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Roman
Catholic
Diocese of Charlotte
Parish Profile:
St Matthew Church
NEWS^iffiRALD
Established Jan. 12, 1972
by Pope Paul VI
MARCH
5,
SERVING CATHOLICS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE
2004
PAGE
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VOLUME
N9
13
16
23
•mi:
YOUNG AT HEART
FIGHTING FOR LIFE
House passes Unborn Victims of Violence Act child could be charged with
two separate crimes by
GOVERNMENT ENABLED TO RECOGNIZE UNBORN CHILDREN AS VICTIMS
federal
prosecutors.
"Abortion activists recoil any acknowledgment of a
fi^om
child's existence before birth,"
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
BY
WASHINGTON
— The
U.S. bishops' pro-life spokes-
woman of the
called
House passage
Unborn Victims of Vio-
lence Act Feb. 26 "a vote for justice for
women and
di-
mation for the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops.
"But their arguments are as ridiculous as they are offen-
their sive,"
children."
she said in a statement.
'This legislation explicitly ex-
Under
the measure, ap254-163 vote, those who injure or kill a pregnant woman and her unborn
proved
Cathy Cleaver Ruse,
said
rector of planning and infor-
in a
empts abortion."
The
bill
was passed
after
See VICTIMS, page 8
Photo by Karen A. Evans
Mercy Sister Mary Louise Wiesenforth and Mercy Sister Margaret Mary Higgins study their bingo Fling. The annual event, sponsored by Elder Ministry of Catholic Social Services, brings seniors of the diocese together for recreational and enrichment activities.
Letting good times roll
cards during the 2003 Spring
Fat Tuesda}' at St.
der Ministry reaches
Ann
"^dxooX
CHARLOTTE Mardi Gras
—
The
spirit filled St.
Ann School. First-graders treated the
out to senior Catholics
school to
its
annual Mardi Gras
parade Feb. 24. Students and faculty lined corridors as first-
BY
KAREN
A.
graders pulled their floats to
EVANS
According to Breakfield,
STAFF WRITER
CHARLOTTE
—
the objective of Elder Minis-
"The
Diocese of Charlotte is gifted with the presence of many se-
who have an abundance
of Catholic Social Services which is funded primarily by the Diocesan
of knowledge, talent and expertise to offer to ministry,"
intellectual, social
Sandra Breakfield, director of diocesan Elder Ministry. "Likewise, they benefit greatly from a ministry geared toward them."
tual
said
The
try, a division
Support Appeal, is to encourage seniors to continue their
niors
person and values each individual as a unique being.
and spiridevelopment throughout
their lives.
The
ministry utilizes a ho-
enhance the well-being, positive quality of life and continued independence of senior adults. This is accomplished through facilitating the development of parish-based support systems and through connecting seniors with community resources.
approach that addresses each individual as a whole
listic
See SENIORS, page 9
Good
os6e 33 li
%l%
ministry also strives to
mim nosiiS NOU 331103
ON
good parents
New
Orleans jazz music play-
ing over intercom speakers.
The made
Courtesy Photo
first-grade classes
and masks for it began, first-graders ate their king students who found a cakes baby Jesus inside got to wear the crowns and lead the parade. their floats
the parade. Before
—
This year, first-graders and Aiden Robidoux led the parade. Mardi Gras, French for Isabelle Martella
First-grader Isabelle Martella finds a baby Jesus
in
"Fat Tuesday," refers to the
Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and to the parades and other festivities that take place during the days preced-
ing Lent.
Reflecting Christ
Perspectives
Vaxtniing expert
Elizabeth Ministry
Bishop Jugis discusses
imparts advice
offers support
sexual abuse issues
kids,
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PAGE
5
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PAGE
7
a king
cake Feb. 24.
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PAGES 14-15