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September
Volume
9
24,
&
1999
Number
4
Serving Catholics
in
Western North Carolina
in
the Diocese of Charlotte
The Southeast FIRE Rally
Insid
Rally fires up the faithful in prayer, song, spirit Hurricane
JIMMY ROSTAR
By
Floyd
Associate Editor
BELMONT —
At a site rich with decades of Catholic history, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the new springtime of the upcoming jubilee. More than 2,000 people from the Southeast and beyond rallied Sept. 18 around FIRE a Catholic alliance promoting faith, intercession, repentance and evangelism. Hosted in Wheeler Athletic Center on the grounds of Belmont
Eastern N.C. fights rising
waters, executes relief efforts
...Page
3
—
Quebec bishops say no
Abbey
apologies, funds for orphans
College, the rally featured four
move-
leaders in charismatic renewal
11
...Page
ments, each coming with a message of a
A youth track also brought about 550 young people together for a similar encounter. The day was filled with preaching and music, and ended with Masses celebrated with both the adults and the youth. FIRE wSs sparked in the fall of 1982, when charismatic renewal leaders decided to form an evangelism team. Their goals? To apply Gospel living faith.
local News Young hearts set afire at
youth
modern world, to reach out to Catholics seeking to deepen their commitment to Christ and the church, and to challenge the faithful teachings in the
rally
1
...Page
to
14
more The
May
fully first
embrace church life. Rally was hosted
FIRE
1983. Nearly 120
in
400,000 participants and dozens of countries throughout the world later, FIRE still
Every Week
spreads. to
And on
Belmont
for
Sept.
1
rallies,
8, it
made
ing that celebrated the Catholic
Editorials
way
its
an unprecedented gather-
& Columns
faith.
Faith ...Pages
4-5
"In the is
Entertainment
new
covenant, the Holy Spirit
given to every single Christian. Every
single Christian has the possibility of be-
...Pages
12-13
ing led and guided by the Hoi)'
Spirit."
That was one of Ralph Martin's many impassioned messages on what the gift of faith means for Christians, especially
on the eve of the new millen-
nium. The president of the evangelization mission called Renewal Ministries, Martin said faith and openness to the
Holy
Spirit can
change
lives forever.
He noted Pope John
Paul IPs "whole ministry as pope is dedicated to helping us surrender ourselves and open ourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit in each of our lives."
The upcoming
jubilee,
Martin
time for the church to experience a renewed presence of Christ in the world. "The church isn't a social club, the church isn't a hobby," he said. "The church is a meeting with God, and that's what the church is supposed to point to, facilitate and deepen." said, is a
kneels in prayer during the Southeast FIRE Rally Sept. 18 at billed as the largest-ever Catholic evangelistic gathering in the Charlotte metro area, drew well over 2,000 adults and teen-agers from the Southeast and beyond.
A woman Respect
Life
Sunday, Oct. 3
See center section
Belmont Abbey College. The event,
See FIRE RALLY, page
16