www.charlotfediocesc.ors
Roman
Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
Sin of racism Indiana bishop calls Catholics to action .page
NEW^fERALD
Established Jan. 12, 1972
by Pope Paul VI
SEPTEMBER
SERVING CATHOLICS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTE
2003
19,
4
VOLUME
N? 44
12
Tacos, pizza
Diverse
and French fries:
cultures form one parish
Fast food and
immigration
-
patterns
New Holy Cross North Carolina is
Church dedicated
home to manycultures
forgrowing
community by
AGOSTINO BONO
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE by
KEVIN
E.
MURRAY
EDITOR
WASHINGTON
— With
—
KERNERSVILLE Hundreds of people gathered with Bishop William G. Curlin, bishop emeritus, in the vestibule of the new church. After Oblate Father Joseph Tustin, pastor, and parishioner Virgil Parrett presented him with the blueprints, occupancy permits and keys to the church, Bishop Curlin knocked on the closed sanctuary doors with his crosier and then led the procession inside. Bishop Curlin celebrated the dedication Mass of Holy Cross Church along with Father Tustin and other area priests Sept.
13.
The Mass was
as fast food,
it's
hard to forget
that the United States
and
still is
—
The
difference
now
that
changed direction. No longer is the primary flow from Europe. Latin America, It's from mainly Mexico.
One
result
is
that people
across the country can
now
rush their lunch with a burrito
Photo by Kevin
cel-
Bishop William
G. Curlin, bishop emeritus; Oblate Father
E.
Murray
Joseph Tustin, pastor of Holy
Mr. Gene Gillif; and other area priests concelebrate the dedication new Holy Cross Church in Kernersville Sept. 13.
Cross Church; Rev.
Mass
of the
— not
just a
hamburger or a
hot dog. Another
is
that anti-
immigration groups have a large and easily identifiable target to aim at: Spanishspeaking immigrants,
whom may
A GROWING FAMILY
STEPHEN UZZELL
The church
bishop emeritus, concelebrated
CORRESPONDENT
the jubilee
CHARLOTTE — ParishChurch celebrated a 25-year milestone last weekend.
provincial of the Capuchin or-
Thomas Aquinas
Nearly 1,500 people gathered to proclaim their faith and Photo by Stephen Uzzell
games after the Mass celebrating the 25th Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte Sept. 14.
St.
1000-665^3 ON TIIH
13dW0
Mass with Capu-
Father Ignatius Zampino, pastor; Capuchin Father Vincent Fortunato,
ioners of St.
joy of community together in "25 Years of Giving Glory to
God"
chin
der;
of
attitude to-
ward immigrants is expressed by the title of a 2000 document by the U.S. bishops: 'Welcom-
celebrates silver anniversary by
many
be illegally in the
country.
St Thomas Aquinas Church
play
is
the immigration flows have
See HOLY CROSS, page 9
anniversary of
—
was
a nation of immi-
grants.
ebrated in English and Spanish, with
Children
(CNS)
empanadas joining pizza and French fries tacos and
Capuchin Father Stanley
Kobel, parochial vicar; Capu-
chin Father Martin Schratz,
ing the Stranger
Among
Us:
Unity in Diversity." "For the church the only passport you need is your baptism," said Ronaldo Cruz, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for His-
panic Affairs.
The
infusion of mostly
parochial vicar; Msgr. John
Catholic Latin Americans has
See ANNIVERSARY, page 7
See IMMIGRATION, page 6
Sept. 14.
Bishop William G. Curlin,
Foundation grants
Strength
Money helpsparishes, schools
Colombian bishop celebrates
Parishioners called to
cultures in Gastonia
form links in Life Chain
Fighting for
in faith
life
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Awaan
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...PAGE
5
...PAGE
6
...page
8
2
The Catholic News & Herald
September
Current and upcoming
Brief
topics from around the
world to your
own backyard
WOMEN CALL ATTENTION TO EFFECTS OF ABORTION AT
WASHINGTON months
SUPREME COURT
U.S.
after the
tial-Birth
(CNS)
—
Six
Senate approved the Par-
Abortion Ban Act by a 64-33 Committee on Pro-
vote, the U.S. bishops'
chairman urged senators to
Life Activities
move
the legislation on to President Bush
by eliminating what he
called
an "extrane-
ous" provision in support of Roe vs.
Cardinal
Anthony
J.
Wade.
Bevilacqua said
the "sense of die Senate" provision added as
2003
move
Cardinal urges Senate to
ban
partial-birth abortion
19,
to president wrote
dinal Bevilacqua
in a Sept. 12 letter
to the senators.
The Harkin amendment
the only
is
between the Senate version of the legislation and the version passed by the House June 4 by a 282-139 margin. Usually differences are resolved in difference
conference committee, but
some
senators
have demanded further debate and a separate vote on sending the bill to conference
an amendment to the bill was "the one remaining obstacle to enactment of this
committee.
much-needed
cans and 30 state legislatures support end-
legislation."
Tom Harltin, D-Iowa,
Proposed by Sen.
amendment states the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision "was appropri-
the
and secures an important constitutional right" and "should not be overturned."
Cardinal Bevilacqua said most Ameri-
ing the partial-birth abortion procedure,
but they have been thwarted by court
As
ate
baby
the president, and has already delayed
killed.
fi-
lation, is
reason enough to remove
it,"
Car-
defined in the legislation, a partial-
birth abortion
'The fact that this provision is opposed by many members of Congress and nal passage of this widely supported legis-
•
decisions permitting such abortions.
the
is
any abortion
which the
in
delivered "past the navel
is
...
outside
body of the mother" before being
tions
The
bill
allows partial-birth abor-
when necessary
mother's
to
save the
life.
Diocesa n, CNS
—planner
photo by Paul Haring
CHARLOTTE —
Our Babies Remembered memorial prayer service for babies lost through
Actress Jennifer O'Neill, spokeswoman for the "Silent No More" campaign, speaks out against abortion
in
front of the U.S.
Supreme Court
and other women who have had abortions gathered
in
ASHEVILLE
Washington Sept. 10. She
The campaign and Priests
families.
Episcopalians for
Life
is
a joint effort by the National Organization of
for Life.
ASHEVILLE
Catholic-Episcopal campaign asks
women to by
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
WASHINGTON women, including
(CNS)
—
Ten
actresses Jennifer
Melba Moore, stood in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Sept. 10 to urge women who are thinking about having an abortion to reconsider. All 10 women had undergone an abortion some of them multiple abortions and testified to their post-abor-
—
she suffered nine miscarriages after the
asks pastors to conduct services in their
O'Neill said, "talk to
churches to promote healing for who have had abortions.
The campaign
is
women
jointly sponsored
by the Catholic organization Priests for Life and the National Organization of Episcopalians for Life,
known
as
NOEL.
Priests for Life associate director
Janet
Morana and
NOEL national
direc-
tor Georgette Forney, co-founders of the
campaign, called for the development of a wide-ranging study to measure the aftereffects of abortion on women.
Moore
told Catholic
News
Service
she joined the Catholic Church last year,
member of Holy Cross Parish in New York City. She was introduced and
is
a
during the program as having had "several" abortions. "I've been healed," she told
CNS.
abortion.
"If you're considering
an abortion,"
someone who's had
one."
said
Missy Smith of Washington, who she had two abortions and six chil-
dren, said she "just crumbled"
VICARIATE
this planet for
made by God and placed
an eternal purpose?
when she
A dis-
Mondays 10 a.m.-noon
through Oct. 27 at St. John Neumann Church, 8451 Idlewild Rd. to discuss "The Purpose-Driven Life" by Rick Warren. Call Sandra at (704) 841-7562 or e-mail
at the time, but said
"With every miscarriage I had, was being punished," she added.
Eugene
Sept. 28 12:30-3:30 p.m.
scious that you were
said
The women's appearance was part of a new campaign, Silent No More Awareness, to help women with postabortion healjng. The campaign also
felt I
Catholic Social Services will
BBQ Dinner and Raffle at St.
CHARLOTTE — Do you lead your life con-
she had her abortion in her early 20s.
I
—
well.
cussion group meets
She had one child
a national certified
Ballantyne
Commons Pkwy.
experienced such a loss are invited to attend as we remember the brief though precious lives of
For information, please call 543-4780. Sponsored by the Elizabeth Ministry and the Bereavement
their children.
Tracy
Webb at (704)
Ministry of Compassion.
5 at 3 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621
Dilworth Rd., followed by a potluck dinner in the cafeteria of St. Patrick School. The Red Mass is an annual event celebrated to coincide with the opening of the Supreme Court's judicial calendar. The Masses designed to provide all members of the legal community the opportunity to reflect on the God-given power and responsibility that are a part of their offices.
CHARLOTTE
— The
Theology on Tap
fall
on Monday evenings in Fuel Pizza on the Green 6:30-8:30
series will take place
October
at
p.m. Fuel Pizza is located St.
Peter Church, 507
available in
is
S.
in
the building behind
Tryon St. Free parking
The Green, the underground lot The themefor the fall series
next to the church.
sstclair@carolina.rr.ocm for details. '
Matthew Church, 8015 Families who have
at 7:30 p.m. at St.
2,
the Diocese of Charlotte will be celebrated Oct.
on
tion regrets.
a.m. Presenter Rich-
be
CHARLOTTE — The inaugural Red Mass for
CHARLOTTE
with Jesus Christ."
During the program, O'Neill
host a
Eugene Church, 72 workshop on Creative
will
grams on aging
Church
Right to Life Committee, said acting roles for her have been more sparse in love
St.
newborn death
held on the Feast of the Guardian Angels, Oct.
gerontological counselor and offers pro-
host a
tional
I fell
St., will
ASHEVILLE
your children. But nobody talks about it" now. O'Neill, the 2003 recipient of the Proudly Pro-Life Award from the Nakill
"since
confidential,
For registration and information, call Sandra Breakfield at (704) 370-3220 or Gerry Carter at (828) 254-5 193.
Moore added, "African-Americans used to know it was a terrible thing to
O'Neill and
—
Culvern
—
Agingon Sept. 25 at 10 ard von Stamwitz is
reconsider having abortions
MARK PATTISON
—A
Bible-based Women's Recovery Group meets Tuesdays 10 a.m.-noon at Immaculate Conception Church, 208 7* Ave. West For more information, call Debra at (828) 89 1-3774.
an ongoing project to raise the awareness of the harmful effects of abortion on
women and
miscarriage, stillbirth or
VICARIATE
HENDERSONVILLE
at the court building as part of
...
CHARLOTTE — Pathfinders, an interfaith
is "Healing the Culture in the Third Millennium." For more information, please e-mail
peer support group for separated or divorced
aschmidt@charlottediocese.org.
Tuesday evenings 7:30-9 p.m. at St. Gabriel Church, 3016 Providence Rd. The first session runs through Dec. 6. For more information, please call Wayne at (704)
GASTONIA
people, meets
VICARIATE
GASTONIA
— An
Interfaith
Prayer Vigil for
Peace will take place 7-8 p.m. Sept. 29 at Taber-
896-0900.
learned in the late 1990s of what she called "trafficking in
baby parts"
—
abortionists selling organs and other
SEPTEMBER
THE-
VOLUME
parts of aborted fetuses to hospitals and
research
facilities.
ing and Exploitation of
—
"All
Unwanted Per-
combat this. of us (who have had abortions)
to
the sex of our child. Many of us have even named them," Smith said. Until mothers who have undergone abor-
know
meet
unborn children heaven, she added, "we shall always feel tions
unrequited."
their
•
19,
2003
NUMBER
44
Smith founded
WAKEUP — Women Against the Killsons
12
in
NEW^HERALD
The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $23 per year the
PUBLISHER: Msgr. Mauricio W. West EDITOR: Kevin E. Murray STAFF WRITER: Karen A. Evans GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Tim Faragher ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE: Cindi
SECRETARY:
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St.,
for
Feerick
Season
1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 MAIL: P.O. Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 PHONE: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail catholicnews@charlottediocese.org :
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the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason
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We
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guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities.
POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, P.O. Box 37267. Charlotte,
NC
28237.
September
The Catholic News & Herald 3
2003
19,
FROM THE VATICAN
Vatican newspaper pays tribute to victims of Sept- 1 spread VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The
WASHINGTON
attacks
1
Paul
American suffering
global terrorism. But
in
the Sept.
1
1
ter-
campaign against international terrorism would not succeed in the face of continuing global economic injustice. In a commentary on the second ansaid the "crime of horrible grav-
ity" had changed the history of the world and left people everywhere with an enduring sense of anxiety.
The at U.S.
terrorist attacks struck not only
symbols of economic and military
might but also represented "an aggression against the value of peace founded
on justice and forgiveness," said the commentary, signed by the paper's chief foreign editor, Giuseppe M. Petrone. It noted there was immediate wide-
nacle Baptist Church, 519 19th St. Come pray with people of all faiths as they gather together to ask the Lord for peace in our time. For more information, please contact Tabernacle Baptist Church, (704) 864-4051, or Dennis TeallFlemirig at (704) 825-9600, ext. 26, or
—
The
The
She
Paul
The
will
moment.
II
Cultural Center archive," said
Father Bugarin. exhibitions celebrate the silver
Pope John Paul II; the scheduled to be up through
jubilee year of
pontiff enters a stadium
full
of
first
show
is
said military
tens of thousands of cheering people;
Jan. 25, 2004, with the fourth exhibition
Afghanistan and in Iraq "have not subdued international terrorism, which continues to strike and to hold millions of people in the world in
they will never forget his charisma as
running through Nov.
campaigns
it
in
anxiety."
realization that
1 1
there has been the
,
necessary to react to
it is
the barbarous logic of destruction by
commitment
intensifying
the fight
in
ground
in
which the
takes root and thrives,"
evil plant it
These are the kinds of experiences shows of photographs taken from the archives of L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican daily newspaper, and focusing on Pope John Paul II.
the recent encyclical, "Ecclesia de Eucharistia," and the church's teaching about the Eucharist. Each image in the exhibit relates to a particular section of
them.
of hate
hours, consisting of small group discussion
and lecture. Starting on September 24th, meetings will be on Wednesday evenings or
mornings.
stalscss@eharter.net, or call (828) 441-2205 for
.
Ann
at in
The paper said it was imperative not only to keep the memory of the attacks alive but also to overcome the fear they caused. "It is necessary not to lose hope. Evil and death don't have the last word," it said.
Thursday
The
1
said.
E-mail Miller at
2004.
"At the Altar of the World: Faith's Great Mystery," looks at
against injustice and oppression, the fertile
7,
The first exhibit,
moves among
the white-clothed figure
offered in the first of four
"After Sept.
niversary of the tragedy, L'Osservatore
Romano
in
as he baptizes her child.
II
never, ever forget that
the battle declared on
United States
(CNS)
eyes of a mother meet those of Pope John
international support for the
Vatican's newspaper paid tribute to rorist attacks but said the U.S. military
Photo exhibit of pope to open yearlong series at cultural center
which opened Sept. 10 the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center Washington, offers an opportunity for
many
exhibit,
work of the
to see the
talented photographers,
who
Vatican's
constantly
photograph the pope and the people around him. Father G. Michael Bugarin, execuof the center, spent three weeks at the Vatican earlier this year looking through thousands of photos for this series of exhibitions. In all he said he chose about 1,600 of 3 million; about 450 will be shown at the center. Many have never been seen before. "These were all printed in the Vatican and will become part of the Pope John tive director
the encyclical.
There are photos of the
May
18,
1981, assassination attempt on the pope;
him mounting the steps to Mass at St. Peter's Basilica; with then-Archbishop Theodore E.
a view of
begin
McCarrick in Newark, N.J., in 1987; at the 1986 world prayer meeting with religious leaders in Assisi, Italy; and of-
Mass in the Sistine Chapel under Michelangelo's painting of the Last Judgment. fering
The most traveled pontiff ever, Pope John Paul II is shown in various situations during his trips around the world. We see him in Africa, the Middle East, as well as in South America, Cuba, the South Pacific, the United States, England and Europe.
more information.
teallfleming@yahoo.com
SALISBURY
GREENSBORO
VICARIATE
HIGH POINT — Immaculate Heart of Mary and Skeet Club Rd., will weeks beginning Oct. 2. Classes will meet in Room 3 at IHM church Thursdays 7-8:30 p.m. Classes are open to all ages and all faiths. To register, call Larry Kwan at (336) 882-7204 or Nancy Skee at (336) Church, Johnston
St..
offer Basic Spanish Classes for six
VICARIATE
SALISBURY
—
School ofLeadersviWl meet at
Sacred Heart Church, Sept. 27 9-1 1:30 a.m.
There
will
Peacemaker
at prayer
be a secretariat meeting 1-2:30
more information, call Dan at (704) 544-6665 or visit
p.m. For
Hines
www.charlottecursillo.org. To receive Cursillo information via e-mail contact bmayer@alltell.net.
884-0522.
GREENSBORO —
The Greensboro Council of
Catholic Womenvfill have
on
Sept. 24.
its
annual
fall
For more information
luncheon
call (336)
HIGH POINT — Michael Murray, OSFS, Executive Director of DeSales Spirituality, will fa-
two-in-one program seminar Oct. 3-4
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. The seminar will familiarize participants with two programs: "Supreme Blessedness" which focuses on the beatitudes; and "Gifts That Matter," which focuses on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The at
presentation begins with 6 p.m.
Mass
Friday.
Saturday's seminar takes place 9 a.m.-3:30
Brenda Agnew at BbrendaMae@aol.com or call (336) 869-8075
p.m. Contact
for reservations
—
VICARIATE
Father
Mathew Kauth
teaches seminarian Justin Grosnick's class on
invites all pets
and
their
owners for a Pet Blessing
Oct. 4 in honor of the Feast of St. Francis.
The
blessing will take place at 8:45 a.m. at the
church, 2205
it
This method develCavins places the books of the
in a historical context.
oped by
Jeff
Bible in the greater perspective of salvation history. Classes are held
Thursday evenings
Church, 299 Maple St., at 6:30 p.m. For details, please call (828) 524at St Francis of Assisi
2289.
SYLVA
—A
Workers' Right Workshop will be
held Sept. 27 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at St.
Mary
Church, 22 Bartlett St. Register by Sept. 22 to Eduardo Bernal at (828) 497-0586 or Mary Herr at (828) 497-9498.
and more information.
GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace Church
WINSTON-SALEM
VICARIATE
CLEMMONS — Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon
Rd., will present the "Household of discussion series as part of it
Faith" video
&
adult education program.
West Market St.
GREENSBORO — Our Lady of Grace Church invites all
MOUNTAIN
FRANKLIN
How to Better Understand the Bible by reading
288-6022.
cilitate a
SMOKY
former parishioners and students to the
The reunion be Oct. 10-12. For information, please send names (including maiden names) addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses to 20 1 S. Chapman St., Greensboro, N.C. 27406 or e-mail olgchurch@olgchurch.org.
Tuesdays
at 7 p.m. in
HICKORY
photo from Reuters
Jonathan Cintron, of the 401st Military Police Company of the U.S. Army, rests his head on a Bible during a Sunday service in Tikrit, Iraq, Sept. 7. Soldiers at the U.S. base in Tikrit, who have seen at least 67 of their number killed since President Bush declared major combat over May 1, hoped President Bush's new appeal for troops from other countries might be their ticket home. Sgt.
The group meets
Room
3 of the
Center. Please call facilitators Jim and
Family Monica
Passero at (336) 998-7503 for details.
THIS MONTH IN -2000
New home
celebration of its 50th anniversary.
weekend
CNS
for Asheville
CSS
will
HICKORY — St. Aloysius Church will present Catholic Scripture Study (CSS), a series of 28 in-
depth, yet easy to understand, Bible studies of the Gospel of John.
Please submit notices of parish events for the diocesan planner at least
VICARIATE
Weekly meetings
are l-!4
Bishop William G. Curlin dedicated the new offices of Catholic Social Services in The Western Regional Office of CSS was a home once owned by Dr. Mary Frances Shuford, an early pioneer for human rights. Approximately 130 community supporters attended the dedication of the facility offering family coun-
Asheville Sept. 20, 2000.
in
1
5 days prior to the event date
writing to
Karen A. Evans
kaevans@charlottediocese.org or fax to (704) 370-3382.
seling,
pregnancy support, adoption and immigration services.
at
CORRECTION In
our
last issue,
Gabriel Church
Sunday, Oct.
5).
in
the location of the upcoming
a story. The correct location
Red Mass was is
at St. Patrick
incorrectly listed as St.
Cathedral
(at
3 p.m. on
4
The Catholic News & Herald
September
IN
19,
2003
THE NEWS
Indiana bishop asks Catholics to eradicate sin of racism Letter draws from Scripture, pope s writings, Vatican II by
T. OLSZEWSKI CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
BRIAN
GARY,
Ind.
(CNS)
—
"Whites should be sympathetic to-
ward new immigrants and under-
When
standing of their desire to continue to be nourished by their culture, as they gradually become incorporated into the society and the larger culture. Whites should not allow their ignorance of other cultures and the lan-
Melczek wrote his first pastoral letter, "The Many Faces of Our Church," in June 2002, he assured Bishop Dale
J.
Catholics in the Diocese of
Gary
that
upon cultural diversity was only the first step, and that he would be following it up with a pastoral letter on racism. Bishop Melczek presented that pastoral letter, "Created in God's Image: A Pastoral Letter on the Sin of Racism and a Call to Conversion," at a prayer service in Gary's Holy Angels Cathedral Sept. 7 to more than 700 reflecting
guages that are spoken by other ethnic groups in the U.S. to awaken the everpresent fear and insecurity within us that would lead to rejecting these groups," Bishop Melczek wrote.
He
how
people to forget the injustices they have suffered. Nor is it wise to try to
the diocese.
Saying he is "keenly aware of the deep-rooted sentiments that exist in
and through the instituI would like to explore how this happens and to conindividual,
tions in our society.
sider a possible
do so, lest we forget what caused them and allow them to be repeated," he wrote. "But it is possible with God's
Northwest Indi-
ana with regard to the issue of racism," Bishop Melczek wrote, "As one ordained to proclaim the good news of Jesus and to shepherd the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Gary to live as witnesses of the Gospel, I feel compelled to address this situation. "Although I am aware of the great pain and hopelessness of some, as well as the daunting challenges that come with addressing the sin and sickness of racism, I am by no means pessimistic regarding the inroads we can make in this area," he said. The first two of five parts of the 9,800-word letter examine racism as a sin by drawing upon Scripture, the writings of Pope John Paul II, the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the U.S. bishops' 1979 letter, "Brothers and Sisters to Us." "Racism expresses itself in three primary ways: through American culture, in the personal decisions of each ...
means of
liberation
from our cultural, personal and institutional bondage to the sin of racism,"
community to share racism has influenced their lives. "I realize that it is impossible for
bers of the Catholic
people, representing the 78 parishes of
the hearts of people in
devoted the final two parts of the redemption, calling upon mem-
letter to
grace, albeit with great difficulty, to
move beyond
that realm wherein pain, and resentment dwell, and
bitterness CNS
Bishop Dale
J.
Melczek of Gary,
Ind.,
photo by Karen Callaway, Northwest Indiana Catholic
presents a copy of his pastoral on the "sin of
racism" to a lay person during a prayer service introducing the letter at Holy
Angels Cathedral
in
Gary Sept.
to climb to a higher spiritual level."
Bishop Melczek asked members of each parish to become part of a small, faith-sharing group and to discuss the
7.
points he raised over a period of four
he wrote. The bishop illustrated the cultural aspect of racism with the U.S. observance of Columbus Day, noting that "ascribing the discovery (of America) to Europeans made it possible for them to justify the confiscation of land belonging to Native Americans."
He
continued, "The fact that
we
commemorate Columbus Day without an example of how our American culture has influenced the way we think and how we often can play a part in perpetuating racist thinking without knowing it." The bishop cited cultural influences on individual decisions, such as the telling of demeaning jokes. "Sometimes our blind adherence to cultural assumptions causes us to make decisions that actually perpetuquestion
is
knowing
ate racism without our
it.
At
other times, our willingness to abandon reason and submit to ignorance, insecurity or fear causes us to freely choose to act in a racist manner," Bishop Melczek wrote. The bishop devotes the third part
sessions. He has developed a study guide that will assist participants in their discussion.
In his remarks at the prayer ser-
bishop called upon the faithful transform our own hearts, as well as our culture and the institutions of vice, the
"to
of the letter, which is being distributed via the parishes to every Catholic household in Northwest Indiana, to
Northwest Indiana." "We do not have an easy task be-
"white privilege," admonishing the white community "to appreciate the importance that each immigrant ethnic group attaches to its own culture, as well as the richness which that culture brings to our experience of American culture as a whole."
ignorance will cause many to deny that there is any racism within themselves, within our culture or within our institutions. We should have no fear of taking on this challenge. Jesus promised that he would remain with us through the power of his Spirit."
fore us," he said. "Insecurity, fear or
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19,
2003
The Catholic News & Herald 5
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Immaculate Heart of
Mary hosts
Foundation grants help many in
spiritual
enrichment seminar
—
HIGH POINT Oblate Father Michael Murray, executive director of De Sales Spirituality Center, will facilitate a
parishes, schools $60, 000 issued to diocesan entities this year by KAREN A. EVANS STAFF WRITER
two-in-one program seminar, "Becoming
and Immaculate Heart of
Blessed Givers," on Friday, Oct. Saturday, Oct. 4 at
Mary Church. The De Sales
Spirituality Center, a
ministry of the Wilmington-Philadelphia
Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales,
draws upon the
lives
and legacies of
Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal to provide programs and publiSt.
cations that assist people
who wish
to
pursue a practical path to holiness. Father Murray, a graduate of Allen-
— The Foundation of
GASTONIA
3,
the
Roman
Catholic Diocese of Charlotte
has issued 29 grants totaling $60,000 to diocesan entities this year.
Jim Kelley, director of development and of the Foundation, presented two checks at St. Michael Church Sept. 7. The first check of $4,500 was presented to Joe Puceta, St. Michael School's principal. The money will go toward school tuition assistance for minority students.
"We
appreciate the diocese's generPhoto by Kevin
osity in helping us to begin integrating
more of
a minority population
—
ticularly Hispanics
par-
into our school,"
"We hope
said Puceta.
more students with
—
to bring in 2-3
The second check
of $2,000 was
director for St. Michael Church, for
De
Sales School of Theology,
and the
Washington, D.C,
will familiarize
up," said Kelley.
churches can carry on ministries that would not happen otherwise," said Kelley. The Foundation, founded in 1994, is
in
a non-profit organization established to
semi-
provide endowments for the Diocese of Charlotte and agencies.
other program
"Gifts
is
which focuses on the
Spirit,
gifts
mation catechists and candidates as well as a topical presentation for Advent. The Friday program with a 6 p.m.
Mass
in the
new
sanctuary at the corner
of Johnson Street and Skeet Club Road, followed by light supper and the interactive presentation.
its
parishes, schools
By end of
the 2002
and
fiscal year,
the Foundation had over 100
endow-
ments, 20 of which were added during
The Saturday program
in
Bergman,
Gastonia Sept.
St.
checks Michael
7.
will
is
that over
and agency have an individual endowment set
Two
years ago, the Foundation
started a grant-making process all
open to
diocesan entities. Last year, 18 par-
ishes, schools and agencies were awarded grants up to $5,000 each. The Foundation will continue to focus on programs that effectively support those
who
are collaborative.
In addition to the parish, school and agency endowments, endowments have been established for Catholic schools, missions and African American and Native American ministries. For more information about the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, please contact Jim Kelley, director of development, 370-3301 or e-mail at (704) jkkelley@charlottediocese.org. Contact Staff Writer Karen A. Evans
are poor; multicultural ministries;
and evangelize ticular
individuals, with a par-
emphasis on those whose
efforts
by calling (704)
370-3354 or e-mail
kaevans@charlottediocese.org.
FOUNDATION GRANTS 2003
That Matof the Holy
an excellent presentation for confir-
Approximately $1
"The Foundation's goal
com-
try to provide funds so that
can take back to their parishes for catechetical and spiritual enrichment. One program, "Supreme Blessedness," focuses on the Beatitudes and is recommended to share during Advent. ter,"
fiscal year.
million has been distributed in nine years.
funds will help hire a bilingual employee.
nar participants with two programs they
The
the past
time, every parish, school
"We
George Washington University
to Carolyn
munity outreach through a thrift shop servicing 1,500 people monthly. The Oblate Father Michael Murray
Sales, the
director, presents grant
to Joe Puceta, St. Michael School's principal,
Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury
Our Lady
of Consolation Church, Charlotte
La Casa Latinoamericana de las Carolinas, St.
Inc.,
Belmont
Michael Church, Gastonia
Rockingham Pregnancy Care Center, Eden Catholic
Campus
Ministry
Holy Cross Church, Kernersville
Acute-care medicines for the uninsured
$2,000
Hispanic Ministries
$2,000
Hispanic Ministries
$2,500
Establishing Hispanic Ministry programs
$2,000
Client Service Director position
$1,000
Catholic Leadership Development Programs
$2,000
Hispanic Ministries
$2,000
runs 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. St.
WANT TO GO? If
you are interested
in
attending the semi-
Brenda Agnew at (336) 869reservations and more informa-
nar, contact
8075 tion.
for
A $10
Andrew
Our Lady
of
will
offering
Mon
-
Fri
Sat.
Carolina Catholic
is
Ministry,
Hill
Belmont
Mercy Church, Winston-Salem
Volunteers for Wilkes Literacy, N. Wilkesboro
Winston-Salem free
Mars
the Apostle Church,
Belmont Parish Nurse
Our Lady
Mercy Church and
Benedict the Moor Church
Part-time Hispanic Ministry position
$2,000
African-American/Hispanic Ministry
$2,000
Hispanic Radio Ministry
$2,000
Hispanic Ministry
$1,000
Hispanic resources materials
$1,500
Diocesan Offices of Youth, Campus, Young Adult and Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry training
$2,000
Smoky Mountain Vicariate
Hispanic Ministry
$3,500
$2,000
Vicariate,
of
St.
suggested.
9 3 0 am- 5 3 0 p :
:
St.
Joseph Vietnamese Church, Charlotte
Vietnamese
St.
Leo Catholic School, Winston-Salem
Special-Needs Student Training
$2,500
Hispanic Ministry
$3,500
Ministry
9:30am-3:00pm
^
Boone St.
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704-342-2878 Fax (704) 334-3313 4410-F Monroe Road, Charlotte,
NC
www.carolinacatholicbooks.com We welcome mail orders and special orders!
Vicariate Hispanic Ministry
Francis Church, Jefferson and St. Frances Church, Sparta
Bible
Camp for
Hispanic Youth
$1,500
Salisbury/Albemarle Vicariates Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic Ministry
$1,500
Sacred Heart Church, Salisbury
Hispanic Ministry
$3,500
$500
St.
Francis of Assisi Church, Mocksville
Hispanic Ministry
St.
Michael Catholic School, Gastonia
Hispanic Tuition Assistance
$4,500
St.
Ann Church,
Hispanic Ministries
$1,500
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Charlotte
Hispanic Radio Ministry
$2,000
Greensboro
Hispanic Ministry
$3,000
Equipment
$1,000
Hispanic Ministry
$5,000
Charlotte
Vicariate, St.
Murra*
the grant."
presented to Carolyn Bergman, outreach
town College of St. Francis de
development and Foundation and Church's outreach director, at St. Michael Church
Jim Kelley, diocesan
E.
Mary Church
Our Lady
of the
Rosary Church, Lexington
Our Lady
of the
Americas Church, Biscoe
Holy Angels Church, Mt. Airy
Communications System
$500
'
6
The Catholic News & Herald
September
19,
2003
AROUND THE DIOCESE MARCHING FOR FAITH
Immigrants bring new cultures
churches with slipping membership, but it means providing spiritual and social services in Spanish for new arrivals un-
immigrants may form a closed community hindering "assimilation and integration of immigrants by creating a critical mass necessary to foster linguistic and spatial isolation." Cruz discounts such concerns. Immigrants are highly motivated, coming to better their lives and know that they have to learn English to suc-
able to handle English.
ceed, he said.
IMMIGRATION, from page 1
presented the church with opportunities
and challenges.
The
pews
filling
It's
in
'They
U.S. Census Bureau estimates
that 52 percent of the nation's 32.5 mil-
population in 2002
lion foreign-born
become English-speak- j
will
generation doesn't, the next generation will speak English," he If the first
ing.
came from Latin America.
said.
number of Latin Americans has been dramatic. The Cen-
The same is true of adapting to U.S. ways of doing things and to incorporat-
sus Bureau reports that in 1960 only 9
ing U.S. values, said Cruz.
The
rise in the
"People are born in different coun-
percent of the foreign-born population
was from Latin America. This jumped to 44 percent in 1990 and to 50 percent in 2000.
Mexicans accounted for 25 percent of all foreign-born and 50 percent of those from Latin America. While the entire foreign-born popuIn 2000,
lation comprises only
1 1
.5
percent of the
U.S. total, the massive flow from Latin
America is radically changing the demographics of the U.S. church. Latin Americans plus U.S.-born Latinos make Hispanics the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. church. Hispanics are estimated to constitute about 40 percent of the current U.S. Catholic population
and
their
number
is
projected to con-
tinue growing.
Western North Carolina has a fastgrowing foreign-born population, with more than 10,000 new immigrants each year, according to Raleigh Bailey, direc-
tor of the
UNC-Greensboro Center
for
New
North Carolinians. "Immigrants are a resource that make us a stronger community," said Bailey.
'We
are a better,
more enriched
but their kids are as American as
tries,
Bishop Misael Vacca Ramirez, bishop of Yopal
their children don't lose their cultural
the Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira outside the church Sept. 13.
which for Latinos are heavily tied to their language and religion. 'The Latino presence has revitalized many parishes that were losing members. It's been a needed shot in the arm," said Cruz.
needs of Latinos coming from different countries and having different traditions within their
common
heritage.
"A mariachi Mass is not for Salvadorans or Argentines or Chileans," said Cruz, referring to a popular Mexican music
style.
The
-acceleration of
immigrants
from south of the U.S. border also has spurred greater cooperation between the U.S. bishops and their Latin American counterparts. In January, the U.S. and
bishops issued their
first
Mexican
joint pastoral
pledging cooperation on pastoral
care of migrants.
It
also asked their re-
governments to change border policies making it easier to legally immigrate to the United States and improv-
director of diocesan Hispanic ministry.
ing protection of civil rights of migrants
from
me
who
are different
as objects of fear or suspicion,
will
miss seeing the
and
I
will
gifts that
be the poorer for
spective
in
both countries. "Catholic social teaching calls us in a
I
they offer
special
way
to
remember those who
are
poor and marginalized," said Joe Purello,
it."
However, the infusion of so many
director of the diocesan Office of Justice
Latinos, especially clandestine flows
and Peace. "Certainly refugees and immigrants, often lacking adequate civil protection, and often struggling to make ends meet in a strange land, are in need of our attention and support."
across the U.S.-Mexican border, has raised concerns
among some groups
—
accelerated since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11
—
for tighter border controls.
The Center
for Immigration,
an
in-
dependent think tank, also raises the issue that so many Spanish-speaking
Staff Writer Karen A. Evans contributed to this
story.
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number of Hispanics from other countries," said Franciscan Sister Andrea
EDITOR
GASTONIA
—
Bishop Misael Vacca Ramirez, bishop of Yopal in Colombia, visited St. Michael Church in Gastonia last week. He came to help promote unity among Colombian and other Hispanic parishioners and to en-
courage prayers for Colombia. Bishop Ramirez and Father Jose Juya, Hispanic apostulate at St. Michael Church, led a procession to the church honoring the Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira Sept. 13. Chiquinquira is
60 miles north of the Colombian
capital
Inkrott, director of diocesan Hispanic
ministry. "Father Jose organized this to
gather the Colombians and bring them into community. It's a chance to 'draw strength from each other in their faith." for all people "This celebration is ...
to
meet and get
to
know
each other," said
Garcia.
During the Mass, Bishop Ramirez asked the different people of different Latin American countries to stand and be recognized. He remarked that he truly attended an international event.
of Bogota.
"Every Latin American country has a version of Mary," said Juan Garcia, a St.
Michael parishioner.
He
likened the
Lady of Chinquinquira, whose feast day is July 9, to the Lady of Guadalupe, who
MOVING?
helped convert millions of Mexicans to Catholicism.
"There are a lot of Colombians in the Gastonia community," said Garcia. "We need to reinforce our customs here in this
and society." "The largest number of Colombi-
different culture
ans are
in this area,
but there
is
Take us with you! Please help us reduce postal fees give us
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Colombian bishop celebrates Latin American culture in Gastonia
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Michael Church
St.
also challenges the church to de-
It
'The immigrants who are arriving in North Carolina are bearers of gifts," said Franciscan Sister Andrea- Inkrott, look at persons
Hispanic apostolate at
velop ministries that can respond to the
new
I
Murray
roots,
letter
"If
E.
be,"
society because of the constant flow of cultures."
Photo by Kevin
he said. A major concern for the church is that while adapting immigrants and
can
Part of FunFair, | the annual day-long family carnival.
Old address
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zip
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zip
Date of move/cancellation: Mail changes to: The Catholic News & Herald Address Changes 1123 S. Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203
Or e-mail
this info to:
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Thank you.
_J
September
19,
The Catholic News & Herald 7
2003
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Silver anniversary (Michael
J.) Begley applied a donation given to the parish to build the first building. But the university area blos-
ANNIVERSARY, from page 1
somed
McSweeney, former pastor; and Rev. Mssrs. Carl Macero and Mark Nash, permanent deacons.
The standing-room-only Mass the cry room and overflowed
filled
also
into
the outer entry space. Parishioners cheered
when Jim
Little
and Ron Goetle,
parish council president, burned the parish
debt note at the podium. Little, the first parish council presi-
in 1978, read from a plaque from Pope John Paul II officially proclaiming Sunday as St. Thomas Aquinas Silver
dent
Jubilee Day.
"We're very proud of the people
worked so hard get our
first
who
to start this parish, to
building under construc-
St.
Thomas Aquinas Church
has more than 2,500 registered families. "It's been interesting to watch the that have come into the church, and with that I think of the enthusiasm and growth that makes it vibrant. And that's God's way of continuing to bless the church," said Father Schratz, who coordinates the parish RCIA program. The parish youth program is also flourishing under Father Kobel. "You know kids most of them, when they get out of high school, forget about the church," he said. "But, 90something percent of the kids in our youth group have come back to Mass or
numbers
—
as eucharistic ministers.
After the Mass, parishioners and
tion," said Little.
"We
so quickly."
Today,
started out originally with 15
clergy celebrated with a picnic lunch
Green Acres Nursing Home, where Carolinas Medical Center-University is now. The way things have
beneath a canopy between the church
been going,
noon.
families at
young
it's
obvious
it is still
a very
So I'd see it doing nothing but growing, over the next 10 years. We'll probably double our size," said parish.
and Aquinas Hall. Music and activities were provided throughout the after-
Young
Located a block from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the thriving parish had outgrown its second building, now a social center called Aquinas Hall, by the time Father
Zampino 'The .
arrived in 1995.
roots of the parish are in the
campus
ministry," said Father Zampino. "Campus ministry was the essence and the real foundation. Bishop
Bishop William G. Curlin, Capuchin Father Ignatius Zampino and other priests and deacons of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte celebrated a Mass with 1,500 people in honor of the church's 25th anniversary Sept. 14.
There were several posters with archive photos from the beginning years
of the parish.
Little.
people enjoyed a climbing
wall and other games.
Photo by Stephen Uzzell
One
wall contained a de-
tailed timeline chronicling events
of the
parish since 1978.
home to St. Thomas
"This has really been
Our
family has been at
us.
for
22 years," said parishioner Michael Weiner. "We've had our six children baptized here. All six have had first Communion here. And we've had three so far confirmed and another one being confirmed this year. We started here
after
our
like to
feel sort
for
of like a parent.
who watch the birth of have watched the birth of the parish," said Oblate Father Joseph Zuschmidt, pastor of Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont. He was pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas from 1979 to 1988. "And now it's 25 years later, and
and
ness of this parish."
I
you've given the kids away
in
marriage.
"It's
Congratulations to Bishop Peter Jugis
is
testimony to the youthful-
'The people here have found a very strong sensitivity to the poor. And if we don't see that, then we're not doing our
I
job," said
it's
Father Fortunato, from Union Thomas, they
City, N.J. "But here at St.
community," said Dominican Sister Anastacia Pagulayan. "The people here are very faithful to their commitments the church
that's a
two
100 children,
funerals, according to the latest records.
proud of what has hapjust exciting," he said. Thomas Aquinas is a caring and
here,
years. "In these
In 25. years at St. Thomas Aquinas Church there have been: 2,100 baptisms; 2,020 first Communions; 1,640 confirmations; 332 weddings; and 107
just feel so very
with the church. That's the reason
send
more than two
years, I've baptized over
their child,
"St.
FAMILY or YOUR BUSINESS
month of marriage."
I
Like parents
pened
Would YOU, YOUR
first
"Today
are really building their whole attentive-
The
ness to the poor.
people and the
priests are united as one, as
why
nity with a
common
one commu-
vision together."
flourishing."
a very young, vibrant
commu-
Editor's Note: For more on the history of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, please see the Parish Profile on page 16.
nity and also with tradition," said Rev.
Mr. Nash, who has been with the parish
on his installation as Bishop? The Catholic News
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-
8
The Catholic News & Herald
September
2003
19,
AROUND THE DIOCESE RGHTING FOR
LIFE
Tee time
Parishioners to form links of Life Chain on Respect Life
Sunday
KEVIN
by
E.
MURRAY
EDITOR
CHARLOTTE
— On
the 31st an-
among us: the unborn." The U.S. Catholic Church observes October as Respect Life Month and the
niversary of Respect Life Sunday this
Life
year, Oct. 5, parishes throughout the
many
Diocese of Charlotte are being called to stand as prayerful witnesses for life by forming links in the Life Chain. 'The Life Chain is an opportunity for people of all ages to peacefully express their beliefs in the sanctity of life," said Maggi Nadol, diocesan Respect Life
"In most cities, this is accomplished by the 'single-grand chain method," said Prophit. "The Charlotte Life Chain has distinguished itself over the last few years by developing into a 'multiple-
Office coordinator.
'chain'
"The Life Chain is a visual statement made by those who believe in saving the unborn," said Donna Dyer, Respect Life coordinator for Holy Family Church in Clemmons. "It unites people
Charlotte together."
of different faiths and their pastors to
respective churches, on city sidewalks
inform the public of the present holocaust of abortion." Founded in 1985 in Yuba City, Calif, the Life Chain crosses ecumenical
and with other church groups towns.
form one of the more
lines to
visible
Chain
is
a notable kickoff event for
parishes.
church-location chain.' area
The
Charlotte
relatively spread out, so our
is
helps to geographically link Courtesy Photo
This year, hundreds of Life Chains are expected to form cross the United
Parishioners from Holy Infant Church
tournament
golf
ticipating along property lines of their
went toward the parish building fund.
sanctity of
people
human
who
life
believe' in the
8451 Idlewild Road
are unable to par-
any other way, the Life Chain gives them a chance to spend an hour in prayer along the sidewalks of busy thor-
2-3 p.m. in Charlotte
ers of various Christian faiths line city
oughfares and, hopefully, to save the
— —
praying for life issues and holding placards such as "Abortion kills children" and "Abortion hurts women." "Signs such as Abortion kills children' speak for themselves," said Dyer.
of an unborn child," said Dyer.
States and
Canada each
year.
Churchgo-
streets,
'The community
by the large wrong, that women are hurt, that adoption is an option and that Jesus loves them and is
notified
gathering that abortion
is
'The
Life Chain's purpose
is
so that
people don't forget the tragedy of Roe
v.
THEOMTORY
3635 Park Road
Gabriel Church, at 3016 Provi-
St.
St.
Matthew Church,
Ballantyne
—
—
1-2 p.m. in Charlotte
St.
at
434 Charlotte Avenue, R O. Box Rock Hill, SC 29731-1586 (803) 327-2097
8015
Commons Parkway
(St. Patrick
parishioners
pm Friday, October 31 pm Saturday, November
7:30
Vincent de Paul Church, at
4
-
1
6828 Old Reid Road
Our Lady
Church, at
Assumption 4207 Shamrock Drive
dinator of the Charlotte-area Life Chain.
parishioners
of the
Thomas Aquinas Church, on Highway 49 across from UNC-C main St.
(St.
Therese and will
St.
Mark
Sr.
and
2:30-3:30 p.m. in Greensboro
— 2811 Battleground Avenue of TJ
(in front
Barbara Hubbard, OP
retreat will be two parts - the first this weekend, and the second in the fall
the Church. This offered in
2:30-3:30 p.m. in Winston-Salem
St.
Betty Condon, OP
Sr.
Continuing a series on the mystics of
Maxx)
participate)
— Hanes Mall Boulevard (west end,
1:30-2:30 p.m. in Charlotte
—
586
MEISTER ECKHART: AN INTRODUCTORY RETREAT
participate) St.
1 1
(St.
participate)
will
Peter Church, at 507 South
Tryon Street will
entrance
gards the value of the most vulnerable
at
dence Road
Here is a list of Catholic churches and locations to participate in the Life Chain on Sunday, Oct. 5.
our society," said David Prophit, a St. Vincent de Paul parishioner and co-coor-
see the fallout in a society that disre-
Ann Church,
Luke parishioners
—
we
St.
—
Wade, and how abortion has permeated
"Many feel that abortion does not impact them directly," said Nadol. "But
life
WANT TO PARTICIPATE?
—
forgives them."
2nd annual
in their
ticipate in
stands against abortion in the United
Reidsville at the parish's
Monroeton Golf Course Aug. 22. After expenses, $3,541
at the
States." In this diocese, parishes are par-
"When
in
John Neumann Church,
at
of 2004.
a few blocks from the mall) Cost:
$40 commuters (lunch included)
$80 overnight
.
The Center
Carolina Funeral <&
C C
Cremation Center
c
is
located in the Piedmont
iere driving
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The Catholic News & Herald 9
AROUND THE DIOCESE expanded church that seated 500
Dedicated to a growing community
church goers. More than 1,300 people joined the church over the next decade, and the parish is actively involved in a number of ministries and programs, including faith formation, day care, consolation ministry, parish care, Knights of Columbus, Columbiettes and Cub Scouts. Hispanic ministry was established in the early 1980s and is presently staffed by one pastoral care assistant and 35 volunteers. Several hundred Hispanic families attend the weekly Mass in Spanish. "We're definitely growing. This area is one of the fastest growing areas," said Buchan. Situated between Winston-Salem and Greensboro, the Kernersville area is home to about 20,000 people, said Buchan, but that number is expected to "explode" in the next few years. With that growth, an influx of
HOLY CROSS, from page 1
sign language for the hearing impaired. "I thank Father Joseph for allowing me to come and celebrate this beautiful liturgy with you," said Bishop Curlin to the congregation. "Although I've been here to celebrate confirmation, this is the first time we come together to officially consecrate and dedicate this beautiful church." "After all the effort and hard work, this (event) makes it all worth
while," said Parrett, a local contractor
who oversaw
the 14-month construc-
tion process of the facility.
The new church is almost 14,000 square feet, and the diamond-shaped sanctuary seats approximately 800
Catholics
the biggest church
we
could build on this property," said Father Tustin. "We needed this church desperately. were busting at the seams," said Les Buchan, parish finance council chairman. Growth is an ongoing aspect of the Holy Cross parish, and this dedication was actually the third in the church's history that began in 1969. "It's
The new Holy Cross Church seat approximately
Mass
Kernersville
in
800 people. Bishop
with Father Joseph Tustin
is
E.
Murray
almost 14,000 square feet and can
William G. Curlin celebrated the dedication
and other priests Sept. 13.
to
Room At The
Inn's
Ninth Annual Banquet
Founded
The Westin
Charlotte
Thursday, October 23, 2003
bringing parishioners
who
Catho-
their children to attend a
struments to enhance the liturgy at
Holy Cross.
The new church
a
is
symbolic of the
growing and diverse cultures of Holy Cross. "It
symbolizes their unity,
faith,
hope and love," said Father Tustin. "The aesthetics are a sign of the interior beauty that radiates from the grace of God and his people."
organ and other items collected from churches in the diocese. Although elevated to parish status in 1973, groundbreaking for a
"This
new
is
a magnificent church, but
you are the stones
building did not take place until 1978. That multipurpose structure, with seats for 350 people, was dedi-
seats," said Bill Gerichten,
Kernersville) and
choir and Agape, a folk-style group that utilizes modern music and in-
mission of St. Benedict the Moor Church in Winston-Salem, the original Holy Cross Church building was formerly an anas
High
that's
(in
high school," he said. Multicultural music for the Mass was provided by the Holy Cross choir, the Hispanic choir, the youth
...
you are the
building," said Bishop Curlin in his
homily. "This church encloses Christ in you. are like living altars, tab-
We
cated in October of that year. "The old church had cold, metal
"S7n J/i's S7/naye"
McGuinness
nearby
is
lic
tique shop furnished with pews, and
You 're Invited!
anticipated.
School
want
We
Photo by Kevin
is
"Bishop
people.
ernacles.
church,
longtime
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
member and parish sacristan the person in charge of the parish's sacramental objects, lectors and 120 ushers. "We later got pews, which added to the acoustics and religious aspect
When we walk out God walks through
of this us and
into this world." Editor's Note:
For more on
the his-
of Holy Cross Church, please Parish Profile in our next issue. tory
of the church." By 1982, parish growth dictated more space was needed and thenBishop Michael J. Begley blessed the
Contact Editor Kevin E.
see the
Murray
Featured Speaker
The Honorable J.C. Watts
* HELP! Registration/Reception:
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THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
10 The Catholic News & Herald
Culture Watch
of Scripture, readings, films and more
SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS: Sept. 21, Twenty-fifth
MITCH FINLEY
Thomas Aquinas (1225-
1274) and St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) are the two most influential theologians in the history of Christianity.
Many would
give
tried to
make
Tho-
mas the edge, however, because
much wider
his
perspectives are so modern. "Discovering Aquinas: An Introduction to
His Life, Work and Influence" is an outstanding introduction for anyone unfamiliar with him and an excellent discussion even for those already familiar with him. British Dominican Father Aidan Nichols, prior of the Dominican -community of Blackfriars in Cambridge, England, is a leading Catholic theolo-
with this spiritual hero.
spect.
2) 3)
been having a
terrific
many
pact on Catholic laity for
This book
will
be a powerful tool
to nourish the Jesuit ethos and spiritu-
on Jesuit campuses as lay faculty and administrators take on more and more responsibility for maintaining ality
the spirit of Jesuit education.
Gospel: by
Even
be-
Mark
9:30-37
DAN LUBY
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
The young man had made
erations. Jesuit Fatbers
Jesuits in earlier years.
17-20
2:12,
Psalm 54:3-8 James 3:16-4:3
imgen-
William A. Barry and Robert G. Doherty have written a book that will be a valuable update and inspiration to the countless Catholic laity who were formed by
for himself as a writer,
and
a
name
his notoriety
had opened doors, allowed him to meet some famous people he admired. There was no one he admired more than Dorothy Day, co-founder of the
Worker movement, author of
Catholic
book that anyone interested in cultivating a deeply Catholic spirituality in the world will want to read and reflect upon'. The book is not about Ignatian spirituality (the spirituality found in
He waited nervously in the dining room of the Catholic Worker House while Day finished talking to one of the
the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola); instead, it is about the spirituality of the religious order, as expressed in its constitution, the exercises, and other documents, traditions and practices that have developed in the course of the order's 450 years of
patiently.
yond
that, this is a
He
an inspiring autobiography, a largerthan-life figure of immense spiritual depth and courage and humility. And now he was to begin a long interview
audience than Jesuits
tuality has
2003
kept talking, endlessly. Finally, Day asked her companion if she'd mind an interruption, then walked over to the man and asked, "Are you waiting to talk to one of us?" It cut him, he said, to the bone, this quiet question which revealed to him his own sense of self-importance and showed him what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus, to welcome and respect those the world would call nobodies. Dorothy Day was simply following the teaching of Jesus in Sunday's Gospel: "Whoever receives one of these little children in my name receives me." May we be mindful of the "nobodies" in our world who deserve our attention, the "unimportant" ones who need our re-
1)
themselves. After all, through Jesuit high schools and colleges, Jesuit spiri-
to a
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
21,
himself more obvious, hoping the woman would get the hint and leave. He willed her to notice him and stop, but she
Cycle B Readings:
Wisdom
SEPT.
looking forward to?
Sunday in Ordinary Time
way
celebration of the Jesuit St.
2003
WORD TO LIFE
A roundup
A fresh look at Aquinas, and a reviewed by
19,
September
Questions:
Who
homeless people who'd come for a free meal. The woman was clearly drunk, rambling on and on while Day listened
helps
me
my
in
and attend to people
I
life
to notice
might other-
wise ignore? What fear about following Jesus might I especially need to pray about?
The man's nervousness slowly changed to irritation. It was obvious that he was waiting to talk to Day. Why didn't the drunk let her go and let him get on with this meeting he'd been so
Scripture to Illustrate: "If anyone wishes to rank first, he must remain the lasf one of all and the servant of
all"
(Mark
9:35b).
history.
Jesuit spirituality
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
character-
is
by tension between forces: between trust in God and the use of one's talents; between prayer and action; between companionship and mission; between obedience and learning from experience; between the center and the periphery of the church; and the tensions of proper use of this world's goods, of chastity and ized
An IntroducWork and Influence,"
"Discovering Aquinas: tion to His Life,
by Dominican Father Aidan Nichols.
Eerdmans (Grand Rapids,
Mich.,
2003). 214 pp., $28.00.
"Contemplatives suit
A. Barry
G.
in
Action:
The Je-
Way," by Jesuit Father William
and Jesuit Father Robert
Doherty.
(Mahwah,
Paulist
N.J., 2003).
Press 80
of finding
God
in all things.
$11.95.
1
day
gian and writer, and his ability to
God, but they also use as
the average reader,
is
exceptional. In
language, he gives the reader a short biography of Thomas and follows this up with an overview of the main
themes in his theology (revelation, God and creation, the Trinity, the Trinity in man, angelology, grace and the virtues, and Christ, church, and sacraments). In 20 pages Father Nichols covers Thomas' impact on theology since his time, then in two short chapters he introduces the reader to the role of Thomistic thought in both philosophy and theology. You'll find no
more
interesting,
depended on
all
their talent,
well as whatever means seem adapted to attain their aims. To some they look like dreamers who waste
one to spark new life in your own understanding of what Christian faith is all about today. "Contemplatives suit
Way,"
in
Action:
The
Je-
a brief introduction to Je-
suit spirituality,
should be of interest
SEPTEMBER
27
in
and efforts on a losing others they look like the neopagans with whom they often live and work. To others they seem so threatening that they become the en-
3-14,
James
1
:47-51
;
Tuesday
(St.
Jerome), Zechariah 8:20-23, Luke 9:51-56; Wednes-
Therese of the Child Jesus), Nehemiah 2:1-8, Luke 9:57-62; Thursday (Guardian Angels), Nehemiah 8:1-4, 5-6, 7-12, Matthew 18:1-5, 10; Friday, Baruch 1:15-22, Luke 10:13-16; Saturday (St. Francis of Assisi), Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29, Luke 10:17-24 (St.
their talent
To
cause.
emy
to be attacked
When
and even
killed.
they live within the creative
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tensions of their spirituality, they are as problematic as Jesus, their Lord,
who has called them to be his companions." Sounds like a fine summary of what
all
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SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 4 Sunday (Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time), Numbers 11:25-29, James 5:1-6, Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48; Monday (Sts. Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael), Daniel 7:9-10,
up" in these tensions. "They try to as if everything
Sunday
-
Ordinary Time), Wisdom 2:12, 17-20, James 3:164:3, Mark 9:30-37; Monday, Ezra 1:1-6, Luke 8:16-18; Tuesday, Ezra 6:7-8, 12, 14-20, Luke 8:19-21; Wednesday, Ezra 9:5-9, Luke 9:1-6; Thursday, Haggai 1:1-8, Luke 9:7-9; Friday (Sts. Cosmas & Damian), Haggai 1:15-2:9, Luke 9:18-22; Saturday (St. Vincent de Paul), Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15, Luke 9:43-45
work explain Aquinas and his thought to
remarkably clear and captivating
Sunday
21
.
Fathers Barry and Doherty describe Jesuits as men who are "caught
pp.,
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER
of more than 30 books for Catholic readers, including "For Men Only: Strategies for hiving Catholic" Finley
is
Members ofSt. Gabriel
the author
"It's Not Same Without You: Coming Home to
(Liguori) and, most recently,
Catholic Church" (Doubleday).
tfie
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1
September
The Catholic News & Herald
2003
19,
1
GOT SOUL
HE'S
GENESIS 46 2
1
3
4
5
12
6
§
13
I
15
18
32
Jr.
stars
37
38
ad executive who receives an unexpected inheritance, but can only collect organizing a gospel choir
in
his
hometown where the lone
talent
it
31
40
43
-
47
50
51
41
44
48
49
by
a sultry jazz
is
46
45
30
"~~
35
39
photo from Paramount Pictures
the movie "The Fighting Temptations" as an unemployed
in
"28
34
33
42
Cuba Gooding
29
23
27
36
11
20
26
25
10
17
19
24
9
14
16
22
CNS
8
7
52
53
56
5'
54
55
singer (Beyonce Knowles).
No use fighting these
1
59
58
1
60
Temptations' ACROSS
—
NEW YORK
(CNS) An unemployed ad executive (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
gospel music.
It
ming
walk out the theater door.
receives an unexpected inheritance, but can
And
only collect in his
it
the lone talent
is
a
sultry jazz singer (Beyonce Knowles).
Director Rick Famuyiwa's film has definite shortcomings,
able story line,
The
such as a predict-
some canned humor and
no wonder
1
,
hum-
since the film fea-
tures some of gospel and R&B's most well-known artists, such as Faith Evans, the O'Jays and Melba Moore. This is real down-home Gospel-music inspiration.
by organizing a gospel choir
hometown where
as they
that's
leaves the audience
a
rousing last number
stirring as
it
is
particularly
imparts
A few sexual references with sporadic
few needless sexual references. However, the film also has an endearing charm that is peppered with lessons of redemption, forgiveness and looking beyond outward appearances to see the goodness in people. Gooding and Knowles both shine, but the real reason to watch this film is the great toe-tapping, finger-snapping
crass language.
Film
—
&
The USCCB
Office for
Better strike while
15
Not any
16
Cot
17
"Out of
1E
Jacob's quarterback?
30
Munch
20
Refrigerator
31
"
22
Catechetical leader (abbr.)
23
Army
37
Hebrew name
24
Enjoy a smoke
38
South Pacific Island
'34
postal abbreviation
35
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Following
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Corrida cheer
Jacob's
order?
deli
53
Condo
55
Folktale
Griffin
BY THE NUMBERS
org. =
56
Italian
57
Biblical priest
A
currency of old
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A S
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58
Kid's cereal
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Jacob's blue jean?
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Music group from Athens,
S
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Religious faction
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S
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A
A
s
s
1
producer
Prayer ending
GA
Spanish water
3
Abandon
Owner
"Land of
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Before to the bard
of Technicolor
name
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8
Leah's son
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in
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GOD AS
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Single prefix
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Picture Association of America rating
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12 The Catholic News & Herald
September
19,
2003
CULTURE WATCH TV WATCH
'Hope and
Faith' holds
promise
of caricature for both sets of parental characters (one as bullying, headstrong
with fresh angles on the same concept week after week.
Irish Catholics and the other as snippy gay men), the show condones the homo-
days, 8:30-9 p.m.
New
of blue-collar workers.
City,
— 'Karen
Sisco, "Wednesdays, 10-
EDT. Drama set
in
p.m.
Miami about
the per-
of a U.S. marshal (whose wardrobe consists of short sonal and professional
life
skirts, tight shirts, heels
ing
and a gun) chas-
down dangerous fugitives. Some Interest: Based on
program is sleek and sexy, but unrealistic and formulaic. Robert Forster as the title character's dad is
Sitcom that has an out-of-work soap opera star fleeing Tinseltown to live with her older sister, a stay-at-home
mom juggling three kids,
EDT. Drama about
8-
9 p.m.
a highly specialized,
task force created by the Homeland Security Agency to combat terror threats and keep the nation safe.
elite
Some
Interest:
Tapping
into
America's fear of imminent terrorist attacks, the
and Nicole Paggi star
to Catholic
News
in
on Fridays
fall
the new in
ABC sitcom "Hope and
Faith."
program uses
ANNE NAVARRO Look for reviews of
other networks' fall line-ups in following issues.
(CNS)
—
ABC
is
adding three more law-enforcement related dramas to its prime-time lineup this fall, which, with the exception of 'The Practice" and its news magazines, makes ABC's serious programs all about cops and robbers. Although ABC has no outstanding new programming, its lineup is not bad, with the exception of one sitcom which, with its slightly divisive storyline about gay fathers, may stir up some debate, or simply fade away because of subpar writing.
ABC'S
overexposure.
Navarro
a part-time reviewer for
is
Film
the Office for
& Broadcasting of the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
lillilllll
MMMI
Service.
CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
NEW YORK
Holds Promise: The connection between Faith Ford ("Murphy Brown") and Kelly Ripa ("Live With Regis and Kelly") is believable and appealing, as are the clever writing and the slapstick comedy. But the show may suffer from what audiences may interpret as Ripa's
The
prime time and "holds promise" according
Classifieds EMPLOYMENT
enforcement shows Editor's Note:
a husband and
plenty of laundry.
(al
ABC adds more law by
the current
all
Qaeda, security level) and worst-case scenarios (suicide bombers) to thrill audiences until the happy ending. But it might be tough to come up lingo
Kelly Ripa
Faith, "Fridays, 9-9:30
EDT.
p.m.
— "Threat Matrix, "Thursdays,
ABC
— 'Hope &
Jennifer
terrific.
PHOTO FROM
where his wife's large, close-knit and sometimes stifling family lives. Some Interest: Adjusting to the Midwestern lifestyle and large family dynamics provides some comical moments and snappy dialogue keeps things rolling. But lead Breckin Meyer seems to be carrying the whole show.
Lopez's character in the movie "Out of Sight," the
CNS
to the Kellys, " Fri-
EDT.
Sitcom about a true-blue, only-child Yorker who uproots to Kansas
sexual lifestyle while eliciting laughter
from homophobic jokes and put-downs
1 1
series premieres this
— "Married
born rookie cop in the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department. Some Interest: A bit heavy-handed on the police fraternity side with all the teasing and harassing the established cops give the newbies, but if writers can even out the balance between comedy and drama, it may find an audience. "I'm With Her, " Tuesdays,
—
8:30-9 p.m.
narios
may
—
—
"10-8," Sundays, 8-9 p.m. EDT. Action drama about a Brooklyn-
tire
soon.
"It's
All Relative, "Wednesdays,
EDT.
which opposites attract as an Irish-Catholic young man falls for an upper-crust Harvard gal who's been raised by two gay men. Problematic: Teetering on the edge in
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, The Midwest Book Review to:
successful fundraising experience. Bachelor's degree in communications, marketing or related field required. Send resume and salary requirements in confidence to: Cathy Hood, Secretary for Human Resources, Archdiocese of AtSt., NW, At30308, fax (404) 885-7497 or email: catholicjobs@archatl.com.
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September
19,
2003
The Catholic News & Herald 13
AROUND THE DIOCESE
Upcoming to TIRE'
rally
up
Program works
faith
FORT east
Adopted grandparent has giving heart
FIRE
to unite parish
— The South-
MILL,' S.C.
andschool
Rally, a dynamic, one-day
Catholic event for adults will be held at
CHARLOTTE
the Charlotte Bobcats Training Center in
March 13, 2004. The event is geared
— At
St.
Gabriel
School, generations are growing
Fort Mill, S.C, on Saturday,
closer together.
Through the school's Adopt-aGrandparent Program, Richard Cox
to ignite par-
through powerful, challenging talks on Faith, Intercession, Repentance and Evangelism by the nationally recognized FIRE team of Franciscan Father Michael Scanlan, a Third Order Regular Franciscan; Sister Ann ticipants' faith experiences
has become part of the School family.
St.
Gabriel
The program was
created to enthe relationship between the school and St. Gabriel Church. Students without grandparents or whose grandparents live out of town are given opportunities to gain wisdom rich
Shields, superior of the Servants of
God's Love in the Diocese of Lansing, Mich.; Ralph Martin; and Peter Herbeck. Bishop Robert J. Baker of Charleston, S.C, is the principal celebrant and homilist of the closing liturgy. The rally will include dynamic, inspiring music by Hearts of Fire from Durham, a bookstore and a min-
from and
affection for their elders,
while older parishioners can become involved with the life of the school they are able to attend events such as Grandparents' Day, talent shows and family bingo night. Cox, a St. Gabriel parishioner and former U.S. fighter pilot during World War II, is already "Grandpa" to 37 grandchildren of his own, but his love for children prompted his involvement at the school. He has now become "Grandpa" to two more children St. Gabriel School students whose grandparents live out of town.
—
istry fair.
The original Southeast FIRE Rally in 1999 sold out several weeks in advance. Register early for this event by calling Good News Minis-
—
at (704) 521-9949 or visit www.fireministry.org/ charlotte. tries
Courtesy Photo
Richard Cox, already a grandfather to 37 grandchildren,
—
grandchildren
students at
St.
Gabriel School
—
sits with
on a bench
two "adopted" in
THE
Through Cox's contribution, two benches were purchased and placed in the Grandparents' Garden on the church /school campus. The Grandpar-
ents'
ou're used to
making choices
your
all
life.
Why
Garden
is
dedicated to
ents of the students.
honor of Cox and
circle
by our pool, during Yoga or
w> wwwmnwiwwfn wwrum irmwimniwiimiiiwiiii
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at lectures
on-site.
Choose gourmet dining with neighbors or take
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to schedule
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my
visit
0
to Pennybyrn.
information on Pennybyrn.
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State
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• CNH8/8-8/22
m
•
are in
14 The Catholic News & Herald
September
Perspectives
A
collection of columns,
and viewpoints
editorials
Pope thanks God WOODEN
VATICAN CITY
A new decline in
God
that he
The Pope
— Pope
(CNS)
publicly gave thanks to
II
was
was noticeably stronger than when he was abroad. Although he skipped a few lines of
voice that
Mass attendance is
down
in the
Archdiocese of Washington. For the first time in a decade, the
number of people coming to Sunday Mass has declined. The decline over the previous year was 7.55 percent.
many
rors similar declines in
It
mir-
parts of the
country.
Overall, less than one-third of
Washington area Catholics are coming to Mass on Sundays. We had just over 1 50,000 people in the pews, out of more than 500,000. That ratio pretty much has been unchanged over the past decade.
The Washington
data
based on a
is
headcount taken each year by ushers at all
Sunday Masses
tendance then
is
in
October.
The
at-
Diary
Independent studies from several (minifies
knows what to There are
wee prwortf»d ertfcet as onwstfwi j
!
Um wwkfr, ragjtorfy or every SuwftTjL
||=irj*
Like many dioceses, Washington takes a count in October because it is a "normal" month. There are no major holidays and extended vacations, which might distort the numbers. Our October 2002 decline was the first
since 1994.
migrant population.
Mass attendance over
the past 10
years had inched up 2 or 3 percent each
our response to
this de-
Nothing so far. In 1997, Sunday Mass attendance went up just over 5 percent. We were
crease?
As
That was
in the
is
customary
at the first general
sure that entering into the
tion of Europe, including
on the
The
visit, he said, of Bishop Vasyl
centerpiece of the
was the
beatification
Hopko and Sister Zdenka Schelingova, who were martyred under communism. 14, the feast
visit to Slovakia.
Cross, served as a reminder that "the
"I
give thanks to the Lord,
the third time allowed
noble nation," he
me
who
for
to visit that
said.
Celebrating the beatification Sept. of the Exaltation of the Holy
Slovak people, in dramatic moments of suffering, found strength and hope in the cross of Christ."
especially true in
the subur-
there
we
rationales
Letters to
the Editor
was down
tend to use to excuse our-
from communal efforts toward faith formation perhaps better phrased as efforts toward growth in selves
—
However, the sniper scare does not account for the -whole decline. Attendance was down even in areas untouched by the sniper, such as southern Maryland. Most disturbingly, the biggest decline in Mass attendance was on college campuses. Our campus ministries reported a 42 percent decline in Mass attendance over the previous year. I think a major reason for the 2002 decline in Mass attendance is the fallout from the child-abuse scandal. In October 2002, when our count took place, the scandal had just passed its crescendo. During the height of the scandal, poll after poll showed 95 percent of the faithful saying that it would not affect But 5 percent
affect their faith.
Catholics
is
a lot
said
it
would
Five percent of U.S. of people, about 3.3
Nationwide, declining Mass atten-
dance
is
a real challenge for the church,
especially
among young
people.
Catholic University sociologist Dean Hoge and his research team have shown that only 37 percent of youngadult Catholics think it is important to attend Mass once per week.
Whatever the reasons this past year,
it is
for the decline
serious
— not
cause
for alarm, but certainly cause for reflec-
tion
and discussion. believe Jesus has the
I
lasting
life. I
bread of
Good to
go
how
life.
words of ever-
believe the Eucharist If
we
is
the
are followers of the
Shepherd, maybe in search
level of
values," he said.
tation
their faith.
will
offer a valid contribution to the construc-
audience after a trip, Pope John Paul devoted his main talk to reporting on his
several possible reasons
One
was
am
spirituality. Implicit in his brief
year, consistent with overall population
growth. Therefore, a decline of 7.55 percent is serious. It is actually a reversal of more than 9 percent to 10 percent because it wiped out our typical 2- or 3-percent increase.
"I
European Union, the Slovak people
23 percent.
a
modest increase in attendance each year in the Washington region, which has a fast-growing general population, including a large Hispanic im-
is
<
million to be precise!
One probably would expect
What
do.
Mass attendance
school.
30%
top two soccer leagues. who has been recog-
group.
ban area where the shootings started. It was also true in Prince Georges County, Md., where a boy was shot on his way to
Italy
future.
nized as the world's top professional soc-
Montgomery County, Md.,
Percent of those attending for select countries
* Octa
Italy's
cer referee five years in a row,
getting shot.
hove found thai 30-65 percent of Catholics attend Moss each Sunday.
after the audience greeting indi-
from
they have had for centuries to Christ and
Gandolfo, stayed for about an
viduals and groups, including referees
of the most frequently mentioned reasons is the Washington-area sniper scare. Last year people were staying home out of fear of
Taking Attendance
to the church and to encourage them to maintain their Christian values in the
Pierluigi Collina,
for the decline.
averaged out.
in Slovakia.
hour
very proud of that increase. This year, with the decline, we are saying nothing. Perhaps that's because nobody is sure exactly why the decline took place or
trip in
order to confirm Slovaks in the fidelity
at Castel
Columnist
he made the
said
any of the texts off to an aide to read as he had done
Pope John Paul, who was driven to the Vatican from his summer residence
FATHER PETER J. DALY
The pope
17 general audience in St.
Peter's Square, he did not pass
Parish
CNS
CATHOLIC
By
NEWS SERVICE
the texts in 11 languages prepared for his Sept.
Mass attendance
Speaks
able to visit Slovakia
11-14 and did so speaking in a
Sept.
2003
for visit to Slovakia
by CINDY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE
John Paul
19,
now
is
the time
of the lost sheep.
they have strayed from the
Some-
flock.
are saved as a people
God
Column on track about
office
of Christian formation,
my
I
want to
appreciation for the recent
by Dr. Cris Villapando on the urgency for the embrace of a vibrant
editorial
adult faith formation effort in
myths
Church," Sept.
in the Catholic
we go
Catholic^
News
'"'
in
our parishes to make the discipleship
Thomas Mahan, Ph.D. Brevard
'
; Vy'/V \.jf Pope John Paul II has often underlined the development of effective adult programs as central to all catechesis.
This concern has been echoed in the Vatican publication of the General Directory for Catechesis and the pastoral letter by the U.S. bishops. Many Catholics, especially those whose catechetical roots are found in pre- Vatican
II
approaches,
still
see their
Catholic identity as established by attendance at Sunday and holy day liturgies and monthly confessions. Dr. Villapando, with his succinct delineation of five myths about adult faith formation, confronts each of us with the rich Gospel image of our call to discipleship. Faith formation is the road to that discipleship with its intertwined components of holiness and service to others, each dependent upon continuing growth through conversion.
By
listing his five
Villapando has removed
to
model that Dr. Villapando presents the natural development of our being nourished by the eucharistic liturgy, the source and summit of our spiritual lives?
'
1.2).
we
& Herald and Dr.
par-
all
ishes ("Adult faith formation: Antidote to five
that
together.
The
a former director of a diocesan
express
—
Villapando have done their jobs. The question now is what will each of us do
adult faith formation As
presen-
the church's teaching that
is
myths, Dr.
many
of the
WRITE A LETTER
TO THE EDITOR The Catholic News & Herald wel-
comes
from readers. We ask be originals of 250 words
letters
that letters
or less.
To be considered for publication, each letter must include the name, address and phone number of the writer for purpose of verification. Letters may be condensed due to space limitations
and
and edited
for clarity, style
taste.
Send
letters to Letters to
Catholic
News &
the Editor,
Herald, P.O.
The Box
37267, Charlotte, N.C. 28237, ore-mail catholicnews@charlottediocese.org.
September
19,
The Catholic News & Herald 15
2003
After
Do you have a We
have special gilts, dispensed in accordance with the Divine Wisdom. Some, St. Paul tells us, have the gift of healing; others the power of miracles or prophesy, or the gift of tongues or the ability to interpret them. Above all, he continues: "There are three gifts that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these
not, then be assured,
Ask
asking.
He
you have a loving heart?
tells
A
it is
If
biographer of
St.
Francis of Assisi
of an occasion when Francis came upon Brother Juniper and found him to be
Guest
Column OFM
enough, he discovered that the stately tree, so prized for its grandeur and beauty, was hollow from top to bottom. Only a rim of solid wood remained, barely enough to support the tree's weight. What was the farmer to do? If he
skinning the
Brother Juniper was deep in sor-
rowful thought over his stupidity and his utter uselessness to his confreres.
Francis had a different view. "Cheer up, Brother Juniper," he said, "Don't
you
know
gift
you possess the greatest
of all: a loving heart?" In addition to a loving heart, we need to keep our feet on earth while longing for heaven. Since the dawn of
human
we have climbed
curiosity,
mountains and gazed into the night sky wondering whether there is life somewhere out there; hoping, or perhaps fearing that
Cap
Today's scientists enlist the latest technology in an effort to communicate with the humans-beyond-the-moon.
We are challenged first to communione another here on earth. We
are now.
first
we are not alone
in the universe.
are tempted to climb the mountains and forget the beauty of the valley,
where we
We
see freedom, knowledge, mastery and mystery above and we forget the care, sorrow, joy, limitations and success beneath the sky. The heights and the last frontiers may have the gift of mystery; the valleys, however, have the gift of fellowship and service. You work where you are now, to get to the heights later! The reality check is more important than the thrill of success. At one point during the Civil War, President Lincoln's cabinet was confronted with the uncovering of a Washington spy ring providing key information to the Confederacy.
Not only was
the
president concerned about the security
was
issues involved, he
tressed at the disloyalty
so
The farmer went
to investigate, fearing the worst. Sure
seemed he could never do anything right. In fact, he was so dumb that when Francis came upon him, he had just tried to cook a
that
the tree into a tree hole.
AURILIA,
cate with
rabbit-dinner without
who had a massive shade tree that many years against the test of One morning while at work in his
garden, the farmer saw a squirrel run up
FATHER JOHN
also deeply dis-
and subterfuge of
many he thought was
a supporter.
on new, young
dilemma faced by an old
farmer time.
A perspective
said
stood for
frame of mind. Poor Brother Juniper was a little short of brainpower, it must be acknowledged; it
in a particularly sad
rabbits.
story about the
yours for the
tells
who had
nothing during the meeting, was visibly He expressed his feeling with a
you
you.
was presented,
disturbed.
and then do whatever
Jesus,
the evidence
asked for orders. Lincoln,
all
love."
is
Do do
loving heart?
all
the secretary of war turned to Lincoln and
priests The Human Side
would do considerable damage with its great length and
cut the tree down,
it
spreading branches. If he
let
remain, a
it
storm or strong wind could topple
"A young first
Turning away, he cursed, "I wish I had never seen that squirrel!" Being rooted in reality makes us aware of the awesome mystery surrounding our limited knowledge and leads us into true faith and love. A famous atheist, Clarence Darron, once said inside.
'They tell me there is a God, have never seen Him, I have no personal acquaintance with Him." To which his opponent replied, "It is credibly reported that Mr. Darron has a mind, but I have never seen it, I have never touched it, I have no personal acquaintance with it." Instead of saying, "I wish I had never seen that squirrel," let's say "I wish I had a loving heart." The squirrel is in a debate, I
there,
we like
it
or not!
cleric just
out of a seminary
often looks out from the pulpit during that
it,
crushing his house and killing everyone
but
mi
FATHER EUGENE HEMRICK CNS Columnist
sermon and
sees a flock that looks to
be the age of parents and grandparents.
The
congregants looking back often see a
person the age of someone they used to
bounce on
As
I
their knee."
continued to the next paragraph
the article "New Clerics Seek Ways to Reach Aging Flocks," by Marek Fuchs of the New York Times, I broke into laughter because of the memories it evoked of in
my
early priesthood.
When
was ordained,
I
ing with the knowledge
I
was
burst-
had accumulated over 12 years of study. Fresh from I
my first homilies came straight
the books,
out of them. People were very kind to me,
and would say, "Father, that was a great homily," then add, "very profound," meaning, "I didn't understand a word." A friend of mine, a plumber, would chide me on Saturdays not to forget the double S on Sunday: "Keep it simple, stupid!"
'First
parents' besides
Q. Tou have explained in the past that Catholic teaching does not rule out the possibility of other "first par-
Adam and Eve. I can accept In fact, I don't, know how you
ents" than that.
could understand the story of creation in Genesis any other way.
Cain, supposedly Adam's and Eve's first child, fears someone will kill him after he kills Abel (Gn 4:14), then goes to the "land of Nod" where he marries a wife and, estab-
and
a
lishes
made
therefore have
Adam and Eve
is
things
off.
Bible passages such as
Paul's remark,
(Adam)
other people than
to start
My problem St.
God must
(4:16-17).
city
"Through one man world" (Romans
sin entered the
How
do we explain such a statement if there were other original human
5:12).
ancestors?
(New
York)
Adam and Eve?
essential truths of
traditions that
all,
went
that the
human
family,
owes its existence to creation by the one true God; that as it came into existence, the earth was good and intended for
human
on earth
from people's own stubbornness and sinfulness; and that even in the beginning God had a plan eventually to save us from that
Now
your question. Preachers
to
commonly
'and writers
use the device of
When
a priest in a
Son or to the Lion King as ways a figure of Christ, he is not
in
into the formation
profess-
made, and
They
fit
the point to be
that's all their
mention
means.
When as
such as polygenism
three days, so he would be in the
that
is,
whether
Jesus, for example, said that
Jonah was
in the belly
do with the theological intent of the biblical story of God's creation, which was put together in the form we have it only a few hundred years before
knew
Christ.
reference to a familiar Scripture story
little
to
That story
is
meant
to
convey some
belief that
poor Jonah actually lived
three days in a whale's stomach. the Jonah story
to his audience, so he used his
He
was well-known it
coming resurrection. Thus Jesus did it, and so
it.
healthy and
1950 encyclical "Humani Pope Pius XII referred to some doctrinal and scriptural problems with polygenism, some of which have been resolved, incidentally, in the 53 years
serious illness bravely.
In his
Generis,"
since.
At the
time, he said Catholics
apparent" ible
hold
not
how
this
opinion
that
opinion
"it
is
not
compat-
is
with certain Catholic teachings. It
is
commonly acknowledged, "Humani Generis" labels more than one "Adam and
therefore, that
the belief in
Eve" a conjectural opinion. call that
It
does not
to the healthy, overlooking those
This concurs with current Catholic
One Good
Afree brochure describing basic Catholic and moral precepts
is
avail-
stamped sef-addressed Fatlier John Dietzen, Box 325,
able by sending a
envelope to Peoria,
IL 61651.
I
never will forget receiving a
ner,
who
When
the
may be sent to Father Dietzen same address, or e-mail:
jjdietzen@aol.com.
call in
said her daughter
I
who
I
woke
had
died.
As
I
the other priest
asked where
I
was going.
told him, he said, "She doesn't
have a daughter." I called the parishioner back and learned that the daughter who had died was her cat. In observing the mistakes of
young at
my
started
I
the middle of the night from a parishio-
assistant,
prayers, beliefs
Friday,
homily talking about the Mount of Olives and then proceeded to describe, in detail, every movement Christ made from there to Calvary. One of the priests I lived with commented, "At the rate you were going, we thought you were going to talk about each of the cobblestones Christ walked on."
was rushing out
tion.
who
have a much greater strength that we seldom acknowledge: the strength to face
opinion erroneous or heretical.
Questions
could help, they didn't hesitate to use
*
when you feel
strong to preach homilies that only speak
to illustrate
did Paul. If
I
so easy
It's
tomb
for three days, he wasn't declaring a
talk about the
doubt
the morning.
of the whale
more than one "first parents." Whether there were 20 or 200 such ancestors, or where they came from, has there were
Columnist
teaching concerning biblical interpreta-
of the Genesis creation stories were not addressing anthropological questions
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
some
ing a belief that these people or animals
the various literary
DIETZEN
CNS
homily, for example, refers to the Prodigal
would
it resonated with young wonder what older people were thinking, some of whom were happy if they could just get out of bed in
(polygenism) as a fact since
those characters.
No
miles.
should
ing judgment on the actual existence of
I
people, but
make
no intention of declar-
homilies.
FATHER JOHN
referring to well-known characters to a point, with
ran mara-
runner's high and gutting out the last
result
sinfulness.
I
Corner
happiness; that whatever moral
evils exist
early days,
thons and often used them as examples in
my
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
faith
world, including our
really existed.
A. First of
our
During those
Question
my first reaction is to No doubt this is the reac-
priests,
correct them.
tion of parishioners too.
But before do-
ing any correcting, don't forget that were once like them.
we
16 The Catholic News & Herald
September
19,
2003
PARISH PROFILE
St.
Thomas Aquinas provides home
for
growing University-area Catholics
CHARLOTTE
—
During the
1970s, Catholics in the area of the University of
North Carolina
celebrated
Mass
at Charlotte
in dormitories, apart-
ments, a Lutheran church and a rest
home
St.
chapel.
Consolate priests ministered to
Pastor: Capuchin Father Ignatius
Catholic students at UNC-Charlotte prior to the founding of the Diocese of
Charlotte in 1972.
By
the mid-1970s,
students were being ministered by
lic
Ob-
Father Joseph Travers, then-Catho-
late
Thomas Aquinas Church
1400 Suther Road Charlotte, N.C. 28213 (704) 549-1607
campus
When
minister.
Zampino Parochial Vicars: Capuchin Father Martin Schratz, Capuchin Father
Stanley Kobel
Permanent Deacons: Rev. Mr. Carl Macero, Rev. Mr. Mark Nash
the diocese announced plans
to establish
ninth parish in the see
its
Number
of Families: 2,500
Father Travers was chosen to lead the parish. He began preparing to build a church with money donated by an
city,
anonymous benefactor. Catholics from northern Mecklenburg and southern Cabarrus counties were invited to join the students as the founding members of the
new
parish.
Oblate Father Joseph Zuschmidt succeeded Father Travers in August 1978, and building efforts continued. A nearby house was purchased that
month
Capuchin
and the 250-seat church was completed in March 1979. Bishop Michael J. for use as a rectory,
Ignatius
Father
Zampino
St.
Thomas Aquinas Church, which celebrates
third church built
on the
site
its
25th anniversary this year,
File
Photo
is
the
and seats over 1,100 people.
Begley, then-bishop of Charlotte, dedicated the structure in April, giving the St. cial
Thomas Aquinas community offiparish status. The registry jumped
from 15 to 40
families.
the mid-1980s, booming growth in north Charlotte led to the need for larger worship space for St.
By
Thomas Aquinas
parishioners.
Con-
1984 and a multipurpose building with worship space for 350 people was dedicated March 31, 1985. The new church served parishioners well for a few years, but it was outgrown by decade's end as the struction began in
grew to nearly 1,000 families. Father Ray Berg was pastor during third groundbreaking ceremony in
parish the
June 1994, and construction proceeded during the pastorate of Msgr. John
McSweeney. At the invitation of thenBishop William G. Curlin, Capuchin Franciscan Friars assumed responsibility of the parish in January 1995. Capuchin Father Ignatius Zampino became pastor and Capuchin Father Thomas Crangle became associate pastor. Bishop Curlin dedicated the new 1,11 6-seat
sanctuary for the
1
,300 regis-
November of that year. church is now used as the
tered families in
The
original
parish office, and the second building utilized as
Aquinas
Hall, the parish so-
adorned the sanctuary in
Newton,
at St.
N.J.
Francis
include a
three-ton marble altar, the tabernacle its
altar,
a sanctuary lamp, holy
water fonts and Stations of the Cross. New York craftsman Don Shephard designed the items, which placed first in a liturgical art competition in the Vatican pavilion at the 1964-65 World's Fair in New York. Shephard also designed the church's stained glass windows, originally
#
SOUTHEAST
large crucifix above the altar
Faith
Damiano
— a challenge to Catholics to renew
style.
In February 1997, Bishop Curlin
dedicated the Family Life Center, which
includes
16 classrooms, offices and a
regulation-size
gymnasium
to host the
presented by
RALLY Experience the 'New Springtime' of the Third Christian Millennium
and deepen
their relationship with
the Lord.
Ralph Martin Ralph is the founding President of Renewal Ministries, a Catholic mission organization,
and hosts a popular weekly television series. The Choices We Face. Ralph isalso the founding
parish's faith formation
program, pre-
school and athletic groups.
That
year,
Capuchin Father Martin
editor oi
Nav Covenant magazine and
of several books.
author
He presently leadsThe Word
of God, an ecumenical Christian community in
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
and parish RCIA programs have blossomed under his guidance. In 1998, Capuchin Father Stanley Kobel was also assigned as parochial vicar and he has helped the youth program to flourish.
March 1999, Dominican Sisters Pagulayan and Sister Bernadita Dandoy assumed the duties In
Anastacia
as director of faith formation and of the pre-school programs, respectively. A convent was purchased this year behind
the Family Life Center.
In 2000, a columbarium in the parish
garden was blessed. In 2003, Sister
and Sister Jennifer Ober and Sister Jean Bunda joined the staff; the parish mortgage was paid off and the Family Life Center was renamed the Father Ignatius Zampino Family Life Center. Also in recent years, Rev. Mr. Carl Macero and Rev. Mr. Mark Nash joined the parish as permaleft
the parish
nent deacons.
With
2,500 families, St.
I ntercession —a
call to united prayer as
most important
of Charlotte.
John Paul U.
"My hope and prayer is that all who attend the FIRE Rally will experience a deeper conversion,
spiritual
our
weapon
New
Evangelization to which our Holy Father has called us in the new millennium."
— Most Reverend Robert
J.
Baker,
STD
Bishop of Charleston
SGL
for the Journey.
She
is the
books, including Fire
in
author of several
My Heart, and is a
frequent conference speaker.
Repentance —aw
exhortation to turn away from sin to a Christ-centered, Spirit'filled
Fr. Fr.
life.
Michael Scanlan,
Michael
is
the Chancellor
TOR and former
President of Franciscan University of Steubenville/Ohio, and wasordained in 1964. In 1990, he was awarded the Cross Pro Ecclesiaet Pontificcby Pope John Paul H. He has authored several books including his autobiography. Let the Fire Fall.
A CATHOLIC ALLIANCE Of FAITH, INTERCESSION,
F VANGELISM —an invitation to spread the Good News of salvation and the gift of authentic Catholicism, Peter
is
Director of Missions at Renewal
REPENTANCE, AND EVANGELISM
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS TRAINING CENTER FORT MILL, SOUTH CAROLINA
SATURDAY, 9:00
MARCH 13, 2004
am
- 6:00
pm
(Doors open at 8:00 am.)
Dynamic, Inspired Music by Hearts of Fire Bookstore
& Ministry Fair
Ministries and lias served numerous retreats,
conferences,
world.
Church can expect continued spiritual growth in a continually expanding area
Most Rev. Robert J. Baker, STD Bishop Baker is shepherd to Catholics throughout the state of South Carolina. He has served as a pastor, counselor, mentor, and professor during his priesthood and was appointed as the 1 2th Bishop of Charleston in 1999 by Pope
avaitable for renewing the face of the eartit. Sr. Ann Shields, Sr. Annis me superior of fheSeivantsof God's Love in Lansing, Michigan, and is a regular co-host on the television program. The Oioices We Face. She also hosts a radio program, Food
Peter Herbeck
now numbering Thomas Aquinas
the parish
Closing Liturgy Celebrant & Homilist
a greater desire for reconciliation, and a willingness to be more fully involved in the
Schratz was assigned as parochial vicar,
Bernadita
Church furnishings that once
and
A
was another new highlight. Crafted by a local parishioner, the wooden cross measures more than 15 feet in height. Hanging from it is a sevenfoot-tall, custom-made corpus of Christ from Italy, designed in the San
is
cial center.
Seminary
crafted for St. Francis Seminary.
and events around the work has been devoted
rallies,
Much of his
helping equip Cathwlics for ministry through training in the exercise of spi ritual gifts. Peter and his wife Debbie have four to
children and live in
Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Further Information Phone:
(704) 521-9949
Email: carolinaevents2@aol.com
Online Registration: http://www.firemimstrv.org/charlotte