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Catholic LZCCJ-2
News & Herald Volume 3 Number 27 • March
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
11,
1994
1994 Diocesan Support Appeal More Than Halfway To Goal By
CAROL HAZARD Associate Editor
The Diocesan Support Appeal, which started five weeks ago and continues through April 10, has reached 55 percent of
its
goal.
As of March
3,
the
amount pledged was $992,147 toward a goal of $1,806,000
"We're off to a very good start," said Jim Kelley, director of the
Development Office. "We're grateful to those who have made a pledge. However, we still have about $900,000 to raise."
The annual appeal supports 30 ministries that
enrich parish communities
and serve people of
all
ages and back-
grounds.
"The
DSA provides us
with an op-
portunity to change people's lives, to
help people in a very positive
way
throughout the diocese," said Kelley.
For example, the Justice and Peace Ministry (featured in this issue on Page 2) is helping parishes
move
faith into
action. "It' s the call of every Catholic to
be involved
in the social mission of the Church," said Scott Spivak, ministry
coordinator.
The social mission involves responding to immediate needs such as feeding the hungry. However, it also means working for social change. In a
new push for the diocese, the Justice and Peace Ministry is helping parishes identify needs in their local communities and take steps to correct the problems. The problem, for example, might be a high jobless rate.
The
parish
would
respond by writing their legislators to help bring jobs into the area and fight for jobs that pay more than minimum wage.
By meeting 55 percent of the goal at
DSA is on About 12 parishes
this time, the
target, said
Kelley.
are close to
their goals.
Each parish is given a goal based mostly on offertory collections. Parishes that exceed their goals are refunded the extra money. Parishes that do not meet their goals pay the balance from parish funds. About 65 of the 89 parishes and missions in the diocese typically surpass their goals, said Kelley. Almost that fall short reach at least
all
90 percent of
their goals.
"We
thank parishioners for their we hope those who have not yet made a pledge will consider doing so," said Kelley. Msgr. John J. McSweeney, diocesan administrator, sent a letter this past week to people who have not made a pledge asking for their support. The goal is expected to be surpassed
Maria Morrow, Holy Angels'
by mid-May
of the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina and president of Holy Angels, Inc. (See story and
generosity, and
additional pictures
first resident,
and Mother Mary Benignus Hoban, a member Photo by
on Pages 8 and 9)
JOANN KEANE
Vatican Establishes
Lenten Reflection
Ties With Jordan VATICAN CITY
(CNS)
— The
Vatican and Jordan announced the establishment of full diplomatic relations
See the lovely lilies, How beautiful they grow From rain and sunshine, How they help us know God's love for God's creation, Each bird, each flower, each tree, And Jesus said, ''And even more than these God loves you and me.
March
3.
Talks between Jordan and the Holy See began shortly after the Vatican and Israel opened discussions on churchstate issues, paving the way change of diplomats.
to an ex-
The names of the Vatican nuncio to Jordan and the Jordanian ambassador to the Vatican were not announced. Historically the Vatican had cited disputes over the Israeli- Jordanian border following the 1967 Arab-Israeli war as one of the factors delaying diplomatic relations with both nations. Before the war, Jordan controlled the
Bank and
West
part of Jerusalem.
Signing a "fundamental agreement" last December, the Vatican Middle East peace process was the proper forum for resolving the dispute, and it pledged to stay out of strictly
with Israel
From Ash Wednesday Through Easter, by Elaine M. Ward, a book written as a way of "walking and talking" with Jesus during Lent, as a way of being with God.
said the
territorial disputes.
Prior to the naming of envoys between the Vatican and Israel, the
Vatican's apostolic delegate in Jerusa-
lem and Palestine also represented the Vatican in Israel and Jordan.
Photo
right:
Barn owls take solice in darkness. Photo by JOANN KEANE
See Jordan, Pa