December 7, 2012 | catholicnewsherald.com
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In Brief World AIDS Day marked Dec. 1 BELMONT — For World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, residents of House of Mercy in Belmont were treated to a homemade dinner and holiday celebration by The Tradesmen, longtime supporters of the AIDS ministry founded 21 years ago by the Sisters of Mercy. The Altrusa Club of Gastonia, Lincolnton District Young Adult Missionary Society and Charlotte Prime Timers also recently adopted House of Mercy as their service projects and delivered many needed pantry supplies and gifts. Friends and employees of MAC Cosmetics also helped decorate the House of Mercy residence for the holidays. Besides supporting House of Mercy with grants from the MAC AIDS Fund (made possible through sales of VIVA Glam lipstick), volunteer help was provided in conjunction with World AIDS Day. Begun in 1988, World AIDS Day is the longestrunning disease awareness and prevention initiative of its kind in the history of public health. Yet at House of Mercy, every day is World AIDS Day. The nonprofit home, located on the Sisters of Mercy campus, provides compassionate, specialized, around-the-clock care for approximately 300 low-income persons living with AIDS. The number of people living with HIV in the U.S. is over 1.2 million and rising, and the impact of HIV/AIDS in the South is a particular concern. The Centers for Disease Control reports that the South accounts for 45 percent of new AIDS diagnoses in the U.S. and 48 percent of AIDS-related deaths. The N.C. Division of Public Health estimates 35,000 North Carolinians are living with HIV or AIDS, including those unaware of their status. As of Dec. 31, 2011, there were 6,324 reported HIV disease cases living in the 10-county area served by House of Mercy. People can make a difference in the lives of persons living with AIDS in this community by volunteering or making a financial donation to House of Mercy. The Sisters of Mercy provide funds sufficient to cover all administrative costs, so all donations support direct services. Charitable donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 808, Belmont, N.C. 28012, or made securely online at www.thehouseofmercy.org. Contact House of Mercy at 704-825-4711 for details. — Marjorie Storch
Belmont Abbey reduces tuition BELMONT — Belmont Abbey College recently announced a reduction of its annual tuition cost to $18,500 beginning in fall 2013. This represents an almost $10,000 per year reduction in the college’s published tuition price for incoming freshmen and transfer students. “Over the past 25 years, average college tuition and fees in the United States has increased more than 440 percent,” said Belmont Abbey College President Dr. William Thierfelder. “At more than four times the rate of inflation, that’s not sustainable for the average American family so it’s time to reverse the trend.” Similar-sized colleges have announced “tuition resets” over the past two years, largely due to declining enrollment numbers. However, Belmont Abbey’s tuition reduction comes at a time of growth for the college that marked its highest traditional undergraduate enrollment ever in 2012. This fall also saw considerable capital improvements such as a new dining hall, fitness facility and renovated student center. Two new residence halls will open in fall 2013 to accommodate the increasing number of resident students.
A 2012 College Board Student Poll of collegebound seniors found more than half had ruled out colleges on sticker price alone without considering potential financial aid awards. “While we may not be the first private institution to scale back tuition to close the gap between published tuition price and actual cost, our goal is increasing accessibility, not boosting enrollment,” Thierfelder said. — Belmont Abbey College
OUR PARISHESI
Retired or Semi-retired CPAs and Internal Auditors Interested in a unique opportunity to match-up your profession with your faith? Looking for an opportunity to use your time & talent for the Church? The Diocese of Charlotte is seeking qualified volunteers to serve as a financial liaison with parishes in various regions of the Diocese. Interested in learning more? Please contact Bill Weldon, diocesan Chief Financial Officer at wgweldon@charlottediocese.org.
Education in-service held in Hickory HICKORY — More than 70 staff of the diocesan Education Vicariate, including religious education directors, teachers and campus ministers, attended an in-service training session on sacramental preparation held at the Catholic Conference Center in Hickory Nov. 8. Presenters included (pictured from left) Tracy Welliver, pastoral associate of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro; Marie Kinney, director of religious education for Holy Cross Church in Kernersville; Peggy Schumacher, director of religious education for Holy Family Church in Clemmons; and Deacon David Reiser, director of religious education for Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte. — Dr. Cris Villapando
Challenge grant issued for cathedral stair renovation CHARLOTTE — A local resident is offering a matching grant of up to $35,000 to help fund the Bishop Curlin Commemorative Stair project at St. Patrick Cathedral. For every $2 raised by Dec. 31, the anonymous donor will add $1. The Bishop Curlin Commemorative Stair project will completely redesign the stairway and entrance to the cathedral, making the entrance safer and more attractive. The entrance will feature various Catholic symbols and Celtic design details, as well as the diocesan shield and the coats of arms of its four bishops. Donors can purchase engraved bricks to be used in the stair project for $100 each. You can make a donation to the brick program or by making a direct donation to the St. Patrick Cathedral Stair renovation project. Go online to www.stpatricks.org or call the parish office at 704-334-2283 for details.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 725 Deese Street Monroe, NC 28112
Wednesday, December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe 5:00-7:00AM Mananitas 8:00PM Solemn Mass of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish)
Sunday, December 16th 7:00PM Lessons and Carols
Concord area Knights sponsor food drive CONCORD — The Knights of Columbus Council 7450 in Concord, led by Knight Zeke Zickerman and a small committee, recently provided meals to the needy for this Thanksgiving and Christmas. They sponsored a food drive for Thanksgiving with parishioners of St. James the Greater Church in Concord. The response was overwhelming – resulting in 121 food boxes being distributed to parish members and others in the community. — Jim Breslin
Monday, December 24th 4:00PM Mass (English) 6:00PM Mass (Spanish) 10:00PM Mass of Christmas Night (English)
Tuesday, December 25th
10:00AM Mass of Christmas Day (English) 12:00PM Mass of Christmas Day (Spanish)
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