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Catholic
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News & Herald Volume 3 Number
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
New
Bishop Begley Dedicates
St.
1 •
September
3,
1993
Aloysius Church —
HICKORY sanctuary was
The
Aloysius brim for an
St.
full to the
Aug. 28 dedication, celebrating the completion of a new church, basement and classrooms. Msgr. John J.
McSweeney, diocesan was
administrator,
the celebrant.
"There's a
lot
of joy and good feel-
ings behind this whole project," said
Bob Horowitz, chairman of the building committee. spirit.
"We
truly
Now, we can
have a renewed
use this building as
grow from." The $2.3 million
a tool to
seven-year
effort. In
project theme,
project capped a keeping with the
"A Renewed
Spirit," a
hand-carved dove graces a wooden podium on the altar.
you
"My
brothers and sisters in Christ,
all
are the essential part of this
building which has the apostles and its foundation and Christ Himself for the cornerstone," retired Bishop Michael J. Begley said in the
prophets for
homily.
"You all have a task to perform," Bishop Begley said. "You have been challenged to bring Christ to the market place." Although the job will not be See Dedicate, Paee Li
Photos by
CAROL HAZARD
Above:The new open and and windows
Above right: The in
airy sanctuary at St. Aloysius uses skylights
to let in natural light.
old
St.
Aloysius Church will be converted into a chapel
the next phase of renovations.
Below
right:
The stone
exterior and stucco trim
on the new sanctuary
blend with the old stone rectory and church.
Father John Parsons Dies At 51 Father John Fletcher Parsons,
III,
He was born May
a call to priesthood while a teenager, but
did not pursue
died Aug. 28 in East Tennessee.
1942 in Panama; the family moved to Tampa, 31,
it
until years later
he was an airline pilot based lotte.
in
when Char-
He began his studies for the priest-
for a year, before joining the U.S. Air
age 36. Following preparatory at Sacred Heart College and Belmont Abbey College, he entered the Sacred Heart School of Theology at
Force in 1962. Following four years in the Air Force, he spent two years at the National Aviation Academy in St. Pe-
Hales Corners, Wis., in 1978. He was ordained a priest on Jan. 30, 1982 in St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte, by Bishop
Fla., in
1946. Father Parsons graduated
from Jesuit High School
in
Tampa and
attended the University of South Florida
tersburg, Fla., graduating with a
com-
mercial pilot's license.
Father Parsons had
first
recognized
hood
at
courses
Michael J. Begley. Following ordination, his first assignment was as parochial vicar at Queen of the Apostles Church, Belmont. He later served as parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury; at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Charlotte, and at Holy Family Church, Clemmons. He had also served as pastoral minister for CharSee Parsons, Page
1
Ceremony Postponed The official proclamation of St. Lawrence Church in Asheville as a minor basilica, originally scheduled for Sept. 5, has been postponed until Friday, Oct. 1, at 6
FATHER JOHN
F.
PARSONS
p.m.
Carol
Ann Duke and Robert Watkins,
Salisbury, enjoy recess during
students returned to
Page
a late
kindergarten students at Sacred Heart School in
summer morning. Across
the diocese, 5,300
Catholic schools. See special Back to School section beginning on
7.
Photo by
JOAN'