Aug. 5, 2005

August 5, 2005

The Catholic News & Herald 1

www.charlottediocese.org

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

Year of the Eucharist

Mystery of the Mass, Part 21; Synod document on the Eucharist

| Page 7

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI August 5, 2005

Supreme Catholics

Though few in number, Catholics have lengthy history on high

by PATRICIA ZAPOR catholic news service

WASHINGTON — If Judge John G. Roberts is confirmed for a seat on the Supreme Court, he will become one of the historically small number of Catholic justices — the first of whom joined the court as its chief justice in 1836, more than 50 years after the court was established.

Roberts, a federal appeals judge for the District of Columbia, was nominated July 19 to fill the vacancy created by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s retirement. Roberts graduSee COURT, page 5

On-time delivery

Msgr. Kovacic rescued by UPS driver by

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

Outside in the ‘house of God’ Outdoor Mass welcomes migrants, celebrates culture by

JOANITA M. NELLENBACH correspondent

BETHEL — Under the trees, out of the hot sun, the breeze is cool. It’s early evening July 17. On this day, when the Gospel reading tells of a farmer sowing his fields (Matthew 13:24-43), people are setting up for Mass in a farmworker camp.

The altar cloth covering the folding table is a serape in bright red, yellow, blue, pink and green stripes.

Nearby a shaggy white dog in a pen jumps about and watches as someone places a plastic container of white Queen Anne’s lace flowers on the ground in front of the altar.

Augustinian Father Robert See MASS, page 13

Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

Augustinian Father Robert Dueweke accepts offertory gifts, including cucumbers from the nearby fields, and the offertory collection during an outdoor Mass to welcome migrant farmworkers in Bethel, N.C., July 17.

TOM STOCKER

Hu to the rescue

special to the catholic news & herald

BELMONT — Msgr. Anthony Kovacic seems to have an angel riding on his shoulder. Or at least on his delivery route.

The angel is Cathey Deal, a UPS driver who is attributed by emergency room doctors with saving the 85-year-old retired priest’s life July 19.

Msgr. Kovacic, former pastor at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, now lives See KOVACIC, page 16

no. 38

vOLUME 14

St. Mark School student saves boy from drowning by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

Photo by Karen A. Evans

John Hu, a rising sixth grader at St. Mark School in Huntersville, saved a 4-year-old boy from drowning at a local water park this summer.

HUNTERSVILLE — For most kids, the most exciting thing they wil do this summer may be learning to roller blade or do a back flip off the diving board. But for John Hu, his summer kicked off with probably the most exciting thing he

will ever do in his entire life — saving a young boy from possibly drowning.

It was a sunny day June 8 at the Kannapolis Recreation Park and John’s day care group from Huntersville Presbyterian Church was finishing a morning of swimming and playing See HERO, page 9

Developing success

Culture Watch

Perspectives

Development director wins award; new staffers to help diocese, schools

Deacon’s joke book provides humor for clergy

Potter’s PR spell; the high court and same-sex marriages

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| Page 14

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2 The Catholic News & Herald

InBrief

August 5, 2005

Current and upcoming topics from around the world to your own backyard

Late pope confers title of knighthood on rabbi PITTSBURGH (CNS) — In an honor rarely conferred on people of other faiths, Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl invested Rabbi Walter Jacob, rabbi emeritus of Rodef Shalom Congregation, into the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

The knighthood was granted through the late Pope John Paul II. The ceremony in mid-June formed part of a daylong tribute to Rabbi Jacob celebrating his 50 years of service to Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood and his 75th birthday.

Rabbi Jacob has long been a leader in Reform Judaism, which stresses the use of the vernacular in religious services and encourages social interaction and interfaith efforts. He is also former president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis and has received honorary degrees for his contributions.

Detailing the Bible

Diocesan planner BOONE VICARIATE

CNS photo by Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic

Muralist Marianne Savage adds detail to an image from the Book of Exodus in the parish center corridor at St. John Nepomucene Church in Bohemia, N.Y. Savage, the parish secretary, is painting a mural depicting scenes from the Bible along the upper section of the corridor walls, which total 250 feet in length. She began the art project in July 2004 and expects to apply the finishing touches in September 2006.

Muralist brings Bible stories to life on walls of parish BOHEMIA, N.Y. (CNS) — The main corridor in the parish center of St. John Nepomucene Church in Bohemia will never be confused with the Sistine Chapel, but an ambitious art project is creating a buzz among parishioners and others who come to the one-story brick building.

“It’s astonishing,” Father James Wood, pastor, said of a multicolored mural depicting Bible stories that is being created on the upper portion of the corridor walls, which are 250 feet in length.

“People who see it are touched by it,” he said. “They bring their friends to take a look at it.”

The masterpiece-in-the-making is the work of parish secretary Marianne Savage, who applied the first stroke of acrylic paint to her cement canvas in July 2004. Savage, who expects to put the finishing touches on the project in September 2006, is approaching the midway point and hopes to have the Old Testament scenes completed by late summer.

A Genesis-inspired image depicting the beginning of the universe is the first 27-inch-high panel. From there, the vivid Scripture timeline wraps around a corner and seamlessly moves down the building that houses classrooms for religious education and meeting space for a variety of

parish ministries.

While some might find such a project daunting, Savage finds peace and enjoyment in it.

During a typical week, Savage spends Monday through Thursday working in the parish office. On Friday she grabs her paintbrushes and acrylic paints and heads for the hallway, where she climbs a six-foot aluminum ladder to begin painting. She works on the mural from about 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“I visualize the scenes in my head before I sketch them out,” said Savage, who gets her ideas from reading the Bible, scanning faith-themed children’s books and reviewing clips from Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 film classic, “The Ten Commandments.”

The goal of her mural project, Savage said, goes beyond brightening up the drab walls of a hallway. She wants her artwork to stir interest in the Word of God. “I’m hoping (the mural) will be a learning tool, that it will encourage children and adults to open the Bible,” Savage said. “If they’re intrigued by what they see, chances are they will look it up and read more about it. It’s my way of introducing God to other people through the gift he gave me. It’s my way of ‘giving back’ that gift.”

SPARTA — St. Frances of Rome Church, Hendrix and Highlands Rds., sponsors the Oratory of Divine Love Prayer Group in the parish house the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 1 p.m. Call (336) 372-8846 for more information.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE MINT HILL — A Pax Christi Peace Vigil will mark the 60th Anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Aug. 6 at 4:30 pm at St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Rd. We will gather and pray at the Peace Pole, in the garden near the front entrance to the church. Please consider joining us as we remember these events and pray “Never again.” For more information, call MarieMichele Darcy, Pax Christi coordinator, at (704) 556-1215.

CHARLOTTE — The Society of Mary and Martha meets the third Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd. For more information, call Peggy Pohlheber at (704) 588-7311.

CHARLOTTE — The Young Adult Faith Reflection group meets at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 6828 Old Reid Rd., the first and third Mondays of each month. The group will read “The Faith Explained,” 3rd edition, by Leo J. Trese and a chapter will be covered every meeting. For more information call Jordan (704) 737-1964 or Ryan at (704) 377-1328.

The papal honor, Bishop Wuerl said, “is an acknowledgment by the church of the personal character and honorable reputation, together with the generous use of personal talents and gifts for the good of the church, the faith and the good of the wider community of all of God’s children.”

“While the Jewish community is recognizing Rabbi Walter Jacob for his half-century of service, we want to salute him for the collaboration that he has fostered, and particularly to recognize the tradition of dialogue he supports and sustains out of which deeper respect and understanding have developed between the Jewish and Catholic communities,” the bishop said.

In honor of his work, Rabbi Jacob was named a grand commander of the Order of the Republic of Germany, and Austria has issued a postage stamp in his honor.

CHARLOTTE — Healing Hearts, a support group for people coping with the death of a spouse, meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 11:30 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of St Gabriel Church, 3016 Rd. For more information, contact Sister Therese Galligan, facilitator, at (704) 362-5047, ext. 216.

MINT HILL — G.E.M.S. Daily is a prayer/ support group for mothers of children with disabilities. The group meets the second Wednesday of each month, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at St. Luke Church, 13700 Lawyers Rd., to share concerns, praise and prayers. For details, call Michelle Roth at (704) 321-1717.

CHARLOTTE —The Young Widowed Group meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the Fellowship Hall of St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. For more information, contact facilitator Sister Therese Galligan at (704) 362-5047, ext. 216.

CHARLOTTE — The 50+ Club of St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Rd., meets the second Wednesday of each month at 11 a.m. with a program and lunch in the parish hall. For reservations and more information, call Lucille at (704) 537-2l89.

CHARLOTTE — New Creation Monastery invites you to a day of silence and solitude in the presence of Almighty God. The monastery offers private spiritual retreats for lay people.

Write to Father John Vianney Hoover at New Creation Monastery, 11517 Spreading Oak Ln. Charlotte, NC 28226, stating why you want to go on retreat and when. For more information, call (704) 541-5026.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE

August 5, 2005 Volume 14 • Number 38

Publisher: Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Editor: Kevin E. Murray Staff Writer: Karen A. Evans Graphic Designer: Tim Faragher Advertising manager: Cindi Feerick Secretary: Deborah Hiles 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 $23 per year for all other subscribers. The Catholic News & Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason deemed appropriate. We do not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

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The Catholic News & Herald 3

August 5, 2005

FROM THE VATICAN

Pre-Vatican II Latin Mass to be celebrated during World Youth the Tridentine Mass.

“We have made it explicit to WYD authorities that we expect our liturgical identity to be recognized and indeed welcomed,” said a statement from the group.

Officials at the Pontifical Council for the Laity confirmed July 22 that the World Youth Day celebration is open to all Catholic youths; those operating under the special terms of “Ecclesia Dei” are not excluded.

A Juventutem press release said Cardinals E. Francis George of Chicago and Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, will address the group in Cologne and will lead the pilgrimage members in prayer.

Australian Cardinal George Pell of Sydney will celebrate vespers and Benediction with them, it said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Apparently for the first time in the history of World Youth Day, young Catholics dedicated to the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass and devotions will have Vaticanapproved opportunities to pray with the old liturgies.

Organizers of the “Juventutem” pilgrimage said they expect at least 2,000 young people from 20 countries to join their World Youth Day activities Aug. 10-15 in and around Dusseldorf, Germany, before moving to Cologne for the international gathering with Pope Benedict XVI. The movement brings together youth groups from a variety of parishes and organizations operating under the terms of “Ecclesia Dei,” Pope John Paul II’s 1988 norms for maintaining union with the Catholic Church while using

GREENSBORO — The music ministry of St. Pius X Church will perform an Outdoor Concert to celebrate the church’s 25th anniversary since breaking ground on the current church building.

The concert will begin at 5 p.m. on the soccer field near the church, 2210 N. Elm St. Please feel free to bring a blanket and picnic dinner.

For more information, call the church office at (336) 272-4681.

which is open to the community. For further information, contact Sandy Beauchemin, court regent, at (828) 585-1136.

GREENSBORO — If you have a special need for prayers, or would like to offer your time in prayer for others’ needs, please call the Prayer Chain at Our Lady of Grace Church. The Prayer Chain is a sizable group committed to praying for your needs and the needs of your family and friends on a daily basis. To request a prayer or to participate in the Prayer Chain, call the church office at (336) 274-6520, ext. 10 and leave your name, address and phone number.

GUILFORD COUNTY — The Ancient Order of Hibernians Guilford County Division, the oldest and largest order of Irish Catholic men, is looking for more Irish Catholic men to join them for meetings, educational seminars and social events. Contact Michael Slane at (336) 665-9264 for time and location.

SALISBURY VICARIATE MOORESVILLE — Seniors ages 55 and up are invited to St. Therese Church, 217 Brawley School Rd., the second Saturday of each month following the 5:30 Mass for Senior Games Night, featuring games and a potluck dinner.

Call Barbara Daigler at (704) 662-9752 for details.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE BRYSON CITY — Court St. Mary, Mother of God No. 2534, of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, will meet Aug. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph Church, 316 Main St. Father Shawn O’Neal will be guest speaker at the meeting,

Episcopal

calendar

MAGGIE VALLEY — A one-day workshop, “Inactive Catholics: Who Are They and How Can We Reach Them?” will be presented Aug. 13, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Living Waters Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Ln. Paulist Father Robert Rivers will be the presenter. There are no fees for the conference.

Advanced registration is requested by calling (828) 926-0106 or e-mail lwcrc@ main.nc.us.

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE WINSTON-SALEM — Want to follow the Church’s teaching on contraception? Learn Natural Family Planning with the Couple to Couple League. Its philosophy is in full accord with Catholic teaching and the method is healthy and as effective as the Pill with none of the side effects. A four-part series of classes will begin Aug. 21, at 1:30 p.m. at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. Classes will meet once a month. Please call Todd and Stephanie Brown at (336) 7652909 for more information and to register.

Divorced Catholics must be welcomed in parishes, pope tells VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Divorced and civilly remarried Catholics who suffer because they cannot receive Communion must be welcomed in parishes as Catholics who witness to the importance of the Eucharist, Pope Benedict XVI said.

At the same time, he said, if a priest, acting out of compassion for their suffering, gives them the Eucharist, he risks undermining the dignity and indissolubility of the sacrament of marriage.

“We all know that this is a particularly painful situation,” the pope said July 25 during a meeting with about 140 priests, religious and deacons from the Valle d’Aosta region where he was vacationing.

The pope added that he knew the issue could get complicated and said, “Given these people’s situation of suffering it must be studied.”

Asked about ministry to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics, Pope Benedict told the priests, “None of us has a ready-made solution, because each person’s situation is different.”

“I would say that a particularly painful situation is that of those who were married in the church, but were not really believers and did so just for tradition, and then finding themselves in a new, nonvalid marriage, convert, find the faith and feel excluded from the sacrament,” he said.

Pope Benedict said that when he was prefect of the Congregation for the Doc-

trine of the Faith he asked several bishops’ conferences and experts to study the problem, which in effect was “a sacrament celebrated without faith.”

Pope Benedict said that Catholics must keep two things in mind: First, that even if divorced and civilly remarried Catholics cannot receive the Eucharist, they are part of the church and are loved

by Christ; and second, that suffering out of love for God and for the church is “a noble suffering.”

While participating at Mass without receiving Communion is not optimal, he said, “it is not nothing; it is involvement in the mystery of the cross and resurrection of Christ.”

“Given that it is the sacrament of the passion of Christ, the suffering Christ embraces these persons in a special way and communicates with them in a different way,” he said. “They can feel embraced by the crucified Lord who falls to the earth and dies and suffers for them and with them.”

Priests and parishioners must share the suffering of those excluded from the Eucharist, he said, but they cannot act in a way that casts doubt on the unbreakable bond of sacramental marriage.

“In the end, faith is simple and rich: We believe that God exists, that God is important. But what God? A God with a face, a human face. A God who reconciles, who defeats hatred and gives the strength of peace which no one else can give,” he said.

Praying for rain

WINSTON-SALEM — The Healing Companions is a grief support group for the bereaved that meets the first and third Thursdays of the month in conference room B at St. Leo the Great Church, 335 Springdale Ave. For further details, call Joanne Parcel at (336) 924-9478.

CNS photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic

Is your parish or school sponsoring a free event open to the general public? Please submit notices for the Diocesan Planner at least 15 days prior to the event date in writing to Karen A. Evans at kaevans@ charlottediocese.org or fax to (704) 370-3382.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events:

Mike Yankauskas, a farmer from Knox, Ind., examines a corn crop that should be towering over his head.

He checked the crop following a brief rainfall July 20 that resulted in 0.4 inches of moisture. Yankauskas, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Knox, said his crops needed 2 inches of rain each week from July 1 to the end of August. This season’s heat and dryness has damaged the silk found on the corn and proper pollination was not occurring.

Pastoral Assignments

Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte has appointed two new vicars forane, effective July 22, 2005:

Aug. 13 — 50th Anniversary Celebration St. Ann Church, Charlotte

Aug. 19— Dedication of Renovated Church St. Lucien Church, Spruce Pine

Msgr. Anthony Marcaccio, pastor of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, as vicar forane for the Greensboro Vicariate.

Aug. 15 — Priests and Seminarians Gathering Bishop’s Residence, Charlotte

Aug. 20 — Fiesta con Jesus Charlotte Merchandise Mart, Charlotte

Father John D. Hanic, pastor of St. John Baptist de la Salle in North Wilkesboro and St. Stephen Church in Elkin, as vicar forane for the Boone Vicariate.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

God’s helpers

around the diocese

Three from diocese to serve as overseas missionaries CHARLOTTE — Three members of the Diocese of Charlotte are taking their first steps toward serving as lay missionaries.

Bill Eppler, a parishioner of St. Matthew Church in Charlotte, and Aaron and Tara Condon, parishioners of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, are moving to Los Angeles, Calif., in August for a four-month formation program with the Lay Mission-Helpers Association.

The program consists of classes in Scripture, mission theology, spirituality, communication and cross-cultural issues.

Once it is completed, the three will be commissioned in December and receive their mission rings, engraved with “For

we are God’s helpers.”

They then will be assigned to serve for three years in overseas missions beginning January 2006.

The Lay Mission-Helpers Association was founded in 1955 by Msgr.

Anthony Brouwers. Since its founding, the association has sent more than 700 men, women and families to serve in 36 countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific.

WANT MORE INFO? For more information on the Lay Mission-Helpers Association, visit www.laymissionhelpers.org.

Catching up on old times

Photo by Karen A. Evans

Franciscan Sister Jean Linder catches up with Msgr. Mauricio W. West, chancellor and vicar general, at the Pastoral Center in Charlotte July 20. She came to Charlotte to visit Franciscan Sisters Joan Ann Gilsdorf, community member of the Franciscan discernment house, and Andrea Inkrott, director of diocesan Hispanic ministry.

During her 23 years in North Carolina, Sister Linder served as the diocesan vicar for women religious, executive secretary for the vocations office and worked in the diocesan planning office for seven years. She also worked at the Living Waters Retreat Center in Maggie Valley for a number of years.

While visiting her former coworkers in the Pastoral Center, Sister Linder commented that the atmosphere among the employees “was and continues to be special.”

In 2000, she moved to the Franciscan motherhouse in Tiffin, Ohio, where she works as the librarian.

August 5, 2005

August 5, 2005

The Catholic News & Herald 5

IN THE NEWS

Catholics and the Supreme COURT, from page 1

ated from Catholic elementary and high schools in Indiana, and he and his family are members of the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Md. Should he be confirmed to the court, Roberts will be the 10th Catholic justice in history and the fourth among current members, the most ever at one time.

Paving the way The first Catholic justice went straight to the top.

After serving as attorney general and acting secretary of war, Roger B. Taney was rejected by the Senate the first time President Andrew Jackson nominated him to become an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1835.

That apparently was due more to the Senate’s ongoing political battles with Jackson, though, rather than to Taney or his religion, according to encyclopedia references.

Taney was confirmed as chief justice when that position opened up a year later, and he served until 1864.

The son of a Maryland plantation owner and slaveholder, Taney is perhaps best known for writing the majority opinion in Dred Scott vs. Sandford in 1857. It said Negroes could not become citizens and that Congress had no authority to prohibit the territories from allowing slavery.

The ruling became hotly divisive and was a factor in creating the political climate that led to the Civil War. The second Catholic named to the court was not seated for another 30 years after Taney’s death, but he also became chief justice, the only other Catholic to have held that post.

Edward Douglas White, a U.S. senator from a wealthy and politically powerful Louisiana family, was appointed to the court in 1894 by President Grover

U.S. President George W. Bush listens to remarks after announcing his nomination of federal appeals court Judge John G. Roberts to the Supreme Court in a televised address to the nation from the White House July 19.

CNS photos from Reuters

The Catholic Supreme Court justices are, from left, Anthony Kennedy, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

Confirmation of John G. Roberts would add a fourth Catholic justice to the nation’s highest court. The justices are pictured in 2003 file photos taken in Washington.

Cross College in Worcester, Mass., that he had recently returned to the church, making him the third Catholic among current justices.

The longest-serving Catholic on the court has been Brennan, who retired in poor health in 1990 after 33 years in the post. The shortest term for one of the Catholics was Murphy’s nine years.

Other faiths

Cleveland after his two previous nominees were rejected by the Senate. White had attended Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Md., and Georgetown University and served in the Confederate Army before entering politics.

The Encyclopedia of the Supreme Court notes that White’s nomination sailed through, apparently at least in part because he was a member of the Senate.

In 1910, White was elevated to the seat of chief justice, which he held until his death in 1921.

White was joined on the court in 1898 by Joseph McKenna, the son of Irish immigrants, who was U.S. attorney general at the time of his nomination.

McKenna had also served as a judge of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and as a member of Congress. Although anti-Catholic sentiment of the 1880s was a factor in McKenna’s defeat in his first two runs for Congress, such attitudes were apparently not in play in his confirmation to the court.

Catholics in court Six other Catholics have served on the court since then. Since 1894, the longest period when there was no Catholic was the seven-year gap between the 1949 death of Frank Murphy and William J. Brennan’s confirmation in 1956.

Some sources list Sherman Minton, who took one of two seats vacated by deaths in 1949, as being Catholic. That would mean the longest gap without a Catholic on the court since the 19th century was the 12-week period between the November 1939 death of Pierce Butler, the fourth Catholic on the court, and the swearing-in of Frank Murphy in February 1940.

However, Minton didn’t become a Catholic until 1961, after he retired from the court in 1956.

Minton’s seat in turn went to Brennan, who would be the sole Catholic on the court for 30 years. He was joined by Antonin Scalia in 1986, and two years later by Anthony Kennedy.

At the time Justice Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 1991, he said that despite having been raised Catholic and having spent several years in a seminary, he was not a practicing Catholic.

In 1996 he told fellow alumni at Holy

6 The Catholic News & Herald

around the diocese

New development directors to assist diocese, schools by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

CHARLOTTE — The diocesan Office of Development has two new employees serving the Diocese of Charlotte. Judy Smith joined the staff as the director of planned giving and Susan Cameron is the director of Catholic schools development.

A lasting legacy Smith sees her role as director of planned giving as expanding on the work that had been done by her predecessors and recognizing donors who have already committed planned gifts to benefit diocesan entities.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with the people of the Diocese of Charlotte to assist them in their philanthropic efforts as they plan for gifts from their estate,” Smith said.

Smith has worked in the area of development for close to 20 years, primarily at Habitat for Humanity and the performing arts. Working for the Diocese of Charlotte “presents a “wonderful opportunity to help people provide for the future of the church,” she said.

Smith said she looks forward to meeting people face-to-face while assisting them with their planned giving to benefit the diocese, either through endowments or other estate gifts.

“When you set up an endowment, your gift lives on,” Smith said. “It is invested and accrues interest. There is money to be spent from income earned on the principle year after year.”

Building up our schools As director of Catholic schools development, Cameron is responsible for fundraising for the 18 diocesan Catholic schools.

Tuition alone cannot provide enough money to finance all the programs the Catholic schools offer, Cameron said.

“Collectively, gifts can make up the difference to provide programs students would go without otherwise,” she said.

August 5, 2005

Photo by Karen A. Evans

Susan Cameron, left, and Judy Smith are the two newest employees in the diocesan Office of Development.

Fundraising also helps prevent large tuition increases.

Among the programs funded are tuition assistance, technology enhancements, academic programs and teacher professional development.

Cameron, a graduate of Belmont Abbey College, worked in development for seven years at Elon University and Queens University.

“I strongly believe in Catholic education and the unique experience it can give students,” Cameron said.

“Judy and Susan are great additions to the development team,” said Jim Kelley, director of development. “Between them, they have almost 30 years of development experience that will benefit our parishioners, churches, schools and agencies.”

WANT MORE INFO? For more about planned giving, contact Judy Smith at (704) 370-3320 or jmsmith@charlottediocese.org. For more about Catholic schools development, contact Susan Cameron at (704) 370-3303 or secameron@charlottediocese.org.

Awarding service

Development director recognized with own community-builder CHARLOTTE — Jim Kelley, director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte, was recently awarded the inaugural Community Builder Award from United Way. The award, which will be known as the Jim Kelley Award, honors individuals who have given countless hours of service to United Way and the community.

It was presented at an event recognizing volunteers in Charlotte June 30.

“I have had many blessings in my life. I am very grateful for those blessings, and I have a responsibility to give back in gratitude for what God has given to me,” said Kelley. “That is why I spend time in service to the Charlotte community.”

Kelley has volunteered with United Way of Central Carolinas for 24 years, serving primarily with the Citizen Review Process, in which more than 300 volunteers annually study the community’s most pressing health and human service needs and allocate resources to more than 200 programs within United Way member agencies.

Kelley serves as chair of United Way’s Community Building Council, is a member of the Community Investment Committee, has led the diocese’s United Way campaign, has served as a United Way speaker and been involved in United Way’s “Leading The Way” training program.

Over the years, he has maintained a special passion for supporting the area’s homeless population.

“Jim Kelley is a shining example of what we think of when we mention ‘Community Builder’,” said Gloria Pace King, United Way president. “We are so grateful for all he’s done for this community.”

As director of development, Kelley manages the diocesan development office, which organizes and operates the Diocesan Support Appeal, assists parishes with stewardship efforts and capital campaigns, and assists Catholic schools, Catholic Social Services and campus ministries with development efforts.

He is the author of several books on church stewardship, has served as a leader within the International Catholic Stewardship Council.

United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc. partners with agencies, volunteers, donors and local businesses to identify needs and invest community resources in programs that create lasting solutions for our community’s most pressing issues.

WANT MORE INFO?

More info about the diocesan development office can be found at www.charlottediocese.org/developmentoffice.html.

More info about United Way of Central Carolinas, Inc. can be found at www.uwcentralcarolinas.org.

August 5, 2005

Year Of the eucharist

Synod working document says Eucharist must be celebrated with

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — Because Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, the sacrament must be treated with dignity, shared only by those who hold the same faith and lead to efforts to spread the Gospel, said the working document for the Synod of Bishops.

The document, which will form discussions at the Oct. 2-23 world Synod of Bishops, was released July 7 at the Vatican. The theme of the synod is “The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church.”

Its observations about how Catholics around the world see and celebrate the sacrament were drawn from contributions by 113 bishops’ conferences, 11 synods of bishops of Eastern Catholic churches, 25 Vatican congregations and councils, and the Union of Superiors General.

In the introduction, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops, said the working document “principally concentrated on the positive aspects of the celebration of the Eucharist that bring the faithful together and make them a community, despite their differences in race, language, nation and culture.

“Mention is also made of various insufficiencies and oversights in the celebration of the Eucharist which, thanks be to God, are rather contained,” he wrote.

The document repeatedly called for balance in how the Eucharist is celebrated: times for song, verbal prayer and quiet; adherence to liturgical norms that are the same all over the world and the use of local cultural elements such as songs and gestures; and prayers and readings in the local language and in Latin, especially for international celebrations.

While experience varies around the world, the key problem identified was a decreasing awareness among Catholics of the obligation and benefits of attending the liturgy and receiving the Eucharist every Sunday.

In addition, it said, too many people seem to be unaware of the importance of receiving the Eucharist only when they are in a “state of grace,” having received the sacrament of penance after having committed a serious sin.

“Belonging to the church is the basis for admittance to the sacraments,” it said. “No one can approach the Eucharist without having first received baptism; no one can return to the Eucharist without first having received the sacrament of penance.”

The document also reaffirmed church teaching that Catholics who are

divorced and civilly remarried may not receive the Eucharist in most cases, but are encouraged to continue attending Mass and may even approach the priest at Communion to receive a blessing in parishes where that is the practice.

The document explained the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the Eucharist in the Orthodox churches and the possibility of Catholics and Orthodox receiving Communion at each other’s liturgies where circumstances permit.

However, it repeated church rules that in most cases eucharistic sharing with Anglicans and Protestants is not possible; Catholics and other Christians must pray and work for the full unity that would allow them to gather around the same altar and profess their shared faith by receiving the Eucharist together, it said.

The document said bishops around the world felt the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council were overwhelmingly positive, although some misunderstandings and abuses have occurred in how the council’s teachings were interpreted and put into practice.

Among the concerns, it listed the loss of a sense of the sacred and a diminished understanding of the Eucharist as Christ’s sacrifice on the altar, with the result that many people think the community praying together makes Jesus present in the Eucharist rather than acknowledging that in the sacrament Jesus gives himself under the forms of bread and wine.

The bishops also had special praise for the lay people in their dioceses and parishes who teach children about the Eucharist, who fulfill various functions during the liturgy and who lead prayer services when a priest is not available to celebrate Mass.

The synod’s working document said Catholics must understand that a validly ordained priest is absolutely necessary for the valid celebration of Mass.

The working document dedicated one of its four sections to “the Eucharist in the mission of the church,” particularly emphasizing that by receiving Communion and the grace of Christ it brings Catholics must live the faith once they leave Mass.

True faith in the Eucharist implies living a morally upright life, acting and even voting in accordance with church teaching, spreading the Gospel, promoting peace and working for justice, it said.

“In a culture of death, the Eucharist is the culture of life,” it said. “In an atmosphere of individual and societal selfishness, the Eucharist reaffirms total self-giving. Where there is hate and terrorism, the Eucharist places love.”

The Catholic News & Herald 7

This is my body Understanding the Mystery of the Mass, Part 21

In our ongoing catechesis on the Mass, we have examined the first two parts of the Eucharistic Prayer: the Preface and the Sanctus.

As soon as the Sanctus comes to completion, the faithful assume the posture of kneeling in humble adoration, awaiting the King of Kings, before whom “every knee must bend” (GIRM No. 43;cf. Phil 2:10). Then, with the simplicity of one lone voice breaking the silence of the upper room at the Last Supper, Jesus Christ, the high priest, utters the sacred words through his priest, the words that he gave to his church on Holy Thursday.

Through this divine mystery, bread and wine actually change into the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, leaving behind only the appearances of bread and wine.

We could admittedly spend months studying and contemplating this divine mystery that lies at the heart of the Mass. But for the sake of brevity and clarity, let us focus our attention only on what pertains to this mystery of faith: the words and actions that effect this sacrament.

To investigate how this is accomplished, we must now turn to the next two parts of the Eucharistic Prayer: the epiclesis and the institution narrative and consecration.

The word epiclesis is a Greek composite of two words: kaleo, meaning “to call, summon, or invite”; and when preceded by the preposition epi, the word means “to call down.” During this third part of the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest “calls down” the Holy Spirit and signifies this activity by placing his hands over the gifts that are to be sacrificed.

Sanctuary bells may be rung at this time to call our attention.

The epiclesis has at least two main spiritual meanings: 1) in the Old Testament temple sacrifices, the priest would place his hands on the lamb of sacrifice, dedicating it for sacrifice (Cf. Lev. 16:2122); and 2) the epiclesis recalls the mystery of the Incarnation, where the Holy Spirit descended upon and overshadowed the Blessed Virgin Mary so that the Word became flesh (Luke 1:35).

Indeed, the holy sacrifice of the Mass unites these two mysteries together as Jesus Christ becomes both priest and victim of the sacrifice and again comes to

Guest Column Father Matthew Buettner guest columnist

us sacramentally in the flesh. This brings us to the fourth part of the Eucharistic Prayer.

During the institution narrative and the consecration, the familiar voice of Jesus Christ is heard as the high priest of every sacrifice of the Mass. Each priest lends himself to the service of Christ, so that our Lord can once again re-present his sacrifice. It is not simply the priest who speaks, “This is my body,” since it is not his body, per se, but rather it is Christ who speaks, “This is my body ... this is my blood.”

These words actually effect the change from bread and wine into the body and blood, soul and divinity of Christ.

Just as Christ took bread and wine at the Last Supper, blessed it and gave it to his Apostles after he consecrated it into his body and blood, he continues to offer them for our salvation. This change from bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ is known as transubstantiation, meaning a “change in substance.” The whole substance of bread and wine is changed into the substance of Christ’s Body and Blood.

The appearances of bread and wine remain the same. Therefore, when we receive the holy Eucharist, we do not receive bread and wine with the body and blood of Christ (consubstantiation), nor do we receive bread and wine that merely signify the body and blood of Christ (transignification; transfinalization).

On the contrary, we do receive the body and blood of Christ, the same crucified, risen and glorified body of Christ, under the appearances of bread and wine.

Christ said, “This is my body.” We have no reason to doubt him, who is incapable of deceiving us.

The consecration actually occurs in two distinct consecrations: first the body, then the blood, signifying the death of Christ, whose precious blood was separated from his body on the cross.

After each consecration is a moment of adoration, a moment that prepares us for that moment of divine intimacy whereby God desires to enter divine communion with us.

We will continue with the Eucharistic Prayer next time.

Father Buettner is parochial vicar of St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.

WANT PREVIOUS COLUMNS? Father Buettner’s “Mystery of the Mass” series is available online at www.charlottediocese.org/mysteryofmass.html

8 The Catholic News & Herald

youths in action

Speaking to God

August 5, 2005

Prayerful safari

Courtesy Photo

Children pray during Vacation Bible School at St. Ann Church in Char lotte June 26July 1. Eighty-three children par ticipated in “Serengeti Trek,” which tr ansfor med the church’s Msgr. Allen Center into an African paradise. Run by 50 teenage and adult “safari crews,” the week consisted of prayer time, games, sing along songs, Bible study and fellowship.

SOARing athletes

Courtesy Photo by Ron Deshaies

Katie Shell, a student at Charlotte Catholic High School, dances with athlete Jonathan Williams during the fifth annual Camp SOAR (Special Olympics Athletic Retreat) held at the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center in Charlotte June 8-10. More than 60 Charlotte Catholic students volunteered at the weekend event at which more than 165 athletes, ages 10-adults, with intellectual disabilities participated in athletic events.

The camp also featured arts and crafts, dancing, music, movies and nature activities.

Courtesy Photo

Children from Our Lady of the Mountains Church in Highlands model their safari hats during a craft session at the fifth summer Vacation Bible School. More than 50 children from Our Lady of the Mountains Church and the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation attended the weeklong camp, this year themed “Kingdom of the Son.”

August 5, 2005

The Catholic News & Herald 9

youths in action

Hu to the rescue HERO, from page 1

on the waterslides.

John and a friend noticed a 4-yearold boy struggling to keep his blond head above the water.

Reacting quickly, John pulled the boy out of the water to the side of the pool. A lifeguard then appeared, taking over for John and bringing the shocked child to his own group.

“As Christians, we have to help each other,” said John, reflecting on the event.

John is an extraordinary boy in many ways besides his early lifesaving capabilities. Just 9 years old, he is a rising sixth grader at St. Mark School in Huntersville, having skipped kindergarten.

Born in China, John and his mother moved to Kentucky when he was six months old. After several years they moved to Cornelius and soon joined St. Mark Church in nearby Huntersville.

An avid student, John’s favorite

school subject is history, and he loves studying the U. S. presidents — so much so he won third place in the Mecklenburg Area Academic Games League competition and 10th place in the national competition.

Already this extraordinary young man has high ambitions: He dreams of attending Princeton University.

The second highlight of his summer was a recent camping trip in New England — his first ever.

On the trip home, his group traveled through Princeton, N.J., and John got to see his — hopefully — future alma mater.

“I think (saving the boy from drowning) might help me go to Princeton,” John said.

John’s lifesaving experience hasn’t influenced his career plans, though — he wants to study finance.

Contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail kaevans@charlottediocese.org.

Prevailing design Olivia Wylie, a student at St. Michael School in Gastonia, wears her award- winning T-shirt, which won two school-wide art contests in the 2004-05 school year.

Her interpretation of the Catholic Schools Week theme, “Faith in Every Student,” was chosen and printed for the school’s Fun Fair and Road Race. For the school’s celebration of Dr. Seuss, Olivia’s book title and illustration of “The Elakamoo Lives in the Zoo” won first place.

Courtesy Photo

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald

AROUND THE DIOCESE

‘Catholics and Cherokees’ Program explores Cherokee culture, Catholic social teaching by

JOANITA M. NELLENBACH correspondent

WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA — How do past events influence people today?

That’s one of the questions that will be answered in “Catholics and Cherokees III: Continuing the Dialogue — Healing the Soul Wound.”

The program, which is free and open to the public, was presented July 12 at St. William Church in Murphy and will be repeated Aug. 25 at the Jackson County Justice Center in Sylva.

Patty Grant Long, a therapist and member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, will discuss historical trauma and intergenerational grief and its impact on the lives of Cherokee people today, as well as Cherokee culture and spirituality.

Mary Herr, faith formation consultant and Native American multicultural worker for the Diocese of Charlotte’s Smoky Mountain Vicariate, will facilitate discussion of relevant Catholic social teaching and identify ways to apply it to current issues.

Relevant Catholic social teaching includes the dignity of the human person; call to family, community and participation; rights and responsibilities of the human person; the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable; solidarity; and care of God’s creation.

“I really enjoyed it,” said St. Margaret of Scotland parishioner Mary Witte, one of about 50 who attended the session held there in June.

“It was very interesting and educational. [Long’s] personal experiences made it so vivid. It was eye-opening to me,” she said.

Among the aspects of historical trauma and intergenerational grief that

Long discussed were how Native American children were forced into boarding schools run by government agencies and, in some cases, religious organizations and the effect this had on those children and their children years later.

For example, children who were placed in boarding schools, often for years, sometimes faced harsh treatment, including being punished for practicing their religion or speaking their own languages. Because they were not parented well by those in the schools, they did not learn how to parent their children.

“I know the whole experience of the Cherokees was awful, but I had no idea it was like that,” Witte said. “Everyone should go to (this presentation).”

“Catholics and Cherokees” is sponsored by the Smoky Mountain Vicariate with a grant from the Christian Brothers’ FSC Foundation.

Contact Correspondent Joanita M. Nellenbach by calling (828) 627-9209 or e-mail jnell@dnet.net.

Want to Go? The program, scheduled 6:30-9 p.m., is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. To register for the program in Sylva (Aug. 25), contact Father Shawn O’Neal at St. Joseph Church in Bryson City at (828) 488-6766 or Mary Herr at (828) 497-9498.

August 5, 2005

August 5, 2005

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HISPANIC MINISTRY

RAINing education

August 5, 2005

PICNICKING FOR POVERTY

Diocese, RAIN bring awareness to Hispanic youths LEXINGTON — In an effort to educate young Hispanics about the myths and facts of HIV and AIDS, the diocesan Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office invited the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) to participate in a recent E.V.A.E. seminar.

The E.V.A.E. (El Verdadero Amor Espera, or “True Love Waits”) seminar was held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington July 9. It is another in a series of seminars by the Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office being held in parishes around the Diocese of Charlotte.

“It is very important for the Hispanic Ministry that the people of Hispanic traditions and customs are engaged in overall growth, especially in the area of human sexuality,” said Ricardo Veloz, director of Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry, during a seminar at Holy Family Church in Clemmons May 27-29.

North Carolina’s Hispanic population is growing rapidly, and many Hispanics are unaware of how HIV is transmitted, according to RAIN educators.

“Through our pastoral care ministry, we have seen an increase in the number of Hispanics infected with HIV in the public clinics in areas of Charlotte and its surroundings,” said Rev. Amy Brooks, a Unitarian Universalist minister and RAIN’s director of prevention education.

RAIN’s Hispanic team, comprised mostly of parishioners from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte, utilized a bingo game format to teach HIV- and AIDS-related information and statistics to the Hispanic youths in Lexington.

Afterward, Brother Lombardo D’Auria, a Capuchin postulate serving at Our Lady of Consolation Church and RAIN’s Hispanic outreach coordinator, emphasized the importance of abstinence in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Franciscan Sister Andrea Inkrott, director of diocesan Hispanic Ministry, and Haydee Garcia, Hispanic ministry coordinator for the Charlotte Vicariate, help the RAIN Hispanic team provide bingoformat seminars in different parishes with Hispanic congregations, including Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Vincent de Paul and St. Ann churches in Charlotte; and St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton.

In order to educate the public and encourage faith communities to assist persons living with HIV/AIDS, RAIN has coordinated programs in 100 congregations from 20 denominations in 13 counties in North and South Carolina since 1992.

RAIN delivers its services through faith- and community-based CareTeams who provide practical, emotional and spiritual support to persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Our Lady of Consolation Church’s RAIN Care Team has been in existence for eight years.

“In my personal experience, it has taught me to be patient, nonjudgmental, increased my Catholic faith and helped those brothers and sisters (who are) less fortunate,” said Denise Shropshire, a CareTeam member at Our Lady of Consolation Church.

Veloz has invited the RAIN Hispanic team to participate in the next E.V.A.E. retreat at Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville Aug. 12-14.

WANT MORE INFO? To learn more about the RAIN Hispanic team or to host an HIV/AIDS bingo seminar, contact Franciscan Sister Andrea Inkrott at (704) 372-7246.

To learn more about RAIN, go online at www.carolinarain.org.

Hispanic youths discuss in small groups what they are learning about abstinence and AIDS prevention during a seminar held at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Lexington July 9.

Courtesy Photo

Courtesy Photo

The Men’s Club and Ladies’ Guild of St. William Church in Murphy hosted a “Swing into Summer for Somotillo” picnic July 10. About 125 parishioners enjoyed a barbecue, music, games and a raffle.

All profits from the picnic will be used to support two schools in the church’s sister community of Somotillo, Nicaragua. Somotillo is a community of more than 20,000 people, most of whom live in poverty.

Many of St. William Church’s parishioners and organizations provide scholarships for individual students in Somotillo. St. Ignatius School educates elementary-age street children who cannot afford to attend the city’s public school. The other school is an agricultural school to teach older children skills for raising crops and animals.

For the past three years, St. William parishioners have traveled to Somotillo semiannually to meet the students and teachers and to assess their progress as well as their needs.

August 5, 2005

HISPANIC MINISTRY

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Outdoor Mass brings Eucharist to migrants MASS, from page 1

Dueweke unpacks the box Erlinda Rogers has brought from Immaculate Conception Church in Canton. There are two silver chalices, a paten, unconsecrated hosts, a bottle of sacramental wine, an alb, green stole and a chasuble.

The Mass and the party afterward will welcome migrant farmworkers, who come each year to harvest crops in this rural area near Canton.

It’s also a Mass of thanksgiving for blessings received.

This is an appropriate place for a Mass, Father Dueweke will note in his homily: Bethel means “house of God.” Surrounded by mountains, Bethel “looks like Peru,” says Father Dueweke, who spent 15 years there as a missionary. Now, through the sponsorship of the Augustinian Province of St. Thomas of Villanova and grants from the Catholic Extension Service and the Diocese of Charlotte, Father Dueweke will spend the next two years ministering to Hispanic people in the Smoky Mountain Vicariate.

As Father Dueweke vests for Mass, people fill the brown metal chairs placed in rows before the altar. More gather under an equipment shelter across the dirt driveway that leads to the workers’ singlewide trailers. Some 120 people,

mostly Hispanic, are there to welcome the 30 migrants.

A Hispanic choir of voices and guitars opens with an upbeat hymn. People are still arriving with food for the postMass meal.

In his homily, Father Dueweke speaks of his ministry and his aim to establish lay leadership in the vicariate’s various Hispanic communities.

“We want to live our faith, embrace the mission to live as brothers and sisters,” he says.

Weaving the Gospel’s agricultural imagery into the congregation’s experience, Father Dueweke notes that, “People connected to the soil are connected to God. People so closely connected to God are our teachers. We need to cultivate the ground of our hearts with the pick and shovel of the Gospel, watered with the grace of baptism.”

Children and adults bring up the gifts: the bread and wine, four baskets containing the offertory collection, and two baskets of large cucumbers, just picked in the nearby fields.

During Communion, worshipers come forward to receive the precious body and blood of Jesus and the blessing of the priest for their children.

With a final hymn, it is time to set up the tables for a feast of tamales, chicken, pork ribs, salads, tinga (a fiery concoction that includes chicken and is served

Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

Against a background of mountains and trailers, Augustinian Father Robert Dueweke preaches his homily during an outdoor Mass to welcome migrant farmworkers in Bethel, N.C., July 17. on flat, crispy tortillas), watermelon and pastries.

As he gives the final blessing, Father Dueweke tells the parents never to lose the custom of blessing their children with the sign of the cross on their foreheads at bedtime and whenever they leave home.

“Our community is walking with Jesus,” said Xavier Ramirez. “The farmworkers are important, and they need to realize that the church treasures and appreciates them.”

Having a priest come to the camp to celebrate Mass tells them that, he says.

In his homily, Father Dueweke told the people that Hispanics are in America to renew the Catholic Church.

“I believe that that’s part of God’s plan,” he said later. “Their hospitality, their value of celebrating, of caring for others — these challenge our individualistic culture.”

Homemade foods that the people spent hours preparing are spread out on the tables. Father Dueweke moves among the crowd, chatting with everyone, kidding around with the children.

“Just being together outside, a celebration of community,” he says. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Contact Correspondent Joanita M. Nellenbach by calling (828) 627-9209 or e-mail jnell@dnet.net.

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

August 5, 2005

Culture Watch Laughter for the soul

Retired deacon’s new joke book provides humor for clergy

by SHARON ROULIER catholic news service

CHESHIRE, Conn. — “Did you wake up grumpy this morning?” “No, I just let him sleep in.”

This is a favorite joke of a deacon who has compiled a book of jokes specifically designed for use by the clergy.

But the word “grumpy” is definitely a little-used word in Deacon Don Lowe’s vocabulary, unless it is included in the context of a joke.

At age 91, the retired deacon from St. Bridget Church in Cheshire, Conn., in the Hartford Archdiocese, said a sense of humor has certainly contributed to his longevity.

The deacon said he was recovering from triple-bypass surgery when he decided to go through a boxful of jokes he collected over the years. At age 89, he bought a computer and used it to turn the collection into a book: “Deacon Jokes That a Pastor Can Tell — Possibly Even a Bishop.”

Deacon Lowe wrote the book to give members of the clergy clean jokes and one-liners designed to raise spirits and open doors. All profits from the sales benefit the Hartford Archdiocese’s diaconate program.

“We’re coming along good,” said the deacon. “It’s taken two years and we have $4,000 so far. I hope to make it $5,000.”

Since he was a youngster, humor has always played a role in the life of the deacon, who was born in Waterbury in 1914.

“It can help the heart. It can help ulcers. It can help blood pressure.

It can help pain,” he said. “I know when I was in the hospital, humor really helped.”

As a teen, he would go to the local theaters to watch the classic comedic antics of Laurel and Hardy, Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin, the Marx Brothers, Ben Turpin, Buster Keaton and the Three Stooges.

“They were certainly some of the first dispensers of early laughter and good humor on film,” writes Deacon Lowe in the introduction to his book.

The deacon suggests that using humor during a sermon is a perfect way to grab parishioners’ attention.

“These people, when they come to church, they’ve got so many problems.

Not like 90 years ago. It’s a lot different,” he said. “So they come into church and what they want is something to calm their stress. And if a priest or a deacon tells a story, he has their attention and then he can do whatever sermon that he can that will help them.”

Deacon Lowe includes tips for becoming “a pro” at telling jokes such as: — Keep it clean.

— Be relaxed and sensitive to your audience.

WORD TO LIFE

A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more

Sunday Scripture Readings: Aug. 7, 2005

Aug. 7, 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A. Readings: 1) 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a Psalm 85:9, 10, 11-12, 13-14 2) Romans 9:1-5 3) Matthew 14:22-33

Salvation always within our grasp by

SHARON K. PERKINS catholic news service

CNS photo by Bill Pacocha, Catholic Observer

Deacon Don Lowe, 91, retired deacon, laughs after sharing a punch line from his book.

— Always smile.

— Take your time and exaggerate using body language.

— Never make any racial or sexist slurs.

— Give the punch line everything you have. Pause for anticipation and deliver it with a slightly raised voice.

Deacon Lowe met his wife, Ann, while the two were working in the bigband business. She was a singer and he played the drums.

After two years of dating, Don, who grew up Anglican, and Ann were married in the Episcopal Church. That was 64 years ago. They later joined the Catholic Church.

“We were remarried in the Catholic Church on our 25th anniversary, and Martin, our son, wanted to know if he was illegitimate all these years,” quipped Deacon Lowe.

After serving as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist for several years in his parish, Deacon Lowe was ordained to the diaconate in 1977. He retired in 1989.

“I miss it. I can’t go on the altar anymore because of my knees and the possibility of falling,” he said. “But I go to Mass every morning and come close to the good Lord.”

For about 40 years Deacon Lowe also used his sense of humor in his mail-order bow tie business, Lowe Bow Originals.

Deacon Lowe, who has worn bow ties his whole life, says he always had a hard time finding them.

His wife, an expert seamstress, decided to make a few for her husband. Orders for the handmade originals took off when The Wall Street Journal ran a frontpage story about his business in 1996.

The Lowes sold the business in 1999 and finally retired. Deacon Lowe still wears a bow tie every day.

Last summer I went on vacation with my family — including parents, siblings and all the grandchildren — to the Gulf coast of Texas for a few days of beach relaxation.

One day I was sent to gather everyone for dinner. The teenagers were out in the surf.

The noise of the waves prevented my nephews from hearing my call, but since they were standing waist deep about 50 yards away, I decided to swim out to them. About 20 yards out, the water was up to my shoulders, and soon I was in over my head, swimming for all I was worth and calling out to my nephew, who still couldn’t hear me.

Several minutes of frantic paddling

and shouting later I became exhausted and truly frightened. With a sandbar and visible assistance only 20 feet away, I was fighting relentless waves and my own panicked thoughts of death by drowning.

Just in time my nephew turned, saw my distress and reached out an arm to drag me to the shallower water.

My relief was palpable — and I think Peter, desperately flailing about in the Sea of Galilee, must have felt the same way when the Lord came to his rescue.

Today’s psalm refrain is a plea to God to “grant us your salvation,” and there surely have been many theological treatises written on the meaning of that phrase. For some people, “salvation” could mean physical or mental healing, for others it could mean an assurance of eternal life, and for still others it could mean forgiveness of sin.

In Peter’s particular situation as in mine, however, “salvation” was no theoretical idea, but an immediate intervention of God’s love extended to me in a moment of extreme helplessness.

“Drowning” is a word often used to describe the very human experience of being overwhelmed by one’s circumstances, whether these are of our own making or beyond our control. In such times it is not uncommon to panic. However, the Scriptures today give us hope that God’s goodness and love are always

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of August 7-13 Sunday (Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time), 1 Kings 19:9, 11-13, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:22-33; Monday (St. Dominic), Deuteronomy 10:12-22, Matthew 17:22-27; Tuesday (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross), Deuteronomy 31:1-8, Matthew 18:1-5,10, 12-14; Wednesday (St. Lawrence), 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, John 12:24-26; Thursday (St. Clare), Joshua 3:7-11, 13-17, Matthew 18:21-19:1; Friday, Joshua 24:1-13, Matthew 19:3-12; Saturday (Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus), Joshua 24:14-29, Matthew 19:13-15.

Scripture for the week of August 14-20 Sunday (Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time), Isaiah 56:1, 6-7, Romans 11:13-15, 29-32, Matthew 15:21-28; Monday (the Assumption of Mary), Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6, 10, 1 Corinthians 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56;Tuesday (St. Stephen of Hungary), Judges 6:11-24, Matthew 19:23-30; Wednesday, Judges 9:6-15, Matthew 20:1-16; Thursday (St. Jane de Chantal) Judges 11:29-39, Matthew 22:1-14, Friday (St. John Eudes), Ruth 1:1, 3-6, 14-16,22, Matthew 22:34-40; Saturday (St. Bernard), Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11, 4:13-17, Matthew 23:1-12.

August 5, 2005

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The Catholic News & Herald 15

1 6 The Catholic News & Herald

around the diocese

August 5, 2005

On-time delivery lucky for priest KOVACIC, from page 1

alone in a Belmont apartment. He became confused with the settings on his thermostat, accidentally turning on the heat instead of his air conditioner.

Deal, a UPS driver for 15 years, considers many of her regular clients to be family, including Msgr. Kovacic. That day she was nearing the end of her route and making a delivery to his apartment that required his signature.

When she knocked, he answered that he could not come to the door because he was very sick.

The door was unlocked and Deal went inside to check on him. She noticed the temperature of the apartment to be nearly 100 degrees.

Deal quickly attempted to cool down Msgr. Kovacic by washing his face with water-soaked towels from the kitchen.

She wanted to call 911, but he initially refused the offer.

Deal attempted to contact other parishioners she knows from her route and from the church bulletin, but could not reach anyone. She then took him to his neighbor’s apartment where the air conditioner was on. Still burning up, Msgr.

Kovacic agreed to let Deal call 911.

The monsignor was transported via ambulance to Gaston Memorial Hospital in Gastonia, where he was treated and released around midnight. A doctor attending Msgr. Kovacic indicated Deal’s

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quick response helped save his life.

While Msgr. Kovacic was being treated, parishioners from Queen of the Apostles Church and fellow Knights of Columbus from Council 11076 flooded the waiting room. Bishop Peter J. Jugis, who was attending a Catholic Social Services board meeting in Hickory, visited Msgr. Kovacic and administered the sacrament of anointing of the sick.

It was a scene reminiscent of the monsignor’s 85th birthday celebration, where hundreds of parishioners and Knights gathered with him as the bishop rededicated Queen of the Apostle Church’s Family Life Center as the Msgr. Anthony Kovacic Parish Center Jan. 9.

During that celebration, Carl Heil, a parishioner of Queen of the Apostles Church, noted Msgr. Kovacic’s dedication to his flock.

“If he hears someone is in the hospital, sometimes he’s there before the doctor,” said Heil. “He’s always there to help.”

Although retired since 1994, Msgr.

Kovacic continues to serve the Diocese of Charlotte and often travels to celebrate Mass across western North Carolina.

Editor Kevin E. Murray contributed to this story.

Tom Stocker is a parishioner of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.

August 5, 2005

Year Of the eucharist

Eucharistic Adoration in Parishes A listing of parishes offering eucharistic adoration in the Diocese of Charlotte is available online at www.goeucharist.com.

The Catholic News & Herald 17

Discussing the Eucharist

Courtesy Photo by Frank Ryder

Thirty members of Ascension, a teen music group at St. Luke Church in Mint Hill, spent July 10-15 in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Lake Junaluska focusing on “The Eucharist: Christ Living Within Us.� The retreat consisted of morning reflections, journaling and evening devotions. Father James Hawker, vicar of education and pastor of St. Luke Church, joined the teens for a roundtable discussion on church and spiritual issues, and celebrated Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation for the group. During the week, the youths had opportunities for horseback riding, rafting and swimming.

1 8 The Catholic News & Herald

August 5, 2005

Perspectives

A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints

Harry Potter and the half-baked PR More than sorcery at work in all the media fuss mind. Press releases are written, phone calls are made and the “news” evolves into sound bites and quotes that are consumed by an audience who is very blurry about the difference between entertainment and education.

It is good for any media project, even something as popular as Harry Potter, to have controversy associated with it. No doubt there was someone associated with either the Potter phenomenon or Kuby’s book who was promoting this one.

But there are a couple of things about this episode that need to be considered. First, Cardinal Ratzinger/ Pope Benedict’s intellect as a theologian is widely respected. His views, however brief, on the development of a young person’s soul are worthy of reflection.

I’ve read two Harry Potter books and I found them charming and fun.

But the books do glorify the dark art of sorcery. And even though Harry represents the triumph of good over evil, is it fair to ask, as the cardinal seemed to, if the ends justify the means? If you conclude that Harry’s adventures at Hogwart’s School are all childish fun, that’s fine, too.

The other item that was only scarcely covered was what Cardinal Ratzinger did after writing to Kuby in 2003. According to the Catholic News Service, he asked Msgr. Peter Fleetwood, then an official at the Pontifical Council for Culture, to review the book “Harry Potter: Good or Bad.” Msgr. Fleetwood wrote Kuby a four-page letter in which he basically told her she was reading too much into what is essentially children’s literature. Msgr. Fleetwood never heard back from the author.

“Lumos” is the word Harry Potter uses to bring light to darkness. The tidbit of information about Msgr. Fleetwood ruins the David vs. Goliath angle and, not surprisingly, was overlooked in most of the ensuing media coverage.

Too many facts, it seems, can sometimes ruin a good story.

David Hains is director of communications for the Diocese of Charlotte. Contact him at dwhains@charlottediocese. org.

Catholics & the Media DAVID HAINS guest columnist

In the days leading up to the release of the latest Harry Potter book, the news media were abuzz with stories that seemed to pit Pope Benedict XVI against Harry the apprentice wizard.

But if you look closely at the incident, you will see the magic wand of public relations was stirring a cauldron of soupy public opinion.

The facts as related in some news stories are that when Pope Benedict was still Cardinal Ratzinger, he corresponded with the German author Gabriele Kuby, who’d written the book, “Harry Potter: Good or Bad.” In a brief note the cardinal wrote, “It is good, that you enlighten people about Harry Potter, because those are subtle seductions, which act unnoticed and by this deeply distort Christianity in the soul, before it can grow properly.”

This happened in 2003. There must have been an invisibility cloak over the information because it wasn’t considered newsworthy in 2003, or 2004 for that matter. But of course in 2005, Cardinal Ratzinger became the Holy Father. A new pope coupled with the long-delayed release of the latest Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” and presto! A news story appears.

The Vatican probably contributed to the ensuing frenzy by refusing to make any additional comments on behalf of the pope. That allowed the news media to pursue one of their favorite angles — call it the “David and Goliath” treatment. The teenage Harry was pitted against the magisterium of the holy Catholic Church.

The timing of this particular news story tells you something about how the news media work.

Why wasn’t this newsworthy in 2003 when Cardinal Ratzinger was an important figure in the Catholic Church? It is likely that this fish of a news story was floating out there in the vast sea of information that makes up the Internet. But no one was biting, most likely because no one was promoting it to news organizations.

Much of what you read in a newspaper or see on TV originated as an idea in a public relations person’s

Why do we blame only Pilate for Jesus’ in the Apostles and Nicene creeds?

(New Jersey) A. It does seem strange, but several reasons have been offered. Some have said, for example, that in the creeds the death of Jesus is explained by the oppressive cruelty and viciousness of Pilate, whose evil nature as Roman procurator of Judea was notorious even in Rome.

More likely, however, Pilate is mentioned simply to put the death of Jesus into its specific place in history. Basing dates on the reign of a particular king or ruler, or on wars and other major events, was common before our style of calendar came into general use.

Letters to The Msgr. Allen’s missionary spirit was crucial Msgr. Richard Allen, recently deceased (“Msgr. Allen, retired priest, dies at 74,” June 24), was one of the outstanding priests to serve the Catholics of North Carolina as well as many others not of the Catholic faith.

Msgr. Allen had a missionary spirit.

He left his home in upstate New York to serve out his priesthood in North Carolina, which, until recently, was the least Catholic state in America. He never lost that missionary spirit, always attuned to where the need was and coming up with creative outreach to meet the needs of the people of God. And when he reached retirement age at 70, he volunteered again to start a new ministry in far-away Alaska, where he had always dreamed of serving.

I am grateful to have served twice as his parochial vicar and have known him as both a mentor and friend. I pray to Almighty God in thanksgiving for this great priest and that our good God will raise up this life-giving missionary spirit in me and in every priest privileged to serve in North Carolina.

— Father John Vianney Hoover New Creation Monastery, Charlotte

A different look at Harry

I read your July 22 letter to the editor (“Closer look at Harry Potter needed”) with some amusement. My 13-year-old son has read and reread the Harry Potter series many times. I have read each book only once. I was concerned when he first started reading them because of the pos-

Question Corner FATHER JOHN DIETZEN cns columnist

Q. In the Apostles Creed, we say Christ “suffered under Pontius Pilate.” Other than Mary, he is the only person mentioned by name. We don’t place total blame for the suffering and death of Jesus on Judas or anyone else. Why would Pilate be pointed out sible content. However, now I read them because I just plain enjoy them. This is saying something for a person who finds reading quite the chore.

I missed the references to urination, excrement, “private parts” and students going off “into the bushes.” I’m assuming it’s because they were not integral parts of the plot.

The “possible allusion to abortion and fetal tissue research — plants which look like babies are to be chopped up to make medicine” is just an illusion. I thought they looked more like the Munchkins from the Wizard of Oz. I guess when you read something with an agenda, the story takes on a whole new meaning.

— William M. Gordy Winston-Salem

Religion and science

I am a product of 12 years of Catholic education that included distinct biology and religion classes. I am also the result of growing up in a very prayerful Catholic family.

The complementary and distinct natures of science and religion were always very clear to me. Science attempts through experimentation and observation to tell us the what, when, how and where.

Religion tells us the why.

Through the scientific method, I was taught to have a critical eye and offer theories through experimental evidence.

Through prayer and liturgy, the universe that science exposed convinced me of God’s hand everywhere. The idea that I am either a man of faith or a man of science is misguided. I am both.

I, as a Catholic, believe in Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn’s premise that Catholics cannot view evolution as random selection. It is an axiom of our Catholic faith, long established and believed. Religion teaches us that God’s hand guided evolution, science investigates how that occurred — once again, the complementary and distinct natures of science and religion.

— David Matvey Charlotte

The Catholic News & Herald 19

August 5, 2005

Where will the high court go with same-sex Decision may be threat to religious freedom freedom under attack in the very near future.”

The threat to religious freedom is an aspect of the same-sex effort that seldom is appreciated fully. Once marriage is redefined, those who remain opposed will be labeled discriminators.

True, churches and religious bodies likely will be exempted from performing homosexual ceremonies directly, but collateral lawsuits will be filed alleging the homiletic teaching of traditional marriage to be a “hate crime.”

As the cardinal reflected to Catholic News Service, in remaining faithful to church teaching, at a minimum, “I will be accused of homophobia.”

Once same-sex marriage is in place, the assault against the church will not stop with chilling catechetical speech. Efforts will be made to deny Catholic and other churches maintaining the objective definition of marriage the use of public parks, participation in public contracts — such as the delivery of services to the poor or the homeless through parish-based or faith-based organizations — and ultimately the church’s tax exemption.

How do we know this is the likely scenario? Because these are the measures taken against the Boy Scouts, even after the Scouts vindicated their right before the U.S. Supreme Court not to

Guest Column DOUGLAS KMIEC cns columnist

be compelled by a state “nondiscrimination” law to accept an active homosexual as a leader.

Some years ago the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the IRS’ denial of a taxexemption to Bob Jones University.

The university had a policy, based on its fundamentalist reading of the Bible, to discourage interracial dating. This, said the court, was not in the public interest, whether or not the belief was religiously motivated. Analogous?

Maybe, at this moment in time, we are capable of distinguishing immoral racial discrimination from the discernment of what is and is not objectively valid marriage. But the legal sanctioning of same-sex marriage may make what is now obvious socially unacceptable.

This, as Cardinal Ouellet said, is an invitation to “juridical chaos.”

Or, as the policy director of a Christian fellowship organization commented, “Christians are going to inhabit the closet so recently vacated by gays.”

Kmiec is a columnist and law professor at Pepperdine Law School

The job chase

network of friends who, if asked, surely will help. “Network, network, network” is the advice successful job seekers always offer to others.

Praying the psalms is a daily routine that I recommend to anyone looking for work.

About 10 years ago I studied the problem of mid-career executive unemployment in America. I spoke with managers who experienced firsthand the meanings of “downsizing” and “restructuring,” new words then for the old realities of layoff and unemployment.

I interviewed many displaced whitecollar workers and found that they hurt in the same vulnerable places where blue-collar workers feel the pain of job loss. Not just the wallet or bank account, but in stomach knots, heavy hearts and soul-deep fears of never working again.

One reality I examined was religion’s relevance in their lives. I inquired what they did or read to shore up their spirits. The psalms often were mentioned as sources of spiritual encouragement and support.

To anyone who is a believer and who has experienced mid-career unemployment, this should come as no surprise.

Simply praying is not enough. My now out-of-print book “Finding Work Without Losing Heart” offers a lot of practical advice. It can be downloaded

Looking Around FATHER WILLIAM J. BYRON, SJ cns columnist

for free from my former parish’s Web site (www.trinity.org).

Not least in the order of practical importance during the search is spousal support. I was peripherally helpful to a successful job seeker who told me this: “It would not have been possible without someone as strong as my wife.

She constantly amazes me with her faith in our Lord and in me.

“I’m not a powerful person; I only work hard. One morning when I about to leave for a job search, she kissed me and said, ‘John, there’s nothing to fear; we’ve been poor before, and we had a lot of fun when we were, so who cares?’

“I went out the door powered by rocket fuel. I tell you this because it’s at the heart of what every job seeker needs.”

When the U.S. Senate begins hearings on a new Supreme Court justice to replace the retiring Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, we should not forget one of the most blatant acts of judicial activism in modern time: the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decree that a same-sex relationship can be a marriage.

Canada is barreling toward national approval of same-sex marriage, and judicial challenges to traditional marriage populate lower courts across the United States. It is only a matter of time — likely less than two years — before the U.S. Supreme Court will be petitioned for its view.

Catholics have a well-formed theology on the underlying question. It was put nicely not long ago by Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec City in testimony before Canada’s Parliament. Cardinal Ouellet warned that the civil foundation of society was being undermined by “subjectivism,” the idea that rights are not based on objective, external reality but upon personal desires.

Objective reality is denied by samesex marriage, Cardinal Ouellet observed, since “a man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and their union is marriage.

If you take [the conjugal or unitive aspects] out, you don’t have marriage. ...

You have a generic sort of union, but you don’t have marriage.”

These are wise, prudent words, and the cardinal reaffirmed the church’s teaching that homosexual orientation itself, if not acted upon, ought never be the basis for hatred or unmindful discrimination.

But the cardinal had another important caution that should not escape notice by America’s Catholic faithful: Should same-sex marriage be approved, it will marginalize Catholic belief. In the cardinal’s words, “It will put religious It happens all the time, but it now seems to be happening more frequently.

Layoffs, cutbacks, downsizing, letting workers go. Where do they go? That’s the job-search question that more and more work-force veterans are asking every day.

General Motors is cutting back. So is Ford. Winn-Dixie is letting 22,000 employees go and closing all stores in four states, remaining open only in Florida.

Fortune magazine gave its whitecollar readers a cover story in May that used the print equivalent of a megaphone, saying on the front cover: “50 and fired ... is bad enough. But now out-ofwork execs are facing a permanent vacation. How to tell if your career is at risk.”

Business Week’s cover Feb. 3 asked, “Is your job next?” These words appeared beneath a picture of a well-dressed executive hanging onto a pallet loaded with crates being lifted onto a ship: “A new round of globalization is sending upscale jobs offshore. They include chip design, engineering, basic research — even financial analysis. Can America lose these jobs and still prosper?”

Yes, some careers are at risk, but even so America will continue to prosper. This doesn’t resolve the issue for the mid-career, middle-age woman or man who has been or may be set adrift in these times of economic uncertainty. Where do they go?

In writing about this for Catholic newspapers, I would be remiss not to suggest that job seekers first take the matter to prayer and next weave an active

Coping with terrorism The Human Side FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK cns columnist

I was chilled July 7 when I heard bombs had exploded in London. I thought: “Now we have another anguish to cope with. How much more can we take?”

At this moment of high anxiety, we need more than ever to keep our perspective on life. When the London bombings occurred, the Scripture readings in the Liturgy of the Hours were recounting the life of King David.

During his last days, David never was allowed to enjoy complete peace.

His son Absalom had turned against him and eventually was killed. Then Adoniah laid claim to the throne, forcing David, who was close to dying, to step in and have his son Solomon anointed king.

Throughout the Bible and history we learn that just when peace is within a nation’s grasp, something comes along to disrupt it. Humankind is never allowed to rest on its laurels.

The war on terrorism is a historical reminder that just as there is goodness and glimmers of peace, we nonetheless continue to witness evil and conflict.

To cope with terrorism we must keep reviewing the history of evil and reminding ourselves that events similar to those have happened before and will happen again as long as there is sin. Facing this fact helps to remove the fear that this sort of evil has happened only to us, that we are alone and unique in our anguish.

We must also remember that the worst defeat we confront in the face of terrorism is losing heart. The cry “Fear not!” is heard repeatedly throughout the Gospels and church history.

A perplexed Mary who hears she is to be the mother of God is comforted by the words of an angel saying, “Fear not Mary, the Holy Spirit is with you.” Christ soothes frightened apostles in a storm with the assurance, “Fear not!” We read of martyrs during the early persecutions inspiring each other to take heart and trust in God. No doubt the war on terrorism will be long and bloody, it will take the best military and technological strength to gain victory, and we will need a spirit of patriotism to keep heart.

But in all this we must never doubt the power of prayer! Prayer keeps our hearts open and our thinking clear because it overcomes hardness of heart and the blindness this causes. More than this, prayer renews our faith in God. As Job’s faith in God was his strength, so keeping faith through prayer is our strength. God has the ultimate answer for overcoming terrorism. Only an open heart can read God’s mind and learn the answers.

August 5, 2005

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