

Yet the 40 days of Lent prepare us for the 50-day season of Easter that celebrates the gift of abundant life. Much more than a single day of sweets, bunnies and colored eggs, this season illuminates everything Christians do to build the culture of life.

As Pope John Paul II put it poetically while he was still a cardinal, “Each spring the earth and water say: is the necessity of life not deeper than that of dying?” (“Easter Vigil 1966”).

He’s speaking not merely of the earthly renewal brought about by rain and melting snow, but also of spiritual renewal in the baptismal waters of the Easter Vigil. Its fire and water rituals point to — and draw us more deeply into — the reality that life in Christ is more powerful than death.

While we know theologically that “the victory is already won,” it can be tempting to despair when it seems our pro-life work is making little headway.

In frustration, we may drift away from prayer, either giving up or relying on our own strength to defend innocent life.

But we know that pro-life efforts are already making a noticeable difference at national and local levels. American attitudes have shifted in recent years away from unqualified support of socalled “reproductive rights,” as protected

under Roe v. Wade.

The pro-life movement is strong and spans several generations, with a new wave of young adults and teens committed to defending life in the public and private sphere.

The rate and number of abortions in the United States continue to decline, most notably among teens. Recent studies show that state laws regulating abortion, such as parental involvement laws and public funding restrictions, reduce abortion rates in the states that enact them.

Every day, pregnancy resource centers care for women to help them make life-affirming choices for themselves and their families. Countless precious lives have been saved as their parents have embraced their God-given dignity in empowering ways.

Through Project Rachel, the Catholic Church reaches out to women and men hurt by abortion. For them, the healing power of the risen Christ is nothing short of life-transforming.

Thanks to Internet and radio ad campaigns, as well as good homilies and support at the parish level, more and more broken women and men are embracing the message that spiritual and emotional healing is possible.

Finally, the false promises of the sexual revolution are painfully coming to light, and a new grassroots movement celebrating the true dignity of women is

Guest Column DEIRDRE A. McQUADE guest columnist

emerging in our country.

Pope John Paul’s poem continues: “Water speaks more of endurance than of passing.”

Every time we bless ourselves with holy water throughout the year, let us remind ourselves of the enduring power of baptism. Let us embrace the hope of the resurrection, and be renewed to serve the culture of life.

Deirdre McQuade is director of planning and information for the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.

The Easter challenge

At Easter we hear the familiar story of Christ’s triumph, his death and Resurrection, and we feel part of the story. We connect the conviction of the historical event of the Resurrection with the faith in the risen Christ.

The famous tightrope walker, Blondin, on one occasion carried a man across a tightrope stretched perilously above an admiring crowd.

In the crowd was a boy, gazing in wonderment. Blondin noticed the lad and asked, “Do you believe that I could carry you across that tightrope?”

The boy replied, “I’m sure you could.”

“Well then, jump up and I will do so,” said Blondin.

The boy promptly reacted: “I said ‘I believe’, I did not say ‘I would do it.”

It is not enough to believe that Jesus has risen and is alive today, but we should take the next step: to translate our faith into action.

An empty tomb, so says the cynic, is a poor foundation on which to establish a world religion. It may be so, but our faith has gone beyond that event; it has left the

The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The teaching of the bishops and unity with the pope guarantee that one’s faith truly is the faith taught by Jesus to his apostles, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“The true Gospel is that imparted by the bishops, who have received it in an uninterrupted chain from the apostles,” the pope said March 28 at his weekly general audience.

The pope’s audience talk focused on the ministry and writings of St. Irenaeus of Lyon, who died in the very first years of the third century.

“Irenaeus is most of all a man of faith and a pastor,” the pope said. “As a writer he had a double aim: to defend true doctrine against the attacks of the heretics and to explain the truths of the faith with clarity.”

St. Irenaeus taught that the creed contains the essential truths of Christian faith and the bishops — through apostolic succession — have been entrusted with the responsibility of guaranteeing that faith is interpreted and applied correctly throughout history.

Here is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks in English at his weekly general audience March 28.

Leap of faith, life of love are real aspects of season To identify Easter with beautiful lilies and colored eggs may not be the best way of capturing the wonder of Easter. I’d rather look at Easter as a challenge for greatness and a gigantic leap of faith.

While Easter is connected to happiness, it is not a one-day event but a lifetime event. Jesus’ promise of happiness rests on you. If you want heaven on earth, you can have it.

You can also make hell out of the daily hardships, conflicts and disappointments.

The challenges of Easter include taking a blind leap of faith into an overwhelming abyss of suffering and believing in life when we experience death, knowing that what appears to be defeat will in fact be victory.

The sunlight of God’s love makes a rainbow out of the rain.

To say that Jesus beautified disaster is not completely wrong. To live a great life, we need a great cause to which we can connect the meaning of our struggles, a cause to live by or, if needed, to die for.

Pope says unity with pope guarantees faith is the one taught by Jesus

CNS illustration by Lucas Turnbloom, The Southern Cross

Guest Column CAPUCHIN FATHER JOHN C. AURILIA guest columnist

empty tomb centuries ago.

The message of Easter is not written in the past tense. It is indeed written as we go by our daily activities and encounter Christ where we least expect him.

The Easter story is simple and powerful, and we should not forget that Jesus’ victory came after Jesus’ tragedy.

Lilies and eggs are indeed part of our Easter legend, but life and love are the real aspects of the Christian Easter.

Capuchin Father Aurilia is pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville.

Dear brothers and sisters, Continuing our catechesis on the church fathers, we turn now to St. Irenaeus of Lyon, a great theologian and bishop at the end of the second century.

In his writings, Irenaeus clearly sets forth the contents of the apostolic faith and appeals to the church’s living tradition in order to defend that faith from false teachings. He thus emphasizes the “regula fidei”: the “rule of faith” contained in the Apostles’ Creed and in the Gospel proclaimed by the church’s bishops.

The Gospel Irenaeus preached was the Gospel preached by his teacher, Polycarp, who in turn received it from the apostle John in an unbroken line of succession going back to Christ himself.

Irenaeus also writes of the unique authority of the church of Rome as founded on the apostles.

This zealous pastor illustrates for us three important characteristics of the apostolic tradition: It is “public,” because it is available to all through the teaching of the bishops; it is “one,” because its content remains the same despite the variety of languages and cultures; and it is “pneumatic,” because, through it, the Holy Spirit continues to enliven and renew the church even today.

March 30, 2007

living the faith

The Catholic News & Herald 16

Parish unites to help pay for 10-year-old’s heart transplant by

SUZANNE M. SINGLETON catholic news service

CNS photo courtesy of the Pirozzi family

Xavia Pirozzi, a 10-year-old heart recipient, is pictured in her bed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in an undated photo.

BALTIMORE — While Xavia Pirozzi’s new heart is priceless, her medical bills have topped $3.5 million, with her family’s portion after insurance coverage estimated at $600,000.

The drugs she will take for the rest of her life cost $1,500 a month.

“I worry about her health first,” said her father, Ralph Pirozzi. “That is my main concern. On a financial basis, I’ll deal with that later.”

That’s where the Heart of St. Joseph’s comes in. The committee of parents from St. Joseph Church and School in Baltimore is raising funds to pay the

fifth-grader’s medical costs, assisted by other schools and parishes.

And that’s not the only help the family has gotten.

“The outpouring of prayer support from family, friends and patients was tremendous,” Pirozzi said. “It was a needed shoulder to lean on.”

Xavia, 10, underwent a heart transplant Jan. 6 at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she had spent 10 months after being diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a rare degenerative disease that causes the heart to stiffen over time.

“You wanted to shake yourself and say, ‘Is this really happening?’” said Xavia’s mother, Nicolle Borys-Pirozzi,

of the diagnosis.

During the 10 months of waiting for an available heart, Xavia’s mother and grandmother, Joanna Borys, alternated weeklong stays at the hospital. BorysPirozzi, an associate administrator in anatomic pathology at the University of Maryland, said she never wanted her daughter to be alone in the hospital.

Ralph Pirozzi, a dentist, visited on weekends with Xavia’s siblings. Except for brief trips outside for a breath of fresh air, Xavia did not leave the hospital.

Their faith has been challenged at times over the last year.

“At low points I’d say, ‘God, where’s the heart and why is it taking so long?’” confessed Borys-Pirozzi. “There were down days and up days and days you’d want to run screaming from the building.

There was so much to handle.”

Xavia’s literal change of heart has left the girl with a new perspective.

“The child has matured in so many ways,” said her grandmother. “It was a hard 10 months.”

The 10-year-old is curious about where her new heart came from, and what happened to the donor.

But unless the donor family wishes to be revealed, the Pirozzis won’t find out.

The family plans to write to them through the United Network of Organ Sharing, to express their infinite gratitude, and hope to receive a response.

“It’s very important to donate organs and share the gift of life with others,” said Xavia.

During her troubles, Xavia said she prayed for herself, as did so many others.

She knows the prayers helped, she said, “because we were able to do this for 10 months straight!”

Joanna Borys, who has worked at the St. Joseph Church’s parish office for 30 years, said many people reached out.

“The whole thing has been a parish community supporting a family in need,” she said.

Students collected nearly $3,000 in their “Silver for Xavia “coin collection and have been buying $1 rubberband bracelets bearing a heart and Xavia’s name. The Heart of St. Joseph’s committee organized a wine tasting and auction and is publicizing other fundraising activities on its Web site at www.theheartofstjosephs.com.

Other schools and parish religious education programs also are chipping in with bake sales, “Xavia” bracelets and cash donations.

Xavia and her family still face challenges, however. A heart transplant doesn’t last forever.

“We say that the ‘half-life’ of a transplanted heart in a child (birth to 18 years) is about 13 years,” said Dr. Maryanne R.K. Chrisant, medical director at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

That means that 13 years after receiving a heart transplant, “half the children are still alive with their heart grafts and half have either died (from various causes) or have required repeat heart transplantation,” she said.

Xavia’s parents know they are buying time, said Pirozzi. “I look at it as a continual process, buying time until the next transplant is necessary, better antirejection meds are created or artificial devices become more practical,” he said.