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News & Herald Volume 6 Number 16

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

December 20, 1996

A Christmas Message from Bishop William G. Curlin

A Remembrance Of Christmas Past Everyone

has their favorite Christmas Story; mine took place 26 years ago when asked by my Archbishop to accept a new pastoral assignment on the following

When

reminded the Archbishop is Christmas Eve," he smiled and said: "Merry Christmas." I confess that I began my first pastor's appointment with a reluctant heart. My new parish was actually an old church in the inner city of Washday. that

I

"Tomorrow

ington, D.C., built in the 1800s.

Time

had taken its toll on both the church building and the neighborhood. The parish community consisted of a few subsidized apartments for senior citizens. recall

how

I

cold and dreary the weather

was that Christmas Day. Less than a hundred people had attended Mass dur-

somewhat discourwent into the church late on Christmas evening. There were few Christmas decorations in the church and the lighting was primarily that of votive candles. Suddenly I heard an elderly voice cry out: "Who's there?" I turned in the direction of the voice and saw an elderly African- American lady seated in one of the church pews. When I asked her name, she replied, "I'm Miss Hattie Davis." She explained that she had become a Catholic when she was 70 years of age and was now past 90. She had outlived her family and had no place to go on Christmas Day. She decided to "spend Christmas with the Lord in the ing the day. Feeling

aged,

I

church."

When Miss Hattie asked where I had come from,

I

described the beautiful

church in the suburb of Washington where I had lived until the day before. I also told Miss Hattie about the wonderful decorations in the church. Suddenly, Miss Hattie asked me: "Lord, Father, why did you come to a place like this?" I was immediately embarrassed. Her question taught me why I had been sent there. "I believe that

God

sent

me

here

Miss Hattie." I invited her to have Christmas dinner with me in the rectory. Remembering there was no food in the rectory, I asked Miss Hattie to remain while I searched the neighborhood for a grocery store. Finally I found a to find you,

small store that offered a limited supply of food; I recall buying hot dogs and

some canned beans. Miss Hattie didn't seem to mind the "poverty" of our Christmas dinner. She explained that every day she shared a can of dog food with a neighbor so the food would not spoil. in

my

Apparently other senior citizens new parish family did the same.

CNS

photo courtesy National Gallery

ot Art

Child. Mary offers grapes to the Christ child in this oil painting by Gerard David from 1510. The painting titled, "The Rest on the Flight into Egypt," is a holding of the National Gallery of Art, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, on display in

Virgin

and

Washington.

women, one of

From that point on, I was determined that

less

Miss Hattie and her friends would never eat dog food again. With the help of generous friends, we obtained two gas stoves for our large

Nation's Capitol. Miss Hattie died not

rectory kitchen.

was

My first culinary attempt

a "disaster," but in time

my

cooking skills improved. Others discovered what I was doing and came to offer their help. As the "cooks" increased in number so did the number of our guests; before long we were feeding hundreds. Many willing hearts and hands established a much-needed ministry in our community. In time our former school building

became

a center for senior citi-

zens and our convent a shelter for home-

the first in the All

we met on that Christmas Day, had taught me and many others

are invited to attend

long after but she

meaning of Christmas: seeing and serving Christ in one another. Perhaps you have a favorite Christ-

the true

mas

This can be a Christmas for each of us to remember. A Christmas that remembers Christ; Christ hidden in the story.

poor, the homeless, the neighbor or elderly friend living alone

May God bless you

and unnoticed. for your charity

and works of mercy during this holy season and throughout the year. Be assured of the remembrance in my Christmas Masses for you and all your loved ones.

a special Mass

Sunday, Jan.

12,

1997

at

3:00 p.m. at St.

Matthew Church

to

commemorate Bishop Michael

J.

Begley's

25th anniversary and the Silver Anniversary of the

Diocese of Charlotte.


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