March 16, 2001

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Number

Volume 10

N E

2001

16,

27

w

s

Serv ng Catholics

Inside Woman walks road from rage to reconciliation

Page 5

Priest reflects liturgical

on popular

song Page 8

News

Local

Catechists gather for

Lenten retreat

4

..Page

Faith journey leads to

permanent diaconate 7

...Page

Every Week Entertainment

Editorials

.Pages

10-11

.Pages

12-13

& Columns

Rite of Election ...Page

Pictured right

Diocese

—

Hundreds

of Charlotte

9

in

the

gathered to

cel-

ebrate the Rite of Election and Call to

Continuing Conversion, a key step

in

the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Photo by Joann

S.

Keane

in

& U Western North Carolina

It in

L

the Diocese of Charlotte

D

The Catholic News & Herald

2

Ihe World

March

Brief

in

Court refuses to hear case on graduation speech's religious

most of the its field,

tone

as

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The US. Supreme Court

was prevented from giving

who

speech three years ago

down

tone

its

in

Without

had violated

in

The

student, Chris Niemeyer,

was

God and

"God

realize that

disappeared SANTIAGO, Chile (CNS)

pleas to the audience to "pat-

and to

tern their lives after Jesus' example"

Speakers assess bioethics from various faith perspectives

— Anything

Augusto Pinochet reconciliation

involv-

5,

ing science or technology must be seen from a moral or social point of view, Rabbi Donald Dixon told a bioethics conference in Miami. Rabbi Dixon, a member of the Miami Heart Institute Bioethics Commis-

Jewish

sion, said the

Thomas

Orthodox

School

justice, forgiveness,

(CNS)

ency," said the cardinal,

violence can occur anywhere.

An

custody, was also an

in police

eighth-grade

girl.

communications

News

Maria Orzel, diocesan director, told Catholic

Service that Bishop James C.

TUCSON, Ariz.

W

& H

S

R A L D

K

March 16, 2001 Volume 10 • Number 27 Most Reverend William G. Joann S. Keane

Publisher: Editor:

Associate Editor: Staff Writer:

Curlin

Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick

Secretary: Jane Glodowski

vandalism occurred

photo from Catholic Press Photo

St.,

Charlotte,

Box 37267,

Charlotte,

Spanish nun holds images of newly beatified March

1 1

most ever

in St. Peter's Square. at

Pope John Paul

one time, during the

II beatified

233 martyrs, the

service.

NC 28203 NC 28237

tpiscopa., calendar Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events:

Attending Leadership Training Program St. Vincent de Paul, Charlotte

E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

St.

The Catholic News & Herald,

Roman

Church

USPC 007-393,

is

published

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South

NC 28203,

44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all St., Charlotte,

Second-class Charlotte NC and

other subscribers.

postage paid at other

cities.

POSTMASTER: Send

The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267,

address corrections Charlotte,

NC

to

28237.

mortuary chapel

in a

mission, which

land

owned by

located

is

on

federal trust

the Diocese of Tucson and

surrounded by the Tohono O'odham Nation.

—

The first act

discovered Feb. 13

—

included the desecration of 35 of the 50

Timlin of Scranton, who is a pilot, left Scranton immediately to fly out to Williamsport, about 75 miles west.

Bishop Neumann, one of nine Catholic high schools in the Scranton Diocese, has about 230 Students in grades 7-12.

Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382

by the

Officials at I

next to the world-rertowned, 203-year-old

A Spanish nun holds an image of a few of the newly beatified Spanish martyrs

March 25 Mass

P.O.

—

dalism in one week in February. All the

CNS

March 24

Jimmy Rostar

Alesha M. Price

1123 South Church

(CNS)

detecting floodlights and a 7-foot security

Mercy nun to direct Interfaith Center on

statues located in the chapel as well as

extensive spray painting. Early on Feb.

Corporate Responsibility NEW YORK (CNS) The Inter-

—

faith

Center on Corporate Responsibility, a

New

York-based agency diat coordinates

— 11 a.m.

March 26

Hills,

— 7 p.m.

LARCUM

Ecumenical

Dialogue Catholic Conference Center,

Hickory

Guadalupe was found covered and smoldering.

8,

in

motor

Law

at (336)

oil

last

288-

for information.

— The

22 HICKORY Home

Program

Respite

is

Volunteer

In#

providing train-

19 CHARLOTTE— The Ladies Ancient

ing for volunteers at

921 2nd St NE, tonight and March 29 from 6-9 p.m. For more information, call

terested in her Irish-Catholic roots, call Jeanmarie Schuler at (704) 554-0720 for

Girls'

Group is for all

Catholic girls ages

and up. The group meets at St. Joseph Church, 720 West 13th St, at 4 p.m. in the Holy Family Hall. For details, call Debbie

five

Vickers at (828) 495-2039.

21 GREENSBORO Council of Catholic

— The Greensboro

Women

annual mini-Lenten retreat at

March 28-29

1

were discovered broken.

Later that evening a statue of Our Lady of

6022

NEWTON — The Little Flowers Catho-

Confirmation Our Lady of the Annunciation, Albemarle

statues

gathering. Call Janet

fiirther information.

Eden

more

Order of Hibernians, an Irish-Catholic social and charitable interparish group, meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at St Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. Anyone in-

lic

Joseph of the

tiiree

bring hors d'oeuvres to share after the

Diocesan. planner March

Graphic Designer: Tim Faragher

Mail:

also presi-

Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson have decided to install motion-

.

E

is

historic

Th

N

who

Security stepped up after vandalism at historic mission

eighth-

grade girl suffered a bullet wound in the upper arm. The alleged shooter, who

was

way of truth,

dent of the Chilean bishops' conference.

—A

and shocking" reminder that

a "sad

the

is

repentance and clem-

gate following three separate acts of van-

Williamsport

in

Chileans,

'The only possibility to

bring Chileans together

to 'play

7 student shooting at Bishop

Neumann High

among

reconciliation

porters of Pinochet.

Gen-

Scranton diocesan spokeswoman called

March

cardinal to a

sharply divided between critics and sup-

Catholic high school shooting called shocking

the

On March

Chileans.

Errazuriz proposed a formula to achieve

yes,

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa

new

final

rabbi said

you would be allowed you could do that"

that

is

God' and,

required for building

is

among

ceremony at the During the nationally broadcast ceremony, Cardinal

cloning would be Godlike, "so the consensus

Cardi-

Chilean President Ricardo Lagos invited

the

faith takes its lead

University. Relating

esis to bioethics, the

—

president's official house.

from the Book of Genesis, where mankind is made in the image of God. "So we feel strongly that we must behave in a Godlike manner, being merciful, just and forgiving," he said. The rabbi was one of several representatives of faith groups who spoke at a bioethics conference in early February at St.

\

Ossa-of Santiago said the truth about those who disappeared during the 1973-90 reign of Gen.

seeks a personal relation-

(CNS)

\

nal Francisco Errazuriz

ship" with each of them.

MIAMI

'

Chilean cardinal says peace requires truth about

High School in Oro\ille, His speech had numerous references

class at Oroville

to

active role

movement

the corporate responsibility

the board of the interfaith center.

co-valedictorian of the 1998 graduating

Calif!

Wolf took an

munity Center for Peace and Justice in New York, and from 1981 to 1983 chaired

they did not allow him to give his prepared speech.

J

heading the agency

after

while serving on the staff of the Intercom-

when

his rights

September

since 1976. Sister

comment, the court rejected the former student's argument that public school district officials

executive director, effective

6.

Timothy H. Smith, a United Methodist layman from Canada who left

when he would not

religious references.

in

Wolf

she succeeded

graduation

his

Sister Patricia

Following an interim directorship by Ursuline Sister Valerie Heinonen,

refused to hear the case of a

California high school valedictorian

new

its

March

groups

activity of religious

named Mercy

2001

16,

is

having

St.

its

Paul the

Aposde Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd., at die Wednesday 10 am Masses continuing this morning, March 28 and April

4.

The

ladies ask that attendants

St.

Aloysius Church,

Kathryn Tinkelenberg, parish nurse, (828) 464-9880.

23 HOT SPRINGS

— The

Jesuit

at

House

NW

Hwy. 25/70, is hosting of Prayer, 289 a renewal of body and spirit for those who parent children with special needs. Beginning at 7:30 p.m tonight and ending with Mass and lunch on March

25, this retreat's

on spiritual and physical needs and the deepening of one's awareness through communication with God through prayer.

The facilitator, Ann Mercer, has worked focus

is

with parents of children with special needs for over 16 years. tion, call (828)

For

details

MAGGIE VALLEY Lenten retreat

and

registra-

622-7366.

is

—

A weekend

being held at Living

ters Reflection Center, 103

Wa-

Living Waters

..

March

2001

16,

The World

The Catholic News & Herald 3

Brief

in

Youth ministers, chaplains offer comfort to shooting victims

or free anti-retroviral treatment and treatment for opportunistic diseases re-

—

LOS ANGELES (CNS) In an outpouring of faith in the midst of tragedy, Catholic youth ministers, priests, chaplains, parents and teens ministered to each other following the March 5 shooting of 15 people at San tana High School in Santee, northwest of San Diego. Five youth ministers from area churches were meeting together that morning at Guardian Angels Church in Santee, when one of them got a call on her cell phone from a terrified daughter fleeing the high school minutes after the shooting. Father Michael Cunnane, pastor at Guardian Angels, and several youth ministers immediately drove to the school and gathered with fleeing students and parents in the parking lot of the shopping mall across the street. In such chaotic and terrifying moments "presence

is

Durban, president of the conference, said in a statement. South Africa's medicines legislation came under the spotlight in the Pretoria High Court March 6 as about 40 pharmaceutical companies challenged the court to uphold drug patents and ban the use of cheaper alternatives by the government.

Vatican Radio's main FM keeps many Holy Year innovations VATICAN CITY (CNS) Al-

station

—

though many things at the Vatican have returned to normal after the Holy Year, Vatican Radio's primary FM station has not. Once an Italian-language station hosting programs in other languages, 105 on the FM dial was the Holy Year

the big thing," said Father

home

vocations marathon, they all run the good race

LOS ANGELES (CNS)

— The

CNS photo by Karen

prayer drive. Whereas runners usually ask for pledges for

example

the

Run

—

—

to finance a charity,

those

who

signed up for

criticize

This year the run, which was

Caregivers, professional and nonprofes-

sional,

started

14 years ago, drew 77 priests,

sional,

shared their experiences of death and dying during a series of 90-minute

and dying during a

nuns, brothers, seminarians and parishioners as participants.

41 -year-old

Frank Ebiner,

member of St. John

Parish in Baldwin Park, was the

of the 77 to cross the finish

a

the Bapfirst

He made

line.

it in 3:13:39. Ebiner and the rest followed the 26.2-mile marathon trail that took them through the heart of downtown Los Angeles, up to Hollywood, and

back.

Focus group participants share

focus group sessions held Feb.

March

19-

Cloud Hospital. The

2 at St.

meetings were part of a project called "Supportive Care of the Dying," which encourages society to give people with life-threatening illnesses supportive care,

compassionate help in

relief

from

suffering,

and

managing pain and symptoms.

Focus group participants share experiences of caring for dying

experiences of caring for dying

—

ST.

CLOUD,

Minn. (CNS)

— Sup-

90-minute focus group sessions held Feb. 19-

U.S. and Italian doctors to clone

March

from

life-threatening illnesses supportive care,

from suffering, and help in managing pain and symptoms.

Southern African bishops decry attempts to block cheap

compassionate

relief

AIDS drugs

CAPE TOWN,

— The Southern ops'

emotional, according to people involved

the St. Cloud area.

Caregivers, professional and nonprofes-

people with the

St.

Cloud

area.

March 25.

Maureen Meehan and

Lane, this weekend through

Mercy Mercy

Sister Sister

Dorothy McLaughlin are

presenting the theme of people's

neys

in

the context of faith. For

life

jour-

more infor-

mation, call (828) 926-3833 or e-mail lwcrc@main.nc.us.

24 CHARLOTTE

—

St.

Matthew

Church, 8015 Ballantyne Pkwy.,

is

host-

ing a day of prayer, renewal, faith sharing

and the celebration of women as sisters in the Lord today from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

With

theme "Empowered by Love" as a backdrop, the 2nd Annual Women's

Day

the

includes an afternoon session entitled

This Mess: Living with the Reality of Our Lives" with Mercy Sister Jeanne Marie Kienast. The Carolina Catholic Bookshop will be displaying items, and lunch is also being served. Call Kathy Murray at (704) 849-0398 for registration and information.

DENVER The Knights of Columbus Council 10389 Denver is hosting its annual Irish night dinner at Holy Spirit Church, 537 Hwy. 16 North, tonight at 7 "Bless

—

in

just as

—

such care

in

p.m The

dinner of corned beef cabbage and potatoes is open to the public on a firstcome, first-served basis. For tickets and information, call Charley Swengros at (704) 483-1687 or the church office at (704) 483-6448.

25

BELMONT— House ofMercy Inc.

sponsoring

its

is

8th annual three-mile walk

Cloud Hospital. The

2 at St.

important as when life begins. That endcare can be a huge burden but can also bear fruit both spiritual and emotional, according to people involved of-life

life is

series of

meetings were part of a project called "Supportive Care of the Dying," which encourages society to give people with

port and care at the end of

such care in the

church leaders plans to clone humans

Conference

South Africa (CNS)

African Catholic Bish-

criticized a bid

by phar-

virus. It

is

"inde-

fensible to prevent the provision of cheap

Mercy School, 1 East Banner Ave., at 10:30 am. on March 30. Call the schools for details.

29 GREENSBORO Women's Weekend at

St Pius

X

is

Schools in

reconciliation services

on the following

at (704)

1.

For

1 1

Elm

St.,

details, call

544S665 or Aliceann

in the vicariate are

End of Kirby Rd.

—

having

— The

this

Scouts of America Catholic

in

using

must remember the

is

first

that

consideration"

knowledge. 'The hu-

scientific

man

being can never be a reality fabricated solely with technology," he said.

taking place today through April 1 at the Woodfield Scout Reservation. All parish and other Cub Scout Packs and Scout

contact

invited to participate in this

Henry Wallace

9329.

31 BOONE

— The

Faith Formation

at (704) 792-

diocesan Office of

presenting the 5th

is

Annual Boone Education Conference today beginning at 9 am. and concluding at 3 p.m. at St. Elizabeth Church, 259 Pilgrims Way. Based on the theme "Our Baptismal Call and Response," Anne Trufant in her

and

will share

life

and

her sense of God's

will

spirituality

engage

with participants.

deadline for registration

and

for information

and

is

March

The 26,

registration, call

Peg Ruble, Central Regional mation Coordinator,

call

in fellowship

Faith For-

at (704) 391-0445.

in King, April

at 7 p.m. Call the churches for details.

30 ASHEBORO

is

by Panayiotis Zavos, a U.S. fertility researcher, and includes Severino Antinori, an Italian fertility' doctor. Cardinal Carlo Martini of Milan said March

yearly event. For additional ^formation,

Lenten reconciliation services on the following dates: Our Lady of Mercy, 1919 S. Main St in Winston-Salem, tonight at 7 p.m.; Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Corner of Cherry and 3rd Sts. in Winston-Salem, April 5 at 7 p.m; Our Lady of the Rosary, 619 S. Main St. in Lexington, and Holy Family, 4820 Kinnamon Rd. in Clemmons, April 6 at 7 p.m.; St Benedict the Moor, 1625 E. 12th St in WinstonSalem, April 10 at 7 p.m. and Good Shepherd, East

little

The cloning team

Troops are

at (704) 540-8696.

dates:

St Leo School, 333 Springdale Ave., morning at 10 a.m. and Our Lady of

a publicity stunt with

The 57th

Churches

—

it

chance of succeeding.

taking place

Church, 2210 N.

today through April

Dan Hines

—

Ultreya

WINSTON-SALEM VICARIATE

the Winston-Salem area 'are having Lenten

deaths and physical aberrations, while others called

10 that scientists

and awareness for AIDS research.

Walkers of all ages are invited to secure sponsors for each of the three miles, and churches, civic organizations and }fouth groups are also encouraged to form teams and walk togedier. A celebration featuring prizes, local entertainment and refreshments is taking place immediately following the event. For more information or- to register, call Paula Wilkerson at (704)

28 WINSTON-SALEM

March 9. Some scientists said the project would inevitably produce premature

"human dignity

AIDS

human

reaction

Italian officials and church leaders.

Vatican experts, however, virtually ignored the team's announcement, which came at a press conference in Rome

African government from making cheaper generic drugs available to

die walk at 2 p.m. to raise funds for the

4.

drew a chorus of negative

maceutical companies to stop the South

Coon

825-4711, Ext.

babies

led

today witb registration at 1:45 p.m. with facility

ROME (CNS) — Plans by a team of

shared their experiences of death

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (CNS) Support and care, at the end of life is just as important as when life begins. That endof-life care can be a huge burden but can also bear fruit both spiritual and

—

in which Italian, English and French presenters spoke to each other and their listeners in their own language.

When the jubilee ended Jan. 6, the station became "One-O-Five Live," keeping large chunks of the multilingual format, although primarily in Italian and English. For budgetary and staffing reasons, Jubilaeum's twin in Spanish and Portuguese ended with the jubilee.

Italian officials,

for Vocations asked for prayers

instead.

in

Callaway

Bishops meet with female church leaders Dolores R. Leckey, senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, and Archbishop John G. Vlazny of Portland, Ore., sing a hymn at the opening of a national consultation in Chicago on women in the church and society March 1 1. Archbishop Vlazny chairs the U.S. bishops' Committee on Women in Society and in the Church, which was sponsoring the three-day meeting with women from across the nation.

an-

for Vocations, part of the 16th

Los Angeles Marathon March 4, aims to promote religious life. Participants raise awareness for vocations through a

tist

to "Jubilaeum," broadcasting pro-

grams

In L.A.

Run

by insisting on patent Napier of

rights," Cardinal Wilfrid F.

Cunnane.

nual

AIDS

lated to

Boy Camporee is

diocesan

Please submit notices ofeventsfor the Diocesan

Planner at tion date.

least

10 days prior to

the publica-

The Catholic News & Herald

4

ALESHA M. PRICE

By

with what

Catechetical leaders

Staff Writer

HICKORY

— Eighteen

holes of golf

Mahony

can sometimes prepare Joan

ordinator at

St.

The

Vincent de Paul Church

Charlotte said the golf course

away from home. Her job

is

we do and why we do

it."

2001

nator and catechist at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton for six years, says one of the reasons she is •

for

gain insight, spiritual

formation co-

faith

16,

Terri Martino, faith formation coordi-

the daily routine of her ministry as a parish catechetical leader.

March

Around the Diocese

involved in this ministry

of passing the

is

the importance

home

along not only to her children but to other children as well, and

a steady

the job also helps her personal faith

is

a

in

nourishment at retreat

faith

in her oftentimes

development She tries to involve the entire parish in her work and stresses that communication with the students and the parents is the key. She said that the retreat

seven-day-a-week profession. Golf simply

served as a time for her to fellowship with

serves as a getaway for her from her busy

other PCL's.

stream of parental conferences; gathering of materials for the parish catechists, or formation teachers; student consulta-

faith

and other duties

tions

"If we don't take the

schedule.

think that

"I

because

it is

God

invented the

game

such a spiritual experience that

can't

be understood unless you play.

how

I

away from

get

away from God," she

Mahony and

it all

time to rejuvenate

by attending some kind of retreat or day of reflection to help us focus on priorities and. spiritual refreshment, then we cannot continue on our own journeys of faith,"

It is

but never get

explained Martino.

explained.

who led the afternoon

approximately 75 oth-

Kravatz,

ers across the diocese

to help the

for spiritual

had an opportunity and mental renewal at the

presentations into perspective, said that

session

group bring the morning

formation

an important part of the

parish catechetical leaders' retreat held at

faith

the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory

development of the individual and the

on March 10. The day consisted of presentations from Bishop William G. Curlin; Father George Kloster, pastor of St. William Church in Murphy and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hayesvi]le, and Marylin Kravatz, Southern Regional Faith Formation Coordinator; a prayer service and time for small group discus-

parish as a whole. 'This

how

left to right, Marylin Kravatz, diocesan Southern Regional Faith Formation Coordinator; Joan Mahony, St. Vincent de Paul Church faith formation coordinator; Peg Ruble, diocesan Central Regional Faith Formation Coordinator; Doctor Cris Villapando, diocesan director of faith formation programs;, and Franciscan Sister Bernadette Svatos, diocesan Northern Regional Faith Formation Coordinator discuss the morning presentations at the parish catechetical leaders' retreat in Hickory at the Catholic Conference Center on March 10.

those

message

world: "Our gifts will not have any lasting

authentic theology of the church

we

don't

recommit ourselves and

surrender to Jesus Christ every day.

work

Your

—

the Scriptures, history and the Church

program runs

to other people.

fathers."

She said that gatherings such as this help her in her parish work. "While this ministry does energize the soul, sometimes we need to get that energy from someplace else to fill in any gaps. It is important to come together with like-minded people and is extremely uplifting to get in touch

"It is

and Scripture reading, then you will be able to spread the message of Jesus' love to all you serve."

Father Kloster presented church his-

year to retreat from the everyday business

if

life

important to have the PCL's and

come together

also nice for

them

inspired

challenged to

ideas

once a "It is

to be in the presence of

the bishop, their chief catechist, and be

about restoration theology, a possible reII

at least

of their ministry," explained Kravatz.

tory in reference to recent discussions

and doctrine

by

his

message.

grow

The PCL's

Sundays are usually busy days

PCL

Reformation.

Vincent de Paul for nine years. During that

how

worked at setting up the faith formation program for the young parish-

after the Protestant

talked about the importance of

times.

PCL's

face

is

"One of the battles that the what do they teach our chil-

and retaining volunteers and keeping abreast of new faith formation materials. She also schedules meetings with parents, times and dates for the administering of sacraments and parent-

purpose was to help them understand

Vatican

II

sources and to

show how

at St.

ioners, obtaining

dren," he said after his presentation. "So,

my

the

time, she has

reforms carried the church into

II

these

the joy you experience

as efficiently as possible.

this

pace and responsi-

That

is

when you

it is

minister

the bonus of doing

kind of work."

Contact Staff Writer Alesha M. Price by calling (704) 370-3354 or e-mail amprice@charlottediocese.org.

for

convened

modern

Christ

is

are

Mahony, who has been

Vatican

know

in faith together."

derived from the Council of Trent, which

He

all

of being a PCL, what balances

bility

catechists

not easy, but

turn to pre-Vatican

can

that entails

spite of the busy, hectic

and performs other behindthe scenes details to make sure the

you constantly

prayer

What

child activities

reconnect with Christ through a consistent

is

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evant and livable in today's ever-changing value

not a job;

not just professional requirements, which is the knowledge part of knowing your theology and developing your learning of the faith and the administration of that knowledge.

"As an administrator, you are a key part of the parish family because catechetical programs are not apart from better.

From

across the diocese.

make

we

with others so Photo by Alesha M. Price

and coordinators, RCIA and adult faith formation coordinators and catechists Bishop Curlin talked about

is

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sions for parish faith formation directors

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•

March

2001

16,

By

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Around the Diocese

Associate EorroR

CLEMMONS

— On

a

me a great big kiss right smack on the lips.

She said, There, Momma, that's the way

Woman walks

JIMMY ROSTAR Sunday dur-

it

should

The moment touched Marietta and capped what, to that point, had been a perfect day for a family.

ing a liturgical season that focuses on reconciliation,

Marietta Jaeger Lane spoke

road from rage

about the struggle between fury and forgiveness.

It is a

in

I

a family camping vacation, her youngest

daughter was kidnapped from the tent

which she and her four siblings slept.

What began as the family's dream vaca-

God for that lovely memory,"

said,

"because

week was murdered.

tortured, raped and, a

abducted,

Rage

Marietta shared her family's story with an audience at Holy Family Church

During

11 as part of that Lenten series on the themes of mercy and forgiveness. For nearly two hours, Marietta weaved a narrative of the rage and reconciliation and faith that

who

parish's

Marietta

said.

"And there

is

we

have to come to when things happen in our or we hurt, or life doesn't go the way we it

to

go

that

we must make an

faith

and know that no matter what like,

God

loves us.

God

is

with

A

cycle.

act of

looks

A

boat dragged the river for Susie's

body. it

And

us."

the family huddled in various

and anger. "All we

states of shock, panic

could do was watch at the picnic table day

God's mountain The to a

path from their Michigan

month of camping

in

children

their five

were on top of the world. They

— and

wait

and wait

...

and

...

wait."

Montana passed

husband and

day

after

home

through eight states, and by the time their van pulled into Three Forks for their first stop, Marietta, her

of stuffed animals

trail

Over the next weeks, search planes buzzed overhead. Teams on the ground looked on horseback, on foot, on motor-

all

life,

want

slept.

enforcement.

to forgive,"

a point

Mon-

The campground that served as host of the family's dream vacation suddenly transformed into headquarters for the FBI and local law

—

how

...

night of their

lay sprinkled across the grass.

she experienced after her daughter's disap-

need to learn

first

cut a hole in the tent near her head

where she

pearance.

"We

that

was

after she

tana vacation, Susie was taken by someone

Clemmons March

—

time

last

family

tion of a lifetime turned into a nightmare.

in

was the

it

my little girl."

ever saw

Though a year would pass before her knew for sure, 7-year-old Susie was

to reconciliation

in

praise

"I

Marietta

struggle she

when,

firsthand

grew to know the summer of 1973 on

be.'"

Holy Family Church youth ministry members Lauren Pashke and Mary Kate Foley, both 15, share stories of faith with Marietta Jaeger Lane after her March 1 1 presentation at the church on rage and reconciliation.

Please allow us to introduce

you

to.

met up with trailer

whose

Marietta's parents, in

she and her husband planned to

stay.

we had come

"I felt

tain,"

she

time that

said.

we

to God's

"We were

moun-

having the best

ever had as a family."

into their sleeping bags

and kissed them

"My

was the hardest for was tucked a corner with a bunch of camping

was only

me

who

youngest daughter, Susie,

away

in

gear at the foot of her sleeping bag, and

had to hang over her

sister

I

next to her and

try to reach Susie to kiss her

good

night."

Marietta's lips barely brushed across

right in front of me,

my bare on my face." with

said, "No,

Momma,

not like

that,'"

sleeping bag, she crawled across her

sister,

and she got right up in front of me. She threw her arms around me, and she gave

was

"I

filled

As

I

I

could take his

life

hands and with a big smile

who was

Raised a devout Catholic

taught to forgive her enemies, Marietta entered the most harrowing faith struggle life.

She knew the damage long-term

anger can do to a person's health as

She strong

faith directed

well.

her anger, yet her

felt justified in

her to turn to

God "God

and place her anguish laid a good foundation

in his hands.

knew

was going to be was to live out my

held accountable to

if I

me," she

in

the principles that

said. "I

I

Catholic faith with integrity."

And

Marietta recalled. "She got up from her

seething," she said.

got into bed that night, I said to my husband that even if the kidnapper were to bring back Susie alive and well that moment, I could kill him for what he had done to my family. I knew that if he were put

Susie's cheek.

"She

was

"I

7 years old,

to reach," she said. "She

numb-

with hatred and a desire for revenge.

of her

goodnight.

Marietta's

ness finally transformed into sheer rage.

During the first night of that Montana journey, Marietta tucked her five children

two weeks,

After

Photo by Jimmy Rostar

so,

amidst the harrowing search

for her little girl, Marietta

began the

struggle to turn her anger into something positive. "I

say

surrendered to God," she re-

could not with any authenticity

called. "I

forgive this person at that point

I

It

would have been just empty words.

"But

I

believe in a

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So I did the only thing I could do, and that was to give God permission to change my heart."

She devoted herself fully to asking God to help her in her struggle. "With that I felt a great peace, and I was able to get the first good night's sleep since Susie had been never violates our free

The eral

to reconciliation

kidnapper called the family sev-

more times

in the

ensuing months,

each time saying he wanted to exchange Susie for ransom and would call again

when

his plan was complete.

Marietta relied on God's grace,

See RECONCILIATION

,

page

15

6

The Catholic News & Herald

People

in

March

the News

Nun says cancer, treatment challenged

human

—

— was

—

besides get-

in the

for leading Lenten retreat VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope

—

John Paul

thanked Cardinal Francis .E. George of Chicago for helping him and top Vatican

doning "I

it,"

I'll

try again.

It's

"A Faith CNS photo

up

lages are ending

in the shelters

and on

the streets of Anchorage," Buser said. In the

serving with the bishops in Russia, Father

Anchorage

Opiela headed a Catholic college and edited

six years, Buser's Iditapledge fund-raiser

new

At one time he Moscow-based pro-

vincial.

Jesuit order's

Father Opiela said he has yet to

world's fastest dogsled racers

more

job was to

Georgetown

CHICAGO

familiar with

may

we not

asked

March

2.

Martin Buser's back-

versity of Dayton after accepting the 2001

Dog

Monsignor Oscar Romero Award

Race

Leadership in Service to

Human

He

named

(CNS)

—

Jesuit Father

Garanzini, special assistant to

Georgetown University

human

rights

After the breakup of the Soviet Union

and the dismantling of South African apartheid, "those of us working in human rights had seen the bottom drop out of the human rights movement in the United States," said Shea, director

of the Center for

J.

Piderit,

of

St.

who

May.

resigned last

ago the staff of Brother Francis Shelter in Anchorage asked Buser if he would lend a hand with a fund-raiser for the homeless.

"My racing gets me through some of the most remote places in Alaska, and unfortunately some of the people from the vil-

the Latin American branch of the

Covenant

House.

New The

struggle to protect and defend the street

America has not been "an easy Harris. The award and talk were part of an international conference, "A kids of Latin

A native

ence in teaching, research, service and administrative leadership at

some of

sity in

Rome. He

also serves as a full

professor of psychology at Georgetown.

www.cssnc.org

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Bruce Harris spoke to an

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churches with reviving the

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Child advocate decries world's neglect of poor, abused are

"to help

president of Loyola Chicago

Human

age Archdiocese.

— "Why

upon Scripture

their prayer."

the president at

rights activist

DAYTON, Ohio

reflect

them deepen

Washington, has been elected president of Loyola University Chicago. Father Garanzini, who will assume his new duties this summer, succeeds Jesuit Father John

nine or 10 days. In

shouting at the top of our voices to stop the

for All Peoples: Conversion, Free-

Life for All Children"

Francis Shelter, operated by the Anchor-

from Russia's Foreign Ministry for the Feb. 27 rejection and does not expect one. The government is not required to give one under Russian law.

The

Nome Ln

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Iditarod musher harnesses help for the homeless ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNS)

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Question of Conscience: Making a Better

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was the

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Michael

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offices,

dom and Communion in Christ." He told Catholic News Service March 10 that his

Snowboarder represents U.S. in Special Olympics Snowboarder Chris Vance represented the United States in the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games held March 4-11 in Anchorage. He is a parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in the Alaskan capital.

phone interview from Warsaw. "Maybe there will be some kind of protest." Besides

a

by Michael Dinneen, Catholic

pope and the

talks to the

heads of Vatican

just not

March

4^-10 Lenten Redemptoris Mater Chapel

who gave 22

fall.

said Polish Jesuit Father

Stanislaw Opiela, 62, in a

chose Cardi-

March

of the Apostolic Palace. Cardinal George,

attempts to return to Moscow.

don't think

worth

him with new

The pope

to lead his

retreat in the

aban-

is

George

nal

has been refiised a Russian visa

his

strengthen their faith in

officials

vigor to the world.

—

three consecutive times, says he

II

Christ so they can proclaim

secretary of the Russian bishops' confer-

who

of

Pope thanks Cardinal George

Prominent Polish Jesuit denied Russian visa for third time MOSCOW (CNS) The general ence,

at the School"

University.

"Avon Breast

Cancer 3-Day," a 60-mile walk

as

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Washingtonwas then that

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where God was in the midst of it. 'The whole cancer experience was a conversion experience and the task for me as a Christian disciple was to find out where God was in all of this and who God was for me," she told The Monitor, newspaper of the Trenton Diocese. It took most of 1998 to treat her cancer.

she

It

2001

"a natural gathering of the

was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and underwent chemotherapy and radiation to treat it, Franciscan Sister Kathy ting well

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based Freedom House.

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Ganiel said her challenge

Freedom

Religious

16,

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March

2001

16,

The Catholic News & Herald 7

From the Cover

Family's faith journey leads to permanent diaconate Curlin, who was director of the first diaconate class in the United States, conferred the sacrament on Jerry, the first

NELLENBACH

By JOANITA M.

Correspondent

MAGGIE VALLEY of human friends

— Tor

the joy

deacon to be ordained at St. Margaret.

In a ceremony held before the ordination, Lorraine became the first wife to witness

love, brother, sister, parent, child,

on earth and

friends

above

." ...

The capacity congregation, 200 strong, sang the old hymn "For the Beauty of the Earth" as the procession made its way up St Margaret's center aisle on the evening

her husband's commitment to the bishop and the pope, commitments that are made by every deacon candidate

of March

prior to his ordination.

joyfully

9.

They were parishioners and former pa-

In his homily during the ordination,

and friends, who had come together to honor a couple, special to them all, at a very special event. Gerard (Jerry) La Pointe was about to be ordained a permanent deacon.

Jerry, who had completed the diocesan lay ministry program and had been studying for the diaconate for four years, was planning to be ordained in June with the seven other members of his class. But when Bishop William G. Curlin learned that

Bishop Curlin directed

rishioners, family

Jerry's wife, Lorraine,

terminally

is

months

said.

"Vatican

The

II

important that people

a

gift to

the

not new, and

it's

it's

know

that.

and Lorraine have been married 49 years and raised six children. After Jerry retired from his auto body and repair business in Florida, tiiey Valley.

In

die

the

first

St.

Margaret.

was a Eucharis-

and was on the RCIA team. For a while, he and Jasay Ketchum were the only altar servers, and they

the ordination of

seven deacons, called by the

Maggie

and the couple soon became

served as a sacristan. Jerry

reading during that

first

Mass recounted

to

Together they have been involved in the parish's ministry to the sick and dying for eight years. Lorraine sang in the choir and tic

fact,

moved

He had been an usher at their church

in Florida,

restoration."

evening's

new

for

a

It's

Jerry's

They have been reaching out for a long

involved in parish activities at

stressed that is

community through

time. Jerry

early.

diaconate

tiiat

otiier in

role as deacon.

"We need the diaconate," Bishop Curlin church.

diem

their marriage, diey are able to reach out to

die wider

offered to confer the sacrament of holy

orders three

of his com-

telling

through the love they have for each

he

ill,

many

ments to the La Pointes,

worked together to make procedures more

first

efficient

apostles.

William Murphy,

who

built

garet was ordained a priest there in 1972.

harder:

is

there.

March 9 was a

"I

can do more as a deacon.

you wear a

the second person to be ordained

Jerry

apt to

night of firsts. Bishop

what

I

want

to

do

is

come

clerical collar,

to

you

When

people are

more

to ask for help. That's

time

I've

to help people. If it

will

be worth

my discernment was when we didn't have a

can

I

all

the

Father Bill Evans was pastor at Margaret when he wrote Jerry and

I

I

St.

tion. I

to forgive his brother after the brother

other parishioners suggesting that diey look

became ill. A woman came up to me afterward and said she had asked her mother [who was dead] for forgiveness, and she believed that the mother gave it"

was the only one to

He completed the lay

ministry program.

lot

"After that," Lorraine said, "there

was a

of prayer and discernment to see

if this

really

we

was a

call.

"It's

Jerry began the formal diaconate process,

this

was a

it

even more challenging He often put in a 40-

hour week studying

calling

for the twice-monthly

class sessions at the Catholic

desire."

'It's

Conference

which Ix>rraine also attended. At one point during the second year,

not something that smacks you in

the eyes," Jerry said.

but found

than he had expected.

That's the big thing, that

prayed over whether

or just a Life Program offers one-day marriage preparation workshops for engaged couples. Couples come to better understand themselves, * their partners, and the relationship they share, through small and large group activities, presentations, joumaling and pnvate partner-to-partner discussions.

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The diocesan Family

was doing the daily would give a reflecgave one on a man who was only able

[ftiU-time] priest

Communion

spent studying."

into the diaconate. Jerry

$95 fee

NELLENBACH

Jerry and Lorraine La Pointe have made the diaconate journey together through praying and discerning together and supporting each other.

help even one person,

Jerry looks forward to working even

St Mar-

Photos by JOANITA M.

minister, sacristan

Center

not something that

you by storm. It evolves over time. I think one of the things that pushed me in

in Hickory,

takes

See

JOURNEY,

page

14

IflHBHHMl^fe.

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(704) 370-3301

8

The Catholic News & Herald

March

Around Ihe State

16,

2001

Priest never anticipated

popularity of song 'On

Eagle's Wings' Ordainedin 1980, FatherJoncas has since written dozens ofpieces ofliturgicalmusic.

But he is bestknown for "On Eagle's Wings. but because eagles have such a strong

this,

STRANGE

By JOHN

NC Catholic

CHAPEL

friend's

but in die 20-plus years since

Wings" was on a

dead

"On

hymn

written, the

liturgical life It is

—

HILL, N.C. (CNS)

began as a song for a

It

father,

Eagle's

has taken

of its own.

tions."

and during weekend Masses. Native Americans and Catholic members of the U.S. Air Force have claimed it for their own because of its references to eagles and flying.

All of this surprises the song's

com-

poser to no end. off at

NC

am

surprised

of all that

first

it

took

Father Michael Joncas told the

all,"

Catholic,

newspaper of the Raleigh

But the song began much more humbly. Father Joncas explained that he was visiting a fellow seminarian at The Catholic University of America in Washington.

When the two returned from dinner, they received a message that the friend's father had just suffered a fatal heart attack.

In between getting the friend onto an

workshop

vice,

Chapel

Hill.

20 years

later, I

think

I

understand some of the reasons why. It's a very expansive, wide-ranging kind of melody. In that, it probably gives an aural, auditory image of eagles," he said.

"Now, I never would have guessed

What

Eagle's Wings."

service vocation" in the song.

airplane

in

Father Michael Joncas, who composed the hymn "On Eagle's Wings," speaks at a diocesan conference on music in Chapel Hill, N.C. He wrote the popular liturgical song 20 years ago.

found connections to "their

Diocese, in an interview after a liturgical

"In hindsight,

CNS photo by John Strange, NC Catholic

Even members of the Air Force have own armed

played at funeral liturgies, but

also at baptisms, weddings,

"I

American connotation, the Native American community also picked up the song," said Father Joncas, a priest of the St PaulMinneapolis Archdiocese. "They found this as something that could connect Christianity and their own native tradi-

home and

the father's

wake

ser-

He its

said that while

success, he

"It's

mine. series

he

said.

"I

is

best

for

"On

poem of

refrain

is

is

I

The

stakes of writing

"I

was very

to

make

In

fact,

clear,"

he

a

gift."

do

positions.

He

for

new

musical com-

also has written eight "set-

they are today," he explained.

on the canticle of Mary.

"These are texts that are really inexhaustible," he added. "You can always find new nuances and new ways of expressing

more about

it

again, the

"My

drastically

tings" based

standards were different than music,

I

hope

"I know know more

I

in song."

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said.

Father Joncas has returned to

Psalm 9 1 four times

different resonances."

song would be

it

prayed the text of Psalm 91 every night.

way

meanfrom the

Ironically, the priest said, if he could

I

But the triggering mechanism was I wanted to find a way to help my friend at this tough time. As an artist, that was a

a

able to bear multiple different contexts

know more about the become much

life,

Lord.

"Back then

not really a

and the

91,

same "text, taking on

Father Joncas has

known

It's

hope

about

higher.

believe that Scripture as the

So many

ings.

different

music. But he

Psalm

It's

it

in 1980,

many

of phrases from the Old Testament,"

wake.

Ordained

not surprised that so

Scripture.

word of God

.

since written dozens of pieces of liturgical

surprised by

is

people related to the song.

Father Joncas had written die song, He sang the song publicly for the first time during the basing the lyrics on Psalm 9 1

is

he

For more information, contact the CFL Center at (910) 328-t584, or cfl2@juno.com, or fax (910) 328-3481.

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.

1

March

16,

2001

JIMMY ROSTAR

By

The Catholic News & Herald 9

Around The Diocese

Associate Editor

Lest anyone wonder how the Diocese of Charlotte is growing so rapidly these days, they had to look no further than three parishes here recently to understand one reason for such exciting expansion.

William

Bishop

G.

Curlin

The

Bishop Curlin presides at Rite of Election

and

Call to

standing and appreciation for Catholic life. The candidates offer the bishop their names as well, signed on scrolls.

For those involved in the RCIA process, a great deal of discernment takes place. Bishop Curlin likened the experience to searching for something not yet fully realized in people's lives.

"You're hungry for something in your life that you have not found to fulfillment yet," he told one group.

"You're looking for something wonderful. You come into our faith to receive a deeper awareness and a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ."

Bishop Curlin said there are key ingredients points of light that compose the faith lives of Catholics.

"Treasure that light," he urged.

"Feed it with the sacraments, prayer, love, charity and God's holy Word."

Bishop Curlin asked all present to

Continuing Conversion

Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, one of the essential steps by which people of faith prepare to enter as full members of the Catholic

Church. their spon-

members, friends and parteam members gathered at Holy

sors, family

ish

Family Church

March

in

Clemmons on

—

Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville on March 10 and at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte

on March

The

the

at

4,

1 1

for the celebrations.

rite is

part of theHite of Chris-

tian Initiation of

Adults (RCIA), the

process by which adults become ated into the Catholic

recommit

initi-

Church through

—

own lives to Jesus on a and he reminded the as-

their

daily basis,

study, prayer and liturgical celebra-

sembly that the Mass

tions.

the Eucharist

In his message to those hundreds

filled lives

dedicated to Christ.

"When you come

into the Catholic

what we celebrate."

Individuals engaged in the RCIA

meaning

to

who have

not been baptized are called catechumens. They prepare for the initiation sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. Baptized Chris-

"What we

Catholic Social S Siimcis i

—

particularly

the center of the

tians of other faith traditions prepar-

experience represents the belief that

ing for either or both confirmation and Eucharist are called candidates.

During the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, catechumens are officially called by the bishop to the sacraments of initiation,

God

to be conferred

by pastors

at the

Eas-

Mass on Holy Saturday. The

ter Vigil

is

calling these

Executive Director: Elizabeth Thurbee (704) 370-3228

Refuse Office

&

Mass

Editor Joann

men and women

S.

Keane contributed

Special Ministries: Gerard A. Carter (704) 370-3250

Contact Associate Editor Jimmy Rostar by calling (704) 370-3334 or email jtrostar@charlottediocese. org

Books of the Elect containing the signatures of the catechumens are presented, and following a series of questions affirming their readiness, the cat-

echumens become known

as

the

"elect."

The

Two in

separate one-week sessions at

Kings Mountain

State Park the

Camp York weeks of

July 8-14, 2001 and July 15-21, 2001

Oratory

.

girls under 12 who will enter grades 2-6 September can apply for consideration.

Swimming, crafts and religious activities.

Boys and

Religion

Camp

.

.The

fee

For information

is

$100.

J application:

tin

The Oratory Religion Camp, Those wishing

1 123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 Area Director: Geri King (704) 370-6155 Western Region: 50 Orange Street, Asheville, NC 28801 Area Director: Sister Marie Frechette (828) 255-0146 Piedmont-Triad: 621 W. Second Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27108

to

P.

O. Box 11586, Rock Hill,

SC 29731-1586.

volunteer as counselors can write for a staffapplication.

Charlotte Region:

We'll beat any advertised price... Let us prove it!

Area Director: David Harold (336) 727-0705 Greensboro Satellite Office: (336) 274-5577 High Point Hispanic Center: (336) 884-5858

For information on the following programs, please contact the

number

listed:

CCHD

(704)

Natural Family Planning

(704)

Casa Guadalupe

(336) 727-4745

Operation Rice Bowl

(704) 370-323

Catholic Relief Services

(704) 370-3225

Prison Ministry (beeper)

(704) 581-7693

Disaster Relief

(704)

Programa Esperanza

(704)

Elder Ministry

(704) 370-3220

Respect Life

(704) 370-3229

Family

(704) 370-3250

Voices

I

Life

land to

Host

Hand

Homes

Marriage Preparation

1123 South Church

370-3234

370-3250

(336)

72541 AND

(336)

725-HOST

(704)

370-3228

tor lustice Legislative

Dealerships

370-3230

Serving Charlotte with integrity for over 39 years!

370-6928

Network

Jtmitsubishi

HONDA

jrm MOTORS

(704) .370-3225

Widow/Separated/Divorced (704) 370-3228

Street © Charlotte,

6951

E.

Independence Blvd.

7001

© www.cssnc.org

Frank LaPointe, President,

E.

Independence Blvd.

535-4444

531-3131 NC 28203

to

this story.

to the fullness of the church.

Peace:

Joanne K. Frazer (704) 370-3225

is

"When we celebrate the Mass, heaven comes down to earth, to this very altar."

in

Cira Ponce (704) 370-6930

lustice

celebrate in the

said.

Sponsors play an essential role in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Not only do they walk along the path of faith with those they sponsor; in many instances, they experience a renewed sense of faith themselves.

•

I

is

the presence of the living Christ," he

Photo by Joann S. Keane

process.

Church, you must commit yourself to the belief that Jesus loves you and is the center of your life," the bishop said at one of the celebrations. "He gives

—

Catholic faith and tradition.

RCIA

preparing to enter the church at this year's Easter Vigil, Bishop Curlin spoke of living gracein the

the

echists testify to their deeper under-

presided at three celebrations of the

Hundreds of people,

rite is also significant for

candidates, as their sponsors and cat-

Member

of

St.

Gabriel Church

1

lO

The Catholic News & Herald

Read

March i

n g

2001

16,

:

Book Review

New books explore

Word to Li

Jewish-Christian relations

March 1)

EUGENE FISHER

Reviewed by Catholic

"Christianity

News Service in Jewish Terms"

definition as such, but to

is

Study Group on Christianity, sponsored by Baltimore's Institute for Jewish-Christian Studies. The group has been meeting regularly for years in an effort to reassess Judaism's understanding of its relationship with

September 2000 the group issued "Dabru Emet" ("Speaking Truth"), a groundbreaking statement of historic proportions that acknowlother things, that "Jews

and Christians worship the same God." This has been the Christian claim, of course, but the doctrine of the

Trinity has appeared to many Jews to reject the Oneness of the Creator, while

News Service

array of items, mystified to know many people see them as "collectibles."

aside"

flocks to

On

seems

aisles aimlessly, idly

are mostly confined

treats.

to

narrates engagingly how Christian writings from Augus-

Aquinas "fash-

That's

why

to read about

I

Gutenberg Bible at

am

always amazed

someone who in a

an estate sale for $10 or a missing

neath an ugly amateur

CHRISTIANITY IN JEWISH

(their)

fruit

TERMS, edited by Tivka

from age to age, and how "this

Frumer-Kensky, etal.

a

basis of reading of the

crafted

controversial in "Dabru

in Chris-

LIVING LETTERS

thought and culFor those seriously interested in

IN MEDIEVAL

Jewish-Christian relations, it is an utterly

tian

Emet" is the affirmation that "Nazism is not a Christian phenomenon,"

OF THE LAW: IDEAS OF THE JEW

while asserting equally strongly that "without the long history of Christian anti-Judaism and Christian violence

Cohen. University of California

CHRISTIANITY, by Jeremy

451

ture."

fascinating read.

James

Carroll's

"Constantine's Sword" attempts, and

$24.95.

against Jews, Nazi ide-

fails

ology could not have taken hold nor been car-

grand synthesis of

estants since the end of

World War

II

and with Catholics since the Second Vatican Council) for Jews, as one put it, "to take yes for an answer."

The book is organized around 1 themes from the "Dabru Emet" statement. Each theme is discussed first by a Jewish scholar, who is then responded to by a Christian and a Jewish scholar. The 27 contributors are among the leading scholars in the world in both communities. The result is a sprightly and immensely illuminating dialogue on such themes as the Shoah and anti-Semitism, God, Scripture,

commandment,

Israel,

worship,

suffering, Incarnation, redemption, sin

and repentance.

In each the point

is

what Judaism

has to say about what Christians say about these topics. Quite often, the authors conclude, what Judaism used to' say about Christianity has been found

wanting through the closer lens of dialogical understanding. In

many

ways,

then, this courageous book is a call on Jewish tradition not to change its self-

table.

I

oil painting of can never imagine

pay attention to a bush which on fire without burning

to be

Lent

is

a call by the church for

all

of us to "turn aside" from the million

and one things which distract us, from our preconceptions about where true beauty and value can be found, and to pay attention to the signs of God's presence.

Life holds treasures for those

who

pay attention to the signs that indicate the presence of something extraordinary beneath the surface. Let us turn aside in the days ahead and attend to those signs.

Weekly Scripture

Jew assumed

and power

$30.00.

cades of successful dialogue with Prot-

on a

Moses

Bible,"

distinctive character

pp.,

Press (Berkeley, 1999).

Rembrandt masterpiece hidden be-

we

reading,

hermeneutically

Westview Press (Boulder,

438

of)

first

speaks to

up.

finds a

trunk purchased

Jew on the

200 or so rabbis and scholars approached by the group signed the statement.

This is a sign of a growing consensus among Jews that it is time (after de-

con-

magazine, there an incomplete socket

nically (if not necessar-

ried out." Still, virtually all of the

I

God

upon noticing that' he has "turned from the routine of tending his

sidering here a back issue of Life

Law" he

ioned (an image

pp.,

go,

influence each has had, theologically,

tine to

Colo., 2000).

I

on the other.

seen to-

intentionally) since it "idolatry," appears to them to raise a human being to the level of divinity.

Perhaps even more

In this Sunday's are told that

My purchases

too put

able.

and country trade days. I'm overwhelmed by the mind-numbing

set.

too dis-

by the conviction that in such a mass of tacky junk there could never be anything truly beautiful or valu-

sales

wander the

am

it all,

I

off

I'm a terrible shopper at estate

when

find.

tracted by the variety of

DAN LUBY

those rare occasions

signs that indicate to

such a spectacular

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

By

little

the careful buyer the possibility of

Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

day by many among Orthodox Jews as, techily

to notiqe the

smoked turkey legs and funnel cake and nut-covered frozen ice cream

In "Living Letters of the

the doctrine of the Inis still

1

Catholic

Meanwhile, Jeremy Cohen of Tel Aviv University is one of the leading medievalists in the world today. He is specialist in Jewish-Christian a relations over the centuries. His two prize-winning books, "The Friars and the Jews" and "Be Fertile and Increase, Fill the Earth and Master It," have brilliantly evoked not only the disputations between Jews and Christians but also the profound and positive

In

carnation

2) 3)

myself paying close enough attention

Readings:

Exodus 3:1 -8a, 13-15 Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11

attest!

Christianity.

among

its

—

interpreting Christianity not an easy task, as those Catholics such as myself engaged in a similar process for our own community can

the product of the Jewish Scholars

edged,

change

way of

Third Sunday of Lent

18,

C

Cycle

to achieve, the

Catholic theology on Jews and Judaism that this book easily provides the reader. But then, Carroll spent a grand total of one year researching his book while "Living Let-

Readings for the week of Mar. 18 - 24, 2001 Third Sunday of Lent, Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15, 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12, Luke Monday (St. Joseph), 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, 13:1-9; Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24; Tuesday, Daniel 3:25, 34-43, Matthew 18:21-35; Wednesday, Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9, Matthew 5:17-19; Thursday, Jeremiah 7:23-28, Luke 1 1:1423; Friday (Abstinence), Hosea 14:2-10, Mark 12:28-34; Saturday, Hosea 6:1-6, Luke 18:9-14

Readings for the week of Mar. 25 - 31, 2001 Fourth Sunday of Lent, Joshua 5:9-12, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Luke 15:1-3, 1 132; Monday (Annunciation of the Lord), Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10, Hebrews 10:4-10, Luke 1:26-38; Tuesday, Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, John 5:1-3, 5-16; Wednesday, Isaiah 49:8-15, John 5:17-30; Thursday, Exodus 32:7-14, John 5:31-47; Friday (Abstinence), Wisdom 2:1, 12-22, John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30; Saturday, Jeremiah 11:18-20, John 7:40-53

THE JESUITS

Law" is the result of a lifetime of study and dialogue.

In the late 1960s and early '70s I attended New York University's Institute of Hebrew Studies and was for the first time in my life (or virtually that of any other Catholic, for that matter) exposed to how Western history looks from the perspective of the Jews, the one "outsider" group allowed to survive under Christian domination. ters of the

Cohen's

Is this whereyou belong?

Lucian C. Martinez,

Saint Peter's Church Charlotte, NC 28202

book

explains the theological underpinnings of decisions by generations of church leaders about Jews in Christian society. It is a must for anyone who wants to understand where church teaching was before the Second Vatican Council overturned all previous Christian reflection since St. Paul and set the church on the course of the "dialogue of mutual esteem" that

has resulted in the revolutionary progress in Catholic-Jewish relations and, therefore, in the response to that revolution by the authors and editors of "Christianity in Jewish Terms."

S.J

Coordinator of Vocations

Phone: 704-332-2901

E-Mail: vocations@maiprovjesuits.org

Web: www.jesuitvocarion.com

Retiree^ Considering retirement!

Join us for a special retreat/workshop: "Another Third of Life

-

Spirituality,

Challenge and Opportunity in Retirement. * Reflect upon your hopes and concerns about your future

Maggie

Valley's

-

What

is

God calling you to

be?

Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center

pm through

April 6-8

Cost: $1 10 covers Friday 7

With Richard von Stamwitz,

iunch Sunday. Early pre-registration required.

national certified gerontological

For information: Richard von Stamwitz,

counselor, author and motivational speaker

LPC

(336) 931-0577 or (828) 926-3833

March

16,

The Catholic News & Herald 11

2001

Entertainment

Video reviews Convoluted conclusion to the fan-

By Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are

home

tasy series in which immortal

videocassette reviews from

the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for

most powerful immortal (Bruce Payne) is said to hang in

Film and Broadcasting. Each videocassette is available on VHS format. Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Catholic Conference classification and Motion Picture Association of America rating.

All reviews indicate the appropriate age group for the video audience.

as the fate of humanity

The

the balance. rector

Doug

nonsensical plot of di-

Aarniokoski's lame film

is

clumsily pasted together with melodra-

matic performances and kitschy special effects.

Intermittent stylized violence, a

sexual encounter with fleeting nudity

Beyond the Stars"

"Battle

humans

(Adrian Paul, Christopher Lambert) engage in a final battle with the worst and

and a few instances of crass language.

(1980)

Thomas

The

U.S. Catholic Conference classifica-

goes on a hunt to hire mercenaries to defend a planet threatened with conquest by an intergalactic tyrant.

tion

is

Young

volunteer Richard

—

and humor, ing

sci-fi

oriented jokes.

style

Many

The U.S.

ence classification

is

—

The

adults.

Motion Picture Association of America rating

PG —

is

in

meets tony parents (Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner) for the first time and everything that can go wrong does. With a scenario ripe for comical misunderstandings, director Jay Roach's sprightly paced film scores with laughs despite some predictability. Comically intended

Catholic Confer-

A-III

R

Stiller)

his teacher girlfriend's (Teri Polo)

sexually

parental guidance sug-

(New Concorde) "The Broken Hearts Club" (2000) Sluggish comedy about a gay photographer (Timothy Olyphant) whose gested.

minor violence, reference to a live-in relationship, brief drug references and some crass language with much profanity.

co-dependent friendships with three gay

(Andrew Keegan, John Mahoney and Dean Cain) are stifling his

The

U.S. Catholic Conference classifica-

tion

is

personal growth and romantic

ture Association of America rating

buddies

Pre-

life.

PG-13

and stereotypical, writer-direcBerlanti's boring film showcases an all-gay cast moaning about dictable

tor

tioned.

Greg

—

A-III

adults.

The Motion

Picis

are strongly cau-

material

may

be inappro-

priate for children under 13. (Universal)

their lives while actually reveling in the superficiality they

purport to

criticize.

some

Blatant homosexual theme with

implied sexual encounters, brief drug

The

use and recurring rough language.

U.S. Catholic Conference classification

is

ture Association of America rating

R

O — morally offensive. The Motion Pic-

—

restricted.

is

"Highlander:

of

—

NEWS SERVICE

Endgame" (2000)

Malloy, Notre Dame president, said that over the years Philbin has been "among

Television personality Regis Philbin, a

our most generous" alumni.

"With his time, talent and resources, Regis has made numerous contributions to the university and our surrounding community," he said. "We are most appreciative of this latest gift, which will do much to enhance our growing commitment to and reputation

NOTRE DAME,

Ind.

(CNS)

1953 University of Notre Dame graduate, has given his alma mater $2.75 million for the creation of a studio theater in the Marie P. DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts.

Construction of the center will begin later this year on the south side of campus and will be completed in 2003.

The Regis Philbin Studio Theater will be home for lab and performance art productions in Notre Dame's department of film, television and theater. The

has been designed for cal

Serving Young Adults tke test in Catkolic Tkeology Speakers

&

...

Conversation

Dame

—

By CATHOLIC

in the

and seating

The

maximum

dramatic

arts."

game show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and his own morning talk show, received an Philbin, host of the

honorary doctor of laws degree from Notre Dame in 1999 in recognition of his previous gifts to the university and his service as host of an annual fund-raising broadcast on behalf of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend.

He and his wife, Joy, have two Jennifer, a 1996 graduate daughters of the university, and Joanna, a secondyear student in the Notre Dame Law

cated lighting and sound systems and

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN

—

Regis Philbin donates $2.75 million to Notre

100-seat facility will feature sophisti-

(Columbia TriStar)

It"

"Get Over It" (Miramax) is a teen romance in which a high school senior (Ben Foster), crushed when his girlfriend dumps him, gradually springs back thanks to the encouragement of his best friend's younger sister (Kirsten Dunst), who gets him involved in a school production A Midsummer Night's Rockin' Eve." Director Tommy O'Haver spins a comic romance of little distinction save for a few sprightly song-and-dance numbers. Some sexual innuendo, brief comic violence, crude references, fleeting substance abuse and an instance of rough language and profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference 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.

.

— parents

Some

"Get Over

Picis

(Dimension)

restricted.

which a male nurse (Ben

a moderately entertain-

it's

action fantasy.

The Motion America rating

adults.

"Meet the Parents" (2000) Amusing romantic comedy

Scripted by John Sayles and directed by

Jimmy T. Murakami with some

—

A-III

ture Association of

techni-

flexibility.

123,000-square-foot DeBartolo

—

center will also include a 900-seat con-

main stage theater, 200-seat cinema theater and 100-seat organ and chorale hall.

Holy Cross Father Edward A. cert hall, 350-seat

School.

Join us in serving God as priest or brother.

Tkpping into Lent" witk young adults in their 20

s

ana 30

Our Oratorian Congregation was founded s

in

Rome by St. Philip Neri in

"The Apostle of

Join us at Tyber Creek

Pub

Tuesdays, March 20

"Lent: Is

March

itjust

27

virtue

-

7pm

Holy

Week

Sr.

all

ages and

As a group of priests and lay men, we live life without vows and serve the

another 40 clays?"

people of God

in

various ministries:

terry larina

"Operation Rice Bowl: The Other Bowl

-

and brought people of

a community

Game"

Parishes

April 3 -Sr. (Dichev 0Dartine3, S] " What a Week: From the Palms to the Passion " April 10

Known as

backgrounds to the Church.

(Pattbew Ceonarb

Sr.

-

(1933 South Blvd.)

1.575.

Joy," St. Phillip lived this

Conrad F)oover

'Vumm... What's the Triduumt"

@

370-3359

For info, Call Jen Sponsored by Office of Young Adult Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte

Retreat For more information., pkivse write: Fr.

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EdMcDevitt, CO. or Fr. Joe Pearce, CO. The Oratory P.O.

Box 11586

RockHitl.SC 29731 -1586

our members are come from across the United

Like our ministries,

unique and

States and from Brazil.

I

The Catholic News & 4Herald

Editorials

March

& Columns

Confronting the problem of suffering for the first time

The Pope

bit

Speaks

son called me from college the other day, a shaken, although he did a good job hiding his

He had mother

—

been

2001

Coming of Age

My

feelings.

16,

—

grandmother my where she was trying to

to- visit his

in the hospital,

recover from a serious, rather sudden burst of problems.

My son attends college in the same city where grandparents live, while I'm now some distance away. I'd been down the previous weekend, had seen my mother and visited with my son, but because of his work schedule he'd not had a chance to see her himself at that point.

But Thursday morning, my father called and told me to get in touch with my son and see if he could get to the hospital. It seemed, at that point,

AMY WELBORN CNS

his

POPE JOHN PAUL

Pope

beatifies

II

Spanish

martyrs, urges

end to

rather grave.

So he went,

Basque terrorism By

JOHN NORTON

Catholic

VATICAN CITY beatified

— Pope John

233 martyrs of religious persecution

modern-day scourge of Basque

him until late that was shocked," he told me from his dorm

couldn't get in touch with

room. "She looked so much worse."

It was, I knew, a frightening experience on a

shall return."

number of different

the Christian, those

ter-

tactic.

"I

is

*

said.

Basque terrorists in northern Spain have killed some 800 people in their three-decade campaign for a separate homeland. The latest victim, a 25-year-old Spanish policeman, died March 9 in a car bomb attack near San Sebastian.

The martyrs recognized at the March 1 1 -cer-

—

the largest beatification ever

fairly

levels. It's scary to see

strong three weeks ago

fined to bed, in a severely

weakened

pletely dependent on others.

It's

state

someone

now

con-

and com-

scary, as a

young

and vigorous person, to confront the reality of life

in

—

Many

of you have encountered mortality in personal ways. Perhaps you have struggled with serious illness yourself or had a friend in that situation. Maybe you've seen poor health or accidents take their toll on close relations or friends.

There are certain things that remain nothing more than words and ideas until you look at someone whose blood runs through your veins and wit-

The church

Reflections

beliefs.

investigation of potential martyrs

requires proof only that they died for their faith;

miracle or certification of a

needed, as

is

life

no

of heroic virtue

is

the case for normal beatifications.

Nonetheless,

all

of those beatified

March

also led lives of extraordinary holiness, the

and without exception

1 1

pope

explicitly forgave their

had said,

execu-

Their martyrdoms "sealed lives interwoven with work, prayer and religious commitment in their families, parishes and religious congregations," he said. "One can say diat their exemplary conduct was like

a preparation for the supreme confession of faith

martyrdom."

The pope said it was important for the church to keep alive the memory of the martyrs because they gave convincing testimony to Christian hope and that

is

TERRI LYKE

Guest Columnists

The generation gap The

generation gap, particularly in the area of popular music, is as wide as it's ever been. Watching the Grammy Awards recently, it was clear that we were not in the know on most popular artists.

Even with teens under foot we felt really "out of it" regarding today's pop stars of music.

When our teen children are in the car with us, they immediately change the radio station to something more "in" that what we have it set to. And it doesn't take very long before the curmudgeon comes out in one or both of us. try to avoid phrases like "Turn that trash off!" But sometimes it

their blessed

violence, hatred ish soil!" lie said.

memory remove any form

comes

This didn't happen purposefully.

Despite our promise of old to stay current so we could always relate to our kids, we have become old fuddy-duds about music. How did this happen?

As magical as the radio airwaves were when we were teens, with personalities like Dick Biondi and Herb Kent who were pied pipers of our generation, there seems more power in the fairy dust of music today. It's not just the radio; it's also and other music video programming tha-t mesmerize our youth with images, sound and in-your-face messages about sex, violence and personal gratification. Popular music seems to us curmudgeons more menacing than the music of our youth. And we have some fears about what the messages may normalize

just

out.

MTV

serenity in the face of difficulty.

'May

ANDREW &

We

tioners.

of

and resentment forever from Span-

—

they're just the beginning.

The

Ash Wednesday, you see, was only the begincoming so soon now, is about light,

ning. Easter,

not darkness, about the healing of everything that was broken and the gift of a life that, this time, will never end.

We just need to open our eyes and see.

minds of our children. parents' generation had similar fears. But

we

nuns and lay men and women who were between 1936 and 1939 in Spain's civil war.

Though they died at the hands of militants in a period of civil conflict, the pope said the martyrs were

women.

end

travel during

right beside Jesus.

Our

killed

"The newly beatified that are raised today to the altars were not involved in the political or ideological struggles, nor did they want to get involved in them" he said. 'They died exclusively for religious motives."

Most of the new martyrs were killed in the Diocese of Valencia, where religious persecution was particularly intense, but hailed from a total of 37 dioceses. Two of those killed were originally from Uruguay and are their country's first beatified lay-

we

you in your tracks. But for words and that brush of ashes

to stop

Lent is one that takes us through some pretty heavy darkness, following road

in the

included

enough

aren't the

Family

priests,

targeted solely for their religious

It's

its totality.

born of hate and in turn feeds it; it is radically unjust and increases the situations of injustice; and it seriously offends against God and the dignity and rights of persons," he said.

"No motive, no cause or ideology can justify it," 'Terrorism

That's what 'my son saw when he visited his grandmother. Her condition affected him, certainly, but beyond that, what shook him was facing the shape of the road on which all of us travel.

But of course, Lent shows us the deeper dimension to this. Lent began, if you remember, with ashes on your forehead and words ringing in your ears: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you

in

30,000

humanity" and an inherently losing

He

draw some blood.

about.

night.

mosdy Spanish pilgrims in St Peter's Square interrupted him with sustained applause March 11, the pope said terrorism is "the enemy of

emony

to

who'd been

As

me

although obviously a stayed for an hour, until the time

something in your own something you'd really rather not think

ness, in their struggles,

future,

II

rorism.

he

scared.

came I

Paul

1930s Spain, entrusting to their intercession an end to the country's

little

News Service (CNS)

as his grandfather reported to

later, nicely dressed, relaxed,

Columnist

don't see ourselves as having the ?ame stiff backs as that generation had when we were young, wild and free. The music of our youth that road the

edge of decency (and even went over it) is rather tame compared to today's listening fare.

It pains our ears when we hear it. And it's easy to just turn on the "Golden Oldies" station.

Because we have to parent our youths, we must be careful about how we draw lines in the sand. We have no desire and see no need to be completely upto-date with the music of youth today. But, to avoid becoming completely irrelevant we must bear with the music and engage our youths in meaningful discussion about the messages without being con-

descending.

As

Of course, this kind we share

a family

what radio

of openness goes both ways. the airwaves. Negotiating

station to listen to in the car

is

part o

that sharing. So, our kids bear with the "Golden

Oldies" as

much

as

we

bear with their music.

We

war over music. We also find enjoying some of the music of

find ourselves not at

ourselves actually today.

Picking up our son after school, he hopped

in

the car, immediately changed the radio station.

A

song that we had discussed was playing. Knowin that we had serious issues with it, he quickl changed the station back to the "Golden Oldies" no words necessary. station. No need to do battle We're simply learning to coexist the curmudgeon and the rapper.

—

—

March

The Catholic News & Herald 13

2001

16,

Editorial* & Columns Her eyes and

the attention.

One

Light

mention of

face shine at the

her beautiful tresses.

|

Last week

Candle

Julia,

who

Lenten

loves to read, spotted a story

newspaper about children with cancer. The artalked about a group called "Locks of Love." This

in the ticle

Reflection

non-profit organization creates custom-fitted hairpieces

who

for children

experience various kinds of medical

hair loss. Often the

MSGR. JAMES

P.

Guest Columnist

Julia's Gift my youngest niece, now fully 8 years old. She is smart and beautiful. More importantly, Julia has a gentle kindness. Oh, she can be tough. Two older brothers have taught her how to be assertive. But at the heart of this young girl is a sweetness and helpfulness

A

I

is

to offer her

treasure.

hair a

lot.

image comes to mind. After shopping with my niece and nephews, we return to their home and the boys hurry in with barely a thought about

and she

helping to bring

offer

**

typical

It is Julia

open

in

for her

sure that the door

Uncle Jim, who

is

laden with

is

.

When

the day

done, and prayers are

is

stand between tiredness and sleep, Julia

is

all

that

attentive to

pray for all those whom others might forget. She might be exhausted, but there always seems to be time for one more prayer for that very special person or intention.

Julia's sweetness is also experienced through generosity. And that spirit of giving became clear just last week, once again, in her commitment to someone she will never know.

Julia has been blessed with long, blond hair. Never cut, it runs straight down her back to her waist. People often stop her in stores to comment on her striking mane. Julia blushes a little, but not-too-secretly loves

tough

hair. for a child in need. Julia loves

But she knows that someone needs

said a little wistfully, "It will

it

her

more,

grow back

in

SISTER

BERNADETTE SVATOS, OSF Guest Columnist

The golden blossoms of the kingdom

Two weeks ago on the first Sunday of Lent, was driving on 1-40 on my way to Clemmons for the I

celebration of the Rite of Election for the catechumens

from the parishes of the Northern Region of die diocese.

The golden blossoms of the forsytliia along die roadway were a sight of beauty. They heralded for me a touch of

What had now full of glory.

divinity.

her hair

Henry

the

all

own

Listening to

held wide

groceries.

It's

time."

the bags of food they will later enjoy.

who makes

to treat cancer,

enough carrying the burden of illness, without also dealing with another blow to self-confidence. Approximately three hundred children have been helped so far.

"Locks of Love" (1-888-896-1588) has arrangements with a number of hair salons to cut and style volunteers, most of whom are children. At least ten inches of hair is needed, and it takes the hair of twelve donors to make just one hairpiece for each patient.

Julia read the story and got very quiet. Minutes later she sought out her Mom and asked for permission

LISANTE

Julia Elizabeth

chemotherapy used

for example, results in serious loss of hair.

story

my

sister describe Julia's decision to

made me

think of the wonderful classic

"The Gift of the Magi."

Earlier that morning,

0.

a tale about the

It's

been barren diese past months were

liturgy with the pastor

I had participated in the and die people of God at St Pius

true spirit of giving.

And it suggests that giving what can easily do without is fine, but giving something that really matters to. us means much more. I like the way Julia is giving. She's giving something she loves

X

we

sanctuary was a contrast to the view before me. Barren

and treasures to -someone she'll never know, someone who can never say thank you. She's giving because* already, at 8 years of age, Julia knows something about empathy. She may not know the word yet, but she certainly has the ability to imagine what it's like to go through something painful and difficult, to feel someone else's pain, and most importantly, to do something to

seemed to be a call to make fruitful the barrenness of our spiritual lives by our works of penance during this time.

Greensboro.

branches had been

The

liturgical

artistically

environment

arranged

in die

in pots as

striking Lenten reminder of tills penitential season

In the liturgy for the third celebrate the

first

a

They

Sunday of Lent, we

of three sTutinies for those in a

final

stage of preparation for entrance into the church at the

Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. These scrutinies are for self-searching

and repentance

in the lives

rites

of the elect

(These scrutinies are also conducted the next two Sun-

help relieve the burden. love Julia's beautiful golden hair. But

I

in

I

love her

golden and giving heart so much more.

days.)

We,

too, as the

people of God scrutinize the hold

over us in our lives.

In the Liturgy of the Word for

sin has

this third

Sunday of

Lent, there exists the option oftwo sets ofreadings for the

we hear the parable of the barren fig tree. In we hear ofthe thirst for living waters from the Samaritan woman at the well.

In either reading we are confronted with our great need day. In one,

Q. In our parish

we have what appears

to be

a

local

custom

the other option from John's Gospel,

Question

concerning adoration of the Blessed Sacrament before Easter.

Most ofus recall that after Mass on Holy Thursday evening, adoration took place at what we called the altar of repose until around midnight. After this there was no adoration at this altar or anyplace else until the Easter Vigil. It was a beautiful way to be reminded of that period between our Lord's death and resurrec-

Corner

ground ofour being. Both readings contain who we are and of who we are called to be as the chosen of God. I am reminded by these Scripture passages of two scaies from my life. I salivate as I remember the fruit of the ripened figs stolen from the bushes surrounding the chaplain's house on the Incarnate Word University grounds when I was a student years ago in San Antonio.

My classmates and I walked daily to and from class past interior holy

powerful imagery of

tion.

Here all

the repository

is

arranged that adoration continues

so

day Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Have the

changed?

Why

must

we

always be so quick

to

rules

FATHER JOHN DIETZEN

CNS

compromise our

Columnist

traditions? (North Carolina)

A. No, there has been no change from the sacred

Triduum ceremonies

that

The Sacramentary

you remember.

makes

adoration after midnight."

A. For some reason,

Communion on Good is

Friday, says the

returned to

its

place outside

the church (in the sacristy or separate oratory) or,

if

circumstances require, in the tabernacle. Before the Easter

"Communion may be given only

Obviously, prayer

is

lics

Your daughter's

and impotence.

ity

or a

only for

Communion

to those

"solemn" or public adoration.

mistaken. Sterility, the

blessed in the chyrch.

students.

result

from confusing

steril-

I can understand not blessing a

man who

who

has had a hysterectomy, for example,

produces no sperm,

is sterile

in the legal

sense of the word.

Impotence on the other hand is the permanent inabilhave sexual intercourse because of a physical or

man

or woman.

Permanent and irremediable impotence

ment to marriage. Sterility is not.

As you note, an explicit intention not is

ask myself the questions of how to tend

my life and how

to best use the

called to

child.

A woman

I

the barren branches of

which prevents conception

is

an impedi-

to have children

who

I

am

become and to help bring about the kingdom.

As a Third Order Franciscan, I think of the early 13th-century church, a time of various penitential movements. Among the number of penitents of this day was St Francis ofAssist Francis in 1209 had been given oral approval by Pope Innocent III for the Gospel form of life for his friars of the First Order. At this time he had also been given papal permission to preach penance and conversion. We are told by his early biographers that enthusiastic men, women, clergy, married, single and children surrounded Francis and asked that lie give to

a different matter. In the teaching of our church and

many

(until

why punish someone who may have

to at least the possibility of children

grueling disease or surgery, or has been born with a problem that

standing in the

flowing fountain of living waters to become

marriage in which one ofthe partners does not want children. Bid already gone through a

The other event of remembrance is desert in the

an obstacle in the natural

ity to

cannot have children, she cannot marry in the Catholic

Church or have her marriage

may

Sterility is

emotional defect in the

This upset many

is

internal processes of generation

Q My daughter's morality teacher told her class that if a woman

waiting.

living water,

teacher

Part of the problem

of a

Good Friday liturgy who are dying, not for

The

age.

life

intended to be reserved after the

anticipating their ripened deliciousness.

on either the man's or woman's pail to have is no obstacle to marriage.

One would think a little looking around would prove that. Thousands of couples, for example, marry in the Catholic Church when they are long past child-bearing

during these hours symbolized by the separation of the Eucharist from the church. Thus, the Eucharist is

Catholics and non-Catho-

inability

as viaticum."

encouraged during these days,

figs,

Holy Land where die Great Rift begins, with its massive sand dunes and the sensory feeling of being thirsty. (The Great Rift is a geological phenomenon that begins in the desert of the Holy Land and continues into East Africa) As I ponder the barrenness of the fig tree and the eternal desire for the fountain of

even in church. But by the church's ancient traditions and current rubrics, something special is happening in the church's

many

are confused about this area of Catholic teaching.

children,

Sacramentary, the Eucharist

Vigil,

those

(Indiana)

enjoyment of tasting was heightened by the time of

fer of the Eucharist to the place

After

tier sterile?

(Missal) notes diat after the trans-

of reposition Holy Thursday evening, people should be encouraged to continue adoration before the Blessed Sacrament for a suitable period during the night, "but there should be no solemn

We

are in by the waters of God's graces. need of deepening our relationship with Divinity in the to be refreshed

recent times) in

of any valid marriage.

civil

law is

traditions,

an

openness

essential

element

See REFLECTION, page

15

,

The Catholic News & Herald

In

him

to

nearly drop out

"When

I left Hickory that weekend, I even take the books for the next

didn't

WOODEN

By CINDY

and on

he said.

But he and Lorraine talked and prayed about it, and he went to see his mentor, the late Rev. Mr. Jos Vandermeer, a deacon at

News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) Karol Wojtyla received the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel when he was about 10 years old. As Pope John

St Eugene Church "He said, You

Paul

Catholic

session,"

come this far,' in

my head

"

in Asheville.

can't quit

Jerry recalled.

that I'm going to

can. If it's all right

now. You've

'1

do the best it's not

I

I I

did

think

"I

ministry has helped us to

understand that we're

she

ing,"

"God

said.

illness. It's

a part of

vulnerable to dy-

all

didn't give

me

has given

knowing

peace,

Jesus

is

have cancer.

I've

me a great sense of

ladies right

now who

never met them in person.

I

the phone."

at Jerry. "I

giver in the world.

my

ordination at

feel

I

family, but in

have the best care-

so blessed, not only

my friends.

Those

are

the things that sustain me."

"We

have two

families,

our family and

Margaret" Jerry said.

That family was at St. Margaret

the family at

St.

for

Jerry's ordination. Friends, family, priests

who

used to pastor St. Margaret, and former parishioners came from out of town and from other states. Former St Margaret deacon, Rev. Mr. Robert Dotson,

now in Charleston, SC.,

St.

who

is

helped Jerry vest in

and stole. Betsy VaTidermeer, Jos Vandermeer's widow, gave Jeny Rev. Mr. Jos's four-volume set of the "Liturgy of the his alb

Church on March

9.

Hours" as an ordination the gift of themselves.

Katie

gift

Others gave

She was deeply moved by the ordination, she said, by "the way they made it special for him and his wife."

George Pastore was one of the altar servers. "Just knowing Jerry and working with him and having him as a mentor, I felt so proud that he asked me to serve at that Mass," George said. 'He's just a good person, and I'm glad I know him."

Nancy Porter was a Eucharistic minister at the Mass. "I was moved by the whole celebration, and I was moved when Jerry gave Lorraine a kiss. It was so moving to me that Jeny worked so long and so hard.

He and Lorraine have a spiritual togetherness and they and their family brought us all

together

in a spiritual

piano, voice); choral directing; cantor

knowledge of Catholic

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Director of Music Ministry: Holy Infant Catholic Church is in search of a full-time Director of Music. Located in Durham, North Carolina, a dynamic and growing area of the country near Research Triangle Park, this Vatican II parish-consists of 900 households that are committed to ongoing liturgical renewal. Holy Infant Parish embraces its call to be hospitable, inclusive and Christ-centered.

This position works closely with the Pastor and a collaborative and supportive staff. Requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a relevant field although a master's degree is preferred. Must have music performance skill

at

time,

"we have no proof

that the vision did not happen," said

Carmelite Father Redemptus Valabek, a Rome and an expert on

expected to write about

professor in tion.

The

anniversary

brown

is

Mary

piece of fabric that

fits

tion does not stray into superstition.

Although not nearly as popular was 40 years ago, the scapular is

over the

time, lay people joining confra-

connected with the Carmelites As its popularity grew, its size shrank. the small scapular has

stamp-sized cards

— one with

as

said.

The

scapular's origin

was

as part of

the Carmelite habit, a symbol of belong-

two

ing to the order and living

The

a picture

of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the other

tradition that

its rule.

Mary

told St.

Simon anyone wearing it would not go to hell makes sense if one realizes that wearing the scapular meant striving with one's whole being to live the Gos-

of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or of St. Simon sewn onto brown fabric and connected with brown ribbons.

—

In homilies and books, in speeches

pel,

Father Valabek

said.

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Charlotte's

Our Lady

of Consolation Church, at

Ft

still

second only to the rosary as a frequently used Marian devotion, Father Valabek

head.

Over

Carmelite priest, a native of

with a clear view of reaching modern men and women and ensuring the devo-

connected to a appeared to St. Simon Stock, a Carmelite, in 1251 and gave him the scapular, an apron-like

*

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vision;

ternities

at the reception following the ordination.

training;

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

it,

the Carmelites are

the historical authenticity of St. Simon's

also received the scapular.

(e.g.

Classified

wearing

sites,

Carmelite spirituality and Marian devo-

Margaret Catholic

my

that I'm not alone, that

two

them on

She looks in

Bishop William Curlin lays hands on Jerry La Pointe during Jerry's

taking this journey with me. I'm

ministering to

talk to

this

For me, having a

life.

terminal illness has totally changed spirituality. It

NELLENBACH

Photo by JOANITA M.

ill.

tills

still

—

pious tradition that

though she has continued ministering to

who are

is

Web

the scapular and Marian devotion in the coming months as Carmelites around the world mark what may be the 750th

The

But Lorraine's condition deteriorated, others

he

II,

The pope

my best. Then Lorraine got cancer, and my marks really suffered. When she got better, my marks got better." know

2001

careful to explain that doubts surround

later.

got the idea

right. If

it's all

16,

Carmelite hopes anniversary renews scapular popularity

JOURNEY, from page 7 a compilation of problems caused

March

the News

March

2001

16,

her, she prayed he would have the courage to come forth.

"I won't kid you," she said. "Forgiveness is hard work. It takes daily, diligent

REFLECTION,

RECONCILIATION,

from page 13

from page 5

them too, a way of life. Tliis, Francis did. In an known as 'The First Letter

though the struggle continued with each

discipline.

passing moment.

ness

existing writing

to die

Faitiifiil,"

he

states diat herein

lie

die

words of spirit and life, and he calls blessed diose who do die works of penance.

What are these works he describes?

They are love of God, love of neighbor, hatred of our vices and sins, reception of die Body and Blood of Clirist, and bringing forth die fruit of good works. He dien emphasizes tiiat diose who do penance are "the cliildren of die heavenly Fatiier, the spouses of the Holy Spirit,

and the brothers and motiiers of Our

Lord Jesus Christ" (Cf Matt 12:50) The Gospel message has remained die same throughout die centuries. Tliis Lent,

may we

deepen our relationship with the

who

passionate gardener

waters and prunes

die holy ground of our being

As we consider

die justice and

mercy of our heavenly Father, may we, the barren branches, by our works of penance bring forth Christ into our world.

May

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Around the Diocese

the golden blossoms of die

kingdom

flourish.

Sister Bernadefle Svatos,

ofRochester, Minn,

is

a Franciscan

Sister

Nort/iern Region coordina-

tor of faithfonnation in the Diocese

ofCharlotte.

"I had to go back to square one: 'Did I even believe in God? Maybe God is just a psychological crutch some wise person dreamed up a long time ago. Maybe terrible things happen because there is no God at all,"' she recalled of her thoughts.Six months had passed, and Marietta painfully and gradually reached a realization that her faith does exist and that it does matter that she does indeed believe in a God who loves his people and gives them all they need to get through tough times.

—

"I

knew

that Christians are called to

pray for their enemies, and he certainly

fit

that category," Marietta said of the kid-

napper.

And

so, as

And

hearts that get changed.

the

more

I

prayed for him, the more I realized how important it was for him to experience the love of God in his life."

Plus, she said, her prayers included a

would take

petition that the kidnapper

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hard work. But

it is

it is

Anybody who thinks forgivewimps has never fried it, be-

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am

I

here to

tell

it."

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Marietta learned

valuable for-

our front porch. With

Spring Fever? the doctor ordered...

pathways and

551

Trinity

Lane, Hickory,

of

threatened to destroy her family.

He was smug and

The

challenging on the

family buried Susie's remains

Montana, and Marietta met David's mother to grieve with her, "as two moth-

undone when,

ers

in a

calm voice and

spirit,

Marietta told him that she was praying for him. She asked him what she could do to help

him through

this ordeal.

She

tened with compassion as he broke

lis-

down

and wept.

And

in

doing

she and her

so,

daughter's kidnapper talked for more than an hour long enough for Marietta

—

to realize

more

fully

than ever before that

her heart had been transformed.

Transformation With law enforcement hot on kidnapper's

them

trail after

that

to a 26-year-old

call,

the

clues led

named David

Meirhoffer. Officials working the case

hoped that if Marietta agreed to a face-tomeeting with him, he might give himself up by confessing to what happened to Susie.

"It was a great blessing to have the chance to go out and say to David that I forgave him, that God forgave him and that God was giving him this opportunity to receive the grace he needed to become the man God had created him to face

she

who had lost their children." She rehome with a profound loss, yet with a newfound sense of God in her life. turned

Living the faith Today, Marietta calls Three Forks, Mont., her home. She travels throughout the country sharing Susie's story at churches, schools and other venues. For her, God's mandates of reconciliation and forgiveness far outweigh society's need for revenge and justice.

As a founding board member of

Murder Victims

—

own grief and

rage and hopefully, their road to healing. Along the way, she has

grown

to appreciate

all

of

life

as sacred

from God and has become a staunch opponent of the death penalty.

"What I had finally come to understand was that to kill somebody in Susie's name would be to violate and profane the goodness and sweetness and innocence of gifts

her

own

she said of her family's

life,"

experience. "I'm not advocating forgiving

violent people and then putting

back on the

said.

Families for Reconcilia-

she continues to help people in their

tion,

street.

Meirhoffer was seemingly unfazed by that meeting, Marietta said. But because he had incriminated himself in re-

kill

corded telephone conversations to the family, police had enough evidence to proceed with him in custody. A search of his

sense God's compassion as well.

people in order to keep society

And is

in

while she

them

But we don't have to

knows

safe."

that her Susie

heaven, she hopes David was able to

had to remind myself over and

"I

home yielded more evidence. And

over and over again that however I felt about this person, in God's eyes, he was

call

just as precious as

my little girl,"

"That's the kind of God that

God who

is

I

she

said.

believe

in:

Call to

one of us, no matter who we are and what we have done."

found.

"It

was the concrete proof of what

know

in

I

my own

David had been talking about exchanging Susie for a ransom and all this time we had

Jimmy Rostar 370-3334 or e-mail

Contact Associate Editor

by calling (704)

jtrostar@charlottediocese.org

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a

crazy about each and every

beauty on woodland

be and through.

in

phone, boasting of the control he had over the situation. But he became completely

comfortable

feeling like spring through

a

called Marietta.

and break-out areas, delicious meals

renew your 1

on

later, he hanged himself in his cell.

For Marietta, it was sad ending to

hotel style lodging rooms, six meeting

and snacks, miles

We've got just what

fifty

air

days

heartbreaking saga that took her youngest daughter away, shook her faith and

heart: that in spite of all this time

take a breath of fresh

kidnapper, Meirhoffer confessed to killing Susie and three other children. Three

year to the minute that he snatched Susie from her sleeping bag, the kidnapper

had already come to

Come

Soon after his meeting with Marietta and knowing she had gone to the authorities begging for life imprisonment rather than the death penalty for her child's

when, a

life

a phone from an FBI agent confirmed what Marietta and her family had feared for a year: a search team had found the remains of a little girl in the same area that another of MeirhofTer's victims was

Owner/Director Fax (704) 334-3313 441 u-F Monroe Road, Charlotte,

for

giveness had become in her

be,"

Dignity

Ret,

cause you,

she continued to pray

and her safe return, she also began to pray for her abductor. That, Marietta believes, had a dramatic and divine effect on her.

"I discovered something that maybe you already know," she told her audience.

'The more you pray for someone, it's our for Susie

is

been searching for her, she was already home in the arms of the Lord."

sate at

A weekend Visit

Holiday Inn Winston - Salem

Kmilte Sandin (336) 274-4424 for info

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The Catholic News & Herald

March

Living the faith

Pope says God's

16,

2001

Parents' influence leads

powerwill prevail

over forces of evil VATICAN CITY

(CNS)

— The

son to permanent diaconate

forces of evil try to attack the church as well

By

as inclmduals, but Christians can be sure that in the

end God's power

Pope John Paul II said.

"For the church, which frequently feels the weight of history and is besieged by evil, the mother of Christ is the shining emblem of humanity redeemed and wrapped in the grace which saves," the pope said.

At

his

March

14 general audience in

the Paul VI Audience Hall, the pope spoke about the passage from the Book of Revelation in which a woman is about to give birth and a dragon waits to devour her child.

While Christian sents the

woman

passage primarily

as is

ALESHA M. PRICE

tradition often pre-

Mary, he

said,

— The

can see

said.

said.

"Against

them there has been unleashed the monstrously devastating energy of violence, lies

and

injustice."

However, Pope John Paul said, the end of the biblical passage proclaims that the final winner of the struggle will be given to "the salvation and power, the kingdom of our God and the authority of his anointed one."

—

much

for

God had done so became more important my faith. I wanted to tell the

family, children.

me, and

it

knowing what

The seed planted by his father and nourished by his own Catholic faith and

involved with a charismatic prayer group in

in

West

Virginia. But,

hometown who preacher speak, it was as if

Rev. Mr. Vallandingham had heard every

one of

his father's sermons.

ecumenical

parents'

Vallandingham

seed

was

But

father's church.

Mr. Vallandingham

it

was

believes,

a

planted.

"Back stricted

the

children, raised Catholic, did

not attend their then, Rev.

Because of his

marriage,

in the early '50s,

we were

re-

and

from going to a non-Catholic church,

it

grew and blossomed, and Rev.

experiences

Mr. Vallandingham was ordained

me to walk in Lord that I was appreciative for all lie had done for me and my family and a way to say that was to respond to the call of service in the

for

church."

The

couple entered the program not

Charlotte, serving in the church ral

had been

to expect "Since he

was a natu-

progression for him to take," said Mrs.

VaUandingham.

"It

was a positive experience

Diocese of Charlotte's first

just a part of our

diaconate class in

lives."

1983 and began his ministry at

Vallandingham

in the

and now,

for us,

it is

Mr.

Rev.

served as the first as-

home parish, Sacred Heart

program and has

Church

been vicar of the

ministers in denominations other than the

confront each other, the pope

had

ordained a deacon."

church

through positive reports and feedback from

of love, truth and justice," he

evil

you

heard the Baptist

his father's

"Mary, her son and the church represent the apparent weakness and smallness

In the story, as in history, good and

notes,

Just prior to

his death,

his

bol of the church.

them

the people in and around his

time Rev.

first

was never made an issue. Even though I grew up in a home of mixed religions, there was a divine respect between Mother and Dad as far as religion was concerned. He supported my mother in everything she did with us. He was a very good speaker and was sought after from all over the area He would travel the circuit and would fill in for other

'The Marian interpretation does not contradict the ecclesial meaning of the text," he said, because Mary is the sym-

over

'Catholic' all

he had communicated to my mother about the possibility of becoming Catholic. He didn't make it but came awfully close. If there is such a thing as conversion by desire, my father was there. What a blessing it would have been for my father to see me

SALISBURY

Mr. Patrick Vallandingham heard his father speak publicly was at a father-son banquet at

the

about the church.

"Looking at some of his sermon

Staff Writer

will triumph,

sistant director of the

in

Salisbury. was

It

Charlotte region for

over a year.

actually

The couple

the family's second

in-

time living in North

troduced

Carolina

diaconate to their

been living

hometown

the

After his father passed away, the father

They had in West Virginia, their home state, where Rev.

and son remained linked through memories and the sermon notes he left behind. Rev. Mr. Vallandingham often reads those notes, yellowing with age, and he still derives comfort

Mr. Vallandingham worked his way up from the operations department to the

from them. Early in his ministry as a permanent deacon, he made reference to them and honored his father's memory through them.

vice-presidential po-

up

sition in a local bank,

stole,

when "they decided to move to North

one did a double

Baptist religion."

"We

Carolina

—

mother's funeral, over which he presided. "I

Courtesy Photo

Rev. Mr. Patrick and

and had thought it would be a nice place to live," remembered Ann Vallandingham.

They settled in Charlotte, and he went to work for First Union as an operations manager in the building where the old diocesan pastoral center was located. In fact, Rev. Mr. Vallandingham's old office was where Bishop

Ann Vallandingham

Emeritus Michael J. Begley's office was. "After

was

I

ries

ordained,

when

would bring back memo-

it

would come

I

to the old pastoral

center."

who

"Everyone

Unfortunately, they were not able to stay in

be thirsty again;

Virginia

but

whoever drinks the water I shall

give will

never thirst; the water I shall give will

become a

spring ofwater welling

up

— John

to

be

Vallandingham's

father,

my father's

"With

greatly touched,

I

death, even

13-14

though

work

He

I

was

I

took those

me to my ministry."

After his death, they

life.

cancer.

walked away with a new

Charlotte, and he 4:

who had

understanding about death, and feelings with

"

to eternal

They moved back to West close to Rev. Mr.

Charlotte long.

drinks this water will

was

to

go back

to

at a similar position at his old job.

then

lotte,

moved

and

to another

bank

Salisbury.

in

after nearly five years

that bank, he and his family

Charwith

moved

to

Even though they were relucgrown to

tant to leave a city they had

love, they also fell in love with their

home.

The

diaconate entered into his

several years after that,

Photo by Joann S. Keane

"I

who

used to

and and every-

No longer was

the people

work

hometown knew as

at his father's

was much older than I was then, and I was also taking a double-take because I hadn't seen any of them in a while. My mother's death was a "I

source of blessings for a lot of us to

come

together again to say good-bye."

With a 36-year career in banking behind him, Rev. Mr. Vallandingham retired in 1994 and began to work fulltime for the church. Three years ago, he began taking care of the financial end of a friend's business.

'There is a delicate balance because he has a regular job and is also a deacon.

There are times when he has to leave work to go to the church. I help by trying to

make

things as easy for him as

Mrs. Vallandingham.

"Aspects of my faith are paramount my life; it really means something to me internally," said Rev. Mr. in

Vallandingham, father of three and "I look forward to going to church and doing things for people, which wasn't my experience

grandfather of four.

The permanent diaconate has been a great source of grace and blessings for Ann and me." before.

life

and he welcomed

it

had reached a point -in my life where so much had happened to me, and I began to be appreciative in my faith of all I openly.

Pat"

walked alb

he the young boy

Pepsi-Cola bottling plant

possible," said

moved back

able to

"little

my

in

take."

this area

iOQ\

a

ion at Rev. Mr. Vallandingham's

had

traveled through

in

bittersweet fash-

Contact Staff Writer Alesha

calling

(704)

370-3354

amprice@clmrhtiediocese.org.

M. or

Price by

e-mail