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November Volume
9 t
19,
NEWS
1999
Number
12
Serving Catholics
I
n$ d i
By Alesha M. Price
D.C.
WASHINGTON, ...Page
Room
3
at
the Inn
celebrates five
together
2000
all
4
brings
cultures ...Page
Local
7
Advent
in
the Diocese of Charlott<
For
way from visiting Our Mother of Africa
is
why
Upon arrival at the shrine, many of the people were awestruck at the size and the outer construction. After a tour of the over 60 chapels in the upper and lower levels with a. choir rehearsal in the background, people
expressed what they had seen and heard in various manners. It was a moving experience for Carol Cerar who attends Belmont Abbey Basilica. She was brought to tears at the sight of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel because her birthday and the feast day are both on Dec. 1 2. "The Blessed Mother symbolizes hope, and with this great edifice, I see hope for all people," reflected Gregory
can Affairs Ministry, with many expectations and hopes. "I want to see the National Shrine and to have the experience of meeting other Catholics from across the diocese,"_said Jasper Dunlap from the St.
Lewis, a
member
solation
Church
Lawrence
Our Mother
Basilica in Asiieville.
Lucien Church in Spruce Pine parishioners Mike Lyons and his mother, Mary, both agreed that their "great devotion to the Blessed Mother and the desire to see the shrine for the
they decided to go
trip.
such
a blessing,
The
of
Our Lady of Con-
in Charlotte.
and
it
stirs
"This
my
focal point of the trip
is
spirit."
was the
of Africa Chapel, with its renditions of the Madonna and Christ
Child with African-American fea-
made of ebony, a native African wood, and a wooden wall carving of the history of the Afritures, the crucifix
ing to His people, and the people in the wall carving looking at the crucifix. It has historical and religious significance and served as an important aspect of the trip for many of those in attendance. During the tour, many people lingered behind to either sit or stand in silence or pray silently while
gazing at the Madonna and Christ Child sculpture.
The prayer service in the chapel included "Oh Freedom" and "We Shall Overcome" as the opening and closing songs. The prayers and songs all had one central theme Christ as the
—
Light of the World who has the power to guide His people out of darkness.
The theme involved everyone living as one harmoniously as God's people and being able to share individual talents and ideas with everyone. Esther Rackette, a St. Benedict the Moor Church parishioner in Winston-Salem, said, "The prayer service was truly uplifting. It is wonderful to see how we [African-Americans^] are depicted in several of the mosaics in the shrine in addition to the Our Mother of Africa Chapel. It shows
Reflection
can-American people from slavery to the civil rights movement. The sculptures form a triangular
that
13
pattern with the Christ Child point-
joined in the prayer service and the Mass at the Memorial of St. Francis
...Page
we do have a presence." The singing and the group prayer caught the attention of passersby who
Xavier Cabrini Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Father Mauricio West, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, was the celebrant and homilist, and Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, vice-
Living the Faith Fire in the
-
Chapel and St. Augustine Church in Washington, D.C. Three busloads of people from across the diocese embarked upon the trip, sponsored by the African-Ameri-
St.
New*
D.C.
significant
the shrine, the
time"
on the
some, the Nov. 12-14 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was a renewal of their faith, and for others, it was an opportunity to learn more about their heritage. All 118 people left the nation's capital touched in
some
years ...Page
Encuentro
Western North Carolina
first
Staff Writer
in
in
Pilgrimage celebrates faith, culture
U.S. bishops open annual
meeting
HERALD
&
chancellor of the diocese, and Rev.
Mountains focuses on
Mr. Ron Steinkamp, permanent
internalizing faith
deacon
...Page
16
See
Every Week Editorials
at St. Pius
X
in
Greens-
boro, concelebrated the Mass.
PILGRIMAGE
page
14
& Columns ...Pages
12-13
...Pages
10-11
Entertainment I
Kaheem
Pickett, son of
Stephen and Deboriah Pickett from Our Lady of Consolation Church in Charlotte, carefully lights
Giant field
prepared for
Our Lady of Chapel in the
a candle in the
Lourdes
Holy Year
Basilica of the Shrine of the
'Woodstock'
Immaculate Conception during the November 12-14 pilgrimage.
...Page
8 toTO by
Alesha M. Price