Oct. 21, 2005

October 21, 2005

The Catholic News & Herald 1

www.charlottediocese.org

Annual Report

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte

A special 20-page insert containing the annual financial report will be included in the Oct. 28 issue of The Catholic News & Herald.

Established Jan. 12, 1972

by Pope Paul VI OCTOBER 21, 2005

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

vOLUME 15

no. 3

Synod of Bishops

Energizing faith

Atlanta archbishop tells synod church needs inspiring

Black Catholic administrators inspired at annual meeting

by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service

ROME — The church needs vibrant, inspiring preachers and new ways to communicate faith traditions in its response to current challenges, said Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta.

While the Oct. 2-23 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist grapples with concerns such as how to attract more priestly vocations or how to reach out to young people or lapsed Catholics, “we cannot change the faith of the church to accommodate one group or another,” he told Catholic News Service Oct. 10 in Rome.

“But what we can do is communicate the faith of the church in such a way so that it is heard by people in a variety of backgrounds,” he said.

See SYNOD, page 9

Local programs to be enhanced, says AAAM director FORT WORTH, Texas — Sandy Murdock, director of the African American Affairs Ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte, was among the participants at the National Association of Black Catholic Administrators’ (NABCA) annual meeting.

NABCA held the meeting in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept.

28-Oct. 1. Representatives were present from 37 dioceses across the United States.

“It was an excellent opporSee BLACK CATHOLIC, page 12 CNS Photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

Cardinal Paul Poupard, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture, and Swiss Bishop Amedee Grab of Chur leave the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist at the Vatican Oct. 7. The synod, focusing on liturgical and pastoral issues facing the church, was attended by some 240 bishops and 12 priests, plus experts and auditors from around the world.

To be ‘Silent no more’ Women speak out against abortion

Photo by Joanita M. Nellenbach

Eileen Brennan and Nick Grasberger, parishioners of St. Barnabas Catholic Church in Arden, hold rally signs during the Silent No More rally in Asheville Oct 15.

big deal.”

Her mother agreed with the doctor.

Alone, Shelley drove three hours from her small Midwest hometown to Detroit to have the abortion in 1973.

“Women are told abortion is a simple choice and are therefore unprepared for the pain and suffering they experience as a consequence of (hav-

Indian Catholics spend sleepless night when aid workers don’t

by ANTO AKKRA catholic news service

ASHEVILLE — Shelley was 17, Catholic, unmarried and pregnant. Her life would never be the same again.

The doctor who confirmed her pregnancy told her to get an abortion. It was, he said, just “the removal of some tissue, no

BARAMULA, India — Indian church officials coordinating relief for earthquake victims spent a sleepless night Oct. 11 when 18 church relief workers failed to return to their base camp for the night.

“I was terribly worried,” said Father Sebastian Kalappurayil, principal of St. Joseph School in Baramula, where 50 church charity workers and officials were camped. They

See SILENT, page 6

See EARTHQUAKE, page 13

by

Joanita M. Nellenbach correspondent

Fighting for Life

Culture Watch

Perspectives

Pro-Life Memorial dedicated, Room at the Inn Banquet

Pope Benedict XVI’s first book, ‘Elizabethtown’

Government reimbursements for charity, the reality of work

| Pages 6-7

| Pages 10-11

2 The Catholic News & Herald

InBrief

October 21, 2005

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

Visualizing success

Rooney active Knights of Malta, charities

CNS photo Sarah Webb, Catholic Standard & Times

The printing club, under the direction of adviser Sister Elaine George, a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart, works to complete a job at St. Lucy Day School for Children With Visual Impairments in Philadelphia.

The burgeoning school business was the idea of two students.

Students’ idea for printing enterprise becomes big PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — What began as a pipe dream for a printing enterprise last December at St. Lucy Day School for Children With Visual Impairments is now a burgeoning student business.

“Big companies are asking us to make cards for them,” said the co-founder of the school’s printing club, Sheila McLaughlin, a 9-year-old fourth-grader who has been legally blind since birth.

“Our cards are special,” added cofounder Amy Ryan, Sheila’s classmate, who is also 9 and has been legally blind since birth.

“Not many children are in a business to make cards,” said co-founder Amy Ryan, Sheila’s classmate, who is also 9 and has been legally blind since birth.

The beauty of the cards comes from the hearts and hands that craft them.

“Visually impaired children make them, and the designs are very good, even though they can’t see very well,” Sheila said. “We can do things that people think that visually impaired children can’t do.”

Sister Mary Elaine George, a Sister, Servant of the Immaculate Heart and adviser to the printing venture, said she can well recall the indoor recess last year when Sheila and Amy drew pictures using a paint program on the school computer.

She was talking with the two about their art when they began asking one another: “Could we start a business?”

She and the girls held a meeting at the next recess and discussed the product, the necessary materials, cost estimates and profit margins.

Amy and Sheila, third-graders at the school at the time, decided to employ the fourth-grade class. All became found-

Senate confirms businessman as U.S. ambassador to Vatican

ing members of the business’s board of directors.

Although their long-range goal was to sell custom-designed greeting cards, the entrepreneurs decided to start with seasonal Christmas stickers, which they sold to family and friends. Using the profits from that venture, they started the greeting-card enterprise, peddling them at the school’s St. Patrick’s Day social.

From the get-go, the girls had more than pocket money in mind. When they devised their budget, they earmarked one-third of the proceeds for children’s charities and one-third for product development and materials, with the last third to be divided among the club’s members.

“Right up front, they wanted to give to (a) children’s charity,” Sister Elaine said. “I think that’s why we’re being so blessed with success — because of their generosity.”

Their first major client was an archdiocesan organization called BLOCS, for Business Leadership Organized for Catholic Schools, which commissioned 750 personalized thank-you cards for the organization’s annual fundraising gala.

Sister Elaine commended the business co-founders for their leadership, and all of the club’s members for their work ethic, attention to detail and business savvy.

“They really put forth their best effort. They’re highly motivated. I’m really proud of them. ... I really have done very little,” Sister Elaine said. “This is the children’s inspiration and motivation.

They’ve run with it.”

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Francis Rooney, a businessman with ties in Oklahoma and Florida, was confirmed by the Senate Oct. 7 to be U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. In a voice vote, the Senate agreed to confirm Rooney’s appointment along with the nominations of dozens of other people to posts ranging from assistant secretaries of various federal agencies to judges for the District of Columbia.

Rooney is chief executive officer of Rooney Holdings, which includes insurance and construction companies.

He also has been active in Oklahoma and Florida in charitable and community organizations including the Knights of Malta, an Oklahoma Catholic hospital’s strategic planning committee, the American Red Cross and the United Way.

Diocesan planner BOONE VICARIATE

SPRUCE PINE — A Rosary of Intercession for Priests is recited each Friday at St. Lucien Church, 695 Summit St., before the 9 a.m. Mass.

Prayers are offered for bishops, priests and deacons, and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood. For more information, call the church office at (828) 765-2224.

CHARLOTTE VICARIATE CHARLOTTE — Dr. Luke Timothy Johnson, professor of New Testament and Christian Origins at Emory University, will speak on “Faith and Possessions” at St. Peter Church, 507 S. Tryon St., Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Johnson will challenge us to examine what God is telling us about how we use and share our material gifts.

Admission is free but please call (704) 332-2901, ext. 12, and leave your name and phone number if you plan to attend.

CHARLOTTE — As a ministry to the hearing impaired, Vanessa Pappas will sign the Liturgy of the Word Oct. 30 during the 10 a.m. Mass at St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Rd. For more information, call the church office at (704) 536-6520.

CHARLOTTE — Pathfinders, a peer-led support group for separated and divorced adults, offers education, support and fellowship through the divorce process. The group meets Tuesdays, 7:30-9 p.m. in St. Gabriel Church’s Ministry Building, 3016 Providence Rd. For more information, call Nancy at (704) 752-0318.

CHARLOTTE — TGIF on Wednesday is a support group for separated or divorced women and men. All are welcome to join us for encouragement and discussion with others making similar

He has been acquainted with President George W. Bush at least since Rooney Holdings’ Manhattan Construction Co. built the Texas Rangers’ baseball stadium when Bush was managing partner of the team in the early 1990s.

Rooney and his company contributed or raised more than half a million dollars for 2004 Republican campaigns and the presidential inauguration.

The post of Vatican ambassador has been vacant since Jim Nicholson became secretary of Veterans Affairs in January.

Rooney’s nomination was announced in July. After a brief hearing to introduce him to lawmakers Sept. 19, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination Oct. 5 in a voice vote.

journeys at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy., Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the New Life Center, Room 114. If you have any questions, call Bonnie Motuz at (704) 543-8998.

HUNTERSVILLE — A Mass to Honor Deceased Loved Ones is celebrated the last Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. for more information, call St. Mark Church, 14740 Stumptown Rd. For more Pam Schneider at (704) 875-0201.

CHARLOTTE — The Ancient Order of Hibernians, Sons of Erin Mecklenburg County Division, the oldest and largest order of Irish Catholic men, is seeking Irish Catholic men to join them for meetings, community activities and social events.

Contact Tim Lawson at (704) 522-9728 or e-mail ncaoh@aol.com for more information including meeting times and location.

CHARLOTTE — A Support Group for Caregivers of a Family Member with Memory Loss meet the last Monday of each month, 10-11:30 a.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. For more information, contact Suzanne Bach at (704) 376-4135.

HUNTERSVILLE — Elizabeth Ministry is a peer ministry comprised of St. Mark Church parishioners who have lost babies before or shortly after birth.

Confidential peer ministry, information and spiritual materials are offered at no cost or obligation to anyone who has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn. For details, call Sandy Buck at (704) 948-4587.

GASTONIA VICARIATE BELMONT — First Saturday Devotions take place on the first Saturday of each month at Belmont Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont-Mount Holly Rd. Devotion begins at 9:30 a.m. with the recitation of the rosary, followed by reconciliation and Mass. For more information, call Phil or Terri at (704) 888-6050.

GREENSBORO VICARIATE GREENSBORO — The Greensboro Theology on Tap will meet Oct. 27, Nov. 3 and Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.

October 21, 2005 Volume 15 • Number 3

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.

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.

The Catholic News & Herald 3

October 21, 2005

FROM THE VATICAN

Vatican assures Muslims of church’s commitment was encouraged by the Second Vatican Council, which concluded 40 years ago.

In the light of the council’s teaching, he said, Pope John Paul’s efforts were “rooted in the Gospel, following the example of the Lord Jesus who showed his love and respect for each person, even for those who did not belong to his own people.”

The archbishop said Pope Benedict, since his April 19 election, has made clear his commitment to continuing dialogue.

“Making reference to the conflicts, violence and wars present in our world,” he said, the new pope “emphasized that it is the duty of everyone, especially those who profess to belong to a religious tradition, to work for peace.”

Archbishop Fitzgerald said Catholics and Muslims should be encouraged by Pope Benedict’s words and “strengthen our engagement in building up good relations among people of different religions, to promote cultural dialogue and to work together for greater justice and enduring peace.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — More at Coopers Ale House, 5340 West Market St. There will be great speakers, excellent food and conversation. TOT will have a food drive to benefit Urban Ministry. Non-perishable items will be collected each Thursday. For more info e-mail greensborotot@yahoo.com or call Deb at (336) 286-3687.

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) 2746520, 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.

HICKORY VICARIATE HENDERSONVILLE — The Widows Lunch Bunch, sponsored by Immaculate Conception Church, meets at a different restaurant on the first Wednesday of each month at 11:30 a.m. Reservations are necessary. For more information and reservations, call Joan Keagle at (828) 693-4733.

SALISBURY VICARIATE SALISBURY — Elizabeth Ministry is a peer ministry comprised of Sacred Heart Church parishioners who have lost babies before or shortly after birth.

Confidential peer ministry, information and spiritual materials are offered at no cost or obligation to anyone who has experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or the death of a newborn. For details, call Renee Washington at (704) 637-0472 or Sharon Burges at (704) 633-0591.

SALISBURY — Are you tired of constantly struggling with your weight? Consider giving God a chance to touch your heart, your life and your eating. Light Weigh Bible study and video series meets at Sacred Heart Church, 128 Fulton St. Classes will meet Tuesdays through Jan. 3 in the Conference Room, 5:30-7 p.m. For more information, contact

Episcopal

calendar

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Muslims prepared to celebrate the end of their monthlong Ramadan fast, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald assured them the Catholic Church’s commitment to dialogue would continue under Pope Benedict XVI. The archbishop, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, sent written greetings to Muslims around the world about to celebrate the Nov. 3 feast of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

In the message, released Oct. 14, the archbishop said many Muslims joined Catholics in following news about Pope John Paul II’s illness and death in April.

“It was faith in God and confidence in humanity that impelled the late pope to engage in dialogue,” the archbishop said.

“He constantly reached out to brothers and sisters of all religions with respect and a desire for collaboration.”

Archbishop Fitzgerald said the Catholic Church’s commitment to dialogue the church office at (704) 633-0591.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN VICARIATE FRANKLIN — Respect Life meets the first Wednesday of every month after the 5:30 p.m.

Mass in the Family Life Center at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 299 Maple St. All those interested in promoting the sanctity of human life are invited to attend. For more information, contact Julie Tastinger at (828) 349-9813 or jatastinger@ aol.com.

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE WINSTON-SALEM — The Portiuncula Franciscan Spiritual Center, 211 W. Third St., provides an environment, experiences and resources that enable people to meet God in both stillness and activity. A study and action program, Pace e Bene (Part One): From Violence to Wholeness, explores nonviolence as a creative and effective process for resolving the conflicts in our lives and in the world. The group will meet Oct. 24 and 31, 7-8:30 p.m. For more information, call Sister Kathy Ganiel, at (336) 624-1971 or e-mail portiuncula@bellsouth.net.

Vatican official calls for better care of mentally ill needs to be done to help the mentally ill and to support programs of early diagnosis and prevention of mental illness, said a top Vatican official.

Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, head of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, appealed to public health officials worldwide “to find urgently needed help” for those with mental disorders.

Many of these people are “on the streets or with their families where they cannot receive the (proper medical) help they need,” he said in his message for World Day of Mental Health celebrated Oct. 10.

He asked that health and government officials make mental health care more accessible and equitable and that treatment be “in full respect for the integrity and dignity of the sick.”

According to the World Health Organization, some 450 million people worldwide suffer from a mental disorder and 873,000 people commit suicide each year, the cardinal said in his text.

“Mental disability represents a true and real social-health emergency,” he said, adding that it does not have enough support from existing health and governmental programs.

“In over 25 percent of (the world’s) health clinics, patients do not have access to essential psychiatric medicines; there

is fewer than 1 psychiatrist for every 100,000 people for 70 percent” of the world’s population, he said.

Mental illness tends more often to strike those who are “intellectually, culturally or economically disadvantaged,” he said.

Cardinal Lozano also said societies need “to promote healthy lifestyles that are consistent with a culture of values.”

He said people cannot remain silent in the face of a culture or society that condones exploiting people and that demonstrates “continued aggression against (a person’s) serenity and mental balance.”

The “crisis of values” also leads to greater loneliness among individuals, breaks up traditional social structures, and discredits the support of the family, he said.

The Catholic Church always has played an important role in offering prevention and help to those afflicted by mental illness, he said.

Church-based programs and workers show that “mental illness does not create insurmountable obstacles and does not impede” building a relationship with sufferers that is based on “authentic Christian charity,” he said.

KURDISH WOMEN VOTE IN KIRKUK, IRAQ

CLEMMONS — Msgr. Mauricio West will celebrate a Healing Mass at Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd., Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. Individual prayer for healing will follow Mass. For more information, contact the church office at (336) 778-0600.

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:

Oct. 30 — 2 p.m. Mass Diocesan Celebration in honor of Marriage Anniversaries St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte

Nov. 5 — 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Charlotte

Nov. 3 — 6 p.m.

Friends of Seminarians Dinner Bishop’s residence, Charlotte

Nov. 6 — 5 p.m.

Sacrament of Confirmation St. Francis of Assisi Church, Jefferson

CNS photo from Reuters

Kurdish women vote in the northern city of Kirkuk, Iraq, on the constitutional referendum Oct. 15. Vote counts appear to indicate that the new constitution will be accepted, despite opposition from Sunni Muslims.

FAITH EXCHANGE Welcome to Faith Exchange, a new feature in The Catholic News & Herald where our readers do the writing. We’ll pick one response to publish in an upcoming issue. Additional responses will be posted on our Web site, www. charlottediocese.org/catholicnews.

Question of the week: Why is your parish right for you?

Submit your story by e-mail to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org or mail to The Catholic News & Herald, 1123 S. Church St.; Charlotte, N.C. 28203 Photographs are welcome, but cannot be returned.

Remember:

1. Submissions should be 150-200 words. 2. Stories must be completely true. 3. Include your name, hometown, parish and daytime phone number. 4. Deadline for receipt is Nov. 1.

4 The Catholic News & Herald

Faith behind bars

October 21, 2005

around the diocese

Prison ministers recognized at annual gathering

Saluting heroes

HICKORY — Volunteers involved with prison ministry in the Diocese of Charlotte recently gathered for the second annual Prison Ministry Appreciation Day, held at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory Oct. 1.

“It was a time to show the appreciation of the diocese and the permanent deacons for the hours spent bringing the Lord’s message and Eucharist to prisoners in western North Carolina,” said Deacon Ben Wenning, coordinator of the permanent diaconate, which oversees prison ministry in the Diocese of Charlotte.

The featured speaker was John Kopec, a retired New York police officer and prison ministry chaplain, who shared how a near-death experience changed his life and brought him to North Carolina to work in prison ministry.

Mary Webb, a parishioner of St. Barnabas Church in Arden, received the John Gallan Prison Ministry Award.

Webb’s involvement in prison ministry began 12 years ago, when she first began raising money for a chapel at Craggy Correctional Center in Asheville. She and her husband, Keith, initiated Prison Fellowship, a program to assist inmates nearing release to transition back into the community.

In addition to the John Gallan award, Webb has been nominated for the 2005 Volunteer of the Year award at Craggy Correctional Center.

BELMONT — The residents and staff of Holy Angels paid special tribute to heroes during Spirit Week, an annual event that recognizes and celebrates the spirit of Holy Angels, its employees and the community.

Spirit Week, this year themed “Catch the Spirit,” was celebrated Sept. 11-17.

More than a dozen Gaston County emergency workers and military servicemen and women were recently honored during “Patriotic Day.” Members of the Belmont fire and police departments, Gaston County Emergency Medical Services and the Armed Services were treated to a reception in their honor on Holy Angels’ main campus.

Regina Moody, Holy Angels president and chief executive officer, presented each “hero” with a flag created on paper by residents during hand-overhand art classes.

The diverse heritage of Holy Angels’ 230 employees was celebrated during Spirit Week’s “International Day.” Ten countries were represented, including the United States.

“Holy Angels is so fortunate to have incredibly dedicated employees,” said Moody. “It’s important that we recognize and celebrate those gifts and talents they bring to our residents each and every day.

Spirit Week allows us to do that.”

Holy Angels honors many during Spirit Week

Courtesy Photo

Mary Webb shows off her John Gallan Prison Ministry Award Oct. 1. Pictured (from left) are Deacon Jim Johnson, Keith Webb, Mary Webb and Bill Mateieve.

The John Gallan award was created in 2004 by Sergio Gomez, an inmate at the Mecklenburg Correctional Center in Boydton, Va. When informed that the award was going to Webb, Gomez wrote her a letter reflecting the appreciation of inmates toward those in prison ministry.

“I want to thank you on behalf of all of the inmates and prisoners for your time and dedication,” he wrote. “I thank you for being that instrument which our Lord uses so powerfully.”

The next Prison Ministry Appreciation Day will be held in September at the Catholic Conference Center.

Courtesy Photo

Holy Angels’ resident Tori enjoys Patriotic Day with staff members Amber Tomecek Arnold (left) and Stella Rommarito during Spirit Week at Holy Angels in Belmont.

Holy Angels is a private, nonprofit corporation in Belmont that provides residential services to children and adults with varying degrees of mental retardation and physical disabilities.

WANT MORE INFO?

For more information about Holy Angels, call (704) 825-4161 or visit www.holyangelsnc.org.

October 21, 2005

around the diocese

Permanent deacons, wives retreat to

The Catholic News & Herald 5

MILWAUKEE ARCHBISHOP MAKES TELEMARKETING CALLS FOR

Deacons renewed and inspired during retreat

Photo by Deacon Gerald Potkay

Permanent deacons and their wives sing and relax after evening prayer at their annual retreat at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, held October 14-16. by

DEACON GERALD POTKAY correspondent

HICKORY — Recently, 70 permanent deacons and wives experienced a weekend of spiritual renewal and camaraderie on their 15th annual retreat at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory, Oct. 14-16.

“The retreat is designed to give both the deacons and their wives issues to think about and to give them time to reflect about these things,” said retreat facilitator Father John Putnam, who serves as judicial vicar, pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury and vicar forane for the Salisbury Vicariate.

Father Putnam’s goal was certainly met according to Martha Duca, wife of Deacon Peter Duca, permanent deacon at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte.

“Father Putnam has brought us back to the basics as far as the liturgy and the world are concerned, including the deacon’s role in it,” she said. “I am also glad that Father Putnam included the wives as being an important part of the deacon’s ministry.”

Father Putnam reiterated several times that the deacon (and his wife) must “model their lives on Jesus Christ for the good of every person,” with Christ shouldering the bulk of their ministry.

He emphasized that the deacon’s principle function is to collaborate his ministry with that of the bishop and the priest, as he calls the people to conversion and holiness.

“Deacons must put on our Lord, Jesus Christ ... to clothe themselves with Christ,” Father Putnam said. “This is because ministry is not about ‘me’ ... but about Christ and what he does in the

(Catholic) Church.”

Therefore, Father Putnam instructed, “immerse yourselves in the Paschal Mystery while acknowledging your weaknesses and limitations, and what it is that limits you from truly living Christ.”

“I think the retreat was excellent,” said Deacon Harold Markle, permanent deacon at Divine Redeemer Church in Boonville. “Father Putnam showed the role of the deacon as very positive.”

“Father Putnam combined the doctrine of the liturgy with the personal, so that all of it becomes more meaningful to the life of the deacon and his wife,” said Eileen Rohan, wife of Deacon Timothy Rohan, permanent deacon at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

“Father Putnam pointed out that the responsibility of our prayer life should come to the fore,” said Deacon Rohan.

“As Father Putnam says, ‘the liturgy should be like our first Mass, our only Mass, and as if it were our last Mass.’”

CNS photo by Sam Lucero, Catholic Herald

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee dons a telemarketer’s headset Oct. 18 to help the Catholic Herald archdiocesan newspaper drum up subscriptions. Since the newspaper does not receive archdiocesan funding or have a mandatory parish subscription pl an, it relies on telemarketers to replenish its subscription base. Archbishop Dolan volunteered to make a few telephone calls to help bring awareness of the need for more subscribers to the archdiocesan newspaper.

6 The Catholic News & Herald

FIGHTING FOR LIFE

Women speak out against abortion SILENT, from page 1

ing an) abortion,” Shelley said. “We believe abortion should be unthinkable for women facing an unplanned pregnancy.”

Shelley and other women shared their personal stories about abortion at a Silent No More rally in Pack Square in downtown Asheville Oct. 15.

“My mom said abortion would end my pain,” Shelley said. “I’m here to tell you that it began my pain.”

Parishioners from St. Barnabas Church in Arden rallied to the women’s support, holding signs reading, “I regret my abortion,” “Women need love not abortion” and “Abortion hurts women.”

Shelley now helps facilitate Rachel’s Vineyard retreats at Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center in Maggie Valley for women who have had abortions.

Telling her story, Shelley said, “brings back the pain, but you don’t want other women to make the same mistake. I like to share my story with young people, because this all begins with a fall from chastity.”

Going into the clinic to have the abortion, she recalled, “was like there was this little person on my shoulder, whispering in my ear, ‘This is all you can do. You have no other choice.’ As soon as I had the abortion, that same voice was saying, ‘What a horrible person you are.

You killed your child.’”

The nondenominational Silent No More Awareness Campaign holds rallies nationwide to inform the public about the emotional, physical and spiritual consequences of abortion. Silent No More organizers hope more women will have the courage to tell their own stories and end the silence that surrounds abortion.

In 1974, Mary’s unborn child was diagnosed as hydrocephalic, an abnormal increase of fluid within the skull causing enlargement of the skull and atrophy of the brain. She wept as she recalled the partial-birth abortion of her baby, whom she later named Luke.

“I could have held him, fed him, sung him lullabies until he died,” she said. “My hope is that soon women will not go anywhere near the thought of having an abortion. The least we can do is give a child a birthday.”

None of the women who spoke at the rally said they were given alternatives.

“No one offered any other choice,” Shelley said. “If I’d been offered adoption, I could find my child. If there had been a place like Room at the Inn (a home in Charlotte for unmarried mothers), I could have gone there.”

Shelley later had a son. “You have this empty feeling,” she said. “In psychological terms it’s called the ‘replacement child.’”

She said that 50 percent of abortions are second abortions. Shelley’s son was 3 years old when she terminated her third pregnancy. Still unmarried, in a prison “of drugs, low self-esteem, sexual promiscuity and twice-attempted suicide,”

October 21, 2005

she feared she couldn’t raise two children alone.

Later, while studying nursing, Shelley had a shattering revelation.

“I don’t know how medical (personnel) can say that it isn’t a human being,” she said.

In anatomy and physiology class, the instructor explained how the egg and sperm join to become a human being.

Shelley said she suddenly thought, “Oh, my God, what have I done?”

Dr. Maureen Kennedy, an obstetrician and gynecologist in Asheville, explained how some medical personnel deny the unborn child’s humanity.

In her residency training, she said, “abortion was (termed) just a procedure, someone else’s choice, in which I shouldn’t interfere. There is a silence among physicians and healthcare workers, too.”

Kennedy described the “emotional and medical consequences” of abortion, “the long-term risks of suicide and depression, the increased risk of breast cancer.”

“We owe it to all women to be ‘silent no more,’” she said.

“I think priests and ministers don’t talk about this from the pulpit because they’re afraid they’ll offend someone who’s had an abortion,” Shelley said. “I say to them, ‘So you’re going to let them sit there and suffer?’ Initially the women might be angry and hurt, but eventually it will free them to seek healing and forgiveness. The hardest person to forgive is yourself.”

What message does Shelley want priests to give about abortion?

“I’d like them to say it’s the wrong thing to do, but that there is hope and healing and that the (Catholic) Church doesn’t condemn them, that they can receive forgiveness,” she said.

Shelley later married. Her husband, Rick, adopted her son. They had another son and now have five grandchildren.

Rick “spiritually adopted” Shelley’s unborn children, whom she named James and Elizabeth. James would be 32 years old now; Elizabeth, 26.

“I’ve forgiven myself, my children have forgiven me, but I will never forget,” Shelley said. “I know that I had a son and a daughter. She was my only daughter, and I didn’t let her live.”

Although Shelley told her husband about her abortions before they married, she had never spoken publicly about them. When the family moved to Arden six years ago and joined St. Barnabas Church, she saw a church bulletin announcement from the Respect Life committee asking for volunteers to tell about their abortions.

Reluctantly, she called the committee chair, who said that she, too, had had an abortion. Encouraged by her Respect Life involvement, Shelley went to a Rachel’s Vineyard retreat.

“It helped me to forgive myself, to name my children and know that they are safe in heaven with God, to forgive the doctor, to (posthumously) forgive my mom,” she said.

Promoting a culture of life

Photo by Karen A. Evans

Bishop Peter J. Jugis dedicates the Blessed Mother Teresa Pro-Life Memorial at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte Oct. 16. The church’s Respect Life committee facilitated the installation of the outdoor life-size statue of Blessed Mother Teresa cradling an infant.

“Blessed Mother Teresa was a great witness to the dignity of all human life during her ministry among the poor,” said Father Mark Lawlor, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church. “Since abortion became so widespread in the 1970s, the Catholic Church has protected the sanctity of life.”

When Mother Teresa visited Charlotte in 1995, she issued a firm warning, saying, “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love. The greatest destroyer of love and peace is abortion.”

A plaque on the base of the statue contains this same quote.

“Our (Respect Life) committee and parish wanted to have a lasting reminder that would bear witness to the violence of abortion against mother and child,” said Diane Hoefling, Respect Life coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul Church. “Blessed Teresa’s example of selfless love in serving the ‘poorest of the poor’ challenges all of us to defend human life through every stage and condition and to promote a culture of life.”

She wears a pin that many other mothers wear, with little silver figures bearing birthstones, but two of the figures on Shelley’s pin are angels.

“James and Elizabeth, I’m so sorry,” Shelley said at the rally. “If I’d known then what I know now, you would never have died.”

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

WANT MORE INFO? For more information on Rachel’s Vineyard, call Rachel’s Vineyard at (877) HOPE-4-ME; Shelley at (828) 230-4940; or Vickie at (828) 213-1784; or visit www.rachelsvineyard.org.

For more information on Silent No More, visit www.SilentNoMoreAwareness.org or call (800) 395 HELP or (866)-482-LIFE.

October 21, 2005

Standing for life

The Catholic News & Herald 7

FIGHTING FOR LIFE

Banquet benefits maternity

Photo by Karen A. Evans

Courtesy Photo

George Burazer, a parishioner of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, and Donna Snyder, parish Respect Life coordinator, hold pro-life placards along with their fellow parishioners in the Life Chain outside the church on Respect Life Sunday, Oct. 2.

October is Respect Life Month, and many churches across the United States kick-off the month with Life Chains, in which parishioners stand alone church property lines, on city sidewalks and with other church groups in their towns.

Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life, greets guests following the Room at the Inn banquet, “No Greater Gift,” Oct. 13. Father Pavone was the keynote speaker for the annual fundraiser, which benefits the Catholic maternity home. by

KAREN A. EVANS staff writer

CHARLOTTE — Respect for all life must begin in the home and be encouraged by the Catholic Church, according to Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

Father Pavone was the featured speaker at “No Greater Gift,” the 11th annual banquet benefiting Room at the Inn, a Catholic maternity home in Charlotte that offers pregnancy assistance for unmarried pregnant women and their babies, both born and unborn.

Approximately 1,250 attended the banquet held at the Charlotte Convention Center Oct. 13. Among those attending the banquet were Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte; Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin of Charlotte; Msgr. Mauricio West, chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte; Abbot Placid Solari, abbot and chancellor of Belmont Abbey; and prolife advocate Alveda King, niece of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and daughter of civil rights leader A. D. King.

This year, the banquet raised nearly $$$$ for the maternity home.

During the banquet, Holy Angels was presented with the Msgr. William Wellein Outstanding Service Award.

Holy Angels is a private, nonprofit corporation in Belmont that provides residential services to children and adults with varying degrees of mental retardation and physical disabilities.

A culture of life Creating a culture of life in today’s society begins at home, Father Pavone said. This is done by spending time with the sick and the elderly and welcoming the unborn in new ways.

When people spend time with the sick and elderly, “we are teaching our children ... that this life hasn’t lost its value,” said Father Pavone. “The Catholic Church must sound the trumpet, because it’s the Church, above all, that can mobilize people.”

Father Pavone said practices such as naming a child before birth or having a funeral Mass for a miscarried child are also

good ways to promote the culture of life.

Legalized abortion and euthanasia have “blunted our sense of right and wrong,” said Father Pavone. “If we hadn’t had some 42 million children aborted ... I don’t think it would have been as difficult for people to say ‘Terri Schiavo was murdered’ (in March 2005).”

“The problem that (abortion providers) are facing is that you can’t take the stigma out of abortion, because it’s inherently so unnatural and repulsive,” said Father Pavone. “They have not been able to succeed, in all these years of it being legal, to take the stigma out of it.

That’s why so many doctors don’t want to do it.”

Father Pavone also said that both pro-life and abortion advocates agree that there will be fewer doctors willing to perform abortions in the coming years.

A home for all Since opening its doors in December 1994, Room at the Inn has served more than 300 women and their children.

More than just a place to live, Room at the Inn offers women a Christ-centered rehabilitation program, based on education, personal responsibility and spiritual direction punctuated with mental health and adoption counseling services.

Transportation to medical and social appointments, work and school is provided, as is training in parenting, nutrition, budgeting, chastity and job skills. Mothers often work to pay off past creditors and to restore their credit ratings.

Many of the mothers who find Room at the Inn arrive broken in heart and spirit, often rejected by their families and the fathers of their babies.

As a response to research that shows that 37 percent of all pregnant collegeage women have abortions, Room at the Inn also plans to launch a program to provide the organization’s professional services to pregnant students on area college campuses.

“If we’re each going to be faithful to Jesus Christ, we must stand on the platform of life,” said Father Pavone.

8 The Catholic News & Herald

IN THE NEWS

‘Loving kindness of God’ Religious, lay observers speak of healing power of Eucharist

CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

Pope Benedict XVI attends eucharistic adoration in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 17. With simplicity and long stretches of silence, the pope and members of the Synod of Bishops gathered together to show their devotion to the Eucharist.

by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — The Eucharist has the power to heal shattered lives and even transform the world, but first it needs to permeate people’s daily existence, said some participants at the Synod of Bishops.

Their testimony Oct. 12 was the first time synod fathers heard the voices of 25 lay and religious women and men, who offered their perspective and experience in promoting the power of the Eucharist.

These observers do not have voting power in the Oct. 2-23 synod, but they were invited to offer their views.

Sister Elvira Petrozzi, a founder of the Cenacle Community in Italy, told of the healing power she has seen resulting from eucharistic prayer. For 22 years she has worked with homeless adults, children and drug addicts.

She said she had no idea what “therapeutic or medicinal method” she could offer the substance abusers, since “no pill gives the joy of life and a heart at peace.”

Instead, she said, she offered people her experience of God’s mercy and the practice of personal prayer and eucharistic adoration.

At first, people would not understand why they were kneeling before a consecrated host, and she said she would explain that “the Eucharist is not understood with the head, but is experienced in the heart.”

After a while, these troubled teens and adults would undergo a “eucharistic miracle,” Sister Petrozzi said.

Slowly “you would see their eyes get brighter as they began to understand and as they began to experience God in the Eucharist, and that’s when you knew that they were being healed,” she said.

In the Eucharist, Jesus left his people “a treasure, the medicine, the most ex-

traordinary light for leading us out of the darkness of evil,” she said.

Canossian Sister Margaret Wong of Hong Kong told participants that church workers promoted eucharistic adoration for physically and mentally disabled people, they found there were many apparently normal, but still vulnerable people who needed God’s loving embrace.

There were people in society “with a broken self-image, broken relationships and broken spirit (who) were rejected by their broken families and our broken society marked with secularism and materialism.”

Sister Wong said they invited many of these people “to seek spiritual healing from our eucharistic Lord” and that many “inner healings were reported.”

She said in the Eucharist, one can see “the broken heart of Christ thirsting to save a broken humanity; in him we learn to embrace and love sincerely all these broken ones.”

Inside and out Many synod observers noted that

for the Eucharist to have a real effect on people’s lives, it must be lived outside the Mass in one’s daily routine.

Zbigniew Nosowski, a member of the national council of the laity in Poland, said a “eucharistic spirituality” involves not just going to Mass and adoration of the Eucharist. He said lay Christians “need a new understanding of relations between the Eucharist and their everyday life.”

The Eucharist has something “very important and very concrete” to say for life and decision-making.

The Eucharist says “the more you give yourself to others, the more you’ll find yourself; the more you love, the more you should sacrifice; the more you give, the more you’ll receive,” he said.

He said having this “eucharistic attitude” was key to becoming “a truly eucharistic person, even if you do not participate in the holy Mass every day.”

Through her selfless and total giving to God’s will, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was “a woman of the Eucharist (even) before it was established,” said Nosowski.

He said it was crucial that the plight of the poor not be forgotten, especially when receiving the Eucharist. The two great treasures of the church, he said, are the Eucharist and the poor, but seldom are they linked.

“We need visible signs of their unity” so those who share in the eucharistic

October 21, 2005

bread “should always in a visible way express their solidarity with the poor ones who do not have their daily bread to eat.”

A world with hope Christian Brother Alvaro Rodriguez Echeverria, president of the Union of Superior Generals in Costa Rica, said this sense of mission inherent in the Eucharist can help people change the world.

He said that in working in youth ministry, he saw young people develop “a new passion” to do something for their communities and the world.

By meeting Christ, many young people would find personal “tranquility and peace,” and they would “also find the strength to discover the world of their crucified brothers and sisters,” who were victims of war, violence and hunger and without a future, he said.

He said young people were the most sensitive among the church’s members when it came to understanding “the dashed hopes that daily afflict millions of children and young people in today’s world.”

Sister Rita Burley, superior general of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Great Britain, said the “Eucharist and work for justice are inseparable.”

“Communion with Christ in the Eucharist implies accepting the moral responsibility to work with him, in collaboration with others, to transform unjust structures and mentalities into strategies and plans which further the true nature of God’s love for our human family,” she said.

By gazing upon Christ in the Eucharist, she said, one sees “the loving kindness of God, and so we look on the world with hope.”

October 21, 2005

Inspiration needed, SYNOD, from page 1

Archbishop Gregory said the church across the world has to speak to a variety of audiences, including Catholics who regularly attend Mass, young Catholics who have not yet been “properly evangelized and catechized,” people who “have yet to be evangelized,” and Catholics who have become “disenfranchised for whatever reason” from the church.

All these people “belong to the heart and soul of the church,” he said, and bishops, priests and religious have a responsibility to “develop strategies that address the different life situations” of all of them.

He said the way the Gospel message is communicated may adapt to fit the times and different audiences, but the truths inherent in church teaching may not.

Church leaders must concentrate on “allowing the teaching and the truth of the Gospel to be translated into a way of communication” with people who come from a myriad of backgrounds.

The church also needs vibrant, inspiring preachers, he said in his Oct. 11 speech to synod members.

“In the United States of America,

in the news

some of our Catholic people will go to Sunday Mass and then return home to listen to the radio or view the televised religious programming of other Christian denominations simply because they are still hungry for inspiring preaching,” he said, according to information released by the Vatican.

“Still others go so far as to attend religious services at these other churches after they’ve attended Sunday Mass,” he said.

The archbishop told synod participants that he has “repeatedly heard of people who regularly will travel excessive distances to participate in a Mass that has a celebrant with proven capability to offer a serious, moving and compelling homily.”

He offered a quote from the late German Cardinal Augustin Bea, who said a priest who was skilled in offering the sacrifice in the Mass, but not in breaking open the word of God for people, was only exercising half his priestly ministry.

How the priest says the words of the eucharistic prayer is important, he said, because Catholics “are starving for truly prayerful expressions of the eucharistic actions.”

Prayers throughout the Mass and

The Catholic News & Herald 9

CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

Indian Cardinal Telesphore Toppo of Ranchi, Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, Wash. and Archbishop Anthony Sablan Apuron of Agana, Guam, are seen at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist at the Vatican Oct. 13. Bishop Skylstad is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. liturgy must be offered in a way that “inspire and edify the faithful,” said Archbishop Gregory.

“We bishops, in our role as the primary preachers in our local churches, must lead in our own good example rather than merely asking our priests and deacons to be better prepared homilists for our people,” he said in his speech.

Open discussions Archbishop Gregory, who was participating for the second time in a Synod of Bishops, told CNS that Pope Benedict XVI’s introduction of an hour of open discussion at the end of the day has been “a very helpful opportunity” for the synod participants “to say what is on (their) mind and heart in a less-structured way.”

There had been “a certain predictability” in formal synod discussions, which tend to follow the working docu-

ment released before the start of a synod, he said.

The open discussion was going “very, very well,” he said, adding he thought the pope had really “set the stage for that type of exchange” of free, “open conversation.”

He said Pope Benedict has been “a rapt listener” during the presentations, takes notes and “is engaged.”

“When there are humorous things said, he chuckles, and yet he listens carefully to what is being said,” said the archbishop.

“I think the stage is set for a good synod whatever the end product (or final document) may be,” he said. This synod has been taking place in “a very warm and collegial atmosphere,” which is “always a good thing,” he added.

1 0 The Catholic News & Herald

October 21, 2005

Culture Watch

Vatican releases Pope Benedict’s first book, ‘God’s

by CAROL GLATZ catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican joined with other publishers in an 18-nation release of Pope Benedict XVI’s first book as pope — a collection of his speeches from August events in Cologne, Germany.

In his newest book, titled “God’s Revolution,” the pope “outlines the project for his pontificate,” according to a press release by the Italian publishers, San Paolo.

The Italian edition hit bookstores in Italy Oct. 11, while the English edition published by Ignatius Press was expected to be ready for release in the United States and Canada by the end of October.

The 129-page volume “deals with the questions of Christian faith and the destiny of humanity, of the state of Israel, Islam, the legacy and the future of the church and society,” said the press release.

But instead of any new pronouncements, the book is a collection of talks the pope gave during the Aug. 18-21 events in Cologne, including World Youth Day and meetings with representatives of Germany’s Jewish and Muslim communities. The texts include the pope’s complete remarks, not just his original written addresses.

The Vatican saw there was a need to release the full content of the pope’s spoken presentations in book form so that they would be available to the wider public.

WORD TO LIFE

A roundup of Scripture, readings, films and more

The papal vicar of Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, said that while the media gave extensive coverage of the youth gathering this summer, the contents of the pope’s speeches “inevitably received rather minor circulation.”

“It’s impossible for the mass media to cover everything,” he said at a press conference Oct. 11. He added there is little room for media outlets “to delve into the content” of the pope’s speeches.

Father Claudio Rossini, head of the Vatican’s publishing house, Libreria Editrice, said turning the 12 speeches the pope made in Cologne into a book helps “distribute the texts beyond the usual channels” of the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, and the Vatican’s television, CTV. The pope’s discourses are rich in teaching and instruction that “need to be read, reread and reread again patiently,” Father Rossini told Catholic News Service.

Father Rossini said the Vatican wanted to see “how the market responds to this” before deciding if it would publish other key addresses in book form.

Cardinal Ruini, who wrote the book’s introduction, said the collection of speeches represents a guidebook and “source of light” for Christian living.

The book’s teachings show that the pope is “a great teacher of the faith and at the same time a shepherd who knows the path that will lead us into intimacy with God,” he said.

Sunday Scripture Readings: OCT. 30, 2005

Oct. 30, Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A Readings: 1) Malachi 1:14 — 2:2, 8-10 Psalms 131:1, 2, 3 2) 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13 3) Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Humility goes a long way by

SHARON K. PERKINS catholic news service

I don’t usually look to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for theological inspiration, but the first musical they wrote — “Oklahoma!” — features some lyrics sung by the matronly and wise Aunt Eller Murphy while trying to bring peace between farmer and rancher: “I’d like to teach you all a little sayin’, and learn the words by heart the way you should. I don’t say I’m no better than anybody else, but I’ll be dang’d if I ain’t jist as good!”

I have often heard people propose variations on this saying as a good working definition of humility, a theme that runs throughout all the selected readings for this Sunday. The more I reflect on those readings, the more I think that Aunt Eller had it right — with a few qualifications.

Humility has been held as one of the great virtues indicating personal holiness; one need only look at the lives of the saints for myriad examples. How-

ever, today’s readings seem to be even more concerned with the importance of humility in religious leaders — not merely the ordained ones, but anyone responsible for the care of souls and the proclamation of the word of God. The prophet Malachi curses those priests who injure worshipers by their deceptive practices, partial decisions and false instruction.

Jesus likewise exposes the hypocrisy of those scribes and Pharisees who use their positions of leadership to bring honor to themselves while excessively burdening those in their care.

The psalmist and St. Paul, however, provide a model and a remedy for such self-exaltation.

“My heart is not proud, nor are my eyes haughty,” says the psalmist, and St. Paul maintains that it is because of the demeanor of the apostles — who had every right to impose their status but chose to serve others humbly — that the word of God was able to be favorably received.

Secure in their identities as God’s beloved and Christ’s followers, they neither debased themselves nor sought their own glorification but freely performed the words of Jesus: “The greatest among you must be your servant.”

It is difficult to remain humble with those we lead. Our freely chosen, self-effacing attitude of service — especially toward those over whom we hold religious authority — opens the way for God’s word to be heard and received.

Questions: Over whom do you have authority?

When has your leadership of them been self-centered or prideful? How will you practice humble service toward those you lead?

WEEKLY SCRIPTURE Scripture for the week of October 23-October 29 Sunday (Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Matthew 22:34-40; Monday (St. Anthony Mary Claret), Romans 8:12-17, Luke 13:10-17; Tuesday, Romans 8:18-25, Luke 13:18-21; Wednesday, Romans 8:26-30, Luke 13:22-30; Thursday, Romans 8:3139, Luke 13:31-35; Friday (Sts. Simon and Jude), Ephesians 2:19-22, Luke 6:12-16; Saturday, Romans 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29, Luke 14:1, 7-11.

Scripture for the week of October 30-November 5 Sunday (Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time), Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10, 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9,13, Matthew 23:1-12; Monday, Romans 11:29-36, Luke 14:12-14; Tuesday (All Saints), Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12; Wednesday (All Souls), Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 5:511, Matthew 25:31-46; Thursday (St. Martin de Porres), Romans 14:7-12, Luke 15:1-10; Friday (St. Charles Borromeo), Romans 15:14-21, Luke 16:1-8; Saturday, Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27, Luke 16:9-15.

CNS photo by Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

Italian Cardinal Camillo Ruini of Rome holds Pope Benedict XVI’s new book “God’s Revolution,” during a press conference at the Vatican Oct. 11. The book is a collection of talks the pope gave during his Aug. 18-21 visit to Cologne, Germany, for World Youth Day and other events, including meetings with representatives of Germany’s Jewish and Muslim communities.

The Catholic News & Herald 11

October 21, 2005

A call worth taking

CNS photo from Paramount

Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst star in a “Elizabethtown,” a sentimental, if not completely satisfying, romantic comedy drama about a disgraced sneaker designer (Bloom) who, after nearly sinking his employer’s footwear empire and contemplating suicide, must retrieve the remains of his father — who died unexpectedly — in rural Kentucky. There he reconnects with his roots and, while en route, encounters a sunny, free-spirited flight attendant (Dunst) who brightens his view and appreciation of the world.

Despite a miscast Bloom and a baggy script, director Cameron Crowe’s film celebrates family and love, imparting a warm and welcome message that, though full of risk, life is ultimately worth living.

An implied sexual encounter, an attempted suicide, a questionable (for Catholics) dispersal of ashes, and some rough and crude language. The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Cardinals of a different kind Three baseball players reflect on their Catholic faith

by JEAN M. SCHILDZ catholic news service

ST. LOUIS (CNS) — St. Louis Cardinals players David Eckstein, John Rodriguez and Jeff Suppan recently stepped up to the plate to talk about their Catholic faith.

In interviews with the St. Louis Review, archdiocesan newspaper, the Redbirds’ shortstop, outfielder and pitcher, respectively, said their faith is very important to them. While they do not often tout their religion in public, they believe their actions on and off the field define them as Catholics.

All three professional athletes were born into the faith. Each goes to Mass regularly and has made prayer a key part of his daily life.

On Oct. 8 the Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres 7-4, to win a best-of-five series in the first round of the National League playoffs. They faced the Houston Astros for the National League Champi-

onship Series.

Eckstein treats his faith like he plays shortstop — very seriously.

Being on the road so much and playing weekend games can play havoc with going to Mass, but Eckstein makes it a priority.

“I make sure I attend Mass every week,” he said, recalling that the only time he has missed Mass during his five years in the majors was in Toronto. The team was there during the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) scare, and players could not leave the hotel except to play ball.

He also prays every day, including before every game. He asks for the grace “to be the best I can be, and be the best team player I can be to help the team be successful on that day.”

When in St. Louis for a weekend series, Eckstein likes going to Mass at Busch Stadium. Mass is offered there on weekends for club personnel and stadium employees.

Eckstein calls himself a “typical”

1 2 The Catholic News & Herald

around the diocese

Black Catholics inspired at BLACK CATHOLIC, from page 1

tunity for me to meet and network with other black Catholic administrators from across the country,” said Murdock.

“I learned so much about the programs other black Catholic ministries are conducting, their activities in their communities and their commitments to the mission of the office of black Catholic ministry — understanding and faith equals leadership and direction,” she said.

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NABCA provides a forum for black Catholics to gather and share their collective resources to address the spiritual needs, leadership issues and concerns facing the black communities it serves. The membership is comprised of laity, religious and clergy representing more than 60 dioceses throughout the United States.

The retreat opened with a spiritual session led by Sister Patricia Haley, a Sister of Charity and a founding member of the National Black Sisters’ Conference. Sister Haley focused on “The Collaborative Leader: Listening to the Wisdom of God’s People.”

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The meeting addressed issues related to recent NABCA congresses, the realities of ministering to black Catholics and the Catholic Church’s response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Participants shared how their individual dioceses responded to the needs of the hurricane survivors on the Gulf Coast, where a large percentage of black Catholics reside. Participants were encouraged to continue seeking and welcoming black Catholic hurricane survivors into their parishes and to evangelize all survivors.

NABCA’s actions focus on the Catholic Church of the United States.

Every meeting provides the opportunity to proclaim the Word, heal and serve, worship and build and strengthen community.

Murdock will utilize much of what was covered at the meeting for the African American Affairs Ministry.

October 21, 2005

“I came away with some wonderful ideas to enhance our forthcoming programs that will energize our communities,” she said.

“The African American Affairs Ministry will continue to lend support to and be advocates for black people of African descent,” said Murdock. “One of the goals of our strategic plan is to offer programs that educate all people with regard to our rich history in the Catholic Church, our heritage, culture and the wonderful gifts we bring to the community.”

WANT MORE INFO? For more information on the African American Affairs Ministry, visit www. charlottediocese.org/aaam.html.

October 21, 2005

IN THE NEWS

The Catholic News & Herald 13

Sleepless nights for earthquake relief workers EARTHQUAKE , from page 1

officials from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, Caritas India and the Jammu-Kashmir Diocese decided to venture out to search for the missing volunteers.

After procuring special permission from top army officials to drive during the night curfew, Father Kalappurayil drove the church officials to the mountainous region beyond Uri. When they returned, dejected, after five hours, Sister Elaine Nazareth, superior of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary-run St. Joseph Hospital, was dumbfounded. Sister Nazareth had spent the night eagerly awaiting the return of those missing: Father Susai Nathan, who led the church team; four nuns; several male volunteers; and a half-dozen Muslim nursing students from the Catholic hospital.

By the evening of Oct. 12, the volunteers had returned.

“We had no option but to stay back in the mountain. With pouring rains, we could not come down,” said Father Nathan, who led the church volunteers to the remote villages at elevations of more than 8,000 feet.

After the volunteers split into three

groups, Father Nathan said, his group hiked three hours along rocky pathways to reach Gwalan village, where no relief worker had been.

“It was a wonderful experience to stay with the villagers and spend the night in a partially damaged village house. We could feel the hard and difficult times they were undergoing,” Father Nathan said.

Abhay Krunsha Kar, program officer of the U.S. bishops’ overseas aid agency, Catholic Relief Services, and head of the group that went to Sangri village, said his team was “really touched by the hospitality of these people.”

“Even in their suffering, they were concerned about our safety and did not allow us to walk down the mountains in heavy rains,” he said.

“I will never forget the night we spent with 30 villagers sitting crammed together in a damaged room (of the lone standing house in the village), chatting through the night,” said Kar. The third team, led by Sister Shiny, a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary who did not give her full name, had returned from Jabala village to the spot where the school bus had been parked.

“We waited and waited for (the other teams) and hoped they would come soon.

So, we stayed in the bus the whole night in the cold,” she said.

CNS photo by Anto Akkara

Sister Liza Ignatius, a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Grace, attends to 3-month-old Amina in the mountain village of Sultan Daki, India, Oct. 13. Amina’s mother died in the earthquake, but the child was found in the rubble four hours after the disaster. The nun, a medical doctor, is among half a dozen medical staff rushed to Kashmir from the Holy Family Hospital in New Delhi to serve earthquake victims in remote areas. were spearheading the Indian church’s relief work for the victims of the Oct. 8 earthquake that has claimed more than 1,300 lives on the Indian side of Kashmir.

Officials estimated nearly 53,000 were killed in Pakistan.

When the church volunteers failed

to return to the base camp at Baramula, about 35 miles from the remote mountain villages in the worst-hit Uri region, Father Kalappurayil phoned top army officials, who said the workers’ school bus had not crossed the army checkpoints.

The tension grew and by midnight

1 4 The Catholic News & Herald

October 21, 2005

Perspectives

A collection of columns, editorials and viewpoints

Churches: Don’t ask to be reimbursed by the government for people be skeptical about giving and cynical about our motives? If churches, Parish Catholic or otherwise, go to their people for support, the people might say: “Why Diary should I give? You are just going to turn

around and ask the federal government for reimbursement.”

Government reimbursement will be a short-term gain, but a long-term loss.

—Third, it is an inappropriate entanglement of government and religion.

I really do believe in the separation of church and state, not so much because it is good for the state but because it is very good for religion.

In general I agree that “he who pays the piper calls the tune.” If the federal government pays the piper, it is only a matter of time before it will start calling the tune. Then in short order the Salvation Army will no longer be able to mention salvation. Catholic Charities will no longer be Catholic.

If we accept federal money for charity to hurricane victims, what will be the restrictions? Are we allowed to put Bibles and rosaries on cots in the shelters? Are we allowed to offer a prayer before serving meals? Are we allowed to offer religious services and prayers in shelters paid for by federal money? Can there be a chapel?

Some churches argue that they have 20 years of wear and tear on their facilities after housing evacuees. Good. They should wear it proudly. Jesus would be happy to see that kind of wear and tear.

The whole church, everywhere, should be willing to join together to help individual congregations bear relief expenses. My own parish has sent nearly $20,000 to various churches along the Gulf Coast to help with hurricane expenses. That’s how it should be done: church to church, not government to church.

We should not kid ourselves. We are not rendering a sacrifice to God if we ask Caesar to pay our bills. Once we invite Caesar into our temples to pay for our “charity,” we may never get him out.

FATHER PETER J. DALY cns columnist

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many people have done extraordinary acts of generosity. Throughout the country churches have extended themselves to thousands of evacuees by providing housing, food, financial assistance and spiritual care.

For Christian churches this is not just a good deed. It is an essential part of our Gospel mission. Without this charity, we are not truly the followers of Jesus Christ and are not fulfilling his command to love our neighbor.

That is why I was distressed to read in the Washington Post Sept. 27 that FEMA was contemplating reimbursing churches and other faith-based groups for their charity to hurricane victims.

This is a very bad idea, not only for the churches but for the government.

In the rush to redeem itself after its incompetent response to Hurricane Katrina, the federal government seems determined to throw money in every direction. But churches should not take this money for three reasons.

—First, it was charity, not a reimbursable government expense. Were we giving freely from our hearts and out of our substance, or were we giving with an eye toward getting reimbursed?

If churches take federal dollars, these acts of kindness become a government program, not a sacrifice made in the Lord’s name and for the love of our brothers and sisters. When we do an act of charity, we should not look around for someone either to praise or reimburse us.

—Second, what happens next time?

As sure as the sun rises in the morning there will be another natural disaster or humanitarian crisis. What then? Won’t

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Pope says people should love God, who is always forgiving

by CINDY WOODEN catholic news service

VATICAN CITY — People should not fear God, thinking he is always ready to punish, but rather they should love him because he is always ready to forgive, Pope Benedict XVI said.

“God is not a relentless sovereign who condemns the guilty, but a loving father whom we must love not out of fear of punishment, but because of his goodness,” the pope said Oct. 19 during his weekly general audience.

The pope’s audience talk focused on Psalm 130, often called the “De Profundis” from the Latin version of the initial words of its first line: “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!”

Pope Benedict told an estimated 40,000 people gathered under a light drizzle in St. Peter’s Square that the psalm is “a hymn to divine mercy and reconciliation between the sinner and the Lord, a God who is just but always ready to reveal himself as merciful and compassionate.”

The psalm, he said, begins with a voice crying out from the depths of evil and guilt, a voice of awe-filled reverence in recognition of God’s great power, but

The Pope Speaks POPE BENEDICT XVI also filled with trust in God’s ability to forgive and save.

After the psalmist acknowledges his sin, he demonstrates his hope, “the certainty that God will pronounce a liberating word and cancel his sin,” the pope said.

Pope Benedict said that for Catholics the psalm is “an invitation to confession and the gift of reconciliation.”

He also quoted St. Ambrose who said, “Never lose hope in divine forgiveness, however great your sin. With God there can always be a change of heart if you acknowledge your offense.”

At the end of the audience, the pope blessed a new statue placed in a niche on the exterior of St. Peter’s Basilica. The statue is of St. Mariana de Jesus Paredes Flores, Ecuador’s first saint.

The jigsaw puzzle of life Games can reveal the mysteries of life, faith

Uncle Dan DAN MORRIS cns columnist

I was struggling with a jigsaw puzzle yesterday, trying to make pieces that sure looked like they should fit together actually merge.

All of a sudden I realized in a blinding epiphany of spiritual insight (I might have heard drum rolls augmented by thunder in the distance) that jigsaw puzzles are a most excellent metaphor for life and faith.

OK, not necessarily the jigsaws with only nine huge pieces or the sappy ones of cats sleeping on a country porch next to a rocking chair, but the great religious stuff would be the ones of Alpine mountains or Gothic cathedrals.

Just think of it. We are given all these pieces of life that seem like they should fit together, but when you throw them out onto the table of time you can’t tell what the heck they are supposed to be, much less how they fit together. So you start looking for the pieces that have straight edges in the hope they will at least create a border within which the other pieces can be corralled.

But you desperately need the picture on the box to give you guidance. That’s our Catholic faith, see? We need the vision, the goal, the guiding principle.

Think of the pieces with the straight edges as natural law. But we need more.

We need that illustration on the box.

Without it, the puzzle (a.k.a. as “life”) is exponentially more difficult. We are left fiddling with puzzle pieces that tease and taunt but do not really belong together or even fit or even merge without whacking them with the soup spoon of life.

Pretty cool, eh? One can think of the illustration on the box as the catechism, or the teachings of the church, or the tradition of the church, or the Ten Commandments backed up by the Beatitudes, or your fourth grader teacher Sister Mary Bernadette.

So if you think of those little blue pieces as the myriad of little decisions we have to make in a day and how difficult that would be without the guidance of a moral sense, then don’t you think a jigsaw puzzle is just like life and that the picture on the box is like the moral compass of faith?

Comments are welcome. E-mail Uncle Dan at cnsuncle01@yahoo.com.

The Catholic News & Herald 15

October 21, 2005

That first job and the reality of

Take pride in your work, no matter how trivial I started looking for an after-school job only days after I turned 16. I found one quickly, and a week later I was dressed in a colorful vest at my very own checkout counter in a local discount department store, helping the good residents of my town go home with new clothes and bottles of Clorox.

I took my first paycheck to the bank and cashed my haul. Comparatively, it wasn’t much, but for a girl whose previous employment was periodic baby-sitting, the paycheck was a golden promise of mall sprees and movie matinees.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

Because I was working four days a week, my friends went to the mall without me. And because my boss scheduled me for shifts that ran from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., I missed most movies and didn’t have time to go shopping for clothes and CDs as I’d hoped to do. The challenge of the job, which seemed so interesting when I was learning about processing coupons, running credit cards and approving tax-free purchases, dropped off after a week or two.

None of the cashiers really talked that much or were even friendly to one another; we came, worked and left. The front-end supervisor barked at us and had little patience for screw-ups. It was quite different from the gentle, more accommodating treatment we got at school —

Coming of Age KAREN DIETLEIN OSBORNE cns columnist

yes, even in detention where you served your time and the offense was forgotten.

Here, the wrong mistake could get you fired.

The reality of work certainly didn’t line up with what I’d expected.

They don’t teach you about the minutiae of daily job life at school. Even with the most fun, most interesting and most “fulfilling” jobs out there, people still have to deal with mounds of drudge work and difficult days. Even the most important CEOs have to spend hours sitting in meetings. Recording artists pull grueling 16-hour days in the studio. Doctors and nurses save lives, yes, but that’s between the mounds of paperwork they have to complete.

I’ve held a number of jobs including working in a bookstore, flipping burgers and teaching grammar at my college’s writing center. They all shared one particular quality: Despite the stellar mo-

ments each job promised, the day-to-day slog could be overwhelmingly dull if I allowed it to be.

As I scanned item after item and dealt with difficult customers, I realized that the job wasn’t going to change; I would have to.

If the job didn’t challenge me, I thought, I’d have to create the challenges myself. So I made a game out of how many customers I could process in one hour, competed with myself to sell more of this or of that, and increased my transaction accuracy level so I didn’t have to deal with the front-end supervisor. On my one-year anniversary, the boss was pleased with my performance, and I got a raise.

I also coordinated my schedule with the store’s human resources manager so that I didn’t have to work evenings during the week. Instead, I could see my friends, do my homework and spend some quality time at the Cineplex. I also ramped up my efforts to be friendly to my socially reticent co-workers, and it paid off: I’m still friends with one of them nearly 10 years later.

Whether you’re scooping ice cream, pumping gas or reigning as king of the checkout line, it’s something to remember: Work may be dull at times, but it doesn’t have to be boring.

What a will can do for you

4. A will can ensure that your desires are fulfilled.

If you have dependent children, you can designate who will care for them.

You can specify the person who will handle the closing of your estate. You can select the trustee to oversee one or more trusts.

You can time the distribution of gifts to children and grandchildren. You can designate the giving of specific items to family members and friends. You can make provisions to support charitable organizations.

A will puts you in the driver’s seat and allows you to make decisions according to your values, concerns and commitments.

5. A will can conserve your assets, ensuring that more funds are available to meet your objectives.

A will may also reduce the administrative costs of probate and reduce estate taxes. Wise stewardship means making sure your assets go as far as possible.

6. A will can provide peace of mind.

You can relax in the knowledge that your temporal affairs are in order. You have cared for those persons and those concerns close to your heart. Your will can also bring a sense of peace and security to others.

With all these benefits, one might expect that every person would have a will. But the opposite is true. About

ing

Planning ahead is key in planned giv-

There are at least six things a well crafted will can do for you.

1. A will can let you close the books on your earthly stewardship responsibilities. You’ve made careful decisions to conserve your estate during life and you naturally want to do the same at death.

Through your will, you can wrap up your affairs and “put your house in order.”

2. A will can help you express your love and thoughtfulness to others.

When a person dies without a will, those who are left behind must sort out the estate and make difficult decisions without the necessary preparation. Uncertainties arise. Disagreements develop.

The grieving process is compounded by frustration.

What a difference there is when the bereaved are left with funeral instructions, an inventory list and a well crafted will.

3. A will can remind your loved ones of your basic beliefs and commitments, and can affirm your guiding principles.

Your words can provide comfort and encouragement.

The way you distribute your estate can also express your commitments.

Bequests to family members show your love and concern for their welfare. And bequests to organizations speak volumes about your values.

Guest Column JUDY SMITH guest columnist

half of all Americans die without a will. And many of those wills are out of date or invalid.

For most people, making a will is like preparing a tax return — they put it off as long as they can. You may recognize some of these excuses: “It’s too expensive”; “I can’t handle the decisions”; “My estate is too small”; “It will hasten my death”; “I don’t have time”; “I don’t know who to name as my executor or as a trustee or as the guardian for my children”; “I don’t know where all my records are”; “I’ll do it later.”

Have you been putting off preparing a will? Do you have an outdated will?

Now is a good time to take care of this.

Give your attorney a call today and make an appointment. Sound professional advice will contribute to your peace of mind and that of your family.

Judy Smith is the director of planned

How disasters affect us The Human Side FATHER

EUGENE HEMRICK cns columnist

Many people I know are wondering aloud about a world that seems to be torn asunder by disasters.

More than 300,000 people have been killed or orphaned by the Dec. 26 tsunami, hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the mudslides in Central America and the recent earthquake in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Add to this the terrorist alerts, the possibility of a bird-flu plague as devastating as the Black Death and daily reports of people being blown up by suicide bombers, and is it any wonder that so many people are fearful ?

I have to wonder if these catastrophic events are one reason we are seeing a surge in the suicide rate of college students. Young people are very sensitive, coming at life with enthusiasm and freshness. The disadvantage in this is that they haven’t experienced enough of life to be able to sort it out and get control over its darker side.

Some evangelists are using these ominous occasions to say we aren’t living life according to the Ten Commandments. Others won’t go this far, but they hold that God’s hand is behind the disasters and is prompting us to pray more.

I believe there is another dimension to disasters that will help us better understand where God is in a world that seems to be coming apart.

One psalm reads: “I am like a dead man, forgotten, like a thing to be thrown away. I have heard the slander of the crowd. Fear is all around me. ... But as for me, I trust in you, Lord. I say: ‘You are my God.’” When dark events crash upon us, we feel as if we are like the psalm’s “dead man, forgotten.” When this happens, it is as if all our strength has left us. A feeling of having lost control over our own life sets in. Worse than this, fear creates a sense of loneliness, as if we are the only ones in its grip.

On the other side of this spectrum of fear is faith, a spirit that engenders strength and says to us: “You aren’t alone. God is with you. When you embrace him nothing can break your spirit.

Faith is your strength, your companion, your means of taking control!”

Christ was forever reminding us to battle fear with faith. History reminds us that disasters have always been part of life in this world and that the world has not quite fallen apart. With faith, humankind met the challenges and overcame them.

The times we live in are challenging us to follow the wisdom of Christ and of history. Now is the time to raise our faith to a new level. With the power of faith, nothing should break our spirit.

October 21, 2005

The Catholic News & Herald 16

PARISH PROFILE

Brevard parish is the heart of Catholic community in Sacred Heart Church 4 Brian Berg Lane Brevard, NC 28712 828) 883-9572 Vicariate: Asheville Pastor: Father Carl T. Del Giudice Permanent Deacons: Deacon John J. Burke, Deacon Patrick Crosby Number of Households: 606

Father Carl T. Del Giudice Photo by Karen A. Evans

Sacred Heart Church in Brevard has been the spiritual home for many Catholics in Transylvania County for nearly 60 years. sary to expand. A new wing was added in 1965 but even this larger structure was soon too small. The nucleus of a small but growing Catholic presence was felt in Cashiers and Sapphire Valley, and in 1972, under the pastoral leadership of Father Edward Sheridan, St. Jude Chapel was built and dedicated.

Planning for the current church building on Brian Berg Lane was initiated in 1984. Architect and parishioner Al Platt designed the new complex, created to meet the spiritual, social and formation needs of the growing parish.

On Nov. 27, 1988, then-Bishop John F. Donoghue dedicated the new church.

The parish steadily continued to grow and the demands of faith formation, administration and fellowship during the pastorate of Father Carl T. Del Giudice lead to the planning, design, construction and the eventual dedication of the Parish Life Center in 1998.

On Aug. 21, 1999, Sacred Heart parishioners celebrated the church’s 50th anniversary with more than 450 parishioners, young and old, attending a Mass with then-Bishop William G. Curlin.

“We’re celebrating the events of our lives,” Father Del Giudice, said at the celebration. He also took the opportunity to pay tribute to “the very hard work, courage and fortitude that built the community we have here.”

A considerable number of the parishioners devote themselves to various ecumenical and interfaith organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, S.A.F.E., Rise and Shine, and Transylvania Christian Ministries Association, a local charity outreach. At this organization, known locally as Sharing House, parishioners oversee the distribution of donated food and clothing to needy families.

At the S.A.F.E. house, volunteers care for battered women. At Rise and Shine, they serve as volunteer counselors and help school children after school with their lessons.

Sacred Heart Church enjoys a steady annual growth rate, of which a considerable number are not only retirees, but also young immigrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries. All are becoming active and committed members of the parish family.

In order to meet the faith demands of this growing parish family, four Masses are offered each weekend including one celebrated in Spanish. Parallel faith formation tracks are offered for both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking children, youth and adults.

Staff Writer Karen A. Evans contributed to this article.

BREVARD — The story of Sacred Heart Church is rooted in the history of the Catholics who pioneered the mountainous region of western North Carolina. The earliest known Catholic presence in Transylvania County can be traced to 1820. At that time, about the nearest Catholic community was far away in Charleston, S.C. The first permanent settlement occurred in what is now the SapphireWhitewater area when Dr. Christopher Grimshawe moved there in the 1890s from the Piedmont area of South Caro-

lina. West Virginian Louis Carr arrived in 1913 to establish a sawmill and a lumber company in the heavily forested region.

Shortly thereafter, Rosemarie Morris, raised Catholic by her convert mother, Mary Helen Young, moved with her family from the Nantahala area to Brevard. Today, the Morris family has deep ancestral ties to the Young, Queen and Nimrod Jarrett families who still inhabit the region.

The establishment of paper mills in Depression-plagued 1938 was a financial boon to the area. The mills attracted job seekers, Catholics among them, who came from around the country. For these early arrivals, the weekly trip to Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville was the road to maintaining their faith.

Within a year, however, the growing number of Catholics in the Brevard area warranted the establishment of a mission staffed by the Hendersonville priests. For the next 10 years, Mass was celebrated in civic halls, bank buildings and private residences.

The organization of Catholics in Transylvania County in 1946, later named the Brevard Catholic Society, witnessed the vision that was to become Sacred Heart Church. Representatives from the Catholic community petitioned thenBishop Vincent S. Waters of Raleigh for a parish of their own. Through fund-raisers such as spaghetti dinners, dance and card parties, along with the generosity of benefactors, the local faithful scraped together enough money to purchase land and start design and construction.

Bishop Waters dedicated the original Sacred Heart Church on Aug. 28, 1949.

The 30 founding families who undertook the challenge to form as a parish and build the first church are commemorated on a bronze plaque located in the entry to the current church building.

Growth of the parish family continued, and by the early 1960s, it was neces-