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News & Herald Volume 5 Number 31
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Diocesan Youth Gather For Annual Conference
Australian
—
massacre of 34 people
in Australia's
island-state of Tasmania evoked prayers
and the gunman. Archbishop Joseph Eric D' Arcy of Hobart said at Masses in his archdiocese for the victims, their families
to
commemorate
the victims, that
Tasmanians had been unable
to
do
anything but cry.
The
incident occurred about 60
miles from Hobart, and the archbishop'
Paul Birsch,
By
Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro and drummers Ryan and Pat Gardner lead the processional for the closing
youths they would be new people when they left Camp Thunderbird later that
Editor
—
Justin Hall and Kat Faint will remember the experience for years to come. Hall, 16, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, and Faint, 14, a
S.C.
member of Holy
Infant
Church
Reidsville, spent April 26-28 at the
1
in
9th
day. 'This has been a great time to be together. Certainly,
shared, but
when
it's
we've talked and over, that's
By
— Ruth Douglas
GREENSBORO
weekend just because you had fun here. The greatness of this weekend is when it ends and you is
not a great
Archdiocese
of
Perth,
the
after
an
ecumenical prayer service. The service was held at the suggestion of Australia' governor-general, Sir William Deane, and attended by Prime Minister John Howard and the leaders of many Christian denominations. The gunman walked into the Broad Arrow Cafe at the historic tourist site of Port Arthur April 28 and, after chatting with some customers, pulled out a highpowered, semi-automatic rifle and began shooting indiscriminately. Twenty people died inside; some still had forks in their mouths, shot in the act of eating. Others were shot outside, including a mother and her 3 -year- old daughter, shot dead on a roadway as the mother ran from the slaughter, carrying the 3-
See Australians, page 6
in
Editor
said.
"This
The Record, newspaper of
MIKE KROKOS
when
you know that thi s was a great weekend," he
Gunman
Douglas Finds Joy Helping Others
annual Diocesan Youth Conference.
MIKE KROKOS
CLOVER,
message to the victims' families was one of unity in prayer. "Every Tasmanian unites with you in love, and every Christian in Tasmania unites with you in prayer through Jesus and his mother, who know what suffering and death are like from their own personal experience," he said. The archbishop spoke by phone to
of
Bill
1996
Evokes Prayers For By PETER ROSENGREN PERTH, Australia (CNS) The
liturgy at the
May 3,
Massacre
Vicitms, Families,
Andrea Logan
•
has
many joys in life. A member of St. Paul
others to meet life's needs.
"Everybody has a the Apostle
says.
"My
talent,"
Douglas
talent is helping people."
experience," Hall said. "I learned that
your daily life, and suddenly you're different. You're not the same anymore. You met somebody ... and they have excited you about your faith;
we
"The friendships I've made are Church in Greensboro, Douglas, 73, has really a blessing," she added. a loving husband, five children, and 12 Raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Ruth grandchildren. She enjoys riding horses, Douglas points to her upbringing and playing tennis and golf. when asked about her faith. "I Central to her life, Douglas has the.
they've strengthened you with their
a strong faith.
annual Diocesan Youth Conference making new friends and growing through the fellowship the conference brings. "It was a fun and exciting are
We're that
all all
He
is
one, we're the Christ,
same people.
and we need to spread
within us."
"This weekend was about growing closer in your relationship with Christ,"
Faint added. "The conference was about
meeting other Christians who share the same religion and relationships." The theme of the conference was "Koinonia Unity in Our Community."
—
The focus of the weekend was
to allow
the youth to celebrate their faith, their love,
and
their lives.
The theme was
also designed to teach the youth to come
together in happiness. Nearly
400 teen-
age Catholics from throughout the diocese attended.
'This weekend's activities were a realization of the council's chosen
theme," said Paul Kotlowski, diocesan director for youth ministry. The theme was taken from Acts 2:44, he added. The conference culminated with a Mass celebrated by Bishop William G. Curlin. In his homily, the bishop told the
go back
to
you feel alive again. You feel like you can carry the world." The diocesan shepherd also
challenged the teens to let Christ be the centerpiece of their lives. "The world is
your hands now; My time is going, your time is now coming," he said. "You who are young, think about the future. Let it be intermingled with in
Jesus Christ
...
Be
Christ for us.
Be
makes
she said.
Ruth and husband Dick have been members of St. Paul the Apostle since it was established in 1974. The widow and widower met only a few years earlier through a mutual friend. Ruth was living
time to help others.
On
Saturdays, she can be found
taking elderly people to 5 p.m. St.
Paul the Apostle.
As
Mass
at
a Eucharistic
minister, she regularly takes the Blessed
Sacrament to church.
to shut-ins
Shopping
are a highlight for
unable to
trips
"My mother was a
very devout person."
a trip to Maryfield
Nursing Home in High Point every Monday for Perpetual Adoration, and meets with a prayer group every Thursday. Among these and other activities, Douglas also makes
the
peacemakers, be the people of justice. Be the people who will be the great family lives of tomorrow. Fifty percent of marriages end in America, don't be one of those," the Bishop continued. "I beg and pray with all my heart, be Christ for us. If you keep Christ inside of you, He will hold you up in this world," he added. John Robichaux, a parishioner at St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, was presented with the Bishop Begley
attended parochial schools,"
She attends daily Mass,
friendship,
make it
with Douglas
many people unable
to drive.
Three years ago, Douglas heard of Care-Link, a program started by the Methodist church in Greensboro that
in
New York at the time, but moved
south in 1 972 after meeting and marrying
Dick.
The Douglases remember the early when the St. Paul the Apostle
years
&
church family held services in Forbis Dick Funeral Home and a nearby Methodist church. Mr. Douglas and the late Joe Berry, a fellow parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle, played an integral role in helping Paulist Father
and then-Bishop Michael J. Begley find
Care-link volunteer, and also began
land to build the church. "St. Paul's got
became
helping elderly Catholics. She has
See Youth, page 3
Bob Scott
a
cares for shut-ins. Douglas
become
a friend to
many who
turn to
See
Faith, next
page