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News & Herald Volume 4 Number 21 * January 27, 1995
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
The
Name Game
Ann Student
St.
New
Picks
Middle School
By JO ANN
KEANE
Associate Editor
CHARLOTTE — Michael was
Vinton
a bit confused. At 9:30, barely into
the school day, his mother took him from
Ann School. "Why?" questioned the
St. 1 1
-year-old. His mother concocted a ruse
about his father, as they drove away in silence. Her white lie took more turns as she explained a quick stop at the Catholic
Center was needed to pay late tuition. Michael was quietly perplexed. Adding to the confusion, St. Joseph Sister Helene Nagle, St. Ann principal, was roaming the Catholic Center halls, and newly named middle school principal Jerry Healy appeared with school superintendent Dr. Michael Skube.
Michael's suspicion mounted. His came down the hall. "Why is he
father
In
Name
For
Charlotte
One student thought of Mother Teresa, because "she' such a good example for us all." Another suggested Elizabeth Seton, to honor the first American saint. Many suggested Charlotte Catholic Middle School, others honored retired bishop Michael J. Begley, the first bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte. "All the suggestions were fantastic," said Healy, currently St. Gabriel principal. "Students gave a great deal of thought to their submissions, and backed up their suggestions with thoughtful rationale." Yet, once the selection committee read off the names, there was no question. Holy Trinity struck a cord with all committee members. Bishop Curlin agreed, and officially approved the name. Although five MACS students suggested versions of Holy Trinity, a random drawing picked Michael. "I didn't want to name it after a saint," said Michael. There are so many schools named for saints already, Michael rationalized. "I thought of suggesting something
original."
here?" thought Michael, as the clues
began
See
Name, Page
13
to fall into place.
"As long as you re here, would like to meet the bishop?" Michael was asked. His day was unusual enough already. "Sure," '
you
he replied, with a note of uncertainly in
iiis
voice.
"Congratulations, buddy," said
Michael Vinton, a sixth grader at St.Ann School, receives congratulations from Bishop William G. Curlin (above) and from his fellow
Bishop William G. Curlin to Michael. "I understand you named the
students
new middle school."
(left)
after
being
named winner of the Mecklenburg Area name the new Catholic middle school Photos by JO ANN KEANE
Catholic Schools contest to
At long last, Michael's Friday mystery was solved.
in
Charlotte.
Sixth grader Michael's entry
Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools' "Name the New Middle School" contest was selected for the soon-to-be middle school on
in
Prison Ministry Not Easy
But Growing
In Diocese By KATHLEEN SCHMUGGE
Park Road.
Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School was selected from more than 200
entries in the contest
open
HICKORY — Prison Ministry is neither an easy nor popular becoming a rapidly growing ministry in the The Prison Ministry Conference on Jan. 20 at the Catholic Convention Center drew more than 30 enthusiastic participants from various parishes throughout the diocese. Last year less than a handful attended. Why the sudden increase? Each person seemed to have a unique reason, but one thing was certain: ministry, but
to
MACS students. Contestants comprise the first classes to enter the
new middle school for its first term nex
fall.
they
Rising middle school students were asked to submit name sugges-
In a
elected
for Life,
newly
members of Congress took the stage with
incumbent colleagues in vowing to cut off funding for Planned Parenthood and reverse laws
their
or administrative mandates that
more
together to explore a Christian solution to current
could pay you no higher compliment than to associate your God who visited Peter in prison and brought him forth into freedom," said Bishop William G. Curlin in a letter of support that set the tone for the day. Patricia Kersey, the first speaker, emphasized the need for love and compassion for the incarcerated. She showed her ability to live up to her words when she discussed her own visits and correspondence with some of the most notorious prisoners on death row. Bill Matevie, Prison Ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Charlotte, was like the wise sage. He offered some practical advise about sincerity. "I don't have a step-by-step procedure on how to minister to those in prison ... but I can say that they know when it's a snow job; when you arejust shoving a Bible at them or if you really task with that visitor from
Peaceful Fight For Life Emphasized WASHINGTON (CNS) — rousing December murders of two Massachusetts aborMarch
came
"I
From St. Agnes to St. Xavier, names ran the gamut.
kickoff to the annual
all
social problems.
tions.
the
is
it
Charlotte Diocese.
current 5th, 6th and 7th grade
make
tion clinic employees. There apparently
use of official access passes were more conspicu-
ous than
in previous years.
NARAL president Kate Michelman had asked
abortions
readily available.
were no
security problems, although measures such as the
Gray to cancel the march out of concern that such
care."
Before a crowd estimated by the National Park Service Police at 45,000, March for Life president Nellie Gray read a letter to the president of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, responding to her request that the
gatherings posed a danger to wel 1-meaning people
march be canceled. "You and I walk on opposite sides," Gray read from her letter "There is no in-between
employees. But, she said, the violence of abortion brought out such killings, not the overwhelmingly
Matevie emphasized the ministry was not about eliminating punishment for criminals. "There is a need for penalties. People must be held responsible for their actions. However, there is not a need to judge. I love the person and let God do the judging." Rev. Walter Dennis, chaplain at the Mecklenburg County Jail, was able to give some powerful testimony on how he used the
position."
Supporters of legalized abortion had been apprehensive about the event in light of the
on both sides of the abortion debate. In her response, Gray told Michelman that she empathized with her deep feelings of hurt over the deaths of two Massachusetts abortion clinic
peaceful movement to oppose abortion. I
suffer because society suffers,"
"You and
Gray added.
See March, Page 3
struggles in his
own
life to
reach the people in prison
congregation. "They can't turn
They
can't turn
away form love and
away from God," he
—
his
forgiveness.
said.
See Prison, Page 3