The Catholic News & Herald 1
May 19, 2000
May 19, 2000 Volume 9 t Number 36
Inside Make world a better place, says visiting priest Cardinal Hickey surprised by honorary degree ...Page 15
Living the Faith
In Italian film, knights embark on medieval quest for shroud
...Page 16
Local News Bishop McGuinness on the air ...Page 5
Mission community grows with multi-cultural flair ...Page 7
Every Week Entertainment ...Pages 10-11
Editorials & Columns ...Pages 12-13
The Fatima Beatifications
Pope beatifies Fatima children, has aide announce “Third Secret”
...Pages 8-9
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
The little sister that could
By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer WINSTON-SALEM — Many people wish they had her spunk. She seems to go non-stop, and her coworkers, friends and the women religious in her sister community wonder where this 83-year-old gets her energy. She describes herself as a “little old nun doing the Lord’s work,” while the patients and workers at the hospital where she performs her ministry call her the “Mother Teresa of Baptist Hospital.” Sister of St. Joseph Dennis Eileen Gamber laughs at the comparison. “I am old and wrinkled like her, but that is where the similarity ends,” she humbly joked. “I can’t even be mentioned in the same sentence with her.” Sister Dennis, a parishioner of St. Leo the Great Church in WinstonSalem, hails from Pennsylvania, where she attended an all-girls’ school. It was one of her teachers, a Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, Pa., who inspired her to join the order herself. She began teaching and received her bachelor’s of arts in mathematics from Chestnut Hill College in 1947. She also received her master’s of arts in mathematics from Villanova University and studied physics and other subjects at Catholic University and Loyola University of New Orleans. She spent most of her life teaching high school, a profession she enjoyed immensely. When she moved to WinstonSalem in 1975, a decision, she said, that
Photo by Alesha M. Price
Sister of St. Joseph Dennis Eileen Gamber is presented with the Mother Teresa Memorial Award and a $500 check for AIDS Care Service from the Knights of Columbus State Council. Pictured left is Bob Singer, state deputy, and Father James Solari, pastor of St. Leo the Great Church. did not sit well with her immediately, she continued to teach math at Bishop McGuinness High School and began her hospital ministry part time. “I had to get used to being away from home,” she said with a smile. In 1985, she retired from teaching and began to work full time at Baptist Hospital. “I loved teaching math, and when I went into this work, I thought I would
miss it. But, this work is a direct gift from God,” said Sister Dennis of her work as a pastoral minister at Baptist Hospital and Forsyth Hospital. She visits the patients and prays, talks and sits with the many Catholics and non-Catholics who request her presence. “There is a list of those who
See SISTER DENNIS, page 4
Lay Ministry graduates complete personal faith journey By Alesha M. Price Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — Chris and Jo Gibbs have only recently learned what Catholicism is all about. Five years ago, Chris Gibbs came back to Catholicism after growing up Catholic but without a strong grounding in his faith. His wife, Jo, grew up Baptist and converted right before marrying. Both of them became involved with the diocesan lay ministry program to supplement the knowledge they already had. “I wanted to learn more because I missed it growing up. I went to church only a couple of times I can remember,” explained Mr. Gibbs. “The lay ministry program is an affirmation of what I believe already and has focused my faith and understanding of the church.” For Mrs. Gibbs, the coordinator of religious formation at St. Margaret
Mary Church in Swannanoa, her involvement with lay ministry is a way for her to better prepare her students. “I will use what I have learned with the faith formation classes, and for me, learning about the history and evolution of the church fascinates me. I simply wanted to learn more,” she said. The Gibbses were two of the 98 graduates, representing 32 parishes, of the Lay Ministry Training Program who received their certificates at a Mass and ceremony on May 13 at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte, one of the sites for the Saturday sessions. “I commend the investment of their time and appreciate the generosity of family and friends in allowing them to participate because this is a two-year commitment,” said Mercy Sister Mary Timothy Warren, diocesan director of lay ministry and vicar for women religious. “This academic
program helps them to develop communicative skills and to practice their religious roles in the marketplace.” Anyone, regardless of his or her affiliation with the church, can become involved with the program. Faith formation and religion teachers as well as those who wish to become permanent deacons are required to complete the program, explained Sister Mary Timothy. “We need the strength, gifts and talents given to you by God who calls you to this ministry of the church,” said Bishop William G. Curlin, celebrant for the Mass. “You have been commissioned to bring the joy of Christ into people’s lives.” He urged them to continue their studies in order to learn more about their faith and to spread that knowl-
See LAY MINISTRY, page 14