June 11, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 1
www.charlottediocese.org
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Year For Priests: Father Eugene Schellberg and Father Paul Dechant honored by their parishes PAGE 5
established jan. 12, 1972 by Pope Paul vi june 11, 2010
Bishop urges newly ordained to be models of ‘The Good Shepherd’
Serving CatholiCS in WeStern north Carolina in the DioCeSe of Charlotte
voluMe 19
no. 29
Our new priests
fuLL cOvErAGE, PAGES 8-11
INSIDE THIS WEEK
n PHoTos fRom sATuRDAY’s oRDiNATioN mAss AT sT. mARk CHuRCH / PAges 8-10 n wHeRe ARe THe fouR New PRiesTs goiNg To be AssigNeD? / PAge 11
n All PRiesT AssigNmeNT CHANges ANNouNCeD / PAge 10
ONLINE EXcLuSIvE
n ViDeo AND PHoTo HigHligHTs fRom THe oRDiNATioN mAss ARe PosTeD AT www. CHARloTTeDioCese.oRg. photo by SueaNN howell
Pope: Priesthood is call to transform world with love ALSO INSIDE As CATHoliCs gATHeReD iN Rome THis week To mARk THe eND of THe YeAR foR PRiesTs, Two gRouPs PusHeD foR womeN’s oRDiNAToN AND TAkiNg A TougHeR sTANCe oN HANDliNg CleRgY Abuse CAses. — see PAge 2
Cindy Wooden CatholiC neWs serviCe ROME ― The primary purpose of both the ordained priesthood and the common priesthood of all baptized Catholics is to change the world with love, Pope Benedict XVI said. The priesthood of Christ, “which the Church inherited
Pope Benedict XVI greets a deacon during the sign of peace at Mass on the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome June 3.
and continues throughout history, in the double form of the common priesthood of the baptized and that of ordained ministers,” aims “to transform the world with the love of God,” he said at Mass June 3. In his homily at the Mass for the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ in Rome’s See POPE, page 7
PERSPECTIVES Pope Benedict XVI asks prayers for the Middle East PAGE 14
CNS photo by paul hariNg
IN THE NEWS
CULTURE WATCH
Former local student wins Catholic University of America’s highest honor for graduating seniors
The Inquisition and Index: Vatican records shed light on dark legend
PAGE 12
PAGE 6
June 11, 2010
2 The Catholic News & Herald
InBrief WOrLD NEWS IN BrIEf
Martyred Polish priest beatified
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) ― During his beatification Mass in the Polish capital June 6, a martyred Polish priest was praised for standing against the oppressive forces of communism. More than 140,000 people, including more than 3,000 priests and 95 bishops, attended the ceremony as Archbishop Angelo Amato, prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for Saints’ Causes, recalled how Father Jerzy Popieluszko “did not yield to temptation to survive in this death camp” under communist rule. Father Popieluszko’s bound and gagged body was dredged from a reservoir on the Vistula River Oct. 30, 1984, 11 days after his abduction while returning at night from a Mass. His killing was widely acknowledged with helping discredit four decades of communist rule in Poland, which ended in 1989. A decree recognizing him as a martyr was issued by Pope Benedict XVI Dec. 19, 2009. His beatification is a major step toward sainthood.
CCHD funding continues to spark controversy
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNS) ― A report by the American Life League charges that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development continues to fund some community-based groups whose efforts conflict with Church teaching. The June 1 report said 46 CCHD-funded agencies have directly or indirectly supported abortion, contraception, samesex marriage, homosexual rights and “other affronts to morality and Catholic teaching.” CCHD officials at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops could not be reached for comment. The campaign is the bishops’ domestic anti-poverty initiative and each year provides grants to more than 250 groups. Bishop Roger P. Morin of Biloxi, Miss., chairman of the bishops’ CCHD subcommittee, told bishops last fall that accusations the campaign is “providing funds to groups that are pro-abortion or groups that are not in support of the family ... and other untruths” are “outrageous claims.” Since 2008, CCHD has taken steps to defund organizations that initially received poverty-fighting grants and were later
Current and upcoming topics from around the world to your own backyard
found to violate funding guidelines. In all, six organizations lost CCHD funding after officials learned of activities which the groups participated in were unethical or contrary to Church teaching.
Year For Priests event draws requests for change
ROME (CNS) ― As thousands of priests arrived in Rome to mark the end of the Year For Priests, two other groups of Catholics arrived with very specific requests. The U.S.-based Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, known as SNAP, held a news conference in Rome June 8 asking Pope Benedict XVI during the closing ceremonies for the Year For Priests to publicly apologize for clerical sex abuse and to back it up with a pledge that any priest who abuses a minor anywhere in the world will be immediately removed from the priesthood. While Vatican rules insist priests accused of abuse be removed from ministry immediately, laicization is only one of the possible penalties for the crime of sex abuse. Joelle Casteix of SNAP said the June 9-10 closing ceremonies for the Year For Priests are “the moment for Pope Benedict to be a man of God” and take concrete action to protect children. Also June 8, members of several groups advocating for women’s ordination held a news conference in Rome, then walked to St. Peter’s Square to hand out leaflets. After a few minutes, police asked the women – three of whom were wearing Roman collars – to leave, and they did. Erin Sainz Hanna, executive director of the U.S.-based Women’s Ordination Conference, told reporters, “The Vatican is all too happy to turn a blind eye when men in its ranks destroy the lives of children and families, but jumps at the chance to excommunicate women who are doing good works.” In 2008, the doctrinal congregation formally decreed that a woman who attempts to be ordained a priest and the person attempting to ordain her are automatically excommunicated. In his 1994 apostolic letter “Ordinatio Sacerdotalis,” Pope John Paul II concluded that “the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”
juNE 11, 2010 Volume 19 • NumbeR 29 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
DIOcESAN NEWS IN BrIEf
Register now for Totus Tuus Totus Tuus summer camps are being offered at these seven parishes. Call the parish offices to sign up: n St. Dorothy, Lincolnton, June 1218: 704-735-5575 n St. Bernadette, Linville, June 1925: 828-898-6900 n Sacred Heart, Salisbury, June 26July 2: 704-633-0591 n St. James the Greater, Concord, July 17-July 23: 704-720-0600 n St. Philip the Apostle, Statesville, July 24-July 30: 704-872-2579 n St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte, July 31-Aug. 6: 704-334-2283 n St. Mark, Huntersville, Aug. 7-Aug. 13: 704-948-0231
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. If you live in the Asheville area and would like more information, contact Janice Donahue at 704-2499161 or ladydonahue@gmail.com.
Mass for military planned at St. Patrick Cathedral CHARLOTTE ― Bishop Peter J. Jugis will celebrate a Mass for U.S. military personnel at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 18, at St. Patrick Cathedral. The rosary will recited preceding the Mass at 2:30 p.m. The Mass and rosary will be offered for all military personnel who have died and for those who are now serving. All military personnel are invited and encouraged to come in uniform. Photos of those who have died or who are now serving in the military will also be displayed in the cathedral. To include your service member, preferably in uniform, please mail a color or black/white photocopy of them with their name and military rank on the back to Nancy Weber, Office of the Bishop, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203. Photos must be received no later than July 12.
ST. MATTHEW CHURCH, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy. — Family Faith & Fun Night, 6 to 8:30 p.m. June 18, Mini retreat designed for families. RSVP forms available at church office and Web site. For more information, contact Diane Kiradjieff at dkiradjieff@ stmatthewcatholic.org or 704-541-8362, ext. 5. ST. PETER CHURCH, 507 South Tryon St. — Undoing the “Mark of Cain”: Resolving the Reentry Crisis, Benedict Hall, 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. June 15. 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 through Aug. 4 (except July 21). Register by e-mail to jreagan@carolina.rr.com.
— Young at Heart’s Covered Dish Potluck Supper, following Mass at 5 p.m. June 12. Open to parishioners older than 50.
— The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Meeting, 7 p.m. third Wednesday of each month. They welcome women who are practicing Roman Catholics, who are Irish by birth or descent, who are the wife of a member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, or who are the mother of a Junior member. For more information, contact Susan Blanchfield at 704-8258313 or sblanchfield1@carolina.rr.com.
— Belmont Mass Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. June 12, an evening of gospel music.
GREENSBORO
CANDLER
ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE CHURCH, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Road
BELMONT QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES CHURCH, 503 N. Main St.
ST. JOAN OF ARC CHURCH, 768 Asbury Road — Anointing of the Sick, 11 a.m. June 19 CHARLOTTE ST. GABRIEL CHURCH, 3016 Providence Road — “Linked In- An Introduction to the Possibilities!” presented by St. Gabriel in Transition (SGIT), Ministry Center, 7 to 9 p.m. June 17. Will include “Improving your Microsoft Skills” and one-on-one coaching sessions. To register, contact Bill Conwell at SGIT@bellsouth.net.
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
— Summer Outdoor Film Festival, 6 p.m. July 9 and 16. Bring lawn chairs, games, coolers, kids, and something to cook on the grill. Films will start at 8:30 p.m. — Men’s Early Morning Bible Study Group, Parish Library, 6:30 a.m. every Tuesday. For more information, contact gmagrinat@pol.net or jmalmsie@aol.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.
June 11, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 3
Pope: Cypriot Catholics should be witnesses of God’s love Cindy Wooden CatholiC neWs serviCe
CNS photo by l’oSServatore romaNo via reuterS
Pope Benedict XVI talks with Sheik Mehmet Nazim Adil, surrounded by other Muslim clergy, during an unscheduled meeting as the pope passed in procession for Mass at the Church of the Holy Cross at the U.N.-controlled buffer zone of the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus, June 5. The sheik, the 88-year-old head of an organization dedicated to Islamic mysticism, waited along the procession route to greet the pope during his three-day visit to Cyprus. As the pope passed by, he stopped to greet the sheik, Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said. The sheik told the pope, “I’m sorry. I’m very old, so I sat to wait,” and the pope responded, “I’m old, too.” Sheik Nazim brought the pope a walking stick and a set of Muslim prayer beads, Father Lombardi said, and the pope gave the sheik commemorative medals of his pontificate. The sheik asked the pope to pray for him and the pope responded that they should pray for each other.
HAYESVILLE
SALISBURY
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY CHURCH, U.S. Hwy. 64 West
SACRED HEART CHURCH, 375 Lumen Christi Lane
— Lunch and Learn: “Is it time for a new reformation?” noon June 26, sign-up sheets available in the Commons. HICKORY ST. ALOYSIUS, 921 Second St., N.E. — Charismatic Mass, Sebastian Chapel, 7 p.m. July 1. For more information, call Joan Moran at 828-994-0880. — Natural Family Planning Class, Parlor, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., RSVP required to Batrice Adcock at cssnfp@ charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3230. HUNTERSVILLE ST. MARK CHURCH, 14740 Stumptown Road — Centering Prayer, Chapel, 8:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Wednesday. For more information, contact centeringprayerstmark@live.com. — Active Older Adult Exercise, Parish Hall, 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. every Wednesday. This is a total body exercise class. KERNERSVILLE HOLY CROSS CHURCH, 616 South Cherry St. — Senior Coffee House, Salesian Hall, 10 a.m. every first and third Monday of the month. MURPHY ST. WILLIAM CHURCH, 765 Andrews Road — “Is It Time For a New Reformation?” with guest speaker Father George Kloster, noon June 19. RSVP on the bulletin board in the Commons.
Episcopal
calendar
— 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, email tedeumfoundation@gmail.com or call 336-765-1815. — Mass in Extraordinary Form, 4 p.m. June 13, Missa Cantata celebrating the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. SHELBY ST. MARY CHURCH, 818 McGowan Road — Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass, 10 a.m. June 11, followed by adoration WINSTON-SALEM HOLY FAMILY CHURCH, 4820 Kinnamon Road — English/Spanish Conversation Groups, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays in Room 1 and 6 to 7:30 p.m. Mondays in Room 7 — English as a Second Language Classes, Family Center, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes are available to adult non-English speakers. For more information, contact the Hispanic Ministry at 336-778-0600 ext. 254. ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CHURCH, 1625 East 12th St. — Parish Picnic, Tanglewood Park, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 19 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.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events:
june 12-19 uSccB Meeting st. Petersburg, fla.
june 25 – 7 p.m. Sacrament of confirmation st. francis of Assisi Church, lenoir
june 21-23 Bishops Annual Province Meeting Charlotte
june 27 – 12 p.m. Sacrament of confirmation st. michael the Archangel Church, gastonia
NICOSIA, Cyprus (CNS) ― The Catholic minority in Cyprus and the Christian minority in the Middle East are called to be witnesses of God’s love, of hope in the face of suffering and of a tenacious commitment to dialogue for peace, Pope Benedict XVI said during his June 4-6 trip to the divided Mediterranean island. The pope, who began his visit by blessing an olive tree, said Catholics can be a force for good in the region and in the world by strengthening their bonds of affection for one another, building unity with other Christians and respectfully working with followers of other religions. “We are called to overcome our differences, to bring peace and reconciliation where there is conflict, to offer the world a message of hope,” the pope said. “We are called to reach out to those in need, generously sharing our earthly goods with those less fortunate than ourselves. And we are called to proclaim unceasingly the death and resurrection of the Lord.” Tensions continue to swirl in the region after Israel’s raid on a flotilla of Turkish boats trying to run the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The pope’s trip began one day after the president of the Turkish bishops’ conference was killed by his driver, who had been experiencing psychiatric problems. Cyprus itself has been a source of conflict, divided between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots since 1974. U.N. peacekeepers patrol the buffer zone. The Vatican estimates there are about 25,000 Catholics in Cyprus, most belonging to the Maronite Church, a Latin-rite Catholic community. Many of Cyprus’ Maronite villages are on the northern part of the island, where Turkish Cypriots restrict travel. In greeting the Maronite Catholics, the pope particularly mentioned four such villages once inhabited by the Maronites who fled south after the 1974 tensions. Maronite Archbishop Youssef Soueif of Cyprus asked the pope, “Help us return to our villages. Remember Cyprus in your prayers. Our villages are beautiful spaces where we preserve our identity, our particularity in the spirit of openness toward everyone.” Openness was a key theme in the pope’s visit. The pope said the fact that Catholics were such a small minority on the
island gives them the opportunity each day to foster good relations with other Christians and with Muslims. “Only by patient work can mutual trust be built, the burden of history overcome, and the political and cultural differences between peoples become a motive to work for deeper understanding,” he said. The pope also praised his host, Orthodox Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, for his role in supporting dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The pope told the archbishop that
ALSO INSIDE AT His weDNesDAY geNeRAl AuDieNCe, PoPe beNeDiCT XVi Asks PRAYeRs foR THe miDDle eAsT — see PAge 14
he joined him “in praying that all the inhabitants of Cyprus, with God’s help, will find the wisdom and strength needed to work together for a just settlement of issues remaining to be resolved, to strive for peace and reconciliation, and to build for future generations a society distinguished by respect for the rights of all.” At a June 5 Mass with priests, nuns, seminarians and parish leaders, the pope focused on the theme of the cross and of suffering transformed by love. The cross, he said, “is indeed an instrument of torture, suffering and defeat, but at the same time it expresses the complete transformation, the definitive reversal of these evils; that is what makes it the most eloquent symbol of hope that the world has ever seen.” The cross “speaks of love, it speaks of the victory of nonviolence over oppression,” he said. On the eve of presenting the working document for the special Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, Pope Benedict said he wanted to remember the many priests and religious in the Middle East “currently experiencing a particular call to conform their lives to the mystery of Christ’s cross.” Many Christian families are leaving the region because of the violence and tensions there, and sometimes priests and religious are tempted to do likewise, he said. “Their presence alone is an eloquent expression of the Gospel of peace” and of the Church’s ongoing commitment to dialogue, the pope said.
Note to our readers
effective with this week’s edition, The Catholic News & Herald will begin its bimonthly publishing schedule for the summer. The next edition will be published friday, June 25. for questions or story suggestions, please contact editor Patricia guilfoyle at 704-370-3334 or plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.
4 The Catholic News & Herald
AROUND THE DIOCESE
June 11, 2010
Year for Priests Interviews with priests around the diocese
THE MOST rEvErEND PETEr j. juGIS
THE MOST rEvErEND PETEr j. juGIS
Bishop, Diocese of Charlotte
Home Parish: i was baptized at st. Ann Church in Charlotte and grew up at st. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte. High School: south mecklenburg High school, Charlotte college: university of North Carolina at Charlotte Seminary: Pontifical North American College, Rome, italy; Pontifical gregorian university, Rome, italy Ordained to the priesthood: June 12, 1983, at basilica of st. Peter, Rome, by His Holiness, Pope John Paul ii Date of Ordination as Bishop: oct. 24, 2003
What assignments have you had since ordination as a priest? As a priest of the diocese before being named bishop, I served at St. Ann Church, Charlotte; St. Leo the Great Church, Winston-Salem; Holy Infant Church, Reidsville; St. John Neumann Church, Charlotte; Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury; Queen of the Apostles Church, Belmont; St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte; Holy Spirit Church, Denver; St. Mark Church, Huntersville; and Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe. What have been some of the greatest joys for you as a bishop? The greatest joys have been the ordination of 20 priests and 33 deacons for service to the Church. Other great joys have been administering the sacrament of confirmation to young people throughout the diocese, and welcoming thousands of the faithful to the Eucharistic Congress each year. Who influenced you to consider the vocation to the priesthood? I was blessed to have wonderful pastors at St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte as I was growing up. They allowed me to serve at Mass as often as I wanted: Father James Noonan, Father Vincent Stokes, Monsignor John Roueche, Father Joe Waters and Monsignor William Wellein. What was your background before you entered the seminary? I was an undergraduate student at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte when I made application to enter the seminary. What would people be surprised to know about you? I put about 20,000 miles on my car each year traveling to parish events around the diocese.
arChival photo
Bishop Jugis with Pope Benedict XVI
What are some of your favorite spiritual books and magazines? The writings of St. John of the Cross; the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore Romano; and our diocesan newspaper The Catholic News & Herald. Who is a hero to you? Pope John Paul II is a hero because of the joyful enthusiasm he always displayed in proclaiming Christ. Pope Benedict XVI is a hero because of his trusting obedience in accepting our Lord’s call to become pope at the tender age of 78. What is one of your hobbies? Walking What are some ways that we can help families understand their roles in promoting and supporting vocations? Families must be actively involved in the life of their parishes, and parents must encourage their children to offer themselves in service in the parish. This
arChival photo
Bishop Jugis with Pope John Paul II involvement in the parish fosters a love for the Church, which is essential for a priestly vocation. What advice would you give to a young man who is contemplating a vocation to the priesthood?
Love the Mass and develop a spiritual life. For me, spiritual reading (“Life of Christ” by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen) and prayer, especially the rosary, were instrumental in fostering my love for Christ.
June 11, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 5
AROUND THE DIOCESE
On retreat
Celebrating 50 years as a priest
photo provided by louiSe thoreSoN
Three members of St. James the Greater Church in Concord attended a vocational retreat program May 21-23 for high school-aged men called Crossroads, sponsored by the Redemptorist Community. This year the retreat was held at the community’s Holy Family Retreat House in Hampton, Va. Pictured from left are Nick Andruzzi, chaperone and driver; TJ Gandron, Eric Thoreson and Alan Thoreson. All three participants enjoyed the retreat and came back with a clearer knowledge of life in a religious community.
Final days to register – Call NOW! SPECTACULAR - UNSPOILED – HISTORICAL
CROATIA
with a visit to Medjugorje
October 18-28, 2010
photo provided by
miChele gauviN
Father L. Eugene Schellberg was congratulated on his 50 anniversary as a priest and his 80 birthday with a special Mass and reception at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte June 6. The celebration was the culmination of the parish’s efforts to honor the Year For Priests. Father Schellberg, senior priest, retired in 2000 as pastor of St. Bernadette Church in Parlin, N.J., and moved to Charlotte, where he soon became active serving the Church here. Monsignor John J. McSweeney, St. Matthew’s pastor, credits Father Schellberg’s contributions to the spiritual growth of the parish, including hearing confessions, visiting the sick, serving the needs of senior citizens, serving as chaplain to the local Knights of Columbus council, and presenting talks with the “St. Matthew University” faith formation programs – fulfilling every priest’s mission to be a “Good Shepherd.” More than 2,000 people and 11 priests, including Rev. Monsignor Joseph Kerin and several priest friends of Father Schellberg from New Jersey, attended the Mass and celebration, and St. Matthew’s parochial vicar, Father Patrick Toole, was the homilist. The previous week, the parish honored its other priests including Father Richard Hanson, Father Robert Conway, Father Peter Pham and Father Toole. th
th
Parish honors Father Dechant
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
photo by Joe goNzalez, iNformatioN provided by fred
hogaN
Nearly 200 members of Holy Cross Church in Kernersville honored their pastor Father Paul G. Dechant, O.S.F.S., with a celebration at Salesian Hall May 12. Father Dechant’s mother Shirley and sister Lori also flew in from California for the event. Father Dechant has served as pastor for nearly a year. He was ordained at St. Paul the Great Church in New York City as a Paulist and later became a member of the Oblates. Since his ordination he has served in eight parishes and also as campus minister at the University of California in Los Angeles. Pictured from left are Shirley Dechant, Father Dechant, Lori Dechant and Deacon Eugene Gillis. The parish ministry sponsored the buffet dinner under the direction of Karole Avery and her associates.
- Wills & Trusts - Estate Planning - Small Business Law - Civil Trial
JOE DODGE ATTORNEY
(704) 737-8215
“Put my over 20 years of legal experience to work for you.” We will come to you at no additional charge if you can’t come to us. The Village at Robinson Farm 8440 Rea Rd., Charlotte NC 28277 (Across from St. Matthew)
www.joedodgelaw.com St. Matthew Parishioner joedodgelaw@yahoo.com
June 11, 2010
6 The Catholic News & Herald
Culture Watch
A roundup of scripture, readings, films and more
The Inquisition and Index: Vatican records shed light on dark legend Carol Glatz CatholiC neWs serviCe VAT I C A N C I T Y ( C N S ) ― According to some, the Roman Inquisition and the Index of Forbidden Books do not represent the brightest chapters in Catholic history, but newly published documents from Vatican archives should help scholars distinguish between the truth and the dark legends. Hundreds of documents detailing the Church’s investigations of individuals and of written works during the Roman Inquisition have been published – most of them for the first time – in a new series released by the Vatican. Reproducing records from the Inquisition’s activities – records held in the formerly secret archives of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – the series hopes to shed light on how the Roman Inquisition really worked and to dispel age-old biases. A lack of access to the archives, which were opened to the public only in 1998, meant some scholars and historians made “sweeping generalizations without sufficient foundation” about the Church’s aims during the Inquisition, a former papal theologian wrote in the volume’s preface. Cardinal Georges Cottier, theologian of the papal household under Pope John Paul II, wrote that by focusing only on cases in which the Church acted extremely harshly – such as the condemnation of Galileo Galilei and the burning at the stake of Giordano Bruno, some historians concluded the Church was engaged in a vicious war against science. It is “misleading to see the activity ... as a struggle against science undertaken in the name of faith” when the Roman Inquisition actually was concerned more with preventing Protestant ideas from spreading, he wrote. Released at the Vatican May 12, the first volume represents 13 years of organizing, studying, cataloguing, and then transcribing thousands of documents from the Roman Congregation of the Holy Office, which dealt with individuals suspected of heresy, and the Congregation of the Index of forbidden books, which handled the suppression or correction of written works. Titled “Catholic Church and Modern Science: Documents from the Archives of the Roman Congregations of the Holy Office and the Index,” the series’ first volume reproduced all the doctrinal congregation’s documents concerning science and natural philosophy from 1542 to 1600. The volume contains the documents in their original language – Latin – but offers extensive footnotes, summaries and commentary in English by coauthors Ugo Baldini – a history professor at Italy’s Padua University and an expert
on Galileo Galilei – and Leen Spruit – an expert on the censorship of science in early modern history. Spruit told Catholic News Service that the Roman Inquisition did not target science and natural philosophy. Rather, he said, certain individuals and authors were condemned “often for their faith or religious creed.” A perfect example, he said, is Nicolaus Copernicus, the 16th-century Polish scientist who first proposed in 1543 that the earth revolved around the sun – a theory that would get Galileo in trouble a century later. Copernicus was virtually ignored by censors until a Protestant wrote about his work and that author was put on the Index, not for supporting heliocentrism, but for being a Protestant, the book said. Scientific ideas and proposals never mattered to inquisitors unless those theories negatively impacted the Church’s religious view of mankind, he said. And then it was the unorthodox anthropology that received condemnation, not the science, he added. The first and only purely scientific trial the Roman Inquisition pursued was against Galileo, “and I think they consider that now as a very big mistake,” said Spruit. In addition, scientific works like those written by Copernicus and Galileo were not condemned until they were published in the vernacular rather than in Latin, he said, “because then they could be more dangerous for a broader audience.” New documents pertaining to Galileo’s trial are to appear in the series’ next volume dealing with the 17th century, which is expected to come out in 2014. The authors asked what kind of impact the Inquisition had on the scientific community and if it hampered scientific progress. While the authors didn’t claim to have the answers, they did suggest historians will now be able to make a more honest assessment based on the series’ full reproduction of the archives. The authors wrote that of the 86 cases handled in the 16th century, the majority of individuals involved were given very lenient sentences and their careers most often continued to thrive. Baldini said authors in some disciplines, particularly astrology, became “more cautious” and censored more “risky” ideas themselves before publication. The Inquisition certainly produced a climate of fear and intimidation, they wrote, but any claim that it was so oppressive that science was stunted “is enormously exaggerated,” Baldini said. In the authors’ opinion, scientific advancement depends greatly upon economic development and available
CNS photo by paul hariNg
This is a newly published compilation of documents from the Archives of the Roman Congregation of the Holy Office and the Index from the period 1542 to 1600. The series “Catholic Church and Modern Science” aims to shed light on how the Roman Inquisition really worked and dispel age-old biases. technology, not just religious or cultural approval. Also, it was fairly easy to get permission to read a banned book, they wrote, and forbidden books were in wide circulation. Even though some think the Roman Inquisition violated some of today’s basic human rights, the inquisitors actually introduced novel juridical procedures that are now fundamental in
modern democracies, they wrote. According to the book’s authors, the Inquisition’s juridical innovations included “the defense attorney, testimony under oath, appeals to a higher court, the adoption of the principle ‘unus testis nullus testis,’” in which uncorroborated testimony is inadmissible, as well as reducing life sentences to a few years of incarceration and offering a public defender for the poor.
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The Catholic News & Herald 7
June 11, 2010
Pope: Priests are called to be holy, not just good people POPE, from page 1
Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope Benedict focused his remarks on the priesthood of Christ. “Contemplating and adoring the Blessed Sacrament,” the pope said, Catholics recognize “the real and permanent presence of Jesus, the eternal high priest.”
Jesus was not a priest in the Jewish tradition, he said, but was more like the Jewish prophets. “Jesus took His distance from a ritual understanding of religion,” which sometimes put more emphasis on following rules than on “observing the commandment of God, in other words, love for God and for one’s neighbor, which ‘is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices,’” the pope said, quoting the Gospel of St. Mark. The offering Jesus made, he said,
was the offering of His own pain, suffering and, finally, death on a cross to save the world. The divine power of love, which made the Incarnation possible, is the same power that transformed “the extreme violence and extreme injustice” of His death “into the supreme act of love and justice,” he said. “The priesthood of Christ brings suffering. Jesus really suffered, and He did so for us.” The pope’s remarks follow several talks about the priesthood that Pope Benedict has given since dedicating the Year For Priests last June, particularly over recent months as the clergy sex abuse scandal has hit other countries around the world. The Year For Priests has been a way for the pope to highlight the importance of priests in the life of the Church by exhorting them to live up to their calling. In hundreds of speeches throughout the year and in a special three-part series
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during his weekly general audiences in April and May, Pope Benedict described the identity and mission of priests, asked Catholics to pray for their ministers and asked the men in black not just to be good priests, but to be holy. Using the classical formulation of the “tria munera,” or three offices and tasks of a priest – to teach, sanctify and govern – the pope focused on how priests must allow Christ to act through them at all times. The teaching role, he said April 14, is to make present, amid “the confusion and bewilderment of our times, the light of God’s Word, the light that is Christ Himself.” “The priest does not teach his own ideas, a philosophy that he himself has invented, that he has discovered or liked,” he said, but “he proposes the truth that is Christ Himself.” The sanctifying role, he said May 5, involves putting people in touch with God, who is “light, truth, pure love,” and doing so especially by offering the sacraments. “Each priest knows well that he is an instrument necessary to God’s saving action, but also that he is always only an instrument. This awareness must make priests humble and generous in the administration of the sacraments,” the pope said. The governing role, he said May 26, gets a bad rap in the modern world because people have seen too many examples of the abuse of power in governments and in relationships. In the Church, authority is a service of leadership “exercised not in one’s own name, but in the name of Jesus Christ,” who acts through priests to “guide, protect and correct His flock because He loves it deeply,” the pope said.
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8 The Catholic News & Herald June 11, 2010
FROM TH
Rite of Ordin
“Always keep in mind the example of The Good S and to seek and to save what was lost. May God
The rite of ordination is filled with centuries-old traditions. some are familiar – such as lying prostrate before the altar as a sign of humble submission before god – but others are not so obvious. (Editor’s note: The numbers represent the sequence of the Mass.) 1. Presentation and examination of the candidates: each man is called forward and then the vocations director, father Christopher gober, attests to bishop Peter J. Jugis that he has been prepared for ordination and has been found worthy. The bishop accepts the candidate, after asking him if he is willing to serve Christ and His Church as a faithful priest. 2. Promise of obedience: each candidate kneels before the bishop and places his hands in the bishop’s hands, promising respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors. Pictured below left with the bishop is the future father John eckert. below right are all four candidates with father gober.
3. Prayer for the candidates and Litany of the Saints: The bishop invites the Church – which includes not only the congregation on earth, but the whole assembly of the saints in heaven – to pray for the candidates. The candidates prostrate themselves before the altar while the Church chants the litany of the saints, invoking god’s mercy and the intercession of all the saints. 6. vesting of the new priest: each newly ordained priest is then clothed with the symbols of his new office: the stole, which represents his priestly authority, and the chasuble, which represents charity. Pictured at right is father eckert being vested by father matthew buettner and father Patrick Toole.
8. Presentation of the chalice and paten: The parents of the newly ordained men bring the gifts to the altar. The bishop then ritually gives each newly ordained priest a chalice filled with wine and the paten containing the host, representing the sacrifice he is to offer daily as a priest. Pictured at right receiving the chalice and paten is father gabriel Carvajal-salazar. 9. concelebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist: The newly ordained priests then offer the mass together with the bishop and their brother priests.
4. Laying on of hands by the bishop and the prayer of consecration: This is the most solemn and essential part of the ordination, in which the bishop places his hands on the head of the candidate in silent prayer, invoking the power of the Holy spirit to come upon the candidate to confer the sacrament of holy orders. Pictured above with the bishop is father David miller. 5. The one priesthood of christ: All of the priests present then lay their hands upon the candidates, joining in this ancient biblical gesture as a sign of their union in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ. Pictured at right with the four new priests are (from left) father buettner, father Timothy Reid and father Christopher Roux.
June 11, 2010 The Catholic News & Herald 9
HE COVER
nation 2010
Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve carry out this good work that has begun in you.”
– The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte
Bishop urges newly ordained to be models of ‘The Good Shepherd’
7. Anointing of the hands: The bishop anoints the palms of the newly ordained with sacred chrism and wraps them in a linen cloth, called a maniturgia, because his hands will be used extensively in priestly service: giving blessings, anointing the sick, absolving sins, feeding the faithful with Holy Communion, baptizing infants and adults, and handling the sacred vessels. Pictured above with the bishop is father David miller. 10. first priestly blessing: before the mass ends, the newly ordained priests confer a blessing on the ordaining bishop. Then they give first blessings to their families and friends. Pictured at left is father lucas Rossi with his mother marie Rossi. below left, bishop Jugis gives the sign of peace to father gabriel Carvajalsalazar. below right, father David miller gives a first blessing to his parents, Dr. Douglas and karen miller.
HUNTERSVILLE — Bright sunlight illuminated the beautifully crafted stained glass window depicting Jesus, the Good Shepherd, high above the altar at St. Mark Church as Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, John Eckert, David Miller and Lucas Rossi were ordained to the priesthood June 5. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte was the main celebrant for the two-and-a half hour ordination Mass. During his homily, he drew from the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, saying, “In the Gospel He tells us: The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. This is what He expects of you. You will lay down your life in service to Christ as you visit the sick for the sacrament of anointing, as you absolve from sins in the sacrament of penance, as you offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the nourishment of Christ’s sheep, as you teach the Gospel, as you celebrate the sacraments. It is all about Jesus, and the salvation of your brothers and sisters. It is Christ whom we proclaim.”
DID YOu KNOW? There are several other customs that are common with the ordination of a new priest. for example: n The maniturgia, the linen cloth used after the priest’s hands are anointed with sacred chrism, is given to the priest’s mother. Her hands are wrapped in it when she is buried. n There is a complementary custom that the newly ordained priest gives the stole that he wore to hear his first confession to his father, who is buried with the stole. The violet stole represents both the father’s authority as well as His mercy. n The new priest celebrates his first Holy mass the day after ordination – a mass of Thanksgiving shared with his family, friends and brother priests as the highest means to thanking god for his vocation coming to fulfillment and the start of his new ministry as an “alter christus.”
Photos and story by SueAnn Howell
10 The Catholic News & Herald
June 11, 2010
FROM THE COVER
Congratulations all around
In addition to the seminarians of the Diocese of Charlotte, eight altar servers who served the ordination Mass June 5 included: (top, from left) Josh Herman, Daniel Pressley, Zachary Martin; (middle, left to right) A.J. Ohlhaut, Harry Ohlhaut, Daniel Martin; (bottom, from left) Patrick Martin and Simon Ohlhaut.
After the conclusion of the ordination Mass, Bishop Peter J. Jugis talks with the new Father John Eckert and his family, while Father Gabriel CarvajalSalazar and Father Christopher Roux, master of ceremonies for the Mass, and Father Christopher Gober look on. photo by SueaNN
howell
photo by SueaNN howell
Priest, sister assignments announced CHARLOTTE ― The Diocese of Charlotte announces the following priest assignment changes for the 2010-2011 year. These changes become effective July 6 unless otherwise noted:
HuNTErSvILLE n father David miller, newly ordained, will become parochial vicar of st. mark Church in Huntersville.
cHArLOTTE n father Richard g. DeClue Jr., parochial vicar of st. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, will become parochial vicar of st. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.
jEffErSON/SPArTA n father James A. stuhrenberg, parochial vicar of our lady of grace Church in greensboro, will become pastor of st. francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson and st. frances of Rome mission in sparta.
n father gabriel Carvajal-salazar, newly ordained, will become parochial vicar of st. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte. n effective July 1, father fidel C. melo, pastor of our lady of grace Church in greensboro, will become vicar for Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte while continuing as pastor of our lady of grace Church in greensboro. EDEN n father Joseph long Dinh, pastor of st. francis of Assisi Church in Jefferson and st. frances of Rome mission in sparta, will become pastor of st. Joseph of the Hills Church in eden. GrEENSBOrO n father John eckert, newly ordained, will become parochial vicar of our lady of grace Church in greensboro. n father David brzoska, from ministry outside the diocese, will be in residence at our lady of grace Church in greensboro. HIGH POINT n oblates of st. francis de sales father Vincent e. smith, from ministry outside the diocese, will become pastor of immaculate Heart of mary Church in High Point.
SALISBurY n father benjamin A. Roberts, parochial vicar of st. Paul the Apostle Church in greensboro, will become parochial vicar of sacred Heart Church in salisbury. SYLvA n father H. Alejandro Ayala, parochial vicar of st. leo the great Church in winston-salem, will become pastor of st. mary, mother of god Church in sylva. WINSTON-SALEM n father lucas Rossi, newly ordained, will become parochial vicar of st. leo the great Church in winston-salem.
The following changes in two diocesan positions staffed by women religious are also announced: n franciscan sister Andrea inkrott, Director of Hispanic ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte, is taking a new assignment within her community. father fidel melo will become vicar for Hispanic ministry effective July 1. n mercy sister mary Timothy warren, Vicar for women Religious for the Diocese of Charlotte, is taking a new assignment within her community effective June 30.
What a privilege Saturday, seeing the fruit of our prayers harry and a.J. ohlhaut speCial to the CatholiC neWs & herald Harry: John Eckert became a household name at the Ohlhaut home two years ago when we joined a spiritual adoption program through our homeschool group. Families are matched up with a seminarian for the purpose of offering their prayers for his perseverance during his formation at seminary. We received a large picture of John Eckert and it has hung on our refrigerator ever since. We prayed rosaries, chaplets, novenas and offered Masses and sacrifices for him. We wrote letters to him and sent gifts letting him know how grateful we were for his sacrifice. Finally, we met at the Eucharistic Congress in 2009 and were given several more opportunities to get to know him over the course of the following months. As his ordination approached and our prayers intensified, to our delight my brother and I were given permission to serve at his ordination Mass. As we processed down the aisle towards the sanctuary, all I could think about was Deacon Eckert and what joy he must have been feeling. After the laying on of hands, from my front row seat, I could see that he was near tears. I was choked up myself, knowing that he had just become a priest and that now he had the power to forgive my sins and the power to change ordinary food into spiritual food for my soul. A.J.: As my brother mentioned, it was
SEE MOrE ONLINE n ViDeo HigHligHTs AND PHoTos fRom sATuRDAY’s oRDiNATioN mAss ARe PosTeD oNliNe AT www.CHARloTTeDioCese.oRg.
a great privilege for us to serve at the ordination Mass. When our family approached Father Eckert after the Mass to receive his blessing, Father turned to his friend and introduced us saying, “This is the family who got me through seminary.” We know that the part we played in his seminary years was small, but yet through our prayers and sacrifices for him, that part was nevertheless significant. And to our great joy Father Eckert asked us to serve at his first Mass the following day at St. Thomas Aquinas. I can only imagine the joy he must have felt to be able to change simple bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ Himself! After being granted these two great privileges in the life of our adopted seminarian, now Father John Eckert, serving at his ordination Mass and his first Mass, I too am thinking about the priesthood as a path I should take. For now both my brother and I will continue to serve Mass as often as possible and pray about whether God has a white collar in store for either of us. Even though Father Eckert has “graduated” from the adopted seminarian program and our family will most likely be paired up with a new seminarian, we will never forget our years of prayer for Father Eckert and the joy we had in seeing the fruit of our prayers in our new priest. And our prayers for Father Eckert will continue as we have promised him they will. Harry Ohlhaut, 13, and A.J. Ohlhaut, 12, are members of St. Ann Church in Charlotte.
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June 11, 2010
FROM THE COVER
The Catholic News & Herald 11
Newly ordained priests Blessing the chalices get new parish homes sueann hoWell staff Writer CHARLOTTE — The four newly ordained priests for the Diocese of Charlotte – Father Gabriel CarvajalS a l a z a r, F a t h e r John Eckert, Father David Miller and Father Lucas Rossi – will each have a new parish to call home. Bishop Peter J. Jugis announced the father Gabriel parish assignments carvajal-Salazar at the end of the ordination Mass June 5. “Our Lord gives us in Scripture the four evangelists and we today have been given four sacred ministers to serve the Church. They are not Matthew, Mark, father john Eckert Luke and John, but they are Gabriel, David, Lucas and John,” Bishop Jugis said playfully, drawing laughter and applause from the
congregation. “I am pleased to announce the appointments of the newly ordained,” he said, pausing for effect to build the suspense and drawing more laughter. father David Miller Father Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar will be parochial vicar at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte where he had served as deacon. Father John Eckert will be parochial vicar at Our Lady of father Lucas rossi Grace Church in Greensboro. Father David Miller will be parochial vicar at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Father Lucas Rossi will be parochial vicar at St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem. The newly ordained priests will begin their assignments July 6.
photo by SuzaNNe CoNa
Bishop Peter J. Jugis blessed the chalices that the four new priests would begin using after their ordinations, during a special Holy Hour at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte June 4.
Celebrating the feast of Corpus Christi
photoS by SueaNN howell
(Above) Father Lucas Rossi celebrates his first Mass at St. Ann Church on June 6. (Right) Father Rossi leads clergy and parishioners in a Eucharistic Procession on the feast of Corpus Christi, immediately after celebrating his first Mass.
12 The Catholic News & Herald
June 11, 2010
IN THE NEwS
Friends and fellow student ministers earn CUA’s highest honor Mark ziMMerMann the CatholiC standard WASHINGTON, D.C. ― On their first day of classes at the Catholic University of America as freshmen four years ago, Kara Fitzgerald and Jonathan Jerome met in Spanish class. “She was my first friend (here),” said Jerome, a theology and religious studies major from Charlotte, N.C. They found out that they were living in the same residence hall, and they soon became best friends and study partners. In their senior year, they both served as student ministers, mentoring freshmen. In addition to providing spiritual guidance to students, they also arranged alcohol-free social activities at their Washington, D.C., campus and in sites throughout the nation’s capital. During their time at Catholic University, both participated in mission trips, serving the poor in foreign countries. And at Catholic University’s May 15 commencement, the two friends walked up together to receive the CUA President’s Award, the highest honor given to graduating seniors, in recognition of prominent leadership, outstanding scholarship and for exemplifying the ideals of Christianity. “Walking up the steps with him was so fitting ... having my best bud along,” said Fitzgerald, a social work major from Newton, Conn. Jerome said that serving as student ministers gave them the opportunity “to bring Christ to other people, and to be Christ for other people.” In addition to serving as spiritual mentors to younger students, the student ministers organized retreats, prayed together, joined each other at weekly Masses in their living room, and they coordinated outings to basketball and hockey games, and to the symphony and circus. Both students are preparing to enter
careers that involve serving others. This fall, Jerome will serve as director of Catholic campus ministry at the University of Pittsburgh’s Johnstown campus. Fitzgerald will go to graduate school at the University of Michigan, to complete a master ’s degree in social work. Some day, she hopes to do international development work. Describing his friend’s approach to life, Jerome said, “It’s always, ‘what can I do to better serve others?’” Earlier this year, Jerome helped organize a campus-wide initiative called CUA Cares for Haiti, following the devastating earthquake there. A team of students organized a collection for Haitian relief, and Jerome helped coordinate a prayer novena. “We found there was a need to join them in prayer. Our prayers were something we could send them.... It was something we could give them and be (united) with them,” he said. Both award recipients said the mission trips they took as CUA students had a lasting impact on their lives. During spring break of his sophomore year, Jerome served on a CUA mission trip to Jamaica. “It was the best week of my life,” he said. Jerome said he went to Jamaica expecting to serve the poor there, and they ended up reaching out to him. “They have so much more to offer, and so much love to share,” he said. That experience instilled a deeper desire on his part to love and serve others as a way of living out his faith. “We are called as a Catholic people to go out and serve,” he said. Two years ago, Fitzgerald and Jerome joined other CUA students in welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to their campus, where he addressed a gathering of national Catholic educational leaders. Jerome said the experience revitalized his faith, as he witnessed members of the CUA community grow even closer
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together as they participated in that historic visit. The new CUA graduates said that their years at CUA have shaped their lives, and their future aspirations. “CUA has made me feel much more PdmVstAng_5_10.pdf 1 4/30/10 1:37 confident in myself and in my faith, and
confident enough to live out my faith every day,” Fitzgerald said. “...I feel like I can go somewhere, say I’m Catholic, and be confident to live out those ideals.” ― Reprinted from The Catholic Standard.
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At the May 15 commencement for the Catholic University of America, Vincentian Father David O’Connell (left), the university’s president, stands with graduating seniors Kara Fitzgerald and Jonathan Jerome, who earned the President’s Award for outstanding scholarship and service.
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June 11, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 13
IN OUR SCHOOLS
‘Cameroon, Let’s Read!’ project a success at Holy Trinity yvonne adaMou speCial to the CatholiC neWs & herald
photo provided by yvoNNe adamou
Students at Holy Trinity Middle School in Charlotte recently collected more than 600 books to send to a needy school in Cameroon.
CHARLOTTE ― “Cameroon, Let’s Read” is a project initiated by my sixthgrade religion class this year at Holy Trinity Middle School. The project arose from students’ quest to show unconditional love and caring to the less fortunate children of Cameroon in Africa. These students yearned to serve with “hearts full of grace and souls generated by the unending love for all God’s children,” particularly the children of Cameroon. After a trip to my native homeland in Cameroon in January, I shared some pictures with my class. Among them were some amazing pictures I took while visiting an elementary school that my nephew and nieces attend in Cameroon. After viewing the pictures, the students in my class were unusually quiet.
“The beauty of the garden. ..draws me every day.” ~ Joan Showfety, Pennybyrn resident since 2008. ~
“Is there anything wrong with the pictures?” I asked. A student raised her hand and answered: “No, I love the pictures but I noticed that the children at that school are very happy even though they have very little. They do not even have a school library and no books to read.” Another added. “How about we do a fundraiser to help start a library at their school? We could each donate books, ask friends and family to donate books as well, and then ship the books to that school in Cameroon, so these children can have a library just like ours. What do you think, Madame?” This prompted excitement and the usual noisy spirit was back in the room as every student tried to chip in with ideas of how to help. The spirit of the Lord was truly present in the classroom as excitement and determination grew in each student wanting to do something to help this school in Cameroon. We obtained the administration’s approval for the project, which the students called “Cameroon Let’s Read!” The students made posters and collection boxes to put throughout the school, particularly in the “Cornerstones home rooms,” and each student in my sixth-grade class agreed to donate 20 used books. Students throughout the school donated books, and by the end of April we had collected more than 600 books to send to Cameroon. The books will be shipped to Cameroon and the children there will finally have an opportunity to read a book, thanks to the generosity of the students at Holy Trinity Middle School. By starting a library for this school, we have definitely given these children the greatest gift of all – education.
SEND uS YOur NEWS We welcome your school’s news. e-mail items to editor Patricia guilfoyle at plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org.
Gardens were a real source of inspiration for Pennybyrn resident Joan Showfety’s late husband William. And it’s still true for Joan, especially now that her husband’s benches reside at Pennybyrn retirement community. “Here, I find solace and peace. And that same contentment is what I find at Pennybyrn.” For Joan, the retreat-like setting is perfect for moments of reflection. “Pennybyrn offers many ways to stay strong and get inspired.” You too can find contentment. Call (336) 821-4050 or toll-free (866) 627-9343.
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June 11, 2010
14 The Catholic News & Herald
Perspectives
A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints
Pope, at audience, asks prayers for Middle East VATICAN CITY (CNS) ― At his first general audience since his trip to Cyprus, Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics around the world to pray for peace in the Middle East and for the special Synod of Bishops on the Middle East, scheduled for October. The synod, he said June 9, will be a chance for Catholics of different rites living in countries from Egypt to Iran to share their experiences and hopes, as well as their commitment to dialogue with other Christians, with Jews and with Muslims. The pope said the synod should be accompanied by the prayers of all Catholics “for whom the Middle East occupies a special place in their hearts, because it was there that God made Himself known to our fathers in faith.” Political leaders around the world, he said, need to work with greater effort “so that that region can overcome the situations of suffering and conflict that still afflict it and so that, finally, peace and justice will return.” In addition to distributing the synod’s working document to regional Church leaders at the end of his visit to Cyprus June 4-6, the pope said he had an opportunity to strengthen his relationship with Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus, and to visit the tiny Catholic communities on the island. Since 1974, Cyprus has been divided between the Greek Cypriots in the South and Turkish Cypriots in the North. Many Maronite Catholics who lived in the northern part of the island fled south and can no longer returned to their villages, some of which are occupied by troops from Turkey. Pope Benedict said a presentation of music and dance June 5 at a Maronite school in Nicosia allowed him to see the rich spirituality, but also the suffering of the Maronites from the northern villages. The villagers, he said, “are a people who suffer and who hope.” “May the Cypriot people and the people of the other countries of the Middle East – with their governments and the representatives of different religions – build together a future of peace, friendship and fraternal cooperation,” the pope said. On a hot, sunny day, with the pope wearing his wide-brimmed red hat, the crowd in St. Peter’s Square was unusually colorful. Representatives of the 16 teams who played in the Clericus Cup soccer tournament for seminarians in Rome were there, as were hundreds of Italian children who had participated in a nationwide soccer tournament. Alongside a shiny, new helicopter, there were several ambulances, not in anticipation of the sun being too hot for
The Pope Speaks pope BenediCt Xvi
some of the estimated 10,000 people in the square, but so the pope could bless them. More than 300 drivers, pilots, emergency medical technicians, nurses and doctors who work for the Italian air ambulance service were also at the audience.
Following is the text of the pope’s remarks in English: Dear Brothers and Sisters, In my apostolic journey to Cyprus this past week, I walked in the footsteps of Sts. Paul and Barnabas, who first brought the Gospel to that island, and visited the small but lively Catholic communities of the island. I thank the authorities for their warm hospitality, and I particularly thank the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus and His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos the Second for their fraternal welcome. In my celebrations with the Maronite and Latin Catholic communities, I witnessed their strong faith and traditions, and the vitality of their educational and charitable institutions. In Cyprus and throughout the Middle East, Christians are called to overcome divisions and to persevere in their witness to the Gospel in those lands. At Sunday Mass in Nicosia I consigned the working document for the forthcoming Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops. Let us pray that the synod will strengthen those ancient Christian communities in communion and hope, and help them to build a future of peace throughout the Middle East. I offer a warm welcome to the ecumenical study group from the School of Theology at Seton Hall University, and to the members of the International Leadership Programme for LaSallian Universities. My cordial greetings also go to the scholars and experts taking part in the international conference sponsored by the International Insolvency Institute. I greet the many student groups present, and I thank the choirs for their praise of God in song. Upon all the Englishspeaking visitors present at today’s audience, especially those from Ireland, the Philippines and the United States, I invoke Almighty God’s blessings of joy and peace.
Hope is the true message Dealing with the news media has always been a challenging part of my job. Reporters call at the last minute, when things have gone wrong, in search of information that is difficult to obtain. As a former reporter myself, I understand the nature of the machine in which they work. Daily deadlines are a relentless grind that are coupled with demanding editors and producers who prefer stories with emotion, not intellect. The media have little interest in the things they can’t see, and faith is famously invisible. The shortcomings of the media have been especially galling in recent months as they have replayed stories of sex abuse in the Church, and I’ve had more than a few pointed discussions with reporters and editors about antiCatholicism. The problem with disagreeing with reporters, aside from the old adage about avoiding arguments with people who buy ink by the barrel, is that it just doesn’t feel right. I never had any qualms about cajoling, arguing, threatening or matching wits with news reporters when I was the spokesman for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. But how can I truly represent the faith in this small corner of the world when I display anger and play word games with aggressive people, even if they have destructive agendas? Last week I got some answers, in of all places, New Orleans. The occasion was the annual conference of the Catholic Academy for Communication Arts Professionals and the Catholic Press Association, two organizations that share a purpose of informing Catholics about what is going on in this immense institution. Catholic conferences typically feature daily Mass and this one was especially blessed with the presence of several bishops and Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Each of them delivered thought-provoking homilies or addresses during the conference. But typical for The Big Easy, where bread pudding is an art form, they saved the best for last when Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans spoke at the
Catholics and the Media david hains dioCesan direCtor of CoMMuniCation concluding Mass. “The news media represents conflict and competition,” said the bishop, “You represent hope.” As Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed, hope means reminding Catholics that God never abandons His people and that He is alive and active in the world. Bad news is the realm of the secular media. We in the Catholic press proclaim the Good News. Perhaps that should have been obvious from day one in this job. But going one on one with judgmental news organizations can quickly lead to a win-or-lose approach to news coverage that is so prevalent today. We don’t want to win, or lose. We want to offer hope. That one thought from Archbishop Aymond’s homily has shifted my thinking in how I relate to reporters. I will now return confrontation with collaboration, competition with cooperation. And so, the news from this diocese will always contain a message of hope. For those who are pro-choice, there is hope that they will make decisions in favor of life. For those who attempt to shame our priests because of the misdeeds of a few, there is the blessing – represented throughout this edition – of our newly ordained priests who join the ranks of selfless clergy in the Diocese of Charlotte who dedicate their lives to the good of the faithful. Mistakes will be made by people in our Church and we will continue to tell you about that as well. But the underlying message will always be one of hope. Contact David Hains at dwhains@ charlottediocese.org or 704-370-3336.
ScrIPTurE fOr THE WEEK Of juNE 13 – juNE 19
Sunday, 2 samuel 12:7-10, 13, galatians 2:16, 19-21, luke 7:36-8:3; Monday, 1 kings 21:1-16, matthew 5:38-42; Tuesday, 1 kings 21:17-29, matthew 5:43-48; Wednesday, 2 kings 2:1, 6-14, matthew 6:1-6, 16-18; Thursday, sirach 48:1-14, matthew 6:7-15; friday, 2 kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20, matthew 6:19-23; Saturday (St. romuald), 2 Chronicles 24:17-25, matthew 6:24-34
ScrIPTurE fOr THE WEEK Of juNE 20 – juNE 26
Sunday, Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1, galatians 3:26-29, luke 9:18-24; Monday (St. Aloysius Gonzaga), 2 kings 17:5-8, 13-15, 18, matthew 7:1-5; Tuesday (St. Paulinas of Nola, Sts. john fisher and Thomas More), 2 kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-36, matthew 7:6, 12-14; Wednesday, 2 kings 22:8-13, 23:1-3, matthew 7:15-20; Thursday (The Nativity of john the Baptist), isaiah 49:1-6, Acts 13:22-26, luke 1:57-66, 80; friday, 2 kings 25:1-12, matthew 8:1-4; Saturday, lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19, matthew 8:5-17
ScrIPTurE fOr THE WEEK Of juNE 27 – juLY 3
Sunday, 1 kings 19:16, 19-21, galatians 5:1, 13-18, luke 9:51-62; Monday (St. Irenaeus), Amos 2:6-10, 13-16, matthew 8:18-22; Tuesday (Sts. Peter and Paul), Acts 12:1-11, 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18, matthew 16:13-19; Wednesday, Amos 5:14-15, 21-24, matthew 8:28-34; Thursday (Bl. junipero Serra), Amos 7:10-17, matthew 9:1-8; friday, Amos 8:4-6, 9-12, matthew 9:9-13; Saturday (St. Thomas, Apostle), ephesians 2:19-22, John 20:24-29
June 11, 2010
The Catholic News & Herald 15
As priests, we should keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ Bishop Peter J. Jugis gave this homily at the ordination Mass for Father Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, Father John Eckert, Father David Miller and Father Lucas Rossi at St. Mark Church in Huntersville, June 5. The whole church of Charlotte praises God and thanks Him today for His gift of new priests for the Church. It is indeed a great blessing which He bestows on us in giving the grace of holy priesthood to our brothers. Your attention fixed on Jesus Gabriel, David, Lucas and John, take as the model of your priesthood Jesus Himself. Keep Jesus always front and center in your lives. Keep Him always before you. Now that you are being configured to Jesus, the High Priest, in the sacrament of holy orders, keep your attention always fixed on Him. After all, it is His priesthood, and as His priest you will act in His person, so you must take Jesus as your constant point of reference. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the letter to the Hebrews says. This is wise advice. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. If you don’t, you will be lost; but if you do, your priesthood will have meaning and purpose every day. All is for Jesus, and for the salvation of your brothers and sisters. Jesus is the one who gives meaning to your life as His priest. You know how to model your priesthood on Jesus. He tells us about His priesthood through this liturgy this morning. In the Gospel He tells us: The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. This is what He expects of you. You will lay down your life in service to Christ as you visit the sick for the
Forever indebted to Sisters of St. Joseph Dear Editor, I read with delight the May 28 article about the Sisters of St. Joseph, as it brought back wonderful memories for me. The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Brentwood branch at St. Cecilia’s Grade School educated me. My favorite sister was Sister Bernadette, a young beautiful woman. Even though she wore a full habit, I could see her beauty as she looked at me with loving eyes. I thought so much of her that I persuaded my mom to name our new baby sister Bernadette. I graduated from St. Cecilia’s in 1957. All our teachers were members of the St. Joseph community. They lived in a huge home located next to the school.
sacrament of anointing, as you absolve from sins in the sacrament of penance, as you offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the nourishment of Christ’s sheep, as you teach the Gospel, as you celebrate the sacraments. It is all about Jesus and the salvation of your brothers and sisters. It is Christ whom we proclaim. He also tells you about His priesthood when, in a few minutes from now, I place the chalice and paten in your hands, and say to you: “Conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s cross.” To know Jesus is to know the cross and to lay down your life for His sheep. The interior life So you must keep our blessed Lord always before your eyes. As a man of prayer leading others in prayer, you yourself must also constantly be nourished through your own daily union with Christ. Keep a strong interior life through daily, personal prayer. You must be experts in prayer, constantly seeking union with Christ as you lead others to union with Christ. To become an expert in prayer you must also be a learner of prayer. It is a living relationship of love that you have with Jesus, always new, always something new to learn about our Lord. And this living relationship with Jesus will keep you joyful. To keep the interior life strong, you must make use of the sacrament of reconciliation. St. Paul writes in his letter to the Corinthians, “Christ has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” What a tremendous ministry! “God, as it were, appealing through us. Be reconciled to God.” But the words “be reconciled to God” are not only words we speak to others, but they are also directed to us
I often went to the convent to bring or pick up something for my teacher, and I remember the wonderful aromas coming from their kitchen. One of the sisters was their full-time cook, and she was always encouraging us and sometimes offered us freshly made cookies or slices of bread. Their chapel was lovely. Icons and statues were artfully placed and fresh flowers graced them. The whole convent had a spiritual quiet and a welcoming feel. The sisters never said anything unkind to us. The discipline was easy, as most of us wanted to please our beautiful nuns. They were well educated, some with master’s degrees, and they knew how to teach and make learning fun. On the occasion of their 100-year anniversary of coming to New York, we put on a play that recounted their journey from France and their beginnings in the New York archdiocese. I was selected to
From the Publisher Bishop peter J. JuGis puBlisher ministers of the sacrament. Be reconciled to God. Make use of the sacrament of reconciliation. Keep a pure heart. Keep the focus on Jesus, and ask the Blessed Mother every day to help you through her prayers. As men configured to Christ the High Priest by the grace of holy orders, you also inherit a special relationship with the Mother of the High Priest. She recognizes in you the image of her Son, and you recognize a relationship with her as a gift from Christ. You begin your priesthood with the celebration of this Mass. The Eucharist and the priesthood have always been joined together. These two great sacraments came into existence together at the Last Supper. Again today, your priesthood is born in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, with the prayer of ordination and the laying on of hands. May the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice always be your joy. Christ — Teacher, Priest and Shepherd Beloved brothers and sisters, these our sons are now to be ordained priests. They will serve Christ the Teacher, Priest and Shepherd. Let us together reflect a moment on the ministry of the priest. In being joined to the priesthood of the bishop, the priest will be consecrated to preach the Gospel, to sanctify and to
Letters to the Editor play one of the sisters and my teacher provided me with her modified habit. The picture of my classmates and me dressed as Sisters of St. Joseph was published in the local Catholic newspaper and was something I treasured for a long time. The sisters taught us to pray and we saw their love of God through the way they treated each other and us. I will forever be indebted to these wonderful women. Recently when I was a patient at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, a Sister of St. Joseph visited me daily.
shepherd God’s people, and to celebrate the sacred liturgy, especially the Lord’s sacrifice. You, my dear sons who are to be raised to the order of the priesthood, will exercise the office of teaching in the name of Christ the Teacher. Impart to everyone the Word of God which you have received with joy. Let your teaching be true nourishment for the people of God, and let your lives be inspirations to Christ’s disciples, so that by your word and example you may build up the house of God, which is the Church. Likewise, you will exercise in Christ the office of sanctifying. By your ministry, the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful will be made perfect. Understand, therefore, the profound meaning of what you celebrate at Holy Mass. Faithfully imitate it in your lives. What you celebrate is the mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord. When you celebrate baptism; when you forgive sins in the sacrament of penance; when you comfort the ill with the oil of the sick; when you celebrate the sacred rites; remember that you have been chosen from among men and placed at their service. Therefore, carry out the ministry of Christ the Priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to your own concerns but to those of Jesus Christ. Finally, exercising for your part the office of Christ, Head and Shepherd, strive to bring the faithful together into one family, so that you may lead them to God the Father. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and to seek out and save what was lost. May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.
While she was dressed in contemporary clothing, she had the same glow of my long-ago teachers in their habits. I am glad to have the influence of the Sisters of St. Joseph here in Charlotte. Frances L. D’Amato Charlotte, N.C.
Sisters’ presence is fortunate Dear Editor, I read with interest the brief article in the May 7 Catholic News & Herald about the blessing of St. Joseph Monastery, the new home of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration. How fortunate we are that the good sisters have chosen our diocese in which to settle! Maureen C. Gustafson Young Harris, Ga.
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June 11, 2010
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