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December Volume 10
NEWS
2000
1,
Number 13
Serving Catholics
I
n
$
i
Advent
d
HERALD
&
Western North Carolina
in
in
the Diocese of Charlotte
invites
faithful to Bullets mix with Bible
studies for West
focus on Christ
Bank
By
seminarians
JIMMY ROSTAR
Associate Editor
...Page
7
As the last of the Thanksgiving turkey has made its way into soups or the freezer, holiday shoppers
madly rush toward
their favorite malls and department stores, some even waiting in the cold, pre-dawn hours outside doors opening to holi-
Harlem Globetrotters
make PopeJohn Paul honorary member
II
Page 16
day sales galore. Indeed, it's Christmas time all over again. Travel plans are underway, gift lists are being traded and looming heavily is the overwhelming task of planning how to fit bundles of
CNS
PHOTO BY DlANNE TOWALSKI, St. CLOUD VISITOR
The Africa kesa, or prayer shawl, was created by fabric artist and teacher Betsy Sterling Benjamin to promote world understanding and peace. It is on display at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.
holiday cheer into already-full schedules.
Local
But for the Christian faithful, these four weeks before Christmas signify a different kind of preparation, one that focuses more on peace-
News Youth gather forJubilee
event
meditation than frantic merrymaking. Perhaps more so than in any ful
other time in the church's calendar, Advent is a time for Christians to reflect on the presence of Jesus not only among them today, but at his birth two millennia ago and at the fulfillment of human destiny with his
—
...Page
3
second coming.
SOA
protest
Groups from
Advent nings.
The
is
a time for
first
new begin-
Sunday of Advent
marks the beginning of the liturgical year in the Catholic Church and opens a season of focus on the one who brought mankind a new be-
Charlotte Diocese among those demanding school's
Pope urges
close
.Page
4
By
_ Entertainment
Editorials
.Pages
10-11
.Pages
12-13
& Columns
ALESHA M. PRICE
Immaculate Conception is December 8
The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" likens the season of Advent for today's faithful to the lengthy period of waiting for the Messiah by the people of Old Testament times.
"The coming of God's Son
to
an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries," the Catechism says. "He announces him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, he awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming." John the Baptist, the Catechism earth
is
continues, was sent to
ately
announce Christ
— from womb
to calling Jesus the
See
more immedi-
embrace Vatican
li
bers to read the documents of the
lay ministers can serve in a variety of
Second Vatican Council, saying a return to the council was the key to eliminating lukewarmness among believers and to tackling the world's
church positions including servers, musicians, lectors, commentators, choir members and other important church roles and in schools and organizations affiliated with the church. While deacons, who have received the sacrament of holy orders, are not considered lay ministers, brothers and
Pope John
social problems.
"Study the council, explore it its spirit and guidance: You will find in it the light and strength to witness the Gospel in every
field
Nov. 26
of
human
at the
existence," he said
end of
dedicated to the
a jubilee
Mass
his
Monsignor
appeal, the
pope gave heavy, hardbound copies of the council documents to five pairs of lay people who were attending a Nov. 25-30 world laity congress at
Philip
Murnion,
di-
rector of the National Pastoral Life
Center
laity.
Underscoring
can be considered as such.
sisters
in
New
York, said that one lay ministers have
reason
why more
begun
to
work
in parish life is be-
cause there are fewer priests and
ADVENT,
page
education, social ministry,
mem-
—
urged the church's lay
of
9
documents
in
II
Lamb
"When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming," the Catechism
nance and other
CHARLOTTE
Lord
God, from his own preaching to his own martyrdom. It is through John's example and witness that all the faithful are called to contemplate the presence of Christ of yesterday, of today and of eternity.
Based on documents from the Department of Communications of the United States CatholLc Conference,
Paul
as the
his leaping in his mother's
the Vatican.
deeply, assimilate
The Feast of the
tion.
laity to
Staff Writer
Every Week
ginning with his earthly Incarna-
fi-
areas.
"It is marvelous to see lay people taking on some of the responsibility of the decision-making roles in the church," said Father Mauricio W. West, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte. "I value their insight and commitment to diocesan life which allows the Gospel to become a lived experience as opposed to being lifeless words on a page. can spend time talking about a commitment to church, but it is good to see people living out their faith."
We
Brief torrential downpours and the rumbling of thunder punctuated the St. Peter's Square liturgy. Some of the 40,000 participants,
women ishes.
religious able to work in parLay people can bring expertise
See LAITY, page
14