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October 26, 2001
Volume
Number
11
7
Serving Catholics
i
to national
Western North Carolina
BY JIMMY ROSTAR
named
be
my
—
HUNTERSVILLE Page 5
Sister
Jeanne
Marie Kienast thinks the sunflower is the perfect symbol for senior citizens. Sunflowers always turn toward the light,
As they get older, their seeds
she says.
and provide beauty and they die, the world is with the remembrance of their beauty,
said,
my
Columbian Squires gather
nourishment. left
annual convention Page
...
When
and the flowers' seeds assure
15
life
for
new
generations of sunflowers. Sister
who
Jeanne Marie, a Sister of Mercy
serves as pastoral associate at St.
Matthew Church,
offered the analogy at a
Diocese of Charlotte Elder Ministry Day of
Reflection
at
Huntersville
Oct
who we
keep those
think die
fires
down
as
dedicates new family life
memorial Page 7
we
who continue and
to provide music
around
warmth
growfelder," she
the light of the Son that will keep
us as people
Greensboro church
toward the Son, for us, he burning within us that
provides light and
said. "It is
...
in
1 1.
"If we continue to turn
News
will
center,
Mark Church
St.
us.
to give, to share,
light
and warmth
We will be beacons of hope."
Weaving humor, anecdotes, music and prayer through her exploration of the theme "Living with a Full Heart," Sister Jeanne Marie reflected on a recent Harvard University study that pinpointed four suggestions for mamtaining a
gift to you.'"
vital,
hope be I went along and all the not-
they can pray another prayer:
you was good. and thank you as
gift to
grateful
through
all
the wonderful
so-wonderful
attract songbirds
Local
the Diocese of Charlotte
And as people retire for the evening, she
Associate Editor
NFP post ...
for
in
Seniors called beacons of hope
Ins d Local parishioner
in
—
—
I
"I
tried to
things that happened."
Jeanne Marie pointed to Jesus model of humble gratitude and sercalling to mind the washing of the
Sister
as the vice,
disciples' feet as told in John's
Gospel.
"Can any of us say our life of service is over?" Sister Jeanne Marie asked her audience. "Are we not continuing to be grateful by saying, 'God, as long as you give me breath, I want to give in whatever way I can, and I'm grateful for your giving me the chance to do that?" "Nothing is ever too small for the Lord," she said. 'Fvery action that we do can be an act of love." As people age, Sister Jeanne Marie said, they tend to compare their aches and pains with those of others. But the truly Christian response to people's life situations is empathy.
"Empathy
is
being able to suffer with
Photo by Jimmy Rostar
Marie Kienast, pictured led the day of reflection.
Sister Jeanne right,
another person unselfishly," she
said. 'It's
the abilitv to look at another's world with appreciation for that world they live
You might but this
is
in.
look at that world differently,
way
the
that person
is
viewing
where the empathy is." With empathy comes the need to reach also unselfishly and with out to others it
and
that's
—
the belief that even the seemingly smallest acts are smiled
upon by God, she
"We should do things
said.
witJi people,
and
See SENIORS, page
14
Historic Cathedral in France
successful
approach to aging.
Deacon finds joy through life
About 130
seniors
from 15 parishes
in
the Charlotte, Gastonia, Greensboro and
experiences
Salisbury vicariates attended the annual ...
Page
16
first of two sponsored this by Elder Ministry, a Cathokc Social
gathering, the fall
Services ministry of the diocese.
The Harvard
study explored the
abil-
and hope; the need for gratitude, forgiveness and optimism; the need for empathy; and the ability to reach out to others as key needs in the lives of
ity to anticipate
people as they age.
For people of
fvcry Week Pages 10-11
Jeanne Marie.
She challenged her audience in a series of questions combining the study's themes with a
Editorials
& Columns ...Pages
those areas are
tismal gifts of faith, hope and love, said Sister
Entertainment
faith,
especially important in cherishing the bap-
faith reaction.
we beacons of hope?" she asked. we symbols of health? That doesn't mean we don't have aches and pains and ailments. But are we healthy? Are we "Are
12-13
"Are
whole?
"Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they will
be called children
of God."
"You
can't be healthy unless you're
also whole. That's the
gift is
up
us:
to them.
"Do we
-Matthew 5:9
way God made
mind, body, spirit working all together." She suggested that each day is a gift from God, and people's response to that get up in the morning and
Thank
you, God, for this day? gift of life. This is a gift you gave me. What I do with today will say,
Thank you for this
Photo by Joann S. Keane
Cathedral of Notre Dame in Bayeux, a village in the Normandy region of France. Our Lady of Bayeux, as the cathedral is known, dates from the 11th century, and was consecrated in 1077. The medieval Cathedral was seen by pilgrims from the Diocese of Charlotte visiting Shrines of France with Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd and Msgr. William Pharr. Bayeux was the first town liberated [hy Canadian troops]] during World War II.