May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
AROUND THE DIOCESE Year For Priests profile: Father James Byrne, OSFS, celebrates 50 years as a priest
Established Jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul VI MAY 28, 2010
Four to be ordained priests
PAGE 4 Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
—– Sister Joan Pearson, SSJ
PART 5
This is the final story in a series about women religious in honor of Mary during May.
Sisters are ‘ready for any good work’
CHARLOTTE ― As the Year For Priests concludes next month, the Diocese of Charlotte will welcome four newly ordained priests to its ranks. Deacons Gabriel CarvajalSalazar, John Eckert, David Miller and Lucas Rossi will receive the sacrament of holy orders Saturday, June 5, during an ordination Mass at St. Mark
SueAnn Howell Staff Writer
See ORDINATION, page 9
Photo provided by Sister Joan Pearson, SSJ
CHARLOTTE – When you work for the Lord as a Sister of St. Joseph, there’s never a dull moment. Sister Helene Nagle has been shot at. Sister Judy Monahan has been stabbed. Sister Joan Pearson has had to deal with violent teenage girls. But those were the worst of days. Most days the sisters, who among them have 148 years of service to the Church, “have a heck of a lot of fun,” according to Sister Joan Pearson, who
Sister Joan Pearson (above right), a Sister of St. Joseph for almost 40 years, is pictured teaching a Protecting God’s Children workshop in the Smoky Mountain vicariate last year.
See SISTERS, page 8
SPECIAL COVERAGE PLANNED
Coming next week:
n Profiles of the four future priests and plans for their first Masses n ‘Why I chose to be a priest,’ by Deacon John Eckert n Ordination of seminarian Josh Voitus to deacon
Coming June 11:
n Coverage and photos from the ordination Mass n The new priests’ parish assignments n Symbolism of the ordination Mass
Online at www.charlottediocese.org:
n More photos and video from the ordinations
no. 27
“I am part of the most wonderful congregation in the world.”
Patricia Guilfoyle Editor
The Catholic News & Herald will feature complete coverage of the ordinations online and in the June 4 and 11 print editions.
vOLUME 19
Help invite inactive Catholics to ‘come home’ Diocesan-wide second collection set for June 5-6 SueAnn Howell Staff Writer CHARLOTTE ― Do you know a Catholic who no longer practices the faith? An evangelization campaign will reach out to non-practicing Catholics this Christmas, thanks to a second collection to be taken up at every parish in the Diocese of Charlotte June 5-6. Statistics show that nearly one in three Americans was raised in the Catholic faith,
but today fewer than one in four describe themselves as Catholic. Only 33 percent of U.S. Catholics attend Mass on a weekly basis, according to a poll by Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostate (CARA). The campaign, funded by this diocesewide second collection, will encourage
inactive Catholics to rediscover God’s love for them and return to their faith. It is in partnership with CatholicsComeHome.org – an independent, non-profit Catholic apostolate that creates and broadcasts media messages to inspire, educate and evangelize people to live a deeper faith in Jesus Christ in accord with the Church. The campaign will begin with television commercials that will air on major networks in the Charlotte and western North Carolina markets for six weeks starting the week before Christmas. Featuring the slogan “We are Family See HOME, page 4
PERSPECTIVES
IN OUR SCHOOLS
CULTURE WATCH
‘Spiritual motherhood’ sanctifies women and the priests for whom they pray
Bishop McGuinness High School marks 50th anniversary
Priest-composer sees faith with new eyes after illness
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May 28, 2010
2 The Catholic News & Herald
InBrief U.S. NEWS IN BRIEF
Cardinal backs bill fixing health reform law on abortion WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNS) ― A bipartisan bill before the House of Representatives would bring the new health reform law “into line with policies on abortion and conscience rights that have long prevailed in other federal
IN MEMORIAM
Funeral Mass May 29 for Father David Valtierra
ROCK HILL, S.C. ― Oratorian Father David Valtierra, 62, passed into eternal life May 21, 2010, at the Wayne T. Patrick Hospice House. His Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 29, 2010, at St. Anne Church in Rock Hill, with Father Fabio Refosco officiating and Father Richard Sparks as homilist. Burial will be in The Oratory Memorial Garden at a later date. A native of Stockton, Calif., Father David was a son of Joseph Valtierra of California and the late Helen Brodrick Valtierra. He was a member of The Oratory and ordained a priest since 1974. He was director of The Oratory’s Center for Spirituality at the Congregation of The Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rock Hill, S.C. He is survived by his father, four brothers, two sisters and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Father David’s name to The Oratory Center for Spirituality, P.O. Box 11586, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731, or Hospice & Community Care, P.O. Box 993, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731.
Father of local priest dies
NORTH WILKESBORO ― John Leonard Hanic, whose son, Father John David Hanic is pastor of St. John Baptist de LaSalle Church in North Wilkesboro,
Current and upcoming topics from around the world to your own backyard
health programs,” said the head of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities. Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston urges passage of H.R. 5111, legislation proposed by Reps. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., and Dan Lipinski, D-Ill., and co-sponsored by 91 other House members. “Efforts to ensure that our health care system serves the life, health and conscience of all will be a legislative goal of the Catholic bishops in the months to come,” Cardinal DiNardo said May 20,
died May 20, 2010, while visiting his son in North Carolina. Hanic lived and grew up in Monson, Mass. He was a member of St. Patrick Church in Monson, as well as active in the Knights of Columbus, Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. He served St. Patrick Church as one of the first Extraordinary Ministers of the Holy Communion appointed by the Springfield (Mass.) Diocese in 1973 and as a lector for more than 40 years. He worked as a maintenance man for 42 years, and after retirement he worked as the groundskeeper at Bethany Cemetery for 21 years. In 1941, he was drafted and served for three years, one month and 20 days as a technician sergeant in the U.S. Army. He served in the Third Army, under General George S. Patton, in the 76th Infantry Division. While in service during World War II, he was engaged in battles in Ardennes, France, the Central Europe Battle of the Bulge, and in the Rhineland of Germany. For this service to his country he received the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, Victory Medal, European, African, and Middle Eastern Theater Company Medal and three Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque. He was also graded as an Expert Carbine Rifleman, and received the Motor Vehicle Drivers Award as a Construction Equipment Mechanic. His Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated May 26, 2010, at St. Patrick Church in Monson. Father Hanic was the celebrant. Please keep him in your prayers.
MAY 28, 2010 Volume 19 • Number 27 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203 E-MAIL: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org PHONE: 704-370-3333 FAX: 704-370-3382
EDITOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Denise Onativia 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org ADVERTISING MANAGER: Cindi Feerick 704-370-3332, ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org
MAIL: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, N.C. 28237
STAFF WRITER: SueAnn Howell 704-370-3354, sahowell@charlottediocese.org
PUBLISHER: The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher 704-370-3331, tpfaragher@charlottediocese.org
adding that the Pitts-Lipinski proposal makes “a significant contribution.” The cardinal warned, however, that if “these genuine problems are not addressed in their own right, they will be taken up and used as ammunition by those who favor repealing (the health reform law) outright, which would eliminate the positive as well as negative aspects of the new law.” The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act enacted March 23 is “an important step toward ensuring access to health coverage for all Americans” but is “profoundly flawed in its treatment of abortion, conscience rights and fairness to immigrants,” Cardinal DiNardo said.
Catholic nurse’s lawsuits allege abortion violated her conscience rights WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNS) ― A Catholic nurse is suing New York’s
Diocesan planner For more events taking place in the Diocese of Charlotte, visit www.charlottediocese. org/calendarofevents-cn. ASHEVILLE THE LADIES ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS welcome all women who are practicing Catholics, and who are Irish by birth or descent, or who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, or the mother of a Junior member. If you live in the Asheville area and would like more information, contact Janice Donahue at 704-249-9161 or ladydonahue@gmail. com.
Mount Sinai Hospital, charging that her conscience rights were violated when she was compelled to help with a late-term abortion last year. A lawsuit filed April 29 on behalf of Catherina Cenzon-DeCarlo alleges that the nurse’s conscience rights under state law were violated by her forced participation in a late-term, non-emergency abortion in May 2009, despite the fact Cenzon-DeCarlo had notified the hospital of her religious objections to abortion before she was hired in 2004. Although focused on one nurse and one abortion, the lawsuit has wider implications for the new health reform law, which the USCCB contends does not adequately protect conscience rights. It also could affect a pending decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on whether to rescind conscience protection regulations put in place during the final days of the Bush Administration. President Barack Obama has indicated he supports rescinding the regulations.
in Celebration of 100 Years of Catholic Charities, presented by Jesuit Father Joseph Koterski, Ph.D., 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 2. To register, contact Sherill Beason at 704-370-3228 or sabeason@charlottediocese.org. OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, 4207 Shamrock Drive — Parish Picnic, 1 to 4 p.m. June 5, bring a blanket and a side dish to share, sign up in the vestibule. For more information, contact Mary Sparger at 704-455-5365. ST. ANN CHURCH, 3635 Park Road — Pro-life Mass, 9 a.m. May 29. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament immediately following Mass. For more information, contact Danielle Mathis at tmathis3@ carolina.rr.com. ST. LUKE CHURCH, 13700 Lawyers Road — Small Wonders... a Kid’s Concert and Sing-a-Long! 6:30 p.m. June 5
BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, 503 N. Main St.
ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy.
— Heart to Heart with God: Six Ways to Empower Your Prayer Life, MAK Center conference room, 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays through June 13. Learn more about the Scriptures and the new and meaningful ways to strengthen your own prayer experiences. For more information, contact Dennis Teall-Fleming at 704-825-9600 or teallfleming@yahoo.com.
ST. PATRICK CATHEDRAL, 1621 Dilworth Road East
— Whole Community Catechesis, MAK Center, 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. June 6 and 13. Faith formation for all ages. For more information, contact Dennis Teall-Fleming at 704-825-9600 or teallfleming@ yahoo.com. CHARLOTTE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE PASTORAL CENTER, 1123 S. Church St. — Reflections on Charity, Justice and Mercy
The Catholic News & Herald is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 44 times a year, weekly except Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August. SUBSCRIPTIONS: $15 per year for parishioners of the Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year for all others. For all circulation inquiries and orders, contact Denise Onativia at 704-370-3333. POSTMASTER: Periodicals class postage (USPC 007393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, N.C. 28237. NEWS: The Catholic News & Herald welcomes your news and photographs for publication in our print and online PDF
— Cancer Support Group, New Life Center room 204, 10 a.m. to noon June 3
— Being Catholic Reflection – “Ask a Priest,” presented by Young Adult Ministry, Youth Room, 7 p.m. June 10. For more information, contact Will Coffey at coffey@ vt.edu. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH, 6828 Old Reid Road — Summer Study: “Fathers & Doctors of the Church” plus “Popes & Founders of Religious Orders,” presented by Barbara Reagan, 10 a.m. Wednesdays June 9 through August 4 (except July 21). Register by email to jreagan@carolina.rr.com.
editions. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. Deadline is 10 days before requested publication date. We do not publish poetry, form letters or petitions. All submitted items become the property of The Catholic News & Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives. For inquiries, contact Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at 704-370-3334 or plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org. ADVERTISING: For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Cindi Feerick at 704-370-3332 or ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News & Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.
May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 3
Pope preaches unity
Evangelization urgent task in contemporary culture VATICAN CITY (CN S ) ― Spreading the Gospel message has become a more urgent and in some ways more difficult task in a contemporary culture that tends to exclude God, Pope Benedict XVI said. Modern evangelizers need to be prepared for resistance, other types of trials and even persecution as they announce Christ, he said in a talk May 21 to officials of Pontifical Mission Societies meeting in Rome. The pope described the Church’s missionary duty as “immense,” especially because the modern age is marked by “a lack of wisdom and reflection and the spread of a humanism that excludes God.” Nevertheless, he said, announcing the Gospel remains an “immeasurable service” that the Church performs for the world, because “no people or sector of society should be deprived of the
GREENSBORO OUR LADY OF GRACE CHURCH, 2205 West Market St. — Parish Picnic, Bur-Mil Park Shelters 1 and 2, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 6. Bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket and potato salad, pasta salad or baked beans to serve 12. RSVP number of people and what side item you will bring on sign-up sheets at church entrance and parish office or to Patty Disney at parishlife@ olgchurch.org. HICKORY ST. ALOYSIUS, 921 Second St., N.E. — Charismatic Mass in Spanish, Sebastian Chapel, 7 p.m. June 3. For more information, call Joan Moran at 828-994-0880. HIGH POINT PENNYBYRN AT MARYFIELD, 1315 Greensboro Road — The Feast of Corpus Christi, commemorating the 16th anniversary of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Maryfield, Maryfield Chapel, 2 p.m. June 6. Abbot Placid D. Solari, OSB, of Belmont Abbey will be the principal celebrant. Refreshments served after Mass. HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 Stumptown Road
light and grace of Christ.” Modern-day missionaries will inevitably face problems and suffering, because “they run into the resistance and the powers of this world,” the pope said. Like St. Paul, he said, the contemporary Christian’s only weapon is the Word of Christ and His cross. And like St. Paul, he said, modern evangelizers may find that “persecution is the proof of the authenticity of our apostolic mission.” The pope said the perennial task of evangelization places certain requirements on the Church and its missionaries: evangelical poverty, which allows them to preach the Gospel with courage and honesty; nonviolence, by which they respond to evil with good; and willingness to give one’s life for the name of Christ and for love of others.
— Active Older Adult Exercise, Parish Hall, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday. This is a total body exercise class. MURPHY ST. WILLIAM CHURCH, 765 Andrews Road — Bereavement Support Group, the Glenmary, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays through June 1. For more information, contact Heather Schmitt at 828-361-3069. SALISBURY SACRED HEART CHURCH, 375 Lumen Christi Lane — Mass of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 6 p.m. June 11, to commemorate the culmination of the Year for Priests. Offered for those bishops and priests honored through the Te Deum Foundation’s Year for Priests Program. For more information, call 336-765-1815 or email tedeumfoundation@gmail. com. SWANNANOA ST. MARGARETY MARY CHURCH, 102 Andrew Pl. — Parish Picnic and Bilingual Mass, Lake Tomahawk, 11:30 a.m. May 30. Sign up to bring a dish.
— Catholic Athletes for Christ Summer Kickoff, with special guest Vince Scheuerman from Army of Me, 6 p.m. June 6
WINSTON-SALEM ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, 1625 East 12th St.
— Catholic Athletes for Christ Summer Kickoff, with special guest former Olympic athlete Bill Thierfelder, 7 p.m. June 9
— Parish Picnic, Tanglewood Park, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 19
— Community Senior Nutrition Program Presentations, Parish Hall, 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. June 16. RSVP by June 9 at 704-947-4885 or elderministry@ bellsouth.net. — Centering Prayer, Chapel, 8:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, contact centeringprayerstmark@live.com.
Episcopal
calendar
Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events:
June 1 – 12:10 p.m. Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Paul Buchanan and Noah Carter St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte June 2 – 5 p.m. Charlotte Catholic High School Baccalaureate Mass St. Matthew Church, Charlotte
Is your parish or school hosting a free event open to the public? Deadline for all submissions for the Diocesan Planner is 10 days prior to desired publication date. Submit in writing to catholicnews@ charlottediocese.org or fax to 704-370-3382.
June 4 – 5 p.m. Holy Hour for Ordinands St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte June 5 – 10 a.m. Liturgy of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood St. Mark Church, Huntersville
CNS photo by Paul Haring
Pope Benedict XVI makes the sign of the cross during Mass on Pentecost in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican May 23. In the modern world, when many people see themselves simply as “individuals in competition or in conflict with one another,” the Holy Spirit “opens them to the experience of communion” and helps them unite in one Church, the pope said.
Pope: Holy Spirit creates unity, universality of Church VATICAN CITY (CNS) ― The gift of the Holy Spirit creates the unity and universality of the Church, overcoming barriers of nationality and language and opening people’s hearts to work with and serve one another, Pope Benedict XVI said. “The Church is, by its nature, one and universal, destined to live among all nations, all peoples and in the most varied social contexts,” the pope said in his homily during the Mass of Pentecost May 23. The gift of the Holy Spirit, poured out on the Apostles on the first Pentecost, continues to be given to Jesus’ disciples, the pope said. Where there are tensions and misunderstandings, the Spirit “creates unity and understanding,” he said. And in the modern world, when many people see themselves simply as “individuals in competition or in conflict with one another,” the Spirit “opens them to the experience of communion” and helps them form one Church, he said. Unity of believers is important in parishes and dioceses, Pope Benedict said, but it also is essential that local Catholic communities are in full union with the universal Church and its head, the pope. He also said the Holy Spirit’s constant movement toward unity is a key
tool for determining whether a person or action is truly Christian. “If a person or a community is closed off in its own way of thinking or acting, it is a sign that it has moved away from the Holy Spirit.” But, he said, the Holy Spirit’s unifying action does not grind away all differences among believers; rather, it values different gifts and helps people place them at the service of the entire Church. “The Church is never a prisoner of political, racial and cultural boundaries; it cannot be confused with nations or even federations of nations because its unity is of a different kind and aspires to cross all human frontiers,” he said. The Church can be a sign and instrument of unity “only if it remains autonomous from every nation and every particular culture,” he said. While he did not mention specific countries or areas of the world in his Pentecost homily, the pope did offer special prayers for Catholics in China when he recited the “Regina Coeli” prayer after Mass. “While the faithful in China are praying for deeper unity among themselves and with the universal Church, Catholics – especially those of Chinese origin – around the world are uniting with them in prayer and charity,” he said.
4 The Catholic News & Herald
May 28, 2010
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Campaign set for Advent
Year for Priests
Interviews with priests around the diocese FATHER JAMES P. BYRNE, OSFS
FATHER JAMES P. BYRNE, OSFS Priest in residence Immaculate Heart of Mary Church High Point Place of Birth and Home Parish – I was born April 12, 1933, and grew up in a little suburb of Philadelphia known as McKinley, Pa. My home parish was St. James Church in Elkins Park, Pa. High School – I graduated in 1950 from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, staffed by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. College and Seminary – After my first profession of vows as an Oblate, my college studies began at Niagara University, from which I received a B.A. in modern languages and philosophy in 1957. From there, I pursued theological studies at DeSales Hall in Hyattsville, Md. At the same time, I studied for a Master of Arts in Spanish and philology at The Catholic University of America, earning my degree in 1963. Date of Ordination – May 31, 1960
What assignments have you had since ordination? Immediately after leaving DeSales Hall, I became Director of Casa de Sales in Wilmington, Del., from 1961 to 1963, a house for teenaged Cuban boys from Operation Pedro Pan, for which I received an award of recognition from Pedro Pan in November 2008 in Miami, Fla. For more than 25 years, I taught high school Spanish at Salesianum School in Wilmington and at Father Judge High School in Philadelphia, while also serving as moderator of the athletics teams, yearbook, stage crew, student council and senior class. During the summers of 1961-1963, I served in migrant ministry in the DelMar-Va Peninsula for the Diocese of Wilmington. In 1967-1968 I directed a new Oblate foundation at la Residencia de Nuestra Señora de la Luz in Salamanca, Spain. From 1981 until 1984, I did missionary work in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. It was during that time I received a Vatican appointment as Apostolic Visitor of the cloistered order of the Sister of the Visitation of Holy Mary for the entire Cone-Sur Region of South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay).
After five more years of teaching at Salesianum, I entered parochial ministry in the Diocese of Raleigh, being assigned to St. Mary Church in Goldsboro in 1990. That led to Bishop Joseph Gossman asking me to lead the Diocesan Hispanic Ministry Team (1993-1995). Then I proceeded to St. Joachim Parish in Philadelphia to help with the Hispanic community there. When a classmate became ill with cancer, I became a pastor for the first time at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Robesonia, Pa., in the Allentown Diocese, where I remained two years, until I was asked to return to the Raleigh diocese as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Whiteville, N.C. I stayed there from 1997 until my retirement in 2007. What have been some of the greatest joys for you as a priest? Some of my greatest joys of the priesthood have been working among the poor in South America, working with the magnificent people who sustain our parishes, and being able to comfort the sick and the dying. The faith of others has always buoyed my own faith and challenged me to be more deserving of God’s gifts to me. Who influenced you most to consider the vocation to priesthood? The greatest influence on my vocation has come from the example of my parents and family, and my Oblate teachers at North Catholic, especially Father Nick Koelzer, OSFS, and the wonderful spirit of camaraderie that I saw among the Oblates. What would people be surprised to know about you, and what are your hobbies? People might be surprised to know that a kid from McKinley speaks five languages and has traveled through most of Latin America, Spain and other places, and has a great love for Italy, painting, historical novels, the outdoors, cooking and whitewater rafting. I also like trying to out-wit my computer and playing with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 after I finish the morning paper’s cryptoquote and crossword. What are some of your favorite books/ spiritual reading/magazines? I like James Reston’s historical writings, Miguel Delibes, and I am in the process of reading “El Testamento Maya” by Steve Alten and an Italian biography of St. Francis de Sales. Who is a hero to you? My heroes are my parents, older brothers, teachers, St. Francis de Sales, St. Leonie Aviat, and our founders: Father Louis Brisson, OSFS, and Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, VHM.
What are some ways that we can help all people/families understand their roles in promoting and supporting vocations? Vocations begin in the home and must be supported in the home by example and love and no denigration of the Church. What advice would you give a young man who is contemplating a vocation to the priesthood? If you think you have a vocation, pray earnestly to Mary and the Holy Spirit about it and seek the advice of a spiritual director. If God is calling you, no obstacle can stand in the way. After 50 years of being a priest, how have you grown in your faith and in your vocation? After 50 years, I can only say the blessings I have received have been countless and people have always been there to encourage and challenge me. And I have learned: don’t turn a deaf ear – it may be that gentle voice of the Lord whispering in your ear.
HOME, from page 1
– Welcome Home,” the ads underscore the message that God loves us and that His saving grace is available to all who want to live in Him. CatholicsComeHome.org TV commercials have already aired in 12 archdioceses and dioceses in the U.S. and address aspects of the Catholic faith that are often misunderstood. The campaigns have improved Mass attendance by an average of 11 percent in the markets in which they have aired, according to Rome Reports TV News Agency. Bishop Peter J. Jugis said he supports this campaign “because I firmly believe in what this effort can mean to the approximately 145,000 inactive Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte.” Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’s call for a new evangelization (see related story on page 3), the CatholicsComeHome.org Web site offers people an opportunity, without pressure or obligation, to learn the truth about the Catholic faith in a loving, non-judgmental atmosphere. It has free resources that explain Church teachings, plus an easy-touse guide to look up nearby parishes and find out Mass times.
Rev. Joseph Koterski, S.J., Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy, Fordham U. will offer
Reflections on Charity, Justice and Mercy in Celebration of 100 Years of Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)
Wednesday, June 2, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM 1st Floor, Pastoral Center, Diocese of Charlotte (1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203. Visitor parking is available in the satellite parking lot at the corner of Church and Palmer Streets)
To register and reserve a lunch (lunch cost is $8, payable at the door), contact: Sherill Beason at 704-370-3228 or sabeason@charlottediocese.org. Go to www.cssnc.org to read more about this presentation and Father Joseph Koterski, S.J. Co-sponsored by the CSS Respect Life Program of the Family Life Office and the CSS Office of Justice and Peace to mark the Centennial of CCUSA, of which Catholic Social Services is a member agency.
Your Local Catholic Charities Agency
May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 5
around the diocese
Choose Life rally works to revive license plate proposal David Hains Diocesan Director of Communication RALEIGH – Bishop Peter J. Jugis addressed an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 200 people in the shadow of the General Assembly’s legislative building May 25. Supporters of the “Choose Life” N.C. license plate are making one last push for the specialty plate before taking the matter to court. Choose Life license plates are automobile tags that are purchased at a premium price and display the Choose Life message. Money collected for the plates would be distributed to pregnancy care centers around the state that offer counseling and diagnostic services for women with unplanned pregnancies. North Carolina has issued more than 135 specialty plates for groups as diverse as the Sons of Confederate Veterans to the alumni of North Carolina A & T University. Despite being introduced
into the state legislature eight times, legislative leaders have never allowed the Choose Life tags to come to a vote. “We are here because we want to shed the light of truth on this situation. Those of us who embrace the Christian faith know of Jesus’ conviction to speak the truth,” Bishop Jugis said. The bishop was joined by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh in speaking to the crowd of supporters. Legislative leaders, crisis pregnancy response groups and women who have received crisis pregnancy care also addressed the gathering. Bishop Jugis’ remarks focused on the spiritual dimension of the Choose Life tags. “Moses delivered these words from God to the Israelites as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land: “I have set before you this day life and good, death and evil. … Choose life that you and your descendants may live.” (Dt. 30:15, 19c) Greenville resident Wagner Fields
LARCUM focuses on building faith among all Christians David Hains Diocesan Director of Communication HICKORY ― “I can remember when this group used to have a Christmas party.” The remark by a presenter at the annual LARCUM Conference drew laughter from the small group of 25 people who had gathered May 17-18 with four bishops for an ecumenical dialogue. LARCUM, which stands for Lutherans, Anglicans, Roman Catholics and United Methodist, is a nationwide effort to encourage ecumenical dialogue and cooperation. Each year the local leaders of these churches meet to discuss matters of mutual interest. This year’s meeting at the Catholic Conference Center near Hickory had the theme “Finding Common Ground.” The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte, was joined by the Rt. Reverend G. Porter Taylor, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina; The Reverend Dr. Leonard H. Bolick, bishop of the North Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. In the first of several scheduled discussion groups based on topics that they had selected beforehand, the four bishops eloquently laid out a concern about the disillusion that young people, so called “millenials,” have with organized religion. “We have many young people who are spiritual without having religion. We need to make it easier for people to find their way,” said Bishop Taylor. Bishop Goodpaster agreed, noting that the average age of a United Methodist member is 59. “We need to
get younger, to engage people under 30 who are not in the church.” For him that means a more active campus ministry and reaching out to the next generation of non-English speaking seekers, especially Latinos. For Bishop Bolick, reaching those Latinos as well as African-Americans means lifting up, supporting and challenging new leaders. For Catholics the problem is just as serious. Bishop Jugis pointed out that 42 million U.S. Catholics don’t practice their faith. In the Diocese of Charlotte, he has responded by supporting the annual Eucharistic Congress, the twoday event held for the past five years at the Charlotte Convention Center (this year’s event is set for Sept. 10-11). It features eucharistic adoration, inspired talks, praise and worship, a sacred music concert and fellowship with other Catholics. “Everything flows from worship, it is the first thing we do, it is the most important thing we do,” Bishop Jugis said. Bishop Jugis also cited the upcoming “Catholics Come Home” media campaign that will begin during Advent 2010. Compelling TV commercials associated with the campaign are designed to reach out to the unchurched, inviting them to participate in Catholic worship. The increasing secularization of culture that encourages people to drift into a life where they are content without religion is a common concern among the churches represented in LARCUM, but Bishop Goodpaster sounded a positive note during the conference: “the ecumenical movement has gone from people of different religions simply talking with one another to having full communion.” The bishops and everyone else at the small gathering nodded or smiled in agreement.
described the overwhelming feeling of loneliness and dread when, as a college student, she learned she was pregnant. She went to a pregnancy care center where she was given a free ultrasound. “And that was the first time that I saw that what I was actually carrying was not a burden, it was something that was hope and had a future,” Fields said. Despite feeling pressured to have an abortion, Fields gave birth to a boy who is now 8. “He is an incredible child who teaches me new things every single day,” she said. Choose Life license tags are currently available in 21 states. Supporters in another 20 states are working to pass similar legislation. Choose Life license plates have given rise to litigation. In states where the plates are allowed, the state has been sued by Choose Life opponents. In other states, the Choose Life supporters have gone to court to obtain the license plates. In North Carolina the Alliance
photo by
David Hains
Bishop Peter J. Jugis addresses the Choose Life Rally in Raleigh May 25. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the Diocese of Raleigh looks on. The rally was held to promote the cause of the proposed ‘Choose Life’ N.C. license tags. Defense Fund, an organization of Christian attorneys, promised to consider representing the Choose Life supporters if the plates are not voted on by the legislature. The short session of the legislature, which began May 12, is expected to run to the middle of the summer.
Saying thanks to clergy
photo by
David Hains
Members of the clergy who serve or have served at St. Mark Church in Huntersville gather around Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin during a recent appreciation dinner. The Knights of Columbus council at St. Mark organized the event to recognize the contributions to parish life that members of the clergy have made since the church’s first Mass was celebrated in 1997 at a bowling alley. The parish now has more than 3,000 registered families. Pictured from left are: Monsignor Joseph Kerin, the first pastor; Father Patrick Hoare, former parochial vicar and now pastor of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte; Monsignor Richard Bellow, the current pastor; Bishop Curlin; Father Christopher Roux, former parochial vicar and now rector of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte; and Father Brandon Jones, parochial vicar. More than 180 parishioners took part in the celebration and ate the cakes on the table that depict the various places, including the bowling alley, that served as churches while the current campus was under construction.
6 The Catholic News & Herald
DIOCESAN NEWS IN BRIEF
CN&H office will be closed May 31 CHARLOTTE ― The Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center and The Catholic News & Herald offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day Monday, May 31. Offices will reopen Tuesday, June 1.
IHM misssion honors pastor Father Kloster On May 12 parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hayesville and St. William Church in Murphy honored their pastor, Father George Kloster, as part of the Year for Priests. A Mass offered for Father Kloster included one of his favorite hymns, “I Say Yes, My Lord.” Everyone enjoyed a reception and dinner in the commons area with Father Kloster afterwards, where 10 members of both churches spoke about what Father Kloster means to them as their priest and friend. Other parishioners wrote notes thanking Father Kloster, and at the end of the celebration the basket of notes was presented to him. ― Submitted by Maureen Ripper
Columbiettes raise money for repairs KERNERSVILLE ― The Columbiettes Council 8509 of Holy Cross Church recently presented Father Paul DeChant, pastor, with a $1,500
May 28, 2010
AROUND THE DIOCESE donation to help with much-needed church repairs and unexpected expenses, such as snow removal costs the parish incurred this winter. ― Submitted by Carol Pennington
A celebration of many cultures
Corpus Christi at Pennybyrn HIGH POINT ― Pennybyrn at Maryfield will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, commemorating the 16th anniversary of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at Maryfield, at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 6, in the Maryfield Chapel. Abbot Placid D. Solari, OSB, of Belmont Abbey will be the principal celebrant. Refreshments will be served after the Mass. Maryfield Chapel is located on the campus of Pennybyrn at Maryfield, 1315 Greensboro Road, High Point.
Summer study planned at St. Vincent de Paul CHARLOTTE ― All are invited to join St. Vincent de Paul Church’s summer study “Fathers and Doctors of the Church.” The sessions will be held at 10 a.m. each Wednesday, June 9-Aug. 4. Presenter Barbara Reagan, a retired history professor, will highlight the teachings of the early Church Fathers who formulated the Creed as well as the encyclicals of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and the Catechism. To register, e-mail Barbara at jreagan@ carolina.rr.com. We welcome your parish’s news. E-mail items to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.
photo provided by
St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte celebrated its third annual multicultural festivities May 2223. St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the most diverse parishes in the diocese, with members coming from more than 30 countries. As part of the two-day celebration, parishioners brought their favorite foods to share and gave performances from their native cultures. Festivities culminated with a Mass celebrated by Capuchin Father Remo DiSalvatore, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas. The opening procession included the papal flag and flags from 30 countries. Intercessions were prayed in different languages and music was provided by the parish choir with special music from some of the cultures being featured during the two-day event. The celebration was a joint effort of the parish’s Special Events Ministry, led by Dina Wilson, and the Liturgy and Worship Commission, led by Annette Morales.
Working to help the community
His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte invites all the faithful of the diocese to the Holy Hour of Prayer for the priesthood candidates and their families Friday, June 4, 2010 5:00 p.m. Cathedral of Saint Patrick 1621 Dilworth Road, East photo provided by Carolina
Martinez
The 2010 Confirmation Class (with their parents and some catechists) from Divine Redeemer Church in Boonville had a carwash, yard and food sale, all in the same day, April 24, as its community service project. They received the sacrament of confirmation on May 24 and will continue serving their community with the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Mary A. Morales
Charlotte, North Carolina
May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 7
AROUND THE DIOCESE
St. Mark parishioner practices, preaches sustainable farming Heather Bellemore Correspondent CHARLOTTE ― “People thought I was crazy,� said Chris Hardin, a parishioner of St. Mark in Huntersville, speaking to a group at St. Matthew Church May 19. Ten years ago, he and his wife Jeffie decided to sell their successful business and home in suburbia and move their four children to start Rivendell Farms. Their eight acres in Huntersville is a cooperative family farm that follows organic guidelines for produce and livestock. “Most people have a big house and a tiny yard,� said Dan Rosenberg, author of “No Green Thumb Required! Organic Gardening Made Easy� and speaker at the event. “A family of four can be fed yearround with a three-by-eight garden,� Rosenberg said. If gardening in your backyard isn’t an option, Hardin suggests getting to know local farmers. “Volunteering for a local farmer can be a great way to get free food,� chuckled Hardin, who squeezes in time on his farm after a demanding full-time job. Both the Hardins and Rosenberg stressed several important benefits of organic gardening. Personal benefits include not just healthier food packed with more nutrients than synthetically grown crops, but a pause from the frenzy of daily life to reconnect with the natural rhythm of
God’s creation. There are many opportunities for families to get closer as they labor together to grow food. Support of family farms and organic farming methods has a larger reach. According to both speakers, organic farming breaks the cycle of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that kills soil fertility. “It will take 50 years to replace the fertility� of land saturated with fertilizers and pesticides, but organic methods ensure land is “sustainable for hundreds, probably thousands of years,� Hardin said. He added that “in many ways, farmers are the poor,� especially as the business of industrial, high-production food edges out small farms. Hardin pointed to several popes who have engaged the topic of industrialization and farming. In 1891, Pope Leo XIII wrote of his concerns over growing poverty during industrialization in “Rerum Novarum.� Subsequent papal writings brought that document into modern contexts, including “Mater et Magistra� by Pope John XXIII in 1961 and “Laborem Exercens� by Pope John Paul II in 1981. Chris Hardin said they made the significant lifestyle change to farming to slow down their busy schedules and become “more in line with God’s desire.� Hardin and his family hope to live the examples of St. Benedict, whose order emphasizes the importance of manual labor and
photo by
Heather Bellemore
Chris and Jeffie Hardin enjoy strawberries from their family garden. The Hardins, members of St. Mark Church in Huntersville, operate Rivendell Farms, a cooperative family farm that follows organic guidelines for produce and livestock. prayer, and St. Isidore, considered the patron saint of farmers. Neither Chris nor Jeffie Hardin had any experience with agriculture but they started small by volunteering at nearby farms. Now their farm feeds four families, who invest labor hours as well as dollars. The couple frequently hears, “you must have grown up on a farm!� Acknowledging that chores that start at 5:30 a.m. aren’t fun, daughter Sarah,
15, said that as they work in the garden they also pray, especially for those who are sick. Their oldest son Joseph, 18, said while it is fun to “show off� the farm with its animals to their friends, “it really is a grace� to live there. “It was like an answer to a prayer,� said Jeffie, who had recorded their hopes for a family farm in a prayer journal years earlier.
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8 The Catholic News & Herald
May 28, 2010
from the the cover from cover
Sisters of St. Joseph ‘ready for any good work’ Pictures of the sisters in their early years of service SISTERS, from page 1
lives in Winston-Salem. They are among eight Sisters of St. Joseph currently serving the Diocese of Charlotte. Sister Joan is a ‘homegrown’ vocation, a graduate of St. Leo School in Winston-Salem and Bishop McGuinness High School in Kernersville. She was taught by the Sisters of St. Joseph and “thought they were just wonderful … just good nuns,” she says. They made such an impression on her that she asked Bishop McGuinness High School’s principal, Sister Martin Anthony, about how to join the order once she graduated. Sister Joan entered the convent in Chestnut Hill, Pa., right after graduation in 1970. “From the day I walked in I thought, ‘This is for me,’” Sister Joan says. “I love serving the Church and God.” Over the past 40 years she has lived the order’s apostolate of “caring for dear neighbor” by teaching in elementary schools, serving as supervisor and house mother for delinquent teenage girls, and working with troubled youths. In the Diocese of Charlotte, Sister Joan worked as the Hispanic vicariate coordinator in Hickory and Salisbury. She helps run the Hispanic track at the Eucharistic Congress and she leads workshops on Protecting God’s Children and topics dealing with self-esteem and communication skills, which utilize her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her master’s degree in counseling. Currently she is working in faith formation at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Lenoir, training catechists and the new catechist director there. Sister Judy Monahan, also a pastoral associate, serves at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph 53 years ago after graduating from high school. She has always had a devotion to the Blessed Mother and credits Our Lady for her vocation. “My senior year I knew I had a vocation, that the Lord was calling,” says Sister Judy. “One of the sisters called me a ‘diamond in the rough.’” After completing her formation at the Chestnut Hill, Pa., convent, Sister Judy briefly taught first grade, then was reassigned to teach the seventh and eighth grades before becoming principal of a school in Baltimore, Md. “I knew my calling was with people,” Sister Judy says. She has spent the past 32 years in the Charlotte diocese, serving 10 years at St. Leo Church in Winston-Salem as director of youth ministry and pastoral associate before relocating to St. Ann Church in Charlotte. Sister Judy lives her call to be ready for any good work as a Sister of St. Joseph by helping people in the community who suffer from AIDS. She is the first one in her community to do so. She holds a Bachelor of Science in education and master’s degrees in education, counseling and psychology. “Our call is from the Gospel,” she
SISTER JOAN PEARSON, SSJ
SISTER JUDY MONAHAN, SSJ
SISTER HELENE NAGLE, SSJ
THE SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH The Sisters of St. Joseph can trace their roots back to 1648 in France. Jesuit Father Jean-Pierre Medaille formed the order originally consisting of six women under the pastoral care of Henri de Maupas, Bishop of Le Puy. Father Medaille believed women religious could live religious life completely, without cloister, as an apostolic presence in the world. From 1651, when it obtained canonical status, the community lived openly as apostolic women religious “dedicated to the practice of all the spiritual and corporal works of mercy … which will most benefit the dear neighbor.” The Sisters of St. Joseph were persecuted during the French Revolution. Their convents were suppressed, their goods confiscated, and the congregation disbanded. Five sisters were guillotined. Their foundress, Mother Saint John Fontbonne, was imprisoned but escaped execution. She helped rebuild the order and established the motherhouse in Lyons in 1829. The Sisters of St. Joseph first came to the U.S. in 1836, settling in St. Louis, Mo. Carondelet was the name given to this first foundation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in North America. Mother Saint John Fontbonne passed away in 1843, but saw the Congregation go from 12 members to more than 3,000 before her death. St. John Neumann helped them acquire the first motherhouse in McSherrystown, Pa., in 1854. Four years later he found a new site at Mount St. Joseph, Chestnut Hill – the motherhouse today for 1,100 sisters. Currently more than 1,100 Sisters of St. Joseph work primarily in the Mid-Atlantic states, but as far away as Alaska and Peru. ― Sources: The Constitutions of the Sisters of St. Joseph; Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia Web site (www.ssjphila.org).
HOW TO JOIN
Photo provided by Sister Judy Monahan, SSJ
(Above left) Sister Helene Nagle is pictured helping one of the residents at a Missionary of the Poor home in Jamaica during one of the mission trips she took there with St. Ann Church members in 2000. says. “We are to go out among the people to help them, to do what Jesus would do.” For the past 19 years Sister Helene Nagle, also at St. Ann Church, has lived and worked with Sister Judy. Sister Helene has been a Sister of St. Joseph for 55 years and cherishes the simplicity, humility and charity exemplified by the order. She grew up in Philadelphia, where the motherhouse is located. She knew the sisters well, as her father was one of the volunteers who drove the sisters around back in those days. Eventually Sister Helene became a driver for them as well. She fondly recalls the sisters: “I found they were real people, called in a special way.” Despite her mother ’s initial disapproval, Sister Helene entered the order after high school. “I knew when I entered I belonged,” she says. Sister Helene served in parishes in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, Pa., as well
as Vienna, Va., teaching in the Catholic schools there. She became principal of her old high school in Philadelphia and a school in Washington, D.C. In addition to her bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she earned her master’s degree in educational administration at Catholic University of America and a master’s degree in counseling and psychology as well. She came to the Diocese of Charlotte in 1989, where she taught at St. Leo School before she moved to St. Ann School to become principal in 1991. She retired from St. Ann School in 2008 but still helps the students, especially on Friday mornings, to prepare for their participation at Mass at St. Ann Church. Sister Helene continues to live her vocation as a Sister of St. Joseph by helping the poor and marginalized in the community. She has been on missions to Haiti and Jamaica and lives her community’s call to “consider first the dear neighbor” daily in her service to the Church.
For more information about how to become a Sister of St. Joseph in the Diocese of Charlotte, contact Sister Mary Timothy Warren, diocesan director of women religious, at 704-370-3213 or Sister Helene Nagle at St. Ann Church, 704-5234641. The Sisters of St. Joseph Web site can be found at www.ssjphila.org.
May 28, 2010
PAUL BUCHANAN
The Catholic News & Herald 9
from the cover from cover
NOAH CARTER
RITE OF ADMISSION TO CANDIDACY The rite of admission to candidacy for Paul Buchanan and Noah Carter will be celebrated at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. The rite is a public statement by the seminarians of their intention to receive the sacrament of holy orders.
Bishop: Four ordinations are ‘great blessing’ ORDINATION, from page 1
Church in Huntersville. It is a larger than usual number of ordinations for this growing diocese – a wonderful blessing, Bishop Peter J. Jugis said. “As we prepare to receive from God the gift of our new priests, I ask all the faithful of the diocese to join me in offering a prayer of thanksgiving to God for this great blessing. He is the source
His Excellency The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
DAVID MILLER
LUCAS ROSSI
of all our good. Without Him we can do nothing. May He bless our brothers who are about to be ordained priests, and may He sustain all our priests with His love and grace,” Bishop Jugis said. Everyone in the diocese is invited to attend the Mass, which will be celebrated at the 1,400-seat St. Mark Church instead of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte to accommodate more worshippers. The Mass will begin at 10 a.m. at the church, located at 14740 Stumptown Road. The public is encouraged to arrive early – by 9:30 a.m. – although seating and parking are expected to be sufficient to accommodate everyone. Directions: From I-77, take exit 23 and turn onto Gilead Road going towards Huntersville, a right turn from the northbound exit, a left from the southbound exit. At the first intersection, turn left onto U.S. 21/Statesville Road and go nearly one mile. At the first traffic light turn left onto Stumptown Road and go about a half mile. The Church will be on your right. Police will direct traffic at the entrance and exit of the parking lot. First blessings and a reception will be held afterwards in the Monsignor Kerin Parish Hall.
GABRIEL CARVAJAL-SALAZAR
JOHN ECKERT
SUPPORT OUR PRIESTS Four deacons in the Diocese of Charlotte will be ordained to the priesthood Saturday, June 5: Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, John James Eckert, David Parker Miller and Lucas Christopher Rossi. Bishop Peter J. Jugis invites everyone in the diocese to the following events to show support and offer their prayers: n Holy Hour for Ordinands: 5 p.m. Friday, June 4, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. n Ordination Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, at St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Road, Huntersville. ALSO COMING SOON Mass for priests planned for June 11 A special Mass of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, commemorating the culmination of the Year For Priests, will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, June 11, at Sacred Heart Church, 375 Lumen Christi Lane, in Salisbury. The Mass will be offered for the bishops and priests honored through the Te Deum Foundation’s Year for Priests Program. A reception will follow. For details, call 336765-1815 or e-mail TeDeumFoundation@ gmail.com.
Graduation day for our future priests
Bishop of Charlotte invites all the faithful of the diocese to the Liturgy of Ordination to the Holy Priesthood of Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar John James Eckert David Parker Miller Lucas Christopher Rossi Saturday, the fifth day of June in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Ten ten o’clock in the morning Saint Mark Catholic Church 14740 Stumptown Road Huntersville, North Carolina
photo provided by John Eckert
Twenty-seven students, including three from the Diocese of Charlotte, graduated from The Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, during commencement exercises May 8, earning degrees from the seminary’s programs of formation for the priesthood. Noah Carter (pictured far left) received a Bachelor of Arts and will continue graduate studies for the priesthood next fall in Rome. Deacons John Eckert and Lucas Rossi (pictured on the right) were awarded Master of Divinity degrees, signifying completion of the requirements for their June 5 ordinations. With them is Pontifical College Josephinum Rector Father James Wehner. For more than 100 years, The Pontifical College Josephinum has prepared priests to serve the Church.
May 28, 2010
10 The Catholic News & Herald
Culture Watch
A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more
Priest-composer sees faith with new eyes after illness ST. PAUL, Minn. (CNS) ― One of the duties of a priest is to minister to the sick and suffering. But when GuillainBarre syndrome paralyzed Father Jan Michael Joncas and brought him close to death in 2003, the well-known liturgical music composer suddenly found himself on the receiving end of a ministry he knew well. Father Joncas, an associate professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and composer of the well-known hymn “On Eagle’s Wings,” spent months in the hospital recovering the use of his arms and legs. During that time, he said he gained insight into suffering and dependence on God and others. “I learned that you don’t solve the problem of suffering,” Father Joncas said. “You enter into the mystery of suffering. And it does change you, and it changes your world.” Father Joncas said he still lives with nerve pain in his hands and feet. He can no longer play the guitar, and when he’s tired he sometimes stumbles. He also occasionally experiences unpredictable waves of fatigue. But, he said, he is 95 percent back to normal and busier than ever. Since his recovery, Father Joncas told The Catholic Spirit, newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, he has had an “explosion” of musical creativity. In the past two years, he has recorded three collections of liturgical music. Currently, he is writing settings of every responsorial psalm for the three-year Sunday Mass cycle and a hymn text for every Sunday and solemnity, in
addition to other projects he has been commissioned to do. He has found that his newer works mostly revolve around themes of rescue, hope and thanksgiving. “That’s the stuff that’s coming out of the suffering,” he said. Asked what he learned from his suffering, Father Joncas replied: “I didn’t know (my faith) would be as strong as it was. Because I live as a university professor and a theologian, an intellectual, I spend a lot of my time pondering God under lots and lots of headings and using all the tools of reason I can think of to deal with it, and this changed all that. I mean, I still do all that, but now I can talk about an experience of a God of rescue, which is very different.” Father Joncas said the experience also rounded out some of the sharper aspects of his personality. “Once you look death in the face, a lot of stuff just doesn’t matter that much,” he realized. He finds himself more attentive to people, he said. “I’m much less concerned about my agenda and much less worrying about whether I get feedback from them, and much more able to just kind of enter into their world and be with them, even if it just means being present and silent.” Father Joncas said family, friends and chaplains all helped him get through a difficult time in his life. Particularly memorable was when a priest friend celebrated the sacrament of anointing of the sick with him, which Father Joncas described as “shatteringly beautiful.” “I’d done that for years,” he said.
MOVIE REVIEWS
innuendo and anatomical references, one instance each of crude and crass language. The CNS classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children younger than 13.
NEW YORK (CNS) ― The following is a review by the Catholic News Service:
n “Robin Hood” (Universal) Thematically ambitious yet enervating version of the much-filmed legend concerning the 13th-century English outlaw (Russell Crowe) who, in this serious reworking awash in political intrigue and salubrious civics lessons, goes from common archer on King Richard’s Crusade to the valiant unifier of a downtrodden, suffering nation. Director Ridley Scott drains the tale of energy and emotion without offering action thrills that would ingratiate a new generation of viewers. Though hovering on the edge of bawdiness, and despite jabs at the coldhearted, oppressive Church leaders of the period, the movie may be acceptable for some mature teenagers. Much – mostly bloodless – battle violence, a nongraphic sexual situation with fleeting rear nudity, an attempted rape, callous clergy, some
CNS photo by Dianne Towalski, The Catholic Spirit
Father Jan Michael Joncas, an associate professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and composer of the well-known hymn “On Eagle’s Wings,” spent months in the hospital in 2003 after suffering from the paralyzing Guillain-Barre’s disease. Pictured in a late March photo, he has finally recovered the use of his arms and legs. “But then to hear those prayers being applied to me was a whole new world.” Another experience that touched him deeply was the first time he was wheeled on a gurney to attend Mass at the hospital chapel surrounded by other patients on gurneys, in wheelchairs and using walkers. Although feeding tubes prevented him from receiving Communion that day, he said, “It was just so wonderful to finally be back praying in community – but unlike a lot of parish communities, realizing how broken most of us were.” Today Father Joncas celebrates life
and health with new eyes, he said. He continues to ponder what God was trying to teach him through his suffering. “I am a middle-aged, Caucasian male in this culture, and that means that we highly prize independence, autonomy, being in charge, being in control. And I had none of that. I had to completely rely on other people to do even the most basic things for me,” he said. “What I say now is I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. But I also think for me it was a great blessing.” He believes it was God’s way of telling him, “You aren’t in charge, you aren’t in control. Let go.”
— Sponsored by Elder Ministry, Catholic Social Services —
Annual Day of Reflection St. Gabriel Catholic Church — Charlotte presented by Father Frank O’Rourke
“Food for the Journey— Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord” Wednesday, June 23 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. $14 per person includes lunch Deadline for registration: Monday, June 14 Pre-register by contacting your parish office or sending your name, address and payment to: Catholic Social Services - Elder Ministry Attn: Sandra Breakfield 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Questions? Sandra Breakfield (704-370-3220) or Sherill Beason (704-370-3228) at Catholic Social Services
Your Local Catholic Charities Agency
The Catholic News & Herald 11
May 28, 2010
CHARLOTTE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL AND BISHOP McGUINNESS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PROUDLY PRESENT THEIR GRADUATING SENIORS AND INTENDED COLLEGES
CCHS
Alabama, U. of Cook, Edward Griffin, Patrick Howle, William Kessel, Melanie Laurie, Payton McNulty, Sean Winterman, Alexandra American University Selbach, Mark Appalachian St. U. Balbirnie, David Bravo, Salvador Carrier, Lukas Cline, Kelly Curran, Kaitlyn Deschenes, Amber Granzow, John Hachen, Lauren Hatton, John Hurst, Lisa Kappauf, Justin Kent, Evan Lee, Carolyn Lister, Justin McGarry, Hannah Morera, Andrea Nguyen, Thu-Hong Parsons, James Seidel, Kelly Sloan, Rebecca Song, Eun Truslow, Julia Turner, Dylan Arizona State Univ. Linich, Christopher Auburn University Berardinelli, Connie Klochany, Jordan LaPenta, John Phillips, Melissa Averett University Rango, Kalynn Bay State University Fitz, Carly Bellarmine University Acitelli, Angelo Banick, Stephen Dorcy, Angelo Belmont Abbey College Gallagher, Sydney Torres, Mayra California, Irvine, U. of Strittmater, Allison Calif., Santa Barbara, U. of O’Neill, Lauren Campbell University Landi, Nathaniel Catawba College Gassaway, Patrick Catholic U. of America Radcliffe, Rebecca Central Piedmont CC Boyle, Melissa Curry, Andrew Hefferly, Clancy Hrycenko, Daniel Kleinheinz, Daniel McElhannon, Tess Reyes, Mark Christian Webber, Gregorey College of Charleston Becker, Andrew O’Boyle, Christina Porter, Garrett Relyea, Kaitlyn
2010
Clemson University Crowder, Michael DeVita, Julia Dickinson, Spencer Grom, Emily Hart, Kevin Hill, Nicholas Kovacs, Patrick Lee, Stephen Lindsay, Maclin Maddie, Blair Okoli, Theodore Priester, Patrick Tomlin, Kelly Weekley, Annemarie White, Nick
Georgia Inst./Technology Hedglin, Marc
Coastal Carolina Univ. McNealy, Andrew
High Point University Clementi, Theresa Lacey, John Mulvihill, Jamie
Colgate University Kobiela, Lauryn Colorado, Boulder, U. of Flynn, Carley Gundersen, Alexandra Wirth, Joseph Colorado State Univ. McCormick, Andrew Columbia University Lopez, Samantha Cornell University Keogh, Murray Roberts, Rachel Zawistowicz, Peter
Georgia, University of Martinec, Daniel Osborne, John Zweng, Amy Hampden-Sydney College Lee, Michael Sperr, Andrew Harvard University Palillo, Anthony
James Madison Univ. Webster, Louis Lehigh University Harrell, Hayden Lenoir - Rhyne Univ. DellaMea, John Wiese, Ryan Louisiana State U. Breaux, Morgan Coughlin, Miranda Loyola U. - Maryland Sawyer, Matthew
Drexel University Mijumbi, Raymond
Marymount Manhattan Col. Sebastian, Maria
Duke University Cunnane, John
Mississippi, Univ. of Boush, Virginia McAfee, Patrick Price, Sean Roberts, Kathryn Spratt, Robert
East Carolina University Backus, Alexandra Biller, Jessica Bovit, Andrea Downey-Beverly, Brianna Eichorn, Benjamin Gates, Elizabeth Hindes, Haley Kreshon, Christine Lowder, Savannah Magliocco, Matthew McSweeney, Michaela Meagher, Louis Osenga, Austin Reyes, Daniel Ricer, Nathaniel Roth, Jacob Ryan, Michael Siler, Brian Whelan, Mary Elon University Drury, Lane Farley, Kate Hetzel, Mary Kate Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. Ferretti, Michael Pietras, Frank Fashion Inst./Design and Merchandising, LA Chin, Cassandra Florida State Univ. Lee, Rachel Furman University Barrell, Maria Stowasser, Victoria Sullivan, Amanda Georgetown Univ. Carroll, Nicole Welsh, Stephanie
North Carolina A&T State U. Hare, Ahshanti UNC – Asheville Snyder, Holly Washburn, Shannin Yelen, Matthew UNC - Chapel Hill Box, Shannen Christ, Caitlin Dest, Alexandra Dunn, Jacqueline Farley, Matthew Ferebee, Mary Gill, Moira Heskamp, Grant Hogue, Eric Huber, Sean Keese, Avery Keffer, Stephanie Kendle, Andrew Minton, Malia Munekata, Amy Murphy, Keith Podraza, Marissa Powers, Claire Regele, Katherine Tobben, Michael Vest, Hailey Watkins, Caroline White, Caroline UNC - Charlotte Adamczuk, Deanna Arenas, Nicholas Baker, Jorden Barriga, Maria Bent, Norman Cash, Erin Chung, Amelia Cook, Chelsea Epps, Meredith Ewald, Alexander
Geoghagan, Madison Iannucci, Robert Jacobs, Martin Johnson, Timothy Joseph, Kerstyn Kem, Kem Kleinheinz, Steven McNally, M’Kenzie Mulloy, Brooke Narus, Jeffrey Paff, Zachary Regan, Katherine Tran, Nga Tran, Thinh Verney, James Westbrook, Gary Wisniewski, Patrick Workley, Dylan Zunino, Brian
Ohio State U. Desmond, Andrew Italiano, Michael
UNC - Greensboro Beswick, Jenna Gabriel, Matthew Mazzone, Audra Rockecharlie, Hayden Sullivan, Grace
Presbyterian College Archer, Jordan Ellis, Catherine Hogan, Bridget Leahy, Lucia
UNC - Wilmington Bilodeau, Brie Bullard, Juliane Carroll, Megan DiNome, AJ Doolan, Kristen Duffy, Shannon Fenyves, Samantha Herzog, Matthew Keenan, Andrew Kramlick, Allison Kyryliuk, Chris Larkin, Daniel Lopez-Ibanez, Christopher Lopez-Ibanez, Lindsey Lozzi, Blake McCarthy, Melissa Neal, Julia Norris, Madison Pruitt, Dana Rockecharlie, Hannah Ruth, Lauren Stolz, Emily Vu, Daniel Walters, Lindsey Webster, Charles Woodward, Haley Yaconetti, Mark UNC - School of the Arts Nikonovich, Taylor NC State University Almaraz, Alexa Baist, Sarah Brehm, Patrick Bremer, William Busker, Katherine Butler, Grace Dickerson, Margaret Dodge, Tyler Elia, Alexis Flehan, Jonathan Friedman, Jeramey Gibbons, Ryan Gilene, Stephen Grant, Andrew Letcher, Kyle Luse, Sean Markle, Jonathan Metkowski, Erin Meyer, David Porter, Sutton Roberts, Caitlin Rossitch, Alexander Rouse, John Tomsho, Matthew Ward, Robert Wright, Bryan Young, Daniel Northeastern Univ. Tracka, Katarzyna Notre Dame, Univ. of Hogan, Erin McDonough, Christen Merriam, Caroline
Charlotte Catholic High School 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road Charlotte, NC (704) 543-1127
Oxford College of Emory U. Baber, Matthew Parson School of Design McBride, Kathryn Peabody Inst./Johns Hopkins Bryan, Patrick Pennsylvania State Univ. Flores, Matthew
Queens University Shell, Brandon Swanson, Shawna
Wake Forest Univ. Petryna, Ellen
Western Carolina U. Allen, James Bale, Jenna Hoffman, Ian Keiper, Adam Martin, Laura McCaffrey, Kevin Poffenbarger, Bobby Roca, Michael Winthrop University Raad, Matthew Varner, Allison Wofford University Laframboise, Meagan Latta, Alexander Miller, Benjamin Paulson, Julia Walker, Mackenzie Yale University Pickhardt, Joseph
BMCHS
Saint Leo University Dury, Clinton
Amherst College Aaron Toomey
Saint Vincent College Hoffmann, Logan
Alabama, Univ. of Keely Daugherty
San Diego State U. O’Sullivan, Rachel
Appalachian St. U. Katelyn Bially Conner Brannan Laura Freese Sarah Jo Hewett Addy Jeffrey Adam Jimenez Hilary Kenney Ivy Kolosieke Zachary Lavasque Mike Ledesma Ethan Lodics Colin McCurry Josh Rathburn Adam Wicker Michael York
San Diego, Univ. of Green, Carly Seton Hall University Murry, Claire South Carolina, U. of Bailey, Christian Baker, Caitlin Bishop, Catherine Bounds, Alexander Brazell, Sara Cooper, Kayla Francis, Monica Herzog, Corinne Hobbs, Connor Humann, Nicholas Infanti, Christina Kenyon, Matthew Lord, Kyle Mazur, Erica Patrice, Carlie Peleaux, Ryan Pham, Duc-Thanh Piraino, Joseph Solt, Kathryn Swiger, Jessica Texas A&M Univ. Weiss, Jonathan US Coast Guard Academy Bruce, Jadarius US Military Academy Bednar, Matthew US Naval Academy Daly, Paul Rimmer, Gerald
Arizona State Univ. Katie Pellitteri Belmont Abbey College Allyson Craven Campbell University Raleigh Sadler Cape Fear CC Thomas Goddard Catholic Univ. of America Sean Wilson Catawba College David Crescenzo Clemson University Patrick Davidson Coastal Carolina U. Caroline Myers Coker College Atticus Lum
Vanderbilt University Roberts, Hillary
Dayton, University of Christine Lazorchick
Vassar College Palasick, Kristen
DePaul University Zachary Lassiter
Villanova University Beeman, Anna
Duquesne University Evan Seach
Virginia Poly Tech Buening, Matthew Drudick, Tyler Pettersen, Kelly Williamson, Lauren
East Carolina Univ. Whitney Causey Garrett Daniel Jenny Hodgin Tiler Katsma
Max Scalf William Suggs Edinburgh, Univ. of Greg Hrycaj Ji-Woon Lee Forsyth Technical C.C. Katie Brown Jacob Gauntz Ryan O’Connell Greensboro College Brittney Bullock Georgia Inst./Technology Kevin Choi Guilford Tech. CC Dominick Bresson Sarah Buckingham Kevin Mitchell Danielle Sawyer Zachary Scott High Point University Mary Jordan Collins Evelyn Mino Mikhaela Tisci Kara Walker Johnson and Wales U. Samantha Kosco Kentucky, Univ. of Michael Ware Louisburg College Theresa Brown Louisiana State U. Elizabeth Garcia Loyola Marymount U. Jessica Roner Methodist University Jake McSwain NC State University Casey Bray Emily Ciriano Amanda Gavin Brendan Greene Christian Immel Jacob LaRoe David Myers Kara Neidert Robert Tikkanen Brian Wilson Notre Dame, Univ. Trina Uwineza Ohio State University William Andrew McClure Oxford Col./Emory U. Dong Joon Kim
UNC - Asheville Amanda Murray John Ruggiero UNC - Chapel Hill Meredith Bennett Elizabeth Davis Olivia Hall Conor Jordan Tori Koesters Jose Tomas Labra-Escudero Nicole Lawing Karissa Martinez Daniel Sebastian Jack Vynalek UNC – Charlotte Stephanie Aguirre Michelle Breeding Manuel Comas Ben Corsig Ryan Florack Breanna Hofer Claire Kane Eric King Kate Lasine Rose O’Shea Joshua Renegar Michael Tilley Austin Tritt Jack Vynalek Alexander Wordsworth UNC – Greensboro Kiersten Anderson Matthew Horne Dustin Howell Tae Won Jo Sarah Julian Brandon Morelli Mattie Seidel Adrienne Windham UNC – Pembroke Philip Carlson Tyler Woods UNC – Wilmington Chelcie Ferguson Marisol Hernandez Daniel McClurg Michael Santarelli Melissa Spriegel Mary Kate Young Virginia Polytechnic Inst. Thomas Lawler Sean Spillane Wake Forest University Gabrielle Mortis Washington and Lee U. Mark Sowinski Washington College Erin Fitzgerald
Penn State U/Harrisburg Sangho Park
Western Carolina Univ. Donna Elliott Max Pollock
Pittsburgh, University of Kevin Saxon
West Liberty St. College Corey Mack
Saint Joseph’s University Amanda Burns
Wingate University Sara Bijkersma
Savannah Col./Art & Design Vianka Rascon South Carolina, Univ. Collin Callaghan Amanda Edmonds Kimberly Host-Madsen US Military Academy/West Point James Malinda
Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School 1725 NC Hwy 66 South Kernersville, NC (336) 564-1010
Undecided Christian Alfaro Gaby Lipovan Chelsie McCravey Devon Miller Sungju Park Eduardo Pinacho Michael Saia
12 The Catholic News & Herald
May 28, 2010
in our schools
Bishop McGuinness High School marks its 50th anniversary
Full time coordinator of Youth Ministry Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church
Jeff Stoller Special to The Catholic News & Herald KERNERSVILLE ― Alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends gathered at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro May 1 to celebrate the school’s 50th anniversary and three generations of Bishop McGuinness High School. The night included a silent auction, reception, dinner program, and dancing. Speakers included Tim Rice, former BMHS parent and current president and CEO of Moses Cone Health System; Catherine Smith Lassiter, alumna of the Class of 1980; Bill Lawler, current parent; Kathleen Connery Siegle, alumna of the Class of 1961; and Mark Sowinski, current senior and student council president. The gala was the end of a year-long celebration that included a school-wide celebratory Mass, Homecoming Week events in the fall, receptions at the Villa and Our Lady of Mercy School, and a faculty appreciation dinner. The school began life in 1954 as the Villa Marie Anna Academy, a girls’ school in Winston-Salem, thanks to a $30,000 contribution made by Mary Ann Robertson of New York. In 1959 the academy became a diocesan school, and thanks to the contributions of hundreds of parishioners in the Winston-Salem area, a new building was erected in 1937 at 1730 Link Road and dedicated to the memory of the Most Reverend Eugene J. McGuinness,
Full time coordinator of Youth Ministry sought by Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, a parish of 1,600 families in High Point, N.C. Candidate should be a practicing Catholic with experience in Youth Ministry and at least a B.A. in Theology or related field. Salary and benefits competitive. Position requires work with youth in grades 6-12, parents, and parish youth ministry team. Start July contract year. Call or write: Search Committee, I.H.M., 605 Barbee Ave., High Point, N.C. 27262, Phone: 336-884-5212; Fax: 336-884-1849 PdmVstAng_5_10.pdf
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4/30/10
Now serving Charlotte and Greensboro C
archival photo M
Bishop McGuinness High School began life in 1954 as the Villa Marie Anna Academy, a girls’ school in Winston-Salem. In 1959 the academy became a diocesan school. Y
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MY
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consecrated Bishop of Raleigh. Consistent growth over the next 40 years necessitated the move to a larger building that would eventually accommodate nearly 800 students. In August 2001, faculty and students moved into their current home at 1725 N.C. 66 South in Kernersville. The official dedication of the building was led by Bishop William Curlin on Sept. 30, 2001. BMHS would like to thank all of those who participated in this year-long celebration.
CMY
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Requirements include: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. At least three years experience in accounting preferably with a not-for-profit organization. Excellent computer skills – specifically with excel. Experience with Blackbaud software would be a plus. Please send resume and salary history by June 10, 2010 to: Stella Nell, Controller Diocese of Charlotte 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 Or email to sgnell@charlottediocese.org.
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May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 13
in our schools
Mass on the grass
Career Day at St. Michael School
photo by Suzanne Cona
Father Robert Conway celebrated “Mass on the Grass” for students and staff of Charlotte Catholic High School May 23. The annual tradition on the football field was followed by a picnic.
photo provided by Pat
Burr
St. Michael School students celebrated Career Day May 7, featuring business
Final days to register – Call NOW! SPECTACULAR - UNSPOILED – HISTORICAL
people from all over Gaston County. Guest speakers came from the Gaston Swat Team and Sniper Team of the Gastonia Police Department; the Gaston Fire Brigade Team; Dr. Keith Hughlett, an emergency room doctor; Dr. Elizabeth
CROATIA
Rinker and her team from the Belmont Animal Hospital; Eric Rosemond, a
October 18-28, 2010
and Steve Pin from the Schiele Museum. Pictured above are Rincker and
with a visit to Medjugorje
corporate pilot; Dr. John Gentry, physicist, and Adrianne Gentry, ESL teacher; her veterinary staff meeting with fourth-grade students, including Anastasia McArthur, who listens to a cat’s heartbeat. SCHOOL NEWS IN BRIEF
Bring family and friends to join with the Diocese of Charlotte as we experience Croatia – lying just across the Adriatic Sea from Italy! We’ll see breathtaking natural beauty, significant places of European history and 3 UNESCO World Heritage sites! Plus, a visit to Medjugorje -- making this trip a definite favorite for all!
Highlights of these 11 days include: • Zagreb, the capital city with rich cultural and governmental history, and Roman settlements from the 1st century • beautiful, old-world Bled, Slovenia – a “pletna boat” will glide us across glacial Lake Bled with the majestic, snow-tipped Julian Alps as the backdrop • a tour of the world-famous Lipizzaner horse farm where we’ll witness an actual training session of these magnificent Slovenian treasures! • charming seaside Opatija, nestled in beautiful woods with elegant villas and a seaside promenade to bring the Adriatic right up to your feet! • the spectacular, breathtaking phenomenon of Plitvice Lakes national park – 16 terraced lakes connected by magnificent waterfalls and free-flowing cascades. A lake cruise reveals the underwater life thriving in this natural wonderland! • the ancient seaside city of Split (once the most important Mediterranean port in then-Yugoslavia) where we’ll explore the Old City, the markets, Diocletian’s Roman Palace and much more of its charm and fascinating history • Medjugorje, the small village where we’ll have personal time for prayer, reflection and Mass at beautiful St. James Church • exciting Dubrovnik offers us its fascinating Old City, world-famous Franciscan Monastery, exceptional architecture, seaside promenade and more! • unforgettable home visit and culinary feast with a Croatian countryside family sharing their culture and customs to enrich our total experience!
Unparalleled beauty, fascinating history and more await you on this trip! Check out these highlights on the Internet and you’ll see why Croatia is becoming a must-see destination, still unspoiled by “too many tourists.” Price per person (double occupancy) is only $3,379 and includes: roundtrip airfare from Charlotte; all hotels and transfers; most meals; fulltime professional Tour Manager; local guides. Not included are cancellation waiver/insurance ($200 per person) and air taxes/surcharges ($150).
For a brochure or questions, call Cindi Feerick at the diocese (704) 370-3332 or e-mail ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org.
Graduation and baccalaureate Mass dates set The Catholic high schools of the Diocese of Charlotte have planned the following graduation and baccalaureate Masses: n Bishop McGuinness High School: graduation 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 29, at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem n Charlotte Catholic High School: baccalaureate Mass 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at St. Matthew Church; graduation 3 p.m. Friday, June 4, at Bojangles’ Arena in Charlotte
MACS open house dates set for fall CHARLOTTE ― Open house dates for all MACS schools are as follows: n All elementary schools: 1:303:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, and 9 a.m.noon Tuesday, Oct. 19 n Charlotte Catholic High School: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 n Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, and 9-11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3 We welcome your school’s news. E-mail items to Editor Patricia Guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.
May 28, 2010
14 The Catholic News & Herald
Perspectives
A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints
As Year For Priests nears close, pope encourages priests to be shepherds VATICAN CITY (CNS) ― As the Year For Priests draws to a close, Pope Benedict XVI said a priest’s foremost role is to be a shepherd to his flock, and he asked the faithful to support their priests in their task of bringing people closer to God. At his regular weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square May 26, the pope said priests should follow Jesus, who he called the “supreme shepherd of souls.” Their mission is to “take care of the people of God, be teachers of the faith, animating and sustaining the community of Christians.” The pope quoted St. Augustine in pointing out that “it is a labor of love to graze the flocks of the Lord,” and that love should act as the “supreme guide in conduct for the ministers of God.” By following this guide, the pope said, a priest should show “unconditional love, be full of joy and open to all; be attentive to those around him, gentle to children, to the weak and to the simple; and show the infinite mercy of God with encouraging words of hope.” Because of the world wars and the rise of dictatorial leaders in Europe in the last century, the pope said, many people today still have a deep mistrust of authority of all types. The Church, he said, is called to offer an authority based on service, “not in its own right but in the name of Jesus, who in the name of the Father received all authority in heaven and on earth.” Each priest in turn receives that responsibility, the pope said. “The spiritual authority conferred in holy orders should be matched by the priest’s interior fidelity to his pastoral mission and his personal readiness to follow obediently the lead of Christ,” he said. In living for the benefit of his flock, the priest-shepherd must dedicate himself totally, “often going against the current, and remembering that he who is big must act like the smallest, and he who governs must act like the servant.” The pope said that leading others does not mean domination but is rather illustrated in the humble act of Jesus Christ’s washing of the feet of the Apostles and in the wood of the cross. The pope asked the faithful to “support your priests in their ministry of leading men and women to God, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel and its message for hope.” Pope Benedict also asked for prayers “for my own ministry of governance in the
The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI
Church.” The pope called the special year for priests last June to encourage “spiritual perfection” in clergy. He will mark the closing of the Year For Priests with a Mass at the Vatican June 11. Following are the pope’s remarks in English: “Dear Brothers and Sisters, In these final days of the Year For Priests, I would like to speak of the priest’s ministry of governing, in the name of Christ, the flock entrusted to his care. Authority, in the Christian understanding, is a service to the true, ultimate good of the person, which is our salvation in Christ; exercised in the Lord’s name, it is an expression of the constant presence and care of the Good Shepherd. The spiritual authority conferred in holy orders should be matched by the priest’s interior fidelity to his pastoral mission and his personal readiness to follow obediently the lead of Christ. Understood in the light of faith, this authority, while involving the exercise of power, remains a service to the building up of the Church in holiness, unity and truth. Christ’s power was expressed in the washing of feet, and His kingship by the wood of the Cross; so too, the priestly ministry of governance must be expressed in pastoral charity. I ask all of you to support your priests in their ministry of leading men and women to God, bearing witness to the truth of the Gospel and its message of hope. In a special way I also ask you to pray for my own ministry of governance in the Church, and for the spiritual fruitfulness of the celebrations at the conclusion of the Year For Priests. “I welcome all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s audience, especially those from England, Ireland, Sweden, Australia, India, Barbados, Canada and the United States of America. Upon you and your families I cordially invoke Almighty God’s blessings of joy and peace!”
‘Spiritual motherhood’ sanctifies women At the closing of 2007, on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a document came out from the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy entitled “Eucharistic Adoration for the Sanctification of Priests and Spiritual Maternity.” This publication was a departure from the normal presentation of most Vatican documents in that it is made up almost entirely of vignettes into the lives of holy women showing the dramatic consequences of their lives of prayer and sacrifice. The accompanying letters with which this document reached the dioceses and religious institutes of women throughout the world stated more clearly the goal of this compelling document: A spiritual endeavor was imperative to help priests with the challenges and struggles they face in their apostolate – an endeavor which would draw each priest into divine intimacy to make his active apostolate more fruitful. The specific means to be undertaken – Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Eternal High Priest. As Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, with our life centered on adoration of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament in a spirit of reparative thanksgiving, we received this invitation from the congregation with great rejoicing. It hit close to home for us because we count among our greatest blessings the many priests and seminarians we know. We are always spiritually renewed when we meet them, and they are encouraged in their vocation when we are faithful to our own. Though the introductory letter to this document from Claudio Cardinal Hummes specifically calls for “a commitment on the part of consecrated feminine souls,” the examples given in the following pages include those of wives and mothers. Eliza Vaughan was a mother of 14 children, yet she prayed daily before the Blessed Sacrament for vocations from among her children. The Lord granted that six of her boys would be called to the priesthood. There is also the story of Blessed Alessandrina, a single woman who through the offering of her sickness and suffering helped a wayward priest reconcile with God
Guest Column Mother Dolores Marie
Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration
The Apostles passed the 10 days between Ascension Day and Pentecost in prayer together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It was God’s will that she should remain on earth to comfort and sustain, to instruct and advise the disciples of Christ. The princes of the Church gathered thus around their queen. —The Daily Roman Missal
before his death. The beauty of the life of spiritual motherhood is that it is something solely between the individual soul and God. When we unite our own daily prayers, penances and hardships with the Passion of Christ, and make this little offering to our heavenly Father, it becomes a precious and powerful means of sanctification, both for ourselves and those for whom we pray. It is a hidden apostolate, which renders the offering purer because it is cleansed of human motivation. I would like to make an appeal to the women in the Diocese of Charlotte. Will you join us in spirit, by making a weekly visit to the Blessed Sacrament in your local parish for the specific intention of praying for the bishop and priests in our diocese? Will you encourage them and fortify them by praying for the graces and strength they need to fulfill their holy calling? And lastly, will you offer prayers of thanksgiving to God for these men who have sacrificed their lives so that one day we may all be together in heaven? Mother Dolores Marie leads the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, a contemplative order of women religious who moved their St. Joseph Monastery to the Diocese of Charlotte in March from Portsmouth, Ohio. The monastery is located on the campus of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 30 – JUNE 5 Sunday (The Most Holy Trinity), Proverbs 8:22-31, Romans 5:1-5, John 16:12-15; Monday (The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary), Zephaniah 3:14-18, Isaiah 12:2-6, Luke 1:39-56; Tuesday (St. Justin), 2 Peter 3:12-15, 17-18, Mark 12:13-17; Wednesday (Sts. Marcellinus and Peter), 2 Timothy 1:1-3, 6-12, Mark 12:18-27; Thursday (St. Charles Lwanga and Companions), 2 Timothy 2:8-15, Mark 12:28-34; Friday, 2 Timothy 3:10-17, Mark 12:35-37; Saturday (St. Boniface), 2 Timothy 4:1-8, Mark 12:38-44. SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 6 – JUNE 12 Sunday (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ), Genesis 14:18-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Luke 9:11-17; Monday, 1 Kings 17:1-6, Matthew 5:1-12; Tuesday, 1 Kings 17:7-16, Matthew 5:13-16; Wednesday (St. Ephrem), 1 Kings 18:20-39, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday, 1 Kings 18:41-46, Matthew 5:20-26; Friday (The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus), Ezekiel 34:11-16, Romans 5:5-11, Luke 15:3-7; Saturday (The Immaculate Heart of Mary) 1 Kings 19:19-21, Luke 2:41-51.
May 28, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 15
A few memorable words during this graduation season Do you remember what the commencement speaker said at your graduation? Or, more recently perhaps, at the graduation of your son or daughter – or even grandkids? Few of us do. Sometimes, it’s even hard to remember who the speakers were. Still, May is the traditional month for college commencements and thousands upon thousands of young people and their families will hear famous, successful people offering graduates all sorts of advice for their careers and for life in general. These suggestions are sincere and well-meant and may even be uplifting and useful, but that doesn’t make them memorable. But there are always wonderful exceptions: meaningful words delivered by the right person at the right time. I’d like to share two of them with you. The first was offered by Dr. Seuss himself, Theodore Geisel, the popular children’s writer. When he was offered an honorary degree from Lake Forest College in Illinois, in 1977, he made it clear that he was deeply honored to accept, but that he would not speak. The college president and others pressed him, but he continued to refuse. When commencement day came and the honorary degree had been conferred, Geisel reached into his academic gown and pulled out this poem which he read
to his enthusiastic audience: “My uncle ordered popovers / from the restaurant’s bill of fare. / And, when they were served, / he regarded them / with a penetrating stare. / Then he spoke great Words of Wisdom / as he sat there on that chair: / “To eat these things,” / said my uncle, / “you must exercise great care. / You may swallow down what’s solid / BUT / you must spit out the air!” “And / as you partake of the world’s bill of fare, / that’s darned good advice to follow. / Do a lot of spitting out the hot air. / And be careful what you swallow.” A second memorable address came from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize winner and world renowned peace and human rights activist, who gave a commencement talk at Brandeis University in Massachusetts in 2000. He reminded the graduates that the people who earn our greatest admiration are not those who are merely wealthy or powerful; they are those who give the best of themselves for others. Archbishop Tutu mentioned such heroes as Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. He concluded with this tale: “You know the story of the farmer who in his back yard had chickens, including one that was a little odd looking, but it behaved like a chicken, it pecked like the other chickens. Then someone who was
Guest Column
You’re never too young to pray
Stephanie Raha The Christophers knowledgeable came along and said to the farmer, ‘Hey, that’s no chicken. Give it to me, please.’ “And this man took this strange looking chicken and climbed the mountain and waited until sunrise. And then he turned this strange looking chicken towards the sun and said, ‘Eagle, fly, eagle.’ And it shook itself, spread out its pinions, and lifted off and soared and soared and flew away into the distance. “And God says to all of us, ‘You are no chicken; you are an eagle. Fly, eagle, fly.’ And God wants us to shake ourselves, spread our pinions, and then lift off and soar and rise toward the confident and the good and the beautiful. Rise towards the compassionate and the gentle and the caring. Rise to become what God intends us to be – eagles, not chickens.” So there you have it, two memorable pieces of advice: Don’t swallow everything you’re told. And don’t be chicken – just stretch your wings and soar. Stephanie Raha is editor-in-chief of The Christophers in New York. Contact them at 212-759-4050 or www. christophers.org.
photo provided by Anne
T. Lynn
Payton Anne Boland, 1, is being taught to pray by her mother Ashley Lynn, father Jeff Boland and grandmother Anne Lynn, who are members of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. They moved to the diocese from Pottstown, Pa., about eight years ago. Anne Lynn says Payton is enthralled with this
The vocation of motherhood isn’t always easy, but it’s a gift May is traditionally dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Besides honoring Mary in May, we also single out and thank our own mothers on Mother’s Day. It might be a good time to reflect on what it means to be a mother. First of all, the biological conceiving and birthing of a child doesn’t automatically make a woman a mother in the true sense of the word. Most of us have read or heard stories of women who give physical birth to children, only to neglect or abandon them. Like our Blessed Mother Mary, a mother is someone who says “yes” to the call to raise her children in love. The primary role or vocation of a mother is to nurture and protect her children. She helps to form their values and is a major influence on their emotional and spiritual development. The instruction in the rite of baptism tells parents that they are the first and primary educators of their children in the faith. Being a parent, a mother, is an enormous gift and responsibility. When I was growing up, I remember my mother being very involved in our parish. She belonged to the Sodality and the Altar and Rosary Society. She did
everything from washing altar linens to becoming an extraordinary minister of holy Communion, when the laity began distributing Communion. Even into her late 70s she still brought Communion to patients in the hospital. She often went to daily Mass and took us to special services like novenas. There is no doubt in my mind that her devotion and dedication were a great influence on my formation in the faith and ultimately my becoming a Sister of the Holy Cross. Another attribute of motherhood is their lifetime concern for their children. Even though a component of motherhood is letting go of their grown children, mothers never cease to love and support them in good times and in bad. Sometimes a mother can do everything right and a child may not respond well. There are families who have one child with problems and another who enters religious life, yet both were brought up the same way. Children can cause much sorrow and discouragement, but parents, especially mothers, continue to bestow faithful love. Consider St. Monica, who prayed many years for the conversion of her wayward son, Augustine, who eventually became a saint and a doctor of the Church.
statue of Mary in her backyard.
Guest Column Sister Margie Lavonis Sisters of the Holy Cross And there are those who are spiritual mothers. They may not give birth to children but serve as important mentors. These are often those who step in when a mother dies or becomes ill, or they can be women who befriend children who lack mothering in their own families. Often we take our mothers for granted and neglect to show them our gratitude. It is important to show our thanks every day, not just once a year. The vocation of motherhood is not always easy and often mothers make great sacrifices for their children. Flowers and candy are nice, but most mothers would just like a “thank you” once in a while. There are many ways to show our appreciation. And if you never knew your mother or she is deceased, remember that Mary is also your mother and loves you very much.
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Sister Margie Lavonis is a freelance writer and member of Sisters of the Holy Cross in Notre Dame, Ind.
News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, N.C. 28237, or e-mail catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.
May 28, 2010
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Good Shepherd, Come Feed Us 2010 Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress
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