July 26, 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 1

July 26, 2002

Lord, I love your commands.

Let your kindness comfort me according to your promise to your servants. Let your compassion come to me that I may live, for your law is my delight.

New knights council upholds old traditions

— Psalm 119:57, 76-77

JULY 26, 2002

Pedophila not just a clergy problem, police expert says

By RACHEL RICHMOND Catholic News Service BALTIMORE (CNS) — With all the media attention on sexual abuse by priests, there may be a public perception that they are the main perpetrators, but that’s not so, says a police expert.

“It’s a problem that strikes everywhere,” said Lt. Frederick V. Roussey of the Baltimore Police Department. “Every walk of life, every race, every social level.”

He should know. Roussey spent 16 years in the child abuse unit of the force, tracking down molesters and protecting children. Now he gives seminars to police academy students and other law enforcement officers throughout Maryland on how to handle pedophile cases.

Pedophilia is an abnormal desire to have sex with children. This desire, Roussey told a recent seminar class, cannot be changed but only controlled through incarceration or medicine.

Pedophiles target children in one of three groups: infants to 3 years old, 4 to 7 years old and 8 to 11 years old. Those who molest post-pubescent children 12 years and older are called ephebophiles.

The police academy class was told pedophiles, who are more likely to be male than female, target children who are outsiders, unpopular or neglected by their families.

Victims have been kidnapped, seduced or prostituted into committing sexual acts.

Pedophiles are patient, Roussey said, and often take weeks to seduce a child, pro-

See MEDIA ATTENTION, page 18

...page 5 Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

vOLUME 11

no. 40

Children share faith in Vacation Bible

Photo by Rev. Mr. Gerald Potkay

Adult volunteer Peggy Culkin works with her daughter Maggie and John Paul Stepkowski, two students at Vacation Bible School at Our Lady of Grace Church July 7-12.

By REV. MR. GERALD POTKAY Correspondent GREENSBORO — Vacation Bible School is a way of bringing the youth of local parishes together to learn about God, Jesus, the saints and the Bible. Each parish has its own methods, styles and creativity for how the messages of Jesus and the Bible are taught and learned.

The forum used at Our Lady of Grace Church Vacation Bible School, which took place July 7-12, utilized an approach similar to one used

by Jesus — using stories and objects with which people were familiar.

According to Laura Wilson, program director of this particular event for the last two years, hands-on experiences laced with prayer, crafts, drama skits, singing and a lot of interaction have been very successful with the pre-school through fifthgrade students.

Wilson coordinated the program with parent and upper-student volunteers to

work with the almost 120 students participating in this year’s Vacation Bible School.

“The parents really enjoy having this special time with their children, while the kids enjoy the variety of activities associated with the program,” said Wilson. “The church profits by establishing a Bible-based background as a foundation for the faith.”

While the student volunteers, ranging from grades eight to 10, were accumulating hours for their confirmation obligations, they seemed to enjoy and learn from the experience as much, if not more, than the younger participants.

David Peters, a youth crew leader in charge of the registration table with Wilson, said, “It’s a good experience for the children. They gather into the classes and we try to make their experiences fun.”

Debbie Griffin, an adult leader coordinator for one of the pre-school sessions, said,

See BIBLE SCHOOL,

page 13

First chancellor recalls life in ministry

By KEVIN E. MURRAY Associate Editor GREENSBORO — Starting a diocese from scratch —Msgr. Joseph S. Showfety remembers it well. Retiring in July, he looked back on 47 years of priestly ministry that included time as the Diocese of Charlotte first chancellor. “Those were great years,” he said of the diocese’s founding.

Back in May 1955, when Father Showfety was ordained to the priesthood at Sacred Heart Cathedral in

Raleigh, the Raleigh Diocese, which spanned all of North Carolina, had 25,000 Catholics.

By 1971, though, more and more Catholics were moving to North Carolina, and then-Bishop Vincent S. Waters saw the need for a second diocese. “Bishop Waters said when the Catholic population reached 60,000, he would petition Rome,” Msgr. Showfety said.

The petition was granted, and the Diocese of Charlotte was born in 1971, with

Bishop ordains two transitional deacons ...page 7

Bishop Michael J. Begley as its first shepherd.

“He was the perfect choice,” Msgr. Showfety said.

“He was known by the priests, and they respected him.”

Father Showfety twice called Our Lady of Grace Church, where the soon-tobe-bishop was pastor, to offer his congratulations, but “on both occasions, he was out of the rectory,” said Msgr.

Showfety.

It was Bishop Begley who got in touch with him during a snowstorm, three

days after the new diocese was announced. “I’m outside cleaning off the sidewalk,” Msgr. Showfety said. “I got in the house ... the phone rang.

Here is the future bishop of Charlotte calling me.” Bishop Begley asked him to be chancellor of the Charlotte diocese.

“I said, ‘Mike, I want to build a (new) church in Hendersonville,’” said Msgr.

Showfety. “He said, ‘I know

Local youth take international honors in dance competition ...page 9

Mercy sister fulfills childhood dream...page 20

See MSGR. SHOWFETY, page 8

2 The Catholic News & Herald

July 26, 2002

The World in

in 2000.

Irish police protest request to remove Sacred Heart icon from station DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) — A picture of the Sacred Heart has been banished to the back room of an Irish police station after officers in Cobh claimed they were ordered to remove it from above the front desk. The picture has hung in Cobh police station for 80 years, but when the police officers were moved to new accommodations built by the Office of Public Works, an official there said it could not be put on public display in case it offended nonbelievers. The ban angered some 20 police, or Gardai, officers stationed at the barracks, and their call for the reinstatement of the image has been backed by their staff organization, the Gardai Representative Association. A spokesman for the association, Dermot Moloney, said the picture has been in place since 1922, when the Gardai took over after the end of British rule.

Pope condemns desecration of graves in Rome’s Jewish cemetery VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II condemned the desecration of graves in Rome’s Jewish cemetery and an “analogous series of events occurring with worrying frequency” around Europe. Headstones, Stars of David and marble slabs on about 50 graves in the Jewish section of Rome’s Verano cemetery were smashed or toppled overnight July 17-18. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, sent a telegram to Rome’s chief rabbi, Riccardo di Segni, July 19, expressing the pope’s condolences to the city’s Jewish community and condemning the acts and the “anti-Jewish sentiments which inspire them.” The cardinal said the pope was “deeply saddened by the detestable gesture” and by attacks on cemeteries and synagogues that have occurred in other parts of Europe and on other continents over the past months.

Vatican Radio boldly goes where no staff has gone before: the Web VATICAN CITY (CNS) — With a tiny budget and a core staff of two, Vatican Radio has begun experimenting

CNS photo by Debbie Hill

Bride enters Bethlehem’s Church Of The Nativity Annie Abdu bends to enter the door of the Church of the Nativity for her wedding at adjacent St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Bethlehem July 16. She and her fiance had planned a June 30 wedding, but Israeli military curfews delayed the ceremony and forced the couple, their friends and relatives to attend a hastily announced service when restrictions were lifted for a few hours.

Bill to protect infants born alive approved; Bush expected to sign it WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. Senate gave final congressional approval July 18 to the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act; it was then headed to President Bush, who was expected to sign the legislation. The bill, approved by unanimous consent in the Senate, would guarantee certain rights under federal law to children born alive, even if it occurs during an abortion. The House approved the legislation by a voice vote in March. In another abortion-related action, the House Judiciary Committee on July 17 approved the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, designed to respond to concerns raised in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Stenberg vs. Carhart decision

Episcopal July 26, 2002 Volume 11 • Number 40 Publisher: Most Reverend William G. Curlin Editor: Joann S. Keane Associate Editor: Kevin E. Murray Staff Writer: Alesha M. Price Graphic Designer: Tim Faragher Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Sherill Beason 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Mail: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $15 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all other subscribers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237.

c a l e n-

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events: September 5 Episcopal ordination Philadelphia, Pa. September 13 — 11 a.m. Mass Installation of Belmont Abbey College President James Gearity, Ph.D. Belmont Abbey Basilica, Belmont September 14 — 6 p.m.

Confirmation St. William Church, Murphy September 15 — 11 a.m.

Confirmation Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Hayesville September 21 — 5 p.m.

50th anniversary celebration and Mass St. John Baptist de la Salle Church, North Wilkesboro

quietly with what project leaders expect to one day completely revolutionize the 71-year-old broadcaster: multimedia Internet radio. Over the past year, the radio’s Internet-development team — consisting of two American employees with radio and sound experience but no formal Web training — has refined concepts, worked out bugs, and tried to convince higher-ups that the risks of the new media are worth the plunge. Now they say they’re ready to show off the fruits of their labors, which they describe as an edgy and informative Catholic site with few parallels. “What we’re trying to do is offer in an attractive format really compelling, interesting and even fun Catholic stories or stories from a Catholic point of view,” said Stephen Banyra, 42, the site’s Web master and former director of the radio’s

Diocesan

plan -

at 3 p.m. and a potluck dinner at 5 p.m. in the school cafeteria. For further information, contact Josie Backus at (704) 527-4676.

11 FRANKLIN — The Women’s Guild of St. Francis of Assisi Church, 299 Maple St., will be having their monthly meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in the Family Life Center. The meetings feature guest speakers and special events periodically. For more information, call Claire Barnable at (828) 369-1565.

11 MAGGIE VALLEY — Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, will be hosting a rededication ceremony of the Tiffin Meeting Room this afternoon at 2 p.m.

The room is being named in honor of the Franciscan Sisters of Tiffin, Ohio, who have served at the center over the years. For details, call the center at (828) 926-3833 or e-mail lwcrc@main.

English-language news program. “We also wanted to give it a bit of a commercial feel to make it accessible to a wider audience, not just Catholics,” he said.

‘Spider-Man’ offers good moral lessons, Jesuit magazine says ROME (CNS) — Despite its “militaristic patriotism” and exaltation of all things American, the film “Spider-Man” offers moral lessons that more and more people are finding only in the movies today, said an influential Jesuit magazine. A classic tale of the struggle between good and evil, the film illustrates the point that, while science can give one power, it is up to the individual “to use it for good or evil,” said the article in La Civilta Cattolica. The film’s success is due not simply to its special effects, but to the fact that it was able “to create a hero and a myth that measure up to Western culture,” said the Rome-based magazine that is reviewed at the Vatican before publication. The story’s hero, Peter Parker, is the stereotypical “good guy,” not the most popular, not rich, but good at school and “Godfearing,” the magazine said.

Sister of Providence among 29 receiving prison terms for SOA protests INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — Sister Kathleen Desautels, a Sister of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, will spend six months in a federal prison for trespassing at the former School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., during a protest last year. Sister Kathleen, an Indianapolis native and a staff member of the Eighth Day Center for Justice in Chicago for the past 16 years, was arrested last November with 100 other human rights activists for trespassing on the U.S. Army base that houses the school, now called the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.

On July 12, U.S. Magistrate G. Mallon Faircloth sentenced Sister Kathleen to six months in prison after a trial in Columbus, Ga. In all, 29 of the 37 co-defendants received prison terms of three to six months, with some also being fined; seven others were sentenced to six months’ probation and one was found not guilty.

nc.us.

12 CHARLOTTE — A support group meeting for caregivers of family and friends suffering from Alzheimer’s/ dementia will be held today and Aug. 26 from 10-11:30 a.m. in room E of the ministry center at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., and Aug. 20 at Providence United Methodist Church.

With advanced notification, activities for the memory-impaired can be provided. For more information about the support group or the Shining Stars Adult Day Respite Program for the memory-impaired, which meets every Monday and Wednesday at St. Gabriel from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and every Tuesday and Thursday at Sardis Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., call Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135.

14 CHARLOTTE — The 50+ Club of St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Rd., will be gathering for lunch today at 11:30 a.m. at China House, 5720 Independence Blvd. All are invited to join the group for food, fun and fellowship. For more informa-

July 26, 2002

The World in

CNS photo from Reuters

Mexicans on pilgrimage to Mexico City for canonization Jose Escobar makes a pilgrimage on his knees July 19 to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe while holding his 1-month-old son. Indigenous peoples of Mexico were thronging to the city to celebrate Juan Diego, a Nahuatl Indian who converted to Catholicism after experiencing a vision of Mary in 1531. Pope John Paul II will canonize Juan Diego on July 31.

For more information, call Charles Nesto at (704) 398-0879.

9 WINSTON-SALEM — All married couples are invited to participate in the next Worldwide Marriage Encounter this weekend through Aug. 11. Marriage Encounter is a 44-hour period when couples can take time off from families, work and other responsibilities to focus on each other to grow spiritually and emotionally as one. The next Marriage Encounter will take place in Charlotte the weekend of Nov. 8. For more information or reservations, call Tom and Emilie Sandin at (336) 274-4424.

10 CHARLOTTE — The Vietnamese Cursillo community will meet at 7:30 p.m. tonight and every second Saturday of the month for a school of leaders at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Rd. For further information, call Ky Do at (704) 532-9094.

11 CHARLOTTE — A charismatic Mass will be held at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, this afternoon at 4 p.m. with prayer teams

August 3 HAYESVILLE — The Immaculate Heart of Mary Women’s Club will host its annual White Elephant Sale today from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. in the IHM Church Commons, Hwy. 64. No clothing will be on site, but furniture, small appliances, tools, household goods, books and refreshments will be among the available items. For additional information, contact Riki Fiebel at (828) 389-0515.

4 CHARLOTTE — The St. Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order will be gathering today at 2 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 2301 Statesville Ave. Those interested in learning more about the SFO and the Franciscan way of life are invited to attend. For more information, call Skyler Mood, SFO, at (704) 545-8133.

4 SALISBURY — Sacred Heart Church, 128 N. Fulton St., will be celebrating a charismatic and healing Mass today at 4 p.m. Prayer and worship with prayer teams will be available

The Catholic News & Herald 3

Former ambassador says abortion as evil as Sept. 11 terrorist attacks NEW ORLEANS (CNS) — Former U.S. diplomat Alan K e y e s t o l d a p r o - l i f e co n f e r e n ce i n N e w O r l e an s he e q u at e s t h e e v i l o f t h e S e p t . 1 1 t e r r o r i s t att ack s w i t h t h e e v i l o f ab o r t i o n .

While the attacks manifested “a disregard for the intrinsic w o r t h o f i n n o ce n t h u m an l i f e , ” h e s ai d , t h e y w e r e n o d i f f e r e n t n o r m o r e ap p al l i n g o n a m o r al l e v e l t h an t h e f act t h at ab o r t i o n h as d e s t r o y ed m i l l i o n s o f u n b o r n b ab i e s s i n ce i t w as l e gal i z e d v i r t u al l y o n d e m an d i n 1 9 7 3 . K e y e s , w h o w as U . S . am b as s ad o r t o t h e U n i t e d N at i o n s Economic and Social Council d u r i n g t h e R e agan ad m i n i s t r a t i o n , m ad e t h e co m m e n t s i n a July 12 speech at the American L i f e L e agu e ’ s an n u al C e l e b r a t i o n o f L i f e W o r l d F am i l y C o n f e r e n ce i n N e w O r l e an s . “ I f we pray down destruction on t h e h e ad o f O s am a b i n L ad e n f o r t h at v i o l at i o n o f i n n o ce n t l i f e , ” K e y e s s ai d , “ w e h av e t o be aware that we pray down d e s t r u ct i o n as w e l l o n a n at i o n t h at i s w i l l i n g t o e n s h r i n e i n p r i n ci p l e a r i gh t t o ad m i n i s t e r t h e s e l f - s am e b l o w t o t h o s e i n nocent lives of our offspring t h at o u gh t t o b e m o r e s acr e d i n o u r o b l i g at i o n t o G o d t h an an y others.”

CRS official tells Congress Sudan situation ‘urgent, deteriorating’ WASHINGTON (CNS) — The situation in Sudan is “urgent and deteriorating,” putting 1.7 million lives at risk from famine, disease and war, a Catholic Relief Services official told a Senate subcommittee. Paul Townsend recommended to the African affairs subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the U.S. government negotiate for peace, reinforce the value of self-government, and back unimpeded access to humani-

tarian aid, especially with regard to developing oil deposits. For more than 30 years, CRS, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency, has been involved in the African nation, home to nearly 30 million people. In written testimony to the subcommittee July 11, Townsend called it “the most desperate humanitarian disaster on our planet.”

Canonization preparations under way for Guatemala’s ‘Hermano Pedro’ ANTIGUA, Guatemala (CNS) — Behind the crumbling, elaborate baroque facades of Antigua, preparations are under way for the canonization of the town’s favorite son, Blessed Pedro de San Jose Betancur. Hermano Pedro, as he is known, is revered throughout Guatemala and Central America for his miraculous curing of the sick and dedication to the poor. Pope John Paul II is scheduled to canonize Hermano Pedro July 30 in Guatemala City. So many pilgrims are determined to visit Hermano Pedro’s remains and altar at the Church of San Francisco in Antigua that a schedule was set up to allot the weekend days preceding the pope’s visit to people from different areas of the country and those from other spots in Central America.

Sant’Egidio to gather worldwide religious leaders to promote dialogue ROME (CNS) — Dialogue is the only solution to terrorism and violence, poverty and the growing distance between the rich and poor, said the spokesman for the Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community. The Catholic lay group is preparing its 16th international meeting of religious leaders, to be held Sept. 1-3 in Palermo, Sicily.

More than 350 religious leaders — Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish — and cultural leaders, including politicians, scholars and writers, will meet to discuss “Religions and Cultures between Conflict and Dialogue.”

at 3 p.m., and a potluck dinner will follow the Mass. Father John Putnam, pastor, will be the celebrant. For further information, call Bill Owens at (704) 639-9837.

5 CHARLOTTE — The regularly scheduled cancer support group meetings for survivors, family and friends on the following days: St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., tonight and every first Monday at 7 p.m. in the ministry center library and St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., on Aug. 6 and every first Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the office building conference room. For more information, call: St. Matthew - Marilyn Borrelli at (704) 542-2283 and St. Gabriel - Eileen Correll at (704) 362-5047, Ext. 217.

5 CHARLOTTE — The bereavement support group will meet tonight from 6-7:30 p.m. and every first Monday in the family room at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. This support group is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. For de-

tails, call Ruth Posey, CSS counselor, at (704) 370-3238.

5 CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., will be celebrating a charismatic Mass tonight at 7:30 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation will be given at 7 p.m., and the laying on of hands will take place after Mass. The next Mass will be celebrated on Sept. 9. For more information, call the church office at (336) 778-0600 or Jim Passero at (336) 998-7503.

7 ALBEMARLE — The Forever Young Club of Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, 416 N. 2nd St., will be having a meeting and a covered dish lunch in the Family Life Center this morning at 10 a.m. For further details, call Mary Garris at (704) 982-8427.

7 CHARLOTTE — The Happy Timers of St. Ann Church, 3635 Park Rd., will be having a meeting with a luncheon and program at 1 p.m. in the parish activity center. All adults age 55 and older are welcome.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

July 26, 2002

In the

Massachusetts woman has dream job as fan director for Red

By PEGGY WEBER Catholic News Service BOSTON (CNS) — Sarah McKenna has a dream job.

At age 27, the native of the Springfield Diocese is director of fan services at Fenway Park in Boston, the home of the Red Sox. She is a respected staff member who tries to make sure that people have a positive experience at the 90-year-old ballpark.

“Basically, I take care of the individual fan,” she said.

Since spring, Fenway Park has been full almost every night. More than 30,000 people have come to each game to watch their beloved team play. More people came to play catch in an empty park on Father’s Day than attended some games in other major-league cities.

“If it’s cold, rainy or hot, our fans come,” she said in an interview with The Catholic Observer, Springfield’s diocesan newspaper.

She and several other people from the Boston Red Sox have initiated new programs this season that are focused on fans.

Their motto is “Fan Friendly Fenway.”

“Right now I’m helping to start up a new program of Fenway Ambassadors, who will be out and talking and proactively meeting fans on a day-to-day basis,” she said.

McKenna said 3,500 people applied online through Bostonworks.com. She said they actually interviewed all 3,500 at a meet-and-greet session at the park and narrowed the group down to about 240 people.

“This will be a team that will work during the day and at the games. They will be the face of the Red Sox,” she said.

She envisions the ambassadors greeting fans as they arrive via the “T,” Boston’s transit system, or the workers might board the T to hand out postcards of players.

“They’ll be giving gifts to children and helping senior citizens to their seat and taking pictures of people so fans can

CNS photo by Fred LeBlanc, Catholic Observer

Fans of the Boston Red Sox baseball team are photographed with the “Green Monster” mascot at Fenway Park in Boston. Sarah McKenna of Springfield, Mass., director of fan services for the team, has made the park “fan friendly” by creating special services for kids and adult fans who regularly attend ballgames. have their memories captured at Fenway,” she said.

McKenna graduated in 1992 from Cathedral High School in Springfield. In 1996, she graduated from Dominican-run Providence College in Rhode Island with a degree in health care policy and management.

Then she and some girlfriends hopped in a car and headed to Portland, Ore., where she worked briefly for the single-A Portland Rockies, a farm team of the Colorado Rockies.

She became interested in working in sports through a family friend, Peter Cooney, past owner of the former Springfield Indians minor league hockey team.

“I’ve just been interested in sports my whole life,” she said.

aspect of baseball. I like the way it has a real family atmosphere. A lot of memories are created at the ballpark, especially at Fenway,” she said.

She said her Catholic faith has helped her in her work.

“I think my faith has taught me the lesson of patience. And I think of the idea of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you has helped. It is basically a good rule to go by,” she said.

“She’s got four brothers who say they should have that job,” McKenna’s mom, Chris Keaney, said with a chuckle. “But Sarah has worked hard to get where she is. When she worked for the minor league team in Oregon, she pulled tarp and sold tickets. She learned about baseball from the grass roots up.”

Keaney said that McKenna’s older siblings, David, Joe, Missy, Patrick and Stephen, have been great role models for her.

“And her father showed her how to work hard,” said Keaney about her husband, Dave Keaney, a lawyer and consultant to U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass.

In Oregon, McKenna met her husband, Bill, who was from Framingham, Mass.

They moved to San Diego for Bill’s job, and McKenna began working with the San Diego Padres on what turned out to be a successful campaign for a new ballpark, called Qualcomm Stadium.

That is how she met Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president and CEO, and Charles Steinberg, the team’s executive vice president for public affairs. Making their acquaintance led to her getting the fan position at Fenway. McKenna learned at Christmas she would be working for the team.

“It was time for us to come home with our family. And we were ready for a change,” she said. She and her husband have a 16-month-old daughter, Jameson.

McKenna seems comfortable in the old park where the “Green Monster,” its famed 37-foot-high left field wall, looms over the crowd. She maintains a respectful distance as she stands a few feet away from some of baseballs’ greats.

“This is their time. They don’t need distractions,” she said.

What does she like best about baseball? “I think I like the entertainment

July 26, 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Around the Di-

New Knights continue long, noble

By REV. MR. GERALD POTKAY Correspondent MOCKSVILLE — Father Michael J. McGivney founded a fraternal serviceoriented brotherhood called the Knights of Columbus in 1882 in New Haven, Conn.

His goal was to bring the men of his parish together in faith and fellowship while guaranteeing widows and orphans financial assistance.

Following the Christian ideals of its founder, the Knights has become an international organization dedicated to the promotion of the Catholic faith and the pro-life movement and the assistance of underprivileged children, the orphaned, the disabled and the handicapped.

The Knights formed its first council in Charlotte in 1903. The long, noble tradition continues to grow through the first U.S. council formed in the new millennium — the award-winning St. Francis of Assisi Church Council 12610 in Mocksville.

The triumvirate — Roger Hunckler, former grand Knight; Jim Gildein, former grand Knight; and Mercy Sister Mary Carmelita Hagen, past administrator of St. Francis of Assisi Church — started Council 12610 in 2000.

Hunckler guided the council through its first year with a membership of 23. In the 2001-2002 year, Gildein assumed leadership and helped expand the membership and push the council to greater heights.

The council received the state awards for the largest percent membership gain and for the largest net membership gain, going from 23 to 53 members in a single year.

“A lot of us didn’t even know each other. We have many of the same ideas, and through the Knights of Columbus, we have found we are not alone in our thoughts and have acquired good friendships,” said third-degree Knight Al Streit.

The growing numbers and energized members have helped the council make its mark.

In the last two years, the council has received: the Supreme Star Council Award; the 2001-2002 N.C. State Council award, Division I; the State Deputy Award, Division I; the Community Award; the Council

Eucharistic adoration

Courtesy Photo

“Mr. Tootsie” and Knight George Kimberly, a member of Council 12610, do their part during an Operation LAMB drive, in which proceeds went to the Association for Retarded Citizens, the Special Olympics and the handicap program at South Davie Middle School. tion to get him off a ventilator. Much of the money was raised through a very successful “Haunted House,” which encompassed 1,500 hours of work for the Knights. Other charities that benefited from this project were the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the American Red Cross.

Gildein attributes the success of the council to the general good intentions of the men of the parish who want to give back to the church.

“Working together has brought us to the success that our projects have demonstrated,” said Streit.

Knight Francis Russell added; “Everybody worked on these projects together. We have a good bunch of guys here who are well organized. It’s good to see the Knights of Columbus working with the church and the youth of our parish.”

Contact Rev. Mr. Gerald Potkay by calling (336) 427-8218 or e-mail gpotkay@triad.rr.com.

Recognition Program Award; the Scrapbook Award; and the Lamb Award for raising $7,608 during an Operation LAMB (Least Among My Brothers) drive, the proceeds of which benefited the Association of Retarded Citizens, the Special Olympics and the handicap program in South Davie Middle School.

But it is more than winning awards for Council 12610. The Knights lead rosary devotions; attend pro-life marches in Raleigh and Washington, DC; undertake church membership drives; have started a men’s choir; have an ongoing Bible study; and have an annual retreat, which occurred this year at Lake Janaluska.

The council was instrumental in the financial efforts for the construction of a new church for St. Francis of Assisi, as well as the formation of a new “circle” of Columbian Squires 4713, which is aimed at the teens of the parish.

The council has also helped a 10-year-old quadriplegic, Taylor Lovelace, by contributing $1,200 toward the $70,000 needed for an opera-

ARDEN — St. Barnabas Church, 109 Crescent Hill Dr., hosts eucharistic adoration on the following days: Friday mornings immediately following the 9 a.m. Mass until noon, Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:15 p.m. and today and every first Friday from 9:30 a.m.8:45 p.m. For more information, call the church at (828) 684-6098.

ASHEVILLE — The Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., hosts daily adoration from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, call Jane Sorrells at (828) 298-0334.

BELMONT — Belmont Abbey, 100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Rd., now hosts daily adoration in the perpetual adoration chapel across from the monastery from 10 p.m.-6 a.m. because of lack of participation. For volunteer and other information, call Marie Siebers at (704) 827-6734.

CHARLOTTE — All are invited to St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd., for perpetual adoration. For volunteer and other information, call Kathleen Potter at (704) 366-5127.

CHARLOTTE — St. Thomas Aquinas, 1400 Suther Rd., hosts eucharistic adoration every first Friday from 1:15 p.m.midnight, and eucharistic holy hour takes place every Friday from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Aquinas Hall is open everyday from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, call the church office at (704) 549-1607.

HICKORY — St. Aloysius Church, 921 2nd St. NE, hosts eucharistic adoration on the first Friday of the month from Sept. to May in Sebastian Chapel from 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

For volunteer and other information, call Jean Marie Hirsch at (828) 495-4339.

HIGH POINT — Maryfield Nursing Home, 1315 Greensboro Rd., hosts perpetual adoration in the chapel. For volunteer and other information, call Theresa Hansen at (336) 273-1507.

MOCKSVILLE — St. Francis of Assisi Church, 862 Yadkinville Rd., hosts eucharistic adoration the first Friday of the month from 11 a.m.-noon. For further details, call the church office at (336) 751-2973.

SYLVA — Eucharistic adoration takes place every first Saturday at St. Mary Church, 22 Bartlett St., following 9 a.m. Mass until 3 p.m. For more information, call Linda

6 The Catholic News & Herald Catholic astronaut honored after six-month ‘Walz’ through space LEAGUE CITY, Texas (CNS) — For Carl Walz, returning home to family and friends was of primary interest following his six-month traveling excursion. Still, one cannot underestimate the draw of gravity.

St. Mary Church, Walz’s home parish, joined earth’s gravitational pull in welcoming the astronaut back to League City with a recent Mass and reception in his honor. Walz is one of the two NASA astronauts who broke the American endurance record with 196 days in space onboard the International Space Station. Following an introduction by pastor Msgr.

Eugene Cargill, Msgr. Frank H. Rossi presented Walz with a diocesan medal of recognition from Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza of Galveston-Houston. The diocesan chancellor told the assembly that only 15 medals have been distributed since the original was first cast under Bishop John L. Morkovsky in the mid-1970s.

Religious brother manifests love of art through sculpture, education WASHINGTON (CNS) — Christian Brother Joseph McNally, missionary and artist, culls his inspiration from the principal Christian mysteries, his subjects from universal symbolism and his materials, quite often, from swamps and bogs. Many works by Brother McNally, 79, a native of Ireland and naturalized Singaporean citizen, were to be on display throughout the Washington area through August.

“I regard myself, as we all are, as the human instrument of God,” Brother McNally said in an interview with Catholic News Service. “I am particularly interested in God the creator and his creative spirit, which has caused the whole world to have the kind of beauty it has. Therefore, I look for ways in which I can express the idea of creation.” His exhibited sculptures were of two sorts: “resurrected” wood and welded bronze.

Jesuit historian says endless attacks on Pius XII are not news ROME (CNS) — The endless, repetitive attacks on Pope Pius

July 26, 2002

People in the

officials familiar with the cause said each stage of the process leading to his July 31 canonization, as well as the 18th-century investigations into the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, were supported by evidence that he once lived. When the Vatican recognized Juan Diego lived a heroically holy life and he interceded to save the life of a young man, “the fact that he lived was implied,” said Jesuit Father Paolo Molinari, who was postulator of the cause until 1990, when Pope John Paul II proclaimed Juan Diego blessed.

CNS photo from Reuters

Pilgrim is silhouetted at Toronto train station A youth carries a cross as he arrives July 22 at the Toronto train station for World Youth Day. Hundreds of thousands of youths were making the pilgrimage to spend time with Pope John Paul II at World Youth Day July 23-28.

XII’s behavior during World War II run strangely counter to the demand of journalists and writers to keep coming up with something new, said a Jesuit historian. The supposed “silence” of the pope is “the only argument given an exception” from the new-news rule, said Father Pierre Blet in the Jesuit magazine, La Civilta Cattolica. “For 40 years the same refrain has been repeated in every key: During the last world war, when the National Socialist regime exterminated the Jews, Pope Pius XII knew and was silent, when with a word he could have saved them,” the priest wrote. Father Blet helped edit the 12 volumes of

World War II Vatican archive material published from 1965 to 1981 and in 1999 published a book based on the material.

Juan Diego sainthood cause implied he existed, Vatican official says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While the sainthood cause of Blessed Juan Diego faced several votes at the Vatican, no one was so blunt as to ask: Did he exist or was he a legend? However,

Church leaders welcome announcement of new archbishop of Canterbury MANCHESTER, England (CNS) — British Catholic leaders welcomed the announcement that the new archbishop of Canterbury will be Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams of Wales. Cardinal Cormac MurphyO’Connor of Westminster, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, praised Archbishop Williams as a “theologian of distinction, a man of deep spirituality and a gifted communicator.” The cardinal said July 23, “He will, I have no doubt, prove to be a force for great good in this country and throughout the Christian world.” Archbishop Williams, 52, will succeed Archbishop George Carey, who is retiring Oct. 31 after 11 years as spiritual head of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Bishop Crispian Hollis of Portsmouth, England, chairman of the English and Welsh bishops’ Committee for Mission and Unity, said: “Archbishop Williams will be a challenging voice both within the Anglican Communion and for all those who work for the unity of Christ’s church from other denominations.

July 26, 2002

From the

The Catholic News & Herald 7

Two men ordained for transitional diaconate, will act as link between

By ALESHA M. PRICE Staff Writer CHARLOTTE — Two of the diocesan faithful, who have chosen a life of commitment to the church, moved one step closer to fulfillment of their decisions to become priests.

Rev. Messrs. Julio Cesar Dominguez and Enrique Gonzalez-Gaytan were ordained to the transitional diaconate at a bilingual Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral July 20.

In a celebration of two cultures, the choir sang selections in Spanish; the readings and Bishop William G. Curlin’s homily were also translated into Spanish. The spirit of oneness flowed throughout the sanctuary in celebration of two men who will become priests of the Diocese of Charlotte. Family, friends and diocesan priests and deacons witnessed the men make one of their important steps on the road to priesthood.

Even though the men are at different points in their faith journeys, both hail from Mexico and studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. They have been in this country about two years but studied for the priesthood in Mexico before coming to the U.S. to complete their educations.

Most of the deacons’ family members still live in Mexico, but they have relatives in the diocese.

Rev. Mr. Dominguez, 30, has

been working at St. Michael Church in Gastonia and Holy Family Church in Clemmons. He will return to St. Charles in the fall to complete his seminary training but has also studied in Rome.

“Everyone has a vocation, and I answered my call because I wanted to serve the people,” Rev. Mr. Dominguez said. “The further development of my spiritual life attracted me to the priesthood.”

Rev. Mr. Gonzalez-Gaytan, 33, completed his work at St. Charles in May and will continue studying language in a specialized program in the fall. He has been serving at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton, St. Leo the Great Church in WinstonSalem and Our Lady of the Americas Church in Biscoe.

During the rite of ordination of a deacon, the bishop calls the candidate forth to make the promise of celibacy and the vow of obedience. The candidate lies prostrate on the floor while those in attendance, including the bishop; those priests concelebrating and deacons serving, kneel and pray the litany of the saints. The bishop lays his hands and asks the Holy Spirit to descend upon the candidate. The candidate is then vested with the dalmatic and stole, and as a deacon, assists during the rest of the Mass.

During his homily, Bishop Curlin

Photo by Alesha M. Price

Rev. Messrs. Julio Cesar Dominguez and Enrique Gonzalez-Gaytan, left to right, stand with Bishop William G. Curlin after the transitional diaconate ordination mass at St. Patrick Cathedral July 20. stressed the importance of the Eucharist, prayer and a deeply rooted dedication to Christ in the lives of priests in order for them to fully serve God’s people to best of their abilities.

“As you come forth today, ask God to help you to become holy priests and saints. You must stand before the world as a deacon, and later as a priest, and tell everyone of your dedication to Jesus Christ,” the bishop said. “At times, my brothers, it will be difficult, but if you don’t communicate daily with God through prayer, Scripture and the Eucharist, then you will not be able to be a good priest.”

The bishop told the men that with all of the problems facing today’s church and its people, only the love of Christ will strengthen their ministries: “Jesus Christ is your life, and you must lock out anything that will disrupt that relationship. You have to bring your weaknesses to Jesus through faithful

reconciliation. People will respect you because you will live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the world.”

“These men have immediate knowledge and understanding of the culture from which they have emerged and will be important bridgebuilders in the diocese,” Father Allen said.

The two men will be ordained to the priesthood within the next year.

In September, the Diocese of Charlotte will have 23 men studying at various seminaries which includes nine new candidates pending, said Father John Allen, director of vocations.

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

8 The Catholic News & Herald

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MSGR. SHOWFETY, from page 1

you do, but the church will not be built by you. I want you in Charlotte.’”

It was a post young Joseph Showfety couldn’t have predicted when he first considered the priesthood, back when he was an altar boy at St. Benedict Church in Greensboro and a student at St. Benedict Grammar School.

“The first thoughts came at that time,” he said, but they were on the back burner by the time he was a Greensboro High student, playing sports and working for his father.

Showfety attended The Citadel military college in Charleston, S.C., for six months before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1945.

“When I was in boot camp, the German war ended,” he recalled.

“When I was in service school, the Japanese war ended.” He was transferred to the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill., where he was a yeoman in the personnel center. “I had the distinction of typing up my own discharge papers. Not many can say that.”

After leaving the Navy, Showfety worked for his father for a year while contemplating the priesthood.

Finally he decided where his calling lay. “None of us deserve to be priests,” Msgr. Showfety said. “It’s a gift given to us by the divine Lord. He chooses us; we don’t choose him.”

He majored in philosophy and English at Mount Saint Mary’s College & Seminary in Maryland, earning his degree in 1951, then studying theology at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore in one of the largest seminary classes in the world at the time.

Ordained a month, he was assigned to St. Mary Church in Mount Olive, where the Diocese of Raleigh had recently purchased a house for use as the rectory. The building had no furniture, just “a toilet, a bathtub, a bathroom sink and a kitchen sink.

No heat, no hot water—. I had nothing,” said Msgr. Showfety, who did much of the repair work. “We had to have the floors sanded. I was on my knees putting the varnish on the floor. My dad helped a great deal; it took us several months to get the place in shape.”

He also traveled a lot, gaining an education beyond what he’d had in the seminary. Like other new priests in the diocese at the time, he was assigned to work in mission areas under the supervision of a pastor, spending half

two secretaries. “It was a lot of hours, a lot of headaches. We didn’t have much time for ourselves.

“I look back with honor. The spirit was excellent. People were very supportive of Bishop Begley—they knew him, and they loved him. The priests were very cooperative and helpful.”

The first chancery staff worked out of two rooms in the rectory of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

Later, it was in a house to which Father Showfety would commute from Concord. In 1974, the chancery moved into a building where “everything came into place,” Msgr. Showfety said.

“We had room and all of the offices in one building; before, departments were scattered across town. In my day, I kept the books. I made the deposits. Today, there’s a big finance office there. What I did myself, they have many people doing. It’s a whole different diocese now. We’re growing, and we’re growing very fast.”

He was appointed monsignor in 1976. Bishop Begley wanted to surprise him by having the declaration sent to his residence, but was out of town when Father Showfety picked up

his time in the parish, half his time in a mission.

“You basically lived in your car,” he said. “You were on your own for three to four days a week, which was a good experience. So most of us old-timers from Raleigh have been through this system. I feel sorry for newly ordained priests; they go from being students in the seminary, and all of a sudden — boom — they’re thrown into large parishes and all of the work involved in that.”

The Diocese of Raleigh was a lot different back then.

“In those days it was tough,” said Msgr. Showfety, recalling black and white parishes.

“Integration has changed all that. St. Mary, which was a black parish for years, has been integrated the way everything else has been integrated. They have, I think now, 14 different nationalities in the parish.”

Over the years, he held a variety of positions, including secretary to the Priests’ Senate, and administrator File Photo of the original Bishop McGuinness High School in WinstonSalem and the now-defunct Asheville Catholic High School. He was pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville and director of nearby Our Lady of the Hills Camp when he got that call naming him the first chancellor of the Charlotte Diocese, a position he held until 1974.

Father Showfety went to Raleigh the next day to begin the process of forming the new diocese. “There was an awful lot of work involved. I knew nothing about chancery work. Everything was new for us,” said Msgr.

Showfety, who did the bulk of the setup work with Bishop Begley and

July 26, 2002

the mail. “I never told him I (already) knew about it,” Msgr. Showfety said of the bishop’s “surprise” announcement.

The diocese continued to grow.

Some of that growth is attributed to the increasing number of Hispanic Catholics in the diocese. Msgr. Showfety recalls 350 Hispanics attending the first Spanish Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church a year ago. Now, as with other churches in the diocese, there are regular Spanish Masses at Our Lady of Grace Church. He believes more must be done.

Priestly ministry has also changed.

There are “more demands, more people and more involvement of the laity,” he said. “Many priests think of themselves as CEOs with people working under them. The laity are doing the work that priests have done before — the pastoral aspects, not the secular aspects.”

However, some things about the priesthood should never change; priests cannot forget that they are priests, Msgr. Showfety said. “We’re not laymen; we’re priests. We cannot forget that. If we don’t forget we’re priests, nobody else will.”

With the recent national attention focused on priests, Msgr. Showfety recommends prayer. “We need to keep praying as priests,” he said. “It’s a deep scandal for the church, but we’ll come out of this better as a church and better as priests in the years to come.”

As for his future, Msgr. Showfety has a lot planned. “I don’t feel much retired yet,” he said, still settling into his new apartment in Greensboro. “I’ll play golf more frequently, I hope.”

He also hopes to tape his recollections of the original Bishop McGuinness High School. “I’m the only one who knows the beginnings of the high school,” he said. He wants to make copies of the tape and keep one in the diocesan archives and one at the new high school in Kernersville.

July 26, 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 9

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Feis for all: Irish dance keeps youth

By KEVIN E. MURRAY Associate Editor CHARLOTTE — For these kids, Irish dancing is just plain fun. Going to the world finals on the other side of the globe is an added bonus.

Twelve young dancers, ages 11 to 17, of the Rince Na h’Eireann dance school ventured to Glasgow, Scotland, for the World Irish Dancing Championships March 24 to April 1. There, they competed against some of the finest dancers from around the world.

“They were all very excited, and they had worked very hard,” said Sandra Connick, owner of Rince Na h’Eireann.

Connick, who has been an Irish dancer since childhood, opened the Charlotte school in 1993 after moving with her family from Cork, Ireland. It wasn’t the first time she and her teaching partner Pam Pierce have brought dancers to the world finals, but it was the first time they brought them to Scotland. “(This competition) was the first one ever held out of Ireland in 33 years,” said Connick. “There were thousands of people there from all over the world.”

It was a new experience for Hillary Dawe and Brian Waldrep, both firsttimers to the world championships.

“The Irish and English dancers were amazing,” said 11-year-old Dawe, a St. Matthew Church parishioner.

“It was overwhelming the first time seeing all of those Irish dancers,” said 12-year-old Waldrep, a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in Winston-Salem.

“But it was exciting, too.”

The fierce competition did little to sway the determination of the group, who trained exhaustively for weeks

Photo by Kevin E. Murray

Catholic youth, who are dancers from the Rince Na h’Eireann dance school in Charlotte, venntured to Glasgow, Scotland, to compete in the World Irish Dancing Championships March 24 to April 1. in advance. Dawe placed 115th out of 154 competitors in the girls under 12 category. Waldrep placed 42nd out of 60 in the boys under 12 category.

“You have to have self-discipline,” noted 17-year-old Jenny Britt of St. Matthew Church. “My friends think it’s awesome that I do it (dancing), but they don’t like all the time it takes up.”

That discipline means training up to five days a week for some of the dancers.

Waldrep, who has been dancing since he was 7, trains at Connick’s Winston-Salem school but also spends Mondays practicing at the Charlotte location. Despite the hard work, he enjoys being able to “compete and have fun at the same time.”

“It’s incredible to see your child up on that stage,” said Brian’s mother, Ellen, who watched him dance in Scotland.

“And knowing he’s doing what he loves is a thrill.”

“If you have a negative attitude, you won’t enjoy it,” said Britt.

“My friends think it’s cool that we get to travel,” said 17-year-old Annie Garvey, who attends St. Patrick Cathedral. Garvey said they’ve been to competitions in Boston, Georgia, Texas, California and Ireland, among other places.

“They love to go to the general competitions,” said Connick. Her students participate regularly in “feishanas” — plural for “feis,” a competition or festival — where they hone their skills for the “oireachtas,” the qualifying round for the world championships. “(Dancers) have to be at a certain competition level to go to the Southern Regional,” said Connick.

Her dancers went to the Southern Region oireachtas in St. Petersburg, Fla., in December 2001, where only the top 20 percent of all dancers qualified for the world championships.

Twelve were Connick’s students.

“They work so hard together,” said Connick. “They are very good at encouraging each other and pushing each other. They get satisfaction from watching others do well.”

“The kids in the class have become close friends because they put so much time and effort into dancing,” said Ellen Waldrep.

“We’re like a big family,” said 13-year-old Pierce Beach, a member of St. Patrick Cathedral. “We’re all friends here. We don’t have to worry about popularity; it’s all about having fun.”

Beach, who placed 20th out of 56 competitors in the boys under 14 category, noted they were looking forward to the next world championships. “We’re all shooting to go back,” said Beach. “The next one is rumored to be in Australia. I’ll paddle there if I have to.”

“It’s not all about the championships,” said Connick, noting Irish dance implements exercise, teamwork, self-confidence and social skills.

Ellen said Brian used to be shy.

Now, “he can talk to a room full of people about dancing and do a demonstration for them, too,” she said.

“I enjoy watching those who struggle in the beginning go on to succeed. I’m very proud of them all,” said Connick.

The Waldreps credit the dancers’ success to the teachers. “Sandra and Pam are fabulous and so great with the kids.

They make it fun for them,” said Ellen.

“Sandra and Pam are more than teachers to me. They’ve become friends,” said Brian, who hopes to keep getting better at Irish dance. “Once you’re at a certain level, you can make up your own steps.”

And like many of the dancers, Waldrep would one day like to be in “Riverdance,” the show credited for the recent popularity of Irish dance.

“We all want to be in Riverdance,” said Beach. “You get to travel the world, be famous and get paid for what you love.”

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald

July 26, 2002

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Religious intolerance cheats Catholic student’s

By KEVIN E. MURRAY Associate Editor MOCKSVILLE — Fifteen-yearold Ben Holmes said he learned more about intolerance than compassion at Sheets Memorial Christian School.

“When the school year ended, they said they weren’t accepting me back,” he said. “The main reason: they’re opposed to Catholics.”

Holmes started attending the Lexington school as a freshman last fall after he and his mother, Cynthia, relocated from Portland, Maine. Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville was too far away, she said.

“Our real-estate agent invited us to her church and said it had a really good youth group,” said Cynthia, referring to Blaise Baptist Church, which is affiliated with Sheets Christian School. “She said many kids from the church went to the school.”

Though Catholic, Cynthia had no concerns about attending a Protestant church or letting Ben go to a Protestant school that incorporates religion into its curriculum.

“I wasn’t scared to let him learn about other faiths because I know his faith is strong,” she said, explaining how she grew up among many different religions. Besides, “It was described as a non-sectarian school in their papers and ads. It shouldn’t exclude any religion.”

In January, the Holmeses decided to stop attending Blaise Baptist Church. “There were adverse comments toward Presbyterians and Catholics made,” said Cynthia. “It became clear this was not a church that was accepting of new people.”

Ben still enjoyed attending Sheets Christian School and made many friends. He would stay after school to help cleanup classrooms. It was early March when Ben made the sign of the cross after a prayer in Bible study class.

“The teacher looked like he had seen a ghost,” said Ben. “He said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’”

Soon after, principal Dan Hightower summoned Cynthia to his office.

“He said Ben was an exemplary young

man and wasn’t in any trouble, but was concerned because he was Catholic,” said Cynthia.

Cynthia said Hightower claimed Catholics were “idol worshipers” and didn’t have the same view of salvation. Because the school philosophy is that the home, school and church must complement one another, Hightower said Ben would have to attend Blaise Baptist Church to stay enrolled. “I told him that was absolutely unacceptable to me,” said Cynthia.

“It was a cold situation at school after that,” said Ben, “like I was in a dark room.”

In late May, the Holmeses were called to a school board meeting.

“There was no discussion of my son’s grades or behavior. They just asked us questions of faith,” said Cynthia.

“They asked very irrelevant questions, mostly directed to my beliefs in salvation,” said Ben. “They found that very disagreeable.”

The Holmeses were told the Baptist and Catholic doctrines were incompatible.

“I asked them to consider Ben’s psychological welfare and to let him stay in the school with his friends,” said Cynthia.

Afterward, Cynthia said Hightower shook her hand. “He said it was ‘nothing personal’ — his words — and showed us to the door,” she said.

A month after school ended, the Holmeses received a letter indicating Ben could not return because of a change in his application.

“It was written very ambiguously,” said Cynthia. “It was either because we changed churches or because I had changed jobs. Those were the only two changes on the application.”

Cynthia indicated there was nothing in the application stating the school needed to be notified if Ben switched churches. “And we never gave them any indication we’d be joining that church,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe the way Christians were treating Christians,” said Ben. “They were supposed to teach me about Christ’s compassion. They

taught me about hypocrisy instead.”

The Holmeses are now attending St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville. “They’ve been wonderful. It’s good to be home,” said Cynthia.

“I’m simply disappointed in what happened. We (Catholics and Baptists) have a lot in common in our belief in the Lord,” said Father Andrew Draper, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi. “A kid who’s well-grounded in his faith should be able to go to school wherever he wants.”

Ben will be attending Davie High School in the fall. Cynthia had hoped to keep him out of public school, so he “could pray without retribution and have God’s name not taken in vain,” she said.

But she said the experience has been positive in many ways. “Ben’s never been challenged before. He’s delved into and strengthened his faith,” said Cynthia.

Ben still thinks highly of Sheets Christian School. “There’s just a few bad apples,” he said.

Cynthia said she went to the media about Sheets Christian School because

she “thought people should know what kind of intolerance their kids are being taught. How will they learn to be tolerant if they’re not being taught tolerance?”

“I sincerely hope this brings people together instead of pushing them apart,” said Father Draper. “There’s an opportunity for growth if we act rather than react.”

“We’re all Christians. We’ll all be standing before God one day, and he won’t ask us our denominations,” said Cynthia. “He’ll ask more relevant questions about what kind of people we were.”

Sheets Christian School said Principal Hightower refused to comment.

Contact Associate Editor Kevin E. Murray by calling (704) 370-3334 or email kemurray@charlottediocese.org.

Pastoral Assignments Bishop William G. Curlin announces the following pastoral changes:

Effective July 9 (correction);

Rev. John Hanic

Elkin

Appointment of Vicariate Vicar From: Chaplain, Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School, Charlotte To: Pastor, St. John Baptist de la Salle with Mission St. Stephen,

Father Michael Kottar Elkin

From: Pastor, St. John Baptist de la Salle with Mission St. Stephen, To: Administrator, Holy Redeemer, Andrews with Mission Prince of Peace, Robbinsville

July 26, 2002

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Workshops to make better catechists planned for

By KEVIN E. MURRAY Associate Editor The Diocese of Charlotte’s competency-based process for the training of catechists, the “Catechist Recognition Process,” will be held in a series of workshops over the month of August.

All catechists and interested adults are encouraged to attend the workshop in their area.

“The workshop will help catechists become certified for their roles in the parishes,” said Franciscan Sister Bernadette Svatos, OSF, coordinator for the Northern Region of Faith Formation.

Catechesis attempts to echo the faith in the liturgy, sacraments, words and works, according to the diocesan handbook for catechetical leaders. “It is the mission of the catechist to proclaim the Gospel to all the evangelized and the unevangelized.”

“Fashioning a Eucharistic People” will be held at St. Margaret Church in Maggie Valley 6:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 5.

“Using the Lectionary in the Liturgical Year” workshops will be held at St. Mary Church in Sylva 7-9 p.m. Aug. 6 and at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Franklin 7-9 p.m. Aug. 19.

“This workshop gives the history of the lectionary,” said Mary Herr, coordinator for the Smoky Mountain region.

“It’s helpful for lectors to know why we use the one we have now and how it has evolved throughout the centuries.”

“Lighting the Fires of Faith VIII,” the eighth workshop for the Northern Region, will be held at Holy Family Church in Clemmons 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Aug. 24. The keynote speaker will be Father James Hawker, vicar for education and pastor of St. Luke Church in Mint Hill.

Sessions include “Skills and The-

ory,” “Sacraments,” “Catholic Social Teachings” and “Contemporary Moral Issues,” and many will be presented in both English and Spanish.

The same day, the “Footsteps of Faith” workshop for the Central Region will be at St. Aloysius Church 9:30 a.m.3 p.m. Aug. 24. Keynote speaker will be Father George Kloster, vicar of the Smoky Mountain vicariate and pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hayesville and St. William Church in Murphy.

“It (the workshop) will give them the tools to be better catechists,” said Peg Ruble, coordinator for the Central Region. “At the workshop, they are able to participate in a fellowship atmosphere and be inspired in their catechesis.”

Another Catechist Recognition Process workshop will take place in the Southern Region on Aug. 24 at St. Vincent de Paul Church at 4 p.m.

“I strongly encourage catechists to work toward their certification in the diocese,” said Sister Bernadette.

Catechists are called to a special ministry and have a responsibility to walk in the footsteps of Christ, said Ruble. “It’s an experience to deepen their knowledge of their faith.”

For more information please contact: Smoky Mountain Region: Mary Herr (828) 497-9498; Northern Region: Sister Bernadette (336) 271-2917; Central Region: Peg Ruble (704) 391-0445; Southern Region: Joann Mahoney (704) 554-7088 Contact Associate Editor Kevin E. Murray by calling (704) 370-3334 or e-mail kemurray@charlottediocese.org.

The Catholic News & Herald 11

First Catholic college in Georgia aims for fall 2003

By PRISCILLA GREEAR Catholic News Service DAWSONVILLE, Ga. (CNS) — With $10 million already raised and an estimated $24 million still to go, construction has begun on the first Catholic college in Georgia, scheduled to open in the fall of 2003.

Some 400 benefactors, volunteers and other supporters attended the groundbreaking this spring on the cleared site of the 356-acre campus for Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville, about 40 miles north of Atlanta.

Southern Catholic will be an independent Catholic liberal arts college, dedicated to providing a technologically advanced learning environment grounded in the teaching of Catholic values and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

“Things have happened in the last two-and-a-half years because God directed people to come forward and actually participate in this project,” said Tom Clements, Southern Catholic chairman, at the groundbreaking.

“I appreciate not only your efforts but your passion.”

Clements recalled that two years ago Jeremiah Ashcroft, then president of East Georgia College in Swainsboro, e-mailed him wanting to help in the school’s development. After launching a nationwide search for a college president, looking at over 200 candidates, Ashcroft was the committee’s choice as first president of Southern Catholic.

“If you want to deepen your faith, go back to the work of being obedient to what you feel the Holy Spirit is telling you,” Clements said. Ashcroft “is the individual who contacted us first — if I just would have paid attention.”

Ashcroft pledged that the school will provide a quality education, enabling graduates to make a good living but also to have the moral and ethical formation necessary for a good life. He plans to form partnerships with sister schools, especially North Georgia College and State University and Gainesville College.

Linda Williams, president of the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce, spoke of the benefits to the area, including increased social, cultural, recreational and educational venues, and the economic benefit through jobs, business opportunities and tourism.

“On behalf of all your new neighbors here, we support you and look forward to the many opportunities for partnerships that will benefit both Southern Catholic College and the community,” she said.

Archbishop John F. Donoghue of Atlanta gave the opening prayer of dedication, asking for blessings “on this center of seeking, of learning, and of teaching what is true.”

“The Catholic college is a place where this revelation of faith, and this enlightenment of the human spirit, can and will take place,” he said. “Too long, our home — this beautiful state of Georgia — has been without a temple for this synthesis of faith and reason.”

The Rev. Jim Gaines of First Baptist Church, Dawsonville, said, “The faith community of Dawson County is overjoyed and looks forward to working with Archbishop Donoghue and Ashcroft together as we serve this community.” He added that, with such a large Baptist turnout at a Catholic event, “it’s got to be God’s will.”

Southern Catholic has set a goal of $34 million to cover start-up costs, the first phase of buildings and operating costs through the 2006-2007 academic year.

The first phase includes construction of a residence hall, academic/ office/administration building, gymnasium and a facilities building. The expected completion date is next fall.

There will be 61 hours required in the core curriculum, which will explore what it means to be human and people’s relations to God, nature and community.

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

In brief ...

Free educational workshop to be

presented for seniors ALBEMARLE — Catholic Social Services, Elder Ministry in collaboration with U.S. Financial Services will be presenting “The Senior Financial Workshop” Aug. 27 from 10-11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, 416 N. 2nd St. The free educational workshop for seniors 65 and over will focus on ways to reduce or eliminate taxes on social security, protecting assets from nursing homes and probate, alternatives to Wall Street and other elder planning techniques. For reservations and other information, call Sandra Breakfield at (704) 370-3220 or Marlo Wallace at (704) 370-3228.

Glenmary missionary to speak in mountains BOONE — Glenmary Father Rollie Hautz of the Glenmary Home Missioners will speak at Masses the weekend of Aug. 3 and 4 at St. Elizabeth Church, 259 Pilgrims Way. Father Hautz will speak to parishioners and guests about the Glenmarys’ ministry in Appalachia, the rural South and the Southwest. This society of priests and brothers, along with co-workers, minister exclusively in the United States where less than one percent of the population is Catholic and the poverty rate is twice the national average. For further details, call the church office at (828) 2648338 or (828) 264-6347.

Group starting for separated and divorced Catholics in Triad CLEMMONS — Beginning in Oct., the Family Life Commission of Holy Family Church will begin a group for separated and divorced Catholics in the Triad. This group will act as a network for sharing information and resources while also providing spiritual and social support. For more information and questions, contact Donna Kronner at (336) 631-8892.

K of C annual corn roast pops off in August FRANKLIN — The Knights of Columbus annual corn roast will take place Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 299 Maple St. For tickets and other information, call the church office at (828) 524-2289.

St. William Church Ladies Guild rummage sale to take place in August MURPHY — A rummage sale, sponsored by the St. William Church Ladies Guild, will be held Aug. 2 and 3 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 765 Andrews Rd. The group requests unused treasures and outgrown clothing. All contributions need to be dropped off at the Glenmary Center Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon beginning June 26. For the donation of large items, contact Mary Lane at (828) 494-7161.

Around the Di-

July 26, 2002

Mercy Sister Mary Kathleen McNamara dies at BELMONT— Mercy Sister Mary Kathleen McNamara, 97, died July 21 at Marian Center, Sacred Heart Convent. She was received as a Sister of Mercy on Feb. 2, 1942 and was in her 61st year as a Mercy Sister.

The vigil service was held July 23 in the Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Chapel at Sacred Heart Convent in Belmont.; visitation followed. A Mass of Christian Burial was held July 24 at the Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Chapel, and burial followed at Belmont Abbey Cemetery.

Sister Mary Kathleen McNamara was born Nov. 4, 1904 in Dunree, Buncrana County, Donegal, Ireland, and baptized Fanny McLaughlin. The sixth child of twelve, she and her sister, Rosemary, came to America together. She took the name Sister Mary Kathleen upon entering the religious order of the Sisters of Mercy on Aug. 2, 1941.

Sister Kathleen received her bachelor’s degree from Belmont Abbey College, and she attended postgraduate classes at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.

Shortly after her entrance, she began her ministry teaching at Sacred Heart School in Salisbury, where she taught in the primary grades for five years. In 1947 she was missioned to St. Mary’s School in Wilmington, where she taught the same age group. From 1948-50 she served her religious community as director of novices at the motherhouse in Belmont and returned to teaching in 1950 in Newton Grove.

In 1952, Sister Kathleen was assigned

to St. Patrick School in Charlotte, where she taught kindergarten for five years. Then, it was back to St. Mary’s in Wilmington, where she served as principal for 11 years and as the superior of her local community from 1965-68.

In 1968, after 25 years devoted to the education of Catholic youth, she returned to Belmont to begin teaching at Sacred Heart Campus School where she remained until 1982.

Her elegant countenance and outward beauty mirrored the beauty within, and her smile was but a window of her soul. She radiated a sense of peace and well-being to all those who knew her. In fact, she made such a distinct impression on many of her former students that they continued to visit her up until her death. Her quick wit never failed, and

the joy and laughter she readily shared with her family, her sisters. Her friends will serve to remind us of her often; she actively served in a prayer ministry until her death.

Her uncanny memory for names, faces and facts, her love for Damon’s ribs, playing “Uno” in the evenings, her frequent tea parties and her love for the beach became the stuff of legend. She was frequently referred to as “Miss Hospitality.”

Many will remember her sliding her rosary beads between her slender fingers as she prayed for her beloved community, her family and her friends.

Sister Mary Kathleen was the daughter of the late Daniel and Fanny McLaughlin. She is survived by several nieces who visited her frequently, Mary McNally, Mrs. Barbara Peznowski and Mrs. Fran Robinson, as well as numerous other nieces, nephews

July 26, 2002

BIBLE SCHOOL, from page 13 “Our objective here is to make sure they leave with open hearts and have good experiences about God, love, forgiveness and how to help one another.”

One of the crafts constructed by students was Velcro people that showed how people can stick to one another in friendship and that God also sticks to them in friendship.

Morgan Maceldowney really en-

Around the Dijoyed the “bug” part of the program — each bug told a different Bible story.

“It’s a real nice program,” said Katie O’Keeffe, another youth crew leader who has attended Vacation Bible School since she was seven. “The kids learned the concept of God and that he knows and loves them.”

Contact Correspondent Rev. Mr. Gerald Potkay by calling (336) 427-8218 or e-mail gpotkay@triad.rr.com.

CNH 7/02

The Catholic News & Herald 13

Father Lightner, Belmont Abbey monk, dies at 87 BELMONT — Benedictine Father Bede Charles Lightner, a monk of Belmont Abbey, died peacefully on July 10, after several years of declining health.

He was strengthened by the celebration of the sacrament of the anointing of the sick with his confreres before

his death. He was 87.

Father Lightner is survived by the monks of Belmont Abbey; Michael and Beverly Campos and their children, Stephen and Faye Campos; Mary Jane Sweeney and other cousins and by numerous friends and former students.

Father Lightner was born on May 3, 1915, in McKeesport, Penn., the son of Charles W. and Frances Hufgard Lightner. He was only two years old when his mother died and nine years old at the death of his father. He was raised by his aunt, Mary “Mame” Reilly.

Before graduating from St. Peter’s Grammar School and High School in McKeesport, Father Lightner realized his desire to be a priest and teacher.

His pastor at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe encouraged a meeting with Benedictine Father Michael McInerney, a McKeesport native and monk of Belmont Abbey, who invited Father Lightner to come to the abbey.

Father Lightner began his novitiate at St. Vincent Archabbey, receiving the name of Bede, and he made his first profession of vows as a monk of Belmont Abbey on July 2, 1935.

After completing his studies at Belmont Abbey College in 1937, Father Lightner continued his preparation for the priesthood at the Belmont Abbey Seminary. On June 15, 1941, he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Vincent Archabbey by Bishop Hugh C. Boyle of Pittsburgh. Father Lightner continued his studies at Davidson College and Duquesne University and ultimately earned his master’s in romance languages from the Catholic University of America in 1946.

He served as rector of the College at Belmont, associate pastor at St. Benedict Church and teacher at Benedictine High School in Richmond, Va. He served at Sacred Heart Priory and Benedictine Military School in Savannah, Ga. In 1989, Father Lightner took a leave of absence from the priesthood and transferred his residence to Decatur, Ga. In 1998, through the solicitude and kindness of Abbot Oscar Burnett, OSB, Father Lightner returned to his original monastic home and resumed his life as a capitular of Belmont Abbey. He was an active participant in the life and prayer of the monastic community and concelebrated daily at the conventual Mass as long as he was able.

His body was received in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians at Belmont Abbey before vespers July 12. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Abbey Basilica July 13. Bishop William G. Curlin presided, with assistance by the monks of Belmont Abbey and Sacred Heart Priory and priests of the Diocese of Charlotte. Abbot Burnett gave the homily.

Burial in the abbey cemetery followed.

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald Book Review

Books shed new light on Holocaust controversy

Reviewed by EUGENE J. FISHER Catholic News Service Books on Pius XII and the Holocaust proliferate today. This is healthy.

It reveals a Catholic community willing to grapple with one of the worst evils of human history and with even the most difficult moments of its own history.

Most of the recent rash of books are

by Catholics — whether those attacking the pope’s record (John Cornwell, James Carroll, Michael Phayer or Gary Wills), those defending him (Ronald Rychlak and the first two reviewed here), and those seeking to present a balanced overview of the controversy (the latter two reviewed here), with the exception of Protestant Holocaust scholar John K. Roth.

Readers seeking a spirited defense of the Vatican’s World War II policies, supported by a mass of telling detail, will gravitate toward Sister Margherita Marchione’s “Consensus and Controversy: Defending Pope Pius XII” as handy to have on the shelf. Sister Margherita, a member of the Religious Teachers Filippini, does an excellent job, demolishing with a myriad of facts the specious arguments of Cornwell — and therefore Carroll, whose treatment is derivative of Cornwell’s — as well as Susan Zuccotti’s silly thesis in “Under His Very Windows,” published by Yale University Press, that unless a written statement by Pope Pius to the Catholic clergy ordering them to help Jews can be found, it must be concluded that he did nothing.

But Sister Margherita falters in some areas — for example, in presenting the results of the International Catholic-Jewish Historical Commission, whose “Preliminary Report” included the 47 questions that she somehow divorces from it. That report, and the background papers and correspondence of the group with the Holy See, can be found in the May 2002 issue of Catholic International for readers interested in what the scholars really had to say.

Justus George Lawler’s “Popes and Politics” is the subtler defense, since he allows and even applauds a good range of responsible criticism, such as that by Father John Morley. His fourth chapter, “Proclamation vs. Reprisal,” is especially effective both in rebutting the false canard of papal silence and in proposing a credible understanding of papal policy

July 26, 2002

Read-

during the period. Since critics such as Cornwell, Carroll and Wills are far more interested in attacking the present pontiff — as Lawler rightly points out — than in confronting the church’s role in the Holocaust, Lawler spends the last half of the book arguing for a more responsible approach to reform in the institutional church than the rather crude visions of these authors.

Sister Carol Rittner and John K. Roth in “Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust” bring together 16 scholars (among them, I must confess, this reviewer) representing a healthy range of responsible scholarship, including three of the six members of the international commission. The essays of Michael Marrus and Father John Pawlikowski, I believe, best summarize the state of the question among professional historians.

At under 200 pages, Jose Sanchez’s “Pius XII and the Holocaust” is the best introduction to the burgeoning field of Pius XII studies yet in print. Sanchez has the rare ability to cut to the heart of complex questions in a highly readable fashion without sacrificing the historical nuances and ambiguities that make up real life, then and now.

Guided by Sanchez’s well-balanced, non-polemical approach, the reader learns to appreciate the cruelty of the choices almost daily thrust upon Pope Pius, a decent man who was charged with a sacred obligation to preserve the church in a time of regnant evil and who wished at the same time to help as many of the millions of suffering human beings as possible. Often, Sanchez shows, the pope had no good choices, but only ones that he hoped would be less harmful in the long run. One does not have to agree that all of Pope Pius’ choices were the right ones to come away with an understanding of him as a human being, neither demon nor angel, fated to live in an era of ambiguity.

Fisher is associate director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington.

Word to Life

Sunday Scripture Readings: July 28, 2002

July 28, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A Readings: 1) 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Psalm 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130 2) Romans 8:28-30 3) Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52

By DAN LUBY Catholic News Service At a class reunion he’d probably not be considered particularly successful. No house, no fancy cars, no stock portfolio. Outside a small circle of fellow artists and critics and patrons, he’s achieved no fame, never been featured in Newsweek, never had a one-man show at a killer London gallery, never been elevated to the status of “celebrity artist.” He’s never made a lot of money.

What he has done is to fashion for himself a livelihood and a life making wondrously intelligent and beautiful pieces of art with wax and smoke and wood and gesso and paint.

At every fork in the road there have been hard choices to make. For every “yes” to his artistic vocation there have been a dozen “nos.” To pursue the vision which has given him energy and perseverance and hope for more than three decades as

a working artist, he has had to leave behind the comfort of doing things the way everybody else does, the security of a more conventional career path, the rewards of always striving to meet the expectations of others.

And though these decisions have been painful and lonely at times, he wouldn’t have it any other way, so deeply does he love the art to which he has given himself.

I think of my artist friend when I hear the story of the jewelry merchant in Sunday’s Gospel who sells everything in order to possess one flawless pearl.

To give ourselves over to the vision Jesus lays out in his words and life of a kingdom of generosity and reconciliation, of enemies become friends, of sickness healed and broken hearts filled with joy — this is to make hard choices and to follow a sometimes lonely path.

In the end, though, this is the only path to truth and joy and communion.

QUESTIONS: If strangers observed my life, what would they conclude are my highest priorities? What is one way I can free up energy and resources in my life for pursuit of the kingdom?

Weekly Scripture Scripture for the week of July 28 - Aug. 3 Sunday (Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time), 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12, Romans 8:28-30, Matthew 13:44-52; Monday (St. Martha), Jeremiah 13:1-11, John 11:1927; Tuesday (St. Peter Chrysologus), Jeremiah 14:17-22, Matthew 13:36-43; Wednesday (St. Ignatius of Loyola), Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21, Matthew 13:44-46; Thursday (St. Alphonsus Liguori), Jeremiah 18:1-6, Matthew 13:47-53; Friday (St. Eusebius of Vercelli and St. Peter Julian Eymard), Jeremiah 26:1-9, Matthew 13:54-58; Saturday, Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24, Matthew 14:1-12 Scripture for the week of Aug. 4 - Aug. 10 Sunday (Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Isaiah 55:1-3, Romans 8:35, 37-39, Matthew 14:13-21; Monday (Dedication of St. Mary Major), Jeremiah 28:1-17, Matthew 14:13-21; Tuesday (Transfiguration of the Lord), Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, 2 Peter 1:16-19, Matthew 17:1-9; Wednesday (St. Sixtus and Companions, St. Cajetan), Jeremiah 31:1-7, Matthew 15:21-28; Thursday (St. Dominic), Jeremiah 31:31-34, Matthew 16:13-23; Friday, Nahum 2:1, 3; 3:1-3, 6-7, Matthew 16:24-28; Saturday (St. Lawrence), 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John

July 26, 2002

Entertain-

The Catholic News & Herald 15

The “Road to Perdition” is

By ANNE NAVARRO Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) — In director Sam Mendes’ gripping drama “Road to Perdition” (DreamWorks), a coldblooded hit man’s livelihood and past catch up with him, challenging the love he has for his family.

Mendes once again looks at dysfunctional families, as he did in his nihilistic directorial debut “American Beauty.” But in his sophomore effort, he digs deeper to unearth themes of filial love and family responsibility as well as betrayal and revenge.

Tom Hanks throws off his goodguy persona to anchor the film with a convincing performance as Michael Sullivan, a hit man working for John Rooney (Paul Newman), the gangster patriarch of the Irish mob in a small Illinois town in 1931. Newman proves he can still physically and verbally dominate the screen. He makes wickedness look almost dignified with his white hair, impeccably tailored suits and senatorial demeanor.

As the title implies, Sullivan is on the road to utter destruction. Both Sullivan and Rooney are forced to choose between their criminal careers and family life. Sullivan must protect his 12-year-old son from Rooney after the boy witnesses a murderous scene while Rooney shelters his oldest son Connor (Daniel Craig), a hot-headed, bitter young man jealous of his father’s affection for Sullivan.

The situation is complicated by the relationship between the two fathers.

After Sullivan’s parents died, Rooney became his adoptive father, nurturing and protecting him and bringing him into the family business, where he holds a respected place of honor.

Sullivan and Rooney each recognizes the wages of their own sins. While one is determined for his son’s sake that the violence must end, the other father perpetuates even more terrible violence to physically, not morally, save

his son.

The divisive morality tale is layered with regrets, bad decisions and a good dose of gruesome violence.

But also weaved in with the theme of betrayal is redemption, filial love and family responsibility.

Sullivan is a man who only takes a good look at his life when it is already too late. He is a man who does not take his Catholic faith to work with him, yet insists on saying grace before meals and carrying rosary beads in his gun pocket.

This split life he leads — devoted family man and deadly assassin — comes crashing down on him with one shockingly violent act, which embarks him on a journey of revenge with his eldest son Michael Jr. (Tyler Hoechlin). It is in this journey of selfdiscovery for both father and son that unconditional love is seen flowing both ways.

“Perdition” is an intriguing character study and an involving yarn. Its intense emotion and beauty is matched

by Mendes’ evocative visual tapestry. Moody lighting, inspired camera angles and rain-drenched atmospheric sets and locations drop the viewer smack in the middle of Depressionera Chicago where the name Capone is said with reverence.

Mendes does not let the audience off easy when it comes to the violence.

The camera is unflinching in capturing its ugly brutality, never glamorizing the crimes. And yet there is a certain strange beauty in seeing Hanks walk determinedly though puddles with a machine gun in his hands. And the bloodshed has horrific consequences that are shown in the same resolute manner.

Jude Law plays a perverted hired hit man with a penchant for memorializing his victims in a truly macabre fashion. From his dried, cracked lips and scummy teeth to his long dirty nails, Law is perfectly repulsive as he

CNS photo from Sony Pictures

Scene from movie ‘Stuart Little 2’ Stuart Little and Margalo become fast friends in the family comedy “Stuart Little 2.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. tests Sullivan’s talent as a killer and fugitive. Hoechlin is a true surprise, acting as the story’s observer and occasional narrator. Moments when his performance could have slipped into the sappy, Hoechlin is restrained and natural.

The straightforward revenge story is deceptively complicated. Based on the graphic novel written by Max Allan Collins and illustrated by Richard Piers Rayner, “Road to Perdition” briefly lightens up in the latter half, providing a respite from the darkness with some unconventional bank robberies.

But the laughs are only a momentary distraction from the heart of the story.

As Mendes examines moral decisions with generational repercussions, the actors’ nuanced performances stand out in a sea of popcorn summer movies.

“Road to Perdition” may be on the

road to the Oscars.

Due to some brutal scenes of violence with sporadic rough language and profanity, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted.

Navarro is on the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting.

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

July 26, 2002

Editorials & Col-

The Pope Speaks

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope arrives in Toronto, praises intelligence, hearts of young people

By John Thavis TORONTO (CNS) — Arriving in Toronto for World Youth Day celebrations, Pope John Paul II said the mega-gathering would help young people find spiritual direction in a world full of social and ethical tensions.

At a brief welcoming ceremony July 23 at Toronto’s airport, the pope praised the “gifts of intelligence and heart” that make young people the future of humanity.

But he warned that they were also affected by widespread conflict and injustice in the modern world.

“Too many lives begin and end without joy, without hope. That is one of the principal reasons for World Youth Day. Young people are coming together to commit themselves, in the strength of their faith in Jesus Christ, to the great cause of people and human solidarity,” he said.

His Canadian hosts had planned to lower the pope from his plane to the tarmac, but the pope decided instead to walk down the plane’s stairs, moving very slowly and held tightly by an aide. Then he was pushed on a wheeled platform into a hangar decorated with Canadian and Vatican flags.

For the 82-year-old pope, it was the start of one of the longer trips of his pontificate, an 11-day journey that will also take him to Guatemala and Mexico for canonization ceremonies.

His July 23-29 stay in Toronto was to feature three major World Youth Day events with young people aged 16-35: an official welcoming ceremony July 25, a prayer and music vigil July 27 and a closing Mass July 28.

Some 215,000 young people from more than 170 countries registered for World Youth Day, but organizers were hoping more than half a million would turn out for the final Mass in Downsview Park, a former military base in Toronto.

The pope, who suffers from arthritis of the knee and a nervous system disorder believed to be Parkinson’s disease, has slowed down considerably since the last World Youth Day celebration in Rome in 2000.

Aides roll him on a wheeled platform through crowds, he has cut back on his appearances and he takes a reduced role in many liturgical events.

But for two years, the pope has made it clear that he would not give up the chance to celebrate World Youth Day with the international gathering in Toronto. The pope instituted World Youth Day as an annual event in 1985; the international meeting is held every two or three years, and this is the eighth time the pope has traveled outside the Vatican to preside over it.

The Toronto encounter will be much smaller than last time, when 2 million young people traveled to Rome. One factor was the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which prompted new restrictions on global travel, higher air fares and apprehension among parents over their children’s travel. Some 3,000 youths were denied visas by Canadian authorities.

The largest non-Canadian contingent was represented by more than 52,000 youths from the United States, who arrived in more than 2,000 organized groups.

Things of the past and things that pass When my oldest son was 5, about a week before Christmas he made one request, offered in the saddest little-boy voice you could imagine: “All I really want for Christmas is a Pound Puppy.”

If you’re around my son’s age (he’s 19 now), you might remember what a Pound Puppy was: a sadlooking, flattened out, stuffed dog. Pound Puppies were all the rage for a while, but like all rages they eventually went out of fashion, leaving little kids clamoring for something else for Christmas.

Well, of course, my son got his Pound Puppy. He was just too pitiful to be denied.

Christopher lives away from home now, but on a recent visit he discovered that his old, beloved stuffed dog is still around — being hugged by his 15-month-old little brother. Christopher didn’t mind, being the generous fellow he is.

Seeing his Pound Puppy again, however, reminded him of his other childhood toys, and he told me of a recent conversation with friends in which they’d spent the good part of an evening recalling their favorites: Pound Puppies, Transformers, Masters of the Universe and so on.

I wasn’t surprised to hear about such a conversation taking place, even between a crew of pierced, tattooed, sports-minded “very cool guys.”

When I taught high school, I found that teens loved — really, really loved — talking about their childhood diversions, especially their favorite toys and cartoons.

It was kind of funny and sweet, to tell the truth, seeing these kids reminiscing like they were old geezers chatting about the good old days. I’ll bet you know how it is. You probably like to think about your old stuff too.

Why is that?

Teens may not be decades and decades old, but they still have pasts to think about, pasts that have brought them to where they are now. And for most teens, just like adults, the point they’re at now is full of a lot more pressures than years past were.

After all, when you were 10 you weren’t worrying about college. When you were 6 you didn’t have a job to

Working Matters JOANITA M. NELLENBACH Guest Columnist

to Florida to demand his “prize.” The company had done the minimum by printing all the information, but some of it so small as to be unreadable. Legal? Yes. Ethical?

Not likely.

Most of us aren’t likely to make millions, so this doesn’t really affect us, right? Wrong? Anyone can — little by little — adopt this technically-it’s-correct mentality.

It’s easy to rationalize. I can take a longer lunch break than authorized. They won’t miss me, and I’ve got these important things to do. Company pen slipped into my pocket? So what; the company has lots of pens.

Or how about faith life — yours and mine? You wouldn’t do it yourself, but have you ever heard anyone ask a priest if the wedding Mass they attended on Saturday afternoon “counts” for the Sunday “obligation”? How late can I be for Mass or how soon can I leave before the service is over and still say I attended Mass. How little can I pray and still think I have a relationship with God? Technicalities.

One way to avoid this is to take time for some “fine print” that doesn’t have anything to do with being technically correct. Listen to that little voice within. On Aug. 11, we’ll hear about Elijah in the cave. God isn’t in the wind or the earthquake; he’s in the “tiny whispering sound” (1 Kings 19:12) that told him what he must do.

That tiny sound can tell us, too.

Coming of Age AMY WELBORN CNS Columnist

go to or grades to keep up, and nobody made you feel as if every decision you made was going to have a potentially momentous effect on the dreaded rest of your life. And everyone was content to let you play rather than nag you about “responsibility.” Right?

No wonder you like thinking about those toys. No wonder (admit it) you don’t mind chilling out in front of a favorite cartoon once in a while — when you have time. Sure, you want to grow up, but thinking about the fun you had when you were a kid helps keep you in touch with that very important part of life — fun.

But thinking about all the old stuff should remind you of something else as well. Life goes on. What fascinates you today is probably going to fade in importance in the future. The external stuff that you think is vital and important right now — clothes, hair, music — probably is going to seem outdated, even childish, in 10 years or maybe less.

And once again, you’ll look back, just like you look back on your toys today. You’ll look back with fondness at the fun you had. You’ll look back in embarrassment at how lame it seems now.

But I hope you won’t look back in regret for paying too much attention to things that pass and not enough to other things — relationships, love, faith — that do not.

Technicalities Although I’ve never considered myself a slave to fashion, I’ve succumbed to the temptation to comment on the corporate falls from grace that we’re reading so much about.

It all seems to be happening at once, as if the Enron debacle opened the floodgates through which more and more companies are flowing. What’s going on?

Maybe it’s technicalities: If it’s within the letter of the law, it’s OK. Daniel Gross’s July 16 MSNBC column, “Give That CEO a Pay Raise,” describes how some companies pay their top executives only $1 million; the rest of the compensation is just perks like “restricted stock, performance bonuses, long-term incentive plans and stock-option grants.”

Gross, who writes about Wall Street, notes that Congress passed a law in the 1990s that “penalized companies that paid outsized salaries to their top five officers. ...But the measure excluded from the $1 million limit items that the Internal Revenue Service deems to be incentive-based or performance-based. As a result, the ban encouraged companies to funnel executive compensation into these murky areas, which are far more difficult for investors and the public to understand, and which are prone to abuse.”

A technicality: call the money something else, and it’s not really income. It’s legal, but is it ethical? And others are hurt, like those Enron employees who lost their jobs and their retirement plans.

Gross writes that, “Many companies that currently have no compunction about dishing out option grants worth $50 million would not dare to write $50 million checks to top executives. If Enron had disclosed that it paid Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay $30 million or $40 million salaries, investors and regulators would likely have raised red flags far earlier. And if Enron cut back on its lavish stock options, Skilling and Lay might not have used accounting trickery to boost the company’s share price.”

Another example: A few years ago a company sent out announcements that, “You’ve won $1 million.”

People thought they’d struck it rich. One man even flew

July 26, 2002

Editorials & Col-

Light One Candle MSGR. JIM LISANTE Guest Columnist

“The First Thing...”

I am a fan of old movies. I really enjoy seeing familiar favorites from Hollywood’s Golden Age. Recently, I was reminded of a wonderful film biography of Sister Elizabeth Kenny starring Rosalind Russell, which prompted a story about the famous nurse in the very first edition of our Three Minutes a Day book series. The story recounts one important even in the Australian nurse’s life.

When “Sister Kenny” (1946) was in production, the nurse was called in as a consultant. One day, she described to Russell just how she discovered her treatment for polio. Sister Elizabeth said that she had been summoned to a seven-year-old girl who lived far out in the lonely bush country. The child was in extreme pain, had a high fever and her leg and foot muscles were contracted.

Sister Kenny had never seen this particular combination of symptoms before. She quickly sent a rider to the nearest telegraph station 20 miles away with an urgent message for a doctor, asking his advice. Meanwhile, she spent the night comforting the child as best she could. At dawn the long awaited reply arrived: “The symptoms you describe indicate infantile paralysis. There is no known cure. Do the best you can.”

Sister Elizabeth was stunned. The case was virtually hopeless.

Is marriage preparation really all that important?

Q. A friend of mine is angry with her pastor for the way he treated her daughter and her daughter’s fiance, a Protestant. They told the priest they would like to be married in a local park, a popular place for marriages in our city. They were told they couldn’t do this.

They were also unhappy over the premarriage meetings they were expected to attend and questions they were asked about their intentions when they get married, which they considered too personal.

My friend says it’s no wonder young people are leaving the church when they are treated this way. Why couldn’t the rules be relaxed for couples like this? Are these actually church rules or just the pastor’s? (Ohio) A. From the information you give, what the pastor told the couple are not his personal rules. General church law requires that marriages between two Catholics, or a Catholic and another baptized person, be celebrated in a parish church unless the bishop gives permission for the ceremony elsewhere (Canon 1118).

Each diocese, yours included, provides some form of marriage preparation program, which is obligatory for all couples. Usually these include lecture-discussion sessions and a professional “inventory” to help the couple identify and understand their views and expectations about life together, finances, sexuality, in-laws, spiritual commitments and other elements critical for a healthy and strong marriage relationship.

Further questionnaires are filled out sometime before the wedding concerning their intentions for permanence and fidelity and children in their married life, their freedom to marry and other elements that could affect the validity of their marriage, usually not only in church law but in civil law as well.

In my pastoral experience I’ve not seen couples leave the church over things like this. Just the opposite. By far, most of them not only cooperate with these requirements, they appreciate them and are grateful the church wants seriously to help them deal with the awesome forces in society that threaten to undermine their hopes and ideals.

At this point Russell, who was preparing to portray Sister Elizabeth on the screen, interrupted: “What did you do? What was the first thing you thought of? Did you tear up a blanket for the hot packs?”

“No,” Sister Elizabeth replied. “The first thing I did was kneel down and say a prayer.”

I love this story because it demonstrates the most sensible approach to problems I think any one of us could have. Sister Kenny (who, by the way, was not a nun, but received that title or rank when she served as a nurse during World War I) asked for help — first from a doctor who she assumed would have the answer to guide her. When it became clear that he not only didn’t have a remedy, but that one did not exist, she turned to God. She trusted God to help her help another.

What she couldn’t know was that she would invent a therapy that would help people around the world at a time when no cure existed for a devastating and dreaded disease. She decided to simply treat the symptoms in what seemed to be a simple, logical way using hot, moist applications in conjunction with passive exercise.

Living now in an age when the Salk and Sabine vaccines prevent the spread of polio, it’s hard to understand the fear of epidemics that sent shockwaves of fear through many communities. But what I find most intriguing about Kenny’s work was that it was an effort to deal with a difficult situation in a straightforward way.

When most of us confront problems we are rarely able to just make them just go away. We cannot cure the pain of day-to-day living nor can we always prevent hurtful and harmful situations from arising. What we can do is deal with life’s problems using the reason and the abilities God has given us.

The doctor who responded to Sister Elizabeth got it right: “Do the best you can.”

Just don’t forget to start with a prayer.

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN CNS Columnist

These regulations reflect the fact that our buildings of prayer and worship are holy places where the most sacred events — and the celebration of the sacrament of marriage is one — should take place; and that the church is obliged to support couples in every way possible to prepare for, and live in, a good and faithful Christian marriage.

Church law (Canon 1063) binds pastors to assist all the faithful of that faith community in preserving and increasing the holiness of Christian marriage. One way they are to do this is to provide instructions for brides and grooms before their marriage concerning the holiness and meaning of marriage, and be sure these truths are reflected in the wedding liturgy.

Interestingly, as I received your question, I happened to note in your own diocesan newspaper a letter to the editor responding to a previous letter similar to yours. The woman’s comments are worth repeating.

“Maybe if more young people saw marriage as the sacrament it is rather than a rite of passage that entitles them to a priest and a church whenever they desire them, they wouldn’t feel ‘pushed’ from the Catholic Church.

“I won’t deny that sometimes things don’t go as well as planned between the priest and the engaged couple due to personality conflicts and previously conceived notions. But I do not feel the majority of priests nor the church deserve the bad rap they get because things didn’t go the way the couple or their family specify.”

The Catholic News & Herald 17

Family Reflections ANDREW & TERRI LYKE Guest Columnists The past guides the future Preserving family stories through various media is important. Through letters, diaries, journals, photographs, audiotape, old 8-milimeter and 16-milimeter film and videotape, legacies are unfolded. Every now and then the family archivist or “griot” (every family should have one) blows the dust off the treasure chest (photo album, or any place where such media are stored), and revisits places of the family’s past. They do this not just for nostalgia’s sake but to uncover old stories that, perhaps because of current circumstances, might have new meanings and new lessons to teach us today.

It’s all about remembering. Father Donald Senior of Catholic Theological Union said, “At the heart of sin is the loss of memory.” Author James Carroll said, “Memory is the human faculty that gives shape to experience. Memory provides the narrative structure by which we uncover meaning. Memory is the source of knowledge, understanding and wisdom. Memory imparts compassion ... Memory makes visible what is otherwise unseen. Thus memory is the fountain of biblical belief. For, as the form of the Scriptures themselves attest, God leaves traces of history that can be recognized as such only after the fact.”

Family stories, as with the biblical narratives, communicate to us meaning about life. It is a process of narrative that the oral tradition uses to shape events of our ancestry, our childhood — the old stories — into sacred memories.

When we record these memories to preserve them we are using the process of memoir.

Peter Gilmour, in “The Wisdom of Memoir” says this: “Narrative serves as a form of knowing, and memoir emerges as a postmodern sacrament. Viewing narrative and memoir this way offers new perspectives on who is a theologian and what constitutes theology ... Writers of implicitly religious memoirs have the ability to recognize the sacred in the secular and to express it in ordinary, everyday terms.”

Your family archivists or griots have the important role of preserving and retelling the old stories, and uncovering and telling new stories as revealed from the relics of the past. When in their search they discover sacred traces of history — God in their midst — they must express it in the “ordinary, everyday terms” of family life. For it is in those stories that we learn who we are, and whose we are, and how we are to live.

Questions for reflection: — Who are the archivists or griots of your family?

— How has God left traces of history that you have recognized in an old photo, or other media?

— When has an old family story taken on new meaning to serve a current need?

1 8 The Catholic News & Herald

Media Attention, from page 1 viding the youngster with toys, food and a male presence they might not have in their life.

“You have to be very careful,” said Roussey, a father of five, adding that pedophiles go to places such as public bathrooms, parks, beaches and stadiums to stake out and pick up kids. He advises parents to screen day care centers, never leave their young children unattended and get to know the people to whom they entrust their children.

“You just have to know what’s going on in your kid’s life,” he said.

While pedophiles attempt to blend into society, they live in what Roussey calls a “reversed world,” constantly thinking about their victims.

Roussey said child abuse has been around since the beginning of time, but for many years legal authorities deemed abuse a private, family issue. The first known reported case of abuse in the United States came in 1866.

The American Federation of Animal and Child Rescue became the first organization willing to confront abuse and to look out for young people’s safety. Now law enforcement, departments of social services and legal authorities work together to protect children.

It is illegal in the United States to possess or distribute child pornography, including via e-mail or on the Internet.

ClassiEMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: New Catholic Miscellany. Duties include editing, page design, photography & collaboration with freelance writers. Must be detailed oriented, conscientious of deadlines & willing to travel. Journalism degree desired, 3-5 year’s experience using AP style, QuarkXpress & Adobe Photoshop required. Knowledge of Catholicism a must. Excellent benefits. Send resume with minimum salary requirement, nonreturnable clips & photos to: Human Resources, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407.

COMMUNITY BASED SPECIALIST: Fulltime (12:30-9pm). Working one-on-one with specific residents carrying out treatment according to the resident’s Individual Program Plan.

Excellent Benefits. Work every other weekend.

Requirements: BA or BS degree. Prefer Human Services related with 2 years’ previous experience in Developmental Disabilities. Holy Angels, 6600 Wilkinson Blvd., Belmont, NC, info@holyangelsnc.org,(704)825-4161. Fax(704)825-0553.

DIRECTOR OF FAITH FORMATION: Holy Redeemer Parish, located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The candidate must be a practicing Catholic and possess at least a bachelor’s degree in theology or religious education; will have responsibility for parish Faith Formation program for grades K-5, sacramental preparation, RCIA, adult education, and other programs and events relating to these areas; will work closely with Youth/Young Adult Minister. Knowledge of Spanish helpful. Please send resume to: Faith Formation Search Committee, Holy Redeemer Church, PO Box 510, Kitty Hawk, NC 27949.

DIRECTOR OF MISSION ADVANCEMENT: Excellent opportunity for experienced grant writer familiar with Catholic doctrine and Catholic school environment, annual appeal process and marketing. Must be self-motivated, service minded, able to interact professionally with diverse populace, and travel frequently within SC. Excellent benefits with lucrative paid time off. Qualified applicants fax resume with salary history to HR 843-402-9071 or mail to Human Resources, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407.

July 26, 2002

In the Only pedophiles enjoy child pornography, Roussey said. The children used in the material are not volunteers but have been sold, kidnapped or abused. Engaging in sex either by force or with a minor is illegal in the United States.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates nearly 300,000 people who have committed sexual assault or rape are under the care, custody or control of corrections agencies in the United States.

Nearly 60 percent of these sex offenders are under conditional supervision in the community.

The median age of the victims of imprisoned sexual assaulters is less than 13 years old.

Sexual child abuse cases are tough to prosecute, Roussey said, because the victims do not make good witnesses in court. Testifying often traumatizes children further, they get scared and some have not even learned to talk yet, he pointed out. Older children are naturally embarrassed to talk about their experiences in public. So the Baltimore Police Department first builds its cases around forensic evidence, relying on the trail a molester will leave behind.

Roussey, who worked undercover to arrest many pedophiles, offers three words of simple advice to anyone who suspects a child is being abused.

“Check it out,” he said, for it is better to do so, and be wrong, than to do nothing.

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRY: Full-time position,1500-family Catholic parish near Charlotte.

Responsible for five weekend liturgies plus holy days, weddings, and funerals. Adult choir, contemporary choir, cantors, instrumentalists, and handbell choirs.

Rogers electronic organ, Yamaha upright piano, and Clavinova digital pianos, two-octave set of Malmark handbells. Ideal candidate is a practicing Catholic with music degree and experience, music performance skill (organ/piano/voice), choral and cantor skills, knowledge of Catholic liturgical music. Salary commensurate with experience. Full benefits.

Send resumes to Music Search, Saint Therese Parish, 217 Brawley School Road, Mooresville, NC 28117.

Phone:(704) 664-3992; Fax:(704)660-6321; email: jbarnes@sainttherese.net DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT: The Diocesan Office of Development has an opening for a full-time director of development for Catholic Schools. The candidate must be a college graduate with a degree in marketing, communications or related field. Appropriate experience in fund raising and marketing may be substituted for education. Must have ability to use computer software.

Responsibilities include managing 2 annual giving campaigns, handling all aspects of production of newsletters and annual reports, and serving as liaison to 2 regional school foundation boards. Please submit resume by July 31, 2002 to: Jim Kelley, Office of Development, 1123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203-4003.

PRINCIPAL: Asheville Catholic School, an interparochial school of 250 students in the mountains of western North Carolina with programs from pre-K through eighth grade, seeks a dynamic, innovative leader to work with an established staff in our SACS accredited elementary program. Candidate must be a practicing Catholic with a strong commitment to Catholic education in the spirit of Vatican II. Candidate must have at least a master’s degree in education or educational administration and experience in elementary administration, preferably in a Catholic school. Generous benefit package and salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Resumes and references accepted through August 15. Position available in January 2003. Please send materials to: Principal Search, 12 Culvern St., Asheville, NC 28804.

RN-MANAGER: Full-time/part-time, 2nd Shift (311:30pm, Mon-Fri).

Supervise care and treatment of children/adults with Mental Retardation/ Development Disabilities in residential setting. Re-

Ultreyas to take place in CHARLOTTE — Churches in the Charlotte area will be hosting ultreyas on the following dates and times: St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., from 7-8 p.m. Aug. 8 for adults only with shared snacks; St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther

Rd., from 1:15-2 p.m. on Aug. 18 with a School of Leaders at 1 p.m. and St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Pkwy., from 1:30-3 p.m. on Aug. 25 with childcare and a family potluck.

For more information, call Dan Hines at (704) 544-6665.

Classified ads bring results! Over 116,000 readers! Over 48,000 homes!

Rates: $.50/word per issue ($10 minimum per issue) Deadline: 12 noon Wednesday, 9 days before publication How to order: Ads may be E-mailed to ckfeerick@charlottediocese.org, faxed to (704) 370-3382 or mailed to: Cindi Feerick, The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203.

Payment: For information, call (704) 370-3332.

quired: supervisory and previous pediatric and/or acute care experience.

Excellent benefits. Holy Angels, Belmont, NC, (704)825-4161 Fax:(704)825-0553. info@holyangelsnc.org STAFF WRITER: The Catholic News & Herald seeks a staff writer with the ability to move easily between news and poignant feature writing. Successful candidate will also possess photography skills, an understanding of AP style, experience in a PC environment and a degree in journalism, or comparable experience. Knowledge of Catholicism. Must be available to travel within Western North Carolina.

Good benefits package. Send resume, non-returnable clips [and photography samples] to: Staff Writer Position, PO Box 34267, Charlotte, NC 28237 or email jskeane@charlottediocese.org. Closing date for applications August 30.

TEACHERS: Energetic teachers needed. St. Michael’s School in Gastonia, NC is accepting applications for a certified 5th grade teacher, and a certified middle school language arts or math teacher. Come be a part of a 60-year tradition teaching in a small, caring environment. Contact our office at (704)8654382 for an application and more information.

TEACHERS: Our Lady of Grace School, Greensboro, is presently accepting applications for Middle School Language Arts and Grade One teaching positions. Please call the school office to receive a teacher application at (336) 275-1522. All interested applicants must have a teaching certificate or be in the process of becoming certified.

YOUTH MINISTER, HIGH SCHOOL: wanted for vibrant 4,500-family suburban Atlanta parish: Sunday evening Mass and program (currently Life Teen); also teen O.C.I.A., retreats, adult leader formation, confirmation preparation, and cooperation with

colleagues to oversee entire parish catechetical effort. Collaborative skills a must; degree in religious education or related field or comparable experience required; Spanish language facility a plus.

Full-time position available immediately. Salary commensurate with qualifications. Send resume and references to: Business Manager, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 535 Rucker Road, Alpharetta, GA 30004; fax (770) 772-0355.

COMPUTER SUPPORT Get your college student prepared to succeed - computer moms can help them learn to do research online, use a Palm Pilot or Pocket PC, become proficient in Microsoft programs. Shopping assistance for back-to-school computers is also available. In Metro Charlotte call 888-447-3666.

ROOMMATE Wanted: Female roommate. Private bedroom and bath. Share kitchen. Close to 485 in Union county. References required. Spanish-speaking a plus. (704) 882-9326.

July 26, 2002

The Catholic News & Herald 19

2 0 The Catholic News & Herald

July 26, 2002

Living the

Woman religious fulfills childhood dream to enter Mercy

By ALESHA M. PRICE Staff Writer ROSMAN — As Jacqueline Dewar rode her bike back and forth to daily Mass as a child, she thought about her future. While most children do not have a clue as to what they will do as an adult, she knew at age 10 that she would become a woman religious after she graduated high school. That thought remained in the forefront of her mind until she entered the convent in 1956.

She learned about being Catholic from her parents’ steadfast devotion to their religion. Her father owned a tool-and-dye company in Lexington, Mich.; her mother stayed home to take care of their five girls and also helped her husband with his business. Her father, a convert, sang in the church choir and brought his children to Catholic elementary school and Saturday reconciliation.

“I enjoyed school; we had the Sisters of Mercy who were very good teachers. I decided to become a sister because of their influence,” said Sister Jacqueline, who would walk quickly to the convent to carry their lunch and books to school. “They were mysterious because they were all covered up.

You didn’t know much about them, but they were always so good to us. I can remember sitting at my desk, and the sisters would walk down the aisle and cover us with their veils sometimes. It made me feel holy.”

Throughout her teen years, Dewar prepared to enter the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse in Detroit and did not receive a class ring because she knew she was not going to use it. Her parents, disappointed that their oldest daughter was leaving, told her that she was welcome at home whenever she wanted to return.

“I loved it (convent life),” said Sister Jacqueline. “Looking back, it was hard, but I didn’t know any different.

That’s the way we were in those days; we didn’t question everything. It was very rigid because we got up early and went to pray. We ate, went to work and prayed at noon and at night; we took classes during the day.”

She was confident that she was where God wanted her to be, so she was content in her new environment.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Mercy College of Detroit, now the University of Detroit Mercy, and her master’s degree in elementary reading in 1970 from the University of Dayton in Ohio. She

taught kindergarten through eighth grade and high school faith formation and did mission work after professing final vows in 1964. She thoroughly enjoyed teaching and derived satisfaction at watching the students work through the learning process.

Education was a constant in her life as she moved 12 times over a 16year period. During this time, Vatican II came barreling around the corner.

Much to Sister Jacqueline’s delight, the habits were shortened, and other modifications changed their community dramatically.

“I think we became more ‘human.’ I welcomed the changes with open arms, but it was hard that first time,” she remembered. “After that, it was great; however, it was harder for the older sisters because we all had to change on the same day.”

She eventually moved into school administration, serving as a principal for several years during the early ’70s.

After a sabbatical and a few years of parish work, in 1983, she was sent to the rural area of Rosman in Western North Carolina to help with a new clinic. Even though she had no experience in the medical field, she was eager to begin working in her new ministry.

“I had been wanting to work with the poor because I felt that’s what Jesus did. Wealthy and middle-class people can get what they want, but the poor don’t have a lot of options. I wanted to bring some of those options to the poor,” said Sister Jacqueline.

Sister Jacqueline and Mercy Sister Gretchen Hermanny, M.D., began the Frances Warde Health Service, with Sister Jacqueline as the business manager. That title translates into the handywoman, cleaning staff, receptionist and file clerk all rolled into one. The clinic, named after the leader of the first group of Mercy Sisters to come to the U.S., provides basic medical care for many low-income people in the area.

“There are a lot of doctors in the area, but there are many people who are poor and many who would not get health care if we weren’t here,” she said.

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

Come & bring your neighbors to an

Old Fashion Tent Revival! “ Revival of the Spirit 2002: Do You Know My Jesus? ” with Rev. R. Tony Ricard, New Orleans, Revivalist

Friday, August 16 through Sunday, August 18 Our Lady of Consolation, 2301 Statesville Avenue, Charlotte, NC

F E A T U R I N G

Performances by The Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir Our Lady of Consolation Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC Pinn Memorial Baptist Church Gospel Choir Philadelphia, PA

S C H E D U L E

Friday, August 16

6:30 p.m.

Music by The Perpetual Hope Gospel Choir 7:30 p.m.

Preaching by Fr. Tony Ricard

Saturday, August 17

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Old Fashion Fish Fry

5:30 p.m.

Concert by Pinn Memorial Baptist Church Gospel Choir 7:00 p.m.

Preaching by Fr. Tony Ricard Music by Pinn Memorial Baptist Church Gospel Choir

Sunday, August 18

11:00 a.m.

Liturgy and Closing Mass with Fr. Tony Ricard Music by the combined Gospel choirs

For information, call Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd

(704) 370-3339

Sponsored by the African American Affairs Ministry, Diocese of Charlotte