May 3, 1996

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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


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May 3, 1996 by Catholic News Herald - Issuu