Oct. 13, 2023

October 13, 2023

catholicnewsherald.com charlottediocese.org S E RV I N G C H R I ST A N D C O N N EC T I N G C AT H O L I C S I N W E ST E R N N O R T H C A R O L I N A

Finding hope in Haiti 4A

$20M pledged for college seminary chapel, other features to welcome visitors

Building new lives

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Catholic Charities resettles more refugees fleeing conflict Caridades Católicas reasienta a más refugiados que huyen de los conflictos 12A-13A

At a glance 2A

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

CATHOLIC ALL WEEK

October 13, 2023

Timely tips for blending faith & life

Volume 33 • NUMBER 1

1123 S. CHURCH ST. CHARLOTTE, N.C. 28203-4003 catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

704-370-3333 PUBLISHER The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte

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ith Hallowtide approaching, there’s much to do for Catholic families – costumes, treats, parties, and … Mass! Now is a great time to start preparing for Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 in your home, in your heart, and in your prayers.

MOONGAZE WITH THE VATICAN OBSERVATORY Usher in Hallowtide – All Hallow’s Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day – by gazing at the full moon Friday, Oct. 28. Anyone can view this stirring celestial event as the moon rises at sunset, is visible all night, and is high in the sky around midnight. Want to delve deeper into your love of God and the final frontier? Oct. 28 is also the date of the Vatican Observatory’s Full Moon Meetup for Sacred Space Astronomy. Learn more about the event, join their online community, and get in on the fun at www.vaticanobservatory.org.

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INDEX Contact us...................................2A Español.....................................14-17A Our Diocese........................... 4-10A Our Faith......................................3A Our Schools................................11A Scripture.............................3A, 17A U.S. news...............................18-19A Viewpoints...........................22-23A World news.......................... 20-21A

READY, SET, ALL SAINTS’ DAY All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) parties and processions are popular in Catholic families and schools. Whether you’re ordering or making them, now is a good time to start planning for your kids’ saint costumes and related festivities. Find loads of ideas at www.catholicicing.com and www. catholicallyear.com, where there are more than 150 All Saints’ Day costume ideas, including lastminute options that can double as a more typical Halloween costume. Think St. Francis of Assisi and a Jedi Knight.

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STAFF EDITOR: Spencer K. M. Brown 704-808-4528, skmbrown@charlottediocese.org

START A NOVENA AND REMEMBER THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED Leading up to early November feast days is a good time to pray for the deceased and for the intercession of the saints. At your parish, sign up for an All Saints’ Day novena on Oct. 23 or an All Souls’ Day novena on Oct. 24 – nine days prior to the feasts – at www.praymorenovenas.com.

And remember to add the names of your deceased loved ones to your parish’s remembrance book before Nov. 1. Many churches leave the book on the altar throughout the month of November.

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ADVERTISING MANAGER: Kevin Eagan 704-370-3332, keeagan@charlottediocese.org HISPANIC MEDIA MANAGER: César Hurtado 704-370-3375, rchurtado@charlottediocese.org MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER: David Puckett 704-808-4521, dwpuckett@charlottediocese.org EDITORIAL TEAM: Kimberly Bender 704-370-3394, kdbender@charlottediocese.org Annie Ferguson 704-370-3404, arferguson@charlottediocese.org Troy C. Hull 704-370-3288, tchull@charlottediocese.org

— Annie Ferguson

Christina Knauss, 704-370-0783, clknauss@charlottediocese.org

Diocesan calendar of events

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT/CIRCULATION: Erika Robinson 704-370-3333, catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

ENTERTAINMENT

SUPPORT GROUPS

WORLD FEAST: 11 a.m. -6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 1400 Suther Road, Charlotte, Ethnic food, games, entertainment and cultural devotions. For details, call 704-549-1607.

RACHEL RETREAT ‘HEALING AFTER ABORTION’: Are you or a loved one seeking healing from the effects of a past abortion? Find healing and support in a confidential, non-judgmental environment at a Rachel Retreat weekend.

These retreats are offered by the Diocese of Charlotte’s Family Life Office for men and women, in English and Spanish. Upcoming retreats, in English and in Spanish, are planned Nov. 3-5 in the Asheville area. To register, contact Jessica Grabowski at JRGrabowski@rcdoc.org or 704-370-3229.

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Liz Chandler 704-370-3336, lchandler@charlottediocese.org ASSISTANT COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Patricia L. Guilfoyle 704-370-3334, plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org THE CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD is published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte 26 times a year.

NEWS: The Catholic News Herald welcomes your news and photos. Please e-mail information, attaching photos in JPG format with a recommended resolution of 150 dpi or higher, to catholicnews@charlottediocese.org. All submitted items become the property of the Catholic News Herald and are subject to reuse, in whole or in part, in print, electronic formats and archives.

ADVERTISING: Reach 165,000 Catholics across western North Carolina! For advertising rates and information, contact Advertising Manager Kevin Eagan at 704-370-3332 or keeagan@charlottediocese.org. The Catholic News Herald reserves the right to reject or cancel advertising for any reason, and does not recommend or guarantee any product, service or benefit claimed by our advertisers.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: $16.75 per year for registered families of the Diocese of Charlotte and $25 per year for all others.

POSTMASTER: Periodicals Class postage (USPC 007-393) paid at Charlotte, N.C. Send address corrections to the Catholic News Herald, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

Scan the QR code for this week’s resources and activities:

PRAYER SERVICES ROSARY RALLY FOR OUR NATION: 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, Latta Park Pavilion, 601 E. Park Ave., Charlotte.

Enjoy faith and fellowship as we seek Our Lady’s intercession and pray the rosary.

DIOCESAN 25TH AND 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS: 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte. If you are celebrating your silver or golden wedding anniversary this year and would like to join the celebration, RSVP to familylife@rcdoc.org.

Reception to follow.

REVIVAL & RENEWAL: Three evenings of “Spiritual Renewal”Oct. 23-25, on the theme “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive.” Led by Father Ajani K. Gibson, pastor of St. Peter Claver Parish in New Orleans, as guest preacher, at Our Lady of Consolation Church, 1235 Badger Ct. in Charlotte.

For details, call 704-375-4339.

WORKSHOPS OVERVIEW OF MEDICARE BASICS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON OPEN ENROLLMENT: 12-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, St. Aloysius Church, 921 2nd St. N.E., Hickory. New to Medicare? Learn the basics, including eligibility requirements, when to sign up, how much it costs, and what it covers. Vickie Blevins, executive director of the Catawba County Council on Aging, presents free, unbiased, accurate information. Hosted by the Elder Ministry program of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte. For details, contact Sandra Breakfield at 704-370-3220.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis will participate in the following events: OCT. 16 – 10 A.M. Parish Pastoral Planning Meeting for St. Barnabas Pastoral Center, Charlotte OCT. 17 – 6 P.M. Seminarian Education Fundraiser St. Patrick Cathedral, Family Life Center, Charlotte OCT. 22 – 3 P.M. 25th and 50th Wedding Anniversary Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte OCT. 29 – 2:30 P.M. Catholic Heritage Society Mass St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Our faith

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Pray the Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation

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n 1916, the Angel of Peace appeared in Fatima, Portugal, to three shepherd children – Francisco, Jacinta and Lucia – teaching them the prayers that became the foundation for this Chaplet of Adoration and Reparation. As knowledge of Fatima spread, people began to say those prayers using a rosary. To encourage Eucharistic Adoration, Bishop Peter J. Jugis gave the chaplet his imprimatur, or endorsement, in 2004. Using a rosary, you can pray this chaplet anytime – especially during October, the month of the rosary, and in devotion to Our Lady of Fatima on Oct. 13, the anniversary of Mary’s appearance in Fatima and the “Miracle of the Sun.”

Pray the Hail Holy Queen: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!

Our life, our sweetness, and our hope!

To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen.

Following the 10 small beads of each decade, pray 1 Glory Be and: O Most Holy Trinity, I adore You! My God, My God, I love You in the most Blessed Sacrament.

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love You.

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Pray on the large bead before each decade:

Recite the Apostles’ Creed.

Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore you profoundly, and I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifference by which He is offended, and by the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

Then on the first bead and next three small beads, pray: 1 Our Father / 3 Hail Marys / 1 Glory Be for the increase of faith, hope and charity, and the intentions of the Holy Father.

1 Kiss the crucifix and make the Sign of the Cross.

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End by making the Sign of the Cross.

Daily Scripture readings OCT. 15-21

Sunday: Isaiah 25:6-10a, Philippians 4:1214, 19-20, Matthew 22:1-14; Monday (St. Hedwig, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque): Romans 1:1-7, Luke 11:29-32; Tuesday (St. Ignatius of Antioch): Romans 1:16-25, Luke 11:37-41; Wednesday (St. Luke): 2 Timothy 4:10-17b, Luke 10:1-9; Thursday (Sts. John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues and Companions): Romans 3:21-30, Luke 11:4754; Friday (St. Paul of the Cross): Romans 4:1-8, Luke 12:1-7; Saturday: Romans 4:13, 16-18, Luke 12:8-12

Love, forgiveness break cycles of violence

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On the 10 small beads of each decade, pray:

Pope Francis

OCT. 22-28 Sunday: Isaiah 45:1, 4-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b, Matthew 22:15-21; Monday (St. John of Capistrano): Romans 4:20-25, Luke 1:6975, Luke 12:13-21; Tuesday (St. Anthony Mary Claret): Romans 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21, Luke 12:35-38; Wednesday: Romans 6:12-18, Luke 12:39-48; Thursday: Romans 6:19-23, Luke 12:49-53; Friday: Romans 7:18-25a, Luke 12:54-59; Saturday (Sts. Simon and Jude): Ephesians 2:19-22, Luke 6:12-16

OCT. 29-NOV. 4 Sunday: Exodus 22:20-26, 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10, Matthew 22:34-40; Monday: Romans 8:12-17, Luke 13:10-17; Tuesday: Romans 8:1825, Luke 13:18-21; Wednesday (All saints): Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 John 3:1-3, Matthew 5:1-12a; Thursday (All Souls’ Day): Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 5:5-11, John 6:37-40; Friday (St. Martin de Porres): Romans 9:1-5, Luke 14:1-6; Saturday (St. Charles Borromeo): Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29, Luke 14:1, 7-11

he life of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave from Sudan who became a nun, demonstrates how love liberates people from oppression and frees them to forgive their oppressors and break cycles of hatred and violence, Pope Francis said.

“Often a wounded person wounds in turn; the oppressed easily becomes an oppressor,” the pope said Oct. 11 at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square.

In contrast, he said, St. Bakhita teaches people that “forgiveness takes away nothing but adds dignity to the person; it makes us lift our gaze from ourselves toward others, to see them as fragile as we are, yet always brothers and sisters in the Lord.”

Continuing a series of audience talks highlighting saints who demonstrate zeal or passion for evangelization, Pope Francis said St. Bakhita’s life story shows how “forgiveness is the wellspring of a zeal that becomes mercy and calls us to a humble and joyful holiness.”

The pope also used the occasion to pray for peace in Sudan, where a power struggle unleashed violence in April and fighting continues although, as he noted, very little is said about it in the news.

St. Bakhita, who lived 1869-1947, was abducted and enslaved at the age of 7.

“She suffered cruelty and violence: on her body she bore more than a hundred scars,” the pope said.

And yet, she wrote, “I never despaired, because I felt a mysterious force supporting me.”

Later she was given a crucifix -- the first thing she ever owned -- and, the pope said, “looking at it, she experienced a profound inner liberation, because she felt understood and loved and therefore capable of understanding and loving in turn. This is how it begins. One feels understood, loved and is then able to understand and love others.”

Having compassion, he said, “means suffering with the victims of the many forms of inhumanity present in the world as well as pitying those who commit errors and injustices -- not justifying them, but humanizing them.”

“When we enter into the logic of conflict, division among us, bad feelings, one against another, we lose humanity,” the pope said. But St. Bakhita teaches that the solution is “to humanize, humanize ourselves and humanize others,” by forgiving them and giving them another chance.

“Forgiveness liberated her,” the pope said. “Forgiveness first received through God’s merciful love, and then the forgiveness given that made her a free, joyful woman, capable of loving.”

— OSV News

Our diocese 4A

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

For the latest news 24/7: catholicnewsherald.com

In Brief Priest assignments announced CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter J. Jugis has announced the following clergy assignments: n Father David F. O’Connor has been appointed as parochial vicar at Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville, effective Sept. 19. He comes to the Diocese of Charlotte from the Diocese of Huancané, Peru. n Missionary Society of St. Paul Father Anthony Mbanefo will serve as parochial administrator of St. Andrew the Apostle Parish in Mars Hill and Sacred Heart Mission in Burnsville, effective Oct. 16, following the retirement of pastor Father Frederick M. Werth Jr. on Oct. 13. n Father Ramiro Tijerino has been appointed to Hispanic Ministry at Our Lady of the Assumption and St. John Neumann parishes in Charlotte, effective Aug. 1. n Father Oscar Benavides has been appointed as parochial vicar at St. Gabriel Parish in Charlotte and will be helping on Saturdays at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Charlotte, effective Oct. 1.

Grant applications open for local hunger, anti-poverty projects CHARLOTTE — Applications are now open for parishes and schools to consider applying for a Catholic Charities CRS Rice Bowl Mini-Grant for up to $1,000 in grant funds.

Does your parish help run a food pantry or have an emergency assistance program? Perhaps your parish or school has a ministry that provides assistance to families in need at Christmas time, offers meals for those who are homeless, or sponsors a school backpack program that helps provide nutrition to children in need.

For every $3 of CRS Rice Bowl funds sent to CRS for overseas projects, $1 remains in the Diocese of Charlotte to help fund a local grant program that supports poverty- and hunger-fighting projects of diocesan Catholic entities.

Projects must target hunger and poverty in communities in the diocese. Only one grant can be submitted per Catholic entity, and grant applications must be reviewed and signed by the pastor of the parish, principal of the school, or director of the diocesan office applying for the grant. Completed and signed applications are due, in scanned PDF, by Monday, Nov. 6. Applications, with guidelines and eligibility criteria included, are online at www.ccdoc. org/cchd-crs.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DEACON DAREN BITTER

Students of St. Marc Catholic School in Tremesse, Haiti, gather to celebrate the recent dedication of new permanent classrooms and a trade school. St. Marc School is named for St. Mark the Evangelist and the late Mark Creasser, a parishioner of St. Matthew and founder of Hands for Haiti, a Charlotte-based nonprofit that helped start the school in 2009.

Finding hope in Haiti St. Matthew Parish recently packed its 3 millionth meal for the Haitian people – a remarkable feat. But what does their help look like on the ground?

Follow Deacon Daren Bitter to the long-suffering island nation to see the fruits of the parish’s decades-long effort to ease poverty in northern Haiti.

ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

— Joe Purello

Long-time married couples invited to special Wedding Anniversary Mass CHARLOTTE — Catholics celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries this year are invited to join Bishop Peter Jugis for a special Wedding Anniversary Mass in their honor.

The Mass, set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 22, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, will honor couples who have been married for 25 years, 50 years or more.

Sponsored by the Diocese of Charlotte’s Office of Family Life, the event includes a reception with the bishop following Mass. Couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries in 2023 will receive a special certificate commemorating their anniversary.

Register at www.charlottediocese.org/bishopsyearly-anniversary-mass-for-couples.

St. Patrick Cathedral is located at 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, N.C. 28203.

— Catholic News Herald

CAP-HAITIEN, HAITI — When Deacon Daren Bitter walked into the homeless shelter in Cap-Haitien, Haiti, for the first time in four years, he could not believe his eyes. The children, once abandoned and malnourished, had become strong, healthy and happy.

“When I saw Steven, now a teenager, he was bigger than I am,” the astounded deacon says. “He and others were footballplayer big. I was like, ‘Come on. This is amazing!’ It brought joy to my heart.”

Because of pandemic travel restrictions, it had been too long since Deacon Bitter was able to visit his friends at the Asile Communal, where those with special needs, the elderly, sick and abandoned are Bitter cared for by religious brothers from the Missionaries of the Poor.

The long-awaited trip came just a few weeks after the 3 millionth meal milestone in his parish’s herculean efforts to pack as much food as possible for the Haitian people. In early September, Deacon Bitter of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte finally boarded a plane bound for Haiti. It was his fifth visit

in 10 years of volunteering with his parish and the Hands for Haiti nonprofit, an organization founded by members of St. Matthew that coordinates charitable work in Haiti year-round.

Since the 1990s, the parish has given more than 3.4 million meals as well as medical supplies to places in need around the world and Charlotte. Most of the aid goes to Haiti, however, where nearly half the people suffer from hunger.

Deacon Bitter credits the vast improvement in the children’s health to the constant stream of food and medicine.

“These kids look tremendous,” he says, “but if you go outside the front door, it’s the opposite.”

Deacon Bitter also traveled to nearby Tremesse to reunite with the students and faculty of St. Marc Catholic School, also supported by St. Matthew Parish and Hands for Haiti.

Of the children living at the Asile, Deacon Bitter says, “They’re well-behaved kids and are growing up together.

They don’t have a mom or a dad. If they do, they’re not there. It’s the religious brothers and hopefully a teacher who’s giving them guidance.”

HERE I AM, LORD

Few people would voluntarily travel to Haiti right now.

Embroiled in chaos, violence and abject poverty, the HAITI, SEE PAGE 24A

October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Building up the faithful $20M pledged for college seminary chapel, other features to welcome visitors ANNIE FERGUSON arferguson@charlottediocese.org

MOUNT HOLLY — St. Joseph College Seminary is every bit as idyllic as portrayed in its popular videos – a friendly rector of firm purpose forming cassockdonning young men to have “hearts full of charity” as they discern the priesthood, joyful Daughters of the Virgin Mother clad in long flowing habits working with the seminarians and priests, echoes of beautiful Latin chants, striking Gothic architecture, forested land beyond wideopen spaces, and two gentle, larger-thanlife canines.

These qualities and others combine to create intrigue and allure among the faithful, enough to bring more than 1,000 visitors to the college seminary campus each year since it opened in 2020, including a recent tour with the Catholic News Herald.

Frequent visits can be a lot to handle amid all the regular seminary activity. However, if all goes according to plan, the college seminary will be ready by spring of 2024 to break ground for a new chapel and wing to welcome many more visitors.

Plans are nearly complete for the second, final phase of the seminary, which will add a major chapel, offices, piazza, extended cloister walk, and a welcoming hall to support visits, talks and retreats for parishes around the diocese. Currently marked out as mere outlines in the grass, the new chapel will be large enough to host liturgies with the seminary community and up to 150 visitors. The project promises to add a whole new dimension to the life of the college seminary – and anyone who wants to visit.

Architectural firm Michael G. Imber Architects of San Antonio, Texas, and Creech & Associates PLLC of Charlotte worked with Father Matthew Kauth, rector, to design the new wing and chapel.

“The plans have come along beautifully,”

Father Kauth says, “and I’m thrilled we’ll be able to welcome the faithful and the larger community into what we’re doing here – and the extraordinary blessings God has bestowed.”

Fundraising for the $22 million project is well under way, with about $20 million already committed by generous donors, including substantial support from the Diocese of Charlotte.

“The chapel and its surrounding buildings were part of the original plans for the college seminary,” Father Kauth adds. “I am grateful to Bishop Jugis for his support of this second phase of construction.”

In December, the seminary will hold an open house for all who are interested in seeing the seminary, learning about the construction plans and supporting its mission.

The current chapel was originally designed as a Kauth lecture and banquet hall and will be used as such once the new chapel and meeting spaces are ready.

“We will be able to have people come in large groups,” says Fredrik Akerblom, director of advancement for the college seminary. “Even individuals who want to spend time praying could come during the day anytime when the chapel is open.”

On the floor below the current chapel is a classroom where the seminarians learn Latin with Professor Nancy Llewellyn, universally known as “Magistra.” The room is also used for music, philosophy and theology classes. The second phase of development includes an additional kitchen next to the classroom where smaller groups, such as one seminarian class or a group of priests and faculty, can meet for a meal.

PHOTO PROVIDED

An artistic rendering of the new chapel’s interior shares a glimpse of its beauty and Gothic architecture.

Akerblom says visitors to the seminary campus will also be welcome to attend the daily 7 a.m. Mass in the chapel, which will be open to the public five days a week.

“We have realized in these first eight years that the mission, apart from preparing men to be formed for the priesthood, is to also welcome visitors and to build up people in the faith,” Akerblom says.

The add-on cloister walk also aids in this endeavor, adding charm and functionality.

The walkway will be double-wide to allow for more mingling space with tables and chairs. Finishing the cloister walk creates an enclosed outdoor space perfect for a hardscape piazza.

Yet it is the chapel, of course, that is the pièce de résistance. Featuring wooden beams, stone columns and sacred art by current artists, it promises to be a sight to

behold. Behind the sanctuary will be an ambulatory and a Lady Chapel. Flanking the sanctuary will be two sacristies, one for vesting and one for work.

The sanctuary itself will feature a 12-foot-tall, five-panel polyptych by renowned Italian artist Chiara Perinetti Casoni. Paintings of St. Joseph, St. Mary Magdalene, the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. John will grace the wooden panels of the piece. Casoni uses egg tempera (paint made of egg yolk and color pigments) painted on gold leaf, a style that flourished in Siena between the 13th and 15th centuries.

Father Kauth emphasizes that the project will make the college seminary “a place for people to gather. It’s a place where priests can bring their parishioners to come and have Mass and then fold out into common areas and places for talks and lunch and things like that. There will be some other offices and supporting buildings for the seminary work here, but this project that we’re doing is going to open it up to all the faithful.”

“The people of our diocese made it possible to build the first part of the seminary,” he says. “God willing, this second phase will inspire many more to give generously. Our work with forming men to become noble fathers is one that will benefit people all around our diocese for decades to come.”

Get involved Want to be a part of making the new chapel a reality? Go to the St. Joseph College Seminary’s website at www.stjcs.org, click on the “Donate” button, then select “The Seminary Chapel Campaign” in the “My Donation Is For” field.

Everyone is invited to an open house that will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. For questions, contact Fredrik Akerblom at fakerblom@stjcs. org or 704-302-6386.

St. Charles Borromeo Parish hosts Guatemalan procession honoring archangels MORGANTON — The Guatemalan community of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Morganton held its first procession, Mass and celebration honoring the Sept. 29 Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

Nearly 200 parishioners joined in the processional route, filling the balmy evening air with songs and prayers. Altar servers carrying the cross and incense led the procession, followed by boys and girls dressed in traditional attire and carrying baskets of flowers.

CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Capital campaign kicks off for oldest parish in Charlotte CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — St. Peter Church in uptown Charlotte has launched a capital campaign to fund major renovations needed for its 130-year-old building on Tryon Street.

The fundraising goal for the Renovations and Repair Capital Campaign, launched Oct. 1, is $2.6 million. Jesuit Father Tim Stephens, pastor, said the goal is to conclude the fundraising campaign by Dec. 3, the first Sunday of Advent.

“This is essentially a renovation plan which is about maintaining and restoring the church that we have,” said Father Stephens. “The plan is focused on the original elements – the floor, the ceiling, the pews – and bringing electricity and lighting and sound up to code and modern standards. We’re doing this so the church we have received from past generations can be passed on to future generations.”

He noted this is just a few weeks before the parish celebrates 130 years in the current building, which was dedicated on Christmas Eve, 1893.

Renovations and repairs are aimed to begin in early May 2024 and conclude by September 2024 in order to cause as little disruption to the life of the parish as possible, Father Stephens said.

A plan for the renovation project, published on the parish website, said the campaign has two primary goals: to restore the church building to its original soundness and preserve it for the future, and enrich the worship experience.

The needed structural renovations include replacing the tin ceiling in the sanctuary and nave, repairing the original tin ceiling below the balcony and narthex, replacing the original hardwood floors including the subflooring, improving the weather-tightness of the exterior, and painting and repairing the bell tower.

The historic pews, a gift from St. Katharine Drexel in 1910, will be restored.

Improvements will be made to the sound system and acoustics in the church and the overflow area in Biss Hall.

Lighting will be retrofitted, and work will be done on the interior and the entry way to improve access for all while also maintaining safety.

While the renovations are going on, every effort will be made not to disrupt worship and other parish activities, Father Stephens said.

“We’ll be offering Mass on the parish campus at Benedict Hall, which can hold about 200 people with an overflow area in the basement,” he said. “We also plan to add more Masses so everyone will be able to be served.”

St. Peter Church was originally formed in 1851, when Father J.J. O’Connell laid the cornerstone for the original building. Six Benedictine monks served at the church before the original building’s foundation was declared structurally unsound – the damage caused by a munitions explosion at the end of the Civil War, according to a published parish history.

In 1893, the cornerstone was laid for the Victorian Gothic-style building that currently stands at 507 South Tryon St.

PHOTOS BY GIULIANA POLINARI RILEY | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Under the weight of the wood: Annual ‘Cross-a-thon’ processes through Forest City FOREST CITY — Immaculate Conception Parish held its 11th annual “Cross-a-thon” and Eucharistic Procession Sept. 30.

Parishioners bore large wooden crosses on their shoulders as they walked and prayed on the two-mile route through Forest City. Pastor Father Herbert Burke and Deacon Andy Cilone, along with Father Aaron Huber of St. Mark Parish, led the procession, carrying the Blessed Sacrament through Main Street. The parish had the honor of hosting three seminarians from St. Joseph College Seminary – Gabriel Lugo, Jeremy Smith, and Elija Buerkle – who helped to lead the procession as servers. Parishioners took turns carrying the giant and extremely heavy lead cross.

During the procession, the Lay Carmelites led parishioners who were unable to walk the distance in the Carmelite Stations of the Cross in the church. The stations were written by the cloistered Carmelite Nuns in Ravenna, Italy. This year, attendees were also able to venerate a relic of the Holy Cross at special moments throughout the procession.

The event was dedicated for the conversion of souls and reparations with a devotion to the Holy Face, which included 24-hour adoration and a Reparations Novena. The Cross-a-thon is cosponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Third Order Carmelites. This year, the event raised funds for Father Paul Kersey’s mission in Honduras.

PHOTO PROVIDED

St. Peter’s is the oldest Catholic church in Charlotte. With a new capital campaign underway, the parish hopes to begin renovations in 2024 to protect and preserve the historic building for future generations.

Attendance at the church dwindled as the Catholic population in Charlotte shifted to the suburbs in the 1960s, and St. Peter ceased to exist as a full parish in 1970. It became a full parish again in 1986 after then-Bishop John Donoghue asked Jesuit

priests from Maryland to staff the parish.

The church was renovated and rededicated in 1989, then repaired again in the early 2000s after the church’s famed Ben Long frescoes were damaged.

October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Two honored in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem CHARLOTTE — Two members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem received promotions in rank and were recognized during Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral Oct. 8. Sir Julian Hobson and Lady Gwenneth Hobson were promoted to the ranks of Knight Commander with Star and Dame Commander with Star, respectively. They are pictured with Bishop Peter Jugis and fellow members of the order after Mass.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem was founded nearly a thousand years ago by the pope, during the Crusades when Jerusalem came under attack. Today, men and women of the order still defend and support the

Catholic presence in the Holy Land through their charitable work. Today, the order has approximately 30,000 members in 40 nations worldwide. Members are required to travel regularly on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and the global amount of aid they send to support the work of the Latin Patriarchate and the other Catholic institutions in the Holy Land is more than $10 million annually. Knights and ladies wear capes featuring a thick red “Jerusalem cross” that has four miniature crosses in each corner of the main cross. Each of the five crosses represents the five wounds of Christ.

Learn more about their work at www.midatlanticeohs.com.

If you were married during 1973 or 1998, you and your family are invited to attend the annual Diocesan Anniversary Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Charlotte on Sunday, October 22nd, 2023.

Mass begins at 3:00 p.m. and will be followed by a reception.

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To attend, please register for FREE at: https://charlottediocese.org/office-of-family-life/ or email FamilyLife@rcdoc.org.

Sponsored by the Office of Family Life of the Diocese of Charlotte

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Universal Church unites for World Mission Sunday CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte can show their support for the Church’s worldwide missionary movement on World Mission Sunday, which falls on the weekend of Oct. 21-22 this year.

The special second collection will support the Pontifical Mission Societies, aiding their mission efforts and evangelization around the world, especially in areas where people struggle with poverty and violence.

Funds go to provide food, education and medical care and to build up the Church in Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands and parts of Latin America and Europe.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement about how giving on Mission Sunday helps unite the faithful around the world as they contribute to support the spread of the Gospel.

“In a world where so much divides us, World Mission Sunday rejoices in our unity as missionaries of our Baptism, as it offers each one of us an opportunity to support the life-giving presence of the Church among the poor and marginalized in more than 1,111 mission dioceses,” the statement read. “Together, through our prayers and financial support, we bring the Lord’s mercy and concrete help to the most vulnerable communities in the Pope’s missions.”

Father Patrick Cahill is mission office director for the Diocese of Charlotte as

well as pastor of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville. The office oversees diocesan support for mission projects around the world, including orphanages in India and cathedrals in Buea, Cameroon.

“We continue to reach out to those in

need in the missions,” Father Cahill said. “I am so grateful for the continued generosity of our diocese to the mission church.”

In January, Pope Francis chose the theme “Hearts on fire, feet on the move” (Luke 24:13-35) for this year’s World

Mission Sunday. The theme is based on Luke’s story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus after Christ’s crucifixion, when they encountered the risen Christ in the form of a fellow wayfarer but initially did not recognize him. The pope stated that Catholics today should use Mission Sunday as a chance to renew their zeal for evangelization.

“The urgency of the Church’s missionary activity naturally calls for an ever-closer missionary cooperation on the part of all her members and at every level,” he said.

“Let us set out to make other hearts burn with the word of God, to open the eyes of others to Jesus in the Eucharist, and to invite everyone to walk together on the path of peace and salvation that God, in Christ, has bestowed upon all humanity.”

Pope Francis said increasingly difficult conditions around the world today make World Mission Sunday all the more important.

“Today more than ever, our human family, wounded by so many situations of injustice, so many divisions and wars, is in need of the Good News of peace and salvation in Christ,” he said. “All of us can contribute to this missionary movement: with our prayers and activities, with material offerings and the offering of our sufferings, and with our personal witness.”

More online At www.onefamilyinmission.org: Learn more about World Mission Sunday and the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies

Oblate priest who once served in Triad passes away WILMINGTON, Del. — Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Father Joseph E. Tustin, who previously served in parishes in Asheboro and Kernersville, passed away earlier this year.

He died March 8, 2023, in his 64th year of religious life as a professed member of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered March 13, 2023, at Our Lady of Light Chapel in Childs, Md. Interment followed at the Oblate Cemetery.

He was born in Philadelphia in 1939, the son of Joseph Frank Tustin and Harriet Gutowski Tustin. After graduating from Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia in 1957, he entered the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and professed first vows on Aug. 21, 1959. He made perpetual profession on Sept. 30, 1962, and was ordained a priest on Oct. 21, 1967. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Master of Theology from De Tustin Sales School of Theology in Washington, D.C. Over the years, he served on the faculty of Father Judge High School and Northeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia, Pa., on the staff of Villa Maria Retreat House in Wernersville, Pa., and as pastor of St. Richard Parish in Mannheim, Pa. In North Carolina, he served at St. Joseph Parish in Asheboro, Holy Cross Parish in Kernersville, and St. Mary Parish in Goldsboro.

Upon retirement, Father Tustin ministered at Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Philadelphia.

He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his sisters, Mary Hypes and Patricia (Billy) Jacobs as well as his brothers, George Tustin and Michael Tustin. He is survived by many nieces and nephews.

In memory of his life and legacy, donations may be made to the Oblate Development Fund, P.O. Box 87, Childs, MD 21916-0087.

— Catholic News Herald

PHOTOS BY CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS AND AMY BURGER | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Blue Mass honors first responders HUNTERSVILLE — On Sept. 28, first responders from across the Diocese of Charlotte were honored in a special Blue Mass at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. The Blue Mass liturgy dates back to 1934 and provides spiritual support for those on the front lines of public safety. The name comes from the traditional uniform color of police officers and firefighters. The Mass was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary, and planned to coincide with the vigil of the feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, the Archangels. Monsignor Patrick Winslow, vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, celebrated the Mass. In his homily, Monsignor Winslow said he liked to think of the name “Blue Mass” as a sign of the “maternal protection and mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

He shared perspectives on how the story of St. Michael, the patron of police officers, relates to the work of first responders. “We are asking God’s protection for these responders and offering a debt of thanks for them,” he said. “St. Michael is acknowledged as a warrior saint who battles evil, so it’s not difficult to see why he is the patron of police and why we celebrate this Mass tonight.”

St. Mark parishioner Rob Cannon, a retired battalion chief from the Charlotte Fire Department and currently a captain with the Davidson Fire Department, was grateful for the recognition. “I am so thankful of the fact they offer a Mass for us responders,” Cannon said. “It feels so good to be honored by the community in this way.”

October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

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Standing up for life

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aithful across the Diocese of Charlotte gathered Sunday, Oct. 1, to kick off Respect Life Month and form Life Chains as a public witness for the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death.

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos of Life Chains from around the diocese

PHOTOS PROVIDED

(Above) Father Darren Balkey joined St. Matthew and Charlotte-area parishioners for the Life Chain on Oct. 1. (Center) St. Luke parishioners prayed and gave public witness to the faith to kick off Respect Life Month.

(Above top) Students from Charlotte Catholic High School and parishioners from Sacred Heart in Salisbury gathered to form Life Chains.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

PHOTOS PROVIDED

(Above) Youth from Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro prayed for mothers and their children off Battleground Avenue. (Bottom right) Hundreds of Catholics lined the sidewalks in Hickory as they prayed and affirmed the sanctity of life.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 10A CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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Annual ‘Blessing of Animals’ honors St. Francis of Assisi

wners of the furry, hooved, feathery and fluffy brought their beloved animals to receive a special blessing at churches across the Diocese of Charlotte last week. The annual Blessing of the Animals honored the Oct. 4 feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and ecology.

PHOTOS BY AMY BURGER AND PROVIDED

(Above left) Father Jose Camilo blesses animals at Holy Trinity Church in Taylorsville on horseback. (Above middle) St. John Neumann Parish in Charlotte gathers for pet blessings. (Above right) St. Mark Church preschoolers brought their stuffed animals to school Oct. 4 for a special blessing from Deacon Rich McCarron to celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.

(Below) Father Darren Balkey blessed a pet rabbit at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte. (Right) At St. Peter Church in Charlotte, Deacon Jim Bozik read from the Gospel and sprinkled holy water on pets and their owners.

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL AND PROVIDED

Faithful from Sacred Heart in Salisbury (far left), St. Leo the Great in Winston-Salem (middle left), and St. Eugene in Asheville (direct left) brought their beloved animals for blessings in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

At www.catholicnewsherald.com: See more photos of pet blessings from around the diocese

Our schools

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Our Lady of the Assumption School celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

St. Matthew students host annual Market Day

CHARLOTTE — Father Peter Pham led students in a bilingual Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption School Sept. 29 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Father Pham was assisted by Deacon Eduardo Bernal. Students and parishioners were encouraged to show their Hispanic heritage and spirit by wearing traditional clothing of their culture.

CHARLOTTE — The fourth-grade class at St. Matthew School received a lesson in commerce at their annual Market Day. Students created a product or a service to sell to their classmates and staff. They learned what it is like to be a producer by having to budget items in the creative process. The students also had a chance to become consumers when it was their turn to buy from their peers. In the end, they got a hands-on understanding of supply-and-demand based on inventory and their returns.

Your Life’s Journey… how will you be remembered?

Establish a legacy that responds to the many gifts God has given you.

For more information on how to leave a legacy gift to your parish, Catholic school, Catholic agency, the Diocese of Charlotte or the diocese foundation, please contact Gina Rhodes, Director Foundation of the of Planned Giving at 704-370-3364 / Diocese of Charlotte gmrhodes@rcdoc.org .

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12A iiiOctober 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com

BUILDING NEW LIVES: Catholic Charit

CONSTRUYENDO NUEVAS VIDAS: Caridades Católicas r

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CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@charlottediocese.org

fter a five-year slowdown, Catholic Charities has seen a sharp increase in the number of refugees coming into the Diocese of Charlotte to build new lives after escaping conflicts around the world.

The agency resettled 290 refugees in fiscal year 2023, which ended Sept. 30, as families fled violence and persecution in countries including Congo, Myanmar and Syria. That’s dramatically more than Catholic Charities has welcomed in the diocese since fiscal year 2017, when the agency resettled 306 refugees.

Program leaders expect to receive at least 375 refugees this fiscal year and say the higher numbers reflect a “new normal” for its Refugee Resettlement program. The figures do not include special U.S. evacuation efforts such as those from Afghanistan in 2021 and Ukraine in 2022 – which brought an additional 333 evacuees into the diocese.

Nant Si and her family are among those who now call Charlotte home, thanks to Catholic Charities and generous parishioners across the diocese who help fund the Refugee Resettlement program.

“I love Charlotte because we now have freedom,” said Si, who arrived with her husband and two young daughters in December 2022. “We don’t have to deal with violence, with police asking us for bribes…and every week on Sundays we are free to go to church to worship God.” Si and her husband separately fled violence in Myanmar years ago, after a new government began persecuting the country’s Christian minority. They met and married in refugee housing in Malaysia, where they waited years for a chance to get to the U.S. Now, they’re working, living and raising their 3- and 9-year-old girls in an east Charlotte apartment decorated with family photos and a wedding portrait taken at their Malaysian ceremony.

“It’s rewarding to know you’re helping people start a new life,” said Catholic Charities caseworker Conor McSweeney. “We’re also building communities within Charlotte where the refugees can find support and help from others from their home countries.”

GROWING REFUGEE NUMBERS

The number of refugees seeking new homes and lives in the Charlotte diocese has varied widely, depending on the approach of the U.S. government, which each year sets a total number of refugees the country will accept. That number can be compounded by special evacuations at moments of international crisis – as it was after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Russian war on Ukraine.

Catholic Charities offices around the country work in partnership with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the U.S. State Department to resettle refugees fleeing war, political upheaval, or religious, economic or ethnic persecution.

“Situations around the world change and affect the number of people we assist each year,” said Laura Townsend Jones, Catholic Charities’ assistant regional director for refugee services. “Sadly, the number of displaced people around the world has reached 100 million, and only one half of one percent of them eventually get a

chance to be resettled in another country.”

The highest number of refugee arrivals in the past decade came in FY 2015-16, when Catholic Charities welcomed 440 people into the diocese. But that number declined sharply beginning in 2017 – hitting historic lows between 2019 and 2021 – due to changes in federal immigration policies and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of refugees rebounded in the most recent fiscal year and based on estimates from federal officials, Jones expects a “new normal” of hundreds of refugees – unless federal policy changes again. Resettling families in a new land is complicated by language and cultural barriers, refugees’ lack of resources and, in communities like Charlotte, a severe shortage of affordable housing.

In addition to resettlement services, Catholic Charities continues to provide assistance in a variety of ways for another 300 to 400 refugees for up to five years, including continued case management, employment assistance and youth services.

EASING THE TRANSITION

People who make it to the U.S. for resettlement go through a lengthy application process and often wait for years in crowded refugee camps in other countries.

Catholic Charities is notified of impending newcomers about two weeks before they arrive. Finding affordable rental housing is the biggest challenge, Jones said, particularly in Charlotte and Asheville, where Catholic Charities has a second regional office and offers a full slate of resettlement services.. Language barriers and refugee families’ lack of a credit rating add to the struggle.

“We’ve built strong relationships with landlords around the area to try to find apartments, but in many cases we’re having to look further outside Charlotte to find them,” she said.

Many of the newest arrivals to the area, including Si and her family, are settled in apartment complexes in “ring communities” outside of Charlotte, Jones said.

Refugees often arrive with few possessions, so the new housing is furnished by a group called Homemakers of Mercy that works with Catholic Charities. Volunteers from several parishes around the Charlotte area – including St. Gabriel and St. Matthew – collect donations of new or gently used furniture and other items, then set up the apartments in advance so families will have a ready home.

Catholic Charities also offers employment services and youth programs for refugee families, as well as help enrolling in English classes and teaching families about life in North Carolina, including such skills as how to ride

HE COVER

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.comiii 13A

ties resettles more refugees fleeing conflict

reasienta a más refugiados que huyen de los conflictos conocieron y se casaron en viviendas para refugiados en Malasia, donde esperaron años para tener la oportunidad de llegar a Estados Unidos. Ahora, trabajan, viven y crían a sus hijas de 3 y 9 años en un apartamento al este de Charlotte.

“Es gratificante saber que estás ayudando a las personas a comenzar una nueva vida”, dijo Conor McSweeney, trabajador social de Caridades Católicas.

“También estamos construyendo comunidades en Charlotte donde los refugiados pueden encontrar apoyo y ayuda de otras personas de sus propios países de origen”.

CRECE EL NÚMERO DE REFUGIADOS

“Las situaciones en todo el mundo cambian y afectan el número de personas a las que asistimos anualmente”, dijo Laura Townsend Jones, directora regional adjunta de servicios para refugiados de Caridades Católicas.

“Lamentablemente, el número de personas desplazadas en todo el mundo ha alcanzado los 100 millones, y solo la mitad del uno por ciento de ellas finalmente tiene la oportunidad de ser reasentada en otro país”.

El mayor número de refugiados en la última década se produjo en el año fiscal 2015-16, cuando Caridades Católicas dio la bienvenida a 440 personas a la diócesis.

Ese número disminuyó drásticamente a partir de 2017, alcanzando mínimos históricos entre 2019 y 2021.

El número repuntó en el año fiscal más reciente y Jones espera una “nueva normalidad” de cientos de refugiados, a menos que la política federal cambie nuevamente.

Caridades Católicas planea atender a 375 personas en Charlotte hasta el próximo septiembre.

Además de los servicios de reasentamiento, Caridades Católicas continúa ayudando de diversas maneras a entre 300 y 400 refugiados adicionales en la gestión continua de casos, asistencia laboral y servicios para jóvenes, durante un plazo de cinco años.

FACILITANDO LA TRANSICIÓN

PHOTOS BY TROY HULL AND PROVIDED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES

(Above) Two girls spend time at a local roller rink during Catholic Charities’ “Refugee Summer Camp.”

(Left) Nant Si and her husband and two young daughters are among those who now call Charlotte home, thanks to Catholic Charities and generous parishioners across the diocese who help fund the program.

public transportation.

The goal is for new families to find work within 30 to 60 days of their arrival, and a swift transition to selfsufficiency. Si’s husband, Chung Thang, landed a job at a local Chinese restaurant and eventually was able to get a car after several months of struggling to find rides to work.

Si and her husband said they are grateful for the work of Catholic Charities, which has provided stability and hope. Si is working online toward her GED and dreams of going to college to study accounting. Her oldest daughter, Miracle, likes her elementary school classes and has made friends with children from other countries who live in their apartment complex.

“I am so thankful for the things we are able to do now, and I’m hoping God will give me a chance to go on with school,” she said. “I am so happy that Catholic Charities was able to help us come to Charlotte.”

Want to help?

At www.ccdoc.org: Go online to donate, volunteer or learn more about Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte’s resettlement program, or call 704-370-3251.

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CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS clknauss@charlottediocese.org

espués de dar un paso adelante para ayudar a Estados Unidos con evacuaciones extraordinarias de Afganistán y Ucrania durante el año fiscal 2022, Caridades Católicas vio llegar un flujo de refugiados como una “nueva normalidad” a la Diócesis de Charlotte durante el año fiscal que acaba de terminar el 30 de septiembre.

La agencia asentó a 290 refugiados a través de su programa regular de reasentamiento en el año fiscal 2022-23, atendiendo familias que huían de la violencia, pobreza y persecución en países como Siria, Birmania y el Congo. Una cifra mucho mayor que los 78 refugiados que Caridades Católicas reasentó el año anterior; pero ese año también trajo 333 evacuados especiales de Afganistán y Ucrania, haciendo un total casi récord de 411 personas.

El aumento en el número de refugiados regulares no pasa desapercibido para la agencia. Es una tendencia que Caridades Católicas espera que continúe este año, ya que Estados Unidos está dando la bienvenida a un número cada vez mayor de refugiados en todo el país.

Nant Si, su esposo y sus dos hijas pequeñas se encuentran entre los que hoy llaman hogar a Charlotte, gracias a Caridades Católicas y a los generosos feligreses que ayudan a financiar el programa.

Si y su esposo huyeron por separado de la violencia en Birmania hace años, después de que un nuevo gobierno comenzara a perseguir a la minoría cristiana del país. Se

Encontrar vivienda asequible es el mayor desafío, dijo Jones, particularmente en Charlotte y Asheville, donde Caridades Católicas tiene una segunda oficina regional.

Los refugiados a menudo llegan con pocas pertenencias, por lo que las nuevas viviendas son amobladas por el grupo ‘Amas de Casa de la Misericordia’ que trabaja con Caridades Católicas.

Voluntarios de varias parroquias del área de Charlotte recolectan donaciones de muebles nuevos o usados en buen estado y otros artículos, y luego preparan los apartamentos para que las familias tengan un hogar listo.

Caridades Católicas también ofrece servicios PHOTO PROVIDED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES de empleo y programas A young boy enjoys swimming at the juveniles para familias “Refugee Summer Camp,” an annual de refugiados, así como event organized by Catholic Charities. ayuda para inscribirse en clases de inglés y temas prácticos sobre la vida en Carolina del Norte.

Si y su esposo dijeron que están agradecidos por la ayuda de Caridades Católicas que les ha brindado estabilidad y esperanza. “Amo a Charlotte porque ahora tenemos libertad”, dijo Si. “No tenemos que lidiar con la violencia, con la policía pidiéndonos sobornos... y todos los domingos somos libres de ir a la iglesia a adorar a Dios”.

¿Quiero ayudar?

En www.ccdoc.org: Conéctese en línea para donar, ser voluntario u obtener más información sobre el programa de reasentamiento de la Diócesis de Charlotte de Caridades Católicas, o llame al 704370-3251.

FACEBOOK.COM/ CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD ESPAÑOL

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 14A CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Diácono Darío García

La convivencia cristiana en la familia

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ucho y con bastante frecuencia se habla de la convivencia en los diferentes estratos de la sociedad.

En donde quiera que haya un grupo de personas que interactúan o tienen oficios o quehaceres en común: grupos, asociaciones, fundaciones organizaciones, etc., uno en especial es la familia, el grupo familiar.

En el ejercicio de la convivencia, en el mejor y más profundo sentido y práctica de la misma, la familia es de las instituciones más necesitadas, pues es ella la célula indispensable para la formación del tejido social, ya que sin familias no habría pueblo, barrio, ranchería, comarca, vereda, aldea, ciudad, iglesia.

Cierto que normalmente se piensa que donde hay familia hay convivencia. ¿Será esto cierto hoy día después de tantos atentados en busca de la división, rompimiento y destrucción de la institución familiar? ¿Verdad que no?

Ya es común ver que la convivencia familiar está muy rota, hay muchos distractores que la provocan, en especial difundidos por los medios postmodernos de comunicación y de alta tecnología. Muchos de estos distractores actúan como anestésicos, los cuales hacen que no se sientan los vacíos, incongruencias, olvidos, discusiones innecesarias, enfrentamientos, indiferencias, etc., que se quedan sin solución y siguen afectando la convivencia de la que estamos hablando.

Por ejemplo, nos entretienen con programas desprovistos de verdaderos valores humanos y llenos de cosas sin sentido, fantasías y elementos fútiles que nos sacan de la situación real en que vivimos. Una vez que pasan, nos vemos inmersos en la rutina dañina frente a la hermandad, afectividad, alegría, relaciones paternales y filiales, una rutina que acelera el rompimiento de los lazos familiares.

Visto esto bajo la lupa cristiana, a la luz de la fe, es una situación que tiene que ser recuperada, reactualizada, fortalecida con una visión y práctica de la convivencia cristiana fundamentada en el respeto por la dignidad humana, el respeto por el otro, el deseo de estar y convivir con los otros en un ambiente de paz y alegría. Un ambiente en donde reine el amor y el perdón, valores fortalecidos por la oración y la frecuencia sacramental.

Hay un dicho muy latino que dice: “familia que reza unida, permanece unida”. El rezar, orar en familia, fortalece los lazos familiares y abre los espacios a la solidaridad y a la convivencia. Ayuda a deponer los bajos instintos, la pereza, el odio, la indiferencia, y fomenta el acercamiento y el deseo de vivir juntos, llenando espacios vacíos y recortando distancias.

Esto no se difunde fácilmente en los medios sociales de comunicación hoy. Esto no da buenos rendimientos económicos, como si los dan la farándula, los eventos masivos del desorden y los programas de relleno.

Tenemos que animarnos a recuperar la convivencia familiar con un fuerte acento cristiano. No es difícil ni imposible, el Señor nos da los medios y los encontramos en la Iglesia. Necesitamos recuperar la verdadera convivencia familiar para que desde dentro genere valores humanos y cristianos y vaya restaurando el tejido social.

Que la santísima Virgen María, Madre de Dios, interceda para que volvamos al hogar de Nazareth, modelo del hogar cristiano.

DARÍO GARCÍA es diácono y coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Hickory.

FOTO PARROQUIA SAN MIGUEL

Más de un centenar de líderes parroquiales, entre ellos los de la Pastoral Juvenil, recibieron la capacitación que brindó SEPI. “Motivamos a los jóvenes para enviarlos a los diferentes encuentros y cursos que el SEPI organiza. De lo que se trata es de formar líderes para la evangelización”, dijo el Padre Juya.

Taller de liderazgo en Gastonia CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

GASTONIA — El Instituto Pastoral del Sureste (SEPI, por sus siglas en inglés), ofreció un taller de Liderazgo Hispano en la parroquia San Miguel en Gastonia por tres días, al que acudieron más de un centenar de fieles que ocupan posiciones de liderazgo y son miembros de los diversos ministerios en todo el Vicariato de Gastonia.

Así lo hizo saber el Padre José Juya, vicario de la parroquia San Miguel y coordinador del Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Gastonia, que incluye a las parroquias San Miguel, María Auxiliadora en Shelby, Santa Dorotea en Lincolnton y Reina de los Apóstoles en Belmont.

“Teníamos que hacer eso porque después de la pandemia las cosas no quedaron como nosotros queríamos. Pero ya, ahora con la llegada de las directoras de la Pastoral Juvenil, Pastoral Familiar y la exposición de una religiosa sobre la vida espiritual, en una cita ‘de lujo’, nos hemos quedado renovados y decididos a emprender nuestras actividades con un revitalizado espíritu”, dijo el Padre Juya.

Gabriela Escalante, coordinadora del Ministerio Juvenil y Social Media; Rosa María Valdez, de la Pastoral Familiar; y la hermana Lizeth Manrique, Coordinadora del Proyecto Oración y Adoración por los Niños, fueron las expositoras en esta jornada de entrenamiento laico.

SEPI, dijo el Padre Juya, ofrece un amplio y valioso espectro de capacitación para los laicos. “A través de sus cursos nos dan el conocimiento y despiertan el entusiasmo en cómo trabajar con los niños, con los jóvenes, con las familias, cómo animar el liderazgo, cómo organizarse, cómo levantar la autoestima, y mucho más”.

“He quedado muy satisfecho con la respuesta de nuestra gente. En mi área se trabaja mucho sobre el sentido de comunidad. Y algo muy importante que

nos gusta resaltar es el acompañamiento. Queremos que los ministerios no estén cada uno por su lado, sino que trabajen en colaboración, integrados y bajo un sentido de pertenencia. Pertenencia, comunidad y corresponsabilidad deben estar unidos para lograr una comunidad fuerte”.

El Padre Juya explicó que incentivando la unidad de los diversos programas en las parroquias y dando la bienvenida al desarrollo de nuevos ministerios, esperan lograr una mayor unidad que les permita emprender mayores retos de evangelización. Relató, por ejemplo, que vista una mayor demanda de catequistas, debido a que a la fecha llevan más de 300 niños registrados en formación en la fe en español, el ministerio de catequistas ha recibido una importante ayuda de los miembros del ministerio Emaús, uno de los que cuenta con un gran número de participantes.

“Motivamos a que los jóvenes para enviarlos a los diversos encuentros y cursos que el SEPI organiza, al igual que a los miembros de la Pastoral Familiar.

De lo que se trata es de formar líderes para la evangelización”, puntualizó.

Aprovechando la jornada de capacitación, los líderes de SEPI entregaron los certificados de participación a los graduados de la Escuela de Laicos. “Fueron 45 los graduados de esta escuela. Un número también importante que refleja el interés de nuestra diócesis en la capacitación y trabajo de los voluntarios”, dijo el P. Juya.

Las sesiones se realizaron en el Gimnasio de la Escuela San Miguel y las expositoras se alojaron en el campus parroquial.

El P. Juya anunció la realización una recargada agenda de retiros para toda la vicaría en el último trimestre del año. “Tenemos planificados retiros de adviento, de navidad, de jóvenes adultos. Además estamos reforzando la catequesis, reorganizando la Pastoral Juvenil, la Pastoral Familiar y la parte Litúrgica”.

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI

15

Aprendieron sobre Teología del Cuerpo CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Para brindar la capacitación de alrededor de 120 líderes parroquiales, el psicólogo y profesor del Instituto Pastoral del Sureste (SEPI), Gustavo Mejía, dictó una jornada de conferencias sobre la Teología del Cuerpo en la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Charlotte.

Según afirma Christopher West, en su obra ‘Theology of the Body’, publicada en 2004, la teología del cuerpo es el título que el Papa Juan Pablo II le dió a las 129 catequesis sobre el amor, la sexualidad humana y el matrimonio que impartió entre septiembre de 1979 y noviembre de1984.

El Padre Enrique Gonzáles Gaytán, párroco de San Francisco de Asís en Lenoir y celebrante de la Misa con la asistencia del Diácono Miguel Sebastián, recibió la imagen de San Miguel Arcángel en la puerta de entrada a la Iglesia San Carlos Borromeo.

VISIÓN INTEGRAL

FOTOS CÉSAR HURTADO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“San Miguel nos ha unido y hemos visto su bendición” Devoción guatemalteca se instala en Iglesia San Carlos Borromeo CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

MORGANTON — Cumpliendo un anhelo de más de diez años, la comunidad guatemalteca de la parroquia San Carlos Borromeo en Morganton realizó la primera procesión, Misa y festejo a San Miguel Arcángel el viernes 29 de septiembre, fecha en que la Iglesia Universal celebra a los arcángeles Gabriel, Miguel y Rafael.

Francisco Menchú, quien en 2013 junto a un grupo de parroquianos tuvo la iniciativa de movilizar a la comunidad para conseguir una imagen de San Miguel Arcángel e iniciar la devoción en Morganton, dijo que después de superar muchos obstáculos el 26 de mayo pasado recibieron la noticia que la imagen, donada por una familia, ya se encontraba en la ciudad. “El 2 de junio la imagen, tras recibir la aceptación de nuestro párroco, el Padre Ken Whittington, fue bendecida por el Diácono Miguel Sebastián. Finalmente, el 1 de septiembre se presentó a toda la comunidad y el Padre Ken le asignó un espacio en la iglesia, a la par de la Virgen de Fátima”.

“San Miguel nos ha unido y hemos visto su bendición. San Miguel ganó la batalla en el cielo. Es un persona importante de Dios, de nuestra Iglesia católica y de nuestros pueblos”, añadió.

Max Monroy, coordinador de la directiva de San Miguel Arcángel, explicó que San Miguel es patrón de muchos pueblos en Guatemala. “Nosotros somos de Totonicapán (capital del departamento del mismo nombre, a unas 120 millas al noroeste de Ciudad de Guatemala), donde comenzamos la fiesta el 16 de septiembre y terminamos el día 30. Tenemos novenas, festivales, Misas y la procesión”, explicó.

En esas fechas, dijo, tradicionalmente se ofrece caldo de res, estofado y pepián, uno de los más antiguos platos en Guatemala, fusión del aporte de las culturas maya y española.

También se bebe pinol, una bebida dulce y espesa en base a maíz y con alto valor energético.

PROCESIÓN

Alrededor de las seis de la tarde, un grupo mixto de cargadores tomó la tarea de levantar las andas que llevaban la flamante imagen de San Miguel. Más de un centenar de personas acompañó con cánticos el recorrido procesional que se movilizó por varias cuadras alrededor de la parroquia.

Un grupo de servidores del altar con una cruz e incensario abrieron paso a la comitiva que era seguida por varios niños y niñas, que ataviados con atuendos tradicionales portaban canastas con flores.

Detrás de la imagen iluminada, un coro acompañado con una guitarra entonaba cánticos dedicados al santo.

Antes de ingresar al templo, la imagen y la multitud fue bendecida por el Padre José Enrique González Gaytán, quien se encontraba acompañado del Diácono Miguel Sebastián.

ÁNGELES Y ÁRCÁNGELES

Al ingresar a la iglesia, el celebrante, Padre González Gaytán, colocó la imagen de San Miguel en un lugar especial a la derecha del altar.

Luego, después de la lectura del Evangelio, a cargo del Diácono Sebastián, durante su homilía explicó la jerarquía celestial de los serafines, ángeles y arcángeles, señalando el papel determinante de los arcángeles Gabriel, Rafael y Miguel y pidiendo la protección de los mismos para todos los presentes.

Al término de la Misa, la comisión de los festejos ofreció un compartir en uno de los salones de la Iglesia.

Francisco Menchú dijo que “este es solo el inicio del trabajo de la comisión San Miguel”, y que para más adelante, con el compromiso de toda la congregación, esperan concretar proyectos de apoyo y trabajo en favor de toda la comunidad.

Más online En www.facebook/CNH Español: Vea un video y más imágenes de la celebración.

En un artículo publicado por el portal católico Aciprensa en 2022, Diego López Marina, periodista de ese medio electrónico, entrevistó a María Fernanda Quinteros, fundadora de Vocación al Amor, ministerio que difunde la Teología del Cuerpo en Argentina y Latinoamérica, quien señaló que “algunos piensan que es un mensaje solo para los jóvenes sobre temas de sexualidad, una ayuda para vivir la castidad en el noviazgo. Pero es mucho más: es una visión integral y atractiva del varón y la mujer, y su vocación esencial”.

La Teología del Cuerpo, amplió, “responde a dos preguntas fundamentales: quién soy, y cómo estoy llamado a amar. Es para toda persona, en cualquier etapa de la vida”.

En una entrevista que realizamos a Gustavo Mejía durante una su visita a nuestra diócesis en 2020, el orador costarricense explicó que el principio básico para esta teología es el estudio antropológico. “Él (San Juan Pablo II) hace del hombre un tríptico, es decir lo divide en tres para entenderlo: el principio, que es cuando Dios lo crea; la historia del pecado a la redención; y finalmente el hombre en la comunión de los santos. También habla del matrimonio, la vocación y la dignidad humana”.

TODOS APRENDIERON

Respecto a la capacitación ofrecida para los líderes de la parroquia Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, realizada del pasado viernes 15 al domingo 17 de septiembre, Vicente Capistrano, líder juvenil y coordinador de comunicaciones de esa parroquia, dijo que a la jornada de tres días, llevada a cabo en la parroquia y en Belmont Abbey, asistieron jóvenes del grupo Fruto de Fe, así como hombres y mujeres del ministerio Emaús y catequistas.

“Fue una mezcla perfecta de gente soltera y familia. Los solteros aprendieron como Dios puede ser incluido en sus relaciones. Aquellos que tienen familia aprendieron cómo pueden mejorar su matrimonio y construir relaciones más sólidas con sus hijos. Y todos aprendimos que si la familia es el célula de la sociedad, entonces el padre y la madre son el núcleo. Nos vamos con una mejor comprensión de cuál es el papel de un hombre y una mujer, y que la unión entre el hombre y la mujer es el acto visible del amor de Dios”, comentó.

El propósito específico de recibir estas charlas, explicó, es iniciar las conversaciones en nuestra comunidad de lo que se debe hacer para ser mejores hijos de Dios y cómo poner en práctica su amor. “No tengo ninguna duda de que cada persona que asistió aprendió algo”, sentenció.

Adicionalmente a esta jornada, el expositor ofreció una charla sobre la Teología del Cuerpo, destinada exclusivamente para jóvenes, el sábado 30 de septiembre, de 9 de la mañana a cinco de la tarde, en la parroquia Santiago el Mayor en Concord.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 16 CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD 16A

Noticias de nuestras parroquias Fiesta patronal con Misa y compartir

TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Mes de la Herencia Hispana CHARLOTTE — El 28 de septiembre, la escuela católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción celebró el Mes de la Herencia Hispana con una Misa celebrada en inglés y español por el Padre Pham y el Diácono Eduardo Bernal. La hermosa exhibición de estudiantes vestidos con ropa tradicional añadió un toque especial al servicio. El Diácono Bernal habló a los estudiantes sobre ser “hijos de Dios” y compartir siempre la palabra de Dios dentro de su comunidad. El P. Pham recordó a los estudiantes que sean “buenos y orantes” mayordomos de Dios.

THOMASVILLE — La parroquia Nuestra Señora de los Caminos conmemoró su fiesta patronal el pasado 24 de septiembre con Misa y compartir en el que se presentaron danzas folclóricas y ofrecieron a los asistentes los más deliciosos platillos de la gastronomía latina. El crecimiento de la comunidad es notorio y uno de los indicadores es la matrícula de más de 300 estudiantes en formación en la fe este año. El Padre Gabriel Carvajal-Salazar, párroco, es también director espiritual diocesano del ministerio de los Apóstoles de la Palabra.

FOTO CORTESÍA PARROQUIA NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LOS CAMINOS

Picnic deportivo multicultural GREENSBORO — La parroquia Santa María realizó un increíble picnic el pasado domingo 24 de septiembre, tras concluir la celebración de la Santa Misa multilingüe. Todos disfrutaron de la belleza de las diferentes culturas que se congregan en la parroquia y de los deliciosos y coloridos platillos que se ofrecieron. Los tres sacerdotes de la comunidad, el Padre Joseph Nguyen, celebrante; el Padre Erick Sánchez y el Párroco John Timlin, concelebrantes; acompañados del Diácono Enedino Aquino, recordaron a la feligresía lo importante de estar unidos en hermandad y amor. Ese día también se realizó la final del campeonato de voleibol que ha congregado a muchas familias para disfrutar del deporte y otras actividades al aire libre.

TROY HULL | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Primeros Auxilios en Salud Mental FOTOS CORTESÍA EVELYN BERMÚDEZ

CHARLOTTE — El Centro Pastoral de la Diócesis de Charlotte acogió una nueva sesión de capacitación de Fe y Salud Coalición Latina, una red de organizaciones religiosas de Charlotte que velan por la salud de la comunidad, y a la que pertenece el Ministerio Hispano del Vicariato de Charlotte. Varias voluntarias de la Pastoral de Salud aprovecharon la ocasión para recibir entrenamiento en primeros auxilios en salud mental. Según la organización Access Community Health Network, uno de cada cinco adultos en Estados Unidos padece de una enfermedad mental a lo largo de su vida.

Casi 10 millones de estadounidenses, es decir uno de cada 25, viven con un trastorno mental grave que incluye ansiedad, depresión y trastorno bipolar.

October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 17A

San Lucas Evangelista Cada 18 de octubre la Iglesia celebra a San Lucas Evangelista, autor del tercero de los evangelios y de los Hechos de los apóstoles.

Gracias al relato de Lucas sobre la vida de Jesús, plasmado en su evangelio, los cristianos podemos conocer mejor a la Virgen María, la Madre de Dios.

San Lucas registró muchos más pasajes de la vida de María que cualquiera de los otros evangelistas. Esto puede deberse a su cercanía con el Apóstol San Juan, el discípulo amado, quien se hizo cargo de la Madre de Dios por encargo del mismo Jesús, mientras agonizaba en la cruz.

MÉDICO DE CUERPOS Y ALMAS

La fecha de nacimiento de San Lucas es incierta, pero se cree que nació en Antioquía. Su nombre significa “portador de luz” y se convirtió a la fe en Jesucristo alrededor del año 40. No conoció personalmente al Señor, pero sí a San Pablo, de quien fue discípulo y compañero de viajes. En los Hechos de los apóstoles, al narrar los grandes viajes de Pablo, habla en plural diciendo “fuimos a... navegamos a...” Y va narrando con todo detalle los sucesos tan impresionantes que le sucedieron a San Pablo en sus 4 famosos viajes. Lucas acompañó a San Pablo cuando éste estuvo prisionero, primero dos años en Cesarea y después otros dos en Roma.

Fue un hombre instruido y de amplia cultura, a diferencia de la mayoría de los apóstoles. Se dice que fue médico, aunque también sabía de letras, su lengua materna fue el griego, y de algunas artes como la pintura.

Como era médico era muy comprensivo.

San Lucas veía a las personas tal cual son, mitad debilidad y mitad buena voluntad, y las amaba y las comprendía.

PORTADOR DE LA BUENA NUEVA

Es el único autor del Nuevo Testamento que no tuvo origen judío y cuyos escritos estuvieron pensados para llevar la Buena Nueva a los pueblos gentiles. De hecho, Lucas escribió en griego “koiné”, es decir, la lengua más extendida de la antigüedad junto al latín.

De todos los cuatro, su evangelio es el más fácil de leer. Son 1,200 renglones escritos en excelente estilo literario. Lo han llamado “el evangelio de los pobres”, porque allí aparece Jesús prefiriendo siempre a los pequeños, a los enfermos, a

los pobres y a los pecadores arrepentidos.

Es un Jesús que corre al encuentro de aquellos para quienes la vida es más dura y angustiosa.

También se ha llamado “el evangelio de la oración”, porque presenta a Jesús orando en todos los grandes momentos de su vida e insistiendo continuamente en la necesidad de orar siempre y de no cansarse de orar.

Otro nombre que le han dado a su escrito es el “evangelio de los pecadores”, porque presenta siempre a Jesús infinitamente comprensivo con los que han sido víctimas de las pasiones humanas. San Lucas quiere insistir en que el amor de Dios no tiene límites ni rechaza a quien desea arrepentirse y cambiar de vida. Por eso los pecadores leen con tanto agrado y consuelo el evangelio de San Lucas. Es que fue escrito pensando en ellos.

Su evangelio es el que narra los hechos de la infancia de Jesús, y en él se han inspirado los más famosos pintores para representar en imágenes tan amables escenas.

FINAL INCIERTO

De acuerdo a la tradición, Lucas habría predicado en Macedonia, Acaya, Galacia y Beocia.

Sobre su destino final, ocurrido con posterioridad a la muerte de Pedro y Pablo, no se dispone de certeza suficiente.

Dicen que murió soltero, a la edad de 84 años. Se debate si murió martirizado o si, de acuerdo al “Prefatio vel argumentum Lucae” (Prefacio o argumento de Lucas), murió siendo anciano. ​Existe una tradición antigua según la cual Lucas habría sido martirizado junto a Andrés, el apóstol, en la tierra de Patras, provincia romana de Acaya. De acuerdo a esta misma tradición, Lucas habría muerto colgado de un árbol.

FOTO DOMINIO PÚBLICO

‘San Lucas dibujando a la Virgen’, óleo de Rogier van der Weyden (1399/1400–1464), pintado probablemente en 1440. Se encuentra en exhibición en el Museo de Bellas Artes en Boston, Massachusetts.

Oración a San Lucas por la Salud ¡Oh Dios, que sanas las enfermedades de tu pueblo, y que llamaste a Lucas, el médico amado, para que fuese uno, de tus evangelistas!

Concédenos que en la saludable, doctrina de tu Palabra transmitida por él, hallen nuestras almas la medicina eficaz para todas tus dolencias;.

Por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.

— Condensado de ACI Prensa

Lecturas Diarias OCTUBRE 15-21 Domingo: Isaías 25:6-10, Filipenses 4:12-14, 19-20, Mateo 22:1-14; Lunes (Santa Margarita María): Romanos 1:1-7, Lucas 11:29-32; Martes (San Ignacio):Romanos 1:1625, Lucas 11:37-41; Miércoles (San Lucas Evangelista): 2 Timoteo 4:9-17, Lucas 10:1-9; Jueves (Santos Juan de Brébeuf e Isaac Jogues): Romanos 3:21-30, Lucas 11:4754; Viernes (San Pablo de la Cruz): Romanos 4:1-8, Lucas 12:1-7; Sábado: Romanos 4:13, 16-18, Lucas 12:8-12

OCTUBRE 22-28 Domingo (San Juan Pablo II): Isaías 45:1, 4-6, 1 Tesalonicenses 1:1-5, Mateo 22:15-21; Lunes (San Juan de Capistrano): Romanos 4:19-25, Lucas 12:13-21; Martes (San Antonio María Claret): Romanos 5:12, 15, 17-19, 20-21, Lucas 12:3538; Miércoles: Romanos 6:12-18, Lucas 12:39-48; Jueves: Romanos 6:19-23, Lucas 12:49-53; Viernes: Romanos 7:18-25, Lucas 10:13-16; Sábado (Fiesta de los Santos Simón y Judas, Apóstoles): Efesios 2:19-22, Lucas 6:12-19

OCTUBRE 29 -NOVIEMBRE 4 Domingo: Éxodo 22:20-26, 1 Tesalonicenses 1:5-10, Mateo 22:34-40; Lunes: Romanos 8:12-17, Lucas 13:10-17; Martes: Romanos 8:18-25, Lucas 13:18-21; Miércoles (Solemnidad de Todos los Santos): Apocalipsis 7:2-4, 9-14, 1 Juan 3:1-3, Mateo 5:112; Jueves (Todos los fieles difuntos): Sabiduría 3:1-9, Romanos 5:5-11, Juan 6:3740; Viernes (San Martin de Porras): Romanos 9:1-5, Lucas 14:1-6; Sábado (San Carlos Borromeo): Romanos 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29, Lucas 14:1, 7-11

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 18A CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Biden administration to expand U.S.-Mexico border wall, a move long opposed by U.S. bishops KURT JENSEN OSV News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government is moving ahead with plans to extend a border wall in South Texas, an action long opposed by the U.S. Catholic bishops.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security publicized a decision Oct. 5 to waive 26 federal laws, most of them involving environmental reviews, to allow the building of 20 more miles of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, President Joe Biden has said he does not believe border walls work to prevent migrants from entering the United States illegally, and he has been consistently opposed to their construction, ordering a construction pause on his first day in his post in 2021.

Speaking with reporters Oct. 5, Biden said he had no choice but to allow the building to move forward. “The money was appropriated for the border wall,” he said.

“I can’t stop that.”

The funds were appropriated in 2019 under the Trump administration. Biden was unsuccessful in getting lawmakers to redirect them, and the funding requires the money to be used for the wall, with construction to be completed this year.

The DHS announcement said the construction will be in Starr County, Texas, which the Border Patrol says is part of a sector in the Rio Grande Valley with “high illegal entry.” Government data for the current budget year recorded 245,000 illegal entries in the sector, which includes more than 20 Texas counties.

“There is presently an acute and immediate need to construct physical barriers and roads in the vicinity of the border of the United States in order to prevent unlawful entries into the United States in the project areas,” Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security, stated in the DHS notice.

In a separate statement Oct. 5, Mayorkas clarified that “there is no new Administration policy with respect to

OSV NEWS PHOTO | JOSE LUIS GONZALEZ, REUTERS

Migrants, mostly from Venezuela, are seen from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, as they gather near the U.S. border wall Sept. 24 after crossing the Rio Grande with the intention of turning themselves in to U.S. Border Patrol agents to request asylum. border walls” and the suggestion that the Biden administration has changed its policy is inaccurate. “From day one, this Administration has made clear that a border wall is not the answer. That remains our position and our position has never wavered. The language in the Federal Register notice is being taken out of context and it does not signify any change in policy whatsoever,” he said.

In February 2019, two leading U.S. bishops said they opposed President Donald Trump’s plan to redirect federal funds previously appropriated elsewhere to build a border wall.

“We are deeply concerned about the President’s action to fund the construction of a wall along the U.S./Mexico border, which circumvents the clear intent of Congress to limit funding of a wall. We

oppose the use of these funds to further the construction of the wall,” said Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of GalvestonHouston, who was then president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bishop Joe S. Vásquez of Austin, Texas, then-chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, in a joint statement. “The wall first and foremost is a symbol of division and animosity between two friendly countries. We remain steadfast and resolute in the vision articulated by Pope Francis that at this time we need to be building bridges and not walls.”

Other bishops joined their voices to that position, with a dozen signing a statement soon after to oppose a southern border wall. They called it “an ineffective use of resources” which would “destroy parts of the environment, disrupt the livelihoods

“Get your ducks in a row!”

Please pray for the following priests who died during the month of October.

Rev. Alcuin Baudermann, OSB – 1975 Rev. Paschal Baumstein, OSB - 2007 Rev. Patrick J. Donahue, OSB – 1994 Rev. Joseph A. Elzi – 2019 Rev. Raymond B. Hourihan – 2016 Rev. John A. Oetgen, OSB – 2009 Rev. Msgr. William Wellein – 1997 Rev. Lawrence Willis, OSB - 2003

of ranchers and farmers, weaken cooperation and commerce between border communities, and, at least in one instance, undermine the right to the freedom of worship.”

“The truth is,” the statement continued, “that the majority of persons coming to the U.S.-Mexico border are asylum-seekers, many of whom are women and children from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador who are fleeing persecution and violence in their home countries. Along their journey to safety, they encounter many dangers. A wall would not keep them safe from those dangers. Rather, a wall would further subject them to harm by drug cartels, smugglers and human traffickers.”

They pointed to the effects of a border wall constructed in the 1990s in the San Diego area, which they said resulted in smugglers driving migrants to cross the border in remote areas such as the Arizona desert.

The decision to continue wall construction comes as Republicans in the House and Senate are seeking to defund nongovernmental organizations that provide services to migrants along the border.

Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, Texas, in a letter to Congress in May, said the bill would “fundamentally weaken our nation’s decades-long commitment to humanitarian protection.”

In a similar letter sent Sept. 28 to U.S. senators about the bill, Bishop Seitz reiterated that position, noting in both letters, “We have long opposed the construction of a wall spanning the entire U.S.-Mexico border, especially with the dangers it poses to human life and the environment.”

Bishop Seitz is chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration.

Catholic assistance to migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border includes the Kino Border Initiative’s shelter and legal assistance in Nogales, Mexico, and the Hope Border Institute, which operates in Juarez, Mexico, in collaboration with the Diocese of El Paso to provide food and clothing.

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October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 19A

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In Brief U.S. bishops pray for peace following Hamas’ attack on Israel WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Catholic bishops, including Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, called for prayers for peace in the Holy Land following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel and decried “continued tensions and violence that erupted into warfare between Gaza and Israel.” “The world is once again shocked and horrified by the outbreak of ferocious violence in the Holy Land. Reports have surfaced indicating large numbers of wounded and dead, including many civilians,” Bishop Malloy said Oct. 8. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, also called for prayers for peace and said, “It is my hope and prayer that the international community will work together to help ensure a peaceful and just resolution for the good of all.” According to the World Jewish Congress, the United States is home to at least 5.7 million Jews, and its Jewish population is second only to Israel, which has more than 6.3 million Jews. With about 1.9 million Jews, New York City is home to the largest Jewish population in the U.S. New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan issued an Oct. 8 statement from Rome, where he is a delegate to the Synod on Synodality. “To the urgent appeals of Pope Francis this Sunday; to the pleas of my brother bishops back home in the United States; to the concerns and condolences of those

brothers and sisters gathered here in Rome for the synod of bishops, I sure add my own.”

Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he joined his prayers for the situation.

Pope’s encyclical a ‘timely call’ to ‘choose life or death,’ say Catholic ecological advocates

Dallas cathedral designated as The National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pope Francis’ latest plea to urgently address global warming and climate change is being hailed by Catholic ecological advocates as “a great call to action.” On Oct. 4, the pope released his apostolic exhortation “Laudate Deum” (“Praise God”), warning that the clock is ticking on the dangers of climate change, and both a paradigm shift and practical strategies are critically needed to avert looming disasters in nature and human society. “Laudate Deum” relies on “stark language” to convey the grave impact of global warming on weather and climate, said Dan Misleh, founder of the Catholic Climate Covenant, a Washington-based nonprofit that works with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on ecological awareness and advocacy. “My thoughts are that Pope Francis is heartbroken,” Misleh said. “He wrote ‘Laudato Si’’ eight years ago. And here we are in 2023 and he’s saying, ‘We just need to do more. We have no more excuses for inaction.’”

The new exhortation is “timely,” said Tomás Insua, co-founder of the nonprofit Laudato Si’ Movement, which works through close to 900 member organizations in 115 countries to foster a Catholic approach to the care of the environment. Insua, who is based in Rome, said that the pope’s message underscores how “it’s a deeply Christian thing to be concerned for God’s beloved creation (and) deeply rooted in this very biblical love of creation.” Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton, N.J., said in an Oct. 4 online reflection that he prayed “the Holy Father’s vigilant attention to the threats to our ‘common home,’ which fundamentally includes every human life, falls upon fertile ground, converting our hearts and inspiring us all to do whatever we can to make a positive difference.”

DALLAS — Bishop Edward J. Burns of Dallas announced Oct. 3 that the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in downtown Dallas has been granted the significant designation of a national shrine by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. A special Mass is planned Dec. 12 to celebrate the national shrine status of the cathedral, which will now be known as The National Shrine Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s a designation Cathedral Rector Father Jesús Belmontes called befitting of the cathedral’s impact on Catholics within the diocese, around the nation, and throughout Central and Latin America. The cornerstone for the cathedral was laid June 17, 1898. On Oct. 26, 1902, Bishop Edward J. Dunne, second bishop of Dallas, formally dedicated the cathedral.

Constructed out of red brick and limestone, and featuring many stained-glass windows, the cathedral was designed by architect Nicholas J. Clayton, who is regarded by many as the greatest Victorian architect Texas has ever known. For many Catholics, and especially those from these regions, the Dec. 12 feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe holds profound significance as it commemorates the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary to St. Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531, symbolizing her maternal love and care for all humanity. Tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Dallas every year on Dec. 11 and 12.

Indigenous Catholics should ‘have a seat at the table’ WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two bishops recently said they are working to ensure Indigenous Catholics have “a seat at the table” in the Church. Archbishop Paul G. Martin of Wellington, New Zealand, and Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of Minnesota brought together groups from Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada “to really talk about the experience of being Indigenous people in (those) countries, (and) what issues they are facing,” said Archbishop Martin. Among those issues are marginalization, poverty, and trauma from colonialization. “We have a great desire to work toward healing and reconciliation,” said Bishop Zielinski.

— OSV News

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Hamas attack a catastrophe of ‘biblical dimensions,’ says Israeli ambassador JUNNO AROCHO ESTEVES OSV News

ROME — The shock of the surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel, in which hundreds were killed, wounded or kidnapped, has left a traumatic mark on Israeli citizens, said the country’s ambassador to the Vatican.

“I would say this is a catastrophe that I would describe in biblical dimensions,” Ambassador Raphael Schutz, Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, told OSV News Oct. 9.

“Total families were murdered – grandparents, parents and children, in villages, in kibbutzim, in the towns around Gaza. There is a feeling of a national trauma,” Schutz said.

The number of men, women and children who have died, he added, is on “a scale that we have not known, I would say, since the beginning of the establishment of Israel.”

The attack began in the early hours of the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas militants launched an attack in southern Israel, killing civilians in cars and homes, and taking hostages to Gaza.

Several videos seen by OSV News showed militants gunning down an entire family in their home, while another video showed militants stepping on the body of a civilian shot in his car.

The attack prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare war against Hamas. According to Palestine’s official news agency WAFA, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held an emergency leadership meeting after the attack in which he emphasized “the right of the Palestinian people to defend themselves against the terrorism of settlers and the occupation forces.”

Due to the coordination of the attack,

OSV NEWS | MOHAMMED SALEM, REUTERS

Palestinians inspect damages in the aftermath of Israeli strikes, following a Hamas surprise attack at Beach refugee camp, in Gaza City, Oct. 9. The Hamas-Israel war has entered a new phase, with more than 1,200 dead.

several media outlets speculated that Hamas militants may have received intelligence from Iran. Although Iran publicly expressed its support for Palestine, the country’s foreign ministry denied Oct. 9 allegations of its involvement.

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While acknowledging the attack represented “a huge intelligence failure”

by Israel, Schutz said that at the moment it was “premature to ask about how exactly it happened.”

“These are questions that should be asked at a later stage because right now I believe that in Israel, of course, we have to fight in order to regain control of our territory and punish Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in a way that they will regret the crimes that they commit,” he said.

The surprise attack also drew widespread condemnation from the international community, with many world leaders calling for restraint and an end to further escalation of violence.

During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis led pilgrims in praying for the victims of the attack and “for all who are living hours of terror and anguish.”

“Let it be understood that terrorism and war do not lead to any resolutions, but only to the death and suffering of so many innocent people. War is a defeat! Every war is a defeat! Let us pray that there be peace in Israel and in Palestine,” he said.

Schutz told OSV News he had several “private conversations” with Vatican officials, in which they expressed their prayers “for peace and for the well-being of the people in Israel.”

However, the ambassador’s office criticized an Oct. 7 statement by the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem which said that the violence and suffering in the Holy Land was “due to the prolonged political conflict and the lamentable absence of justice and respect for human rights.”

“We unequivocally condemn any acts that target civilians, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or faith,” the Patriarchs’ statement read.

In a statement released Oct. 9, the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See objected to the “immorality of using linguistic ambiguity” and said many of those who spoke on the attack “didn’t find it difficult to understand it and condemned the hideous crime, naming its perpetrators and acknowledging Israel’s basic right to defend itself against the atrocity.”

Nevertheless, the embassy said, the Patriarch’s statement “suffers from the same aforementioned immoral linguistic ambiguity.”

“From reading it, there is no way to understand what happened, who were the aggressors and who the victims. It is especially unbelievable that such a sterile document was signed by people of faith,” the statement read.

Regarding the statement, Schutz explained that it was important for religious leaders, as well as the Holy See, “to be more explicit in manifesting this solidarity and the acknowledgement of our right for self-defense.”

“The Church usually uses a certain language which is unique and which I understand. But the question is, in light of the magnitude of such an atrocity, if this language is sufficient. This is a question that I would like to leave open,” he said.

The attack follows a year of increasing violence from both settlers and the Israel Defense Forces after the election of Israel’s far-right nationalist government.

In an Oct. 8 interview with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria that has gone viral since, Mustafa Barghouti, a former information minister for the Palestine government, which is in control of parts of the West Bank, and leader of Palestinian National Initiative, argued that the current flare up is a “direct result of the continuation of the longest occupation in modern history.”

“Israeli occupation of Palestinian land since 1967, this is 56 years of occupation that has transformed into a system of apartheid. A much worse apartheid than what prevailed in South Africa,” he said.

“And what you see today is a reaction to several things (including primarily) settlers’ terrorist attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank that has (sic) evicted already 20 communities in an act of ethnic cleansing. Two-hundred-forty-eight Palestinians were killed by the Israeli army and settlers in the West Bank, including 40 children,” Barghouti said.

OSV News reached out to the Palestinian ambassador to the Holy See for comment Oct. 9 but did not hear back.

The Israeli ambassador said that extremist groups in other parts of the world, such as Pakistan and Nigeria, have carried out attacks targeting innocent Muslims, yet link their actions “to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

“Acts of terror in Pakistan, Nigeria or other places are rightly perceived as the hideous crimes they are. Only when such atrocities target Israelis some try to explain, understand or even justify them with the false pretext of the conflict,” he said.

This, he warned, has led some to justify Hamas’ attack against Israel.

“People who are trying to find rational explanations anchored in a territorial conflict to such war crimes are wrong.

This has nothing to do with the borders of Israel; it has to do with the existence of Israel,” Schutz said.

October 13, 2013 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 21A

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In Brief

religious life, including approving the statutes of religious congregations, when the vast majority of them are communities of women. Sister Brambilla, a 58-year-old Italian, has been an external member of the dicastery since 2019.

Cardinal addresses ‘exaggerated expectations’ over synod

Jerusalem church leaders call for peace following deadly Hamas attack JERUSALEM — Patriarchs and heads of the churches in Jerusalem united in a call for peace and justice amid unfolding violence, following a surprise attack by Hamas in southern Israel.

The attack left more than 700 Israelis dead, among them civilians and dozens of soldiers and police who were killed battling the Hamas fighters. More than 2,000 people were injured.

Fears of a ground invasion of Gaza are growing after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to turn the besieged Palestinian enclave into a “deserted island,” while the latest reported death toll of Palestinians is 511.

Thousands of people in Palestinian territories were injured in Israeli airstrikes, which began hours after the Hamas attack and leveled buildings. As custodians of the Christian faith, the patriarchs and heads of the churches said Oct. 7 that they “stand in solidarity with the people of this region, who are enduring the devastating consequences of continued strife.”

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed “condemnation” and great concern in an Oct. 7 interview with the Italian Catholic daily newspaper Avvenire.

“We need to stop the violence and then apply diplomatic pressure to prevent the game of retaliation from becoming a vicious cycle from which it is difficult to escape. So (we must) try to bring back a minimum of reasonableness between the parties. Even if it seems difficult right now,” he said.

Pope Francis names first woman secretary of dicastery for religious VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has appointed a woman for the first time to be the No. 2 official of the Roman Curia office that works with religious orders and their members.

Consolata Missionary Sister Simona Brambilla will be secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, the Vatican announced Oct. 7. According to Vatican statistics published in February, there are nearly 609,000 professed religious women in the world. There are just under 50,000 religious brothers and just over 128,000 religious-order priests. For decades women religious and many bishops decried the lack of women in top leadership roles at the dicastery, which is called to promote

VATICAN CITY — The synod on synodality is not geared to “resolve particular problems” in the Catholic Church, such as the blessing of same-sex unions or women’s ordination, but to explore ways for the church to discuss and address such issues, a cardinal said. “There are a lot of people who believe that this synod will bring solutions to all problems,” Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa, Congo, said during a news conference at the Vatican Oct. 7. “But the synod will define the new way of ‘doing’ church, the new way of approaching problems, what the problem is but also how in the spirit of synodality we will approach that problem.” Asked about the acceptance of blessings for same-sex unions in the church, Cardinal Ambongo said, “We are here for a synod on synodality.” He said “synodality does not mean expressing personal opinions, but walking together,” adding that “on the LGBT question, the Lord himself will show us the way through collective discernment.” The cardinal said he was confident the synod will “bear good fruits” for the whole of the Church and said he was struck by the joy, trust, enthusiasm and hope present among the synod participants.

FAITH

— OSV News

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Nicaraguan priests kidnapped from parishes amid continued persecution MEXICO CITY — A Nicaraguan priest has been reported kidnapped from his parish residence as the country’s increasingly totalitarian regime continues cracking down on the Catholic Church and silencing all dissenting voices. Father Álvaro Toledo was taken by police at 10:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 5, according to a Facebook post from Radio Stereo Fe, which belongs to the Diocese of Estelí. Father Toledo was identified on social media as pastor of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Ocotal. His abduction marked the latest in a wave of kidnappings carried out against priests in the Estelí Diocese, located in the country’s northwest, where imprisoned bishop Rolando Álvarez is apostolic administrator. Three other priests have been reported abducted from their parishes in less than a week. Father Ivan Centeno, pastor of Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish in Jalapa, and Father Julio Norori, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish in San Juan del Río Coco, were abducted Oct. 1 by plain-clothed individuals. Nicaragua media later reported Father Cristóbal Gadea, pastor of the Our Lady of Mercy in the Diocese of Jinotega, was also abducted on the night of Oct. 1.

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 22A CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Deacon Bill Melton Jr.

Sister Hosea Rupprecht

All it took was a smile

I

heard a story that happened at a funeral home in this part of the country some years back. It seems they had a janitor who was a bit skittish about being around dead people. So skittish, in fact, that as he swept up the place, he’d cautiously approach any occupied casket, sweeping gingerly while keeping his eye on the dead person the whole time.

On this particular occasion, an undertaker the janitor didn’t know had dropped by from another funeral home. The janitor’s undertaker buddies decided to seize this opportunity to pull a prank on him, so they talked the visiting undertaker into getting into an empty casket in one of the empty rooms.

It wasn’t long before the janitor came along with his broom and saw the casket with the undertaker laid out playing possum. Ever so cautiously, he began to ease his way up to the casket, sweeping with both eyes fixed on that undertaker.

And just as he got up to the casket, that undertaker smiled from ear to ear. I’m told the janitor took the screened door out of its frame as he left the building!

‘YOUNG MAN, ARISE!’

In chapter 7 of the Gospel of Luke, we find Jesus arriving at the gates of the city of Nain, a small village about six miles southeast of Nazareth. He was coming from Capernaum, some 25 miles away, where he’d just healed the centurion’s servant with only a verbal command.

As he approached, he saw a funeral

procession with a large crowd of people coming out of the town. They were taking the body of a young man, the only son of his widowed mother, to be buried.

In that day and age, a widow with no one to care for her was in a desperate situation. Not only had she lost a son, but her very survival was in question. When Jesus saw the woman, he was moved with pity. He approached her and told her not to weep. He stepped forward and touched the coffin, which was open, and the pall bearers immediately stopped. Then Jesus said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. The people were terrified!

I’m sure they were. The mere thought of a dead person in a casket smiling or rising up and saying a few words is terrifying enough, much less if we saw such a thing happen. Or thought we saw it happen, like that poor janitor in the funeral home.

In the gospel, the people who saw it were terrified at first, but then they immediately glorified God and exclaimed that a great prophet had arisen in their midst and that God had visited His people. They made the connection from the Old Testament, where Elijah raised the son of the widow of Zarephath and Elisha raised the son of the Shunammite woman. These great prophets healed by MELTON, SEE PAGE 24A

Protecting God’s Children We proclaim Christ to the world around us by our efforts to provide a safe environment for all people, especially the young and the vulnerable.

The Catholic Church is absolutely committed to the safety of children. Together we can make a Promise to Protect and a Pledge to Heal.

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Safe Environment training Every Church worker must go through abuse prevention and education training. Find more information about the Diocese of Charlotte’s Safe Environment program, sign up for Protecting God’s Children training and more: Go to www.charlottediocese.org and click on “Safe Environment” For more information or questions, please contact the diocese’s Human Resources Office: www.charlottediocese.org/human-resources or 704-370-6299.

See as God sees by embracing a sacramental worldview

H

ow do you see the world? What is your core worldview? When you look at the world, is it exclusively a place of trouble, toil and tragedy, or is it a place of beauty, bounty and blessing?

Recently, I spent some time with family and found myself making it a mission to turn around all the complaints I heard (and there were plenty). If the weather was lousy, I would remark on how much the area needed rain, especially with all the wildfires. If traffic was bad, I expressed gratitude to God for a car, something not everyone has. If the barista who made the coffee just right wasn’t at the coffee shop (all the rest were less than competent), I would mention that such a good worker deserves a day off.

I’ve tried my best to develop not just a positive outlook, but a sacramental worldview: to see the world, people and situations through God’s eyes.

In its simplest form, a sacramental worldview means participation in the life of Christ – to be in Christ. In baptism, we enter into the very life of God. Being in Christ, we work to develop the ability to see the world through his eyes. The world, then, can become a sign that points us toward our ultimate goal, which is eternity with God. It’s not easy to see through God’s eyes.

It’s much easier to complain than to look for God’s presence and action in the negative aspects of life.

the eyes of eternity. It’s putting on “Godcolored glasses.” Everything can have a spiritual meaning if we only train our eyes to see it, to seek out manifestations of God all around us, including in the media we experience. Since God is Love, that means trying to see with love, even against our instincts.

The third element is that the sacramental worldview is centered around participation. One aspect of participation involves our response to God’s action. Being able to see God’s action in people and situations more clearly draws us out of ourselves to greater faith, which then, hopefully, leads to greater participation in the life of Christ, including the life of the Church.

When it comes to popular culture, engaging with movies, TV, video games and social media with a sacramental worldview means being attentive to their symbols and the meaning that can be gleaned from them. Symbols are powerful things. Take the “Golden Arches,” for example. The McDonald’s logo is a symbol recognized the world over as quick and easy, on-the-go food.

Depending on your situation, it could also symbolize tough times or health problems.

Symbols can also evoke strong feelings in people contingent upon their experience or beliefs. Just think of a swastika or a rainbow flag.

HOW TO SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY

The latest “Guardians of the Galaxy (Volume 3)” movie was rife with symbolism. Respect for all of creation, human and animal, gets conveyed through a “Noah’s Ark” moment in the film. There’s even a sequence that evokes Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” from the Sistine Chapel. No spoilers here, but this symbolic imagery represented a new creation for a character.

I don’t have the audacity to claim that I always see the world through sacramental eyes. I fall into negativity on occasion just like everyone else, and I tend to see the devil’s work more clearly than God’s.

With practice, though, each day I try my best to recognize the symbols the world offers and have them point me to God rather than away.

I do the hard work of developing the sacramental worldview that helps me to see all things and people – and, yes, even popular culture and entertainment media – through my God-colored glasses.

Developing a sacramental worldview takes practice and the willingness to see things differently.

In his book “Mysterion,” Father Harrison Ayre describes three elements of a sacramental worldview.

The first is that God always works through creation. We don’t experience God directly. Even Elijah covered his face when he encountered God in that still, small voice up on the mountain (1 Kgs 19: 11-13). A sacramental worldview means that we begin seeing every situation and every person as the potential means through which God wants to share the divine life with us.

Like the seven sacraments, which use physical things like water, oil, bread, and wine to make something spiritual present and tangible to us, so too can God use anything this world has to make his invisible presence known. Even the Eucharist, which is as close as we’ll get to God on earth, works through creation in the form of bread, wine, and the consecrating words of the priest.

The second element of the sacramental worldview is having a spiritual vision of the world and seeing everything through

POPULAR MOVIE FULL OF SYMBOLISM

SISTER HOSEA RUPPRECHT, a Daughter of St. Paul, is the associate director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies.

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From online story: “Mary shows Christians they are all brothers, sisters, pope says”

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catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 24A CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

MELTON

HAITI

FROM PAGE 22A

FROM PAGE 4A

praying to God, but Jesus was much, much greater. He healed people, performed miracles, and raised the dead, including Himself, by His own command! Because He is the Son of God.

Caribbean nation continues to suffer greatly two years after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse and devastating earthquakes.

The U.S. State Department has strongly advised Americans not to travel there, and the U.S. embassy warns of violent crime against U.S. citizens. Recent reports of the U.N.-backed deployment of a Kenyan police force accused of human rights abuses to Haiti have fanned the flames.

The government has stopped functioning, making it dangerous for anyone providing aid to operate in Haiti. The power grid is also down. In fact, the power, including generators, did not work for the entirety of Deacon Bitter’s trip.

Yet he has not been fazed. Haiti has a hold on his heart.

“The Haitian people are phenomenal.

Their joy is just incredible, despite the poverty and acute hunger. They’re grateful, they’re thankful, and I’m not talking about just the people that we’re taking care of,” he says. “My heart wells up when I think about it. All they have anymore is hope, and we try to amplify that through love and prayers and support and just being visible.”

The late Mark Creasser, a St. Matthew parishioner and founder of Hands for Haiti, encouraged Deacon Bitter to get involved all those years ago.

“When someone asks you to do something like this, you have questions like, ‘What am I going to do when I get there, how can I help, what’s my job?’” he says. “But then it just transitioned to becoming part of who I am, part of my fabric, my DNA.” It certainly flows from his identity as a deacon.

‘GOD HAS VISITED HIS PEOPLE’

In keeping with Old Testament commandments directed at caring for widows, Jesus shows compassion for a widow and at the same time demonstrates the keeping of his own command to be merciful. All of which indeed shows that “God has visited his people,” just as He did in the days of Moses and as was prophesied in chapter 1 of Luke’s gospel in the Canticle of Zechariah, where Zechariah says, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who has come to His people and set them free.”

In His love for us, God has truly visited His people by sending us His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.

By His compassion, He leads us to salvation through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead at his own command! May we follow Him in our own lives, always remembering to show the same compassion to others that he has shown us.

Lift high the cross!

DEACON WILLIAM S. “BILL” MELTON JR. serves at St. Michael Parish in Gastonia. He can be reached at wsmelton@stmccg.org or 704-862-8982.

the World Hunger Drive at St. Matthew and then you see the recipient of that goodness, it’s incredible because it’s happening between people who will never meet,” Deacon Bitter says, adding that he considers himself blessed.

“Fortunately for myself and some others who do go to Haiti, you can see both ends of that effort and the long-term result. When you start to look at it over the arc of time and you start thinking about education and sustainability in addition to the food nutrition, it’s mind boggling.”

BLESSINGS ABOUND PHOTO PROVIDED

Deacon Daren Bitter of St. Matthew Parish mops the floor of the Asile Communal in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, during his September 2023 visit.

“As ministers of Charity, deacons are leaders in identifying the needs of others, then marshaling the Church’s resources to meet those needs,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states. “Deacons are also dedicated to eliminating the injustices or inequities that cause such needs.”

Deacon Bitter is doing his part.

Between the World Hunger Drive and the hundreds of thousands of dollars the 37,000-member parish has raised for educational and sustainability projects in Haiti, it’s a massive undertaking.

Some of the projects include a chicken coop, tilapia pond, sewing trade school and an agricultural training center. St. Marc School employs 65 Haitians as faculty and staff, including the school’s administrator, Father Leon Sejour of the Archdiocese of Cap-Haïtien.

“When you experience all the love, prayers, joy, energy and hopefulness around

Deacon Bitter – as well as St. Matthew parishioners Steven Favory, executive director of Hands for Haiti, and Ernest Dwight, chairman of the board for the organization – had many more pleasant surprises during their trip.

St. Marc School, which started years ago as four sticks with a tarp over it and a dozen or so students, recently doubled again in size to include additional permanent classrooms and a trade school. The K-12 school’s enrollment is about 380 students, and it recently graduated its first collegebound student.

Hundreds of community partners and local officials, including the chancellor and vicar general of the Cap-Haïtien archdiocese and the brothers from the Missionaries of the Poor, joined the students and teachers for the Sept. 15 dedication of St. Marc’s new classrooms.

For Deacon Bitter and his Hands for Haiti friends, it’s not just another mission trip.

“It’s changed into something I truly, truly enjoy,” he says. “We go down there thinking that we’re going to solve all the problems and fix things and wear a cape and do all kinds of good stuff, and we did, but I come back, and I’m always so fed by that experience.”

ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL

Parents & Prospective Students to Attend Our Open House Come tour the first Catholic school in Charlotte where we pride ourselves in student achievement and community involvement.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17 FROM 9-11 AM ST. PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL 1125 BUCHANAN ST. CHARLOTTE, NC 28203 Join us at 9am for an informational meeting in the gym followed by guided tours given by our PTO and 5th grade Student Council.

Scan the above QR code to visit our website today!

Do You Have a Donor Advised Fund?

Your parish, Catholic school, Catholic ministry, the Diocese of Charlotte, or the diocesan foundation are qualified charities eligible to receive grants from Donor Advised Funds. Your DAF grant can be restricted for offertory, campaigns, programs, or the DSA. Foundation of the Diocese of Charlotte

For more information contact: Gina Rhodes, gmrhodes@rcdoc.org or (704) 370-3364.

SPECIAL EDITION

A man for the times Diocese marks Bishop Peter Jugis’ 20th anniversary

OCTOBER 13, 2023

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Index Bishop Jugis’ pastoral and episcopal priorities 4B

Devotion to the Eucharist 8B-10B

Latino community enriches diocese’s growth, faith 12B-13B

Timeline: 2003-2023 15B-18B

Bishop Jugis’ pilgrimages to the Vatican 25B

Looking back: Ordination Day 2003 28B-29B

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During the leadership of Bishop Peter Jugis, the Diocese of Charlotte has experienced significant growth in parishes, schools and ministries. The diocese now has an estimated 530,000 Catholics from Greensboro, to Charlotte, to Asheville and beyond – nearly half of whom are Hispanic. At the annual Eucharistic Congress, the diversity of the diocese’s population is on full display.

‘A steady, calm hand’ Amid booming growth, diocese marks Bishop Jugis’ 20th anniversary Growth in our diocese Since 2003: n The Catholic population has more than doubled

to 530,000. n 22 churches have been dedicated. n 6 parishes have been elevated from missions/centers. n Over 120,000 people have been received

into the Church. n The Diocesan Support Appeal – which funds

more than 50 ministries, charitable outreach, seminarian education, and evangelization efforts across the diocese – has grown from $3.6 million in 2003 to $6.6 million in 2022. n 50 priests and 65 permanent deacons have been

ordained. n The number of seminarians has risen from 17

to 51 this year – the most in the diocese’s history. n Enrollment at St. Joseph College Seminary has

risen from 8 men at its opening in 2016 to 21 men. n The number of Catholic Heritage Society members –

people who have created endowments or intend to leave a bequest to the diocese or their parish – has grown from about 500 to over 1,600. n Catholic schools enrollment has hit a record 8,100.

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis stepped up to lead the Diocese of Charlotte at a turbulent time.

It was 2003 – a year after revelations of abuse in the Church had broken nationally, and the local demands of unprecedented growth also weighed on the diocese.

The diocese, which covers 46 counties in the western half of North Carolina, was still considered “mission territory” then, with limited resources and a small Catholic population – but an influx of Hispanic and other Catholics had already begun.

Established in 1972, the diocese had been well-positioned by its three previous bishops, who set up an administrative structure, launched new ministries, and bought up land throughout the territory.

But growth in the 1990s intensified the need for new churches, more priests, and a steady hand to guide the diocese – someone who was calm in a storm, who could keep people focused on God and His promise of salvation.

Pope John Paul II chose a local priest, Father Peter Jugis, for the task.

The pope himself had ordained Peter Jugis to the priesthood 20 years earlier in Rome. He was aware of Father Jugis’ service at 10 parishes across the diocese and was

confident that, as a Charlotte native, he was the “man for the times and for the place,” as Archbishop John Donoghue said during Bishop Jugis’ episcopal ordination on Oct. 24, 2003.

“Your heart, your soul, your roots are here in the hills and plains of North Carolina,” the archbishop told him. Bishops, he said, “must be strong, for themselves and for the Church they live and die to foster.”

Today, as the diocese marks the 20th anniversary of Bishop Jugis’ leadership, parishioners, priests and others who have worked with and watched him say the pope and archbishop called it right.

“The entire governance we’ve had under Bishop Jugis has been a steady, calm hand,” says Father Matthew Kauth, who has served under the bishop for 20 years. “Everything Kauth has been measured, and you can always expect there to be a certain dignity about both the office and his style of leadership. He’s a calming presence.”

GROWTH AND DIVERSITY

Much has changed during Bishop Jugis’ tenure.

The number of Catholics in the diocese has more than doubled to an estimated 530,000 – nearly half of whom are Hispanic. Fifty priests and 65 deacons have been ordained to serve here, thanks to the bishop’s unwavering promotion of vocations. He has also elevated six missions or ministry centers to parishes, consecrated 22 churches and numerous parish halls, and overseen the expansion of the diocese’s school system to 20 schools and record enrollment.

The diocese is no longer considered mission territory.

Winslow “What we’re experiencing is growth – from parish to parish, vicariate to vicariate, and region to region,” says Monsignor Patrick Winslow, who has worked closely with the bishop since 2019 as vicar general and chancellor of the diocese. “We have a tremendous influx of different ethnic groups coming from all around the world.

“To be our bishop during this time, over these past 20 years, to shepherd a Church for this extraordinary moment, well, let’s just say it’s an exciting time and we are grateful ANNIVERSARY, SEE PAGE 20B

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(Left and above) Bishop Jugis has consecrated 22 churches during his episcopacy, most recently earlier this year, when he blessed a new St. Luke Church in Mint Hill to accommodate the growing Catholic population east of Charlotte. (Top) More than 70,000 people have received the sacrament of confirmation since he became bishop in 2003.

Mano firme y calmada En medio de un crecimiento en auge, la diócesis celebra el 20 Aniversario de ordenación del Obispo Jugis PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE plguilfoyle@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — El Obispo Peter Jugis asumió la dirección de la Diócesis de Charlotte en un momento turbulento.

Era 2003, un año después de que las revelaciones de abusos en la Iglesia se conocieran a nivel nacional, y las demandas locales de un crecimiento sin precedentes también recaían sobre la diócesis.

La diócesis, que cubre 46 condados de la mitad occidental de Carolina del Norte, todavía se consideraba “territorio de misión” en ese entonces, con recursos limitados y una pequeña población católica, pero ya había comenzado una afluencia de hispanos y otros católicos.

Establecida en 1972, la diócesis había sido bien posicionada por sus tres obispos anteriores, quienes establecieron una estructura administrativa, lanzaron nuevos ministerios y compraron terrenos en todo el territorio. Pero el crecimiento en la década de 1990 intensificó la necesidad de nuevas iglesias, más sacerdotes y una mano firme para guiar a la diócesis: alguien que permaneciera tranquilo en una tormenta, que pudiera mantener a la gente enfocada en Dios y en Su promesa de salvación.

El Papa Juan Pablo II eligió a un sacerdote local, el Padre Peter Jugis, para la tarea.

El mismo Papa había ordenado sacerdote a Pedro Jugis 20 años antes en Roma. Sabía del servicio del Padre Jugis en 10 parroquias de toda la diócesis y estaba seguro de que, como nativo de Charlotte, era el “hombre para el tiempo y lugar”, como dijo el Arzobispo John Donaghue durante la ordenación episcopal del Obispo Jugis el 24 de octubre de 2003.

“Tu corazón, tu alma, tus raíces están aquí, en las

colinas y llanuras de Carolina del Norte”, le dijo el arzobispo. Los obispos, dijo, “deben ser fuertes, por sí mismos y por la Iglesia por la que viven y mueren”.

“Todo el gobierno que hemos tenido bajo el Obispo Jugis ha sido de mano firme y tranquila”, dijo el Padre Matthew Kauth, quien ha servido bajo el obispo durante 20 años.

“Todo ha sido medido, y siempre se puede esperar que haya una certera dignidad tanto en el cargo como en su estilo de liderazgo. Es una presencia tranquilizadora”.

CRECIMIENTO Y DIVERSIDAD

Mucho ha cambiado durante el tiempo del Obispo Jugis.

El número de católicos en la diócesis se ha más que duplicado a un estimado de 530,000, casi la mitad de los cuales son hispanos. Cincuenta sacerdotes han sido ordenados para servir aquí, gracias a la inquebrantable promoción de las vocaciones por parte del obispo.

También ha elevado seis misiones o centros ministeriales a parroquias, consagrado 22 iglesias y numerosos salones parroquiales, y supervisado la expansión del sistema escolar de la diócesis a 20 escuelas con un récord de inscripciones.

“Lo que estamos experimentando es este crecimiento, de parroquia en parroquia, de vicariato en vicariato y de región en región”, dijo Monseñor Patrick Winslow, quien ha trabajado en estrecha colaboración con el obispo desde 2019 como vicario general y canciller de la diócesis.

“Tenemos una tremenda afluencia de diferentes grupos étnicos que vienen de todo el mundo.

“Ser nuestro obispo durante este tiempo, durante estos últimos 20 años, para guiar una Iglesia en este momento extraordinario, bueno, digamos que es un momento emocionante y estamos agradecidos por todo lo que el Obispo Jugis ha podido hacer para guiarnos a través de él”.

El crecimiento ha sido particularmente evidente en la última parroquia donde el Obispo Jugis sirvió antes de convertirse en obispo: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe. El entonces Padre Jugis ministró a 466 familias registradas. Veinte años después, la parroquia se ha disparado a más de 1.600 familias.

El actual párroco de la iglesia de Monroe, Padre Benjamin Roberts, conoce los desafíos relacionados con el crecimiento y cómo el Obispo Jugis ha abordado su ministerio. Lo compara con San Ignacio de Antioquía, un obispo de principios del siglo II que predicó constantemente la fe y la unidad a pesar de los desafíos de su época. El santo fue descrito de esta manera, dice: “Con su bondad y mansedumbre, manifiesta la misma mansedumbre de Dios.

Siempre he pensado en el Obispo Jugis de esa manera: él manifiesta la misma mansedumbre de Dios”.

Nacido con una gran compasión por los demás, el obispo también demuestra una fuerte determinación, dicen los sacerdotes. En 2004, menos de seis meses después de convertirse en obispo, se disculpó públicamente con las víctimas de abuso durante su primera homilía del Miércoles de Ceniza en la Catedral San Patricio. La diócesis justamente había reportado alegatos contra 13 sacerdotes en ese momento para un estudio nacional sobre el problema. A lo largo de su servicio, el Obispo Jugis se ha mantenido enfocado en proteger a los niños y promover la sanación de las víctimas de las historias de abuso.

“El obispo se ha reunido regularmente con víctimas de abusos que ocurrieron mucho antes de su tiempo, y contrató a auditores independientes para que revisaran nuestros registros e identificaran y publicaran todas las acusaciones creíbles de abuso por parte del clero, como ANIVERSARIO, PASA A LA PÁGINA 21B

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Bishop Jugis’ four episcopal priorities Catechesis “I want you to know your faith, and to be strong in your faith. I want you to know Jesus, so that you can say to Him right away without hesitation, ‘Yes, Lord,’ when He calls you to be a priest or a sister, or a deacon or a brother, or when He calls you to be a Christian husband or wife, or father or mother. I want you to know Him well, so you can tell Him, “Yes, Lord.

Here I am. I love You. I wish to serve You in whatever way You ask.”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the diocese’s first Eucharistic Congress, 2005

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Six pastoral priorities for the diocese

Evangelization “In my visits to parishes to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation, I have reminded the confirmation students that as confirmed Catholics they are now Christ’s ambassadors – that they are to represent Christ to others. That is why Jesus gave the Holy Spirit to the Apostles at Pentecost – so that they would be His witnesses, His ambassadors in the world, and that is why He gives the Holy Spirit at confirmation. ‘But,’ I remind them, ‘you cannot be effective as Christ’s ambassadors unless you really know Him well and become His friend. You can’t represent someone unless you know that person.’ The knowledge we are talking about here is more than intellectual knowledge. It is, as Pope Benedict says, a knowledge of the heart...”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the 2007 Eucharistic Congress

Vocations “In the Gospel He tells us: The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep. This is what He expects of you. You will lay down your life in service to Christ as you visit the sick for the sacrament of anointing, as you absolve from sins in the sacrament of penance, as you offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the nourishment of Christ’s sheep, as you teach the Gospel, as you celebrate the sacraments. It is all about Jesus, and the salvation of your brothers and sisters. It is Christ whom we proclaim.”

— Homily from the 2010 ordination Mass

The Eucharist “There are many, many ways that Jesus is with you always. He is with us in the sacraments. ... He is with you in your prayer. He is present where two or three are gathered in His name. He is with us in His Word. He is with us in the person of His sacred minister: the bishop, the priest, or the deacon. He is present in the poor, the sick and the imprisoned.

“But, of all these ways that Jesus is with us always, He is especially with us in a totally unique way in the Holy Eucharist. In the Eucharist, He is present in the fullest sense of the word ‘present,’ meaning it is a substantial Presence of Jesus Christ unlike the other presences of Christ.

The whole Christ is truly present, His Body and His Blood, together with His soul and divinity. ...

“Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for you.

Resolve to deepen your relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. You are probably very busy, as most people are nowadays. But there is someone waiting for you at Church, in the tabernacle. And I do say Some-One, not some-thing. It is the Lord Jesus who is waiting for you.”

— Homily from the closing Mass of the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress 2023

Catholics and communities across the Diocese of Charlotte are noticing a shift or renewed emphasis on certain priorities of the Church, as Bishop Peter Jugis rolled out an ambitious agenda following the diocese’s participation in a worldwide Synod of Bishops that Pope Francis convened to listen and consult with the People of God about envisioning the future of the Church.

More than 7,000 Catholics took part in over 400 listening sessions in the diocesan synod from October 2021 to June 2022 on the Synod’s theme of “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.”

In a letter to the faithful read during Masses on April 16, 2023, Bishop Jugis touched on “busy lives bombarded by distracting and worldly messages” and called for increased unity, outreach and focus on the Holy Eucharist – especially important in an ever-growing diocese that now has more than 530,000 Catholics. He announced six pastoral priorities after reflecting on testimonies and needs highlighted during the diocesan synod discussions: n Renew and anchor our lives in the Holy Eucharist n Draw from our communion with Christ to strengthen

the Communion of the Church and the family n Inspire youth to find their home in the Church

n Inspire lives of personal holiness highlighting

the beauty of chaste love n More effectively evangelize in the digital age n Prepare for future growth

‘Jesus says of Himself that He came not to be served but to serve. He is the model for us to follow. The Lord has given us a diocese full of dedicated priests, deacons, consecrated religious, and lay faithful eager to participate in the Church’s mission of salvation. It is a great joy to serve in the Diocese of Charlotte.’

— Bishop Peter Jugis, on the occasion of his 20th anniversary

Leadership accomplishments Since his ordination as the fourth Bishop of Charlotte, Bishop Peter Jugis has: n Guided the diocese through unprecedented growth in the Catholic

population, which has more than doubled from 2003 to an estimated 530,000 Catholics in 2023. n Established the annual Eucharistic Congress in 2005, which now

draws more than 10,000 people to Charlotte each fall to celebrate our Catholic faith. n Founded St. Joseph College Seminary in 2016 to form priests for

the diocese from among the parishes they will one day serve. In 2020, he opened a permanent home for the seminary program in Mount Holly, with capacity for 40 seminarians and room to grow. n Led the diocese through the aftermath of abuse revelations,

installing robust safety protocols that embraced the 2002 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and launching the Diocese of Charlotte’s Accountability website and abuse reporting hotline. n Fostered diversity and inclusion of Catholics from all backgrounds

and cultures, especially Spanish-speaking Catholics, as well as welcomed and supported communities of other Catholic rites in the universal Church. In 2009, he issued a comprehensive Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry that has made the Diocese of Charlotte a model for the country. n Enhanced diocesan ministries, services and administration

through successful fundraising including the unprecedented “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign that received $54 million from parishioners and donors. n Oversaw the growth of the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation to

349 endowments in 2023, with more than 1,600 Catholic Heritage Society members. n Oversaw the rebranding of Catholic Social Services to Catholic

Charities Diocese of Charlotte in 2013 and expansion of Catholic

Charities’ outreach throughout the diocese, most recently with the opening of a location in North Wilkesboro. n Led the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-2022,

harnessing technology to minister to people at home, while also carrying on safe in-person worship, education and charitable work. n Led the diocesan-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the

Diocese of Charlotte in 2022 with the theme “Faith More Precious Than Gold.” n Oversaw the Diocese of Charlotte’s participation in the worldwide

Synod on Synodality – which encompassed more than 400 listening sessions with over 7,000 Catholics – and issued six pastoral priorities that summarized key needs identified by the faithful. n Championed the strengthening of families and protection of all

human life, participating regularly in annual Marches for Life in Charlotte and in Washington, D.C., preaching on the value of life and the sanctity of marriage, advocating for the protection of traditional marriage in civil law, and in 2021, establishing the Diocese of Charlotte’s Family Life Office to grow the diocese’s pastoral outreach to families. n Supported ecumenism, especially with the reaffirmation in 2007

and 2019 of the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant Renewal n Fostered Catholic education, opening and expanding Catholic

schools and appointing a second vicar of education whose role is to focus on Catholic education. n Since the start of his episcopacy in 2003, has issued calls to holy

orders for the ordinations of 50 new priests and 65 permanent deacons for service in the Diocese of Charlotte. n From 2004 to 2022, canonically established six new parishes in

the Diocese of Charlotte, elevating former mission churches and centers to parish status.

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BISHOP JUGIS: Calm, intentional, faithful ‘Steadfast leadership’

‘We’re so grateful’

Bishop Jugis, I would like to congratulate you on your upcoming jubilee anniversaries – 20 years as the fourth Bishop of Charlotte and 40 years as a priest. Your steadfast leadership of one of America’s fastest growing dioceses is a testament to your love of Jesus and His Church. As you gather for the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress, I want to thank you for your remarkable example of service to the people of God.

Bishop Jugis, in 20 years you’ve been bringing the Body of Christ to the faithful here in western North Carolina. We’re so grateful, and we ask God to bless you in your ministry.

MONSIGNOR ANTHONY MARCACCIO, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Greensboro

‘A desire to get back to God’

ARCHBISHOP GREGORY HARTMAYER of the Atlanta Province

He’s a man with a sort of an interior temperament, one that I think finds its rest in prayer with God. He has always been very generous about sharing his time with me, with my brother seminarians, and with all the faithful. He has quite the reputation for remembering everybody that he’s spoken with and for driving those around him a little bit mad sometimes by his insistence that he stays to shake hands with everybody, to speak with everybody, and to address everybody by their name, which he remembers.

But at the back of that, I know that there’s always a Bishop Jugis who desires to get back to God.

‘A true shepherd’ When you consider the fact that we’re over half a million Catholics in western North Carolina, the bishop has done a tremendous job. What we’re experiencing is growth – from parish to parish, vicariate to vicariate, and region to region. Places like Catholic Charities are having to step up to meet the needs of the growing community. Parishes are having to build and expand to meet and accommodate the growth that we’re experiencing.

We have a tremendous influx of different ethnic groups coming from all around the world. To be our bishop during this time, over these past 20 years, to shepherd a Church for this extraordinary moment, well, let’s just say it’s an exciting time and we are grateful for all Bishop Jugis has been able to do in leading us through it.

FATHER BRIAN BECKER, vocations promoter for the Diocese of Charlotte vocations program

‘We have a family’

MONSIGNOR PATRICK WINSLOW, vicar general and chancellor of the Diocese of Charlotte

‘Joyful service’ One of the things that I think has marked his 20 years of service as a bishop is his joy. Obviously, he’s a quiet person, but when you see Bishop Jugis with people, there’s just a joy that shows up on his face, and the Eucharistic Congress is the perfect example of that. The Eucharistic Congress is really for all of us a homecoming. It’s where we come to revitalize and to get reconnected and to remind ourselves of why we’re doing all this. There’s good news that Jesus Christ is here in Charlotte and wants to minister to anyone who will open their heart to Him. FATHER JOHN PUTNAM, judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte and pastor of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

Devoted to the Eucharist

A wry sense of humor On the evening that Bishop Jugis installed me as pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, before the liturgy, he took me into the room in the old rectory where he had received the phone call that he would be Bishop of Charlotte. He stood right in this one spot, looked down, and said, “This is where I was when I accepted the call to be the Bishop of Charlotte. Now, let me go and install you as pastor here.” Then he asked for the keys to the church because he said he would symbolically give them back to me, and after the liturgy, I asked him, “Bishop, where are the keys?” and he smiled, “Oh, I was going to keep them and just stay.”

FATHER BENJAMIN ROBERTS, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe

Bishop Jugis, I want to thank you for all you have done for our Hispanic community. We recognize the greatness that you have brought into our diocese, and in working with our Hispanic ministry, I have to say that they are very grateful to you, especially because you bring to us that great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and that personal way that you live that relationship with the Lord. You’ve helped us to realize that it is not about our ministry, it’s not about how much we do, but about how much we live in that relationship with the Lord.

‘Strong pillar of faith’

FATHER JULIO DOMINGUEZ, vicar of Hispanic Ministry of the Diocese of Charlotte

‘No more important message than the Gospel’

‘A love for his flock’ He’s meant a lot to me. Seeing how much he cares for his flock, and that is something that’s inspired me for my own part to really care for my own flock, just seeing how much he loves his diocese. I hope to do the same for the people entrusted to my care.

FATHER CHINONSO NNEBE-AGUMADU, parochial vicar of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

Bishop Jugis has always been a prayerful man, very humble, and his humility and prayer life have just really been a huge example for me and, I believe, all the faithful.

He’s really that strong pillar of faith for me and all the faithful.

FATHER JONATHAN TORRES, chaplain of Charlotte Catholic High School

One thing that Bishop Jugis is really fantastic about is being very intentional and prepared about what he has to say and how he wants to bring that to people. That’s especially important to the military. I’m a military officer in addition to being a priest. There’s a right way to bring across an important message, and there’s no more important message than the Gospel.

FATHER DARREN BALKEY, U.S. Navy chaplain and parochial vicar at St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte

The Lord Jesus Christ did not leave us orphaned. He left us in the hands of His Apostles, who in turn left us in the hands of priests, all the way down the line to feed us with the holy sacraments, to assist us on our way to salvation. We’re not by ourselves; we have a family. A parish doesn’t exist without a priest because the Eucharist doesn’t exist without a priest, and Bishop Jugis knows the essential importance of that reality.

The entire governance that we’ve had under Bishop Jugis has been a steady, calm hand.

FATHER MATTHEW KAUTH, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary

A love for his people I have had the great honor and privilege of serving the diocese by assisting Bishop Jugis in various ways for almost the entirety of his 20 years. I think of two things that I know about him. First, he loves the Lord, especially in the Blessed Sacrament. One of the greatest honors we can give the bishop would be to strive to deepen our own devotion to the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Second, he loves the people of the diocese. He spends a great deal of time in prayer for the diocese, and I know that if he tells someone he will pray for them, he will. Actually, there is a third: he loves his priests. To my brother priests, in those times you are struggling, your bishop, your father, loves you and prays for you daily.

FATHER CHRISTOPHER ROUX, rector and pastor of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte

‘Pray for me, pray for the diocese’ Growing up in western North Carolina past Asheville, when I was a young kid, I would serve whenever I could and certainly whenever the bishop came. When he came the first time, I introduced myself to him. I told him my name and he said, “Thank you for serving.” The second time, I introduced myself to him again, imagining that he probably wouldn’t remember me because I was so far away from Charlotte and at a small parish. Before I was even able to introduce myself, he said, “Aaron, it’s nice to see you again.” I was taken aback. He was so confident. He wasn’t trying to search for the name, he just knew. He gave me and the other servers a prayer card and the rosaries he carries around to give to people and said, “Pray for me, pray for the diocese, and pray for your vocation.”

FATHER AARON HUBER, chaplain of Christ the King High School

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OUR DIOCESE: The Eucharistic Congress

Bishop Jugis leads the Eucharistic Procession through the streets of uptown Charlotte at the diocese’s “family reunion,” the Eucharistic Congress.

The Eucharistic Congress attracts more than 10,000 people each fall for prayer, worship and fellowship. Its companion youth event, the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage held each spring, attracts more than 1,000 young people.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Devotion to the Eucharist Bishop Jugis calls faithful to unity in the Real Presence CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS cknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Before 2005, a Eucharistic Procession had never made its way through the streets of uptown Charlotte.

That changed, thanks to the vision of Bishop Peter Jugis, who was inspired by then-Pope John Paul II’s announcement of the “Year of the Eucharist” in 2004.

Taking the words to heart of the now saint who had ordained him two decades before, plans were set to hold the Diocese of Charlotte’s first Eucharistic Congress in September 2005.

That first Congress drew approximately 7,000 people and became an annual event that has grown into one of the largest of its kind in the nation, regularly drawing 10,000 Catholics or more from across the diocese and neighboring states. The faithful gather for two days of worship, prayer and fellowship, line the downtown streets and watch joyfully and prayerfully from the sidewalks as the event’s signature mile-long Eucharistic Procession makes its way from St. Peter Church to the Charlotte Convention Center.

The bishop wanted an event that would both strengthen people’s faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and unite Catholics from around the 46 counties in the diocese, said Father Roger Arnsparger, vicar of education and pastor of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, who helped organize the inaugural event in 2005, and has served as chair of the Eucharistic Congress steering committee since then.

“Bishop Jugis’ idea of a diocesan family gathering centered on the Eucharist has united our people and strengthened our understanding of the Eucharistic mysteries,” Father Arnsparger said. “God has been

praised and we all have been blessed.”

That vision has been more than fulfilled as the Congress has grown in attendance over the past 19 years: from 7,000 attendees in its first year, and the largest crowd recorded in 2015, when keynote speaker Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York drew more than 14,000 people.

“Over the years it has been a real joy to participate in the Congress and watch the reunions of parishioners from all over the diocese and the visitors from other dioceses,” Father Arnsparger said.

Christopher Beal, director of faith formation for the diocese, agrees, recalling first attending the Congress when he was a youth minister at Sacred Heart Parish in Salisbury and now helps to organize the event each year.

“It is especially profound to see the young people participate in the procession and the youth track at the Congress because it is so important for them to see the community they belong to,” Beal said. “It helps to solidify who they are as Catholics.”

Mary Catherine Surface, a member of St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte, first attended the Congress in 2007 as a volunteer with the Charlotte Catholic Women’s Group and has handled volunteer recruitment for the event for more than 10 years. She recalls her amazement at seeing so many Catholics gathered in one place, a truly rare event in western North Carolina – and much of the Southeast – where Catholics have been in the minority for generations.

“The Congress has borne great fruit for our diocese, which you can see through its growth and the explosion of vocations over the years since it started,” Surface said.

“I really believe that is due in large part to Bishop Jugis’ love for the Eucharist and his beautiful, prayerful spirit.

His commitment to the Eucharist has enabled him to spread that devotion far and wide.”

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Un legado dedicado a la Eucaristía CHRISTINA LEE KNAUSS cknauss@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — Antes de 2005, una Procesión Eucarística jamás había recorrido las calles del centro de Charlotte.

Eso cambió gracias a la visión del Obispo Peter Jugis, quien se inspiró en el anuncio del entonces Papa Juan Pablo II del “Año de la Eucaristía” en 2004. Tomando en serio las palabras del santo que lo ordenó sacerdote dos décadas antes, se establecieron planes para celebrar el primer Congreso Eucarístico de la Diócesis de Charlotte en septiembre de 2005. El padre Roger Arnsparger, vicario y párroco de la Basílica San Lorenzo en Asheville, aceptó colaborar con la organización del primer evento y ha servido como presidente del comité directivo del Congreso desde entonces.

Ese primer Congreso atrajo a aproximadamente siete mil personas y se convirtió en un evento anual que se ha convertido en uno de los más grandes de su tipo en toda la nación, congregando regularmente a más de diez mil católicos de toda la Diócesis de Charlotte y los estados vecinos. Los fieles se reúnen durante dos días de

adoración, oración y compañerismo, se alinean en las calles del centro y observan en oración desde las aceras el paso de la procesión que se abre camino desde la Iglesia San Pedro hasta el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte.

El obispo tuvo una visión de un evento que fortalecería la fe de las personas en la Presencia Real de Cristo en la Eucaristía y sería una forma de unir a los católicos de los 46 condados de la diócesis, dijo el Padre Arnsparger.

Esa visión se ha concretado con creces a medida que el Congreso ha crecido en asistencia en los últimos 19 años. A la fecha, la multitud más grande se reunió en 2015, cuando el orador principal, el Cardenal Timothy Dolan de Nueva York, atrajo a más de 14 mil personas.

“A lo largo de los años ha sido una verdadera alegría participar en el Congreso y ver las reuniones de los feligreses de toda la diócesis y los visitantes de otras diócesis”, dijo el padre Arnsparger.

El Congreso ha tenido un profundo impacto en personas de todas las edades en toda la diócesis, según Christopher Beal, director de formación en la fe diocesano, quien recuerda haber asistido por primera vez al Congreso cuando era ministro de jóvenes en la Iglesia Sagrado Corazón en Salisbury, y ahora ayuda a organizar el evento

cada año.

“Es especialmente profundo ver a los jóvenes participar en la procesión y las sesiones juveniles en el Congreso, porque es muy importante para ellos ver la comunidad a la que pertenecen”, dijo Beal. “Ayuda a concretar la idea de quiénes son como católicos”.

Mary Catherine Surface, miembro de la Iglesia San Mateo en Charlotte, asistió por primera vez al Congreso en 2007 como voluntaria con las Mujeres Católicas de Charlotte y se ha encargado del reclutamiento de voluntarios para el evento por más de 10 años. Ella recuerda su asombro al ver a tantos católicos reunidos en un solo lugar, un evento verdaderamente raro en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, y gran parte del sureste, donde los católicos han sido minoría durante generaciones.

“El Congreso ha dado grandes frutos para nuestra diócesis, que se pueden ver a través de su crecimiento y la explosión de vocaciones a lo largo de los años desde que comenzó”, dijo Surface. “Realmente creo que se debe en gran parte al amor del Obispo Jugis por la Eucaristía y su hermoso espíritu de oración. Su compromiso con la Eucaristía le ha permitido difundir esa devoción en todas partes”.

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OUR DIOCESE: The Eucharistic Congress ‘God has been praised’

‘The source and summit’

A treasure in the Congress

Bishop Jugis’s idea of a diocesan family gathering centered on the Eucharist has united our people and strengthened our understanding of the Eucharistic mysteries. God has been praised and we all have been blessed.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic life and the key to evangelization. It took an incredible vision from Bishop Jugis to put such an emphasis on the beautiful witness of evangelization and to make the Blessed Sacrament a key focal point for the people of North Carolina. Just the sheer sight of 10,000 people in the streets of downtown Charlotte is a source of profound awe for people who view it, whether they are Catholics or not.

My first visit to the Eucharistic Congress has been a wonderful and enlightening experience. For me, it’s a chance to deepen my faith in Jesus’ Presence in the Eucharist and His place as the center of everything we do. The realization of how important the Eucharist has been the biggest part of this for me. Bishop Jugis, you have given us a treasure through this Congress.

FATHER ROGER ARNSPARGER, chairman of the Eucharistic Congress committee and vicar of education for catechetical formation for the Diocese of Charlotte

A part of his flock I come to the Eucharistic Congress every year because I have such a devotion to the Eucharist. I developed it when I used to do a middle of the night shift of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. During that time, I shared my faith with people who wandered into the chapel in the middle of the night. Through that time I fell so in love with Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s the summit of my life and my everything. The speakers at the Congress this year are all so wonderful and have had a personal impact me. You can see the love of Christ through them. I am so thankful to Bishop Jugis for this gift of the Congress. I love being part of His flock here in western North Carolina.

BARBARA FREEMAN, member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa

Show of faith n Started in 2005 n Our diocese’s response to

the Church’s “Year of the Eucharist” called for by Pope John Paul II n One of the few such events

held annually, and one of the largest in the U.S. n Draws 10,000-plus people

to Charlotte each fall from across the diocese and beyond n Nearly a mile-long

Eucharistic Procession through uptown Charlotte that takes over an hour to complete n Celebration of Catholic

unity and diversity

CHRISTOPHER BEAL, director of faith formation for the Diocese of Charlotte

‘Blessed us with his leadership’

VIVIAN WAKEFIELD, member of St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville

A Church on the right path

This is my 10th time attending the Congress. I love coming to it because for me it is a gathering of all of us, children of God coming together to honor Him and be with Him. I am grateful to Bishop Jugis for creating the Congress. He has blessed us with his leadership. Activities like the Congress help us to walk in the faith. It promotes a sense of unity and belonging, and makes me realize I need to constantly try to give back to my Church. I do that currently as a catechist at my parish, and my husband and 16-year-old daughter are catechists as well. I realize that we can always do more to promote the faith.

It’s a great experience to be at the Congress surrounded by our Catholic family of all difference backgrounds and nationalities. I especially looked forward to the Mass that is the culmination of the gathering. I’m so grateful to Bishop Jugis for starting it and for his leadership. His leadership has been a quiet and persistent leadership, and he is actually the reason my husband and I are living here. We came here because we were looking for a location where the Church is on the right path, and we came here in 2006 when we learned what Bishop Jugis was doing.

This is a diocese with a bishop who is not afraid to speak the truth.

GRACIELA LOPEZ, member of St. Michael Parish in Gastonia

FRANCES LIBERTO, member of St. Mark Parish in Huntersville

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OUR DIOCESE: Hispanic Ministry

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Thousands pray, sing, and dance at the 2023 Eucharistic Procession.

Hispanic community enriches diocese’s growth, faith CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — In the 1990s, North Carolina began to receive its first major influx of Latino migrants, partly due to the booming textile industry at the time. With the fast-growing population, then-Bishop William Curlin established the first diocesan Hispanic Ministry. Today, the growth, development, expansion and strength of Hispanic Ministry is due to the strong spiritual guidance and support that Bishop Peter Jugis has devoted during his episcopacy.

The early direction of Hispanic ministry in the diocese was led by Sister Pilar Dalmau, followed by Father Vincent Finnerty. In 2002, a year before Bishop Jugis’ appointment as bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, Sister Andrea Inkrott assumed the leadership of the ministry. At that time, then-Father Jugis was serving as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Monroe, giving special attention to the rapidly growing Latino community. Parishioner Rosa Elba Gutiérrez said she witnessed that he did everything possible to serve all communities as pastor.

“He doesn’t like to attract attention, he does everything with a quiet humility,” she said. “In Monroe he established English and catechism classes for the Hispanic population.

We were delighted with the commitment and attention he gave us. He is very attentive to Hispanics, and he knew how to organize the community and prepare us for service to others.”

PLAN AND PROGRESS

In 2009, reiterating his commitment to the Latino community, Bishop Jugis released a long-term Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry in the diocese – a document that even 14 years later serves as a strong foundation for the mission of the entire ministry.

The plan, based on a 2002 U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops publication, “Encounter and Mission: A renewed pastoral framework for the Hispanic Ministry,” recognized

the increasing presence of Hispanics in the Church.

In the introductory prologue, Bishop Jugis said he was happy to present the pastoral plan, “which will help to guide our growth in Christ as a diocesan family over the next three years,” through evangelization, service and leadership role development among Hispanic Catholics.

Deacon Eduardo Bernal highlighted that when Bishop Jugis instituted the Eucharistic Congress in 2005, it became “an important meeting point for the Latino community, and we are strengthened in it.”

“Bishop Jugis has been able to interpret the changing times and has facilitated the presence and expression of the different communities of Catholics throughout the diocese,” Deacon Bernal added.

In 2010, Bishop Jugis established the role of Episcopal Vicar for Hispanic Ministry and appointed Father Fidel Melo to the position. By then, the diocese already had nearly doubled its population of Hispanic Catholics.

Father Melo said the bishop’s pastoral plan would facilitate “the complete incorporation of Hispanics into the life of the Church and its mission, to be evangelizing missionaries for the Church and society, without distinction of race, culture or language.”

Hispanic ministry, Father Melo noted, is more than just about providing Spanish-language services and sacraments.

“It is to emphasize the cultural language, familiarizing the laity with the faith and incorporating people from different backgrounds. Our mission is to bring people closer to God,” he said.

In 2020, Bishop Jugis appointed Father Julio César Domínguez to succeed Father Melo as Episcopal Vicar of Hispanic Ministry, a position he still holds.

Now, the number of Hispanic Catholics in the diocese makes up approximately half the total Catholic population in the diocese. In addition, two-thirds of the diocese’s 92 parishes offer Spanish or bilingual Masses.

UNCONDITIONAL SUPPORT

Today, thanks to the planning of Bishop Jugis and

his unconditional support for the Latino community, Hispanic Ministry in the diocese is an example of unique development at the national level. The ministry now has the position of episcopal vicar and an assistant to the vicar – plus 10 coordinators of Hispanic ministry, one for each vicariate of the diocese, as staff on the payroll.

Bishop Jugis is also a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI), which offers evangelization, catechetical and leadership courses for coordinators and lay people engaged in pastoral work.

In 2016, with the goal of increasing priestly vocations among the youth of the diocese, Bishop Jugis created St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly, where men discern a call to the priesthood while pursuing undergraduate studies in philosophy at Belmont Abbey College. By establishing a seminary in the diocese, the faithful have the chance to encounter and support vocations in a deeper and closer way. Bishop Jugis requires all seminarians to take Spanish courses and conclude their studies with an advanced knowledge of the language.

Father Dominguez said that since our bishop came to the diocese, “the two things I have seen in him that have particularly impacted me and made me grow as a priest are, first, his love for the Eucharist. We see this very clearly with the institution of the annual Eucharistic Congress and the dedication of several Adoration chapels in parishes as a fruit of this diocesan effort. The second is the promotion of vocations. When I was pastor at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, I marveled at how the bishop identified with the young people and gave them a rosary to pray for their vocation.

This manner of calling was surprising to the young people, because, although not everyone entered the seminary, at least it made them aware of God’s call in their lives.”

Father Dominguez also highlighted Bishop Jugis’ commitment to Hispanic Ministry. “He has always been present and supported the evangelization and formation programs that we have brought to him as a team. For this, and many other things, we are very happy that he is the spiritual guide of our diocese.”

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Compromiso con el Ministerio Hispano CÉSAR HURTADO rchurtado@charlottediocese.org

CHARLOTTE — El Ministerio Hispano diocesano fue instituído por el fallecido Obispo William Curlin, pero el crecimiento, desarrollo, expansión y fortaleza que muestra hoy en día se debe al decidido apoyo espiritual y material que el Obispo Peter Jugis le ha brindado a lo largo de su obispado.

Durante la última década del siglo pasado, la ciudad de Charlotte comenzó a recibir sus primeros migrantes latinos, la mayoría de ellos de origen ecuatoriano y cubano, atraídos por la industria textil.

La dirección inicial del ministerio hispano recayó en la hermana Pilar Dalmau y luego el Padre Vicente Finnerty. En 2002, un año antes de la designación del Obispo Jugis como Obispo de Charlotte, la hermana Andrea Inkrott asumió la conducción del ministerio.

En 2003, el entonces Padre Jugis se desempeñaba como párroco de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe. La Sra. Rosa Elba Gutiérrez dijo ser testigo de que hizo todo lo posible para atender a todas las comunidades.

“No le gusta llamar la atención, hace todo sin que se note mucho. En Monroe estableció clases de inglés y catecismo. Nosotros estuvimos encantados con él. Lo queremos mucho. Es muy atento con los hispanos y supo organizar a la comunidad preparándola para el servicio”, resaltó.

PLAN Y AVANCES

asistente del vicario, y diez coordinadores de ministerio hispano, uno por cada vicaría de la diócesis, como personal en nómina.

El Obispo Jugis es también miembro de la junta directiva del Instituto Pastoral del Sureste (SEPI), que ofrece cursos de evangelización, catequéticos y de liderazgo para los coordinadores y laicos comprometidos con el trabajo pastoral.

En 2016, con el objetivo de incrementar las vocaciones sacerdotales entre los jóvenes de la diócesis, el Obispo Jugis creó el Seminario Universitario San José, donde los hombres disciernen un llamado al sacerdocio mientras cursan estudios universitarios en filosofía en Belmont Abbey College. Después de cuatro años de funcionamiento provisional en los terrenos de la parroquia Santa

En 2009, reiterando su compromiso con la comunidad latina, el Obispo Jugis presentó su Plan Pastoral para el Ministerio Hispano en la Diócesis de Charlotte, un documento que hasta hoy, pese al paso de los años, sirve como guía de desarrollo.

El plan, basado en una publicación de la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de Estados Unidos, ‘Encuentro y Misión, un marco pastoral renovado para el Ministerio Hispano’, publicado en 2002, reconocía la presencia de los hispanos en la Iglesia en Estados Unidos y la calificaba como una “bendición”.

En el prólogo de presentación, el Obispo Jugis dijo estar feliz de presentar el plan pastoral, “que ayudará a guiar nuestro crecimiento en Cristo como familia diocesana durante los próximos tres años”, mediante la evangelización, servicio y desarrollo de roles de liderazgo entre los católicos hispanos.

El Diácono Eduardo Bernal, destacó que en 2005 el Obispo Jugis creó el Congreso Eucarístico diocesano, “que ha sido un punto de encuentro ARCHIVO | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD importante para la comunidad latina que se El Padre Julio Domínguez y el Obispo Jugis disfrutan del Día Familiar Católico en Carowinds, una de las fortalece en él, y año a año lo hace cada vez más varias celebraciones realizadas durante el 50 Aniversario de la diócesis en 2022. suyo”.

“El Obispo Jugis ha sabido interpretar los tiempos y ha facilitado la presencia y expresión de las diferentes comunidades de católicos en toda la diócesis”, Ana en Charlotte, el seminario se trasladó a su sede levantada en añadió el Diácono Bernal.

Mount Holly.

En 2010, el Obispo Jugis estableció el rol de Vicario Episcopal Gracias a una disposición del Obispo Jugis, todos los jóvenes del Ministerio Hispano y señaló al Padre Fidel Melo en el cargo. seminaristas toman cursos de español y concluyen sus estudios Para ese entonces, se calcula que la diócesis ya contaba con con un avanzado conocimiento del idioma. aproximadamente 200.000 católicos de origen hispano.

El Padre Domínguez dijo que desde que nuestro obispo llegó a El Padre Melo dijo al asumir su cargo que el plan pastoral del la diócesis, “dos cosas he visto en él que particularmente me han obispo facilitaría, “la completa incorporación de los hispanos en la impactado y me han hecho crecer como sacerdote. La primera es vida de la Iglesia y su misión, ser misioneros evangelizadores para su amor por la Eucaristía, y lo vemos muy claro con la institución la Iglesia y la sociedad, sin distinción de raza, cultura o idioma”. del congreso anual Eucarístico y con el nacimiento de muchas El Ministerio Hispano, señaló el Padre Melo, es más que solo capillas de adoración en nuestras parroquias como fruto de este hablar español. “Es enfatizar el idioma cultural, familiarizando esfuerzo diocesano. La segunda es la promoción de vocaciones. a los laicos con la fe e incorporando personas de diferente Cuando era párroco en San Francisco, me maravillaba ver como procedencia. Nuestra misión es acercar la gente a Dios”. el obispo se identificaba con los jóvenes y les entregaba un rosario En febrero de 2020, el Obispo Jugis designó al Padre Julio César para que rezaran por su vocación. Esa manera de llamamiento era Domínguez como flamante Vicario Episcopal del Ministerio sorprendente para los jóvenes, pues aunque no todos entraban al Hispano, cargo que ostenta hasta el día de hoy. seminario, por lo menos los hacía conscientes del llamado de Dios Al momento, se calcula que el número de católicos hispanos en en sus vidas”. la Diócesis de Charlotte se ha incrementado a aproximadamente Además, añadió, una de las características principales del obispo 300.000 personas. Además, un mayoritario número de parroquias y es su sencillez. “Nunca me he quedado sin respuesta cuando lo he misiones en la diócesis ofrece Misas en español y bilingües. necesitado. Una llamada para hacer una cita e inmediatamente me ha respondido para poder conversar”.

Finalmente, resaltó su apoyo al ministerio hispano APOYO INCONDICIONAL pues,“ha estado siempre presente y apoyado los programas de Hoy por hoy, gracias al plan del Obispo Jugis y su apoyo evangelización y formación que le hemos presentado como equipo. incondicional a la comunidad latina, el Ministerio Hispano de la Por esto y muchas otras cosas más, estamos muy contentos de que Diócesis de Charlotte es un ejemplo de desarrollo único a nivel sea el guía espiritual de nuestra diócesis”. nacional, ya que cuenta con el cargo de vicario episcopal, una

Persona de Dios El Congreso Eucarístico, un regalo de nuestro Obispo Jugis, me ha parecido maravilloso. Me hubiera gustado que hubiera sido más largo y con más charlas para aprovechar más tiempo.

Nuestro obispo es una persona de Dios que ha apoyado el Ministerio hispano con mucha decisión. Esperamos nos siga dando su apoyo para seguir creciendo.

MIGUEL ANGEL CERDA, parroquiano de la Iglesia San Marcos en Huntersville

Eucaristía real Hace cuatro años que vengo al Congreso que espero ansiosa porque me gustan sus prédicas y deja enseñanzas para mi familia, mis hijos y mi esposo. Yo soy una convencida de lo que nos dijo el Obispo sobre la presencia real de Cristo en la Eucaristía. Voy al Santísimo los jueves y siento su presencia, empiezo a llorar.

IRMA GARCÍA, parroquiana de la Iglesia Divino Redentor en Boonville

Entregado El Obispo Jugis es una persona muy, muy entregada a los hispanos que estuvo en varias parroquias con gran presencia hispana, entre ellas Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe, donde la congregación es más o menos 70 por ciento hispana, y siempre preocupándose de hablar en español para nosotros. Es una persona muy amable a la que trato siempre con cariño y respeto.

DIÁCONO GUILLERMO ANZOLA, Iglesia San Lucas en Mint Hill

Congreso para siempre Es la primera vez que vengo al Congreso Eucarístico. Nunca había visto una cosa tan bella, nada como esto, con gente de todas partes del estado.

Estamos felices de haber venido en familia, con mi esposa y mi hija. Espero que nuestro obispo siga manteniendo el congreso por muchos años más.

JOSÉ ALBERTO MÁRQUEZ, padre de familia, Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe

Hombre santo Conocí al Obispo Jugis cuando me estaba formando como diácono y, después, cuando fui ordenado, me recibió en muchas oportunidades en que busqué su consejo. Es un hombre santo, muy dedicado, entregado a la Eucaristía.

DIÁCONO ENEDINO AQUINO, coordinador del ministerio hispano en Greensboro

Lo queremos mucho He sido testigo de que hace todo lo posible para atender a todas las comunidades. Nosotros estuvimos encantados con él. Lo queremos mucho.

Supo organizar a la comunidad y la preparó para el servicio. En una ocasión, cuando celebraba una boda, la novia no llegaba y se la llamó por teléfono. La respuesta de la novia fue que la demora era porque no le cerraba el vestido. ¡Al obispo le hizo mucha gracia, no se molestó!

ROSA ELBA GUTIÉRREZ, parroquiana de la Iglesia Nuestra Señora de Lourdes en Monroe

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BISHOP JUGIS: Faith and joy

(Above) Bishop Jugis talks with children at the 2013 Eucharistic Congress. (Far left) Hundreds of families gather for “Catholic Night” to celebrate the diocese’s 50th anniversary. (Left) The bishop prays with seminarians and pilgrims outside the U.S. Supreme Court for the March for Life in Washington, D.C. one snowy day in January. (Bottom left) Bishop Jugis answers questions from St. Matthew School students.

(Below) Bishop Jugis administers the sacrament of confirmation to an inmate as part of ongoing pastoral care provided through the diocese’s Prison Ministry.

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OUR DIOCESE

2003-2023

A STORY OF GROWTH

Over the past two decades, Bishop Peter Jugis has led the Diocese of Charlotte through unprecedented growth, welcoming new families, opening churches and schools, and increasing vocations — a clear sign the Holy Spirit is at work.

Follow the story of our growth in the timeline below:

2003 On Oct. 24, Father Peter Jugis, the diocese’s judicial vicar and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, is ordained and installed as the diocese’s fourth bishop, succeeding the retiring Bishop William Curlin.

2004 Bishop Jugis dedicates four churches in his first year: a new Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe, not long after leaving as pastor to FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD become bishop; St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte; Divine Redeemer in Boonville; and St. James the Greater in Concord.

Bishop Jugis makes his first “ad limina” visit to Rome, meeting with Pope John Paul II (who ordained him in 1983 and named him bishop in 2003).

2005 Thousands gather in Charlotte for the diocese’s inaugural Eucharistic Congress, founded by Bishop Jugis to promote devotion to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the Catholic faith.

Bishop Jugis dedicates three more churches: St. Lucien in Spruce Pine, Our Lady of Mercy in Winston-Salem and Holy Family in Clemmons.

Holy Spirit in Denver opens a parish activity FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD center.

The first Eucharistic Congress in 2005 drew about 3,500 Bishop Jugis dedicates a Pope John Paul II people. Bishop Jugis said Catholics must proclaim the Gospel Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph Church in with joy. To do that, they must be nourished with the Eucharist.

Kannapolis.

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OUR DIOCESE

A STORY OF GROWTH: Chur 2006

2010

2014

A new Our Lady of the Americas Church is dedicated in Biscoe-Candor by Bishop Jugis.

Asheville hosts a Eucharistic Conference, prior to the diocese’s second Eucharistic Congress.

Our Lady of Consolation in Charlotte opens a community life center.

2007

PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis anoints and incenses the altar at the dedication of St. Pius X Church in Greensboro.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

“If we live in Jesus and (He) lives in us, we conquer sin and death,” Bishop Jugis said at Easter 2018. Since 2003, over 120,000 people have been baptized and received into the Church in the diocese.

Bishop Jugis elevates four missions to parish status: Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph Vietnamese in Charlotte, St. Joseph in Kannapolis, and Our Lady of the Americas in Biscoe-Candor.

Bishop Jugis dedicates new churches for St. Joan of Arc in Candler and St. John the Evangelist in Waynesville, as well as a new Catholic cemetery in Salisbury.

Receptions into the Church, including infant and adult baptisms, top 7,000 for the first time.

2008 North Carolina’s two bishops form Catholic Voice NC, a non-partisan public policy organization to express the Catholic viewpoint on state legislative and social issues.

Bishop Jugis dedicates an expanded St. Bernadette Church in Linville, a new Adoration Chapel at Belmont Abbey College, and St. Patrick Cathedral’s Family Life Center.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new Catholic section of Matthews Cemetery, and a Huntersville cemetery opens a Catholic section (only the second in the diocese).

2009 Bishop Jugis dedicates larger churches for Sacred Heart in Salisbury and St. Ann in Charlotte, as well as St. Mark Church, a new church in Huntersville to serve Catholics in the growing north Charlotte suburbs.

Bishop Jugis releases a three-year Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry to address the spiritual needs of the diocese’s growing Hispanic population, and the next year, names Father Fidel Melo the first episcopal vicar of Hispanic Ministry.

The diocese’s Office of Economic Opportunity marks its 10th anniversary of social justice work in far western North Carolina.

Bishop Jugis dedicates two new, larger churches: Immaculate Conception in Forest City and St. Pius X in Greensboro. In Greensboro, he remarks, “This is the 16th church that I have dedicated since becoming bishop. It is a strong sign of how the Catholic Church in North Carolina is growing.”

The diocese announces it will build a third high school to serve families in the growing north Charlotte area: “Each of the Catholic schools in our diocese places the Person of Jesus Christ front and center in its school life. Naming the proposed new Catholic high school in honor of Christ the King is another sign of our strong commitment to Christ and His Gospel, and to excellence in education,” Bishop Jugis says.

Curlin Commons, the first “green” apartment community for low-income seniors in North Carolina and the diocese’s first housing project, opens in Mooresville.

The diocese hosts its first Marian Rosary Congress.

St. Stephen Mission in Elkin dedicates a family life center, and St. William Parish in Murphy opens a faith formation center.

Immaculata School breaks ground in Hendersonville for a preschool and special needs school.

The century-old St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville earns “national significance” as a unique historic treasure.

2011 The first Diocese of Charlotte Men’s Conference is held.

A “Catholics Come Home” campaign is held to reach approximately 145,000 inactive Catholics throughout the diocese.

2012

Bishop Jugis dedicates more churches to accommodate the growing Catholic population: St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hayesville, and St. Peter Yu for Korean Catholics in Greensboro.

St. Matthew opens a 16,000-square-foot multipurpose facility in Waxhaw, and St. Vincent de Paul in Charlotte opens a new ministry center and PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD chapel.

In August, Our Lady of Grace Bishop Jugis sprinkles the walls and altar of the new St. Francis of School begins classes in a state-of-the-art expansion to Assisi Church in Jefferson during its dedication Mass. its original school building.

Bishop Jugis and Bishop Emeritus William Curlin, who was close friends with Mother Teresa, break ground together on Mother Teresa Villa in Charlotte, the diocese’s third housing project. Designed for developmentally disabled adults, it opens in 2015.

The first Quo Vadis Days vocations camp for young men is held.

An unprecedented diocese-wide “Forward in Faith, Hope, and Love” campaign raises $54 million – now has $21 million in 7 endowments – to fund current and long-range initiatives across the diocese.

The Catholic Conference Center in Hickory gets a $1 million makeover funded in part by the FFHL campaign.

Groundbreaking!

Bishop Jugis, clergy and about 50 supporters brave wind and rain from Hurricane Florence as they break ground Sept. 15, 2018, for St. Joseph College Seminary. “We pray that God will continue to shower down His blessings upon this effort of ours,” the bishop jokes.

Bishop Jugis makes his second “ad limina” visit to Rome and meets with Pope Benedict XVI. The diocese’s 2012 Diocesan Support Appeal campaign tops $5 million for the first time.

Bishop Jugis blesses two new Catholic cemeteries in Haywood County.

2013 Bishop Jugis consecrates the diocese to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Catholic Social Services is renamed Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte and begins an expansion plan to add new programs and locations around the diocese in the coming years.

Christ the King High School opens in Huntersville.

Good Shepherd Gardens, the diocese’s second housing project, opens in Salisbury.

The diocese’s first Fatima procession in honor of Our Lady of Fatima takes place May 13 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte.

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2003-2023

rches, schools, vocations, faith 2015 At Advent, the worldwide Church begins a Jubilee Year of Mercy that continues into 2016, with three Doors of Mercy opened in the diocese: St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville, and St. Pius X Church in Greensboro. People are encouraged to seek out the sacrament of penance and make a pilgrimage to the churches.

Bishop Jugis urges people to make progress on their life’s spiritual journey and practice works of mercy.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD Bishop Jugis creates the position of diocesan vocations promoter.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a larger St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan gives the keynote address at the diocese’s Eucharistic Congress, which draws its highest attendance ever at more than 14,000 people.

St. Thomas Aquinas in Charlotte and St. Pius X and Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro break ground for or open expanded parish activity centers to serve their growing communities.

In response to Pope Francis’ call to help protect creation, St. Eugene in Asheville installs solar panels on its parish activity center’s roof. The environmental project becomes a model that

several more churches, schools and the Diocesan Pastoral Center follow.

Christ the King High School in Huntersville graduates its first class of 29 students.

St. Frances of Rome in Sparta and Holy Cross in Kernersville open cemeteries.

2016 On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, Bishop Jugis announces the founding of St. Joseph College Seminary for undergraduate men discerning the priesthood.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD It opens in a Bishop Jugis meets with young people temporary home during the annual Bishop’s Youth in Charlotte with Pilgrimage. eight students.

Attendance at the Bishop’s Annual Youth Pilgrimage reaches 1,000 for the first time.

St. Barnabas receives a $4.1 million bequest from late parishioners Dennis and Mary Kushler – the largest estate gift in the diocese’s history.

The first Duc In Altum vocations camp for young women is held.

St. Matthew Church in Charlotte – the second largest Catholic parish in the United States – tops 10,000 registered families.

Catholic Charities expands its outreach from immediate aid to providing a comprehensive range of “wrap-around” services to people in need, what it calls “Transition Out of Poverty.”

A Catholic cemetery opens in Albemarle.

The 25th annual AIDS Walk raises over $40,000 for the House of Mercy, a care home for AIDS patients run by the Sisters of Mercy in Belmont.

2017 The diocese buys 86 acres in Mount Holly, near Belmont Abbey College, as the future home for St. Joseph College Seminary.

St. Mary Syro-Malabar Church is consecrated in Charlotte by its bishop, with Bishop Jugis and diocesan clergy in attendance.

Several Campus Ministry locations are renovated or expanded, thanks to FFHL funding.

Catholic Charities moves into a larger location in Winston-Salem to enable it to serve more people in the Piedmont-Triad.

Bishop Jugis blesses new parish activity centers for St. James in Concord and St. Pius X in Greensboro.

The diocese commemorates the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions with Masses and processions. Three churches host a world-famous pilgrim statue of Our Lady of Fatima on its international tour.

The diocese hosts its first catechetical conference for faith formation teachers and other ministry leaders.

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Bishop Jugis prepares to bury blessed holy medals on the site of the future St. Joseph College Seminary.

2018 Bishop Jugis breaks ground for St. Joseph College Seminary.

Bishop Emeritus William Curlin dies, aged 90.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new cemetery for St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson.

Old St. Joseph Church in Mount Holly gets a major overhaul to protect the historic structure. Built in 1843, it is the oldest Catholic church still standing in North Carolina and a U.S. and state historic site.

Our Lady of the Assumption and Christ the King High schools are expanded to accommodate growing enrollments.

PHOTO BY PATRICIA L. GUILFOYLE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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OUR DIOCESE

2003-2023

A STORY OF GROWTH 2021

2019 Confirmations across the diocese top 5,000 for the first time.

Catholic Charities opens a new location in Greensboro.

St. Philip in Statesville opens a new parish hall, and St. Michael School in Gastonia celebrates an expansion and renovation.

Bishop Jugis joins with Raleigh Bishop Luis Zarama and Lutheran Bishop Timothy Smith to renew the Lutheran-Catholic Covenant, reaffirming their commitment to finding Christian unity through continued dialogue. The effort began in 1991 with FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD their predecessors Our Lady of Consolation parishioners and has been receive the sacrament of confirmation renewed several from Bishop Jugis on Sept. 22, 2017. times.

2020

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bishop Jugis celebrates Holy Week in 2020 in a near-empty St. Patrick Cathedral, after churches and schools closed during the pandemic. “Stay close to Jesus,” he said. “Let us remember: though we may be quarantined, Jesus is not quarantined.”

The COVID-19 pandemic temporarily closes all churches, schools and ministries. Everyone shifts online to livestreamed Masses, remote learning, email prayer chains and social media to stay connected to their faith and each other. Catholic Charities redoubles its outreach efforts to help thousands impacted by the pandemic. Churches partner with local hospitals to offer free vaccine clinics. The 2020 and 2021 Eucharistic Congress take place online.

Bishop Jugis announces a “Year of St. Joseph” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being solemnly declared Patron of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis later declares a similar celebration, so the diocese extends its celebration to the end of 2021 to coincide with the universal Church’s event. The pandemic curtails most in-person celebrations, so the diocese offers resources online and in the Catholic News Herald.

Bishop Jugis opens and blesses St. Joseph College Seminary on Sept. 15 – exactly two years after breaking ground on the project.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a new, larger church for Queen of the Apostles in Belmont, and he blesses Guardian Angel Villas, the diocese’s fourth and largest housing project.

retirement community the congregation founded in 1947 in High Point.

After the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Roe v. Wade, Bishop Jugis encourages the faithful to step up their efforts to help local pregnant women in need.

Canongate Catholic School in Arden joins the diocesan school system as an affiliate.

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools celebrates the opening of its Fine Arts Center on the Charlotte Catholic High School campus.

2023 FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

During the pandemic, Bishop Jugis celebrates a sociallydistanced Chrism Mass March 30, 2021, at St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

As the pandemic subsides, in-person activities carefully resume at parishes, schools and offices. “It’s a new moment, and we are about to experience an explosion of joy as restrictions continue to loosen,” Bishop Jugis tells his fellow priests at the Chrism Mass. “A new moment is dawning for all of us.”

The Diocese of Charlotte Foundation surpasses 300 endowments, representing more than $71.5 million.

In conjunction with the worldwide Synod of Bishops called by Pope Francis, Bishop Jugis opens a diocesan Synod that includes listening sessions and surveys of the faithful about the future needs of the Church.

Bishop Jugis establishes a diocesan Family Life Office on the Feast of the Holy Family. “With the challenges so many people face today, it is more important than ever that the Church ‘leans in’ to sustain and encourage families, especially those who are just starting out or are struggling,” he says.

Asheville Catholic School expands to meet the needs of a growing enrollment.

Over $170,000 in FFHL funds is awarded to Catholic schools for tuition aid – the highest amount given out since the aid program began.

Bishop Jugis blesses a new chapel and cemetery at Holy Family in Clemmons.

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Bishop Jugis listens to students at St. Matthew School in Charlotte during one of his visits to the campus.

The diocese’s 20 Catholic schools hit a record enrollment of more than 8,100 students.

The number of seminarians preparing for the priesthood in the diocese tops 50 for the first time.

Following the diocesan Synod that took place in 2021-’22, Bishop Jugis issues six pastoral priorities based on key needs identified by the faithful.

Bishop Jugis dedicates a new, larger church for St. Luke in Mint Hill.

Catholic Charities opens a new location in North Wilkesboro, its seventh.

Immaculata School in Hendersonville completes a state-of-the-art expansion, and Christ the King High School expands again, adding an athletic and activities complex to its campus.

2022 Bishop Jugis kicks off the diocese’s 50th anniversary Jan. 12 with Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral and dedication of a statue of Mary, Mother of God – official patroness of the diocese.

Themed “More Precious Than Gold,” the anniversary celebrations include a Marian Pilgrimage to 100-plus sites, family-oriented events, and “Acts of Charity” performed across the diocese.

Bishop Jugis elevates St. Jude in Sapphire from mission to parish status.

The Poor Servants of the Mother of God announces the diocese will assume Catholic oversight of Pennybyrn, the

PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS

The bishop leads a contingent of fans for “Catholic Night” at a Charlotte Knights game during the diocese’s 50th anniversary.

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for all Bishop Jugis has been able to do in leading us through it.”

Growth has been particularly apparent at the last parish where Bishop Jugis served before becoming bishop: Our Lady of Lourdes in Monroe. Then-Father Jugis ministered to 466 registered families.

Twenty years later, the parish has soared to more than 1,600 families.

The Monroe church’s Roberts current pastor, Father Benjamin Roberts, knows the challenges related to growth and how Bishop Jugis has approached his ministry. He likens him to St. Ignatius of Antioch, an early second century bishop who consistently preached faith and unity despite the challenges of his day. The saint was described this way, he says: “ ‘With his kindness and gentleness, he manifests the very gentleness of God.’ I’ve always thought of Bishop Jugis in that way – he manifests the very gentleness of God.” Borne of his compassion for others, the bishop also demonstrates a resoluteness of purpose, priests say.

In 2004, less than six months after becoming bishop, he publicly apologized to abuse victims during his first Ash Wednesday homily at St. Patrick Cathedral.

The diocese had just reported historical allegations against 13 priests, in a national study on the problem. Throughout his ministry, Bishop Jugis has remained

focused on protecting children and promoting healing for victims.

“The bishop has met with victims of abuse that happened well before his time, and he engaged independent auditors to review our records to identify – and publish – all credible allegations of clergy abuse, as a way to help victims heal,” said Monsignor Winslow, who oversaw the task. “Like any father, there’s no higher priority for him than keeping children safe.

And he has exacted discipline in historical abuse cases that come to light, relied on an independent Review Board for guidance, and added protocols and resources to ensure we’re doing our due diligence with comprehensive background checks and training for all staff and volunteers.”

Bishop Jugis, who speaks English, Italian and Spanish, has also emphasized the importance of ministering to the diocese’s increasingly diverse flock.

Now, two-thirds of the diocese’s churches offer Spanish or bilingual Masses. There are robust Spanish faith formation and marriage prep programs. Every seminarian must learn to speak Spanish.

And the diocese’s Hispanic Ministry has a full-time vicar and 10 staff coordinators who serve the diocese’s vicariates.

“Bishop Jugis is a very, very dedicated person to Hispanics and served in several parishes with a large Hispanic presence,” says Deacon Guillermo Anzola of St. Luke Parish in Mint Hill, where the bishop recently dedicated a new church building. “(He) always makes a point of speaking in Spanish for us.”

it attracts more than 10,000 people to Charlotte each year to celebrate the Eucharist as the source and the summit of the Catholic faith. It has become a “family reunion” of sorts for Catholics sprawled across the diocese’s 20,470 square miles from Greensboro, to Charlotte, to Asheville and beyond.

Among the largest in the country, the Congress features a Eucharistic procession of thousands praying, singing and proclaiming their Catholic faith through the streets of uptown Charlotte. It also offers fellowship, talks by compelling speakers, shopping for religious art and sacramentals – as well as a Eucharistic Holy Hour and closing Mass that fill the Charlotte Convention Center, led every year for 19 years by Bishop Jugis.

“It’s a great experience to be at the Congress surrounded by our Catholic family of all different backgrounds and nationalities,” says Frances Liberto, a parishioner of St. Mark in Huntersville.

“I’m so grateful to Bishop Jugis for starting it, and for his quiet and persistent leadership.”

Bishop Jugis credits the Congress and its underlying focus on the Eucharist for fueling people’s faith, support and participation in the Church.

“The Congress shows us that the Eucharist brings us together and makes us one in Christ,” he has said. “Strong faith in the Eucharist means a strong local Church, and this strong faith in the Eucharistic Presence of Christ is important for our vitality as the holy people of God.”

BRINGING FAMILY TOGETHER

INCREASING VOCATIONS

The growth and diversification of the local Church is especially evident at the Eucharistic Congress.

Founded in 2005 by Bishop Jugis,

Bishop Jugis and his Eucharistic Congress have also inspired young men and women to pursue religious vocations, a number of priests say.

One of the diocese’s newest priests, Father Christopher Brock says, “Being in the seminary and being in this diocese has been really incredible, and I think the Eucharistic Congress sums it up. A lot of it has to do with Bishop Jugis’ devotion to Brock the Eucharist, and we see these vocations coming about because of that. I think Our Lord has blessed this diocese because of events like the Eucharistic Congress and having this good and holy bishop.”

A homegrown priest himself, Bishop Jugis has nurtured local vocations. He’s known for starting early, encouraging young altar servers to follow their hearts, speaking to them personally and handing out rosaries and prayer cards, then remembering their names next time they cross paths. He prays daily for more vocations and has increased funding and staff for the diocese’s vocations program.

One of his signature achievements has been founding St. Joseph College Seminary in Mount Holly. Opened in 2016, it has become a seedbed for vocations as young men have responded to the opportunity to consider a priestly vocation close to their homes and the parishes they might one day serve.

As a result of these efforts, this year the diocese has a record number of 51 seminarians in formation, including 21 at St. Joseph College Seminary – now housed on an impressive campus where seminarians live and learn about life in the priesthood while also pursing their undergraduate degree at nearby Belmont Abbey College.

Clergy ordinations are one way a bishop can steer his diocese over the long term, Monsignor Winslow says.

“Ordinarily, bishops have about 10 years

in a diocese and their most enduring impact comes through the men they ordain. In the case of Bishop Jugis, he’s had two decades as bishop to invigorate and inspire a vocations program.”

That impact, he said, “will be felt for the next 40 years and beyond.”

‘WE HAVE A MISSION’

The bishop’s steadying influence may only be eclipsed, observers say, by his example and desire to spread the Gospel – a quest he’s expressed from his earliest days, continuously, right through today.

A “sacred responsibility is given to the laity to grow in personal holiness day by day,” he preached in 2003, “and to see to it that you make known the Gospel message of salvation to all people.” Everyone, he said, must work to “transform our modern culture with the spirit of the Gospel.”

In 2006, he referenced his episcopal motto – “The Love of Christ Impels Us” – as he urged people to go out on a mission “to bring His salvation into the whole world.”

“It is the love of Jesus which impels us in this mission. It has to be Christ’s love which will transform this world – Christ’s love working through us. We are transformed. ... Into every home, every store, every school, every university, every neighborhood, every government office, every workplace, we have a mission to bring the Kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ’s love.”

That message and the bishop’s own example have inspired many.

“Growing up as a teenager in the Charlotte area,” Father Jonathan Torres recalls, “I saw Bishop Jugis at various events of the diocese.

While all attention is on him in a sense, he’s never really let that attention be about him. He’s always been a window, as it were.

We gaze at the window, but we’re actually seeing what’s through the window – the light that’s coming forth. I believe Torres Our Lord’s grace really shines forth through Bishop Jugis, and it’s that humility that allows him to be transparent for us to see Our Lord.”

Father Torres was ordained by Bishop Jugis in 2020, during a carefully planned ordination Mass held during the pandemic.

‘START OF SOMETHING NEW’

Bishop Jugis recognized this pivotal moment for Catholicism in western North Carolina even at his episcopal ordination in 2003.

“We are a young Church,” he said. “We are a rapidly growing Church, filled with joy and vitality and holiness and the love of Christ. We come from many different ethnic backgrounds and together we form the Body of Christ – a living sacrifice of praise.”

As he marks 20 years as a bishop, Bishop Jugis continues looking forward – constantly encouraging people to get closer to Jesus.

Just last month, in his homily at the closing Mass of the 19th annual Eucharistic Congress, he delivered a stirring message: “Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for you. Resolve to deepen your relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist. You are probably very busy, as most people are nowadays. But there is someone waiting for you at Church, in the tabernacle. And I do say Some-One, not some-thing. It is the Lord Jesus who is waiting for you.

“Let this Eucharistic Congress be the start of something new for your spiritual life. Go deeper in your relationship with the Lord in the Eucharist.”

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una forma de ayuda en la sanación de las víctimas”, dijo Monseñor Winslow, quien supervisó la tarea. “No hay mayor prioridad para él que mantener a los niños seguros. Y ha exigido disciplina en casos de historia de abuso que salen a la luz, se ha basado en una Junta de Revisión independiente para obtener orientación y ha agregado protocolos y recursos para garantizar que estemos haciendo nuestra debida diligencia con verificaciones exhaustivas de antecedentes y capacitación para todo el personal y los voluntarios”.

El Obispo Jugis, que habla inglés, italiano y español, también ha enfatizado la importancia de ministrar al rebaño cada vez más diverso de la diócesis.

Ahora, dos tercios de las iglesias de la diócesis ofrecen misas en español o bilingües. Hay sólidos programas de formación en la fe y preparación matrimonial en español. Todo seminarista debe aprender a hablar español. Y el Ministerio Hispano de la diócesis tiene un vicario de tiempo completo y 10 coordinadores que sirven a los vicariatos de la diócesis.

UNIENDO A LA FAMILIA

El crecimiento y la diversificación de la Iglesia local es especialmente evidente en el Congreso Eucarístico.

Fundado en 2005 por el Obispo Jugis, atrae a más de 10.000 personas a Charlotte cada año para celebrar la Eucaristía como fuente y cumbre de la fe católica. Se ha convertido en una especie de “reunión familiar” para los católicos que se

extienden a lo largo de las 20,470 millas cuadradas de la diócesis, desde Greensboro hasta Asheville y más allá.

Entre los más grandes del país, el Congreso cuenta con una Procesión Eucarística de miles de personas que oran, cantan y proclaman su fe católica por las calles del Uptown de Charlotte. También ofrece charlas de reconocidos oradores, venta de arte religioso y recuerdos, así como una Hora Santa y una Misa que llena el Centro de Convenciones de Charlotte, dirigida cada año, durante 19 años, por el Obispo Jugis.

“El Congreso nos muestra que la Eucaristía nos une y nos hace uno en Cristo”, ha dicho el Obispo Jugis. “Una fe fuerte en la Eucaristía significa una Iglesia local fuerte, y esta fe fuerte en la Presencia Eucarística de Cristo es importante para nuestra vitalidad como pueblo santo de Dios”.

algún día podrían servir.

Como resultado de estos esfuerzos, este año la diócesis tiene un número récord de 51 seminaristas en formación, incluidos 21 en el Seminario Universitario San José, donde viven y aprenden sobre la vida en el sacerdocio mientras también obtienen su título universitario en el cercano Belmont Abbey College.

Las ordenaciones del clero son una manera por la que un obispo puede dirigir su diócesis a largo plazo, dijo Monseñor Winslow.

“Por lo general, los obispos tienen alrededor de 10 años en una diócesis, y su mayor impacto se genera a través de los hombres que ordenan. En el caso del Obispo Jugis, ha tenido dos décadas como obispo para vigorizar e inspirar un programa de vocaciones”.

Ese impacto, dijo, “se sentirá durante los próximos 40 años y más”.

VOCACIONES EN AUMENTO

“TENEMOS UNA MISIÓN”

El Obispo Jugis, que también es sacerdote local, ha alimentado las vocaciones locales.

Es conocido por comenzar tempranamente, animando a los jóvenes monaguillos a seguir sus corazones, hablándoles personalmente y repartiendo rosarios y tarjetas de oración, y luego recordando sus nombres la siguiente ocasión que se encuentra con ellos. Ora diariamente por más vocaciones y ha aumentado los fondos y el personal para el programa de vocaciones de la diócesis.

Uno de sus logros más emblemáticos ha sido la fundación del Seminario Universitario San José en Mount Holly.

Inaugurado en 2016, se ha convertido en un semillero de vocaciones, ya que los jóvenes han respondido a la oportunidad de considerar una vocación religiosa cerca de sus hogares y de las parroquias a las que

La influencia estabilizadora del obispo solo puede ser eclipsada, dicen los observadores, por su santidad y su deseo de difundir el Evangelio, una búsqueda que ha expresado desde sus primeros días.

“A los laicos se les da la sagrada responsabilidad de crecer día a día en santidad personal”, predicó en 2003, “y de velar por dar a conocer el mensaje del Evangelio de salvación a todos los hombres”. Todos, dijo, deben trabajar para “transformar nuestra cultura moderna con el espíritu del Evangelio”.

En 2006, hizo referencia a su lema episcopal, “El amor de Cristo nos impulsa”, mientras instaba a la gente a salir en misión “para llevar Su salvación a todo el mundo”.

“Es el amor de Jesús el que nos impulsa en esta misión. Tiene que ser el amor de Cristo el que transformará este mundo,

el amor de Cristo obrando a través de nosotros. Estamos transformados. ... En cada hogar, en cada tienda, en cada escuela, en cada universidad, en cada barrio, en cada oficina gubernamental, en cada lugar de trabajo, tenemos la misión de llevar el Reino de Dios, el reino del amor de Cristo”.

Ese mensaje y el propio ejemplo del obispo ha inspirado a muchos.

‘COMIENZO DE ALGO NUEVO’

El Obispo Jugis reconoció este momento crucial para el catolicismo en el oeste de Carolina del Norte, incluso en su ordenación episcopal en 2003.

“Somos una Iglesia joven”, dijo. “Somos una Iglesia en rápido crecimiento, llena de alegría, vitalidad, santidad y el amor de Cristo. Venimos de muchos orígenes étnicos diferentes y juntos formamos el Cuerpo de Cristo, un sacrificio vivo de alabanza”.

Al cumplir 20 años como obispo, el Obispo Jugis continúa mirando hacia adelante, animando constantemente a las personas a acercarse a Jesús.

El mes pasado, durante su homilía en la Misa de clausura del XIX Congreso Eucarístico anual, pronunció un mensaje conmovedor.

“Que este Congreso Eucarístico sea el comienzo de algo nuevo para vosotros.

Decídanse a profundizar su relación con Jesús en la Eucaristía. Probablemente estén muy ocupados, como la mayoría de la gente hoy en día. Pero hay alguien esperándolos en la Iglesia, en el tabernáculo. Y digo Alguien, no algo. Es el Señor Jesús quien los está esperando”.

“Que este Congreso Eucarístico sea el comienzo de algo nuevo para su vida espiritual. Profundicen en su relación con el Señor en la Eucaristía”.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 22B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Most Rev. Jacques Fabre-Jeune, CS, the clergy, religious & faithful of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, offer congratulations to

Most Rev. PETER J. JUGIS

on his 20th anniversary as Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina.

May the Lord continue to bless & guide you in your ministry to the people of God!

Ad multos annos!

MOST REVEREND PETER J. JUGIS

CHARLESTONDIOCESE.ORG

­

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 23B

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 24B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

With sincere thanks to God for your Apostolic ministry on this the occasion of your 20th anniversary as Bishop and Ordinary of the Diocese of Charlotte, the Priests, Faculty, Staff and Seminarians extend to Bishop Peter J. Jugis our heartfelt congratulations.

­

The Office of Campus Ministry

CONGRATULATES

Bishop Peter Jugis on 20 years as our shepherd.

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 25B

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Left) Bishop Jugis prays at the tomb of St. John Paul II during one of his ad limina pilgrimages to Rome. The late pope ordained him to the priesthood in 1983, and appointed him the fourth Bishop of Charlotte in 2003.

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Bishop Jugis’ pilgrimages to the Vatican

ishop Peter Jugis has joined the bishops of North and South Carolina, Florida and Georgia on ad limina visits to the Holy Father three times since taking the role as Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte.

and his top advisors, the cardinals and archbishops in the Roman Curia.

“This exchange of information among the pastors of the Church serves to strengthen the unity of the Church,” Bishop Jugis explained.

“I was happy to write in my ad limina report that in the Diocese of Charlotte there is tremendous enthusiasm for the faith. The faithful of the diocese are eager to grow in their relationship with Christ, to increase their knowledge of the faith, and to put their faith into practice. The attitude of the faithful is very positive and upbeat, and there is a strong sense of mission throughout the diocese.”

“Ad limina apostolorum” means “to the thresholds of the Apostles” Peter and Paul. The heads of dioceses are required to make the visits every five years or so to celebrate Mass at the tombs of the apostles martyred in Rome, meet with the pope to report on the status of their dioceses, and hold discussions with Vatican officials on issues of common concern.

Pope Francis – February 2020

Pope John Paul II – March 2004 Only five months after Bishop Peter Jugis was ordained leader of the Diocese of Charlotte, he had his first audience as a bishop with Pope John Paul II. Bishop Jugis first met Pope John Paul II in 1979 while studying at the Pontifical North American College, and the pope had ordained him to the priesthood in 1983, yet the other bishops graciously helped Bishop Jugis relax prior to his first audience with the pope as a newly-ordained bishop.

He reported afterwards that he was very much in awe of the experience. Pope John Paul II set the tone for the conversation by commenting that he was 38 years old when he became a bishop in Poland, he recalled.

“The ‘ad limina’ visit is a good exercise in ‘communio’ – it underlines the communication of the pope, the Vatican officials and the bishops,” Bishop Jugis said after the visit.

“We are all drawn together under the power of the Holy Spirit to further the mission of the Church.”

Pope Benedict XVI – May 2012 In 2012, Bishop Jugis and fellow Atlanta Province bishops returned to bring reports of their flourishing dioceses and prayed for courage in their work to build up the Church

across the South. Education and communication were key topics during their Vatican visit, especially since the pope had repeatedly emphasized the importance of using social media, strengthening Catholic colleges, and evangelizing in the public sphere to spread the Gospel.

“There is a spiritual component to the visit – to pray at the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul. In that sense, there is the idea of a pilgrimage associated with the ad limina visit. In every pilgrimage, one temporarily leaves behind the familiar places of his home and work, to journey to a holy place to spend some time in prayer. In the case of the ad limina visit, the bishop leaves his diocese and journeys to Rome and to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, to draw inspiration and courage from the faithful witness of these two pillars of the Church, each of whom shed his blood for Christ,” Bishop Jugis wrote following the visit.

Besides the spiritual component to the visit, there is also a pastoral component: to meet with the Holy Father

Bishop Jugis was among 15 bishops who went on their ad limina pilgrimage to Rome in February 2020, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down international travel.

During the meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis gave bishops more than two hours of his time, in what was a genuinely friendly conversation among bishops about issues facing the Church. Bishop Jugis wrote following the visit: “The Holy Father has the weight of the world on his shoulders. I promised him my prayers every day, for which he was very grateful.”

The ad limina trip is not only about attending meetings, but there is also time for Mass every day, besides prayer and reflection, he noted.

“My prayers, of course, were for God’s continued blessings upon the Diocese of Charlotte, which I am privileged to serve. On the day of our visit when there were no meetings scheduled – the Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes – I took the opportunity to spend a good deal of time praying at St. Peter’s Basilica, the place which I had visited quite often when I was a seminarian student in Rome, and the place where I was ordained a deacon and also a priest,” Bishop Jugis said.

More online At www.catholicnewsherald.com: Find full coverage of Bishop Peter Jugis’ three ad limina visits.

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 26B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

BISHOP JUGIS: Funny and humble ‘A healing balm for us’ Bishop Jugis has a long history with us at Pennybyrn.

He has always been very supportive of the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, which started 25 years ago. He has been very faithful in visiting for the Feast of Corpus Christi and stays after the Mass and procession to visit with the people.

When he is at a parish in the area, he drops by to visit the sisters and have lunch with us. He visits the priests here, and that means a lot to them. Sometimes he would drop in and pray at the Adoration Chapel, and people would notice that and say, “The bishop was here!” In addition to being a welcome presence and healing balm for our residents and staff, Bishop Jugis has supported our expansion.

He was here on Dec. 8, 2005, for the groundbreaking that paved the way for all the growth we’ve experienced in the years since. He also continues to preserve the mission and charism of our retirement community. All of us at Pennybyrn wish him a very happy anniversary as a bishop and priest. May God bless Bishop Jugis!

SISTER LUCY HENNESSY, mission leader and chair of the board of directors at Pennybyrn retirement community in High Point

A lighter side Shortly after I started working in the Bishop’s Office, Bishop Jugis and I had to plan for a meeting of his province bishops that would be coming to Charlotte. We needed to find hotel accommodations for the bishops’ overnight stays and their meetings. After considering a few locations, Bishop suggested the W Hotel. As I was new to the Charlotte area, I asked him where the hotel was located. He motioned me to his office window and pointed, “See that big building there with the ‘W’ on it?” I did, indeed – right across the street. I turned around, and he was grinning like the Cheshire Cat! We both laughed at my first introduction to Bishop humor.

Next came the infamous kumquat. Bishop Jugis was hosting a holiday gathering at his house, to which Jim Kelley, the diocesan director of development, and I were invited, along with many others. Jim and I were chatting in the dining room around the table filled with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres. Bishop Jugis walked in and, after surveying the spread, pointed with a questioning look to

the kumquats that had been used as a platter decoration. I told him they were kumquats, a fruit. He popped one in his mouth and sat down in the dining chair. Jim commented that they were so small you could choke on them. Bishop Jugis started to choke and sputter, holding his throat and dramatically draping himself over the chair. He pretended to wither away in front of Jim and me! I’m not sure which one of us panicked more. Bishop quickly “recovered” and once again, he grinned like that cat. He got me, yet again.

I have never taken lightly the fact that I was privy to a side of the bishop that perhaps other people didn’t get to experience. My life has been abundantly blessed by that fact in so many ways. I have pinched myself many times over the years to make sure I wasn’t dreaming the wonderful task of working for and with the bishop. I wish I could do it all over again.

NANCY WEBER, executive assistant to Bishop Peter Jugis from 2003 to 2020

‘A gentle, humble, holy soul’ I first met Bishop Jugis when he was associate pastor at St. Leo Parish back in the early ’90s, when I was preparing for marriage. He was assigned to take my future husband and me through marriage prep. He was so wise, and many of his words from that time still resound in my head often today, and I credit him with the 30 years of marriage that we have accomplished so far. He’s just such a gentle, humble, holy soul, so when he became bishop, I was very happy. He’s done so much for this diocese with his powerful, quiet presence and love of the Eucharist, which has overflowed throughout the years to create a very fruitful, vibrant diocese.

MARIANNE DONADIO, associate director of Room At The Inn and member of St. Leo the Great Parish in Winston-Salem

‘Father Peter’ My first introduction to Bishop Jugis came in 1988-1989 when I was in second grade at Sacred Heart in Salisbury.

My friends and I were preparing to receive First Holy Communion, and we had wonderful examples in our parish priests – Father Tom Clements and our parochial vicar and future bishop, whom we affectionately called Father Peter. He was busy even then, but he still took the

time to befriend my parents and bless our family home.

When I began contributing to the Catholic News Herald quite a few years later, our paths crossed again, and I learned that he remembered my family well. Once when on assignment, he recognized that I had a particularly involved story and was on a tight deadline. He looked me in the eyes and said, “You can do it.” He said so in a serious manner but with a confident smile. Everything went smoothly as I worked toward the deadline, and it seemed as though with those simple words he had prayed the story into existence. Now, several years later and more than 30 years since my First Communion, I work full time for our diocesan communications department, and “Father Peter” is still teaching me on a regular basis how to deepen my love for Jesus in the Eucharist through his wisdom and example. My heartfelt congratulations go out to Bishop Jugis on this momentous occasion in his ministry!

ANNIE FERGUSON, reporter for the Catholic News Herald and member of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Greensboro

‘A part of his flock’ I come to the Eucharistic Congress every year because I have such a devotion to the Eucharist. I developed it when I used to do a shift of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the middle of the night. During that time, I shared my faith with people who had wandered into the chapel late at night. Through that time, I fell so in love with Jesus in the Eucharist. It’s the summit of my life and my everything.

The speakers at the Eucharistic Congress this year are all so wonderful and have had a personal impact me. You can see the love of Christ through them. I am so thankful to Bishop Jugis for this gift of the Congress. I love being part of His flock here in western North Carolina.

BARBARA FREEMAN, member of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Swannanoa

Congratulations Thank you for your devotion to the Lord and His Church.

Happy 20th Anniversary!

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 27B

BISHOP JUGIS: A man of prayer and faith ‘A true father’ When I approached Bishop Jugis with the desire to give my life for the priesthood and to serve the Diocese of Charlotte in that way, he was very careful to take time and pray, discerning himself. Eventually he said yes to letting me dive in and do it. From there other women followed that path, and so it’s really because of Bishop Jugis giving that permission that the Daughters of the Virgin Mother exist as a religious community in the Diocese of Charlotte.

He’s absolutely a father, because without him my vocation as a Daughter of the Virgin Mother wouldn’t even be in existence. The fact that he was open to something new in the diocese spoke volumes to me of the man who’s open to the Holy Spirit. One time I thanked him for letting us exist and allowing us to see if it would work, and he said to me, “Well, I don’t want to be someone who gets in the way of the Holy Spirit.” I try to keep that in mind as I discern God’s will for the Daughters. I don’t want to be a superior who gets in the way of the Holy Spirit.

As a priest of Jesus Christ, he continues that presence and that ministry that Christ left behind through His priests, but as a bishop, we also have this reverence for him because he is a direct successor of the apostles. He’s a real father, and that’s what I’ve seen as an influence on the faithful here. We have a united diocese, and you see that at moments like the Eucharistic Congress or ordinations – this large spiritual family that comes together for the momentous events of our local Church.

There’s a tradition in the religious life that a woman’s hair is cut by her superior, but since I was the first Daughter it was Bishop Jugis’ job to cut my hair on the day that the Daughters of the Virgin Mother were founded.

He grabbed the scissors and said with a smile, “Well, I’ve never given anyone a haircut before.”

He is also a man of deep prayer. He makes decisions for the diocese, he’s at events, he confirms candidates, but on a day-to-day basis he’s there interceding for his sheep.

Bishop Jugis, on behalf of all the Daughters of the Virgin Mother, I want you to know that we love you and that we’re so grateful for the sacrifices, the suffering and the impact that you’ve had on us and on everyone in our diocese.

Know that we’re praying for you and that, with God’s help and His grace, we will be faithful to our vocation.

(Above) Bishop Peter Jugis presents a decree declaring the Daughters of the Virgin Mother a “Private Association of the Christian Faithful.” The group’s founder, Sister Mary Raphael (at right of Bishop Jugis), and the sisters are pictured with him and their spiritual advisor, Father Matthew Kauth, rector of St. Joseph College Seminary, after Mass.

(Left) The bishop prays his rosary during an event at St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

SISTER MARY RAPHAEL, Mother Superior of the Daughters of the Virgin Mother

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

Congratulations Bishop Jugis on your 20th anniversary as bishop of The Diocese of Charlotte

From the Ordination Class of 2017 Fr. Christian Cook

Fr. Chris Bond

Fr. Peter Ascik

Fr. Brian Becker

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 28B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

LOOKING BACK: About our bishop

PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. VINCENT DE PAUL CHURCH

Bishop Peter Jugis (far left) is pictured on his confirmation day in 1969 with fellow confirmation students and then-Bishop Vincent Waters at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte, where his parents were founding members.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pope John Paul II gives the sign of peace to newly ordained Father Jugis during his ordination Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on June 12, 1983.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Bishop Jugis confirms Luke Bennett in 2016 at St. John the Baptist Church in Tryon. More than 70,000 people have received the sacrament of confirmation since he became bishop in 2003.

Fourth Bishop of Charlotte: A native Charlottean, ordained by John Paul II

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ishop Peter Joseph Jugis is a native of Charlotte. The third-generation American – whose name in Latin means “constant” – hails from a diverse background, including Hungarian, German, Irish, Lithuanian and Czechoslovakian descents. His late parents, Joseph and Peggy Jugis, were born and raised in New York but relocated to Charlotte and married at St. Patrick Cathedral in 1953. When St. Ann Church was formed, the Jugises were among the original families.

Monsignor Michael J. Begley, St. Ann’s pastor who would later become the first bishop of the newly formed Diocese of Charlotte in 1972, baptized the infant Peter Jugis and gave him first Holy Communion. As the family began to grow, they moved to a bigger house and joined St. Vincent de Paul, a mission of St. Ann before becoming its own parish.

He was educated in Catholic and public schools in Charlotte, earning a degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1979.

He supplemented his educational expenses by playing the organ during weddings at local parishes.

“I just began to realize my heart wasn’t in the accounting field,” he said in a 2003 interview. “I could do it intellectually, but I just didn’t feel that this was what I wanted to give my life to totally.”

While visiting St. Gabriel Church where he was to play at a wedding, he met Monsignor John McSweeney, then

Parish Assignments In addition to serving as the judicial vicar of the Diocese of Charlotte before being ordained as bishop, Bishop Jugis carried out pastoral duties at these parishes.

Denver 6

5 1

Statesville

485

Charlotte

Pineville

S.C.

40

85

7 Salisbury

Asheboro

8 Matthews 74

77

Rock Hill

Concord

85

4 Belmont

Reidsville 3 Winston-Salem Greensboro 2 77

Kannapolis

Huntersville 9

16

associate pastor and diocesan vocations director.

“After the wedding rehearsal, he asked me in passing if I had ever thought of being a priest,” Bishop Jugis said. “I told him, ‘No, I never had.’ He said, ‘Well, think about it, would you?’”

And so he did – a lot over the following year – “about what I could really give my heart to completely. I started to realize more and more that giving my life to God and serving the Church as a priest seemed to be agreeable at the time. Of course, I had to continue to discern and think, and talk with priests.”

His parents were supportive of his decision. “It was my mother who said, ‘Well, Peter, we were thinking that you had been moving in this direction for a long time, but we didn’t want to say anything to see if you would arrive at that conclusion on your own.’ It was a tremendous affirmation and confirmation of what I had been feeling and discerning privately for many months.”

After college he entered the seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome and then studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

When he applied in 1979 to be a seminarian, he interviewed with Bishop Begley, who spoke about his concern for the “unchurched” in the state.

“I remember him saying to me, ‘There’s a lot of work we have to do in North Carolina.’ He was inviting me to study for the priesthood and to join him, I think, in the mission

Monroe 10

DETAIL

NORTH CAROLINA

Charlotte 74

Rockingham

of the Catholic Church in North Carolina. I received from him a missionary spirit.”

He was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1983,

by Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. His family was present at the ordination, as were Bishop Begley and Monsignor McSweeney.

He went on to serve at St. Ann Church in Charlotte, St. Leo the Great Church in Winston-Salem, Holy Infant Church in Reidsville, Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont, St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte, Holy Spirit Church in Denver, Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, St. Mark Church in Huntersville, and Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe.

In 1993, he became the first priest of the diocese to earn a doctorate in canon law, defending his thesis, “A Canonical Analysis of the Meaning of Humano Modo in Canon 1061, §1” at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. With his canon law training, he served as judicial vicar (leader) of the diocesan tribunal until becoming bishop.

On Aug. 1, 2003, Pope John Paul II appointed him the fourth Bishop of Charlotte, succeeding Bishop William G. Curlin, who retired in 2002. He was ordained at St. Matthew Church in Charlotte on Oct. 24, 2003, and is celebrating his 20th anniversary of ordination on Oct. 24, 2023.

— Catholic News Herald

1. St. Ann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 2. St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, Winston-Salem, NC 3. Holy Infant Catholic Church, Reidsville, NC 4. Queen of the Apostles Catholic Church, Belmont, NC 5. St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte, NC 6. Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Denver, NC 7. Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Salisbury, NC 8. Saint John Neumann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC 9. St. Mark Catholic Church, Huntersville, NC 10. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, Monroe, NC DAVID PUCKETT | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 29B

LOOKING BACK: Ordination Day 2003

Episcopal motto

FILE | CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

(Left) Deacon Ben Wenning and Deacon Louis Pais hold the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Jugis’ head as Atlanta Archbishop John F. Donoghue prays the prayer of ordination during the ordination Mass on Oct. 24, 2003. (Above) Archbishop Donoghue, who had served as the second bishop of Charlotte before moving to Atlanta, lays hands on Bishop Jugis’ head during the ordination rite.

‘A man for the times and for the place’ CHARLOTTE — Speaking in both English and Spanish, Bishop Peter J. Jugis asked the faithful gathered for his ordination to help him carry on the Church’s mission of salvation.

“All of us, regardless of our particular vocation, are involved in this grand mission of salvation,” Bishop Jugis said.

An estimated 3,000 people crowded St. Matthew Church for Bishop Jugis’ spectacular two-hour ordination Oct. 24, 2003.

Attendees overflowed into the parish gymnasium, where they watched the Mass via closed-circuit television.

Bishop Jugis, 46, a native of Charlotte, succeeds Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin as shepherd of the 46-county Diocese of Charlotte, established in 1972.

The multicultural Mass, broadcast live on the Internet, featured West African drummers, children from St. Joseph Vietnamese Church dancing with candles in the aisles and music – including songs in Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese – that was representative of the diverse cultures of the diocese.

“We are a young Church. We are a rapidly growing Church, filled with joy and vitality and holiness and the love of Christ,” said Bishop Jugis. “We come from many different ethnic backgrounds and together we form the body of Christ – a living sacrifice of praise.”

Approximately 400 people participated in the opening procession, including priests, deacons, seminarians, abbots and representatives from diocesan parishes, missions, organizations, institutions and schools. Also included were clerical representatives of the Lutheran, Episcopal, United Methodist and Baptist denominations in North Carolina.

“God has given us great blessings on this day of joy, and it is a sign of His people’s love that we are gathered in such great numbers to witness the ordination of the Diocese of Charlotte’s fourth bishop, and to welcome him into the midst of his flock,” said Archbishop John F. Donoghue of Atlanta, the principal ordaining bishop and second bishop of Charlotte.

Archbishop Donoghue called on the people of the diocese to love and support Bishop Jugis, to seek his guidance and to accept his teaching in his role as their shepherd.

He called Bishop Jugis “a man for the times and for the place.

“Your heart, your soul, your roots are here in the hills and plains of North Carolina. You carry in the record of development of your vocation the blessing and encouragement of two of the finest servants of the Lord – Bishop (Michael J.) Begley and Monsignor (John) McSweeney.”

“And ... you were ordained by the hand of our most beloved and remarkable pope, John Paul II,” he continued. “But do not forget that it is Christ the Lord who has chosen you, and that when He chooses a bishop, He also chooses a martyr. And martyrs must

be strong, for themselves and for the Church they live and die to foster.”

Flanking a kneeling Bishop Jugis, Monsignor McSweeney, now pastor of St. Matthew Church, and retired Monsignor Anthony Kovacic requested Archbishop Donoghue confer ordination on Bishop Jugis. Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio, then read the apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II. Archbishop Donoghue questioned Bishop Jugis in the presence of the gathered people on his resolve to uphold the faith and to discharge his duties as bishop. Bishop Jugis then lay prostrate as the Litany of the Saints was chanted.

Next was the laying on of hands by the bishops on Bishop Jugis’ head. The ancient gesture, expressing the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, has been used since apostolic times for transmitting the authority and offices in the Catholic Church.

Deacon Ben Wenning, diocesan coordinator of the permanent diaconate, and Deacon Louis Pais of St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte then held the Book of the Gospels over Bishop Jugis’ head, a gesture expressing the burden the bishop will assume of proclaiming the Gospel as a member of the college of bishops, as the ordaining bishops prayed the prayer of ordination.

His head was then anointed with sacred chrism, signifying the full share in the priesthood of Jesus he received through the laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination.

The Book of the Gospels was presented to Bishop Jugis as a symbol of a bishop’s ministry of teaching and preaching. He also received his ring, miter and crosier, which are signs of the office of bishop.

Bishop Jugis then took his seat in the cathedra, the bishop’s chair, and received a round of applause from the bishops and congregation.

In remarks at the end of Mass, Bishop Jugis resolved “to pray without ceasing to Almighty God for the holy people.”

“We all must know that the Lord’s work cannot be done without prayer,” he said.

Bishop Jugis expressed his gratitude for the priests and deacons of the diocese, and he addressed the importance of the laity: “The Second Vatican Council taught that sacred responsibility is given to the laity to grow in personal holiness day by day and to see to it that you make known the Gospel message of salvation to all people,” he said, “and that you transform our modern culture with the spirit of the Gospel.”

“All of this springs from prayer and from our celebration of the sacraments, especially from our communion with the Lord in the holy Eucharist,” said Bishop Jugis. “The Holy Spirit will guide us in helping make known the love of Christ.”

— Reprinted from the Oct. 31, 2003, edition of the Catholic News Herald

“Caritas Christi Urget Nos” (“The Love of Christ Impels Us”) comes from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians – 2 Cor 5:14-15 – and offers the inspiration for growth and formation in the faith, which Bishop Jugis said he wished to inspire in people as their pastor. “I wanted to have a motto that would somehow include Christ’s love in it. The love of Christ is planted in our hearts from the day of our baptisms. ... That love should be the reason and motivation for everything we do as Christians and for me as shepherd of the diocese.”

“After I had chosen it, I discovered the saint whose feast day is celebrated Oct. 24 – St. Anthony Mary Claret – the very day I’m being ordained, has the same motto. I thought it was an interesting coincidence.”

— Catholic News Herald

Coat of arms The design of Bishop Peter J. Jugis’ coat of arms has special significance to him. To the right is a gold field, representing the great treasure of the faith and the hope of salvation offered to us all by the gift of redemption.

“With the gold background, I wanted to tie in the years that I studied in Rome and my priestly ordination by the pope,” said Bishop Jugis. “The colors of Vatican City are gold and silver, so I chose the gold background for my coat of arms. Gold is also a reference to Our Lady, who in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘House of Gold.’ Gold is a precious metal, and Mary, as the mother of Christ, was the most precious ‘house,’ or dwelling place, of God.” The cross is in a style called “bottony,” with three circles at the end of the staff and the cross arms, denoting the Trinity. “The design of the cross that I chose was inspired by a crucifix hanging in the living room of the rectory at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe,” said Bishop Jugis.

To the left are the escutcheons of the Diocese of Charlotte: a Celtic cross of silver-edged gold, which represents St. Patrick, patron saint of the cathedral church of the diocese, and a crown, representing Queen Charlotte, for whom the see city is named. Behind the coat of arms is a gold processional cross. The green heraldic hat with six “houppes,” or tassels, denotes the rank of a bishop.

— Catholic News Herald

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 30B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

The Seminarians, Priests, Sisters, Faculty, and Staff at ST JOSEPH COLLEGE SEMINARY Join the entire Diocese of Charlotte in thanksgiving for

HIS EXCELLENCY BISHOP PETER J. JUGIS

Celebrating 40 Years as Priest and 20 Years as our Bishop Ad Multos Annos!

BishopJugisAd.indd 1

10/4/23 12:27 PM

October 13, 2023 | catholicnewsherald.com CATHOLIC NEWS HERALDI 31B

Happy 20th

Anniversary!

Sacrament of Confirmation, July 19, 2021

“One of the things that has marked Bishop Jugis’ 20 years of service is his joy. When you see him with people, there is a joy that shows on his face.

Bishop Jugis, thank you for all that you have done for the Diocese.

Thank you for the way you guide and help those of us who are pastors to be pastors. Thank you for helping those who work in the Diocese to do our jobs to the best of our ability.

And most of all, thank you for praying for us. It is only through prayer that we have been able to accomplish all that we have.”

— Fr. John Putnam Catholic Schools Week, January 30, 2017

catholicnewsherald.com | October 13, 2023 32B CATHOLIC NEWS HERALD

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