April 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 1

April 14, 2000

April 14, 2000 Volume 9 t Number 32

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

Inside Boy Scout Camporee

25th annual event held at Camp Barnhardt

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Ukraine native says faith helped her persevere ...Page 4

Living the Faith

Hospice named for Cardinal Bernadin

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Local News Habitat for Humanity event crosses many faiths ...Page 7

Stations program brings Way of the Cross to life ...Page 15

Every Week Entertainment ...Pages 10-11

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Raleigh

Good Friday in the Jubilee Year 2000: NC Catholic Bishops Call for an End to the Death Penalty This Great Jubilee year, a year of favor from the Lord, provides an opportunity for conversion and reconciliation, a time to open the door to Christ as He comes to change hearts, to make all things new.

It is in this Spirit of Jubilee, that on this day when we recall the execution of Jesus Christ we call for an end to the death penalty. In doing this we reaffirm the US Bishops’ Conference 1999 statement, A Good Friday Appeal to End the Death Penalty.

We call on all people of good will to join us in working toward ending this cycle of violence in our state and country. The death penalty is not a deterrent to murder. Murder is a crime of misplaced passion, often fueled by drugs or alcohol and made possible by ready access to guns. The possibility of the death penalty as a punishment is never thought of in most murders. Moreover, recent evidence has revealed that innocent people have been tried, convicted and sentenced to death both in our state and across the country. The possibility that an innocent person can be executed should be enough, by itself, to cause people of conscience to stand against the death penalty.

In his pastoral visit to St. Louis in January 1999, Pope John Paul II said, “The new evangelization calls for followers of Christ who are unconditionally pro-life; who will proclaim, celebrate and serve the Gospel of life in every situation. A sign of hope is the increasing recognition that the dignity of human life must never be taken away, even in the case of someone who has done great evil. Modern society has the means of protecting itself, without definitively denying criminals the chance to reform.”

This statement affirms the church’s teaching that public authority should limit itself to means which do not take a life when these means are sufficient to deter an aggressor and protect the safety of persons. Today, with the advances in our penal system, such protection is available through long-term incarceration, including even sentences of life imprisonment without release.

We do not call for the repeal of the death penalty at the expense of the victims, their families or loved ones. We understand the enormous pain those close to a murdered loved one must feel. Our family of faith must stand with all victims of violence as they struggle to overcome their terrible loss and fear and find some sense of peace.

But we must understand that the violent act of capital punishment is merely vengeance, an act that keeps us as a nation steeped in violence.

Please join with us to pray for a change of heart, that we may stop this cycle of violence, break the culture of death and seek justice without vengeance.

We encourage parishes and communities to hold discussion groups on the death penalty and to form ministries to provide long term spiritual and material assistance to grief-stricken families.

This is not an easy issue. All of us need to consider how we will stand up for life for all human beings, how we will stand with the victims of crime and how we can work for a society that imposes justice without violence.

Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13

The Season of Lent “Holy Thursday and RCIA” A column by Rev. Mr. Frank Seabo

The Most Rev. William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte

The Most Rev. F. Joseph Gossman Bishop of Raleigh

For study material on the death penalty, or to find out more about working for a moratorium on executions, contact the Office of Justice and Peace, [704] 370-3225.

NC bishops in solidarity against death penalty CHARLOTTE — Leaders of the Catholic Church of North Carolina, Charlotte’s Bishop William G. Curlin and Bishop F. Joseph Gossman, bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh chose Good Friday — the day of the crucifixion of Christ — as a release date for a letter calling for an end to capital punishment.

“While Bishop Gossman and I call for an end to the death penalty in all cases in our state, we also recognize the expediency of an interim step which would establish a moratorium on executions in North Carolina,” said Bishop Curlin. The bishops’ letter parallels the 1999 statement issued by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops: Stop capital punishment in the United States.

“We call on all people of good will to join us in working toward ending the cycle of violence in our state and country.” This plea to end capital punishment is included in the joint letter of the two Roman Catholic Bishops of North Carolina.

Theologian James J. Megivern of Wilmington, writing in the recently published Contemporary American Religion, said the shift from support of capital punishment to a rejection of it, is based on the understanding of the “dignity of human beings as the handiwork of God.” Megivern noted that after World War II, the western world began to take a different view of capital punishment. The sheer magnitude of destruction of people by the state, he said, had a major impact on the theories about the value of human life.

Soon after the war, the dignity of the human being was clearly established, said Megivern. “This cleared away the theoretical smoke screen.

Capital punishment was exposed as a direct and deliberate act of destruction of human life, unnecessary [and therefore unjustified] in a modern society.

“It has long been recognized that one major difficulty inherent in capital punishment is the possibility of error,” said Bishop Curlin. “We now know that in recent years 79 people [at least three from NC] who were sentenced to death were subsequently proven to be innocent and freed from death row.

A mistaken infliction of the death penalty is especially abhorrent because it is irreversible.” t Editor Joann S. Keane contributed to this story, along with the NC Catholic’s

2 The Catholic News & Herald members of the church to deepen their union with Christ in the sacraments of penance and the Eucharist,” the pope said. More than 40,000 pilgrims, bundled up against stiff winds and dark skies, attended the beatification Mass April 9.

Southern African bishops accuse Zimbabwe of encouraging unrest CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — The Souther n African Catholic Bishops’ Conference accused Zimbabwe’s political leaders of encouraging lawlessness in the country since white-owned farms were invaded by blacks. “We note with great regret that the political leadership of Zimbabwe has not only failed to intervene to restore order, but actually seems to be encouraging the lawlessness,” the bishops said in an April 8 statement.

President Robert Mugabe has called for redistribution of white-owned land to Zimbabwe’s black majority, and Zimbabwe’s Parliament voted April 6 to sanction the seizure of farms without compensation.

Haitian bishop rejects international pressure for elections PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CNS) — As the world increased the pressure on the Haitian government to organize overdue legislative elections, Bishop Willy Romelus of Jeremie has spoken out against the threat of economic sanctions. Breaking ranks with the Haitian bishops’ conference, Bishop Romelus said in a local radio interview that the government and the electoral council should not heed foreign pressure to organize elections so that the Parliament can be seated June 12 if the date does not suit the Haitian government. Bishop Romelus said the Haitian government should prioritize the organization of “serious and democratic” elections, rather than rigidly work toward the June 12 deadline.

Vatican urges liturgy commission to get Psalms version off market WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Vatican official has called on the International Commission on English in the Liturgy to do all it can to halt further publication or distribution of its “doctrinally flawed” 1994 English

CNS photo from Reuters

Rally in Jakarta An Indonesian Muslim brandishes a dagger shouting “God is great!” during a rally at Jakarta’s Senayan stadium April 6. Thousands of Muslims vowed to send an army to Indonesian’s ravaged Molucca Islands to fight a holy war against Christians. The islands have been the scene of violent religious conflict for more than a year.

World Youth Day to feature papal meetings, catechetical events VATICAN CITY (CNS) — This year’s World Youth Day celebrations in Rome will feature three encounters with Pope John Paul II, special Masses and catechetical services, and plenty of opportunities to build international friendships, Vatican organizers said.

As many as 1.5 million young people are expected to participate in the Aug. 14-20 celebrations, with some arriving as early as Aug. 10 for several days of hospitality in Italian dioceses.

Pope beatifies five, including priest who ministered in U.S. VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In St. Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II beatified three religious women and two priests, including Redemptorist Father Francis Xavier Seelos, a German who ministered to immigrants in the United States. Known as an expert confessor, Father Seelos “invites the

Episcopal April 14, 2000 Volume 9 • Number 32

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.

April 14, 2000

The World in

c a l e n-

April 16 — 11:00 am Palm Sunday Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 18 — 11:00 am Chrism Mass: Blessing of Holy Oils and renewal of commitment of priests to their priestly service St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 20 — 7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 21 — 3:00 pm Stations of the Cross 7:30 pm Sacred Liturgy and Veneration of the Cross St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 22 — 8:00 pm Easter Vigil Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte April 23 — 11:00 am Mass Easter Sunday St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

version of the Psalms. “The text does not accurately represent the word of God and therefore risks being a danger to the faith,” said Archbishop Francesco Pio Tamburrino, secretary of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, in a letter Jan. 14 to ICEL’s chairman, Bishop Maurice Taylor of Galloway, Scotland.

“Such a text is clearly no more suited for private prayer than it is for public proclamation,” he wrote.

Missionary council criticizes police action against indigenous SAO PAULO, Brazil (CNS) — Brazil’s Indigenous Missionary Council criticized police action against the indigenous population of Santa Cruz de Cabralia, in Brazil’s coastal state of Bahia. Representatives of the churchbacked group said police destroyed a monument constructed by the Pataxo Indians on the beach of Coroa Vermelha. The beach is famous for being the location where on April 26, 1500, the

Diocesan

plan -

2 ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of

St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., is offering a course on the doctors, scholars and fathers of the Church. The series of classes are being held in the St. Justin Building across the street from the basilica. Tonight’s class focusing on Pope John Paul II takes place from 7:30-9 p.m. Call the church faith formation office for further details at (828) 2528816.

6 CHARLOTTE — Charlotte Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Rd., is presenting “Jazz Dance 2000,” featuring the music of the school’s jazz band, swing dance instructions and food provided by Pasta and Provisions.

The event is open to all adults and high school students and is being held tonight from 8-11 p.m. For more information, call Helen Katz at (704) 370-0019.

first Mass was celebrated on Brazilian soil by Portuguese explorers. “It was a political statement,” said the council, known by its Portuguese acronym as CIMI. “The state and federal governments are not allowing the indigenous to participate in the official celebration of the 500-year anniversary of the discovery of Brazil.”

Catholics glad at registration extension, but some face problems MOSCOW (CNS) — Catholic officials are relieved at a recent extension of the deadline for religious organizations to register under a controversial law that threatens unregistered groups with “liquidation.” “It is very important for us. It means that we still have hope,” said Father Krzysztof Kempa, rector of a small Catholic parish that has been consistently denied registration under Russia’s 1997 religion law.

An informal survey of Russia’s four Latin-rite Catholic jurisdictions indicates that roughly 90 percent of the country’s 200 parishes successfully obtained re-registration with the Justice Ministry under the original Dec. 31, 1999, deadline.

Pope urges U.N. to promote ‘holistic vision of development’ VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II urged the United Nations to promote a “holistic vision of development” in the third millennium. “The millennium just ended has left in its wake a series of unusual challenges,” the pope said at an April 7 audience with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, members of the U.N.’s administrative committee and officials from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The pope said while challenges like war and poverty might not be new, they are different from the past, “because the world’s increasing interdependence has given them a global dimension.”

Ongoing BRYSON CITY — St. Joseph Church, 316 Main St., opens its thrift shop every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.2 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (828) 488-2266.

GUILFORD COUNTY — The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Guilford County Division, recently received its national charter. With fifty members at present, they are looking for more Irish Catholic men to join them.

Meetings are evenings on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Contact Michael Slane at (336) 665-9264.

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

April 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 3

Around the

25th Annual Catholic ALBEMARLE — The annual Catholic Camporee XXV was held on April 7, 8 and 9, at Camp Barnhardt on the western shore of Badin Lake, near Albemarle, N.C. The theme for the camporee was “The Great Jubilee/ Holy Year.” Many of this year’s camp activities focused on the Jubilee/Holy Year and the Catholic faith, as well as Scout Craft.

Andrew Hagopian of Troop 174 at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte finds his way on the compass course.

Photos by Chuck Eaton

Assistant Scoutmaster Willis Joseph helps Paul Stroud make breakfast. They are from Troop 172 of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte.

Home on the range

Sebastian Pelo of Pack 232 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte gets help on the archery range from Mark Spisik of Pack 8 from St. Matthew Church. The Camporee was held at Camp Barnhardt on the western shore of Badin Lake, near Albemarle, N.C. uled. For more information, call Tom or Teresa Sanctis at (704) 541-6850.

HENDERSONVILLE — Due to the Easter season, the St. Francis of the Hills Secular Franciscan Order is meeting today from 3-5 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7th Ave. West, in the large parlor meeting room. Capuchin Father Vincent Fortunato is joining this month’s meeting.

In May the group will meet on the fourth Sunday as regularly scheduled.

Visitors and inquirers are welcome to attend. For more information, call Pat Cowan at (828) 884-4246, Barbara Carter at (828) 684-2126 or Lucy Nordland at (828) 891-8117.

SWANNANOA — St. Margaret Mary Church, 102 Andrew Place, is celebrating Divine Mercy Sunday today at 2 p.m. Everyone is invited to participate in Mass, the rosary and chaplet, followed by refreshments. For more information, call the church office at (828) 686-3243.

May

April 16 CHARLOTTE — The choir for the diocesan Chrism Mass, being held on April 18 at 11 a.m., is rehearsing this afternoon from 4-5:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East. All choir members and singers from all areas of the diocese are invited to be involved in the Chrism Mass choir. For more information, call Dr. Larry Stratemeyer, music director, at (704) 334-2283, Ext. 22.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE — Lenten reconciliation services are being held as follows: April 16 - St. Ann Church in Charlotte at 4 p.m., April 17 - Our Lady of Assumption Church in Charlotte at 7 p.m., and April 18 - St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte at 7:30 p.m.

17 WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE — Lenten reconciliation services are being held as follows: April 17 - St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem at 7 p.m. and April 19 - St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-

Salem at 7 p.m.

18 WINSTON-SALEM — There is a natural family planning session tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. For further details, call Tom and Mary Beth Young at (336) 922-0479.

19 CHARLOTTE — Jesuit Father Gene McCreesh is hosting “Spiritual Direction for Gays and Lesbians” tonight at 7 p.m. at St. Peter Church, 507 South Tryon St. For more information, call the church office at (704) 332-5342.

20 HIGH POINT — A healing Mass is taking place in the chapel of Maryfield Nursing Home, 1315 Greensboro Rd. tonight at 7:30 p.m. For more information, call Rev. Mr. Ron or Bette Steinkamp at (336) 427-9717.

24 CHARLOTTE — The Alzheimer’s/ Dementia group is meeting today from 2-3:30 p.m. in rooms D and E of the ministry center at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. Activities are being provided for the memory-impaired and their caretakers. For more infor-

mation, call Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135.

26 CHARLOTTE — All families who have suffered a loss are invited to attend a Mass for the deceased tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East.

Call the church office at (704) 3342283 with the names of the deceased so that they can be remembered at Mass.

27 ASHEVILLE — All are invited to attend a healing Mass at St. Joan of Arc Church, 919 Haywood Rd., tonight at 7 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (828) 252-3151.

30 CHARLOTTE — Due to the Easter season, the monthly Ultreya for Charlotte-area cursillistas is meeting today from 1:30-3 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Pkwy., in the Fellowship Room. All cursillistas are encouraged to attend.

In May the Ultreya will meet on the fourth Sunday as regularly sched-

4 The Catholic News & Herald

April 14, 2000

Around the Di-

Ukraine native says faith helped her

By ELLEN NEERINCX SIGMON Correspondent HICKORY — When Lucy (Oksana) Kukla shares stories of escaping the Communist regime in the Ukraine, she brings mementos of those trying times. And, she brings her Bible.

The book is a powerful reminder of Kukla’s early years. “It’s my treasure,” she said. “I take this wherever I go.

God blessed me with the strength to go on to give testimony about Him.” Kukla was seven years old when the Communists, under Stalin, took over her homeland of the Ukraine.

Fleeing from the regime at the risk of starvation, her family escaped to the coal mines — the only place where her father, a doctor, was able to find work, dragging dead and injured workers out of the lower levels of the mines.

At that age, Oksana, who had never heard of God, was looking for something. “I was searching and I was questioning myself, ‘Where is the good?’” she said. “‘I know the evil.

Where is the goodness? It has to exist.’ I didn’t know about God. You could not talk about God. I couldn’t ask anybody.”

It was very cold outside on the first night that she had to wait in line for bread. She was alone, as her mother had to take care of her siblings at home, and she saw two ladies in the distance who were wearing long skirts.

Thinking she might be able to get under the skirts somehow to keep herself warm, she crept closer to the ladies, not wanting them to see her. She heard one of them say, “He is good.” That interested her, so she crept closer, and she heard them talking about angels.

“I was so excited, I forgot about being cold,” she said. “I said to myself, ‘I will keep that good in my heart.’ I didn’t get any bread that night (the adults waiting squeezed her out), but I got something awesome.”

Kukla, a member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Hickory, tells stories like this and many others to those who listen to her speak, often at schools and churches.

As a child, Kukla lost a brother, a

Before she was born, she said, her father had a dream. In his dream, an angel came to him and told him that he would have a daughter, and told him to name her Oksana, after a child martyr who was burned on a cross because she refused to stop helping the poor.

Her father went to the local priest to tell him about the dream, but the priest told Oksana’s father that he would have to name her according to the religious calendar, depending on when she was born. Her father felt strongly about the dream and protested this, she said, and “my father won.”

She remembered what her father told her on the day he was taken to the front. “Do three things for me,” he said.

“If you have a little piece of bread, cut it in half and give it to somebody hungry. Be good, and keep my name clean.”

Kukla’s mother, father, two sisters and a brother survived the war, although her father lost a leg. Kukla went to Kiev as a tourist, 22 years after she was taken away at the age of 15.

Her sisters, were one and eight years old when she was taken, and her brother was four, so she was hardly able to recognize them when she finally saw them again.

“I could not go before that,” she said, due to political conditions in the Ukraine at the time. She said that she wrote and received letters during the time before her visit, but that they were heavily censored and mostly unreadable.

Even though Mrs. Kukla has endured many hard times in her life, she said that she is more impressed by the suffering of Jesus, Paul and other early Christians. “Because of them, that’s why we are all believers today,” she said.

In addition to speaking to groups and telling of her experiences, Kukla has a favorite project that she does every summer. St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Hickory sponsors a group of children from Belareuse each year, and Mrs. Kukla teaches the Bible to these children in Russian. “It’s awesome when they come,” she said.

“What a joy to see the smiles on their

Photo by Ellen Neerincx Sigmon

Lucy (Oksana) Kukla, left, with her friend Suzanna Williams after a recent talk she gave for a women’s group at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Hickory. Mrs. Kukla’s sons and Mrs. Williams’ husband are doctors in the same medical practice in Hickory. faces.” This summer will be her fourth teaching these children.

Kukla remarried 44 years ago and now has 5 children, 7 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She was Russian Orthodox before she got married, but became a Catholic like her husband. They have lived in North Carolina for 10 years. t

sister and her grandmother to starvation. She went out with her mother at night to find rotting leftover potatoes in the fields to eat. Her uncle was taken to Siberia, and during World War II, her father was taken away to the front.

Kukla herself was taken away to Auschwitz after the Germans occupied the Ukraine. Although she was not Jewish, she was taken there when she was 15 years old because of a false accusation made by some German soldiers who were angry with her because she had disagreed with them. It would be many years before she found out what happened to her family, and 22 years before she would see any of them again.

After she was released from the concentration camp, she spent four years working in a boot factory in Cologne, Germany, under very bad conditions until the war ended in 1945. During her time at the factory, she helped to smuggle several Jewish people out of Germany.

She came to the United States with her husband when she was in her 20s, and he died two years later, leaving her with four young children.

Despite these experiences, she emphasized how God has worked in her life.

The thing that saved her, she said, from a longer time in the concentration camp was the fact that she was born with blonde hair and blue eyes, even though both of her parents had dark hair and eyes. “He (God) knew what I would have to go through,” she says. “He knew, but I didn’t. He knew me, but I didn’t know Him.”

April 14, 2000

Around the Di-

The Catholic News & Herald 5

South Vietnamese woman aids needy children back

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer GREENSBORO — Because of the war, many Americans avoid the subject of Vietnam entirely. However, South Vietnam holds strong memories for St. Pius X parishioner Minhthu Ngo Lynagh.

Because of these memories, Lynagh wanted to become involved with Children of Vietnam, a WinstonSalem group, when she first read about it over a year ago.

Children of Vietnam, a non-profit, tax-exempt charity organization, was established after Ben Wilson, the founder, had been working in the country through his job. He saw the handicapped and destitute children, who resided in Danang in the Quangnam Province in Central Vietnam.

Wilson and the board of directors, of which Lynagh has been a member for over a year, solicit medical and monetary donations from various churches, businesses and organizations to take to Vietnam, explained Lynagh.

“When I was working in Vietnam, I came to know and understand the people, their positive attitude toward life and the closeness of their families; I felt it was to become my life’s work to help the children,” said Wilson.

The group also helps with building houses, supplying 45 pounds of rice, to needy families, purchasing prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs and medicine and paying for hospital stays for children, many still affected from war materials.

In March, Lynagh, Wilson and two other board members traveled to Danang to deliver the money and supplies and help with distribution and build-

scale. “There wasn’t a lot of fighting ing efforts, explained Wilson. in Dalat as compared to some places in “She (Lynagh) is outgoing and Vietnam; it was hard for the Commuresourceful and interested in what’s nists to infiltrate the city because of going on,” complimented Wilson. “She the schools and other establishments. made contacts to people in Greensboro It was understood that and is our spokesperson, you wouldn’t destroy and she is looking for Dalat,” she said. ways to help broaden our “I want to develop “Saigon was noisy, scope.” and there was some Lynagh was born in programs to build fighting. By then, the Dalat in South Vietnam, bridges between war was coming to an sixth in a family of 12, end” she continued. “I to parents who had conmy two countries really didn’t think about verted to Catholicism. and between U.S. the war as such because “Dalat was on a plateau, churches and we had one war after about 2,000 feet up, with a temperate climate and Vietnamese churches. another; we hadn’t had peace for years. However, was simply a beautiful city,” remembered Through faith, I think I had two brothers killed Lynagh. “Before my par- we can achieve many in the war, which affected my family and me very ents met, my mother had things.” much. Every family had worked in the Daughsomeone who died in the ters of Charity convent, — Minhthu Ngo Lynagh war, and we (the Vietwhere she was converted, namese) paid a painful and my father worked price.” on a coffee farm, where In April 1975, right a priest informed him before the fall of South Vietnam to about Catholicism.” the Communists, eighteen-year-old Growing up Catholic in a predomiLynagh, her older sister Dieu Ngo and nantly Buddhist country was not difher uncle and his family left her homeficult for Lynagh: “It was interesting land with several others on a shrimp because everyone would come to my boat. After being lost at sea, the small house for our holidays and celebravessel was picked up by a Taiwanese tions, associated with Catholicism. As Navy boat, which brought them to the a minority, we were united in our faith Philippines, then to Guam, where she with the other Catholics around us.” sent her parents a telegram to let them After graduating high school, she know she was safe. enrolled in LaSalle University in SaiShe traveled to Fort Walton Beach, gon, where she majored in chemical Fla., to Eglin Air Force Base to a refuengineering and lived with her uncle gee camp, where she was assigned to and his family. Living in Saigon was a sponsor couple, Dr. Jack and Kathy a change from life in Dalat, where she Wagoner. She later went to live with her was not exposed to the war on a large sister in Washington D.C. Lynagh said, “When I left Vietnam and came to the U.S., I had no idea what would happen. I didn’t want to go, but I knew I couldn’t stay by myself with my parents and other family members so far away. I didn’t have time to think about it. I had faith while I was in the camp, but I was worried about what would happen. The sponsor family and everyone I met were so nice, and what I experienced was beyond my expectations.”

At the urging of a priest at the refugee camp, she enrolled at Catholic University in Washington D.C. and received a four-year scholarship to major in nursing and worked in the dining hall to pay for housing. In college she met her husband Dr. Bill Lynagh, who was in graduate school at the time.

After graduation, she worked as a pediatric nurse, and her husband went to medical school and was in residency in Florida.

“Going to school strengthened my faith as a Catholic,” expressed Lynagh.

“I think what drew Bill and I to each other was our Catholic faith.”

Three years ago, after her two sons, Sean, now 13, and Kevin, now 12, had arrived, the family moved to North Carolina to Charlotte, then to Greensboro. She read about “Children of Vietnam,” and Wilson and was immediately interested in helping in any way she could.

“I thought it interesting that Wilson had never been in Vietnam during the war, and I was impressed by his generosity. By then, I felt I was ready to go back to Vietnam to help,” admitted Lynagh.

Lynagh’s goal is one of solidarity and hope for the future of her native and home countries: “Through Children of Vietnam, I hope we can improve the lives of families and especially children, but I also want to focus on the bigger picture. I want to develop programs to build bridges between my two countries and between U.S. churches and Vietnamese churches.

Through faith, I think we can achieve many things.” t For more information about Children of Vietnam, contact Ben Wilson at (336) 727-1110.

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

6 The Catholic News & Herald Gallup Poll explores antiCatholic bias in U.S. PRINCETON, N.J. (CNS) — A Gallup Poll has found that roughly one-fourth of Americans have a negative view of the Catholic religion and nearly two-thirds view it favorably.

Contrary to widespread opinion that anti-Catholic bias exists disproportionately among evangelical or bornagain Protestants, the survey found that only 29 percent of that group — compared to 30 percent of Protestants generally — described Catholicism as “unfavorable.” Despite recent flaps over alleged insensitivity to Catholic feelings by Republican leaders, the poll found that Democrats and independents are slightly more likely than Republicans to view Catholicism negatively.

Illinois bishops issue pastoral to combat ‘sin of racism’ CHICAGO (CNS) — The Illinois Catholic bishop have issued a pastoral letter on combating racism called “Moving Beyond Racism: Learning to See With the Eyes of Christ.” The letter, six years in the making, was officially released April 4, the 32nd anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. “This is not just about a change in attitude, but a change in behavior so that we can go enter the millennium free of the sin of racism,” said Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago.

Annan says he, pope in same business: working for peace ROME (CNS) — Ahead of a meeting with Pope John Paul II, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he and the pontiff “were in the same business.” “We both work for peace, but we use different means,” the secretarygeneral said at an April 6 press conference at the U.N.’s Rome-based World Food Program. Annan was due to meet the pope as part of his April 5-11 visit to Italy and the Vatican. Annan said the pope’s March 20-26 trip to the Middle East “was a very positive one.”

Nun says years of death penalty has not deterred crime ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (CNS) — Use of the death penalty has not deterred crime, says Providence Sister Dorothy Rasche, who has worked in prison ministry for 20 years. She believes that

People in the although it has taken nearly 25 years, people are beginning to realize that the death penalty is ineffective. In an interview with the Catholic Explorer, newspaper of the Joliet Diocese, Sister Rasche pointed to efforts in Illinois and in the nation’s capital as evidence the political climate is shifting. In January, Illinois Gov. George Ryan announced a moratorium on the state’s use of the death penalty, the first such moratorium in the nation and a move widely praised by Catholic leaders.

Proms in Florida county conflict with Holy Saturday services LEESBURG, Fla. (CNS) — Catholic teens in Lake County are facing a tough choice on April 22: they can go to their proms or to Easter Vigil services. Proms for Leesburg and South Lake public high schools in the Orlando Diocese have been scheduled on Holy Saturday. “We don’t believe the prom committees made the decision intentionally but it puts our teens in a difficult spot — to go to prom or to participate in Easter Vigil services,” said Linda Clark, business manager at St. Paul’s Parish in Leesburg. “Our youths shouldn’t have to make that kind of choice,” she said.

Identical twin priests hold chaplain posts at Houston hospitals HOUSTON (CNS) — As transplant patient Steve Foster tells it, when Father Bruce Noble visited him in the intensive care unit, the clouds outside the window cleared away, letting the day’s first sunlight into his room. Father Noble, chaplain at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, won’t take credit for the daylight but has brought sunshine into patients’ lives for 12 years.

Father Noble, 63, and his identical twin brother, Father David Noble, a chaplain at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, have been recognized for their hospital ministry work with two lifetime achievement medals.

April 14, 2000

CNS photo by Peter Finney Jr., Clarion Herald

Beatification ceremony in St. Peter’s Square Pilgrims pray during a beatification ceremony in St. Peter’s Square April 9. The pope beatified five individuals, including Father Francis X. Seelos, a Redemptorist priest who ministered in Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New Orleans.

Peruvian bishops urge calm amid post-election

By Alejandro Bermudez Catholic News Service LIMA, Peru (CNS) — Peruvian bishops renewed their call to citizens to avoid violence amid tensions following the country’s presidential election.

The president of the Peruvian bishops’ conference, Archbishop Luis Bambaren Gastelumendi, said the Peruvian population showed a “great level of civility and respect for the democratic system.”

“This respect must be kept,” Archbishop Bambaren added.

Tensions between the followers of President Alberto Fujimori and those of candidate Alejandro Toledo increased late April 10 after the president of the National Office of Electoral Process, Jose Portillo Campbell, stated that the official results of the elections would not be known until two or three days later.

Following a demonstration by

opposition supporters protesting possible election fraud April 10, Bishop Miguel Irizar Campos of Callao, secretary-general of the Peruvian bishops’ conference, urged citizens to avoid violence “at any cost.”

Toledo protested that day along with 4,000 demonstrators at Government Palace in Lima, where they were dispersed by police tear gas.

Portillo said that after counting nearly 40 percent of the votes, Fujimori had almost 50 percent, just short of winning the first round.

But the spokesman for the international organization Transparency, which monitored the elections, said that, statistically, “it is impossible to deny a second electoral round.” Transparency said its sample counting of less than 1 percent of the vote indicated Fujimori should face a runoff and added his outright win would confirm

April 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 7

From the

Tikkun Olam: “Repairing the World”

Habitat for Humanity event crosses many faith traditions

By LARRY CHANCE Correspondent GREENSBORO — Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, nondenominational and Jewish faithful have gathered in the eastern part of Greensboro to build homes together, with several of them being built for Muslim families. This ecumenical effort is “The Building on Faith Blitz,” sponsored by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro.

The build began April 5, and the homes should be ready for families to move in later this summer.

Many Habitat for Humanity homes are sponsored by single organizations, such as churches, businesses, civic groups and even members of the U.S. House of Representatives. All Faith Blitz 2000 is unique because these eight homes are being co-sponsored by more than 50 Christian churches and Jewish congregations in the Greater Greensboro area.

“We knew that there were a lot of small congregations that didn’t have the financial resources to sponsor a house but would like to be involved, so we thought this was a way to come together in an ecumenical way so that we could involve the small and the large,” said Bob Kelley, president of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro.

“We enjoy good spirit all the time, but this is just special.”

Kelley said that Habitat for Humanity believes in the importance of being overtly Christian by reaching out and being respectful of all faiths.

Kelley believes that this event embodies the spirit of the organization’s mission of bringing “people of all faiths and backgrounds to work as partners building decent, affordable housing.”

Twelve denominations represent-

Photos by Larry Chance

An interfaith group of volunteers works on a Habitat home during the The Building on Faith Blitz in Greensboro. Twelve denominations represented by more than 1,000 people volunteered for the four-day blitz.

I would also say that we’re bringing more of the Godliness that exists within each one of us out into this.”

The homes being built during “The Building on Faith Blitz” are the final eight homes in Poplar Ridge, a Habitat subdivision consisting of 67 occupied homes. Building on this site began in 1996. In addition to the faith communities involved, the Greensboro Bar Association is also part of the effort. t

ed by more than 1,000 people volunteered for the four-day blitz.

For instance, the traditional Habitat home dedication ceremony is highlighted by giving the homeowner a Bible. In this case, seven of the homes are being built for Sudanese Muslim families, so at the dedication, Habitat will also present them with the Koran.

An ecumenical worship and celebration kicked off the blitz. At the

service, Christian hymns and prayers, the blowing of the shofar, and South African freedom songs all blended to provide a truly spiritual backdrop for the labor to follow.

“By the end of the service, everybody was holding hands, singing the Unity song, exchanging smiles and shedding tears,” said Trudy Menzzentto, a parishioner at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and Habitat board member.

“It was a very moving experience,” she added.

This sentiment was echoed by Rabbi Fred Guttman of Greensboro’s Temple Emanuel, who felt that the service was one of the most spiritual interfaith events he had ever attended.

Volunteer coordinator Roland Russoli said that the spirit of unity from the service has carried over into the actual building process. “They’re all working together as one group, doing something good in the community, building these eight houses,” he said.

On the second day of the blitz, Rabbi Guttman led a Temple Emanuel youth group that had teamed up with a Presbyterian youth group to work on the home co-sponsored by St. Mary Catholic Church, one of the smallest congregations represented.

“For us, a major tenet of Judaism is called ‘Tikkun Olam’ ... which means ‘repairing the world,’” Guttman said.

“So we really feel that by doing this we are helping to make the world better, helping to repair the world. And

Gail Feddish and Joe White, parishioners of St. Mary Catholic Church in Greensboro, were among the volunteers at the Habitat for Humanity’s Building on Faith Blitz.

8 The Catholic News & Herald

“So why you?”

E

Faith

VOCATIONS

ight year s ago I was experiencing the spring angst that comes with a semission for which I was created. nior’s decision about life. As an 18-yearI was a novice at prayer, utilizing it old, my plans for the future mostly when I was in trouble. included the Naval Academy, I had lived for some time as if playing football, getting marGod was a mere helper, ready ried, making money and enat hand to aid me in all of joying relative success. my trivial dilemmas. I knelt These seemed to the best down one day, reluctantly, in options that the world had to front of the Blessed Sacraoffer. What more could a man ment, and He began to pull. want? I was plagued with the The desires I possessed were question why? revealed to be the deeper Why at that moment was longings for the fullness of I burdened with questions? goodness, truth and beauty Rev. Mr. Why, with all of these viable found in God alone. In Him Matthew Kauth options did my heart, prowas the source and abunpelled by my mind, stretch dance of life. I went to Him itself to find something more? with the questions, and over time realI quickly discerned that if I was to talk ized that He, Himself, was the answer. about a purpose at all, I had to consider the He has led me to the Holy PriestOne who made life meaningful. If my life hood. And answered the question, why. has any purpose at all, it is because I was created for something, and more specifiDeacon Matthew Kauth will be orcally, for some One. I had to discover the dained to the Priesthood on June 3, 2000.

For more information about serving God as a priest in the Diocese of Charlotte, please contact Father John Allen, Office of Vocations, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203, (704) 370-3353.

April 14, 2000

April 14, 2000

Around the Di-

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Jim and Jane Loufek, seated left, and Ken and Isabelle Marino, seated right, sit down to a meal of vegetable soup and bread with Bishop William G. Curlin on March 5. Bishop Curlin gave a presentation on the Eucharist during the Wednesday night program. The Soup and Substance Program at St. Barnabas in Arden is one of several such programs around the diocese.

Food for the body and

By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer ARDEN — Parishioners at St. Barnabas Church in Arden have reflected on the Lenten season through soup, song and scripture with their “Soup and Substance” program. On March 15, a designated parish group sponsored the first of the Wednesday night sessions with their homemade meatless soup and featured various speakers with specified topics of discussion after the community meal.

“We tried to focus on jubilee themes and have tried to hold to a level of continuity this year,” explained Sheryl Peyton, the parish Soup and Substance program coordinator and the parish director of religious education.

“In Lent we fast and abstain. Many Catholics have the tradition of giving up meals or eating simple meals and treating their Wednesday like a Friday.”

The attendants feasted on varieties of soups from potato and cheese and vegetable to minestrone and a dish of Cuban black beans and rice, courtesy

of parishioner Mirtha Martinez and her mother. The parish youth group, the Knights of Columbus, the Family/ Community Life Commission and the Marconi Lodge members presented their soup to an average of 50 to 80 fellow church members every week.

Dana and Paulette Wardwell agreed, “This (the Soup and Substance Program) gives us an opportunity to grow in faith and to share with fellow parishioners and to learn more about Christ.”

This year’s theme, “Open the Doors to Christ: Jubilee 2000 Soup and Substance,” was reflected in the different topics. Peyton and Mary Ann Poli, parish youth minister, gave the first night’s talk, “Pilgrimage as a Model for Understanding our Spiritual Journey.” “We talked about how we are on a spiritual journey toward God and how Lent is a special time to focus on our spiritual journey,” explained Peyton.

Jesuit Father Frank Reese, on staff with the Jesuit House of Prayer,

See SOUP & SUBSTANCE, page 14

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald Book Review

Priest says Good Friday meditation not just for one day of

By Mary Claire Gart Catholic News Service CHICAGO (CNS) — The title of a new book by Father Richard John Neuhaus — “Death on a Friday Afternoon” — would probably catch the eye of anyone searching for spiritual reading for Holy Week.

But the author says that exploring the mystery of Christ’s death should not be confined to one day alone.

“Every day of the year is a good day to think more deeply about Good Friday,” he writes in his preface, “for Good Friday is the drama of the love by which our everyday is sustained.”

Father Neuhaus, head of the Institute on Religion and Public Life in New York, discussed his latest work, published by Basic Books, during a reception and book signing March 31 at Pauline Books and Media in Chicago.

“Of my 30 or more books,” he said, “this is different in that it is an exploration into the core reality of what it means to be a Christian — the cross of Our Lord.”

Explaining that it is “not an academic work,” the former Lutheran minister said his aim was “to see why the worst of all things — the death of God — becomes for us the beginning of life eternal.”

April 14, 2000

Read-

Subtitled “Meditations on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross,” the book devotes a chapter to each “word” — actually the seven last statements Jesus made from the cross.

Father Neuhaus noted that he is just the latest in a long list of writers and composers — from Haydn to Gerard Manley Hopkins — who have delved into the meaning of the Seven Last Words.

But, he said, the book is not entirely meditative. Arguments are also advanced and there are stories about people “who in their troubles find themselves, as they say, at the foot of the cross.”

Father Neuhaus asked those at the bookstore not to follow the example of one woman who liked the book so much she read it all in one sitting. “Please don’t,” he said. “Take it as a companion for your own reflection.”

Noting that every one of the church’s doctrines is “a door opening to mysteries beyond,” he said that after writing each chapter, he realized he had just begun to explore each word.

“It was an immeasurably rewarding experience for me and I hope it will guide your own exploration.” t

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of April 16 - 22, 2000 Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday), John 12:12-16, Isaiah 50:4-7, Philippians 2:6-11, Mark 14:1-15:47; Monday of Holy Week, Isaiah 42:1-7, John 12:1-11; Tuesday of Holy Week, Isaiah 49:1-6, John 13:21-33, 36-38; Wednesday of Holy Week, Isaiah 50:4-9, Matthew 26:14-25; Holy Thursday, Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15; Good Friday (Fast and Abstinence), Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9, John 18:1-19:42; Holy Saturday, Exodus 14:15-15:1, Romans 6:3-11, Mark 16:1-8 Readings for the week of April 23 - 29, 2000 Easter Sunday, Acts 10:34, 37-43, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8, Mark 16:1-8; Easter Monday, Acts 2:14, 22-32, Matthew 28:8-15; Easter Tuesday, Acts 2:36-41, John 20:11-18; Easter Wednesday, Acts 3:1-10, Luke 24:13-35; Easter Thursday, Acts 3:11-26, Luke 24:35-48; Easter Friday, Acts 4:1-12, John 21:1-14; Easter Saturday, Acts 4:13-21, Mark 16:9-15

Word to Life April 16, Palm Sunday, Cycle B Readings: Procession: Mark 11:1-10 1) Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18a, 19-20, 23-24 2) Philippians 2:6-11 3) Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47

By Beverly Corzine Catholic News Service Earlier in the day the sun had cheerfully shone, but by the time of burial the north wind came raging across the plains of southeastern New Mexico, filled with an icy vengeance. Hurried prayers and final condolences were hardly audible over the thundering blast that scattered tumbleweeds, dirt and mourners alike from its furious path.

Now quiet had descended, accompanied by a numbing cold. We were a small group of tired, despondent and somewhat dazed people who re-entered the cemetery where long cold shadows covered the mound of freshly piled moist dirt.

The smell of flowers and freshly turned earth mingled with our sorrow, because resting below us was the battered body of one we had known as the kindest and gentlest of people.

Here was the final resting place of a woman who always was in church if the doors were open. She was a Christian woman, a peaceful woman, a mother, a grandmother, a widow, a murder victim. She was my mother-in-law whose life ironically had ended in her own kitchen where she had cooked hundreds of meals

for all of us who now surrounded her grave in disbelief.

The last rays of light disappeared, leaving us enveloped and shivering in the darkness. We wondered among ourselves what we should do next.

Agreeing that we were hungry, we decided to go to my mother-in-law’s favorite restaurant.

Around the table was her immediate family, the 14 people she loved most in the world. It was the most memorable family meal I ever shared.

As we ate and talked, “remember-when” stories about her began to fill the air. We laughed. The meal became an island of joy in the midst of deepest grief. Moreover, it would sustain us in legions of dark days yet to come.

Tomorrow would be another day of sad challenges, but we were family. We possessed faith.

Driving back to the hotel, I thanked God for the wonderful meal we had shared. I thought about the Last Supper. I thought about Jesus’ wisdom in choosing the power of a shared meal so that people would be able to remember and would be strengthened by him for all time.

Questions: Can you make connections in your own life between significant meals shared with others and their lasting impact on your life? Does this offer you any new insight on how the disciples might have experienced the Last Supper?

April 14, 2000

The Catholic News & Herald 11

Entertain-

“Keeping the Faith” a witty comedy of childhood

By Anne Navarro Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — The lifelong friendship of a rabbi and a priest is threatened when a childhood friend re-enters their lives and both fall for her in the troubling yet witty comedy “Keeping the Faith” (Touchstone).

How’s this for an opening scene: A young priest, plastered from a night of binge drinking, falls down onto a pile of garbage bags on the streets of New York. Is it more than a bit off-putting?

Absolutely. Is it typical of the rest of the film? No. “Keeping the Faith” The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

It is certainly upsetting to see a Catholic priest portrayed in such an unholy manner. But don’t be deceived; this is not all the film is about.

Best friends since childhood, Rabbi Jake Schram (Ben Stiller) and Father Brian Kilkenny Finn (Edward Norton) chose careers serving God because of their passionate faith. Jake and Brian work hard to get their respective congregations as enthusiastic about God

as they are, sometimes in unconventional ways.

Determined to bolt his congregation out of their ingrained worshiping routine, Rabbi Jake brings in a black gospel choir to sing a rousing rendition of a traditional Hebrew song and encourages group meditation. Father Brian, a conscientious priest, has a good rapport with his parishioners, parleying in their native Spanish, and delivers thoughtful and spirited homilies that pack the house.

The trouble comes when a childhood friend, Anna Reilly (Jenna Elfman), now a high-powered executive permanently attached to her cell phone, comes back to New York and both men fall for her.

As the Upper West Side’s most eligible bachelor, Jake is constantly set up with the daughters of the wellintentioned mothers at his synagogue.

These outlandish dates provide the film with some of its most comical moments.

But each woman lacks that certain zing and Jake finds that unexpected sparks begin to fly with Anna.

Although they both agree to keep things low-key and — most importantly — a secret from Brian, Anna falls harder for Jake than either anticipated. This poses a serious problem for Jake. What would his congregation say about their young rabbi dating a gentile?

Anna’s feelings for Jake prompt her to study Judaism. Her willingness to leave behind her implied Christian roots is troubling even though it is

CNS photo from Touchstone Pictures

Ben Stiller and Edward Norton star as a rabbi and a priest in the romantic comedy “Keeping the Faith.” clear that she has only become interested in her own spirituality through Jake’s influence.

In the meantime, Brian’s mind has wandered into the murky territory of romantic love with Anna and he begins to have doubts about his priestly vows.

Distraught when Jake distances himself, Anna seeks comfort from Brian. But he misreads her signals and blurts out his attraction to her, even going so far as to kiss her. When, humiliated and embarrassed, he discovers that not only are the feelings not reciprocated, but that he has been deceived by his closest friends, he uncharacteristically goes on a bender, bringing the audience full circle to the beginning of the film.

As directed by Norton, the majority of the film is concerned with Anna and Jake’s relationship, but it does tread on dicey territory, namely a priest’s

confrontation with temptation.

When Brian sits down to speak with his pastor (Milos Forman) about his trouble, the old monsignor’s response that he has fallen in love at least once a decade since he became a priest may be disconcerting. But the more significant implication is that he did not succumb to these temptations and his faith is stronger because of them.

Even the provocative issue of celibacy is taken on in a clear and straightforward manner. Brian explains that his fulfillment with God is so satisfying that the question of sex has been settled for him.

The film is at times reminiscent of Woody Allen’s films in its humor and ample footage of New York with the city presented in all its racial, cultural and religious diversity. This is exemplified not only by the close friendship between a rabbi and priest, but also by their joint effort in opening an interfaith senior citizen karaoke center.

Although some may be discomforted watching a priest battle with temptation, “Keeping the Faith” presents Father Brian in a humble and human way. And the film’s droll dialogue and fine performances help to balance some of the more predictable moments of the yarn.

Taken as a whole, the film gives a fresh, smart look at thirtysomethings who may have gotten a little too comfortable and are inadvertently pushed to question their lifestyles and opinions and grow in the process. t Navarro is on the staff of the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

April 14, 2000

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Trinity is center of Christian life, pope says at audience

By John Norton Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Far from being abstract and irrelevant to believers’ daily lives, faith in the Trinity is the central mystery of Christian life, Pope John Paul II said.

The creed’s description of one God in three equal and distinct persons “cannot be interpreted as a sort of ‘celestial arithmetical theorem’ from which nothing derives for human existence, as the (18th-century German) philosopher (Immanuel) Kant supposed,” he said.

Speaking during the weekly general audience April 5 in St. Peter’s Square, the pope said the glory of the Trinity manifests itself throughout time and space in the whole of creation, reaching a high point in the Incarnation.

God’s sending of his own son to take on human flesh reveals his love for humanity and enables humans to become his children, the pope said.

“To know God and his son is to accept the mystery of the loving communion of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit into one’s own life, which even now is open to eternal life because it shares in the life of God,” he said.

The revelation of the Trinity’s glory in the Incarnation was not “a simple illumination which threw back the darkness for an instant, but a seed of divine life deposited forever in the world and in human hearts,” the pope said.

At the end of the audience, the pope appealed for greater respect for the human rights of Gypsies.

Noting that April 8 marked the International Day of Gypsies — dedicated this year to Gypsies victimized in the Kosovo conflict — the pope said he hoped that the commemoration would help “to promote the full respect of the human dignity of these brothers of ours, promoting their adequate integration in society.”

He said he looked forward to meeting with Gypsies at the Vatican during jubilee celebrations June 2 for migrants and travelers.

Looking relaxed and alert throughout the audience — attended by 40,000 pilgrims from more than 20 countries — the pope smiled and joked after Croatian pilgrims sang him “Gaudeamus Igitur,” a rousing Latin-language students’ song.

The pope was fresh from a unofficial day trip outside Rome, most likely to the clean air of nearby mountains, according to Italian news reports. His destination was unknown, but he left the Vatican at 7:30 a.m. April 4 in a black BMW with a small escort, the ANSA news agency reported.

Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, a Vatican spokesman, declined April 5 to confirm or deny the reports.

Holy Thursday and RCIA Holy Thursday evening is the beginning of the Easter Triduum. The Easter Triduum of the passion and resurrection of Christ is the culmination of the entire liturgical year. Holy Thursday begins a threeday period of prayer, reaching its climax when Jesus Christ is raised from the dead to new and eternal life at the Easter Vigil, where we celebrate the baptism and confirmation of new Catholics, new members of the Catholic Church.

What an awesome experience; what a joyous occasion!

For those journeying in the RCIA program, Holy Thursday marks a series of spiritually intense events leading to the beginning of new and blessed lives as Catholics. On Holy Thursday evening, the period of solemn preparation and the “purple” of Lent are left behind, as the priest and deacons put on white vestments for the evening Mass of the Last Supper.

This evening is the first time that the Elect are not dismissed from the holy sacrifice of the Mass for the breaking open of the Word.

For the last two years, my ministry has primarily been involved with the RCIA program at St. Michael the Archangel Church in Silver Spring, Md. For a catechist and now a transitional deacon of the church, there is no more joyful moment than witnessing my fellow journeyers, my friends, enter the Catholic Church.

Holy Thursday itself is an awakening from the season of Lent. We celebrate the Eucharist, we commemorate the Last Supper “on the night he was betrayed,” and we have a special option for the washing of the feet. St. John the Evangelist directly told us that our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, came to serve — and not to be served. All those who follow Jesus are expected to follow the example of the Master.

We follow Jesus, carrying our own crosses, for in doing so, we will share everlasting life with him.

My brothers and sisters, Christ is the light of the world. For myself, Holy Thursday Mass brings

Hispanic Ministry FATHER VINCENT H. FINNERTY Guest Columnist for non-Hispanic priests and sisters is on the decline.

In 1998, far fewer US religious are taking courses in Spanish or studying Hispanic faith culture.

For example, in 1990, 9 percent of priests and about 6 percent of sisters nationwide were studying Spanish; in 1998, the combined figure for all religious was under 4 percent. The percentage of U.S. religious engaged in studies of Hispanic devotions and sacramental life has declined by well over 50 percent.

In the Diocese of Charlotte this year, we have organized a one day cultural consciousness awareness day for the priests. We will take advantage of this workshop to provide materials to the priests of the Diocese to help them celebrate more effectively the sacraments in Spanish. The workshop will be conducted by Father Mario Vizcaino and Lidia Menocal from SEPI (Southeast Pastoral Institute).

Vincentian Father Vincent H. Finnerty is director of Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte.

The Season of Lent REV. MR. FRANK SEABO Guest Columnist

all these wonderful experiences to a clear focus and meaning. Christ’s intention is for all those baptized to follow his example, and by following his example, to serve the people of God. The beautiful witness of faith by those who, as adults, choose to enter the Catholic Church by attending RCIA feeds my own faith.

On Holy Thursday evening, we witness together, we pray together and we watch together as the Blessed Sacrament is carried out of the church to a prayerful place of reservation. For on Good Friday, on Calvary, Jesus — the Son of God and the Son of Mary, the Lamb of God, the sinless one — one time and eternally takes away the sins of the world.

Rev. Mr. Frank Seabo is a transitional deacon in formation for the priesthood of the Diocese of Charlotte. He is currently completing formation at Theological College in Washington, D.C. He will be ordained to the priesthood in June.

Evaluating Hispanic Ministry Last month we took a look at an evaluation of diocesan and parish structures with regard to Hispanic Ministry. Let’s now take a look at programs for priests and seminarians as well as lay participation and leadership in the Church.

The 1998 study commissioned by the Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops offers the following with regard to programs for priests and seminarians: On the plus side...

Language and cultural training for priest candidates has increased in recent years. In 1990, only 18 percent of the dioceses offer “English as a Second Language” programs to Hispanic seminarians; in addition, only 31 percent required their non-Hispanic seminarians to study Spanish.

By 1998, the number of dioceses offering ESL to Hispanics had doubled, and the number requiring non-Hispanics to study Spanish had increased by 67 percent.

On the down side... a) The number of new Hispanic vocations remains low. The growing pool of male Hispanic newcomers is a potential source of new energy for the priesthood.

However, education, language and cultural barriers continue to limit their entry into seminary.

Among the native-born, new opportunities for social advancement outside the Church, coupled with a lack of active recruitment in the parishes, has led to a decline in Hispanic vocations to the priesthood. In the Northeast alone, the number of Hispanic seminarians has declined 64 percent since 1983. b) Continuing education in Hispanic Ministry

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.

April 14, 2000

Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle FATHER THOMAS J. McSWEENEY Guest Columnist can wish for yourself and for others. When you think about it, you begin to realize what an important part Shalom played in the life of Jesus.

That first Christmas, when the Angels sang, they sang, “Peace on earth!” On the very last night of his life, in the upper room, Jesus said to the disciples, “My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) And, in between, again and again, he offered Shalom. As the Prince of Peace, Christ makes his Peace real to us, and delegates each of us to make it real to one another. Indeed, once you experience Christ’s Peace you cannot contain it. It radiates from your very being, and others can sense it.

How wonderful it would be this Easter for someone to actually sense the reality of Christ’s Peace in your life. Indeed, my prayer during this Holy Week is that you will be so at peace with God and yourself, that your joy will be as contagious as it is visible. And please remember me as working and praying with you to bring His Peace to all we meet.

God is with us! God loves us! Shalom! Shalom!

Father Thomas J. McSweeney is director of The Christophers.

1964).

The instruction explains that just as Jesus, after the resurrection, interpreted to them passages of the Old Testament and his own words, so the apostles interpreted his words and actions from the perspective of their enlightened beliefs and the needs of their listeners.

These apostolic teachings then found their way into the written Gospels, with each of the evangelists presenting the life and teachings of Jesus according to his own theological purpose and forms of expression. (See the encyclical, “The Promotion of Biblical Studies,” Pius XII, 1943; and the above instruction.)

In this way, as you say, words of Jesus spoken before his death were seen and understood later on in the context of his death and his presence in the living community of believers.

We should note also, however, that these verses in Matthew and Mark would have a particular spiritual significance even before Calvary.

Punishment by death on the cross was common in those days. Chances are that all the people in the entourage of Jesus had looked on frequently as condemned men carried their cross, at least the upper cross bar, to the place of crucifixion.

Commentators have noted that when Jesus adopted this exhortation to carry the cross in the way the Gospels suggest, he would also be urging his followers to submit themselves to God’s authority in some way comparable to the condemned criminals’ submission to Roman authority.

Questions may be sent to Father John Dietzen, Box 325, Peoria, IL 61651, or e-mail: jjdietzen@aol.com.

Peace! Shalom!

Every once in a while, we hear a story that we never forget. This is one that has affected me that way.

The world premiere of one of composer Deems Taylor’s most beautiful works had just been played.

The concert hall’s capacity audience reacted as though spellbound for a moment. Then, wild applause. Over and over again, they called for the composer.

When Deems Taylor finally walked to center stage and bowed gracefully, the audience settled back expecting a curtain speech. Instead, Taylor just stood there, slowly turning his head, from center aisle to side aisles, and then looking up into the balcony. He wanted everyone in the audience to get a good look at him. Then, with utter joy in his voice, he simply said, “Now you can go home and tell your friends for once in your life you have seen a truly happy man.”

I would hope this Easter, if you were with me and I with you, we would look into each others eyes and find a truly happy person.

I believe that is what we are called to do for others — to be that truly happy person that the Resurrection Power of God makes possible. To be that truly peace-filled person speaking the word of love, as it is needed — carrying food to the hungry, aid and comfort to the sick, new hope to the despondent.

To encourage young and old alike to nurture and develop all of their God-given creativity. To listen when someone needs a friend to pay attention. To hug when someone needs a friend’s comforting arms.

Actually, those of us who joyfully celebrate the Peace of Christ this Easter are called to do these things. Why? Because with Easter, we rejoice in Jesus’ final victory, the fulfillment of His life and ministry, and our fulfillment as a Christian people. The Prince of Peace has conquered, not by the power of the sword, but by the power of love.

The Hebrew word for this complete personal fulfillment is Shalom — the presence of harmony and wholeness in your life. There is nothing better you

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN CNS Columnist

Jesus’ Exhortation: Take up your cross Q. Your column in our diocesan paper is very informative and helpful. Our question is about the passages in Matthew and Mark where Jesus tells his disciples that they must “take up their cross” if they are to follow him.

How would they have understood this since it was Jesus’ death on the cross that gave the cross its significance?

And obviously that had not happened yet. Does it have to do with the fact that the Gospels were written after the resurrection, when the apostles knew about his death on the cross?

A. That certainly would be a significant part of the answer. Whatever Jesus actually said in this context, it is certain that the early Christians would have read these words in the Gospels of Matthew (10:38 and 16:24) and Mark (8-34) with their minds on the death of Jesus.

The church’s well-established teaching about the formation and writing of the four Gospels supports that interpretation. In their preaching during the first few decades after the Lord’s death and resurrection, “the apostles passed on to their listeners what was really said and done by the Lord with that fuller understanding which they enjoyed” after being instructed by the Spirit following the resurrection and Pentecost (“The Historical Truth of the Gospels,” instruction of the Pontifical Biblical Commission,

The Catholic News & Herald 13

The Bottom Line Antoinette Bosco CNS Columnist A jury no longer out During the Easter season each year, someone is bound to challenge me on what happened after the crucifixion of Jesus. Questions usually range from, “How can you prove Jesus rose from the dead?” to “How do you know for sure that the Holy Spirit infused the apostles with grace, courage and spiritual powers 50 days later?”

Well, the answer is, of course, we can’t really “prove” such incredible happenings that are so completely out of the range of what can be attested to scientifically. We can only respond that we walk in faith, which means we accept that these events are mysterious, yet believe they are true.

The source that verifies this for us is the church, which — as the sign of Christ on earth — could not be in error. I felt it would always be comforting to be able to go beyond faith and say, “These are the facts, friends. It happened just the way the Bible says.”

Well, I had the good luck to get my hands on a new book that puts all the questions raised by the Gospels to the test. The author comes up with a conclusion that should force even doubters to reconsider their questions about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.

The book is written by an attorney, Pamela Binnings Ewen, and is called “Faith on Trial — An Attorney Analyzes the Evidence for the Death and Resurrection of Jesus” (Boardman and Holman Publishers). A specialist in corporate finance, Ewen began her investigation with a question: “Would the testimony of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John stand up in court?”

From there, the fascination begins. From the perspective of a lawyer, who needs to have compelling evidence for proof in building a factual case, the author analyzes the four Gospels with magnifying-glass detail. She presents her case as if her readers were members of the jury in a trial.

She offers scientific, archaeological and historical evidence to prove that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection actually occurred as described by the four evangelists, who, she also argues, give us the accounts of reliable eyewitnesses.

Her “Summation to the Jury,” proving that the evidence is valid, that the events in the Gospels did occur as a historical fact, is a document in itself that believers should have in hand to pass on to doubters.

Ewen says she wrote the book when, in the middle of life, still an agnostic, she went on a search for faith. Yet, though she found she wanted the answers faith provided, she still needed to understand faith with the logic and reason she had acquired in her professional life as an attorney. For, she states, “The heart will not accept what the mind rejects.”

Her personal search went on for 15 years.

She studied the researched works of great biblical scholars and archaeologists, subjecting every detail to the rigorous standards of proof required in a court of law. Now her work of documenting the veracity of the Gospels, legally, is completed, and she shares her findings with us — the jury.

Her book is a faith journey that is an eye opener and a heart warmer.

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

OLG students place first in NASA GREENSBORO — An eighthgrade science class team at Our Lady of Grace School has been awarded first place in the NASA Student Involvement Program’s (NSIP) 1999-2000 competition. Kyle Barbour, Matthew Frederick, Al-don Schraeder and Craig Reed of Danita McDonald’s class are being honored for their work on “Design a Mission to Mars.”

NSIP is a national program that stimulates math, science, technology and geography excellence through five competition categories designed for students in grades three through 12. The competitions are “Design a Mission to Mars,” “Earth Systems in My Neighborhood,” “Watching Earth Change,” “Aeronautics and Space Science Journalism,” and “Flight Opportunities.”

Over 360 students submitted more than 1,200 entries to the competitions.

Students engage in research that promotes critical thinking, problem solving, communication and collaboration skills.

Student entries are judged at NASA Centers by teams of scientists, engineers, educators, journalists and other professionals who select the first, second and third place winners. The Our Lady of Grace School winners

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Administrative Assistant: St. Therese Catholic Church, Mooresville, NC is seeking a replacement vital to its ministry team in the role of Administrative Assistant to the Pastor. Our dynamic parish comprises 1100 families and continues to grow.

Administrative Assistant is principally responsible for day-to-day administration of the parish and supervision of other staff. Applicant must have pastoral sensitivity and respect for a Catholic environment. Proficiency in Microsoft Office or comparable computer software systems is required. Prior experience in office management is desirable. We offer an attractive compensation package, including comprehensive benefits program. Interested applicants should submit their resumes with references and salary history to: Pastor, St. Therese Catholic Church, 217 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville, NC 28117.

Director of Life Teen Ministry: Vibrant, 4,000-family parish seeks a full-time Director for one of the largest Life Teen programs in the country, serving 200-300 high school teens weekly. Director works in collaboration with two other full-time staff members devoted to youth ministry and manages a wonderful team of 25-30 adult volunteers. Responsibilities include liturgical preparation for the Teen Mass, directing the “Life Night” program that provides teens with creative faith formation, and Confirmation preparation.

Preferred candidates have education in ministry or theology, experience in youth ministry, and a heart for sharing Christ’s love with young people.

Contact Liz Riegel, St. Michael Catholic Church, 804 High House Road, Cary, NC 27513 (919) 4686134; Fax: (919)468-6130, lizreigel@hotmail.com.

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 Director: Growing parish in western North Carolina seeks a dynamic and energetic catechetical leader to oversee a total education ministry for elementary, middle and high school

April 14, 2000

Around the Di-

Soup & Substance, from page 9

Courtesy photo

Kyle Barbour, Matthew Frederick, Al-don Schraeder and Craig Reed are winners in this year’s NASA competition. were judged and selected at NASA Langley Research Center.

NASA headquarters will officially announce the names of all NSIP winners in mid-April and post the names on the NSIP website www.nsip.net.

A NASA representative will visit the school to present plaques to the winning students. t

students. Coordinates sacramental programs and acts as resource for OCIC, OCIA. Assists parish staff as resource for adult programming. Parish needs a candidate who can work on a team, works well with people and who is comfortable inviting others into ministry. A self-starter with good organizational and communication skills is desired. Candidate must be comfortable in a growing community with a vision based in Vatican II. Seek candidate who has an R.E. or related degree. Experience helpful. Send resume and salary requirements to FF Search, The Parish of Saint Eugene, PO Box 8160, Asheville, NC 28814.

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. Cris Villapando, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte NC 28203. (704)370-3246. Application deadline April 21, 2000.

Infant Care Provider: South Charlotte, Providence Plantation. Looking for a caring, responsible person to care for my 6-month old son, in my home, two mornings per week. References required. Please call Tricia (704)321-0619.

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 Administrator, 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

spoke about reconciliation and how “God the Father of Mercy Calls Us to Conversion,” the second presentation. Dominican Father Michael Burke from Raleigh participated in the parish mission and returned to discuss the Beatitudes.

Bishop William G. Curlin joined the Arden group on March 5 to celebrate Mass and to facilitate the program focusing on the Eucharist and its place in the lives of Catholics, especially during the season of Lent.

“Lent is a period of retreat and a time to purify ourselves and to reassess and re-evaluate our lives,” said Bishop Curlin. “When we receive the Eucharist, we become the extension of Jesus presence on earth. The Eucharist is the living Christ, which we should try to remember during this holy time.”

The final topic, “Go Now and Transform the World,” was presented by a panel of parishioners.

“For the final week, the idea was to go out and change the world.

Through the weekly presentations, we should have received the sense of going out to live these truths in

“Lent is a period of retreat and a time to purify ourselves and to reassess and re-evaluate our lives,” said Bishop Curlin. the marketplace and the workplace.

We have to make choices that reflect our Christian understanding of our place in the world,” said Peyton.

Cornelia Scibetta has been attending the programs for several years and mentioned that it sparked the interest of a Baptist friend who was impressed about the concept of nourishment for the body and soul.

“I enjoy the program because it is an opportunity for fellowship and is a learning experience and a part of my Lenten journey,” said Scibetta. t Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or email amprice@charlottediocese.org.

Classified ads bring results! Over 110,000 readers! Over 43,000 homes!

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. 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.

Principal, Elementary: St. Peter’s Catholic School, in southeastern NC university town near coast. The K-8 school is accredited by Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and is fully enrolled with 530 students. Starting date: July 1, 2000. Ideal candidate must be a practicing Catholic with vision, proven leadership and administrative skills. Principal will work collaboratively and maintain educational excellence. Applicant must hold teaching certificate, hold or be eligible for NC Principal License, and have a minimum of five years administrative experience.

Send resume with salary requirements, references and statement of educational philosophy to: Search Committee, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 2700 East Fourth St., Greenville, NC 27858-1712 by April 30, 2000.

Principal, High School: St. Francis Xavier High School, Sumter, SC, seeks a Catholic for the position of principal beginning 2000-2001 school year.

Master’s degree or administrative course work required. Candidate must be an innovative, committed Catholic and be ready to guide and direct the growth and development of St. Francis Xavier High School. (http://web.infoave.net/~SFXHS) Request application and more information from: J Seth (803)7738676 or (803)773-0757. E-mail Sethjc@GTE.com.

Send resume with application by April 25 to Search Committee c/o J Seth, PO Box 1268, Sumter, SC 29151.

Teachers: Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School in Charlotte has openings beginning in August for a Pre-School Teacher and a Transitional Kindergarten Teacher. Part-time positions. NC teacher certification required. Call (704)531-0067.

Tutor: For a special needs child. Winston-Salem.

Tutor needed to join team of people in a home school for 3 1/2-year-old girl. Will train extensively. No experience necessary, but a love of children is a must.

Six-month minimum commitment. Call (336)9222997 and leave message.

Youth Minister: A half-time position as a Youth Minister is available at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in High Point, NC (1000 households). The

parish has a Total Youth Ministry Program, which includes the Confirmation Program, for middle and high school youth. Applicants must be a practicing Catholic and a member of a Catholic parish. Experience in Youth Ministry and Religious Education is desirable. Send resume and references to Search Committee, IHM Church, 605 Barbee Ave., High Point, NC 27262. Fax (336)884-1849. For more information call (336)884-5212.

Youth/Young Adult Ministry Director: A tri-parish (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.

Youth/Young Adult Minister: Prince of Peace, a growing community of 1800 families in beautiful Upstate SC, seeks practicing Catholic to develop: a middle school ministry (social and service); a comprehensive high school ministry of prayer, formation, and service; and a young adult program. Experience and/or related degree preferred.

Position available July 1. Send resume and three references by May 5 to: Youth Ministry Search Committee, Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 1209 Brushy Creek Road, Taylors, SC 29687. P(864)3222233x216. Fax(864)322-2239.

CNA Caregiver: Charlotte area. Needs night work or sleep over. 16 years experience. (704)394-3404.

JOB WANTED

April 14, 2000

Around the Di-

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Stations program brings Way of the Cross to

By Joanita M. Nellenbach Correspondent SYLVA — The narrator announces the first station, “Jesus is Condemned to Death.” The sanctuary of St. Mary Church darkens for a moment, then lights come on as the narrator reads the commentary about the station. The sanctuary goes dark; mysterious figures move into position.

The lights come up again as a group sings. The congregation sees that the mysterious figures have become people frozen in time: Jesus, accosted by the Roman soldiers, and, just to his right, Pontius Pilate, his hands poised over a bowl held by a servant.

It is the first of 14 tableaux in St. Mary’s annual presentation of the Living Stations.

One Friday evening during each Lent, St. Mary youth recreate Jesus’ passion and death in this manner. This year, members of the confirmation class portrayed Jesus, Mary, Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, Pontius Pilate, the soldiers and the crowd. They stopped each moment in time along the Way of the Cross. Singers and guitarists from Western Carolina University and Smoky Mountain High School accompanied each scene with a different song, including “Be Not Afraid,” “We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe,” “Hail Mary, Gentle Woman,” and “Behold the Death of the Lord.”

Gloria Schweizer, campus minister at Western Carolina University in

This year’s Jesus, chosen by the youth from among their group, was Cliff Thompson, a junior at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva.

Thompson and his brother, Adam, recently converted to Catholicism.

“I felt that I needed to be closer to God,” he said. “As I came to be here, I learned more about Jesus because the Catholic Church stresses nearby Cullowhee, brought the Living Stations idea to St. Mary when she and her family moved to the area nine years ago. Her previous parish, Holy Spirit in Union, N.J., had presented the program on Good Fridays.

“It was something we really looked forward to,” she said. “This (St. Mary) was our new church, and I wanted to bring that here and have my son experience what my daughter had.”

She approached Father James Cahill about having the Living Stations at St. Mary. It was Father Cahill’s first Lent at St. Mary, and he was enthusiastic about the program. He’s still pastor there, and he still enjoys the Living Stations. “It’s been great every year,” he said.

He also sees how it influences those who take part: “For some of them, just in the way they do things for others, both in the church and in the community. We’ve got a great bunch of kids here.”

Linda Kinnear, whose son Tyler worked on the lighting this year, also praises the parish youth.

“They’re very spiritual kids,” she

said. “They always rise to the occasion, and they really like each other. It’s very moving, and every year we have the most wonderful Jesus.”

The group did rise to the occasion, going flawlessly through the program after only two rehearsals, the second one finishing only half an hour before the Living Stations began.

This year’s Jesus, chosen by the youth from among their group, was Cliff Thompson, a junior at Smoky Mountain High School in Sylva.

Thompson and his brother, Adam, recently converted to Catholicism. “I felt that I needed to be closer to God,” he said. “As I came to be here, I learned more about Jesus because the Catholic Church stresses Jesus.”

He understands more about Jesus as a result of representing Him in the Living Stations, he said, “by understanding what actually happened. He went through torture, humiliation, a long ordeal. I will have an understanding of that, more than just pictures on the wall. It’s like bringing the pictures out of the wall.”

Joel Stroot, who portrayed Je-

sus last year and was stage manager for this year’s presentation, offered Thompson advice on how to remain still during each tableau: “Make sure to concentrate on one thing so as not to blink. To make it mean more, think of it as a service to Jesus, and when you’re up there, think about what it was really like.”

Megan Hayes was one of those in the crowd scenes. It was her third year in the program. What means the most to her, she said, is “just to see how Jesus’ life was. It’s just touching to see how everything goes on, how everything fits together.”

Lisa Heim has also been a member of the crowd for the last two years, but this year she portrayed Mary. She thinks about what Mary must have thought, the sadness at the death of her son. “I think about the stations more seriously now,” she said.

“It’s incredibly beautiful and moving,” said parishioner Don Buzney. His son Scott was co-narrator, along with Eric Carpenter. Buzney’s son Brian played one of the guards.

“We all grew up with the stations, but this live performance is so moving,” Buzney’s wife, Jean, said. “They give us a great gift.” t

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

April 14, 2000

Living the

Lutherans open hospice named for Cardinal

By Paul Barra Catholic News Service COLUMBIA, S.C. (CNS) — Mere months after Lutherans and Catholics signed an accord, U.S. leaders of the two religions gathered April 2 in Columbia to dedicate The Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Hospice House in the birthplace of the late cardinal of Chicago.

The hospice, run by the Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, will provide a residence for terminally ill patients.

“The Catholic community is humbled and honored that you decided to name this hospice after a Catholic bishop and cardinal,” said Bishop Robert J. Baker of Charleston during a worship service at St. Joseph Church to dedicate the hospice.

“It’s a great tribute to a great man and a practical sign of follow-up to the recent Lutheran-Catholic accord,” he added.

Msgr. Kenneth Velo, director of the Catholic Church Extension Society, was the guest homilist. He was Cardinal Bernardin’s executive assistant, and he delivered the homily at the cardinal’s funeral.

Msgr. Velo called the hospice dedication “most significant” and, alluding to the Gospel reading chosen for the service, he said “Joseph Cardinal Bernardin was a good Samaritan. He stopped by the side of the road all his life.”

The priest said it was appropriate that the Lutherans chose to name the hospice after the late cardinal and that in the work they do, Lutheran Homes would also “stop by the side of the road” like the Samaritan.

He pointed out that the cardinal was born in Columbia and served the Charleston Diocese as a priest. The then-Father Bernardin was named an auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, then appointed Cincinnati’s archbishop in 1972 before becoming archbishop of

Chicago 10 years later. He was named a cardinal in 1983. In June 1995, he had surgery for pancreatic cancer and he died from the disease in November 1996.

“Through it all, his ministry was marked by reconciliation, peace, reaching out to people of all cultures and faiths,” Msgr. Velo said. “He himself was a gift of peace. He was a prince of peace.”

The Rev. Boyd Cook, president and CEO of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, also spoke fondly of Cardinal Bernardin.

“Our brother Joseph was Columbia’s favorite son. Reconciliation was the compelling instinct of his life,” he said.

John White, Pulitzer-prize winning photographer from the Chicago Sun-Times, who was the photographic biographer of Cardinal Bernardin, attended the dedication service.

He told The New Catholic Miscellany, diocesan newspaper of Charleston, that he wasn’t Catholic, except when he was around the cardinal.

Octavie Mosimann, a native of Charleston, and the cardinal’s secretary for 32 years, said the cardinal would have been pleased with this honor.

“He was a great reconciler,” she said. “Everyone who knew him misses him very much.”

The Bernardin House has 12 private patient suites, family rooms, a library, a nondenominational chapel, a dining room and bedroom facilities for families of patients.

“The Bernardin Hospice House will be a safe haven for patients, family members and friends to have an opportunity to prepare for the final event of living,” said Cathy Askew, executive director of nursing for the hospice.

The dedication ceremony took place on the cardinal’s birthday. He would have been 72 years old. t

A Mother’s “Thank you, women who are mothers!

You have sheltered human beings within yourselves...

This makes you become God’s own smile upon the newborn child.”

— John Paul II, Letter to Women

Room at the Inn Our Mission

Responding to the call of Jesus Christ to respect and affirm life from the moment of conception, Room at the Inn is a safe haven for homeless, single, or pregnant mothers and their children, born and unborn. Invoking the patronage of Saint Joseph, and guided by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, Room at the Inn seeks to help these young families move toward a new life of hopeful, independent and healthy living.

Honoring Motherhood Mother’s Day: May 14

This Mother’s Day give the Gift of Motherhood by honoring or remembering your mother, grandmother or any other special person with a charitable gift to Room at the Inn.

Lent 2000

Send your tax-deductible gift to: Room at the Inn P.O. Box 75384 Charlotte, NC 28275-0384 (704) 521-2774

“And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’”

— Matthew 27:46 Not affiliated with Room at the Inn of the Triad, Greensboro, NC Photo by Joann S. Keane