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THOLIC
News & Herald Volume
erving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Number
1
18
Diocese Of Charlotte Celebrates 20th Anniversary Jan.
BISHOP MICHAEL
J.
BISHOP JOHN F
BEGLEY
Special Prayer Service
Marks Start
•
January
10,
1992
1
DONOGHUE
KEANE
By JOANN
Associate Editor
Df
CHARLOTTE
Evangelization Quincentenary By
CAROL HAZARD
—
Catholics from
toss the Diocese of Charlotte gathered for pecial prayer service at St. Patrick Cathe-
renew their commitment to oclaiming and spreading the Good News all people and all nations. The two-hour ceremony was a com-
al Jan.
4
fifth
centenary of evan-
lization in the
Americas, focusing on a
oss that hailed a
new land for Christ in the
w World discovered in
1492 by Christo-
Columbus. The ceremony also marked
beginning of the third year of the Decade Evangelization in the diocese.
A replica of the cross planted in Santa imingo by Christian missionaries was ;sented to Bishop John F. lebrant,
congregation to
by
state officers
Donoghue,
Monroe, asked the appraise and renew their in
of the Diocese of Charlotte
late
Bishop Vincent
"After 500 years of the Gospel being proclaimed, you and
I
can not avoid the
the cross
it
and missions in his Between the
Murphy (in Manteo (on the
furthest points in the state,
western North Carolina) to
Outer Banks), the span
is
of Baltimore
Holy See
meaning and see
if
diocese. tion
1
of Raleigh that began the journey to the
We need to share the message of His love,
were
died for us because
He
loved us."
See Evangelize, Page 8
covered much of the
States at the time. Bishop
North and South Carolina originally part of the
Diocese of Charleston,
serving about 5,000 Catholics with
17
Churches and 16 priests. The Second Coun-
from 1937
the state
McGuinness was
J.
until
he transferred
in
Oklahoma City-Tulsa diocese. In 1945, Bishop Waters, was installed as the third Bishop of Raleigh. It was under to the
his direction that the formation
of a second
North Carolina diocese was accomplished. Shortly before the bishops met in Rome for the
of the Knights of
1
97 synod, Pope Paul VI said it was 1
his intention to divide the larger dioceses of
"on human Pope Paul's desire was to make the of bishop more pastoral than admin-
the world into smaller units, scale."
office
The ceremony opened with a colorful xession of people bearing flags and cos-
istrative.
On Nov.
nes from 35 countries to depict the rich ritage of the Catholic faith in the
Groups representing
wrote a
Ameri-
ther,
native languages in a cross-
from the
of
St. Patrick
Ed
find
in director of evangelization
and pastor of
Most Rev-
in
mind very soon
to erect
of the Diocese of Raleigh
He has chosen
first
signor Michael
Lady of Grace
J.
Begley, Pastor of
Parish, Greensboro,
Our
North
Carolina."
Cathe-
Vilkauskas, dioc-
the
Bishop of the prospective Diocese of Charlotte our own Reverend Monas the
A Spiritan Father
he has
territory
a new Diocese of Charlotte.
America a place to celebrate their faith, gather around the cross so we might rience His mercy and proclaim with brothers and sisters the greatness of )d," said the rector
Catholics in North
Pope Paul VI, through
to us that
During his introductory remarks, FaFrank O'Rourke said the celebration
who
1971, Bishop Waters
erend Apostolic Delegate, has made known
expression of Christ's message of
mified the continuity of people
30,
letter to the
Carolina announcing that "Our Holy Fa-
several nations
e and hope.
ir
1937 when he
the Bishop of Scranton, Pa.
Bishop Eugene
the
nation.
in their
Hafey served as
state until
appointed as his successor, and he served
1944
County.
The cross is one of more than 0 making rounds in dioceses throughout
ltural
Church in North The youngest bishop in the United
future of the Catholic
the early 1970s, that jurisdic-
diminished to cover only Gaston
state
...
By
— which once had — had
vicariate for
the consecration of William
the primary Christian symbol
)lumbus.
ng
was
It
became
at the
remained a
Joseph Hafey on Dec. 5, 925 as first bishop
Belmont Abbey, North Carolina was one
look
It
almost 60 years.
face
when we
1866 proposed to the
in
the designation of North Carolina
as a vicariate.
Carolina.
miles.
With the exception of the area under the
Many people in our society, culture and even families think God is dead, he said. "You and I need to tell them God is alive He
Waters would regu-
cil
bishop for the
speaks to us."
that
972, the
jurisdiction of the Benedictine abbot of
during the homily. 'Today,
— we must
1
2,400 miles through North Caro-
lina to visit the parishes
Christian mission," said Father Vilkauskas
—
S.
in
far-flung Diocese of Raleigh.
two
Christian mission.
to
emoration of the
ler
Our Lady of Lourdes
Before the forma-
tion
larly travel
Associate Editor
CHARLOTTE
—
Flags from 35 nations were placed on the altar of century of evangelization in the Americas.
St. Patrick
Cathedral
in
observance of the
Photo by
fifth
JOANN KEANE
The new diocese would encompass the 46 western counties of North Carolina from Reidsville and Hamlet in the east to the See Historv